Love

Word that forms the basis of all religions, a word that has evolved ordinary people into poets, that has set the film industry thriving, and a concept that has confounded the younger generation of all times!

How does such a small single syllabled word encompass a sphere embracing joy, sorrow, pang and perplexity? That’s the power of softness I suppose! Life begins from love and ends with it. The reason of our birth is love, we are being loved right from the day we were conceived through the day of birth, our entire life, we make many realize what we mean to them upon our death and on days that follow. At each point it shows up in different ways, it is attributed differently and its outcomes are different too.

Some people show their love in the form of care and compassion, some with their kindness, some people’s love are seasoned with strictness, and for a few others their childlike expression of love appear on the lines of possessiveness. There’s nothing more amazing than the fact that even anger and hatred are signs of love!

When a mother chastens her kid, when a father lays down a rule, when a sister advises, a brother irritates, a friend pulls your leg, your girlfriend/boyfriend cares for you or your spouse who is your life’s soul expects your companion all the time, it’s nothing but just pure love. If we get a day to live upon every sunrise, it’s God’s love in disguise.

Some understand the concept clearly while some vacillate from one side to another in bewilderment in the process of comprehending its meaning. A few of the younger generation especially, are a confused bunch, that mostly mistake attraction and the normal opposite gender friendly interaction for love. The depth of the intangible word can only be felt, neither explained nor seen. If it’s a feeling that arises because of one’s attraction toward another’s looks, captivating behavior or charisma, it’s mere delusion. It will last only as long as the source of it lasts! And we are all quite sure how transient beauty, looks and charisma are. It is at this point we ought to make a self call to our senses, tap the mind and ask the question, ‘Are we in a state of intoxicated delusion or are we really in love?!” The maturity to question oneself, if not at least answer the question, comes to different people at different ages. For some, it’s even the kindergarten love that turns out into marriage. For some others, it’s after getting a clear understanding coming past the paths of crushes, for a few it’s born, borne and buried in their own hearts, and for the rest, it’s the first and forever love at a mature 20+ age, that is taken through a successful event of wedding and that stands strong through the tests of time.

Maybe looks are sometimes an entry point for a relationship to begin, but they neither lay foundation to it nor do they nurture the same. If physical appearance at any point is claimed to be the centre around which a relationship revolves, it will flicker and die out the moment the ephemeral gravity of looks is lost! ‘Chemistry’, yeah students use it more often these days, not sure of the reason though! It may happen to be a cause to begin and take a relationship forward, it’s something that’s natural and common at teenage, but how long will it continue if it doesn’t mature into platonic love at the right time? Upto the age of  30, 40? One should realize that only a love/relationship that arises and continues out of the liking for a person’s nature, is true. If other fleeting factors like looks, attraction and status  are mistaken to be the cause for love, they will eventually fade too, because there’s no such thing as love in it. When we humans who are creations of a perfect being called God, are imperfect, can we design someone customizing to our own likings? When we ourselves are imperfect will our creations or the changes we try to bring into someone make them perfect, or will it have any meaning? If we keep finding faults and ask them to change for some reasons it is going to have no end. And if we are in search of that Mr/ Ms Perfect, the search will not end too! So whether it’s a person you find or your parents do, it’s about accepting the person as he/she is and living a life appreciating the positives, and understanding and adjusting with the qualities that you find difficult to accept. That will make life sweeter and our hearts kinder.  Will it be justice if people walk away citing reasons of lost youth? That’s the most inhuman act one could ever do. That’s not the culture based on which we humans are raised too. When a couple are 60+ of age and they still share the same bond they used to 30 to 40 yrs back, with care and concern for each other, that is what is a life lived completely, a life lived with love.

True love forgives. The best examples of all time will be God and mother. True love is unconditional, it’s unadulterated. Love understands, cares, sacrifices and gives precedence to other over self, it shuts the external eye and views only through the inner one. Loyalty and mutual trust are the most important of all factors for a relationship to continue lifelong, and who knows even beyond this material life.

The unconditional nature of love is what makes love, love. Anything else is but business, expecting a profit in return to what is being given. Its supremacy too is evident in God’s love, and in mothers’. Other members of family too shower it in their own way. The most innocent love can be felt in grandparents’. They become a child once again and we become their parents. When we were born, they waited for their designation to change :) they dreamt of the first time we would ever call them ‘Grandma’, ‘Grandpa’ (in one’s own language). When they were called they felt like heaven. The same was the case with our parents too. And as elder siblings we would have seen our younger ones at our own young age with innocent curiosity and love. They too reciprocate it and their love grows mature with the passing years. A small family can have so much bonding within itself, and beautiful nests of care and guardianship for each other can be began to be built from a young age. Can we forget a pet’s love here? Without a sixth sense, with only feelings and with a pure heart, it’s one of the best creations of God, and the best source to learn from. When seeds are sown and showered with the right amount of dearness, it would leave no individual stone hearted. That’s the beauty of unconditional love, no expectations, no hassles, the best way to live life. It’s these points we need to make sure of, to answer the question above. If the love for the person you have is something as pristine and care-oriented as the love you have for your family members or pets, you can conclude to some extent that you love the person truly. And it’s here that you eradicate reasons of tangibility like looks, colour, money and attraction. So there’s so much that can actually be learnt from your family. You can decide for yourself if you are in doubt, and at the same time develop into a complete human personality with a heart full of love and benignity.

