Warrier's COLLAGE September 1, 2021

Welcome to Warrier's COLLAGE On Wednesday September 1, 2021 Prayer : Japo Jalpah... https://youtu.be/EV7L9s0E6Pc (Saundaryalahari, Verse 11) Good Morning Some readers have suggested trimming the size of Collage. From tomorrow, we'll try to reduce the content, by imposing some self-discipline. The suggestion has not come from regular readèrs/contributors. Nice Day M G Warrier A Messages 1) Duvvuri Subbarao Former Governor RBI Ref : Collage dated August 31, 2021 Many thanks Shri Warrier. Impressive how creative the Collage is. Warmly, Subba 2) K N Ganapathy Atlanta US "The poem Vaazhakkula by Changampuzha was a century hit to such an extent that this theme became a style in Malayalam literature. There used to be even literary discourses on this poem which I have heard as a boy. It used to choke you with emotion. This style of literature was one of the reasons for popularity of Communism in Kerala." 3) Dr T V Surendran Mananthavady I I don't think the one phone call triggered suicide. Probably, after receiving Pulitzer prize, he had been experiencing psycho.. trauma, and depression which led to hallucinations and delusions. Even the so called phone call might be symbolic, from his subconscious mind. II BP and Heart.... The choice of drugs for hypertension is not as simple as one think . We have to consider the co existing conditions and modify accordingly. Some medicines are Contrindicated in persons receiving treatment for other illnesses...so also one has to consider drug interactions also. Therefore better leave the decision to your family doctor or consultant. I am a hypertensive over the last 22years... and (though I am a doctor,).. have modified my drug schedule often,in consultation with my physician.. friend 4) Vathsala Jayaraman Chennai Today's (August 31) Collage contained many interesting reads. I never miss any article of Shri Tiny Nair in The Hindu. Today's edition contains a diary of events from Mahabharatha date wise arranged. Yesterday I received at least 15 mails and whatsapp messages containing the same details. As a person interested in reading research articles I had a glance of the research* book. There is a difference in dates. (Continued at H2) (S R Badrinarayanan Cheñnai says : "Yes, no doubt. In fact, it is the post-analyses make those to rewind and have a relook of the digest. Of Tiny Nair's Welcome the Pain yes we welcome and send off whatever is welcomed! . ... Badri") *To further ignite the research interests, here's a link : https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/lord-krishna-67343/m-lite We'll get some idea as to how various generations from different geographies across centuries accepted and adapted the Krishna concept-Warrier 5) V Babusenan Thiruvananthapuram What amazingly precise data on Lord Krishna and the Kurukshethra war! The collectors deserve our congratulations. If I may add, in Kerala, Krishna of the Guruvayoor temple alone is called Guruvayoorappan. In Aaranmula he is called Parthasaarathi. The Krishna of Thirunaavaay (Maamaankam fame) is Navaamukundan. Elsewhere, I think he is Krishna only. 6) C V Subbaraman Mysuru Idol Worship? When I sat to do the Janmaashtami puja this year, suddenly I was reminded of King Janaka who is consdiered the greatest Gnaani. He one wondered why he should do puja to "another" entity, viz., God when there is no second entity according to our philosophy. Ekam Satyam. Narrators of religious puraanaas have left the doubt unanswered. My wonder is not that. We know God/goddess is everywhere- Sarva vyaapi. Then why do I have to "install" the God/goddess in a particular picture or metallic figure (Aavaahanam), by saying "Asmin Bimbay Baalakrishnam Dhyaayaami Aavaahayaami..." And at the end of the puja why do I have to say "Asmaat bimbaath Baalakrishnam Yathaasthaanam pratishthaapayaami" (from this figure I restore Balakrhna in His appropriate place). What is the appropriate place for God when He is omnipresent? And if I remove Him from this figure, does this figure then become without His presence - a contradiction to His omnipresent status? And If He cannot be removed, what is the meaning of my trying to do this? Subbaraman (Vathsala Jayaraman responds : Here is a small anecdote ,not much related to the query raised by Shri Subbaraman. In 1891, there was a Maharaja of Alwar who was not a believer of idol worship. It was heard that he often made fun of idol worship just to appease Britishers. One day Swami Vivekananda was invited by Dewan (Minister) of State of Alwar, to the palace for discussion on problems of people with Maharaja. In the meeting the Maharaja kept on asking questions wanting to divert the discussion from important topics but Vivekananda kept on replying strictly sticking to the issue...*) (*Continued at H3) B Symbols in ancient worship https://east-asian-cultures.com/hindu-symbols/ Hindu symbols overview Hinduism is made up of various religious, cultural, and philosophical practices that find their roots in different parts of India. This religion is brimming with symbolism. Some people actually believe that there is no other religion that employs the art of symbolism effectively as Hinduism. C Book Review : Psychology of Money https://www.sloww.co/psychology-of-money-book/ This is a book summary of The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel. I couldn't ignore The Psychology of Money any longer. It seems like everyone is talking about it in my little corner of Twitter. Many are calling it their top book of the year. D Who's eccentric?