breakfree

Writing this out of sheer frustration

2011-03-06T20:17:00.000+05:30

We all say that the world is becoming a smaller place to live in. well,i often wonder how true that is with the times we live in :the era of globalisation, digital media, space travel and more avenues that are still in its nascent stages of booming the world..yet we still have a few borders to cross. a few mountains to climb.But who or what are we as individuals or societies??
Take for example in India there are so many different states with different cultural and religious traditions and unique in own way ...yet indian society is still bound together by collectivism..
I was recently at a ceremony of a muslim sufi friend ( a great childhood friend of mine )and asked by a non indian who i am ?,what i am , etc etc.. well so i came out with the usual (being an art of living volunteer )i said i am a human being above all well she was literally like what the hell?because apparently all the other indians had some or the other idientity aprt from being human...(i simply laughed ) and so then i started explaining out to her how actually india is the cradle of humane values it all originated here infact and that its better to be a human being first rather than being a hindu,sikh,atheist ,punjabi , indian ,etc etc... she was so confused that belonging one nation people has so many different ethinicities or rather mini nationalities..while in her country sweden, the emphasis was more on individualism and humanity but having lived in a place like australia for over two years and at the peak of racism against indian students i felt it was quite weird that the caucasian race spoke of humanity.. look at the violence theyve created in the world: the crusades, the conquering and inquisition of their mannerisms and religious beliefs on many nations like india, the recent brutal wars on afghanisatn and hanging an innocent saddam hussein for oil?the spanish inquisition, the portugese inquisition in goa ,india where millions and millions of hindus were burnt alive or forced to convert, the decline of a mildly mystic religion of paganism in their own lands, todays issues of global warming , environmental damage, overconsumption,the economic recession(well it definitely didnt start in asia), the creation of islamic terrorism(it was america who first funded bin laden to fight the u.s.s.r )which has backfired on them, the great talk of being non racist and big wild dreams of world peace...my my the western civilisation may be good but its still not all that great...they talk of indias huge support systems, joint families of japan and fake godmen in india they really have to get their heads set and decide what they want because even with all the problems asian countries have far lower co2 emissions and amongst the worlds largest recycling facilities( the largest being india), we may not be that monetarily rich like the west but we were also under invasion rule for over 2000 years and british rule for 150 before that we were the most advanced countries on the planet mathematics originated here , spirituality, family system, business management (infact in all gr8 management schools people study the bhagvad gita that definitely says a lot about our modernity of 5000 years ago)we shelterd the sufi's, parsi's, syrian christians and jews when they were banished from their own countries doesn't that say a lot about our humane values??asian countries religiously and culturally dominated each other for 20 centuries without ever going to a single war... we believe in non violence maybe thats why today egypt has taken inspiration from our non violent means to topple its corrupt government...we as asians exist as an individualistic yet collective society and we are much happier than those nations where individualism has almost failed...in asian countries like india one can find a hindu, muslim,sikh, jain, christian , buddhist , atheist all socialising together and many religions like hinduism and sikhism often being part of the same family... there is no restrition on anything only we have great support systems as we are collectivist in nature .. we have more friends huge family supports and less divorces we need fewer psychologists because we can share with many and get advice from others experiences, another example is japan where the grandchildren are sent to live with and learn from the experiences of the older generation... we have our spirtual values and yet we as individuals are different from each other...we may have higher stress levels as you sometimes but what the hell as a race we are happy we have lower levels of depression in our society :25% of american population above the age of 18 suffers from depression and 35% of europe according to the u.n report .. well in india only abot 8-10% of the pop. given that we are the 2nd largest pop so we ahve very small numbers...we must look at the positives our culture has instead of aping the westerners blindly :for chrissake we had to have the west endorse our ancient practices of yoga and ayurveda before we could revive them we had to have the western celebrities endorse our graceful and elegant sarees as cool and high fashion before we brought them out of our vast catacombs of clothes...we had to have the brits make chicken tikka masala their national dish and bhangra their music before we could make them cool in india, it took some one like richard gere to make indians sit up and take notice of the plight of the docile,demure and harmless tibetans...why cant we for once turn the tables?? why for once we as a collective society who whine whine and whine about our government do something? vote yes..).Then we whine when our relatives say dont do this and that do it this way or these clothes would suit your figure better or ur talented at this and yet when we are in trouble, a vast majority of us either go running to those relatives whom we winge and whine about or expect them to come 2 our aid... in india we have even strangers from the same community who will come out to support us.. isnt that a strange brotherhood then???so i ask isnt it better to be a human being, an individual, and yet live in a collective society??