When it starts from a family it doesn’t necessarily end there. It’s extended to relations beyond blood: the immediate and further circle of relations, friends, and even third persons. A kind heart shows compassion to the tiniest living creature as it would to fellow humans. It’s about how we grasp, grow and cultivate. Even a stoic can be made to melt and taught to melt others.

It’s love that forms the basis of the universe, a notion that has no barriers of language, a feeling that makes a human, humane. It’s inside us, already sown and present. The search is dealt with removing the hazy dust of expectations, digging out the mud of vengeance, and plucking off the weeds of chemistry. When these are done, true love, which is platonic, can be seen treasured deep inside :)

Buts for the better

Trust, but don’t be gullible

Love, but don’t try to impress

Miss someone, but don’t let that gap turn into a rift

Respect, but don’t be servile,

Indulge in innocence, but distinguish it from ignorance.

Yearn for something, but don’t be jealous of it.

Cry your pain out, but don’t seek refuge in tears.

Sympathize with yourself, but don’t grow weaker.

Be compassionate towards others, but don’t expect an iota of reciprocation from them.

Explain, but don’t try to convince

Apologize cravingly, but don’t get knocked over if not pardoned

Forgive wholeheartedly, but forget not the lessons it taught you.

Confide, but before that choose the right ‘to whom’

Repent, regret, reprove and reproach yourself for something, but make sure you don’t repeat the cause of it.

Say no if you can’t, but be polite

Verbalize, but make sure you are heard

Discuss, but don’t argue

Concentrate on knowing what’s right, but on not who is.

State what you want to, but remember, being kind is always more important than being frank.

Do your best, but don’t expect.

Talk to yourself, but make sure you are honest

Be honest to others, but not too revealing.

Embark upon your passion, but let the risk be a calculated one.

Prioritize, but attend to all.

Give up, but only when the relationship is more valuable than your stand.

Give in, but only if you are completely convinced with the claim.

Share your sorrows, but only with the one who cares.

Understand and realize, but don’t grumble.

Ruminate, but don’t drown yourself into sulkiness.

Pay attention to yourself, but don’t love yourself more than you love the others.

Travel long and far, but don’t forget the beginning that brought you to where you are now

Let the past be your guesthouse, but not your eternal place of stay

Believe in miracles, but don’t be indolent.

Be humble when you get, but humbler when you give!

Celebrate your victory, but don’t rest on your laurels,

Be strong, but always remember there’s someone stronger!

Have sophistication in thoughts, but lead a life of simplicity.

Be yourself, but don’t be too repellant to changes if they are for the better.

Listen to your heart, but decide with your brain.

‘If’s and ‘But’s may be words of fools. But, who knows! Some ‘but’s may always be for the better and when followed we may escape from proving their claim right!

Have you found that someone? :)

If there's a mail in your inbox,
If there's someone who remembered to send you a good morning message,
If an acquaintance you walked past remembered to smile at you,
If there's someone to ask you how you are or if you ate,
If there's someone who could lend one's ears when you say you want to share something with them,
If a heart is capable of wiping away your pain and making you feel better,
If someone guided you along the right direction when you were about to take the wrong one,
If someone just held you seconds before you were to fall into a pit, both in the literal sense and metaphorically
If someone values even your slightest smile their source of happiness,
If there's someone who can see the truth behind your despondent smiles,
If there's someone who could treat your small achievements big and encourage you,
If there's someone whom you could always count on, no matter how busy they are or how stressful a day they had,
If there's someone who could spare their time to accompany you,
If there's someone who helps you with a sum in an emergency, without asking a single question,
If there's someone who sees happiness in yours and celebrates,
If there's someone who is moved to tears on seeing your pain,
If there's someone who saved your life or someone who fed a meal,
If there's someone who wished or prayed for your success
If there's someone who pronounced an auspicious word for you,
If there's someone whose music, lyric or voice has lifted you up from taking extreme decisions in life or has reduced the hatred you had towards it,
If someone gave you a sweet surprise and brought tears in your eyes every time you thought of it,
If there's someone who holds on to you despite you treating them wrong,
If there's someone who silently bears all the tantrums you throw at them, without even revealing their feelings thinking it might leave you upset,
If there's someone in whom you can confide without hesitation, to whom you can confess without shyness,
If there's someone who melted your heart with their kindness,
If there's someone who taught you a value for lifetime,
If someone came to your mind while reading this and if you have realized you have/had atleast one of the above, remember, you are living this life for a reason. That each someone is a God-sent blessing. And if it's a single someone that has given you most of the above (except parents, siblings, relatives, friends and celebrity), you have found your life :)

Girl

She gives up her joy for others.

She is forced to find her happiness in others’.

She is asked to decide, but not given a choice.

She is considered by many, a liability, while the rest of the world covets her as an asset.

She is called incapable, unintelligent and always a burden on the shoulder.

Her smile is what everyone sees, and she is assumed to be a slaphappy.

