Gathered Blooms

It was the day after Maha Shivratri after temple hopping of the ancient temples in and around Trichy in the great night of Shiva. My sister and I set out to offer our worship to Lord Vishnu at Srirangam, close to Trichy. After a fulfilling darshan of Sriranganathar coupled with tasty nibbles of the Prasad-pulisadham (tamarind rice) and thayirsadham (curd rice), we got into the car. As we engaged ourselves in a conversation waiting for the driver to return, a Sadhu approached us. He passed off easily as a traditional Indian Sadhu, clad in ochre robes. He had flowing hair and wore Kumkum on his forehead. It was beyond doubt that he approached us for alms; we casually handed out some money. There was a faint but a sure sign of gratitude on his face. He then immediately turned around and lifted both his hands above his head at the temple tower in adoration of the Lord and walked away quietly. This could seem as just another ordinary act of adoration of the Lord…. May be the mo...

I was bird watching a few months ago at home when the lady who sweeps asked me in Tamil, " ஏனுங்க தன்னை போல இருந்துடீங்க ?" The literal translation may closely be "Why are you being by your SELF?" (This is a very common utterance) The words "தன்னை", which means 'Self' and "இருந்து", which means 'Being' struck a cord. Similarly goes the saying in Tamil, "சிவனேனு இருக்கிறேன்...", which closely may be translated as "I am being engrossed with Siva," or may be "I am inhering in S iva." (Also a very common utterance) Language seems to be reminding us of the 'essence', the 'being'.... May be all Indian languages or all languages for that matter.  Random musings....