Warrier's Blog 03082020 : Mind and Physical Ailments

Serenity Prayer https://youtu.be/-iRPITm-tsM Good Morning Today's subject courtesy : R Jayakumar (See F) Do not miss B (Nostalgia : E T Rajendran, Chennai) Included in E Responses are write-ups by Vathsala Jayaraman, CVS and Babusenan. M G Warrier M 134 Warrier's Collage 03082020 : Mind and Physical Ailments A Interaction 1) K Ramasubramanian, Mumbai " Today is significant due to the 18th day of Karkadaka masam popularly known as Aaadipperukku when river calvary will be in full spate and people go to river as a picnic with Kattusadam. Share with all, make fun and return after a good bath in the river. Just like the Cauvery in spate readers of Collage have various contributions worthy of wide circulation for the society to develop into good human beings. You understand the spirit behind Vedas and Upanishads and the Mythology in the right perspective. Some talents hidden also come outside like Mr. Nallasivan Shri C V S ubbaraman and others. Let Collage have a long life with interesting awakening of the known and the unknown" (Thanks for the encouraging words-Warrier) 2) V N Kelkar, Ex-RBI " Taittiriya Upanishada (TU) is attributed to the pupils of sage Tittiri. This Upanishada has three chapters which are called 'Sikshavalli', 'Anandavalli' and Bhriguvalli. The verses in TU are partly prayers and benedictions, partly instructions on phonetics, partly advice on ethics and morals given to graduating students from ancient Vedic Gurukula. There are twelve anuvakas or lessons in the first chapter 'Sikshavalli'. The first anuvaka starts with benedictions and a prayer and promise that a student in Vedic age of India was supposed to recite. The last i.e. 12th anuvaka is just like the first anuvaka, starts with benedictions wherein Vedic deities are are once again proclaimed to be manifestation of Brahman. Along with benedictions the last anuvaka includes an acknowledgement that mirrors the promise in the first anuvaka. (From a book in Marathi by S K Deodhar) VN Kelkar " 3) T R S Iyer, Mumbai " Fantastic description of RBI Staff College Chennai by Nallasivan. K Ramasubramanian Sir deserves all credit bestowed on him by RBItes. His chandanakkuri is quite conspicuous. I had gone to see him in Tardeo Qts with my uncle to get some clarifications on FEMA. My uncle's son was working in I Flex Solutions and deputation to US. Ramasubramanian Sir virtually took a class to explain and convince my uncle. My uncle's son is working now with Clearing Corporation of India(CCIL) at Prabhadevi in IT, developing some new products for them. I also remember Mr Thomas' shouting "Oodiya" in the lounge giving orders to his boys. Mr Tulsi Bandopadhyay was handling Tandon and chore Committe Norms and M K Bandopadhya B R Act. MK used to write BRA on the board before starting the class. One incident I still remember is visit of T N Seshan as Guest Speaker. Our KPV Karunakaran was to entertain him. From Airport Mr Seshan was taken to RBI Chennai Office instead of RBISC inadvertently. He was very furious with the Office car Driver and it was a hell of a job for KPVK to calm him down. I was entrusted with the work of handing over the bouquet to Mr Seshan. An honour given by KPVK as a friend." Attention : More responses at E below (V Babusenan, Vathsala Jayaraman and C V Subbaraman and M G Warrier) B Nostalgia : E T Rajendran, Chennai E T Rajendran, Ex-RBI, Chennai shares his interesting experiences during Faculty Days, deftly weaving with his own Teacher-DNA and nostalgic memories about his erstwhile colleagues in RBI. Read on... In the Collage of August 2, it was very interesting to read the reminiscences of Babusenan Sir about his college days remembering reverent Professors and contemporaries, who later on became renowned personalities. So also Shri Nallasivan’s happy memories in RBSC and some of its faculty members, whose sessions I also got opportunity to attend. Nallasivan is known to me well. We had worked together in Chennai Office. (Hai Nallasivan, I admire your deep knowledge and sharp memory). Who will not have nostalgic memories of their school/college days and reverential regards for their teachers? This takes me to the noble teaching profession. My father was a School teacher; retired as Headmaster of an Upper Primary School. Generally there is a feeling that teaching is an easy job, not requiring much hard work. I beg to differ with this view. Handling of any session will require hours of preparation by the teacher/ faculty. May be for repetitive sessions on the same topic one will need less preparation time for making improvement over the previous one. Let me now recapitulate my first session in ZTC, Byculla, where I had worked as Faculty Member for two years(1990-92). That was my first adventure on a podium and the participants were fresh recruits. The topic was ‘Evolution of Central Banking in India’. I must have spent at least day, if not more, to prepare the topic. Most probably I did not perform badly, as I could perceive from the faces of participants and subsequent feedback from them at the end of the training programme. One good thing in the teaching job is that one gets to know the evaluation of his/her performance, good or adverse, fairly quickly. A challenge in ZTC at that time was that a faculty had to handle sessions on the areas he/she had not worked. Moreover the Manager (under whom the ZTC functioned) discouraged inviting guest faculty. In one training programme for DAD/PAD staff, there was a session on practical working of DAD to be handled, a full day practical session This task fell on me and another faculty colleague, who