But behind each of that smile lies a repository of responsibilities, a buried bunch of sadness that she unpacks and cries over every night.

Her sense of indebtedness to her parents, only she knows.

She gives, gives up, gives in and gives away.

She is always the one to forgive first, forget at once, knowing though there’s nothing that is actually for her.

Her family’s problem has always been her problem,

But hers have mostly gone unheard, unnoticed.

She is expected to befriend her in-laws who disdain her as an alien threat

And to get used to them quicker than she got used to her new academia.

Household chores are something she loves to do,

To cook for her family and get some appreciation for that is all that she expects.

To talk for her rights is breach of doctrine,

And to at least remain silent is her show of arrogance, well the world calls it so.

She knows what’s right, she foresees and mostly overlooks her likings.

Her heart is used only to beat, keep her alive and to cry, but she beats it down most of the times to make her intellect rule the show.

Her gender is synonymous to being accommodative, that’s how it has been rooted in everyone’s mind.

She lives every part of life for those around her, like the waning wax of a candle,

Despite this, all her worth is known only upon her death.

But thank you world, you only keep elevating her glory with every suppression that you cast at her.

You only increase her reverence with every deplorable act of yours.

Because she knows the magic of turning muddy dust into a golden one.

The naturally beautiful yet made up face hides all the worries,

 Her life isn’t a paradise, not even an oasis, but just a mirage.

She wipes away the pain along with her tears.

And every time she does that she is reborn like a phoenix.

Mixed Thoughts in an evening bus journey….

Breeze berrufles my hair,
Thoughts sink me into lost nothingness.
Thinking of the past I recline on my bus's seat,
Knowing not what to ask for.
I love the tranquility within....
My eyes see but don't look!
They are wide open yet the mind's shut for foreign forces to pierce in.
I'm neither pensive nor lazy,
neither sleepy nor desolate.

I stare through the transparent windscreen,
I hear some song
but not driven towards listening to it.
The vehicle stops every now and then,
but I'm just not interested to know if it's a signal, toll or a jam
Trees move backwards in a trice
I move past the white lines in blink of an eye.

Once in a while my head directs up
To look at the unimaginable vast infinity
Sunset stupendous as always,
dusk dampening down the spirit's excitement to ground level,
reiterating that stability is nature's nature.
Birds flocking beautifully back to their nests
tell me a silent message and I understand that secret.

I feel like a cat standing on a wall
Not knowing which side to take!
I'm bad at deciding, trusting my decision and being happy with it.
I want that wall to collapse instead,
so that the two sides merge into one,
thus letting me escape from making a choice.
And now this unknown incomprehensible feeling too may be my mind's tactic of escapism.

If it's not so let me wait and study if it's placidity masking all the pain within....

Idhayam inda Idhayam….

A song I’m in love with, rather mad about for the last few days. It’s only rarely you come across a song that you want to listen to even a hundred times continuously over and over again and yet not get bored. So what makes this song so special? Or atleast to me? I just can’t contain the beauty of it, it’s music, lyrics, Shweta Pandit’s mesmerizing voice and rendition and the classical base on which it’s composed. So felt like writing on it!

The song begins with a beautiful lilting note and that plays in the background throughout at a lower volume. The Pallavi goes like “Idhayam inda Idhayam innum ethanai inbangal thangidumo….”, and the next line is similar with only the word ‘Inbam’ replaced with ‘Thunbam’. May seem to be an easily written and simple line but they are very very true and relevant. The fact that we could relate to it so well beautifies it even more!

Every other line that follows is deep and lovely too. For example, “kaayam yaavaiyum thetri kondu idu marubadiyum ninaikkirade”, “ethanaiyo kadalai idu vizhungum….”, “vendum vendum endru….thullume”, are also so genuine and show the nature of heart. Na. Muthukumar has used a different tool here. Unlike many other lyricists who commonly take up to writing about ironies like fire and the Sun becoming cold, water and night turning hot, etc. , he simply calls it “Idu thavithidum neruppa, illai kulirndidum neera….”, and only the third line employs an irony “Idu pani erimalaiya…” and that keeps the suspense and resplendence of the song soaring. Lines that deserve a mention are the next ones.. “Ullathile arai undu vaasalillai….ulle vandidum ninaivo thirumbavillai….”. This kind of an imagination is new and awe inspiring! How could someone think so brilliantly! Especially, “Ulle vandidum….” How true it is! Thoughts that come in don’t go out of our minds so easily. Greatly conceived and expressed!

The interlude that follows is a set of Swarams. A few pieces of music resemble (not copied definitely) the ones of Ennavale from Kadhalan, but it's not Kedaram.

