REMEMBRANCE AMMAJI

Copyright@shravancharitymission

36th  DEATH ANNIVERSARY

    Moms are special. They are never too old for their children. They continue to bless. Even more special are their memories, when they are gone. That keeps rocking you, all your life. Look after her as long as she’s alive. As beyond that it is only sad remembrance. Few lines in her honour.

MOTHER

Years don’t distort,

Time doesn’t warp,

Lifetime doesn’t blot,

Mother’s priceless memories,

 Always remains atop.

*

Even when I know you’re not there,

Yet there is always something,

 That tells me,

You’re somewhere here and there,

Along my life and for my care.

*

In the measure of time,

You carried me up to nine,

Then cradled me with all the rhymes,

You fed me to grind,

And taught me to shine.

*

My maiden friend,

The first to comprehend,

My lifelong mentor,

And evergreen centre.

*

In the shackles of time

You were always mine,

But when shackles unshackled,

God took you away in no time.

*

And since you’ve gone

Life is bereft of umpteen charms,

But the soul connect is still alive,

That revives the vibes

And that’s how life thrives.

*

Of all you taught me,

Each virtue is still refreshed,

I May have forgotten school,

But you’re still afresh.

*

As time passes,

More of it comes along,

Just as your loving memories,

That keeps coming on and on.

*

Ma you’ll never fade,

You’ll always shine like the jade,

As long as I live,

And even beyond my days.

*****

TO ABANDON A DEPENDENT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE EVEN FOR HEAVEN

Copyright@shravancharitymission

By Kamlesh Tripathi

DHARMRAJ YUDHISTIR’S RELIGIOSITY

    When, Maharaja Yudhistir came to know. That Sri Krishna has ended his jeewan-leela. And, post that. Yadav’s too, have undergone self-destruction, because of infighting. He decided to coronate Arjun’s grandson Parikshit as the king of Hastinapur, and head for sanyas. Keeping the difficult decision in mind, he started preparing for it. To begin with he decided to give up the prestigious and coveted king’s costume and its jewelry. Following, which, he decided to enter into a maun-vrat and unlock his hair. Finally, he entered into veer-sanyas and left his Raj Bhawan, and started walking towards the north. When, his brothers and even his wife Draupadi started following him.

    Yudhistir’s decision to renounce the world and it’s so called—moh-maya created ripples in his mind. As a result of which, he stopped eating food and drinking water. He even stopped resting his body and mind and refrained from looking at anyone, in the eye. And, decided to keep moving without stopping anywhere. Until, he crossed Badrinath in the Himalayas. Where, his brothers and even his queen Draupadi were pacing up with him.

        After crossing Satyapath, Yudhistir entered the divine land of Swarga-rohan. But by now his brothers and his queen were extremely exhausted and they fell sick. Soon Draupadi, Nakul, Sahdev and even Arjun—they all fainted one by one and fell on the ground. The weather was freezing in Himalayas. So they couldn’t revive themselves and soon attained Him-Samadhi. Thereafter, the divine powers of the holy land sent them to Swarg where they attained moksha. But, even, these stupendous calamities couldn’t stop Yudhistir. As, he, was continuously moving, and never looked back. Even to catch a glimpse of his brothers or his wife. He was now bereft of rag-dwesh. In the end, even Bhimsen, the strongest out of them, also collapsed and went into Him-Samadhi.

    When, Yudhistir was about to reach the top most mount of Swarga-rohan. He was not alone. In spite of the fact, that his brothers and his wife Draupadi, had gone into Him-Samadhi on the way. As, there was a dog, that was continuously following him, right from Hastinapur. When, Yudhistir finally reached the mount. Devraj Indra sat in his viman and descended on earth to meet him. He welcomed him and said—‘you’re the epitome of Dharma. So the swarg belongs to you. Please sit in my viman. So, that, I can take you there.’

    When, Yudhistir asked about his brothers and his wife Draupadi. And requested, that they, too, be taken to swarg. Devraj replied—‘they have already reached there.’

    To which, Yudhistir made another request—‘can we take this dog also in this viman.’

    Indra replied—‘you being the quintessential of dharma. Why do you talk like a novice? How can a dog enter swarg? Isn’t it enough that this desecrated being has had my darshan.’