.....And so you live ....( a tribute to my late friend gaurav nath)

2010-12-08T10:03:00.000+05:30

You taught us how to smile,
you taught us how to laugh,
....how to see a bright spark in every creation,
How to jump,
how to play....

You embodied a divine spark within yourself ,
you spread the light across the darkest hours,
you were an ocean of calmness,
a bolt of lightning,
a spark of electricity,
a bubble happiness
and all things adventurous you were...
... And so you live on in another plane of existence
.... in our hearts, spirits and minds....
we will always cherish those sweet memories,
those satsangs and your beautiful voice....
.... jumping around and being there for each of your dear friends....
.... living each moment ... and enjoying life....
Am sure wherever the powers planned and plotted to send you into another plane you are doin the same......
and making new friends and chershing your old memories.....
enjoying what another plane of existence has to offer...
..... And so you live...
touching the lives of many,
yet being detached...
an expression of humbleness
a ray of sunshine....
and in this way so you live......

Mamma Mia- Another Abbba Fav...

2010-10-31T20:59:00.000+05:30

24

2010-10-23T18:38:00.000+05:30

WELL , its sunday tomorrow , the 24th of october and im turning 24 a step closer to completing a quarter of a century on planet earth. I cannot even begin to pen down in words what exactly i'm feeling. Am i feeling old?? well not really but i ain't getting any younger physically either- mentally i'm still 14, 15 or 16 or whatever, physically i look like a chubby cherubic high school kid ( well atleast that is what people have been telling me off late ) i guess it is all only because of all the strenuous yogic and meditative practices i but my mind and body through.Well yeah ive been doin thesze kinds of things since i was 10 years old so there goes it.
Hmm, im still wondering what i have achieved in my nearly 24 years of existence?? well it depends what one defines as achievement-according to me its peace of mind, happiness,contentment,success,and an unconditional love for everything that exists.
If its one thing ive learnt and probably learnt the hard way, its to take somethings with a pinch of salt.
In all these 24 years, ive spent every moment learning, exploring and creatively honing my various skills. Ive learnt so much- be it from the Bhagvad Gita or the Sukhmani sahib, ive learnt that human life is all the same- everyone goes thru ups and downs.
ive learnt life is what one makes it out to be- if one makes life happy- it will be full of joy and laughter, if your too serious well ...
ive learnt to just accept somethings and let them be that way....
well id have gone on and on with this post but i have to sign off for now...

One someone who changed my life :)

2010-09-23T10:48:00.001+05:30

Writing after so long well just makes me want to write. And what do i write about?
one someone who has completely changed my life.
Since all you readers are wondering who is one someone is , i shall disclose his name a little later in the post.
I was really astonished to see someone so multidimensional in todays stress filled world who lives such a carefree and stressfree life at his age.
A masters in statstitics from IIT yes IIT,
a good dose of anger , albeit short lived and for very good reason - anger out love is not anger he says it is a suggestion to improve your life.
The best vegan cook i know- i mean come on i thought there were no substitues for gelatin until he told me about agar agar.
The one who has introduced me to many organic foods in the last 5 years that i think i have known him.
A teacher and an inspiration to millions of youth across the globe and he still remembers my name , my wild ways - yes i do have some- like drinking cold coffee and sleeping at 4 am sometimes
oh the way he has changed my life - i mean if one could could just listen to this gifted soul even once in their entire lifetime all their problems and dilemma's about life would be solved in a jiffy.
He not only cooks , but plays the piano with mozart like precision.And, despite being a Parsi, knows far more about the ancient Vedic wisdom and meditation i can imagine. I owe all my yummy yummy veggie dhansak making skills to him and his mother .
The one who has taught me that life is what you make it out out to be.
He is one of the wittiest kids and the most mature adult( well i attritube this aspecat of his larger than life personality to being a disciple of one of the Gretest Englintened Beings alive on plant earth- H.H Sri Sri Ravishankar).
The one who still remembers how i love travelling and studying and how rebellious i was at one stage. Infact he went to the extent of calling my change in personality the "Taming of the Shrew".
He has always been oh so inquisitive about all my vfx and 3d works and how animated movies are made.
A big smile, long wavy silvery hair, a long nose, the reddest of palms i have ever seen and the grace of an ethereal presence in him.
I call him bau or bawa ...aka by others as MR. Khurshed Batliwala .
to know more about one of the most inspiring souls i have met this life time do visit
www.bawandinesh.name
Wishing bawa a very happy birthday and hoe he continues to be his merry witty self in the years to come...

