Of cutting edges and secrets…
Today spoke with a prospective client who is loking at deploying a ‘cutting-edge’ solution. Or so she thinks. And I know no better, since she…
Your daily dose of Yog
Of legacies and great grandfathers…
So what is the one thing that you leave behind? Money? Nah, that would get spent, and fast. Photos and videos? – Hard disk wipe,…
On vak shakti…
Had a short discussion on vāk shakti today. There have been a lot of things said about good speech, but the first phrase that comes…
Of Air and Suvidhas…
Went to the airport to drop off my parents. Since it was their first time flying out of Dubai, I accompanied them to the checkin…
Of tables and debates…
Came across a post that I had made earlier. On debates – mostly the kinds that take place around the dinner table. Where everyone tries…
Of family visits and bittersweet moments…
Had family visit me over the past few days. Good time spent, but now it’s time to leave. Visits are often bittersweet isn’t it? The…
Are you at your very best?
We underestimate our own capabilities. And by we, I mean everyone. Without exception. I have seen this in various fields – be it martial arts, studies…
The art of doing nothing…
Ok, everyone has their lazy days. I mean everyone – even the productivity pundits have days when they just don’t feel like doing much. If…
A better way to spend your time…
Remote working, work from home, not going to a physical office… Largely absent or implemented in very few pockets, Work from Home became a common…
Of rewards and families…
I think I had written about this before, but it has gotten worse now. The clinic that me (and my family) go to, has initiated…
Of meditation and closing one’s eyes…
The west has sold meditation in a very superficial manner. Sit in this way, close your eyes and witness. And maybe an ‘Om’ or a…
Of Sat, Sang and Satsang…
सत्संगत्वे निस्संगत्वं, निस्संगत्वे निर्मोहत्वं। निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं, निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः ॥९॥ Satsaṅgatve nissaṅgatvaṃ, niḥsaṅgatve nīrmohatvam nirmohatve niścalitatvam, niścalitatve jīvanmuktiḥ from Bhaja Gōvindam, written by Jagadguru Adi Śaṅkarācārya Through good company…
Afraid of the unknown…
Status-quo bias – The tendency for people to stay committed to current situations, for fear of changing to the unknown. Status quo bias is also…
Of performance pressures…
We underestimate our own capabilities. And by we, I mean everyone. Without exception. I have seen this in various fields – be it martial arts, studies…
Of evil and perspective…
There is no good and evil, only perspectives. Mahishasura is probably the first (and only one) name that comes to mind when one speaks of…
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam…
अयंनिजःपरोवेतिगणनालघु-चेतसाम्।उदार चरितानांतु वसुधैवकुटुम्बकम्॥ ayaṃ nijaḥ paro veti gaṇanā laghu-cetasām |udāra-caritānāṃ tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam || 37 || This is mine, and that is yours – such thinking is…
The primordial sound…
அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதிபகவன் முதற்றே உலகு. Akara Mudhala Ezhuththellaam AadhiPakavan Mudhatre Ulaku (1) The alphabet begins with the “A” sound, so does the Universe begin…
Let’s pray!
Eid is celebrated across the Gulf today. And so we decided that it’s time to pay a visit to the divine. We have a temple…
as you think…
तस्मात् यत् पुरुषः सनसाअभिगच्छति। तत् वाचा वदति। तत् कर्मणा करोति। यत् मनसः रेतः प्रथमं आतीत्। तद् कामः अग्रे समवर्तताधि। तत् एषाअभि अनूक्ता । Whatever one…
If not you…
If I am not for myself…who will be? If I am for myself alone…who am I? If not now…when? And if not you…who? Four phrases…
Is the black belt a culmination?
A black belt in Karate is an achievement…a big achievement. Its a culmination of years of blood and sweat, of hard toil, of pain and…
The more we get, the more we want…
भोगा न भुक्ता वयमेव भुक्ताः, तपो न तप्तं वयमेव तप्ताः । कालो न यातो वयमेव याताः तृष्णा न जीर्णा वयमेव जीर्णाः ॥ bhogā na bhuktā vayameva…
What do we take with us?
नामुत्र हि सहायार्थं पिता माता च तिष्ठतः । न पुत्रदारं न ज्ञातिर्धर्मस्तिष्ठति केवलः ॥ २३९ ॥ nāmutra hi sahāyārthaṃ pitā mātā ca tiṣṭhataḥ | na putradāraṃ na jñātirdharmastiṣṭhati…
Of earth days and earth hours…
ईशावास्यमिदं सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् । तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम् ॥ īśāvāsyamidaṃ sarvaṃ yatkiñca jagatyāṃ jagat | tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasyasviddhanam || Īśopaniṣad…
A clue to the nature of your mind…
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत |श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्ध: स एव स: || sattvānurūpā sarvasya śhraddhā bhavati bhārataśhraddhā-mayo ‘yaṁ puruṣho yo yach-chhraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ…
Of success and being the best…
यशोधिगन्तुं सुखलिप्सया वा मनुष्यसंख्यामतिवर्तितुं वा | निरुत्सकानामभियोगभाजां समुत्सुके वाङ्कमुपैति सिद्धिः || yashodhigantum sukhalipsayā vā manuśyasamkhyāmativartitum vā nirutsakānāmabhiyogabhājām samutsuke vānkmupaiti siddhih Kavya Prakasha Success itself is keen to…
The right desire…
सर्वं परवशं दुःखं सर्वमात्मवशं सुखम् ।एतद् विद्यात् समासेन लक्षणं सुखदुःखयोः ॥ sarvaṃ paravaśaṃ duḥkhaṃ sarvamātmavaśaṃ sukham |etad vidyāt samāsena lakṣaṇaṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ || Manusmriti 4.160 All that is…
No better time than now…
यदपि स्यादसमये यातो वनमसाविति ।अकालो नास्ति धर्मस्य जीविते चञ्चले सति ॥ yadapi syādasamaye yāto vanamasāviti |akālo nāsti dharmasya jīvite cañcale sati|| Buddhacarita 6.21, by Aśvaghoṣa Though…
of expectations and rewards…
उदेति सविता ताम्रस्ताम्र एवास्तमेतिच। सम्पतौ च विपत्तौ च महतामेकरूपता॥ udeti savitā tāmras tāmra evāstameti ca | saṃpattau ca vipattau ca mahatāmekarūpatā || Kavya Prakash 7.245…
Of language and potential…
अमन्त्रमक्षरं नास्ति नास्ति मूलमनौषधम् ।अयोग्यः पुरुषो नास्ति योजकस्तत्र दुर्लभः ॥ amantramakṣaraṃ nāsti nāsti mūlamanauṣadham ।ayogyaḥ puruṣo nāsti yojakastatra durlabhaḥ ॥ Samayocitapadyamālikā There is not a syllable…
Leading by example…
Work, work and more work. Work is good. But when it is Ramadan, it gets tough, given the reduced timings. Am thankful that my team…
Of mirrors and identities…
आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन | सुखं वा यदि वा दु:खं स योगी परमो मत: || ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśhyati yo ’rjuna sukhaṁ vā yadi…
So, who defeated the mighty Arjuna?