has since retired as CGM. We had no exposure to DAD working, except theoretical knowledge we got during our departmental training before. Accepting the assignment, I visited DAD, Mumbai Office two days, for familiarisation. The practical session was preceded by theoretical sessions on working of DAD. We handled the practical session, which involved listing hypothetical transactions of a day, preparing vouchers, writing day books, posting in the ledgers, writing clean cash book, preparing trial balance at the end of the day, etc. The session prolonged beyond office working hours. We could complete the work successfully. We could feel the participants enjoying the practical session more than a lecture session; no scope to feel sleepy even post lunch. This exposure in ZTC instilled in me, to some extent, the confidence in handling sessions subsequently, as a guest faculty, in Bank’s training colleges in Chennai and Mumbai. (No blowing of trumpet!). I remember, the last such occasion was handling a Topic in RBSC on ‘Management of foreign exchange reserves’ just a couple of months before my retirement in 2009. (Just a few random memories) All by God’s grace and blessings of my parents and teachers. I glanced through the links in the Collage on Vedas. I have to go a long long way to have even a semblance of understanding of the same. I very much liked the link article on ‘Success mantra’ forwarded by Kiran (Jr. Warrier). More useful for youngsters like Kiran and Reshmy ( Warrier’ daughter). I know both very well; very well behaved and amiable. Both are in good position by dint of their hard work and parents’ guidance. My best wishes to them! (Thanks, Rajendran. Nice.) C Mind and Physical Ailments 1) Could Stress Be Causing My Symptoms? - familydoctor.org https://familydoctor.org/stress-causing-symptoms/ 2) Stress Management : Symptoms of Stress https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/symptoms-of-stress 3) Mindfulness https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/stronger-the-broken-places/201504/mind-over-matter Little bit of psychology. Leave it if you find it confusing. The article tells you ordinary things in a complicated language. I found the focus on "Mindfulness" interesting. D Blogs 1) Book Review https://sanjeevkotnala.com/a-chapter-out-of-my-life-salil-agrawal-book-review/ Brief introduction to "A Chapter Out of My Life" and a couple of other books by IIMA Alumni. 2) Coping with uncertain times https://www.speakingtree.in/article/coping-with-uncertainty-in-troubled-times E Responses 1) Vathsala Jayarajan Atharva Veda Warrier's Collage and Vedas ! A super combination! Initially, as a young girl I too was under the impression that Atharva Veda contains only Vashya mantras for black magic. Atharvan is the name given to a stable-minded person who is immovably firm i.e., Yogi. The oldest name, however, by which this Veda is known in Indian literature is ‘Atharvangirasa-Veda’, that is the ‘Veda of the Atharvans and the Angiras’. According to Patanjali, Atharvaveda had nine Shakhas, but the Samhita of the Atharvaveda is today available only in two rescensions – the Shaunaka and the Paippalada. It is the Shaunaka-Samhita that is frequently meant when the Atharvaveda is mentioned in ancient and modern literature. The Atharvaveda is the oldest literary monument of Indian medicine. It is believed to be the origin of Ayurveda, the Indian science of medicine. There are a series of Mantras related to cure various physical and mental diseases. Another class of hymns includes prayers for protection from the bite of snakes or injurious insects. We find mention and application of medicines and medicinal herbs. This feature distinguishes the Atharvaveda from the rest of the Vedas. Philosophical portions of this Samhita present a fairly high development of metaphysical thought. The chief ideas of the Upanishads, the conception of a highest god as creator and preserver of the world (Prajapati), and even the ideas of an impersonal creative principle, besides a number of philosophical terms such as Brahman, Tapas, Asat, Prana, Manas must have been the common property of large circles – at the time when these hymns originated. Therefore, the study of the philosophical ideas, revealed in the Atharvaveda, is important to understand the development of Indian Philosophical thought. Atharvaveda is the only Veda which is related to both worldly happiness and spiritual knowledge. Vedic commentator Sayana has praised this for fulfilling both ends – this world and the other world. So, the Atharvaveda is an encyclopedia of many subjects. It reflects the life of the Vedic people. Their thoughts related to philosophical, social, educational, political, agricultural, scientific and medical matters are found in this Samhita. The Atharvaveda has some special features because of which it stands a little apart from the other three Vedas, especially the Rigveda. Major portion of this Veda is concerned with the following : Diseases and their cure Rites for prolonging life Rites for fulfilling one’s desires Building construction Trade and commerce Statecraft Penances Propitiatory rites Black-magic Atharvaveda has high philosophical ideas similar to the thought pattern of the Upaniṣads. The literary style is more sophisticated. Hence some scholars believe that this work was not admitted into the comity of Vedic literature for a long time. It was perhaps considered as a ‘scripture of the masses,’ not fit for the admission into the ‘elite-group’. It's sheer popularity might have forced the leaders of the society to admit it as the fourth Veda and give its priests also an honorable