* Mark Twain He was not merely a superb comic writer. He was about to board a First class coach of the local train. Hedrick, his neighbor had just lost his money in the local horse racing and had no money for a ticket came along. He was very apprehensive of being caught without a ticket and requested Mark for a loan for the ticket. “Don’t worry” said Mark” I’ll take care-Get into the train” Mark purchased 2 tickets but didn’t inform Hedrick. They both entrained. Hedrick was quite atwitter and sure enough a Checking Inspector was spotted entering the coach. Mark motioned his companion to hide under the seat, which Hedrick did with great alacrity. Mark produced to the official both the tickets. The latter raised a questioning eyebrow. In a stentorian voice, Mark announced”My good friend is a bit eccentric. He prefers to travel under the seat” *Received from A P Ramadurai E Spiritual Oneness : Nirvana Upanishad https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/nirvana-upanishad-on-enlightenment F Leisure time with A P Ramadurai WITH PLEASURE The Browns threw a large celebratory party. They chose invitees very carefully. One invitee was Rex, a business tycoon-a bachelor. When Mrs. Brown rang up Rex for confirmation, he replied-“O.K. With pleasure” Now the party givers were very particular about seating arrangements. Not a chair more, not a chair less. So when Rex turned up with a beautiful, young girl in his wake, Mrs. Brown was upset and gently rebuked him about bringing along a friend. Rex was puzzled and exclaimed pointing out at his girl “But this is Pleasure” G Quotes about Poles https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/poles-quotes Like : "Everything about me is a contradiction, and so is everything about everybody else. We are made out of oppositions; we live between two poles. There's a philistine and an aesthete in all of us, and a murderer and a saint. You don't reconcile the poles. You just recognize them." Orson Welles (George Orson Welles was an American director, actor, screenwriter, and producer who is remembered for his innovative work in radio, theatre, and film. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time.) "I don't think opposites attract. I think like attracts like. So I don't think that they do attract, opposites. Only when you're talking about magnetic poles." Ashton Kutcher (Christopher Ashton Kutcher is an American actor, model, producer, and entrepreneur. He began his acting career portraying Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show. He made his film debut in the romantic comedy Coming Soon, followed by the comedy film Dude, Where's My Car?, which was a box office hit. ) H 1) Continued from D1 When the unsinkable ship Titanic made its voyage from Europe to the United States, it experienced the tip of an iceberg at a distance and by the time, the captain and the crew realized how dangerously close they were to the iceberg, the iceberg wrecked the unsinkable resulting in the world’s first unsinkable ship built began its journey to the bottom of the ocean. It is the judgment error of the captain not knowing what was beneath the visible iceberg that resulted in the disaster and loss of lives. Our outer vision is restricted to what our sense of vision could perceive but our inner vision can see the full potential of the hidden power. Like the iceberg, there is a great deal under the surface of our conscious mind, everyday level of thinking that is hidden from view. Best known as the "subconscious" and "unconscious," these powerful mind layers do much of our thinking's "heaving lifting”. This is like our computer running several processes beneath what we perceive as a simple surfing of the internet. In our normal day to day to life, our conscious mind observes and perceives everything we come across through our senses. This is real time data with no deep analytics behind it. The conscious mind operates with Beta Brainwaves and has the characteristics of logic, belief, planning, instantly analytical, very limited peripheral stimulation, superficial, likes/dislikes etc. Often it delves into past and future and brings worthlessness. Subconscious mind operates with Alpha & Theta Brainwaves. The characteristics of subconscious mind includes, insight, incredible smart, imaginative, stress free, untapped talents, limitless creativity, programmed 24/7 by thoughts, intuitive, life solutions, capable of finding the meaning of life, closer to higher self, etc. Unconscious mind operates with Delta Brainwaves and this is the very core of who we really are. This establishes spiritual connection. The characteristics of unconscious mind includes, immune system, cellular memory, primal instinct, body system regeneration, drive the dreaming state, incredibly beneficial and access the collective consciousness. Serving as a massive data warehouse, our subconscious/ unconscious mind layers permanently store all our memories, habits, behaviors, programming, deep-seated emotions, and really everything that we have learned and experienced up to this point in our life. An incredibly powerful tool, meditation is the secret to intelligently diving in, navigating, and effectively using this vast reserve of information to our maximum advantage. Let us not look at the tip of the iceberg and limit our potential and let us dig deep into our limitless potential to make our waking state of life meaningful. Let us tap the potential of subconscious mind to become insightful, inventive and intuitive to discover ourselves and enter the territory of unconscious mind to experience our true Self. In Tamil, Kamba Ramayanam is a concrete example.When you read first you may not even relish it and feel that it is a boring epic that the first reading itself reveals the tip of iceberg.But as we understand and go beyond the iceberg, it is like fruit juice that we can never get satiated with.We can't become tired of it.The thing that looks like a pointed arrow may be soothening like peacock feather totally contradictory to our expectations. Normally the idiom'tip