Arjuna was the most prominent warrior in the Mahabharata. The best archer in the world, with the avatar of Sri Vishnu as a guide, and…
Of knowledge and intelligence…
विद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाद्याति पात्रताम् । पात्रत्वाद्धनमाप्नोति धनाद्धर्मं ततः सुखम् ॥ vidyā dadāti vinayam, vinayādyāti pātratām | pātratvāddhanamāpnoti, dhanāddharmam tatah sukham || Hitopadeśa Knowledge makes…
Flower samjhe kya? Fire hu main…
Main jhukega nahi! Sher ko pakadne ke liye shikari chahiye… I hate violence…but violence likes me! Three movies have changed the game. Actually four. The…
Of drops and drops and oceans…
क्षणशः कणशश्चैव विद्यामर्थं च साधयेत् |क्षणत्यागे कुतो विद्या कणत्यागे कुतो धनम् || kṣaṇaśaḥ kaṇaśaḥ ca eva vidyām arthaṃ ca sādhayet । kṣaṇa-tyāge kutaḥ vidyā kaṇa-tyāge kutaḥ dhanam ॥…
Fifty years and counting…
50 years. That’s how long my parents have been married to each other. We sometimes cannot wrap our heads around such numbers. You know, when…
Food for thought…
Today is Ekādashi – the 11th day of a fortnight in a lunar month, as per the Hindu calendar. Since there are two fortnights, Ekādashi…
Of treasures that measure eight…
The Germans call it milchreis, the Spaniards call it arroz con leche, Malaysians pulut hitam and the Greeks call it rizogalo…any guesses? How about ‘eight treasures’? or Shola-e-zard ? Still no?…
Like the seeker, is his truth…
Why do we pray? Today, on the occasion of Ram Navami, I booked a new temple for my house. I was running out of space…
रामो द्विर्नाभिभाषते…
द्विः शरं नाभिसन्धत्ते द्विः स्थापयति नाश्रितान् ।द्विर्ददाति न चार्थिभ्यो, रामो द्विर्नाभिभाषते ॥ Rāma doesn’t aim twice, he doesn’t give refuge twice, Rāma does not give…
Of weekends and rest…
Today’s the weekend. Or what we have been calling (largely) Saturday and Sunday from the past 90-odd years. A gift from the factory-based economy. A…
When is a good time to start?
So when is a good time to start? I spoke about Tithis in my past two posts. It is said that certain tithis are not…
Of 31 and 30, and 28 as well…
Yesterday I had written about how to read a Panchāngam, or Hindu calendar. Today, we look at a few more interesting concepts. While we normally…
How to read a Hindu calendar…
Reading a Hindu calendar can be complex, especially for beginners. So here is a quick guide, just for you! Start with a Panchāngam – Drink…
Of tubes and you…
A deviation today, from the usual Navratri talk. I have been watching various “village cooking” channels over the past few months. First, there was one…
When fasting is starvation…
Fasting without feeding your spirituality is starvation. All it does is make you feel hungry the whole day and crave for food, when you should…
It’s not just a cat who loves the number nine…
Number nine (9) is the most intriguing digit of all the numbers. It is an absolute number which when multiplied by any number always reproduces…
The dawn of a new age…
Friday, April 1, 2022 Sunrise: 06:15 AMSunset: 06:39 PM Tithi: Amavasya upto 10:23 AMNakshatra: Uttara Bhadrapada upto 09:10 AMYoga: Brahma upto 08:07 AMKarana: Nagava upto 10:23 AMKarana: Kinstughna upto 10:21 PMPaksha: Krishna Paksha Weekday: ShukrawaraAmanta Month: PhalgunaPurnimanta Month: ChaitraMoonsign: MeenaSunsign: Meena Shaka Samvat: 1943 PlavaVikram Samvat: 2079 RakshasaGujarati Samvat: 2078 Pramadi Twice in a year, followers of Sanatana…
Of Sharmajis and namkeens
I started watching Sharmaji Namkeen today. Rishi Kapoor’s last movie, one that he couldn’t complete, and so Paresh Rawal stepped in to make what should…
Of fruits and attachments…
Is attachment good? By attachment, I mean attachment to anything – people, joys, pleasures, money, materialism, even attachment to spirituality… Well, the rest you may…
Mine is bigger than yours…
Something that happened today reminded of something that I had written around a couple of years back. Reproduced here below. A few years back, I…
Of slappy awards…
Ok. The slap. By the way, for a star that has made quite a few action movies, when it came to it, he wasn’t able…
Of prunes and ragi…
A few days back I spoke of OTT, mobile and in general – screen addiction. Today, I speak about food addiction. Specifically, bad food addiction.…
Of EMIs and debts that we forget…
Who isn’t familiar with the concept of EMI? This craze has driven us to over-consume and under-save, and it is only getting worse with ‘solutions’…
Three steps forward, stepping back two…
அகழ்வாரைத் தாங்கும் நிலம்போலத் தம்மைஇகழ்வார்ப் பொறுத்தல் தலை. Akazhvaaraith Thaangum Nilampolath ThammaiIkazhvaarp Poruththal Thalai (151) To bear with those who revile us, just as the earth bears…
Of OTT and zombie land…
OTT…how the world changes! When the history of cinema will be written in the future, there will be two distinct parts – before OTT and…
Of Gods and preferences…
Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. And if you want to immerse yourself in the song, without a care in the world as…
Of correct meanings and right ones…
Yesterday, I wrote about Sojugada Soon Mallige, a soulful folk song that was beautifully sung by Ananya Bhat. As I reflected on the inner meaning…
I offer you flowers, and then some more…
Today, as I was driving, the OST of Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana (Kannada movie) was playing in the car when Sojugada started. A different rendition,…
Of buses and wheels…
The wheels on the bus go round and roundRound and roundRound and roundThe wheels on the bus go round and roundAll through the town If…
Of strangled priests and widows of railway employees…
Did you know that strozzapreti (a type of pasta) means ‘strangled priests’, or that vermicelli means ‘little worms’? Or that the Scottish word sgiomlaireachd (yes…
Of Holi changes…
I’m watching an intriguing new series on Apple TV – it’s called Severance. Set in a fictional company called Lumon Industries, the workers of Severance have…
Isn’t life a celebration?
Festivals are beautiful. They are fun, filled with joy, food and enjoyment. We celebrate, because life should be a celebration, with a bit of work…
Random thoughts on films…
Why do we watch films? Some of us watch to get entertained, others to get informed. Some watch to pass time, others to spend time…
Shyam piya mori…
Holi is usually called the “festival of colors”. But can you celebrate Holi, without these colors? As part of the countdown to Holi, a few…
Color me red…
श्याम पिया मोरी रंग दे चुनरिया । ऐसी रंग दे, के रंग नहीं छुटे ।धोभिया धोये चाहे सारी उमरिया ॥ लाल ना रंगाऊं मैं, हरी…
Discipline and consistency…
It’s been around two years since I started writing everyday. I know for sure it crossed the two year mark this month, but when? That…
Follow your heart…with a bit of brain alongside…
I took an interview today. During the course of the interview, I came to learn that the candidate’s passion was yoga, and she wanted to…
Of the not-so-small businesses
A small business is anything but small. What it lacks in size, it makes up in impact. If you think of it, prior to the…
Of cycles and bulldozers…and booze.
Tomorrow is the day that will determine India’s future for the next thirty years. Good, bad or ugly – all depends on tomorrow’s result. Twenty-four…
I’m dying to get this to you…
You know that your food kills you. Some slower than the others. The very process of eating and digestion takes us closer to the end,…
Or rights and wrongs and everything in between…
What is free speech? Is speech free, as long as you say what I think is right? Should the “bad” be allowed to speak at…
Of aims and dilemmas…
चलने ही चलने में कितना जीवन, हाय, बिता डाला!‘दूर अभी है’, पर, कहता है हर पथ बतलानेवाला,हिम्मत है न बढूँ आगे को साहस है न…
The sun shines in Malayalam…
Ok. My apologies. No Bachchan today. Try Venjaramoodu instead. For those unfamiliar with this tongue-twister of a name, you should see more Malayalam cinema. Suraj…
Of taverns and wine…
भावुकता अंगूर लता से खींच कल्पना की हाला,कवि साकी बनकर आया है भरकर कविता का प्याला,कभी न कण-भर खाली होगा लाख पिएँ, दो लाख पिएँ!पाठकगण…
Of googlies and magic…
If there was one bowler who I found enigmatic, it was Shane Warne. That first ball of the Ashes…he changed the way the world looked…
Of bullets and Shanaya…
How does one remain sane nowadays? With a war raging on one side and Shanaya Kapoor’s imminent launch in a Karan Johar wrapper? I wonder…
Of keyboards and wars…
Today’s war is not fought in the battlefield. It is fought in people’s minds. The downside of easy access to information is the promulgation of…
Om Namah Shivaya!