    Yudhistir, wasn’t convinced by Indra’s logic. So he said—‘but the poor dog is dependent on me. Because of my devotion he has followed me all the way from Hastinapur. To renounce a living being that is dependent on you is adharma. So, deserting this dependent is not acceptable to me. And without him, I’m not willing to enter swarg.’

        Indra tried to counsel Yudhistir again—‘Rajan! You attain swarg only with the fruits of punya. Had, this dog been a punyatma. He wouldn’t have been born as a dog.’

    Yudhistir politely said—‘God if that is the case. Then, I would like to donate half my punya to this dog.’

    ‘Dhanya ho, dhanya ho Yudhistir! I am very happy with you. And discarding the dog form, the Dharm-Devta appeared in front of him and blessed him.

    Moral of the story: Think thousand times, before you abandon someone who is dependent on you.

Story is from Mahabharat

GLOSSARY

-         Maharaja—Great king

-         Jeewan-Leela—mortal role

-         Sanyas—life stage of renunciation within the Hindu philosophy

-         Maun-vrat—avow to remain silent

-         Veer-sanyas—renunciation from exercising strength

-         Raj-bhawan—official residence of king

-         Moh-maya—all things in the world are not real; they are fallacy, a presumed reality of the world held by people.

-         Dharmacharn—good virtues

-         Him-Samadhi—meditative trance

-         Swarg—Heaven

-         Moksha—released from the cycle of rebirth

-         Rag-Dwesh—love and hate

-         Viman—mythological flying palace or chariot described in Hindu texts

-         Dharma—eternal law of cosmos

-         Darshan—divine audicience

-         Adharma—going against the law of cosmos

-         Punyatma—blessed soul

-         Dhanya ho—be blessed

-         Dharm Devta--God

*****

Copyright@shravancharitymission

DEAR SHRAVAN

I saw you here and I saw you there.

Even when,

 I know all very well,

You aren’t really there,

And every year on this day,

You do send me to despair.

*

When I reflect,

I still can recollect,

 Those lovely moments,

When you were born,

And I had thought,

We’ll be together lifelong,

But that was not to be.

*

In your fight for life,

I remember with gripe,

Seasons had come and seasons had gone,

Where time was kind but destiny was strong,

Though time fought well, yet destiny won,

As it snatched you,

With its divine intents.

*

Now that you’re gone,

There isn’t too much of a song,

Except for the noble mission,

That you had brought along.

*

You often come in my dreams,

That brings me loads of serene,

Is when, I willfully dream,

To serve those sick umpteens.

*

It is said,

Life is a mystery,

Where destiny is another name of cruelty,

But God is kind,

And time is like a serpentine.

*

And when I bring it upon myself,

I realise,

Your short span was indeed the mystery,

Where destiny pulled off the cruelty,

And between mystery and cruelty was God’s beauty,

But where time still meanders like the serpentine’s ferocity.

*

In this windswept life,

One more year goes by,

But I’m happy to tell you,

I’ve kept your mission alive.

So rest in peace,

For you have achieved your destiny.

***

In warm remembrance of our son’s birthday. Who left us some years back.

*****

POEM: THE RAT RACE

Copyright@shravancharitymission

THE RAT- RACE

In the heat of life,

There was never a summer,

But when the heat was over,

Only the winter got closer.

*

In my hectic life,

I was always uptight,

About things that mattered,

And also about things that didn’t matter.

*

In the days of heat,

Life was like a marathon race,

Where some pseudo brainwaves,

Had termed it as a rat race.

*

One initially thought,

It’s a onetime race,

But sadly, it turned out to be,

A lifetime of a race.

*

Where, the rats were surprised,

That it was some enterprise,

Where man stole the race,

And made it into a rat race,

And that too, without their gaze.

*

It all started well,

Like the string of jingle bells,

But soon the jingle was over,

And you were left as a rover.

*

There was so much to do,

And so much to improve,

Where I had my own dreams,

To brew and stew,

Until one day I realised,

I had a career to pursue.

*

Between the race and career,

Man had no breather,

Soon he became a teaser,

And with that a big schemer.

*

That resulted in endless pursuits,

And pointless disputes,

Bereft of generosity,

And full of ferocity,

Where humans were estranged,

And demons were ordained.