place in the sacrifices. The Sukthas referred to contain diseases, causes and cures,longevity issues,worldly progress,annihilation of enemies,expiatory rites, political system and ultimately about the Absolute. In brief Atharva veda is an encyclopaedia of worldly as well as spiritual issues. Vathsala Jayaraman" 2) C V Subbaraman, Mysuru Ref : Collage of August 2, 2020 " I could read two pieces: one on Rig Veda under Gifford Lectures and another in Speaking Tree. It appears that some effort is being made to make people believe that Rig Veda takes a back seat in comparison with western philosophy. The Speaking Tree article seeks to question, apparently with some subdued sarcasm, how it is possible for the Sun or Surya to travel in a Rath having seven horses in the sky, etc., etc. But this author seeks to unravel the things which he believes Rig Veda expressions only symbolize. For a lay man it would appear that Purusha Sukta which is part of all the four Vedas would seem funny at certain points: like Sahasra Sheersha purushah, Sahasraaksha SSahasra paad......imagine a figure with thousand head, thousand eyes (i.e., one for one head!), Sahasra paad (only one leg per head or body?). It would be betrayal of our monumental ignorance if any one were to visualize such a figure. The "thousand" mentioned/used in the Sukta represents to project the many sided than the literal numerical figure of 1000. I would commend any one who wants to know more about the Tattwa behind all the expressions in Purusha Sukta to refer to Swami Udit Chaitanya's lectures on the Sukta (this was recently telecast on Janam TV in the mornings between 6 and 6.30 in the mornings - this serial is over now). Perhaps some video or disc may be available at Bhagavatam Village near Chalakudi (Kerala) which is the Ashram of the Swamiji. I confess that I have not read any other commentary on Purusha Sukta. The Doctor who has dealt with Purusha Sukta in the Speaking Tree has questioned some things by asking whether some things described in the Sukta are possible, but still says that he is trying to find out the real things which these expressions in the Sukta symbolise. *** I would stop here but would try to read some more interpretations of the Purusha Sukta before making further comments. Subbaraman" 3) V Babusenan Thiruvananthapuram " Trio in art and literature is almost like a wonder. Within our limited horizon we have had three: Ezhutthassan, Poonthanam and Melputhur trio in the17th century, Saint Thyagaraja, Syama Sastri and Dikshithar trio in the 18th century and Asan, Ulloor and Vallathol trio in the 20th century. The mid- trio was a musical trinity while the other two belonged to literature. Whereas Bhattathiri (his full name was Melputhur Narayana Bhattathiri) wielded his naraayam only in Sanskrit, Ezhutthassan and Poonthanam enriched Malayalam language and literature with their krities. Poonthanam wrote in very simple Malayalam. Bhattathiri's Illam was in Thirunavaya, Poonthanam's Illam was in Perinthalmanna and Ezhutthassan's residence in Tirur-all in the present Malappuram district. The two Namboodiris could always been seen in the Guruvayoor temple-Melputhur propitiating the Lord for cure of his nasty rheumatism. The thought occurred to him one day that by writing on the Lord he could achieve what he wanted, a speedy cure. He did not, however, know how to begin. He decided to seek the advice of Ezhutthassan in the matter and sent his assistant to Tirur. The assistant reached Tirur in the evening. Ezhutthassan was in his house ,no doubt, but was somewhat in an inebriated condition. He looked at the palm leaf and simply said: "Ask him to take fish first." The messenger was aghast. What impertinence! He is asking a Namboodiri to take fish!" What did you say?" he asked. "Go and tell him what I said" Ezhutthassan raised his voice. The assistant conveyed what Ezhutthassan said to his master after some initial hesitation and then added: "It is this man that wrote Ramayanam! Asking a pure Brahmin to eat fish! This is Kaliyugam, after all." Bhattathiri smiled. He said : "You fool, he was telling me to start with Bhagavan's Matsyavathara and proceed in that order." Thus was born the great Narayaneeyam." 4) M G Warrier, Mumbai Padmanabhaswami Temple A Google search for this temple will lead us to several articles and videos. We will occasionally pick up some of these links for the benefit of readers interested in the subject. Here's one such link : https://www.tutorialspoint.com/what-is-the-history-of-padmanabhaswamy-temple F Humour* *A taste of British humour!* Best friends graduated from medical school at the same time & decided that in spite of two different specialties, they would open a practice together to share office space. Dr. Smith was a Psychiatrist & Dr. Jones was a Proctologist (related to colon, anus) They put up a sign reading Dr. Smith & Dr. Jones *Hysterias & Posteriors* _The town council was livid and insisted they change it._ So, the docs changed it to read... *Schizoids & Haemorrhoids* This was also not acceptable, so they again changed the sign to... *Catatonics and High Colonics* - no go. Next, they tried... *Manic Depressives & Anal Retentives* - thumbs down again. Then came.. *Minds & Behinds* - still no good. Another attempt resulted in... *Lost Souls & Butt Holes* -unacceptable again! So they tried..... *Analysis & Anal Cysts* - not a chance *Nuts & Butts* - no way *Freaks & Cheeks* - still no good *Loons & Moons* - forget it! Almost at their wits end, the docs finally came up with: Dr. Smith & Dr. Jones Specialising in *Odds & Ends* Everyone loved it. *Forward received from R Jayakumar