From the past few years, one cannot think of Mahashivratri, without thinking of Sadguru and Isha. The Mahashivratri event has now become the must-see event…
Don’t give up anything this Shivratri…
A lot of questions may arise in our minds, when we think of Shiva, and Shivratri – or the night of Shiva.
Of mitochondria and kill switches…
Do you know about Mitochondrial Eve? If you recall (or don’t) from biology class, mitochondria generate most of the chemical energy needed to power the…
Somethings to remember…
It’s good to be reminded of somethings sometimes. So today, as you wake up to birds chirping outside, and as you step into the washroom…
Of new mothers and sacrifices…
I had a couple of interviews earlier today. Both were women who had married and given up their jobs to take care of their kids.…
Of productivity and Putin…
Today was not a very productive day. When I say productive, I mean that kind – the LinkedIn motivator kind. I wake up at 4.30…
Is learning ever wasted?
Is learning ever wasted? Someone asked me this question the other day. She wanted to go for a course – short-term, around 2 weeks, and…
Of Malayalam and today…
Today is like Malayalam. That sentence did make sense, if you know what a palindrome is. 22-02-2022 is today’s date and reads the same forwards…
Of visionaries…
How does one write “visionary” in one’s own title on LinkedIn? Imagine going to a networking event and extending your hand out to someone who…
Of abilities and attitudes…
What matters more? The ability to learn, or the attitude towards learning? Some might argue that we don’t have the ability to learn anything and…
Of veggies and treadmills
Can you guess the most eaten vegetable in the United States? Well, I can safely say that whatever you guessed, was wrong. The answer, and…
My baby speaks to me!
Babies cry. Sometimes little, sometimes a lot. Sometimes when we least expect them to. And sometimes when we least want them to. As parents, we…
Of Zen stories and Kancho…
Zen stories. They bring back fond memories. Of times I spent with my master – sometimes in larger groups, other times just with the uchideshis…
Of stories and proofs…
A few days back, someone told me that they had received credible information (via WhatsApp), that Sita had not actually travelled to Lanka. The story…
Of jacks and trades…
A hectic day today. I had calls with three new clients, all of who are investment advisors, and target the retail segment. In English, you…
Of teeth inlays and baby outlays…
I was at the dentist today. It’s so bad nowadays, so bad that I qualified for the clinic’s in-house rewards program. No I am serious.…
Food, and more food…
Food. Yesterday – none of it. Today – too much of it. Yesterday was Ekādashi, and as usual, I fasted the whole day and night,…
Of breaths and molecules…
“In breathing, as in everything in life, the numbers are staggering—indeed fantastical. Every time you breathe, you exhale some 25 sextillion (that’s 2.5 x 1022) molecules…
Time and tide…
We love our watches, don’t we? Yes, their significance in actual timekeeping may have lessened, given the number of digital devices we have on us,…
On choices…
And we are in election mode again. Unless the “one nation one election” proposal is implemented, this election process will continue throughout the year, year-on-year,…
The art of coping…
ONE ART The art of losing isn’t hard to master;so many things seem filled with the intentto be lost that their loss is no disaster.…
Of destiny and perfection…
“It’s better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.” You may have read this quote…
Ships that sail, and you who changes…
If the ship on which Theseus sailed has been so heavily repaired and nearly every part replaced, is it still the same ship — and,…
Of simplicity, talent and ideology…
Simplicity, talent and ideology all captured in one frame. From morning, I have read a lot of op-eds, each trying to outdo the other in…
Vashishtadvaitam of Ramanujacharya
Rāmānujācharya was one of the most important exponents of the Sri Vasihnavism Sampradaya within Sanatana Dharma. He was also the proponent of the Viśiṣṭādvaita school…
Bolt, buckle and dust the child…
Ok. What’s common between bolt, buckle, clip, consult, left, dust, screen and Rohāmrta? They are all contronyms. That is, they can, depending on context, have…
Gaana.com during Khaana.com
What’s common between Aankh maare from Simbaa, Genda Phool from Baadshah, Aila Re from Suryavanshi, Rowdy Baby from Maari 2 and Naatu Naatu from RRR?…
Of storming brains and meliorat…
“Let’s brainstorm over lunch.” Today this usually means meeting up and thinking of ways to solve a problem – creativity, ideas, that sort of thing.…
One year down the line…
Today is Rohāmrta’s first English birthday. One year back – he arrived in this world, a bit earlier than anticipated. Was scheduled to come on…
Of budgets and taxes…
A lot of talk about money today. India’s budget is to be announced tomorrow. Personally, the only thing the middle class used to look for…
Of NPCs and players extraordinaire…
Today was a day of play. The first concerned an NPC, and the second – a slammer of Grands. If I am not making any…
North East West South…
Open any new site today. The ratio is roughly 30/70. That is, 30% of actual news, and 70% clickbait and tabloid-type articles. Top clickbaits include…
I’m not done yet…
Not me, that’s Kapil Sharma’s new show on Netflix. Was good (mostly), and ended with a beautiful English song, but what got me thinking is……
Thich Nhat Hanh
It’s funny how much our surroundings influence our emotions. Our joys and sorrows, likes and dislikes are colored by our environment so much that often…
Why make a business…again.
After yesterday’s article, some people messaged me…some agreed, some disagreed. But the consensus was that it sounds good in theory, but how does one go…
Why make a business?
What is the objective of a business? To make profit, you may say. Of course. No successful business runs at a loss. But how much…
A launch, and then some…
A big launch today. We made forays into the unknown, a very different field that few, if any, of my kind have ventured into. Most…
Of birthdays and celebrations…
Someone makes a wonderful dish. It is right up there with the best you’ve ever tasted, and you can’t have enough of it. “Give me…
Did you know?
Did you know that photons of light have no color, sound waves have no sound, olfactory molecules have no odors, and food molecules have no…
Just do it…no not Nike…
The issue is not that you are not capable of doing it…the issue is that I know you are capable but you don’t. A phrase…
Of hard work and perspectives…
120 calls. 10 hours a day. 6 days a week. 3,000 dirhams. Stressful work, with irate people at the other end of the telephone. No…
Of legacy and planning and sounding rich…
Have you heard of “legacy planning?” Chances are that you have. Or maybe “estate planning” or something similar…back in the days, it used to be…
Squeezing in more per day…
I get asked often, about how I manage to squeeze in so much in a day. Yoga, handling 5-6 business streams, operations, client calls, karate,…
Let’s go shopping!
I just bought dumbbells over Amazon – delivered in a day. I then looked at my order history, and was pretty amazed at the amount…
What do you really see?
We all have been through the biology class back in school when they taught us how we “see”. We have in fact drawn the two…
How much do you cost again?
What costs US$ 168 to build? The human body, by some accounts. Actually, an episode in Nova, a science show on PBS, came up with…
Makara Sankrānti…
The earth is tilted on it’s axis, and this is what gives rise to the seasons. This is the reason why we do not receive…
About that story…
Ok, a lot of you messaged me yesterday. The general consensus was that blockchain and crypto are no more a mystery to them anymore. Yes,…
Let me tell you a story…
Let me tell you a story. One day, a couple I know was having lunch with their friends who had come visiting after a long…
A world without work…
Imagine a world without work. No seriously. Imagine a world where you do not have to work, where tech or AI or robotics or whatever…
Another class of superhero…
Yesterday I wrote about superheroes, both aspiring and reel. I forgot to mention a third category- the real. Yes they do exist. Not the silly…
Of superheroes and SUPERHEROES…
I read this interesting article by Avivah Wittenberg-Cox in the Harvard Business Review. Titled “In praise of extreme moderation”, it speaks of the trend of…
The good ol’ days…
Don’t we see nostalgic posts of this kind every other day? On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and oddly enough, even on LinkedIn. The kind which romanticizes…
What’s going to happen?