 The song is based on Reethi Gowlai Ragam (Courtesy : Sindhuja :))

Words of the second stanza are profound too. “Engum bodu idu vizhikkum….vendum endre idu nadikkum....”, again a nice realization. An admirable aspect is Shweta’s pronunciation. Hailing from a north Indian background, her efforts to take care of the diction of Tamizh words is commendable. In fact, even those who know the language well may sometimes be less accurate in doing it but she pronounces exactly. Be it the lines “Kadavulin pizhaiya….”, “kulirndhidum”, etc, the ‘zha’, “I” sounds are so clear and well pronounced. With regards to the lyrics now, initially, “Kadavulin pizhaiya….” may rage up some who think such a question is wrong. On listening to it for the first time I was upset too, but the next line immediately took care of the answer, justifying that an opposite idea is tried and of course Muthukumar is a theist too so it’s just a poetic license he employs! (“Illai padaithavan kodaiya….” )Another notable aesthetic of the two lines is the play with the Tamizh alphabet. The “Ka Pa” interchanged. On to the next line! “Kelvi illa vidaiya?!” O My God! The movie was released long back but I listened to it only sometime ago, and was amazed that it resonated with a poem I had written on same lines. Answers without a question. And the ending is as good as the rest of the lines!

Above everything, the erudition of the poet can be seen from the fact that though the entire song just talks about a sensitive topic of ‘heart’ and the reason could be anything for describing it on such lines, and need not necessarily be love or romance, it doesn’t use a single romantic word explicitly, that too in today’s world of cinema where every song is based only on that idea. It may or may not be implicitly meant, but it’s definitely a difficult job to restrain from usage of such words and yet touch every heart that listens to it! We too can associate with other things like friendship, relations or anything. The song definitely needs a great appreciation for this very aspect itself.

Ok, writing so much on the lyrics doesn't mean its music is venerated any less. It’s a treat to the ears with the Carnatic touch, and the originality of composition. Yuvan Sankar Raja has done a great deal of work in meticulously taking care of its non resemblance to other previously composed ones. His discernment to stifle background music and make it softer, so that the singer's voice and spirit are made to reach the listeners well is worthy of praise.

Most importantly, Shweta’s Bhaavam or the feel with which she sings the entire song, thrashing away all the language barriers, melts one’s heart. Special mention of “Sollume….”, “pani erimalaiya”, “engum bodo….” “Nadikkum….”, "enna nadakkummmmm....".

Idhayam inda idhayam innum ethanai murai idil moozhgidumo :)

Understanding Destiny : Comprehensively

A few things in destiny are taken for a stroll along smooth roads and eventually go through a successful completion. Some others are taken for a toll, encountered with obstacles, thereby being misinterpreted that only a dead end awaits and that’s what is destined to happen. But to jump over every hurdle with incessant perseverance and then reach the pinnacle could also be written on our fortune’s books. It’s here that the nuance of divine decree plays role and shows us that there’s a dichotomy that exists within, and that coming over stumbling blocks to realize your dream is also part of karma. Don’t give up on God at any point.

What’s the Question?!

To know not why,
to heave a sigh

Not of relief,
but out of enigmatic grief

What’s it about the drama around??
That stirs my soul, trying to bury me under the ground

Tumults taunt and turmoils haunt
Tremulous voices inside asking for what they want

But I’m sorry I don’t understand,
for their visage is blurred by my vision’s invisible hand

Can emptiness weigh so much?
And isn’t there a question that lets the uproar quench?

Caught amidst the 6 wheels

Signals on city roads are known for their impeccable functioning. One such signal episode taught me the meaning of life. As I walked past shops, absent mindedly thinking of insignificant things, I took a look at the signal lights. It clearly showed a Red for pedestrians. Without a second thought I held my steps back, and the next second noticed it was Red for vehicles too! Time left..6 seconds! And who on earth, or at least here, waits upto the last second for the arrows to fall to start off? So, that diminished it to 3 seconds, where 1 second went in deciding. That’s 3-1, 2 to run across the 80 feet road. That’s when I took a hasty decision, to cross, thinking of nothing. When I was almost up to the second half of the road, came a bus.  And yes, it ran over me!

I cowered, shivering with no bounds. I thought I was dead, I didn’t know if I was thinking from the earth, heaven or hell. I thought everything was over, but the ideas of my debts bothered me more than my fear of death. Not the monetary debt, but those of some polite keys I missed to use with the ones around me. I have led my life all through these years with ego, anger, vengeance, hatred, self- centeredness (egoism) and impatience. I have caught myself up with these 6 qualities, just like how these 6 wheels have snarled me now, incapable of moving a step further, but to only repent. Thank God, none of the 6 wheels ran over me, so that gave me a chance to ruminate further. Yet I was apprehended, knowing not what the future has in place for me. All I wanted to do is, to get myself out of these wheels, both in the literal sense and otherwise. I wanted to live, at least a day more, so that I go back and make everything right, turn everything straight, admit that I’m nothing, to those upon whom I have shown my ego, apologize with those whom I have messed up with because of my anger, muster up all the negative thoughts I developed toward the others to retaliate and burn them down to ashes, turn all hatred into love without looking for a reason to, to expand my heart beyond horizons to show munificence for simple reasons that only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile, and true joy comes only from giving and not getting things for ourselves, and to be patient no matter who takes me for a ride or what tempest comes my way. I realized how lame I was, how inhuman I have been, and how meaningless a life I have led. So, that one day given can let me make up for all these wrongdoings, so that I have at least a handful of people to cry upon my death. God was boundlessly kind, for the realization He gave within those few seconds, and for the forgiveness He showered upon me by saving my life. He gave me not one extra day, but a rebirth to live to the end of my life. So I decided to shun every single wheel of the 6 as I came out from under the bus. It’s just a single vertical line that needs to be drawn to transform any negative into positive. So why not begin life (I have not been actually living all these days) from this very second? Yes, let me do. And thanks to those 6 wheels that entangled me, that made me realize into which 6 of them I was actually intertwined in reality.

