August 2011

Beautiful Everything…….An Attitude !!!!

Usually we subconsciously overlook the blessings in our life. We become so busy with our daily complaint checklist, that we need a constant reminder from any source to count our merits. We crib about waking up early, the boring job, the demanding boss,the workplace,Life not treating us well,how god is unfair & does not responds to our appeals ( Plz mind,God is not a cosmic bell boy for whom we can press a button to get things done ) and many a things in our life which does not satisfy our soul and leaves us discontent.

I am no exception to this human psychology either, i feel the same stuff everyday, if things doesn’t happen or appear as i wish, i crib,sulk & curse my life, my creator,my circumstances and i use every possible probability to blame, and you know what, it makes me feel more terrible & awful and our tendency is to stretch this state of mind for a fairly longer time.
But, only if things & situations favour us or something happens as per our desire then we rejoice, we feel lucky we celebrate, make a general statement “I thank you God ” and move on, that’s it !!!!. And after a while we come back to our basics to the original mode of dissatisfaction. We don’t stretch this happiness quotient for a longer time, its short term & plain momentary. Human psyche i guess !!!!!!!

So after reengineering my thought process, i came to an agreement with myself, that i would count my blessings each day and remind myself to look and cautiously look at the good things in my life or of my existence. Few of them i have jotted down which are very very common in all of our lives.

1) Waking up every morning listening to mom’s voice ( Gods grace )
2) Breakfast time ( mom made, real yummm !!!! )
3) Listening music while commuting to office, ( blessed to afford an mp3).
4) Feeling the breeze on my face, ( proof that my senses are healthy )
5) Chatting with my boss and colleagues ( lucky me )
6) Sitting at my workstation,checking mails,planning the agenda ( i am employed & have work )
7) Meeting my colleagues, ( variety of colorful humans )
8) Eating lunch & snacks & the junks, (opportunities to share)
9) Never ending discussion about job, life, problems, happiness etc etc. ( hopes to keep life moving )
10 Etc Etc Etc Etc………………..

Everyday i mange to spend some time with few of my close friends whether on the phone or personally and feel sanctification. They add energy, blush,tint & worth to my life. Family ,friends,colleagues ,people around you,animals ,birds trees add value to your personality, caliber & experience, that’s so wonderful. Just imagine for a while your life without them, dull, boring ,plain and lonely, just you you and only you. What are you gonna do with yourself all the time, just imagine it for real…………No one to talk to, relate to, blame to (kidding!!!!), discuss to, share to and for so many things.

Our family adds strength to our life,
Friends add brightness,
An enemy adds valor
A partner adds love & warmth
Employment adds confidence & hope
Technology adds convenience
Good work adds confidence, & optimism
Mistakes add experience
Mother nature adds faith in the creator,
Animals & birds add kindness
Trees & soil add perseverance,
Difficulties add patience & courage
Opportunities add spirit & enthusiasm
Unfortunate people around add generosity
Fortunate people add vigor
Democracy adds freedom
Difficult & complex people add tolerance
Cheerful people add color

So you see there is more add and less minus in our lives but, only if you think so, otherwise there’s everything yet nothing.
Whenever you’re in conflict with someone or something, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging it and deepening it. That factor is attitude.”

You spend life anyway you wish, but you only spend it once.

Paryushan: One of the Unique festivals of India

Paryushan is the most important jain festival. What is so unique about this festival and what fascinates me to write this article?  Normally, all the festivals are for celebrating, some one’s birthday, there’s a mythological story attached to it (like diwali, return of rama & enlightenment of mahavira, independence day, children’s day, holi – the story of prahlad, etc and the list goes on).

This festival is all about self-discipline, sacrifice, self-control , austerities, purification of soul and most importantly – getting in touch with your inner-self and forgiveness. It is all about spiritual journey and finding a new self. Throughout the paryushan period people pray and fast. All the prayers are about detachments, discipline and forgiveness.

“FORGIVENESS”:  We use this word very often.  I, guess, this would be the only religion where prayers of forgiveness include earth, plants, animals, insects, seeds, trees, humans, god, dew, anthills, spider webs, water. All living beings or souls with one sense, two senses, three senses, four senses or five senses. It could be by walking, while sleeping, while breathing, while talking, while praying. Even giving a slightest pain to any of these is considered as a sin in Jainism. And during Paryushan, these seek forgiveness from each of the above, for if they have inflicted any pain, attacked them, bothered them or collided them knowingly or unknowingly. With the 8 or 10 days austerities (deravasi 8 days and sthanakwasi 10 days), people bring out the purity in themselves. Feeling light and connected to one self.