Short answer – I don’t know. For that matter, neither do you. If we did, then a) the world would stop being fun and b)…
Day 5 – Of noise and silence…
There is so much noise in life nowadays… NOISE: any random fluctuations of data that hinders perception of a signal. That is the engineering version…
Day 4 – What you think..
Firstly, I don’t know how long this “Day (number) will go on. So if I stop this system midway, do overlook it:) Have you noticed…
Day 3 – who is in control?
Love it when it rains in Dubai. A rarity, each moment is savored to one’s satisfaction. Until of course, it continues and does not stop.…
Day 2 – A call with the master
A lot of work done today. I had set a target for the launch of a service and am staying on track. Also visited the…
Day 1 – good!
My first decision of the year – quit Facebook. While I was already not active on it for a few months now, I felt it…
Life is a box of chocolates…but prepare:)
Life is a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get… Forrest Gump “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans…
Party pooper alert!
Tomorrow is the last day of the calendar year. Another year flies by, without us really knowing what happened. Mostly Corona I guess. And now…
Of excuses and perseverance…
It’s late, you are tired, been working all day, Don’t worry, tomorrow you will be fresh again… You missed going out with friends, a bit…
The curse of plenty…
LIfe was much simpler in the late 80s/early 90s. A lot less choices to make. If you wanted ice cream, there was vanilla, strawberry or…
End of the year staples…
Top 10 books, top 10 movies, top 10 sayings, to 10 learnings.. A lot of top 10s float around on the web, in the dying…
I also love it when…
I also love it when you wake up in the middle of the night, sitting straight sleepy and crying, so that I can rock you…
I love it when…
I love it when you hold my hand with your tiny fingers and then grip it tightly and fall asleep… I love it when you…
Anything to be merry about?
It’s that time of the year when people start to wind down, commencing with Christmas and ending in the New Year. A time to spend…
Nurseries online??
Had a team meeting today, and among other things, came to know that the son of one of my colleagues has been attending nursery…online. Pray…
“Can” you do it?
I see him picking up an empty can, carefully, trying to coordinate his limbs, adjusting his grip, pausing, slipping, until he gets it upright, and…
An ode to the love of a child…
As he crawls slowly towards you, and then faster, Don’t you crawl towards him too? As he tries to stand, fumbles and reaches out to…
One man’s meat is another man’s paneer?
Ever since I turned vegetarian, somehow it is assumed that paneer is the pinnacle of my ordering power at any Indian restaurant. “Oh, you don’t…
A day of pain…
To desecrate is shameful, but is lynching justified? What God or greater power can condone such behavior? Is faith driven by what signifies the greater…
What drives you?
When you are young, the thrill of ambition drives you when you grow older, the thrill of passion drives you and when yet older, the…
Meta Universe
Meta – denoting something of a higher or second-order kind. There has been a lot of talk about the metaverse lately. The word “metaverse” is…
Gita Jayanti…
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते ।तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥ २२ ॥ ananyāś cintayanto māṁye janāḥ paryupāsateteṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁyoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham But those who always worship…
The return of history?
We have seen a lot of activity in restorations post 2019. First was the Ram Mandir, and now the Kashi Vishvanath corridor. Mathura is next,…
The death of service
It’s uncanny that I have such encounters when reading a book on the subject. As some of you may be aware, I am reading about…
Of analogies and principles…
eBay is a shark in the ocean We are a crocodile in the Yangtze River. If we fight in the ocean, we will lose. But…
Of perambulators and strollers…
It isn’t often that I come across a word that I am unfamiliar with. Today – chanced upon “perambulator”. Or pram as we know it.…
A few random thoughts…or are they?
As I was driving down from a client’s place late this evening, a few thoughts crossed my mind. Yesterday, I had read about Apple’s AR…
Time that runs away…
Time that runs away! Ricardo Gondim I counted my years and found that I will have less time to live from now on than I have…
4.5 – that’s the new number
Every once in a while, there comes across a piece of news that has deeper implications than what most people realize. Today’s announcement by the…
Learning is a superpower
The importance of the ability to learn is understated. And the importance of the ability to learn continuously is grossly understated. Gone are the days…
What’s with babies and empty boxes?
Best laid plans sometimes come to naught. And with babies, this is even more pronounced. As parents, we want to provide the kid with the…
Moments…just for you…
As I lie back and watch the blue sky Clouds, shapes, a bit of sun peeping from around the corner… A beautiful sight, a moment…
Of showing mirrors and seeing them…
Another blast from the past. I was reading a blogpost that I had written around the time that a BBC documentary on the horrific Nirbhaya…
50 years and counting…
Its 2021, and by now, many countries have celebrated their golden jubilees, and more. The United Arab Emirates celebrates it’s 50th tomorrow, but there is…
Of brains and drains…
Welcome to the club Parag! …so say Satya Nadella of Microsoft Corp, Shantanu Narayen of Adobe Inc, Arvind Krishna of International Business Machines Corp., Sundar…
Red pill…anyone?
I had written this blogpost in 2015. About detoxing from the digital medium. Its nearing the end of 2021. The disease still has not gone.…
Of MuNuXi and PiRhoSigma…
I know the subject of today’s post sounded like Greek and Latin, because, well, it is Greek. Part of the Greek alphabet to be precise.…
Oh…how times change…
Oh how times change, The new has become old, and the old has become new tailors are now bespoke, and shaves done with single blades,…
Rathnan Prapancha
I saw this movie on Amazon Prime today. Rathnan Prapancha (or Rathna’s world) is a Kannada movie, starring Dhananjaya, and directed by Rohit Padaki. I…
The Red Sari
Every once in a while, I stumble upon reviews of books that I had written back in the day. This is one of my favorites…
The Silurian hypothesis
I read an interesting article today. It had a central thought – what if we aren’t the first advanced civilization on Earth? Before you go…
Sometimes…
Sometimes I wonder if the world could be a better place, where people say what they mean and mean what they say… Sometimes I wonder…
Of my way and your way…
There are many paths to where you want to go, I’m on my way there too, so that you know… I walk the thorny bushes,…
On watching…
Watching a seedling grow, Is an exercise in patience, determination and grit… It may seem natural, but no It takes a lot of work and…
A step back…
A step back is not failure… Just like a step forward is not victory… Every once in a while, you may retreat momentarily Maybe just…
On looking…
On Looking: Eleven walks…came highly recommended. I haven’t read Alexandra Horowitz before, and the reviews on Goodreads were not the most encouraging. Nevertheless, I did…
I come from an India…
I come from an India, Where we worship anything that breathes…and also anything that doesn’t. I come from an India, Where the earth we walk…
Every once in a while…
न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः । अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। About a year back, I had written about the Nirvana Śhatakam. Today, I stumbled upon another poem, which isn’t anywhere in…
Of Gardens and Discovery…
We did a lot of rounds today. My friend is looking for a house to shift into, and so we grabbed a list from Nakheel…
To block, or not to block…
Am on the topic of blockchain, since I have been reading extensively about it. As I was getting ready to write today, I chanced upon…
Of orange mittai and prized possessions…
Came across something today. Those from the 90s and before will surely recognize this. Called “orange mittai”, these sugar candies were (and still are) the…
Of underdogs and dogecoins…
Two pieces of news have been making me think. One – the T20 Cricket World Cup that is close to conclusion. When it started, India…
Of 1 kid, then two…
So my friend landed today, with his 20-month old in tow. I watched carefully as she met my son for the first time – engaging…
When the new phase of life begins…
If you look closely, our lives play out in phases. There is a noticeable beginning and an end to these phases, and we generally know…
The circle of life…
I just had another tooth filled in – a bit of pain… My son is teething, and while we wait for his first teeth to…
Of birthdays and wishes…
Birthdays are all about wishes. And you get a lot of them. Ever since the explosion of email, one even gets wishes from the bank,…
Of Sankara and Vikram…
Two headlines caught my attention post Diwali. They are not related to each other by any stretch of imagination, but I found them to be…
Of Meenashis and Sundareshwars…
OTT has exposed Bollywood, and how! People spent the first half Covid discovering the beauty (and superiority) of regional cinema, from Malayalam to Telugu and…
Of Deepavali and symbolism…
Deepawali is known as the Festival of lights. Arguably the most well-known festival from India, Deepawali (or Diwali) is celebrated around the world, even in the…
Happy Deepavali!