*

From exhaustive to repetitive lifestyle,

To loads of competition,

Until one day I realised,

Sanity was about to get paralysed.

*

As the stance of life was changing,

Where heat was evaporating,

Where winter was upstaging,

Grace was receding,

And where time was forsaking.

*

Is when I asked the creator,

What happens now?

When heat becomes cold,

Summer becomes winter,

Hectic become skeptic,

And I become rustic.

*

Nothing said the creator,

As good sense of life is always greater,

Then the rat race,

That happens to be a crater,

And in disguise a hater.

*

So come out of the it,

To live in the winter,

That also has a summer,

That also has a shelter.

*

For rat race is just a phase,

And phase should not be a craze,

And the ultimate is encased,

In the wisdom of faith.

***

By Kamlesh Tripathi

*****

COULD THE BRITISH RAJ HAVE BLUNTED THE INTENSITY OF CASTEISM IN INDIA?

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     It is said—‘In India you can change your religion but not your caste.’ But this reality almost met with a challenge, from the Britishers at the time of the British Raj which is largely unknown. In fact, had the British Raj, pushed its way through. It would have shown the way for abolishment of the caste system, all together. But they began only with criminals, by sending them to Andamans, better known as Kala Pani. (Literal meaning is ‘black waters’. But ‘Kala’ also signifies ‘kaal’—that signifies the time of death).

    If the British so wanted. In the eighty nine years of their dictatorial rule. They could have at least blunted the ferocity of the caste system in India, if not completely uprooted. But they had other nefarious designs. That was to divide and rule. So, on one hand they exploited the caste rivalry in the mainland. And on the other, they got rid of it by sending criminals to islands in Kala Pani. Where, they could rid them of their caste. Sadly, most of them were freedom fighters. Whom, they had held as prisoners.

        These remote islands in Andamans, were considered suitable to punish the ‘India Independence’ activists—called the freedom fighters. Not only were they isolated from the mainland. The overseas journey to the islands (Kala Pani) also threatened them with loss of caste. That could have resulted in social exclusion. But sadly, this was also corroborated by Hindu religious scriptures. These convicts were largely used in chain-gangs, to construct prisons, buildings and harbor facilities. Many were finally hanged and many died while building these structures. Where, they largely served to colonize the island for the British.

    That brings us, to the moot point. What about those Hindus, who were not prisoners? But have travelled overseas, either on business or pleasure. Have they also lost their caste identity, like those prisoners just because they crossed the seas? Because, as per the scriptures. Hindus who have travelled overseas, automatically lose their caste, and to retrieve it. They need to go in for a deep penance. Further, if we are to believe in the caste system. We also need to believe in the scriptures with equal measure. As both are ancient and part of our tenets. For it can’t be. That we believe in the caste system but give the other theory a grand miss. For our religious scriptures below, say it all.

    The offense of crossing the sea is known as “Samudrolanghana” or “Sagarollanghana.” The Dharma Sutra of Baudhayana (II.1.2.2) lists sea voyages as first of the offences that cause the loss of varna (caste). The Dharma Sutra suggests a person can wipe away this offense in three years by eating little at every fourth meal time. By bathing at dawn, noon and dusk; standing during the day; and seated during the night.

    The reasons behind the taboo include the inability, to carry out the daily rituals, and the sin of contact with the mlecchas (barbarians). The fear of crossing the seas also derives from the notion. That it entailed the end of the reincarnation cycle as the traveler was cut off from the regenerating waters of the Ganges. Such voyages also meant breaking family and social ties. And, according, to another belief in the pre-modern India the Kala Pani (sea water) was inhabited by the houglis, bad spirits and monsters.

    During the Age of Discovery, Portuguese sailors noted that Hindus were reluctant to engage in maritime trade due to this taboo. In the eighteenth century, the Banias of North India, considered, even the crossing of the Indus River, at Attock as a taboo, and underwent purification rituals upon their return. However, not all Hindus adhered to the taboo, and there were several Hindu merchants in Burma, Muscat and other places. 

    So, can we, then say. All those Hindus, who have travelled overseas, are now devoid of any caste?

By Kamlesh Tripathi

*****