To readers:

All of us humans have been blessed with good qualities. Some of the negatives as above may show up in varying intensities at various points in time. We lose patience, show anger and commit actions that eventually become irreversible, plunging us into deep gorges of regret. While sitting back and thinking about them, those memories can kill! Why wait till the last day of life when (God forbid) the future is always uncertain?  It’s still the right time to apologize with anyone whom we have hurt so far, to whom we haven’t shown as much care as we needed to have, to those whom we have neglected for no reason, overlooking their happiness upon our own interest. This would definitely ensure a peaceful last day of life, on which we needn’t worry about having done actions we need to reverse the effect of, or crave for another one last day. Make peace with everyone around. Be it your family, relatives, a long lost friend, or even an acquaintance. Do the best from your end. If they understand, all is fine, if they don’t, they are still caught amidst the wheels. So better leave it to them to decide upon their coming out of the tangle of vines.

உன் கண்கள்

மாலை வேளை தொடங்கும் நேரம்

சாலை ஓரம் நீ கதிருப்பதின் சாரம்

காண்பவர்க்குக் கண்கள் இரண்டு போதாது

உன் குழந்தைக்கங்களிருந்து வெளிப்படும் வெகுளிப் பார்வையைக்காண
காணும் மாத்திரத்திலேயே வந்து அள்ளிக்கொள்ளத் தோன்றும்
அக்கண்களை நினைத்தால் மனம் கொள்ளை போகும் இன்றும்
உன் கண்களைக் கண்டால் கல்லும் கரையும்
என் மனம் வெறும் மண் தானே!
மணித்துளிகள் கழிந்தாலும் தலைவனின் மனக்கவனம் பிறரிடத்தே சென்றாலும்
என்னே உன் பொறுமை! என்னே உன் நம்பிக்கை அவரிடத்தில்!
தேனீர் விடுதியில் காத்திருக்கும் நான்கு கால் செல்லப்ராணியே!

Parallel or Intersecting?!

The joy of crying;
the melancholy behind unblissful happiness.

The smiles that hide the inner gloom;
the tears that surpass the spurious smile.

The sweetness of adversity;
the fear of uncertainty despite abundant affluence.

The pain of love;
the love concealed behind hatred.

The inner agitating voices in ambient silence;
the abysmal loneliness inside, amidst the crowd.

The chase for money overlooking momentary happiness;
the spending of it to buy its alter ego.

The seemingly undying thirst for fame;
the realization of its insignificance upon its saturation.

The drive to follow ideologies;
its dilutions and deviations giving in to perfunctory pleasures.

The humility upon achievement;
the pride taken in being humble.

To be limitlessly innocent in dealing with our problems;
to advise like an expert upon others'.

To run after the ones who leave us;
and to leave the ones who love us.

The expectation of self to not expect;
the slight residual expectation because we are still imperfect.

To live in the past as though there's no future;
to dream about the future looking clean through the present.

And ultimately wanting everything when you have nothing;
and valuing nothing when u have everything....

Life is full of ironies.... And the irony of ironies is that you can neither visualize them as parallel nor intersecting....

God

People change; priorities change.
The only unchanging unlimited being is God
Hold Him tight;
He will show you the light....

கானல் நீர்....

வேண்டிய வரங்கள்செய்த நற்பணிகளின் பயனாய்
மேற்கொண்ட மா தவத்தின்  பலனாய்
தாயின் கருவில் குடியிருந்து
பிறந்த அன்றே பலரால் புறக்கணிக்கப்பட்டு
குடும்பத்திற்காக சில கனவுகளைப் புதைத்து
சமூகம் வரைந்த கோட்டிற்குள் தன் கோட்பாடுகளைச் சுருக்கி
பசுவைக்க் கட்டிப்ப் போட்டு
அது உலவும் பரப்பளவே பெரும் சுதந்திரம் என்று எண்ணுவது போல்
தனக்குக் கிடைத்த இந்த அளவான உரிமையை பெரும் சுதந்திரம் என்று எண்ணி
தன் வாழ்வை நிலைநிறுத்த கல்வியில் போராடி
பிற இன ஆளுமையையும் அடக்குமுறையையும் உடைத்தெறிந்து பணியில் தன்னை நிலை நாட்டி
பனிப்போல் உருகும் மனதையும் பாறையாக்கி
அப்பாறையை உருக்குலைத்து தேரை போல் நுழையும் காதலுக்கு உண்மையாகி
காதலுக்காக தனக்குப் பிடிதவையை துறந்து
காதலித்து பெற்றோரைக் காயப்படுதிய வலியையும் காதலனை புண்படுத்தாமல் இருக்க அவனிடமிருந்து மறைத்து
பயணிக்கும் பொழுதும் உறங்கும் வரையும் கண்ணீரே துணையென கருதி
விடிந்ததும் சோகங்களை மறைத்து புன்னகை புரிந்து அரிதாரம் பூசி
தூரத்திலிருந்து காணும்போது அனைத்தும் நலமாய் தண்மையாய் இருந்தாலும் 

அருகில் செல்லசெல்ல மெதுவாய் மறைந்து
இவற்றைப்போன்ற சோகங்கள் பல நிறைந்திருக்கும் வெற்றிடமாய்க் காட்சியளிக்கும்
ஒவ்வொரு பெண்ணின் வாழ்வும் ஒரு கானல் நீரே!

