Tag: Travel

Melody in Moon

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.

Here is the YouTube link

Life is Colorful – 4

https://youtu.be/98NUvpt5KWE

Happy New Year.

Life is indeed colorful. All you have to do is just travel and explore. Here is what I found in Sikkim, the land of Lepchas, the tiny Indian State bordering Bhutan, Tibet & Nepal – “A mystical wonderland of spectacular natural beauty with the heady scent of flower-bedecked meadows, the vibrant culture, the infinite variety of its flora and fauna”.

Lush and thick forests, flush with blooms of exotic flora, hilly expanses embellished by Sikkim’s two main rivers, the Teesta and the Rangeet, the picturesque villages, hot springs and waterfalls – just an amazing hill state.

This is the first part of the Series of blogs from me on Sikkim

Life is colorful – 1

Life is definitely colorful 24x7x365. There is no need for despair. Let us enjoy life fully.

With the majestic Western Ghats as the background, in the midst of lush green coconut farms and vegetation, life couldn’t be more colorful and pleasing. A typical early morning scenario in December at the outskirts of Coimbatore, the erstwhile Manchester of South India.

Thottam (Garden)

Sitting quietly on a thunderstorm day, 13,634 Kilometres away from home I was getting ready to commence my return journey after a stay of more than 1500 hours. Taking stock of the way in which the time was spent, I was compelled to think about the satisfying time that was spent in the Little Thottam (Garden) at the back yard of the house.

Blessed with copious supply of water, well manicured lawns, fertile soil, abundant earthworms, the yard was all set and craving for a gardener – an ideal job for post retirement personnel like me. Needless to say that I grabbed the opportunity. The result is here as Thottam

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Springing Eastern Sun – PANY 2019

Ever since I started my early morning walk in India several years ago, I have been an ardent devotee/follower of an important element of Nature – Fire represented by the Sun (Aditya or Soorya as we call it). Reciting the famous Sanskrit Verses (Aditya Hrudayam) and taking photos of the Sun using my iPhone is my near daily routine.

Here is an important verse from the Sloka.

आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् ।

जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षय्यं परमं शिवम् ॥४॥

Aaditya-Hrdayam Punnyam Sarva-Shatru-Vinaashanam |

Jaya-[A]avaham Japen-Nityam-Akssayyam Paramam Shivam ||4||

Aditya – Sun

Hridayam – heart

PuNyam – sacred

Sarva – all

Shatru – enemies

Vinashanam – destruction

jaya = victory

Avaham = giving, bestowing, producing, bringing forth

japa: = chanting prayers [japet = should chant/recite]

nityam = daily/forever/always

akshayyam = eternal

paramam = highest, greatest [superlative]

shivam = prosperity, well-being, happiness, blessed

Over the years that we have been traveling to the USA, this is the first time that we have visited during the Spring/Summer. Needless to say that this was a “Sun” given opportunity to interact with Him and listen to His language of expression. During my travel across in Pennsylvania and Newyork States this Spring, He was kind enough to provide me ample opportunities for interactions.

Springing Eastern Sun (PANY 2019 – depicting photos from PA & NY) is the gist of my interactions with Sun.

I deem it as His Blessings.

Music Courtesy: Flute by the Carnatic Legend Dr N. Ramani in Raga Sivaranjani.

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