of the iceberg' is used only in the negative sense by most people.Many are not aware of the usage in unearthed items beyond our perceptions.It is a real treasure that gets exhibited as we dig more and more. In our practical life ,girls when get married are often advised of'pazhaga pazhaga pidikkum'.While you have dealt with the greatest philosophy of life and the hidden treasures behind seeming icebergs,I am reminded of my Amma's words which still reverberate. In old days when the girl is sent to her husband's house they will pack bhakshanams into a big brass pot. At the bottom of the vessel will be thirattu paal or milk koa,above that there will be laddus,thenkuzhals, and murukkus,The top layer will be covered by'Pori vilangaai urundai( Porul vilangatha urundai) a dish made of wheat flour,green gram flour made into balls after mixing it with jagory syrup. It will be the hardest item;You need strong teeth to bite it. Amma used to say'Life will look suffocating and hard as you enter.It will look like an iceberg intimidating us that it will be followed by more and more sufferings. Once you cross the hard balls, you get the less stiffer items like, murukku, then kuzhal ,laddu and ultimately it will be very smooth and soft like thirattu paal. We should not get scared of the ice bergs. While we can go into the essence of 'sub conscious mind and the essence of sublime thoughts, we can learn the same lesson at home from the lowest level of eatables, just suited to common man's intellect. Two years back I read an article which conveyed "iceberg is not a cave like naaga lokam but we can make it a milky ocean containing Amrita." Vathsala Jayaraman 2) Continued from A4 As per Research as per mail 1.Krishna's birth 27.7. 3112 18.7.3228 2/Mahabharatha war 22.11.3067 8.12.3139 3.Balaram's Theertha yatra 13.10.3067 4.Bhishmas death 18.1. 3066 2.2.3138 5.Krishna's ascension to heaven 3031 3103 The research book contains explanations as to how modern authors have erred in interpretation of certain astrological and astronomic details, Of course it is not of any practical significance whether Krishna was born on 3112 B. C or 3228 B. C. The research article contains so many calculations reg planetary position on various dates citing a reference to Vyasa's statements in Mahabharath. As things stand when our great great great grand children study Indian History after 500 years,even the year and date of Independence may vary.By then so many computer based calculations would have arrived.Mahatma Gandhi's date of birth may befall earlier or later and not necessarily on 2nd Oct 1869. It seems ridiculous to write a diary of events, when it is certain that it is going to lose all the importance within 200 years. Just for thought!! Vathsala Jayaraman 3) Continued from A5 Just then Maharaja took a different track and asked,“Well, I see all these people worshiping idols but I don’t believe in idol worship. Can you tell me what will happen to me?” Vivekananda replied,“To each his own belief..” And then suddenly, Vivekananda asked for a portrait of Maharaja which was hanging on the wall to be removed from there and bought in front of Maharaja. Then Vivekananda asked minister to come forward and spit on that portrait. Listening to it, minister shockingly replied“What! What are you saying? How can I spit on the portrait of our Maharaja?” Vivekananda replied,“It's just a portrait, he is not physically inside that portrait. It can not move or speak like Maharaja and yet you are unwilling to spit on this portrait! It's because this portrait reminds you of your Maharaja and you know that spitting on it would mean insulting your Maharaja.” Then Vivekananda turned toward Maharaja and said,“Though you are not present inside this portrait, your men feel they will insult you if they spit on it. Then he continued,“The king is sitting in front of you in person. This picture is merely a paper – it does not speak, hear, think or move. But still you did not spit because you see a shadow of your king in it; spitting on it was like spitting on the king itself.”The king looked at Swamiji and bowed down, clearly understanding what he was referring to. Certain people cling to items - Buddhists visit Bodh Gaya, Hindus have temples with idols in them; Christians have the Holy cross, they even use the symbolic prayer touching parts of their upper body; others have their Holy book or fire or holy shrine or place to visit. All these are forms of idol worship. However and whatever arguments they may put across, the human mind needs something to hold on to and keep their mental balance intact, as we have many other mundane activities. Like everything has a dedicated place so is temple for inner peace and enlightenment of our soul. For eg: Library is a dedicated place for reading books. Hospital is a dedicated place for curing one's illness. So what's wrong in having a dedicated place for worshipping God and connecting with him. As children wear uniform and as we wear decent dress to place of work and change our dress after coming home, we repeat the same thing with the bimbas and vigrahas too. We dont demean their omnipresent status by keeping them back in their respective place in pooja almirah. Even the chants from a holy book are nothing but “idol worship”The problem is people relate idol to a “ form cast in stone or metal". That is not true. Idol means a “form” and even languages are a form. No language is formless! They have their characters and reading those characters is in itself “idol worship”. Also there are many who look “ up to” some preachers and listen to them in awe. What does that signify - idol worship of the individual! We keep back the books after reading them. I think prathishtapanam and reinstallation do not make any difference in our faith, or belief. Vathsala Jayaraman