ये हि संस्पर्शजा भोगा दु:खयोनय एव ते |आद्यन्तवन्त: कौन्तेय न तेषु रमते बुध: || 22|| ye hi sansparśha-jā bhogā duḥkha-yonaya eva teādyantavantaḥ kaunteya na teṣhu…
धनत्रयोदशी – Dhanatrayodashi
Did you know that today is celebrated as the National Ayurveda Day? Mostly not. We have come to associate this day with buying gold or…
The possibilities on your janma tithi…2
ज्योतिषाम् अपि तज् ज्योतिस् तमसः परम् उच्यते । ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञान-गम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य धिष्ठितम् ॥ १८ ॥ jyotiṣām api taj jyotis tamasaḥ param ucyate |jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ jñāna-gamyaṃ…
The possibilities on your janma tithi…
दीप्यते दीपयति वा स्वं परं चेति that which is light and enlightens others is known as Deepa… Tomorrow is my janma tithi, that time of…
The Diwali week begins tomorrow…
Right. The biggest festival of them all is upon us. Deepavali (as I like to call it) signifies much more than what most of us…
Of cine smiles and tears…
Cinema is entertainment like no other. It makes us live out our dreams, and in some cases, helps us see reality. Today was a day…
Of bails and shades…
It finally happened, so now we can all go back to our daily lives. For 20-odd days, every news headline read the same. Now that…
Of bored meetings…
Oops, that was meant to read – Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors. By the way, why is it called the “Board’? Here…
Of Gold and salt…
Well, I learnt a bit about both this week. First – about gold. That it’s lure still attracts, but in ways that I didn’t quite…
Of Tithis and New Years…
The lunar calendar can be confusing, or invigorating, depending on which side of the fence you are on. If you are on the boring side,…
Of 20s and moons…
Ok, I watched a match after a long time, and India lost. Terribly. India-Pakistan matches used to be evenly balanced – our batting vs their…
Of crustaceans and You Tubers…
Two bits of information caught my attention today. One was about Epishura, and the second was about Li Ziqi. Now, chances are that you have…
Add the Gāyatri to your daily life…
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय।तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय ॥ ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः ॥ बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् 1.3.28। asato mā sadgamaya, tamaso mā jyotirgamaya, mṛtyormāmṛtaṃ gamaya We have…
Just do it!
A break from the Gāyatri series today. Not in practice, just the blog. A few things caught my attention today. One – how difficult (or…
Theory is good, but…
That is why this great mantra dhīyo yo naḥ pracodayāt prays not for these ephemeral constituents of our imagined glory in this world. It asks for our…
Chhandas forms the base…
“The body has its own natural obligation to get subjected to the process of the movement of time, and thus has to one day or…
Savitr, and the Gāyatri chhandas…
Did you try the task that I put across yesterday? I did. Woke up, had a bath, performed basic yog and prānāyāma and then sat…
A sound by any other tālā will not sound as sweet…
तत्स॑वि॒तुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑धीमहि । धियो॒ यो नः प्रचो॒दया॑त् ॥ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasyadhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt We all know the above as being the Gāyatri…
Gāyantam trayati gāyatrī
गायन्तं त्रायते यस्मात् गायत्री प्रोच्यते बुधै: That which protects the person who recites it with full consciousness… The Gāyatri mantra is one of the most…
Navrātri – Day 9
श्रियं दिशतु वः शंभोः श्यामः कण्ठो मनोभुवा ।अङ्कस्थपार्वतीदृष्टिपाशैरिव विवेष्टितः ॥ १ ॥ śriyaṃ diśatu vaḥ śaṃbhoḥ śyāmaḥ kaṇṭho manobhuvā |aṅkasthapārvatīdṛṣṭipāśairiva viveṣṭitaḥ || 1 || May Śiva, Neelakantha,…
Navrātri – Day 8
The penultimate day. Yesterday’s Nirjala Vrata was easier than today’s fast. Once you have a fruit, the body realizes that it the option is still…
Navrātri – Day 7
ॐ जयन्ती, मङ्गला, काली, भद्रकाली, कपालिनी। दुर्गा, शिवा, क्षमा, धात्री, स्वाहा, स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते॥ एष सचन्दन गन्ध पुष्प बिल्व पत्राञ्जली ॐ ह्रीं दुर्गायै नमः॥ ওঁ জয়ন্তি, মঙ্গলা,…
Navrātri – Day 6
Six down, three to go. But these are the top three. There is the Mahā Ashtami – culminating in the Sandhi puja, then the Mahā…
Navrātri – Day 5
Someone asked me today – you follow Bengali rituals, Punjabi rituals, processes from the South of India…where are you from exactly? As predicted, today may…
Navrātri – Day 4
Tamas has been taken care of. Rajas is next. These four days, I haven’t had tea or coffee. Most of us find caffeine to be…
Navrātri – Day 3
Have come one-third the way, two-thirds remain. Navrātri is also an important occasion because of the opportunity to socialize. People visit each other’s houses, exchange…
Navrātri – Day 2
The second day is also easy. You still have the passion, the energy to go through the vrata. You will feel a slight change towards…
Navrātri – Day 1
The first day is also the easiest. Some people think otherwise, but in my experience, the first day is the easiest to get by. You…
The significance of nine…
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike .śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo’stu te .. The number nine holds special…
Of memories and lineages…
Tomorrow is Bhadrapada Amavasya, a day when one remembers one’s ancestors and performs pujas for them. The following day is the start of Navrātri. Why…
Of fasting and variety…
It’s that time of the year again. Navratri, Durga Puja and Dussehra…celebrations and pujas, fasting and overeating. Those nine days have it all… Last Navrātri…
Of vacay goals and dazed sons…
You cannot have your cake and eat it too. Of late, news websites have been carrying less of news and more of advertorials and snippets…
Of Fathers and nations…
Today is the second of October. Usually celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti. The “Father of the Nation” is omnipresent across the political spectrum. Statues adorn the…
Of seekers and believers…
“In the Middle Ages people believed that the earth was flat, for which they had at least the evidence of their senses: we believe it…
Let’s watch ambitions soar…
I had written earlier about my personal experience in Dubai, and how we all stand together to welcome the world to visit us, to know…
Of hulking and sulking…
And so the Congress has done it again. Just when they were cruising in Punjab, with the elections not too far away, they got themselves…
Addicts, but what is the solution?
After yesterday’s post, a lof of you got back to me asking for solutions. Yes, we are addicted, but how do we change this? Well,…
Addicts…all of us!
Aren’t we? IOS 15 has a new feature called “focus”. For those minutes and hours that we need to spend on one thing, without any…
How do we intend to get around?
