Warrier's Collage 05082020 : Temples of Kerala

Warrier's Collage 05082020 : Temples of Kerala Yesterday, some words including a name got autocorrected wrongly, which escaped my attention. Apologies. FLASH : Mumbai Rains https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-rain-live-updates/amp_liveblog/77350398.cms https://youtu.be/R3_E-5Gpsm8 M G Warrier https://youtu.be/P14cRV-m6ZY Swami Sarvapriyananda on Atman : Bhagavad-Gita Chapter II A Lead Article Offerings to God Vathsala Jayaraman (Please refer to Shri Babusenan's response in the Collage dated July 30, 2020. He has stated therein that the reference to Pathram, Pushpam, Phalam, Thoyam may be to keep worship a simple affair. I would like to present my article sent to the RBI retirees group on 6th September 2015 in this regard- Vathsala Jayaraman, Chennai) patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati tad aham bhakty-upahrtam asnami prayatatmanah" Especially during festivals like sri jayanthi, when lot of bhakshanams are prepared as neivedyams, everyone murmurs, 'all these things are required for not 'sami' ( God) but only for aasami' ( human beings).After all God is satisfied with a leaf, flower , fruit or a drop of water. Many commentators on Gita feel that these words have much deeper meaning than just leaf, flower, fruit and water. Gita is interpreted in multiple different ways but the knowledge that imparts is Truth. What is the proper offering to God? It is said, a leaf, a flower, a fruit and water (patram, pushpam, phalam, toyam). What are these? The body is the leaf; the heart is the flower, the mind is the fruit ,and the tears of bliss is the water. Instead of attaching undue importance to this ephemeral body, emphasize has to be on the Atmatatwa (Atmic principle). The body is also to be surrendered unto God. How? By acts of worship and other sacred deeds. In the same Bhagavad-Gita, there is a reference to some leaves of a tree therein. "Oordhwa moolam Adhah shaakha, Ashwatham praturavyavam, Chandamsi yasya Parnaani, Yastam veda sa vedavit". As you read the commentaries, we observe that the Lord refers to a big Ashwatha tree with roots upwards and branches spread out at the bottom. The verses of the Vedas are its leaves. These are the leaves the Lord is referring to. Someone capable of learning and reciting these verses ought to do it and those are the leaves the Lord accepts. Not any ordinary leaf from an ordinary tree. What are the flowers the Lord mentions here? "Ahimsa pratham pushpam, Pushpam indriya nigraha, Sarvabhoota daya pushpam, Kshama pushpam visheshataha, Gnana pushpam Tapah pushpam Dhyana pushpam thathaivacha, Satyam ashtavidham pushpam Vishnoh preetikaram bhavet". The Lord is referring to eight flowers: Non-violence, control of senses, compassion to all living beings, tolerance or patience, knowledge, austerity, contemplative meditation and truth. These are the eight flowers that the Lord refers to and not any other flower from a bush or tree. What is the fruit that is to be offered to the Lord? He has advised to do one's deeds without desiring the fruits of those deeds. But the fruits do chase the doer; the deeds never lapse without yielding fruits. This fruit, "The Karma Phala" is the fruit the Lord mentions to be offered with all love and devotion. That brings us to the "Drop of Water". A righteous soul travels the length of his or her life (his or her refers to the body probably, for soul is neither he nor she) doing this "Nishkama Karma". And as the end approaches, the fearless soul is ready to welcome the death of the mortal body with open hands. The tears of love towards the Lord and the final drop of water from the eye, not in sorrow but in joyful acknowledgement of the love showered by the Lord all along one's life is the water drop the Lord mentions." ******************* B Purpose of Life https://www.speakingtree.in/article/purpose-of-life-765929 A philosophical approach C Temples of Kerala 1) Thirunelli Maha Vishnu Temple https://www.keralatourism.org/temples/wayanad/thirunelli Have a round around the temple 2) Temples in Thrissur and around https://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/temples-thrissur-kerala/articlecontent-pf8550-000831.html 3) Kottiyoor http://www.kottiyoortemple.com/about_kottiyoor.html When I visited this temple in 1963, journey through the jungle was really tough. Few hours walk from the nearest bus terminal. Now well-connected by road. {During 1950's, my cousin Sankaran Nambudiri (my father's eldest brother's eldest son, my "Thampanettan") used to be part of the team which conducted pujas here during the few weeks the temple remained open during the monsoon. One season, he had a bout of Malaria while working here, which took his life. His grandson Dr Sankaran Nambudiri is now Physician at Kottakkal Aryavaidyasala, Mysuru-Warrier } 4) Parassinikkadavu Sri Muthappan Temple http://www.thapasyaheritage.com/parassini-sree-muthappan-temple.php Story behind the temple. Interesting practices. 