Last day of the festival (Samvatsari) is the day when they ask for forgiveness from each of the above and from their friends, family, acquaintances, everyone they know, for if they have hurted them knowingly or unknowingly.

This is asked by saying “Michhami Dukkadam”. These words are in Prakrit meaning “may all evil that has been done be forgiven” OR “My bad deeds be fruitless”.

This really extends the meaning of forgiveness.

And that’s what fascinates me about this festival.

Dangerous Friends Main ghar late aaya tho Dad…

Dangerous Friends:

Main ghar late aaya tho Dad ne pucha: “Where were you?”
Maine kaha: “Friend ke ghar tha.”
Dad ne mere hi saamne mere 10 friends ko call kiya.
………4 ne kaha: “Haan Uncle, Yahin par tha.”
2 ne kaha: “Abhi just nikla hai.”
3 ne kaha: “Yahin hai Uncle, Padh raha hai, Phone du kya?”
1 ne tho had hi kar di, kaha: “Haan Papa bolo kya hua”…!!!

(Abb bolo HAR EK friend zaroori hota hai!!)

Legend of Sitala Mataji – Thadri or Shitala Saatam Significance

Once there was a joint family in a village and and the old mother in law had three daughter in laws ,as she had three sons all were happy and wealthy.

The daughter in law of the younger son was from poor family so she was always targeted by all the member s of the family.now the holy month of shravaan came and it was the 6th day-saptami when mother in law asked the younger daughter in law to prepare all the food,sweets for the day of Sitala Satam celebrations. Since the daughter in law had a small child she was also weak and through out the day she made all types of sweets,snacks etc and was above to make pulav but she went to feed her child as infant was crying since long time, it was around 11 o clock at night and she sung lorries and fed him but since she too was weak she feel asleep.

Exactly at night 12 o clock Sitala Mataji came to take a round in every villagers house specially the kitchen where stove-(Chulla) will be there where Goddess Sitala Mataji would like to reside but it was on and she got burnt ,and she became very angry and cursed you stupid lady as I got burnt let your child get burnt and sadly she went next day morning when this younger daughter in law woke she found the Stove to be on and then she saw her child got burnt and all the people of the house became angry saying you stupid lady, how dare you to fight with Goddess Sitala Mataji by not put off the stove ( Chulla meh Pani kyu nahi dala before night 12 yesterday ) its because of your fault that your child got burnt due to the pain of Goddess Sitala Mataji.

She took permission from her mother in law and took her child and went to wander into Jungle –Forets. As it is said Goddess specially resides in jungle or in the outskirts of the village she started to search her but found one pond where nobody would drink water she went to drink but the villager who were washing clothers said this pond is not holy its having curse please do not drink from this pond, then on the way she found buffoles females fighting with their horns, they said lady where are you going, she said I am searching Sitala Mataji.

Female buffoloes said please help us if you find Sitala Mataji please ask her highness why we fight always, lady said ok sure with a feel of mercy then she went further into the forest and found old women sick and scratching her hairs as she had dandruff in her hair and also some tiny microbes and she said lady where are you going and lady said I m searching Sitala Mataji, she said please clean my hairs and remove the insects from it please, I am a old lady single in this jungle nobody to help me so young lady please do this small favor to me, as this young lady was a kind person she gave her child in the lap of old women and started to clean and remove the insects from her hair and within an hour she cleaned the hairs of that old women and in the mean time the child in her lap started to cry .

Seeing this the young lady understood that the old women was a disguise of Sri Sitala Mataji and fell into her holy lotus legs asking for forgiving her unknown mistake and Sri Sitala Mataji became very happy and said I m pleased by your devotion and grace you the boon that now on I shall be always happy on you but please do not forget to cool the Stoves every year as I Goddess once in a year come to your kitchen and reside their and if its hot or burning even I get burnt so please as a mark of devotion please do follow this and then she asked the ponds problem she said that pond was a very cruel one never allow any birds or animals to come into it and if they come there to drink water it would attract it In and not let them come out and kill them so its cursed but today you go and pray god and also remember me and chant my name and then have a sip of water after filtering with your clothe and then on all can drink that water, then again she asked the problem of lady buffoloes, the Goddess Sitala Mataji said they both were very cruel ladies in their last birth never give milk to any members or even to any needy even though they had 10 cows each and add double water in milk and sell it and never give butter milk even in plenty and add water and sell it to even poor so due to that sin they both always fight with each other now you go and stop them and touch their horns ,recite my holy name and they will become calm .

