Mmmm. Oh no. Across the world we all are locked down thanks to “Corona”. From a tiny village in the remote corner of India to the the Commercial Capital of the World – New York City there is a near total shut down.
Quite often I have been asked by friends and relatives across the world “How are you spending your time in Newyork City when you are locked down at 150 feet above ground in a confined space of 1000 Sq.ft area? You are so used to be with many people in a busy area where vehicles buzz around, vendors move around, densely packed shops and establishments. Hope you haven’t become mad.”
I was wondering as to what should be my response to these queries. Living in an apartment in one of those high rise property behind the Empire State Building, watching that impressive building is the only visual outside entertainment available during the lockdown. The Empire also reflected the eerie emptiness by covering itself most of the days with clouds and didn’t want to dress up colourfully in the evenings.
Hardly any traffic around compared to the “pre lockdown”. What should I do? Time to ponder.
Peeping out of the window on one early morning, I did get the answer. There was a single light coming out of one of the adjacent property. Wow! There is after all light even in darkness if we look for it. I got it.
That prompted me to go back in my memory and bring out the Colorful Empire that I know. I pulled out all the photographs (some of them taken by my son) from my folder, listened to the bits of music that my 7 year old grandson attempted at the keyboard and here is the link to the “Colorful Empire”.
The full moon day of the Tamil month of Masi (Feb 13 to March 13th for the year 2020) in Magha Nakshtra ( associate star Rebulus) is considered auspicious. It is believed that during this period,divine beings descend to purify the karma of the human race. As Magha is ruled by ancestors, benefits from blessings of departed souls is expected on this day.It is an important festival celebrated by Tamils. The makam star in this month usually falls on the full moon day and is considered highly auspicious in many temples across South India, especially in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala. For this year 2020 this was on 08th March.
Sitting thousands of miles away from my home in India, despite the winter, I could manage to get a clear view of the Moon. My 7 year old grandson was practising in his Key Board. I could definitely link the two and I couldn’t help naming my video as Melody in Moon.
Mid Feb to end Feb 2020 – The “Empire” at Manhattan was at its best displaying a wide variety of moods – bright, colourful, cloudy, invisible, towering. Watching it from the 17th floor from an apartment three blocks away, I was able to get a glimpse thanks to my iPhone. The background music by my 7 year old grandson on his keyboard adds to that splendour.
This year’s visit abroad is primarily to the place which I call it as the “ Commercial Capital of the World” – New York. For the laid back guy like me and the one who focuses on the manifestation of Nature, this is going to be a challenge to keep looking at the concrete sky scrappers, the ever busy bunch of people, the fast and furious life style, the booming and zooming cars and relate them all to Nature. Well, here I am the novice attempting to do “Mission Impossible”. The first part is the flight into the JFK from New Delhi. Here is the link
As I conclude Adi Sankara’s Pancha Rathnamala on Lord Ganesh, my memories went several decades back to my childhood days and the number of “Thoppukaranams” that I use to do before each exam in the schools. This is an age old practice prevalent for centuries in India, more particularly in South of India. Modern day Western World calls it “Super Brain Yoga” now and has converted this practice into a money making health exercise.
I also used to wonder about the number of alternate names that He has and the number of shapes and sizes that He manifests at different homes.
Even today as I google, I see 25.8 Million images of Lord Ganesha in a span of 0.67 seconds and there are a minimum of 108 alternate names for Him.
Here is one such simple image that I thought should be shared.
