Gathered Blooms

A little poem on the Master's Gaze, the Grace that puts an end to the afflictions of the seeker. 

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...

 'From silence all sounds emerge and into silence all sounds merge.' A short poem on the sound of silence. The Sound of Silence The pealing of the bell, The chirping of the birds, The buzzing of the bees, The rustling of the leaves in the trees, The booming of thunder, The soft fall of the snow in winter, The noise of the rain, The chugging of the train, The tik tok of the clock, An old door on which a sharp knock, From silence all sounds pop, And in silence all sounds drop, Silence has its own sound, A few sensitive hearts can hear, And in which if one can drown, Embraces peace so dear.  Picture Courtesy: David Tip www.unsplash.com  

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....

Attachment binds, Love sets you free, Attachment masquerades in the mask of love, The Master's love is unalloyed, For He teaches you to be free, He touches not the mind, He sits in the heart (as the very heart) I may not have realised complete freedom, Like the early efforts of a little bird that makes its flight in the sky, I may falter as I fly  before I realise that flying is my natural ability, But His glance has bestowed me with the glimpse  of being uncaged in infinity.

Grace humbles one utterly. This poem is a simple and a humble narration  of the immensity of  the Grace of Lord Siva as Panchavarneshwara abiding in an ancient temple in Uraiyur, near Trichy on Mahashivratri.  In Shiva’s sacred night, Thousands thronged at His Feet, Into the massive temple that night, The timeless in time stood; to the eyes, an utter treat! I walked my way in the precincts, Of sculpted splendour of magnificence! In the ancient abode of Uraiyur distinct, Where Siva abides as Panchavarneswara, the significant! A form so small, yet with immeasurable might- I stood almost mute to address, With eyes fixed on Him in sheer delight, “Appa”, “Appa” were all that I could express! The priest waved the lamp to the light of all lights, For the earthly eyes to behold, Lost in the fanciful world of ethereal heights, To merge with Him within in bliss untold. I took a few steps turning around,       ...