This way she did to pond and also to the lady buffoloes and saved them and also made them all free from the curse and came to village and said the whole incident to all. the family and the villagers were happy but her other two daughter in laws were jealous and envious and next year they did same thing and purposely did not off the stove and later at night Sitala Mataji came to kitchen and sat on the stove and got burnt and cursed how I got burnt, may your child get burnt .

The elder daughter in law went to forest and found pond and then buffloes and then old lady but answered them all wickedly and said you all useless have no work and ask me to help, I m in search of Goddess Sitala Mataji and all you are crying with your problems don’t have any shame, you fools and wandered through out the day but did not find Goddess Sitala Mataji anywhere .

She came back with her dead child and cried and cried and ask for forgiveness to the younger daughter in law and asked and plead to grace her and younger daughter in law with true devotion prayed to Goddess Sitala Mataji and asked to make the dead child alive and there the mother goddess blessed the child and later this elder daughter in law told the truth and asked for forgiveness.

From then onwards this festival of Mother Goddess is celebrate d with great devotion in most of the parts of india – Punjab, Gujrat, Bengal, South everywhere and also in abroad too .

A day before saptami all the food is prepared and before 12 in the night stoves are cleaned and cooled with sprinkling of water and next day worshipping the Goddess and not at all touching the stove and have the holy offering of sweets made before day by the devotees .

As the Goddess is Sit means cool, devotees have cold items only and food made day before. Have cold water bath in the morning and worship Goddess Sitala Mataji. Thus let’s all specially women and small children worship to Goddess mostly and ask for the blessings of the Mother Goddess Sitala Mataji to one and all.

Vaise Har Ek Friend Zaroori Hota Hai…………..

Chai ke Liye jaise toast hota hai

Vaise har ek friend zaroori hota hai

Aise har ek friend zaroori hota hai

Koi subah paanch baje neend se jagaye

Koi raat ko teen baje jaan bachaye

Ek teri kadki mein sharing kare

Aur Ek tere budget mein sneak in kare

Koi nature se guest koi host hota hai

Par har ek friend zaroori hota hai

“Ek ghadi ghadi kaam aaye par kabhi kabhi call kare

Ek kabhi kabhi kaam aaye aur ghadi ghadi call kare”

Gossip ka koi ghoomta phirta satellite

Koi sath rahe toh kar de sab alright

Koi effortless koi forced hota hai

Lekin har ek friend zaroori hota hai

Chat Room friend koi classroom friend

Koi bike pe race wala vroom vroom friend

Shopping mall wala shopping friend

Koi Exam hall wala copying friend

Movie buddy groovy buddy

Hi buddy–Bye buddy —-

Joke buddy Poke buddy

Gaana Buddy Shaana buddy —

Chaddi Buddy Yaar Buddy

Kutte –kamine—

Everybody—Sab buddy

A to Z

Gin din ke naam bheja Roast hota hai

Par har ek friend zaroori hota hai

Lekin har ek friend zaroori hota hai

Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in various languages

bônde matorom
shujolang shupholang
môloyôjoshitolam
shoshsho shêmolang
matorom
bônde matorom

shubhro jotsna
pulokito jaminim
phullo kushumito
drumodôloshobhinim
shuhashinim
shumodhuro bhashinim
shukhodang bôrodang
matorom
bônde matorom

vande mataram devnagari, vande mataram hindi, bankim chandra chatterjee, national song of india, indian independence day

Urdu Transalation (May not be exact):

Tasleemat, maan tasleemat
tu bhari hai meethe pani se
phal phoolon ki shadabi se
dakkin ki thandi hawaon se
faslon ki suhani fizaaon se
tasleemat, maan tasleemat
teri raaten roshan chand se
teri raunaq sabze faam se
teri pyar bhari muskan hai
teri meethi bahut zuban hai
teri banhon mein meri rahat hai
tasleemat, maan tasleemat
tere qadmon mein meri jannat hai

English Translation (by Aurobindo) :

Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Green fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When swords flash out in seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Thou who saves, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foe drove
Back from plain and sea
And shook herself free.

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nerves the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Loveliest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!