கடவுள் இவளது தியாகத்தை கண்டு அவள் வேண்டிய வரங்கள் அனைத்தையும் கொடுத்தார்!

அவளது புகழை உலகம் உணர செய்தார்!

இறைவா!!

ஆதியும் அந்தமும் இல்லா ஜோதியே!
நீதியை நிலைநாட்டும் நிகரில்லா ஞானமே!
தோன்றி வளர்ந்த பூமியின் காரணியே
தொன்மையின் தொலைவு முதல் புதிதாய் புலப்படும் பூரணமே
திடப்பொருள் முதல் திட்டங்கள் வரையும்
சக்திகள் முதல் சங்கீதம் வரையும்
ஐம்புலன்கள் முதல் புலமைகள் வரையும்
படைத்த பரப்ரம்மமே போற்றி!
கருணைக்கடலே! உம் படைப்பிற்குக் காரணமுண்டு
அடியேன் வாழ்விற்கு உமக்குப்பட்ட கடனுமுண்டு
அ நன்றிக்கடனை நான் தீர்க்காவிட்டாலும்
எமக்கு தீர்கமான மார்கத்தைகாட்டி
உம் பாதம் அடைய செய்யக்கேட்கிறேன்....

The 'Y' factor

We come across situations where we encounter a conflict between the mind and the heart. We are not sure as to whose direction to go by. In such situations take a decision in such a way that even if u sit back n think about it after 20 yrs you don't regret d decision made. Right, in matters concerning you, go by what your brain asks u to n don't b swayed by emotions. Heart's vision s limited n looks only at temporary benefits, but the mind guides u better taking d future into account. Relax for sometime. Sit in a silent place n think for a few minutes. Don't take permanent decisions on your temporary emotions.
"To handle yourself use your brain; to handle others, use your heart"

Applies to anything..personal life, career or day to day situations....

Is being possessive necessary?

What do we possess and what did we bring? Where are we from? Who is it that actually brought us here? Most of all why are we here? These questions come like waves when something else occupies the mind and this vanishes in a trice. Right from childhood through teenage and years that follow we are possessive about something or the other. It starts with objects and transcends boundaries to encompass many other things, including friends and relations. We start becoming possessive about our parents (at a young age, competing with our siblings), followed by friends and those whom we love. So far possessiveness has played a great role in all relationships, but has been rarely successful in strengthening the bond. In most of the occasions it has only caused rifts and torn apart good relationships. Those who justify that being possessive is a sign of love and care forget to apply the same when someone gets possessive about them. But why do we hold on to such a feeling despite all the pain it gives? It’s because, though coloured by love, care, etc, it all starts with the inherent nature of the mind, that being ‘insecurity’. It’s about the fear of losing a person’s relationship. But do we need to resort to forceful measures like constantly asking for their attention or altercating with them? Can we bind anyone by force? Isn’t true love, be it in friendship or any kind of relationship, beyond all these? Do we need to worry at all and try to pull to ourselves people who move away? Is that going to give us even the least happiness in the future? Will it let us derive even the slightest contentment of having a person for us? Not at all. We might initially feel we have won the bet. But in the long run will only repent for we would have realized its artificiality and fugacity. A relationship (all relationships including friendship) with just possessiveness and competition resisting a third person’s entry, without love for each other as the base is not likely to survive for a long time. But that which exists with unconditional love is ineradicable even when they don’t meet or talk to each other daily. So, if a person is destined to stay with us and if the love they have for us is true, there is no need to be possessive at all. Things will take shape by itself and true relations will last forever.

 *Nothing above God’s wish*

And these 4 words separately answer the first 4 questions :)

When a school van passes by....