5) Watch a "Theyyam" https://youtu.be/vjk-f85FyHk 6) And finally, the concluding ceremony of "Bharani Festival", Kodungallur : https://youtu.be/AGxJ6YrZTFM (Where else on this planet you will find this much diversity in practices of worship in this much geographical area? If you still have doubt why Kerala is "God's Own Country", keep following Collage!) D Story time with V Babusenan Kunchan Nambiar* "Those who were supposed to humour monarchs ran the risk of losing their jobs.In the case of Birbal, he could have lost not only his job but his dear life too when he told the Emperor in a moment of ebullience that the latter was greater than God Almighty Himself. For another monarch of Islamic faith, it was nothing but sacrilege punishable with death, but the great Akber only wanted him to prove that statement. Birbal did not lose his cool.He said: "Great Sire, God cannot banish anyone, for the entire universe is His, but you can. What does that indicate?" Everyone laughed including the Emperor himself. Genuine humour often does not wait for the Monarch's mood and the humorist may have to suffer. This happened to Kunchan Nambiar, the greatest humorist Kerala has produced. He was much liked by the King of Travancore but once he was expelled from the royal court. Nambiar got over this embarrassing situation by sheer dint of his dexterity in the use of shleshaprayoga. Nambiar waited for a few days hoping that the ice would melt,but nothing happened. Then one day he wrote a sloka and sent it to the Maharaja through a friend,perhaps through Unnayi Warrier whom the Maharaja liked and respected. The Maharaja read the sloka silently in the court and laughed. He deputed the same person to bring Nambiar before him. When he came, the Maharaja said smilingly: "I am no longer displeased with you, Kunchan. Take your seat." What was it that changed his attitude towards Nambiar so suddenly? It was the sloka. Here is it with a rough translation: Poojytwam sujanaihi (You are revered by good people) Aham cha vadibhihi (And I with sticks) Satrukkalaal Annuaham (By enemies everyday) Keraan vaaranam undu te [You have vaaranam(elephant) to climb] Mama thadhaa kottaaravaathilkkalum [I have vaaranam (obstruction) at the palace gate] Ottum than ari illa te [You have no ari(enemies)at all] Mama thadhaapi ashtikku kuppattilum [I too have no ari(grain of rice) for food In my hut] Sevicchittadian chirena nrupathe (Serving you, gradually, my Lord) Twat thullyan aayeedinen (I have become your equal) The sleshaprayogam was on the words'vaaranam'and 'ari'. It was smooth sailing thereafter. Nambiar took voluntary retirement by submitting another sloka in which he said: "After learning the alphabets,I stroked my Guru's legs. In my younger days, I was dragged hither and thither by the corners of several beautiful eyes. I did a lot of dancing about In the interiors of palaces. Now that I am old and tired, kindly relieve me, Lord." The Maharaja acceded to his request. He allowed Nambiar to go back to Ambalappuzha as he desired and ensured that he had a comfortable retired life. Nambiar's shleshaprayoga saved the marriage of the Maharaja himself. That is a different story." (*Open this link to get a feel of the costume and dance form of "Ottam Thullal" the temple art form started by Kunchan Nambiar : https://youtu.be/1fPnW3R19go ) E Current Affairs 1) Medicines https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QtFwWMGf0iKjOazvAs5NJ4C9fv8LYW8y/view?usp=drivesdk Received as a forward 2) Solution for Migrants Issue* https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/08/renewable-energy-indias-rural-migrants-back-to-work/ *Link received as a forward from Kiran Warrier. Sandeep is Kiran's MBA batch-mate.