Category: Photography

“Under the Banyan Tree” in Amazon !

Greetings to you.

After two years of launching my blogs in the field of Spirituality, I have just ventured into the field of consolidating the blogs and putting them in the form of a book.

The first set of books titled

“Under the Banyan Tree” – a comprehensive guide for understanding Adi Sankaracharya’s Dakshinamurthy Sthothram in English

“ஆலமரத்தடி ஆசானின் அருள் வாக்கு” in Tamil

have just been released in Amazon.

The product details are given in the Snapshots attached (taken from Amazon’s Indian Market place; the same is available at Amazon’s other market places across the globe in US, UK, Australia etc).

The English book contains the Sanskrit Verses, transliterations and translations in English and Tamil, word by word meaning, understanding of the Sloka and the Vedantic (philosophical) concepts outlined in the Verses. The Tamil book is a condensed version containing the Sanskrit Verse, Meaning in English and Tamil.

The books are free for Kindle Unlimited users and is priced downloading/reading in Kindle.

I wanted to publish them as free; however, Amazon’s pricing policy for Ebooks demand a minimum price (perhaps to cover their hosting charges etc). I immediately decided to use the royalties received in the sale of these books towards charity. Coming from a family of teachers, I decided to use the monetary gains towards meeting the educational expenses of needy boys and girls, here in India.

May I request your indulgence in buying the book/these books in Amazon Kindle/Kindle Unlimited. Kindly forward this message to your friends and families who maybe interested in the field of Spirituality.

Lockdown Gossip – “The caw coo colloquium”

Ever since we returned back to Bangalore in April 2021 from the USA, it has been exactly the same conditions like what we faced when we entered NewYork in early February 2020. LOCKED DOWN.

Locked down essentially means you get lots of time to do “Roof top walking” a familiar routine in the early morning and evening for me; this time with a difference – with lots of friends and companions. Strange!

Yes. It is literally an expedition to the animal kingdom and in particular THE BIRDS. I can assure you that if the lockdown continues further I can probably claim to have understood what these wonderful creations of God speak among themselves.

Here is Cathy, the Crow and Peggy, the Pigeon in a conversation on a bright and sunny day. True to the current situation, they had their cup of woes too. Let us hear them.

Well, Don’t worry Cathy and Peggy. Normalcy should be restored soon. Best wishes.

Note: Videos and photos taken on my iPhone X.

Video Link

Arunodaya

Looking at the Sunrise with awe and reciting Aditya Hrudayam during my early morning walks has been my most enjoyable moment for the day for several years.

Nothing can be more invigorating than this particularly in this era of pandemic and lock down. The one hour that I spend in the early morning is worth the gold. That is what Aditya (Sun) seems to be telling me today morning.

Watch Him talk to me today, Sunday the 16th Morning between 0545 and 0645 Hrs in Bangalore

https://www.dropbox.com/s/782xv6yj94n67mq/Arunodaya%20.MOV?dl=0

Music Courtesy – Music Today Album Arunodayam – Bowli Raga

Madhuvanti Malligai – மதுவந்தி மல்லிகை – A Nectar with Fragrance

When a flower predominantly grown in South of India and a Hindustani Classical Raga of the North India merges, you get nothing but pure Nectar (madhu).

No wonder, I saw these Jasmine flower plants in the apartment of a Delhi based “Madarasi” (a typical name given to people from South India living in North India), now settled in Bangalore. Being a very close relative of mine, I didn’t waste much time to pull out my iPhone, open the Camera and iTunes.

Music Courtesy: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

Lock Down ! Look Up !

After 15 months stay at the East Coast of USA, we are back at the base in Namma Bengaluru. Within two weeks of arrival, here we are ! under “Total Lock Down for 14 days” due to the second wave of the epidemic.

Heart goes out to the people suffering and affected by the virus. Lucky & fortunate elders like me should have no issues at all to stay at home in an apartment complex.

It is no big deal. Simple formula – Just lock down and look up. You will see what you want to see and not the barrage of negativity around. When you lock down negativity and look up for positives, you will see HOPE.

Here are some images of what I saw:

These iPhone images taken by me, reinforce my belief that Nature can present its best side even under stressful living.

I sincerely pray that this good side of Nature soon help us overcome its other side and presents a smile on us, the suffering Indians.

World ! Please Pray for Indians. This also will pass.

We ate well Veggies

Today is the first day of the New Year for Tamils who follow the solar calendar. Festival means plenty of food to eat and enjoy apart from prayers and rituals. Vegetarians in India have no issues. What about our clans in the Western World ?

Veggies face the culinary trilemma of being vegetarian, trying to eat healthy and being a foodie.

Some common modern-day myths

  1. Being a vegetarian makes you healthy. Yes, we are practically immortal at this point!
  2. A vegetarian cannot be a foodie. Given we are limited to tofu and eggplant parmesan.
  3. A foodie by definition, cannot eat healthy. See above.

This Substack is an attempt to conquer the impossible trinity of vegetarianism. Please do visit for receipes.

https://v8well.substack.com/p/the-impossible-trinity

https://instagram.com/stories/v8well/2581746083203237433?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&utm_medium=copy_link

This is a blog specifically created for the Veggies by my relative.

Spring in the Park

Pandemic may come and hopefully go; but there is no doubt that if it is early April, you will see the Central Park at the Newyork city springing up to life, providing happiness, cheer and hope.

Time to sign off from the USA for the year 2021.

Sankey Tank at Malleswaram, Bangalore is ready for me.

au revoir; abiento.

Central Park, NYC

Your feedback is vital

As I enter into the third year of my blogging, here is a BIG THANKS to all you 134 followers, 7655 visitors with 17400 plus views for the 196 blogs that I have posted. Can you kindly provide me with a feedback that will help me to improve further and walk steady in my journey. Feel free to offer suggestions and comments to my Email – prabhu53@yahoo.co.uk.