Jana Gana Mana – Full song (all 5 stanzas)

Stanza 1:-
Jano Gano Mano Adhinaayako Jayo Hey, Bhaarato Bhaagyo Bidhaataa
Panjaabo Sindhu Gujaraato Maraathaa,Draabiro Utkalo Bango
Bindhyo Himaachalo Jamunaa Gangaa, Uchchhalo Jalodhi Tarango
Tabo Shubho Naamey Jaagey, Tabo Shubho Aashisho Maagey
Gaahey Tabo Jayogaathaa
Jano Gano Mangalo Daayako, Jayo Hey Bhaarato Bhaagyo Bidhaataa
Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey,Jayo Jayo Jayo, Jayo Hey

English Translation

Oh! the ruler of the minds of people, Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!
Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra,Dravida(South India), Orissa, and Bengal,
The Vindhya, the Himalayas, the Yamuna, the Ganges,and the oceans with foaming waves all around
Wake up listening to Your auspicious name, Ask for Your auspicious blessings,
And sing to Your glorious victory.
Oh! You who impart well being to the people!
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!
Victory to Thee, victory to Thee, victory to Thee, Victory, Victory, Victory, Victory to Thee!
(refrain repeated five times)

Stanza 2:-
Ohoroho Tobo Aahbaano Prachaarito,Shuni Tabo Udaaro Baani
Hindu Bauddho Shikho Jaino,Parashiko Musholmaano Christaani
Purabo Pashchimo Aashey,Tabo Singhaasano Paashey
Premohaaro Hawye Gaanthaa
Jano Gano Oikyo Bidhaayako Jayo Hey,Bhaarato Bhaagyo Bidhaataa
Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey,Jayo Jayo Jayo, Jayo Hey

English Translation

Your call is announced continuously,we heed Your gracious call
The Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsees, Muslims, and Christians,
The East and the West come,to the side of Your throne
And weave the garland of love.
Oh! You who bring in the unity of the people!
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!

Stanza 3:-
Potono Abhbhudoy Bandhuro Ponthaa,Jugo Jugo Dhaabito Jaatri
Hey Chiro Saarothi, Tabo Ratha Chakrey Mukhorito Potho Dino Raatri
Daaruno Biplabo Maajhey,Tabo Shankhodhwoni Bajey
Sankato Dukkho Traataa
Jano Gano Potho Parichaayako,Jayo Hey Bhaarato Bhaagyo Bidhaataa
Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey,Jayo Jayo Jayo, Jayo Hey

English Translation

The way of life is somber as it moves through ups and downs,But we, the pilgrims, have followed it through ages.
Oh! Eternal Charioteer, the wheels of your chariot echo day and night in the path
In the midst of fierce revolution, your conch shell sounds.
You save us from fear and misery
Oh! You who guide the people through tortuous path…
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!

Stanza 4:-
Ghoro Timiro Ghono Nibiro,Nishithey Peerito Murchhito Deshey
Jagrato Chhilo Tabo Abicholo Mangalo,Noto Nayoney Animeshey
Duhswapney Aatankey,Rokkhaa Koriley Ankey
Snehamoyi Tumi Maataaa
Jano Gano Duhkho Trayako,Jayo Hey Bhaarato Bhaagyo Bidhaataa
Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey,Jayo Jayo Jayo, Jayo Hey

English Translation

During the bleakest of nights,when the whole country was sick and in swoon
Wakeful remained Your incessant blessings,through Your lowered but winkless eyes
Through nightmares and fears,You protected us on Your lap
Oh Loving Mother
Oh! You who have removed the misery of the people…
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!

Stanza 5:-
Raatri Prabhatilo Udilo Rabichhabi, Purbo Udayo Giri Bhaaley
Gaahey Bihangamo Punyo Samirano, Nabo Jibano Rasho Dhaley
Tabo Karunaaruno Ragey,Nidrito Bhaarato Jagey
Tabo Chorone Noto Maatha
Jayo Jayo Jayo Hey, Jayo Rajeshwaro,Bhaarato Bhaagyo Bidhaataa
Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey,Jayo Jayo Jayo, Jayo Hey

English Translation

The night is over, and the Sun has risen over the hills of the eastern horizon.
The birds are singing, and a gentle auspicious breeze is pouring the elixir of new life.
By the halo of Your compassion India that was asleep is now waking
On your feet we lay our heads
Victory be to You, the Supreme King…
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!

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