Aahh my lunch box, where’s my mbile? Is it charged fully, ok..meeting at 9 30..I gotta rush..ohh yeah..the ppt slides..let me go through it once so that I don’t fumble there in front of everyone. Starting off from home, running for the bus, messaging d 1 who gets in at the same stop..to ask driver anna to wait…gr8!! So I'm there before the bus arrived!! no no..wait the bus was caught in traffic so I'm saved!!
                                                                             ******
 This is how most mornings are for us..far away in nature from what it used to b yrs ago..ok, so where was I??yeah with the same queasiness u 4get to realize or feel so many things around u..suddenly a noise erupts out of nowhere..it passes by your side and a long brake..so u get a better view of it now..u r laid back on your comfortable push back seat. U move forward with a jerk..hear some reminiscent sound. What does it evoke? U almost 4got that because it was way back? Hmm now u have got d hang of it..thanks to your sight. U try to peek.. and see innocent sunshine faces peep..eagerly looking at your office bus..who knows what those tots r having in their minds now. Yes and you become nostalgic..thinking of those halcyon days at school wen everyday begins with “Oh God, school today. Please make my teacher go on leave today. From tomorrow I will sincerely do my homework. Promise”. Their perky outcry sounds like a thousand birds chirping..n it resonates amidst d blaring vehicle horns. So what next? U r lost in thoughts, taken back to those days wen innocence ruled your life, wen dishonesty meant telling lies to escape from your teacher, stealing chalk piece n taunting from school n feigning to have had stomach ache. Ur world was small, your enemies were powerful n they were often your 1 yr old siblings or an equally aged neighbour. Money, yea that was meant to buy chocolates n teddy bears, cellphones??that's an anachronism. Only telephones were there n u used to make random prank calls n pretend to b Pepsi Uma wen ur parents were not at home. Der was no thinking about d future which meant no worries carried fwd to d next day. Der was no looking back that made u think of d same thing everyday n cry till u slept that nite. Though u dint have much work, u managed to keep yourself busy all d time. Now u call yourself busy but most of d time only stare at the white wall in a wilting way and think of nothing. Ironical but true.  U neither knew what friendship meant nor what d abysmal hatred did. “Ignorance is bliss” they say! V v true..n did I mention d turnout part? Neatly pressed uniforms, shoes that r white only on Mondays n eventually turn to yellow on Fridays, u colour it up with chalk to escape assembly time turnout checks, pass ur ribbon to d gal in first row n help. It was PT periods that drove u to school, a not well knwn teacher enters n u heave a sigh of relief dat its substitution period, u make d best use of d half an hr lunch, eat in 10 mins n play for d rest of d time till ur legs pained, go bac home n start off d next day d same way like a snail jogging through molasses. Again u r on d school van today, not really interested to go. U pass by  an office bus n wonder “Woww these guys don’t have any homework!!, everyday s like b’day n Children’s Day with colour dress” wen ur van suddenly stops next to it. U realize u r not in school van but office bus now n those were merely wishful thoughts pervading d mind. A tear rolls dwn d eye n u don’t evn realize y! life has taken a sea change..u have come, passing thru d times wen u knw dat  only tangible things can break to dis day wen life has taught u evn intangible things like trust n promise can. It has taught u lessons in a much harder n stricter way than ur teachers did..n u paid heavier prices too! U yearn for d past..feel like racing against nature’s growth n going back to school life again. A blare at your ear, that's none other than technology’s new kid! Ur teammates r calling u to ask where u r because it’s time for d presentation to start..yea rite your bus was late. U alight d bus wid reluctance n head towards your office..your mind agitated with the not so well prepared ppt presentation. N by d way do u remember d homework promise u made?! :)

Better to avoid friction in friendship

Friendship is the only relationship on Earth in which religion does not play a role. It was, is and will continue to be a pristine relationship. Nevertheless, there are some points that need to be kept in mind to continue the healthy relationship with friends through eternity. Many taboo topics are to be avoided, the most important and sensitive of them being religion. Though we don’t find it to be that common these days, yet there exists a few circumstances in which these topics slip in causing bitterness. When a person belonging to another belief criticizes your beliefs and customs it is something really difficult to take. A worse condition being they are your friends and you don’t want to be rude to them. At the same time you have to be true to your religion and faith and you can’t be mute to their criticisms. You try your best to be polite and explain your stand, but they unabatedly continue to mock at or argue with you. It’s ok, in such situations either stand unshaken and support your view or better explain to them that such topics are not necessary to be discussed then. After all those who resort to such arguments should understand the simple truth that all religions preach the same values and only the means of devotion and prayers vary. And all religions have the doctrine that the other shouldn’t be belittled. What may seem funny to someone in another religion may be a faith of high regard for the other belonging to that religion. So don’t ever thrust your ideas or claims upon others. When there can be sentiments that vary from person to person it’s not surprising to have a few sentiments and beliefs specific to a caste or religion and none can prove it wrong. And there’s no need to find out how scientific or logical a belief is. We are not scientists working on an experiment. It’s ‘life’ that we are living; faiths and sentiments can be arbitrary; they don’t need at all a scientific support. That is why it’s called ‘belief’. God has a reason for making beliefs existent and we humans are no way better than Him to challenge traditions like an iconoclast. True civilization lies in how tolerant you are to other religious beliefs and how well you look at them with respect. Don’t ever hurt a person’s feelings just because you don’t follow it. If you find something in their religion that’s not compliant with yours, so would there be a thing in yours that would not conform to theirs. It’s not about finding out who’s right or wrong or which practice has a strong stand or reason behind. It’s about having one’s own faiths and at the same time venerating others’ too.

Another perspective....