Tam-Eka-Dantam-Eva Tam Vicintayaami Santatam ||5||
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
नितान्तकान्तदन्तकान्तिमन्तकान्तकात्मजं (Nitaanta-Kaanta-Danta-Kaantim-Antaka-Antaka-Aatmajam): Who is Very Dear to Devotees as Beautiful Ekadanta and Who is the Son of One Who Restrained Yama
नितान्त (Nitaanta) = Extraordinary, Excessive, Considerable, Very Much
कान्त (Kaanta) = Desired, Loved, Dear
दन्त (Danta) = signifying Ekadanta [another name of Sri Ganesha]
कान्ति (Kaanti) = Loveliness, Beauty, Splendour
अन्तक (Antaka) = Yama
अन्तक (Antaka) = Putting an End, Causing Death
आत्मज (Aatmaja) = Born from, a Son, self-originated
अचिन्त्यरूपमन्तहीनमन्तरायकृन्तनम् (Acintya-Ruupam-Antahiinam-Antaraaya-Krntanam): Whose Form is Inconceivable and without any Limit and which Cuts through the Obstacles [of Devotees]
अचिन्त्य (Acintya) = Inconceivable, Surpassing thought
रूप (Ruupa) = Form, Appearance
अन्त (Anta) = End, Limit, Boundary
हीन (Hiina) = Left, Abandoned, Bereft or Deprived of, Low, Vile
अन्तराय (Antaraaya) = Intervention, Obstacle
कृन्तन (Krntana) = Cutting of, Dividing
हृदन्तरे (Hrd-Antare): Within the Cave of the Heart
हृद् (Hrd) = Heart
अन्तर (Antara) = Interior of anything
निरन्तरं (Nirantaram): Having no Interval, Uninterrupted, Perpetual, Continually
वसन्तमेव (Vasantam-Eva): Abides in this manner
वस (Vasa) = Dwelling, Residence
एव (Eva) = Exactly so, in this Manner, Indeed, Truly
योगिनां (Yoginaam): Yogis
योगिन् (Yogin) = Yogi, Ascetic, contemplative Saint
तमेकदन्तमेव (Tam-Eka-Dantam-Eva): [I Reflect upon] Him, the Ekadanta
तम् (Tam) = His
एक (Eka) = One
दन्त (Danta) = an Elephant’s Tusk, Ivory
एव (Eva) = Exactly so, in this Manner, Indeed, Truly
विचिन्तयामि (Vicintayaami): I Reflect upon
विचिन्त् (Vicint) = to Think of, Reflect upon, to Perceive, Discern, Observe
सन्ततम् (Santatam): Stretch or Extended along, Woven together, Continuous, Uninterrupted
Meaning of the Verse
5.1: (Salutations to Sri Vinayaka) Whose Beautiful Form of Ekadanta is very much Dear to His Devotees, and Who is the Son of the One (referring to Lord Shiva) Who Put an End to (i.e. restrained) Antaka (i.e. Yama).
5.2: Whose essential Form is Inconceivable and without any Limit, and which Cuts through the Obstacles of His Devotees,
5.3: Who Continually Abides in the Cave of the Heart of the Yogis.
5.4: I Continually Reflect upon Him, the Ekadanta (another name of Sri Vinayaka).
धनंजयादिभूषणम् (Dhananjaya-Aadi-Bhuussannam): Who Himself is Adorned with Poers like that of Fire etc
धनंजय (Dhanamjaya) = Fire
आदि (Aadi) = Beginning with, Etc, and so on, and Others
भूषण (Bhuussanna) = Adorned, Decorated
कपोलदानवारणं (Kapola-Daana-Vaarannam): From Whose Cheeks flow down the Juice of Grace
कपोल (Kapola) = Cheek
दान (Daana) = act of Giving, Gift, Donation, Rut-Fluid
वारुणी (Vaarunnii) = any Spirituous Liquor, of a River
भजे (Bhaje):
भज् (Bhaj) = To Revere, Adore
पुराणवारणम् (Puraanna-Vaarannam): Juice of Praise form the Puranic Scriptures
पुराण (Puraanna) = Ancient, Old, the Puranic Scriptures
वारुणी (Vaarunnii) = any Spirituous Liquor, of a River
Meaning of the Verse
4.1: (Salutations to Sri Vinayaka) Who Wipes out the Sufferings of the Destitutes who take His Refuge; Who is the Receptacle of the Words of Praises of the Ancients,
4.2: Who is the Former Son (the latter being Kartikeya) of the Enemy of Tripurasuras (i.e. Lord Shiva), and Who Chews down the Pride and Arrogance of the Enemies of the Devas,
4.3: Who wields Terrible Power to Destroy the delusion of the Five Elements constituting the World (from the mind of His Devotees); Who Himself is Adorned with the Powers (behind the Five Elements) like Fire etc,
4.4: From Whose Cheeks flow down the Juice of Grace; Salutations to Him Whose Praise similarly flows down like Juice from the Puranas.
Concluding my trip to Sikkim, here is a glimpse of “Unity in Diversity” – the tiny state of India shows the way in its rich heritage, diversity and cultural integration.
भास्वरम् (Bhaasvaram): Shining, Brilliant, Bright, Resplendent, the Sun
Meaning of the Verse
3.1: (Salutations to Sri Vinayaka) Who is the Auspicious Power behind All the Worlds and Who Removes the Mighty (inner) Demons,
3.2: Whose Huge Body signifies Prosperity and Boon-Giving and Whose Most Excellent Face reflects His Imperishable Nature.
3.3: Who Showers Grace (Kripakara), Who Showers Forgiveness (Kshamakara), Who Showers Joy (Mudakara) and who Showers Glory (Yashaskara) to His Devotees,
3.4: Who Bestows Intelligence and Wisdom (Manaskara) to those Who Salute Him with Reverence; I Salute His Shining Form.
Prabhu's Ponder 