Mobility is a bit broken, isn’t it? I mean, it shouldn’t take so much to ferry people from point A to point B. Yet, mankind…
Bruce Lee and his letters…
Any mention of Bruce Lee brings to mind a thin, reed-like but chiseled physique, a cat-like cry and a kick faster than the eye can…
Of quizzes and sandstorms…
There are some days that pass without much consequence, but still end up being spent well… It started with us receiving the news that a…
Of kanyas and daans…
Ok, the Alia ad has set a lot of tongues wagging. One side applauds, denouncing “regressive” practices and questioning why women are demeaned and equated…
This is our time…welcome to Expo 2020
In India, we have a concept of Janmabhoomi, and Karmabhoomi. Janmabhoomi is where one is born, where you are a citizen of, the passport you…
Of Fintech and money management
Money is simple – it is a promise. Made by the Central Bank of the country, to honor it when presented, and to assign a…
Of loans and favors…
What does a relationship of fifteen years mean to you? Trust, loyalty and respect? If you are a bank, apparently none of the above. In…
श्री गणेश चतुर्थी – Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi (Vināyaka Chaturthī) or Vinayaka Chavithi (Vināyaka Chavithī) is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Ganesha. It falls…
Of speech and perspectives
So my son has started to say da-da da-da. Although I would love to believe that he actually prefers me to everyone else, that sadly…
Of prime ministers and Prime Ministers
Ok, a lot of you knew this post was coming, isn’t it? Well, I don’t have to take you through the journey of the man…
Of visitors and festivals
Time does fly past – it seems like just the other day in 2020 when we entered lockdowns, and now we are nearly the end…
Of creating and cleverness…
When I was growing up in India, there were only two qualifications that mattered – MBBS and B.E. In English – doctors and engineers. Parents…
Of apples and wearables…
Here it is! Another Apple event, and another set of iPhones, iPads and AirPods to wow our senses and empty our bank balances. I love…
Of cars and journeys – the sequel
A couple of days back, I had spoken about my hunt for a car. Well, it seems that I have found one and will soon…
Leaderless consensus…possible?
The world is structured in one way. Technology is now trying to make it change. Our society, our financial system, work, play, interests…all have traditional…
Of cars and journeys…
So I am on the lookout for a new (actually used) car. I had sold my earlier car just before COVID hit us, and I…
Ganapati Atharvashirsha
श्री गणेशाय नमः! Shri Ganesha is among the most popular deities in the Hindu Pantheon. He is worshipped in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bali,…
Of square pegs in round holes…
Am helping a client out with interviews for a CEO position at their startup. Resumes! And LinkedIn! You sometimes miss the days of cover letters…
Of new ventures and old scores…
Starting a new venture is like a relationship – you don’t really know what you are getting into unless you take the plunge. And so…
Of teachers, and teachers…
A famous line from Casino Royale – there are dinner jackets and there are DINNER JACKETS – this, is the latter… In the same vein,…
Of knowledge and illusions…
Knowledge is an illusion. No, this isn’t some catchline – it really is an illusion. We all think of ourselves as rational beings, able to…
Of hobbies and recreation
Did you know that the etymology of the word “hobby” is “hobby”, which meant a small horse? The word then went on to become “hobby…
Of confidence and persistence
I took an interview today. It was for a junior position at my consultancy, and so I was looking for a certain basic skillset, presentability…
Of becoming owners and running companies
One of my clients just got licensed in the DIFC. They are three professionals, who got together to launch an investment advisory business. Their first…
Of celebrations and the mundane
So the festivities came to an end today. Well, at least for now. Ganesh Chaturthi is in September, Durga Puja in October, and Diwali in…
जय श्री कृष्ण!
Krishna, Kishan, Madhav, Banke Bihari, Gopala, Kanhaiya, Ranchhod, Parthasarathy, Ishvara…the many names and the many facets of the personality of the most loved God in…
When does God appear?
या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी |यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुने: || 69|| yā niśhā sarva-bhūtānāṁ tasyāṁ jāgarti sanyamīyasyāṁ jāgrati bhūtāni sā niśhā…
Of queens and trips…
Trips…short or long…have some commonalities. There is the booking, and then the planning, and then the packing, and then the journey. You then have the…
Of pools and staying relevant
So here I am, in sunny Fujairah, a two hours drive from Dubai. A slightly different world than what I have come to be used…
Of names and good company
Had a meeting today where I discussed a structure with a potential client. We got talking and they asked me about the name of my…
Of staycations and work…
What do bromance, shopaholic, brunch and romcom have in common? They are all portmanteaus! At the risk of sounding like a certain Tharoor, portmanteaus are…
It doesn’t have to be crazy at work!
Just finished an interesting book by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Actually two. One is the title of this blog. The other is called…
Of Humanoids and Blocks of chains
The past week has seen a flurry of activity. I have been on the phones constantly, speaking with clients on various topics in Fintech –…
रक्षाबन्धनवर्णनम् – Rakshabandhanvarnanam – the history of Rakshabandhan
Contrary to popular belief, Rakshabandhan did not originate during Mughal times. According to the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, Shri Krishna, in a long narration to Yudhiṣṭhira, speaks…
OTT and the cinema experience
I recall there was a huge outcry when Kamal Hassan had announced his plans to release Vishwaroopam simultaneously on OTT and in theaters. This was…
Of masks and freedom…
I saw a lot of faces staring at me as I walked into the DIFC today. Not quite as delusional to think that this was…
Ekādashi – fasting as a service
Today is Ekādashi – the 11th day of a fortnight in a lunar month, as per the Hindu calendar. Since there are two fortnights, Ekādashi…
Of ideas and disruption…
Every quarter, I sit through a few presentations of people who want to change the world. A very few of them, if any, end up…
All in a day’s work…
Just a couple of days back, I had written on cricket and patience, and my friend Neelakantan’s relaxed weekend watching the ball being tossed around…
Of independence and responsibility…
Ṛṇatraya literally means ‘three debts’. The idea of ṛṇatraya (pronounced as rina-traya), the three debts under which every human being is born, has been referred…
Of discipline and dedication
I am a martial artist, and so two traits that come naturally to me are discipline and dedication. Almost like second nature. I guess thirty…
Of cricket and patience
I remember growing up on a healthy dose of India-Pakistan cricket encounters and five-day test matches that mostly ended in a draw. The one-dayers were…
ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿੱਖਾਂਗਾ
You didn’t understand the title right? It’s in Punjabi. Even if you are a Punjabi, and it is your mother tongue, there is a high…
Of nursery rhymes and happy babies…
Nursery rhymes are an odd bit. Children enjoy them, non-stop, on loop. Adults however, have a “U-shaped” relationship with them. We start by enjoying them…
Of art and creativity…
Does acrylic painting on small rocks denote a creative mind? An interesting debate come up this evening. What constitutes art? When does someone transcend from…
The Vetāla series…
25 stories. 162 posts. Over 7 months. This was the Vetāla series, from the original Sanskrit version. When I started the series around December of…
The finale…
Read the previous part here… “Oh mighty king! The sovereignty of the Vidyādharas,which was desired by the evil ShāntiShila, is now yours, once your life…
Of spears and medals…
YES! Need I say more? Subedar Neeraj Chopra threw a spear in Tokyo, and struck our hearts back home. For once, cricket took a backseat,…
The king is triumphant…
Read the previous part here… “To think that you would take up this task at such a desolate place, in the dead of the night!”…
The conclusion…
Read the previous part here… “So, when he asks you to perform the ashtānga-namaskarā, you should reply – “I don’t know this method. Please demonstrate…
Of phone calls and messaging…
The grass is always greener on the other side isn’t it? For those of us, like me, who grew up in an era where it…
What is my duty in life?