Ok, so all d hustle, bustle, fun n frolic abt Earthquake n Tsunami s over..time to contemplate on  some srs things..just came to my mind..who wer d 1^st 5 or 6 people u tried to reach to wen u felt d tremors? Who wer d 1^st 5 or 6 people who called u or inquired abt ur safety??interestingly, for most of us it wud ve been our  family members..our mother, father,  siblings , relatives n some close frnds..also we wud ve repented,  for  sum1 remembered to call us n ask while it dint strike us to ve done  d same to them! D amount of time we spend wid our families has definitely seen a dip in d past few yrs..n its mainly attributed to d constraints brought in due to our quotidian office work. It’s nly in these situations we come out breakin d obscurity of work n realize our innerselves..yess life s all abt family relatives n frnds..profession s nly a means to support d needs of our lives. So however far u have moved away from these relations owin to increased precedence given to profession, it’s still not too late. Reflect on dis n decide..u can definitely attain d lost propinquity quickly. N always remember dis..whether we r getting married  n movin to d nuclear family setup from d joint 1, or relocatin abroad, our parents r our first frnds n we mean a lot to them :)so reciprocate (we definitely can’t repay d whole debt though).

God’s Grace

 

Every event is a miracle if we realize it. It’s by God’s Grace that everything happens.  He knows what to give us and He gives that at just the right time. Many a times we ask for things we desire, more frequently ignorant of what consequences it would bring. Many of our wishes are granted. We see things in a perfunctory manner and misconstrue that some are not..but actually we don’t realize what negative impacts would trail the disposed  wish if it were granted. We can see His Grace at every stage and second of our lives. There must have been times in our lives when adversities would have sapped us of our strength, when it was only hurt and disappointment that people gave us, when it was nothing but only words like daggers that pierced our hearts, we trusted a friend say in school so much only to realize that we were just a pastime or a tool they made use of to learn things and when we were not useful anymore we were avoided. Who stood by us during those times? Was it our courage? Or, the so called ‘will power’? No! It was God .We see things the logical way, but for anything to happen there should be Supreme Force that has created the universe and has been setting things into action. That Omnipotent Force is God. So whenever there is a problem, or if something depresses you,  remember  we are not here on our own accord, nor did we take birth relying on a human (Of course we are social animals and human relations are needed and many of them are true indeed, but we should first trust in and be grateful to God who has given us all of these). We are here because of His will and our own Karma, and there’s no escape until the purpose for which we have come here has been served. God never disappoints like humans do. When we surrender at His feet and hold on to it tightly He is not going to kick us away. His Grace is unlimited like He is. And don’t gett angry with Him :). He is not going to lose anything because of your anger, just like the ocean which neither loses anything if you pour a tub of water into it nor take away 1 from it. It’s a loss for us only. What is needed is ‘Faith’ and ‘Patience’. Endure to the maximum extent possible. He is watching our actions and will continue to shower His Grace on us always.

Introspection

In today’s fast-paced lifestyle many of us have time to complete only the day-to-day chores. And next we plan for future. So I just felt like sharing this thought….Introspection….which means reflecting upon our own thoughts,words and actions….everyday we can try and allocate some time to recall whatever happened  that day….whether we thought anything negative or wasteful….spoke ill or gossiped about someone that’s of no use to anyone….or spoke something that could have hurt a person’s feelings….or did some action that way…. Contemplating on these may seem boring in the beginning….spending that time online or watching tv might seem a better option.  But these small things and the 10 or 15 minutes spent can bring changes to our lives and to what we are….and its effects can be realized and felt in the course of time. And of course introspection should be followed by corrections if we feel they are necessary. Only then the purpose is served….because apologies made at the right time and misunderstandings sorted out immediately can prevent the falling of big rifts amongst friends or any others.

Being human and being yourself!

Many of us would have heard this story in our childhood days….yet I’m sharing this for a small recollection….
Once there was a saint who used to perform his religious rites by the banks of a river. One day,  after completing his rites he sat under a tree to meditate. An ant slowly came near him and started biting severely. After sometime the ant tried to climb up the tree and while doing so fell into the water. Not knowing to swim it was struggling to reach the bank. Driven by pity and compassion, the saint plucked a leaf from the tree and threw it into the water. The ant heaved a sigh of relief and slowly reached the bank by clinging to it.
The same happened on the next couple of days also. A man who was working by the side of the river was perplexed to see this. He coudn’t contain his curiosity. So he went to the saint and asked , “Oh learned sir! I have seen this ant biting you invariably everyday. But you keep saving it without nursing grudges. Don’t you get angry at all?”
The saint smiled and replied humbly,  “Biting is the nature of ants….but to save a soul in trouble is the duty of a human being”.
 The saint’s answer is short and simple but when pondered upon teaches us so many values.
Forgiveness,symapthy and empathy are some of the greatest gifts given by God to humans. So its our moral duty to be compassionate. Also developing grudge and retaliating is not going to benefit us in anyway.
Someone hurt you? Don’t hurt back….forgive and be how you were….
Someone is acting in front of you but talking behind your back?Understand and learn a lesson but don’t talk back about that person….
Someone betrayed you?Be careful the next time but don’t retaliate….
Someone din’t recognize you for what you have done to them? It’s ok!after all you din’t do that to get their recognition!
Be open to changes for the better but don’t change your values for the sake of others….if u do so there is no end to it and you have to keep changing for every person you come across. So be yourself!
Because in the end it’s going to be between God and you….it was never between them and you! :)