I chanced upon an article that I wrote earlier, about swadharma. I spoke with an investment banker today, one who has been struggling for a…
Of innovation and learning
I come from a time when one had to sit with a DTP (Desk Top Publishing) specialist to layout a magazine. Or even a simple…
Of good news and new beginnings…
So, right on the hells on my post last night, comes the delightful news of PV Sindhu becoming the first Indian Olympian to win two…
Of sportsmen and spirits…
It’s the Olympics once again. And it’s us once again, clamouring for more than just 1 or 2 medals, and cheering every match in the…
The twist…
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, about the children who were born in the course of time to the mother and…
Will King Vikram reply?
Read the previous part here… “My mind is tortured at the thought of your feet, that deserve to walk on flowers, walking on thorns instead.…
Of convincing and relenting…
Read the previous part here… “Father, don’t speak this way. A man’s house is empty, without a wife. Have you not heard what Mūladeva said?…
Of wives and promises…
Read the previous part here… This village was the abode of thieves, people who robbed even their own neighbors of life and property…there was not…
गुरु पूर्णिमा – Guru Purnima
On today’s occasion of Guru Purnima, I bow down to all my Gurus, and present before you the various interpretations of the word Guru, it’s…
Anna Prāshana – an introduction to a new world
Samskāras are often seen as ritualistic and archaic. For most people, such practices do not fit into a modern lifestyle. Our minds have been conditioned…
Of cross-connections…
Read the previous part here… “At first he cried because he was sad that he had to abandon his body, one that had grown with…
Of being agile and Kanban…
The Emirates is closed for six days. A long weekend, that is actually a full week of holidays. And so I decided to use this…
Crying, and dancing…
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, why did the sanyāsi first weep before entering the young man’s body? And then why…
He is alive, but…
Read the previous part here… “You are the fool, not me, you old idiot! I am no longer your shishyā, and you are no longer…
The guru and the shishya fight…
Read the previous part here… When Devasoma became sixteen years of age, that boy, who had captivated everyone’s hearts with his knowledge, modesty and good…
The sanyasi who first wept, and then danced…
Read the previous part here… “The fourth however, saw that the result was a body of a lion. He knew the dangers of making that…
Of growth, returns and peace of mind…
I came across an interesting piece of information yesterday, and a conversation that I had with a client today brought that piece into mental focus.…
Of parents and responsibilities…
I am a new parent, and so I am experiencing everything for the first time. A lot of questions that I had, are now being…
Laze around, it helps!
Ok, everyone has their lazy days. I mean everyone – even the productivity pundits have days when they just don’t feel like doing much. If…
Of inherent potential, and recognizing it…
We underestimate our own capabilities. And by we, I mean everyone. Without exception. I have seen this in various fields – be it martial arts,…
Of professionalism and indemnities…
It’s been a rough week. Business has been good, but it is the other stuff that kindof got to me. The first was a business…
Don’t showoff…
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, who among the four was guilty of bringing the lion to life? Who made the…
The worst mistake of all…
Read the previous part here… “And when the flesh of any animal has been included on a piece of bone, I can produce the skin…
Of magic and skill…
Read the previous part here… “If fate does not want it, you cannot even die by your own wishes.” “I now intend to visit a…
If fate does not want it…
Read the previous part here… When they finally reached Yajñasthala, they came to know that their maternal grandfather had long died. Their uncles gave them…
The four brothers and a lion…
Read the previous part here… “But Maṇivarman? When he saw. his wife lying dead in another man’s arms, from the intense longing that she had…
Confusion of Yepic proportions…
No, that isn’t a typo. Anju says that I crack dad jokes. And so, today’s title humors her. There are multiple versions of the “Yuga”…
It was Maṇivarman…
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, who among the three was more blinded with passion? Who was the most infatuated?” “Remember,…
A resolution…and a catch…
Read the previous part here… In the morning, the relatives of the lovers came to the garden, called by the gardeners who discovered the corpses.…
Tragedy strikes…
Read the previous part here… “Tonight, I will bring Anaṅgamañjarī to the garden that forms part of her house. You should be present outside at…
Lonely and alone…
I like to be by myself, when I am not well. When people hear this, they think that I am lonely. Actually, there is a…
A stithh in time…
So day 1 of the canal of the root, She really did drill into my toot, An x-ray and a filling, and a little bit…
An arrangement is made…
Read the previous part here… “Look around, O Kamalākara, this is such a beautiful garden! Try to get out of this sad mood, and cheer…
Life isn’t about just being serious
My tooth aches. AND BADLY. All the knowledge in the world, can be forgotten in a single instant…not due to a curse, but an aching…
Is a friend indeed…
Read the previous part here… Mālatikā then sprinkled cold water on her friend’s face, and lay her on a bed of lotus leaves, placed a…
A friend in need…
Read the previous part here… The sight of each other bound them into a fascination for each other, as if Kāma himself had brought them…
Love strikes…
Read the previous part here… But even though she was married, Arthadatta would not let his daughter leave his house and go to her husband’s,…
Anaṅgamañjarī…
Read the previous part here… एकिवशंोवतेालः The twenty-first story The story of Anaṅgamañjarī अथ गत्वा पुनः प्राप्य शिंशपातस् ततो ऽग्रहीत् ।स त्रिविक्रमसेनो ऽंसे वेतालं तं…
Preparing to die…
Oh, this does not sound like a Vetāla story! Well, to tell you the truth, I was all about to start the 21st story when…
Seeking peace…
Read the previous part here… So International Day of Yog came and went, and I hope that you made something of it. Other than striking…
Take my breath away…
Read the previous part here… Tomorrow is International Yoga Day. How do I start yoga? Quite a common question yes? Most people are used to…
Yoga, yog and the missing a…
So International Yoga Day is upon us once again. And it’s that time of the year, when we all receive mails from studios, big and…
Action and meditation
A casual discussion on mediation today, got me thinking about how people view the act of meditation. The person in question had seen a few…
This is why he laughed…
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, why did the boy laugh when his death was imminent?” “Remember, if you know the…
Why did he laugh?
Read the previous part here… King Candrāvaloka beheld the boy who stood before him, his courageous demeanor, and the tej (glow) on his face, and…
Preparations for the sacrifice…
Read the previous part here… “This body is impure, and gathers dirt from the day it is born. It is the abode of all pain,…
Little in age, wise in thought…
Read the previous part here… The boy was special. Even at this tender age, he always took pleasure in being of assistance to his fellow…
The statue of gold…
Read the previous part here… The next morning, he called a meeting of his cabinet of ministers, and told them what had happened. One of…
Find a boy!
Read the previous part here… “Please forgive me, I have committed a sin but unknowingly. Please think of me as someone who has come to…
Jvālāmukha…
Read the previous part here… And so the tired King Candrāvaloka dismounted from his horse, fed it some grass and water, so that it was…
The journey back home…
Read the previous part here… Rishi Kaṇva was pleased. “You have promised to protect all living beings, and have thus made me very happy. You…
Back on stage…
Here is what I thought yesterday. Today, I showered, shaved, put on a new shirt, and reached the venue an hour in advance. Me and…
Back to speaking…
Well, the title is a bit misleading. I have been speaking, and speaking quite a bit the past one year. Zoom and Google Meet have…
Advice and a boon…
Read the previous part here… The āshrama was full of rishis and sādhakās, who went about their daily tasks. In the middle, under a tree,…
Meeting Rishi Kaṇva…
Read the previous part here… “Truthfully, his beauty can satisfy the thirst of the whole wide world…” As she thought this way, she rose up,…
The love of Candrāvaloka…
Read the previous part here… Like Indrā, he made mighty birds fall to the ground, by clipping their wings with his sharp vajra-like arrows… In…
The pain of Candrāvaloka…
Read the previous part here… Manaḥsvāmin was paid for his services, and so he wasn’t considered the father. The thief, on the other hand, gave…
Future of work?
For those who don’t know yet, my whole team and me have been working remotely, from 15 months now. That is more than a year,…
Nineteen done, six to go…
Well, I finished the nineteenth Vetāla yesterday, and there are six more to go. I hope that you are enjoying these stories. As I had…
Who is the true father?
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, to which hand should the king offer the pinda-dānā? And what did this all mean?“…
The dilemma…
Read the previous part here… In this city, King Candraprabha fasted and performed tapasya, distributed more of his wealth and fed more Brāhmans, and performed…
The pilgrimage…
Read the previous part here… “You should not have such doubts, and hesitate so much! I have to go, for my father’s sake, and I…
To mask or not to mask…
You can read the previous part here… And so, when I get my second dose tomorrow, I will say a small prayer of thanks. For…
One for the father…
Read the previous part here… “This child has been given to me by none other than Śiva himself” thought Sūryaprabha as he took the infant…
The final frontier…hopefully
You can read the previous part here… So I had provisioned for a quiet day, without work and spent largely with myself. Am liking it,…
Candraprabha…
Read the previous part here… When Manaḥsvāmin received the money, he went with the maid to the chambers of Dhanavatī, where she was waiting for…
A deal is a deal…
Read the previous part here… Even through Manaḥsvāmin was of high birth, and well-educated, he was so bound by his desires that he fell in…
The newly-wedded widow…
Read the previous part here… “I may have done a lot of bad deeds in my life, but I want to make up for at…
The thief’s proposal…
Read the previous part here… As she ran along in the darkness, as fate would have it, her shoulder brushed hard against a thief who…
The wife and the thief…
Read the previous part here… The talk of मार (Manmatha) only happened during lovemaking, and not due to people speaking of death… हेमदण्ड (clubs of…
The importance of good company
As I was browsing through the archives, I chanced upon this post that I had made approximately a year back. Something happened today that made…
He had everything, except…
Read the previous part here… “Candrasvāmin performed all the tasks in the required manner, yet his mind was far from pure. His dedication was only…
Of starts and restarts – part 2
Read the previous part here. Aha. So I wrote this yesterday, and opportunity presented itself today. Actually, I wouldn’t call it a welcome opportunity, but…
Of starts and restarts
We have all been there isn’t it? The big resolve to do something, to start anew. An exercise regime, a diet, a new productivity mantra,…
Is desire for wealth harmful?
आदि शङ्कराचार्यः (Ādi Śaṅkarācāryaḥ) is arguably the most important and revered guru in Sanātana Dharma. Today is observed as Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti, or the birth…
An unwavering mind, and a firm resolve
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, why was the power of that illusion lost to both the sanyasi and Candrasvāmin, even…
The experience…
Read the previous part here… “My son, when, while repeating this mantra, you see the illusion, I will recall you to consciousness by the power…
The lesson…
Read the previous part here… And so, prodded on by his fate, he went to the sanyasi, fell at his feet, and pleaded with him……
A request…
Read the previous part here… There, he saw a maiden who seemed to be their mistress. She was exceedingly beautiful, and it was as if…
The teacher and the student…
Read the previous part here… “Now where can I go in this pitiable condition, all beaten up, naked and covered in dust and grime? What…
Left for dead…
Read the previous part here… One day, this son of Devasvāmin entered a gambling den, to fulfill his desire to gamble. The tumbling dice of…
Oh, why did you gamble…
Read the previous part here… आरब्धे हि सुदुःकरे ऽपि महतां मध्ये विरामः कुतः? How can great men leave in the middle of a task that…
Celebrating a mother…not just for a day.
पृथिव्यां पुत्रास्ते जननि बहवः सन्ति सरलाःपरं तेषां मध्ये विरलतरलोऽहं तव सुतः। pṛthivyāṃ putrāste janani bahavaḥ santi saralāḥparaṃ teṣāṃ madhye viralataralo’haṃ tava sutaḥ। मदीयोऽयं त्यागः समुचितमिदं…
He is more praiseworthy…
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, who was more noble, Yaśodhana or Baladhara? Who was more praiseworthy? “Remember, if you know the…
Done and dusted…
Ok bye. See you tomorrow. Hopefully no fever. No body pain. Just pure Covid swimming in my blood. I mean vaccine. You can read the…
Instant MBBS…
Yes, you read it right…the instant MBBS degree is now available on major online e-learning platforms. In fact, you must have already received a call…
An offer he did refuse…part 2
Read the previous part here… “My dear king, why are you so disturbed? You are the king of this city – you can take her…
An offer he did refuse…
Read the previous part here… King Yaśodhana saw her, shining like a flame rising from the fire of love, when fanned by the winds from…
The Bengal debacle?
Yes, the finale turned out to be a tab bit one-sided. After all, the BJP did try their best this time. Building on a stunning…
Yaśodhana’s dilemma…
Read the previous part here… “And so we must tell the king that she does not have the requisite qualities.” The ministers decided this, and…
The story of the beautiful Unmādinī
Read the previous part here… “Being ordinary, he yet went to extraordinary lengths to save an innocent life, and offer himself even though he faced…
The discipline involved in learning
Today is celebrated as International Dance Day, on the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet. Closer home, in India,…
A bit of this and that…
A season of debates. Actually, a day of debates. From politics, to relationships, to services. It is tough to debate. It is easy to fight…
Ordinary, and extraordinary…
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, who was more noble, Jīmūtavāhana or Śaṅkhacūḍa? Who deserved more praise? “Remember, if you know…
A happy end to the story…and a question…
Read the previous part here… “Oh king of kings! I am pleased; you are a man of extraordinary abilities and compassion, and matchless in generosity.…
Dealing with relentless despair
I know, I am back to a post on COVID. But I cannot help it, and nor can you. It is all over the news,…
And resurrection…
Read the previous part here… “This is the same Jīmūtavāhana who sacrifices his life for others, and is renowned in the three worlds for his…
Jennyfer sempai – you live on…
Jennyfer sempai is no more… My first karate class was with Praveen sempai. My second, was was Jennyfer sempai. That was 30 years ago. You…
A tragedy…
Read the previous part here… “I am a Nāga! And why do you ask such questions? You are to act in accordance with your natural…
This Rām Navami…
द्विः शरं नाभिसन्धत्ते द्विः स्थापयति नाश्रितान् । द्विर्ददाति न चार्थिभ्यो, रामो द्विर्नाभिभाषते ॥ Rāma doesn’t aim twice, he doesn’t give refuge twice, Rāma does not…
Where is the tech when you need it?
This year India has 10-12 unicorns more, and we aren’t even halfway there yet. Almost all, if not all, of these are loss-making machines. With…
COVID and despair…
I started writing regularly when the lockdown commenced in March 2020. It is April 2021 now, and we are staring at another lockdown. One year…
Making a sacrifice…Part 2
Read the previous part here… And Garuḍa arrived, his large body temporarily blocking out the sun, and swooping down, picked up the valiant Jīmūtavāhana with…
Making a sacrifice…
Read the previous part here… “Mother, I am a Vidyādhara, and I have come here to save your son. I will offer my body to…
A kind-hearted savior…
Read the previous part here… It seemed that some soldiers had brought him there, and just left. An old woman, who had followed them, stayed…
The pain of sacrifice
Read the previous part here… “And from that day, Vāsuki sends a snake to this shore every single day, and Garuḍa eats them. This heap…
Of snakes and Garuda
Read the previous part here… “The king felt happy at this suggestion and approved of the marriage, and so your brother has now gone to…
Welcoming changes again…
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विष्णुमायेति शब्दिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥ yā devī sarvabhūteṣu viṣṇumāyeti śabditā ।namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ ॥ Today is the new…
Fixing a marriage…
Read the previous part here… As soon as she said this, she made a noose with a cloth, fastened it to a branch of the…
Of prayers answered…
Read the previous part here… She then performed the arghya, offering the guests water to wash their feet and hands, and then garlanded him with…
Falling in love…2
Read the previous part here… “What is your friend’s name, and what beautiful family is she from?” The attendant replied… “She is the sister of…