A Short Update

2010-09-20T16:00:00.000+05:30

August and september have been quite busy months and therefore i havent got a minute to pen down my thoughts until today. I started studying again yes i did indeed and business management is quite interesting. My nani and nanji were down from delhi for almost 4 weeks and what fun it was. I had my wisdom teeth removed that was painful. Learnt and finaly mastered how to bake oat cookies. Been on a weight loss diet - well more exercise than anything else actually.... some short recipes coming up soon...

One of my favourite Abba songs

2010-07-20T18:29:00.000+05:30

this is one of my fav abba songs it tittled i believe in angels and i can really relate to the lyrics....

just listen to the lyrics........amazing...

A Short Update about my life

2010-07-10T10:42:00.001+05:30

hmm so ive been slacking on the blogging front for quite a while now. I must apologise to all readers of this blog . I have been on a travelling spree espcially to delhi - nanaji thank you for being in hospital and scaring the wits of us and for the random trips. 3 - 7th june a random trip without even packing clothes. Can one really imagine that. Then back to bangalore and off to the International Centre of The Art Of Living Foundation for a course called " YES+ Summer Magic "
a personality enhancing and stress relief advanced program with over 2500 youth. Well this was my 3rd advanced program and the first ever summer magic. What an experience it was. A lush green beautifully landscaped place on the outskirts of such a hectic city . This place never ceases to amaze me everytime i go there- so much buzz and activity yet so peaceful.
I have never done Surya Namashkar so slowly in my life and i really thank my teacher Dinesh Bhaiya for showing me the essence of weight loss just by performing slow meditative surya namashkar. thank you . Well the other meditations and silence was deep and i gained a lot more clarity about my life once i was out of silence. It was a fun 11 day soulful journey into the self.And yes His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar did take a few sessions of meditation and pranayam for our group. I still feel so blessed and blissed altough my heart is still there at the ashram i wish i could stay for longer.
Yes we did get souvenirs in the form of tshirts , bags and bookmarks this time as a memeory yes the bacgs are eco friendly cloth bags and made in hindustan as the tag says. And thank you Bawa for ur witty answers and all to the most complex questions. Oh and i forgot to mention that there was an awesome play staged for us called Anand and Benaifer...more in the next post with pics..

Yoga- Part 1

2010-05-11T21:05:00.000+05:30

my intial fascination with yoga started when i was a little girl.i used to watch some of the older people twist their bodies into all sorts of knots and postures and keep wondering how it was all done. then one day my mum explained the basic stuff saying it was all yoga. Yoga is derived form the sanskrit word yug- meaning union of mind , body and soul. In Hindi it became yog and once it went overseas it became yoga. Indians of today find it extremely different to first accept their own ancient wisdom before the west has accepted and proven it. Mind you yoga is a 3000 year old science of the body . With increased popularity of yoga in the western world- one of the basic factors being - it relieves stress and keeps the body fit and thats why its a great combination of exercise and relaxation.
All yogs is derived from Patanjali, the father of modern yoga. The Patanjali yogasutras form the base of almost all modern yogic and meditative practices. It is infact Sage Patanjali who is regarded as the father of modern Yoga. Yoga has many different forms and the yogic practices can differ from individual to individual , and different thoughts of schools can have their own variations. However, yoga ultimately has the same goal- individual wellbeing.Yes, well it could be quite amazing that 3000 years ago someone came up with a series in which one can exercise individual dody parts to cure numerous ailments. Well , i must say that for his time then Sage Patanjali was no less a genius as Bill Gates is regarded today- by the way even Gates has a personal yoga instructor. Yoga infact has many layers and forms ( which will be discussed in the next post) and the subtle differences is what makes each form unique.
Today, yoga is no longer considered a hippie, cultic spirtual practice but is available at the hippest of fitness clubs accross the globe. Infact so much has the craze caught on with young urban working and non working professionals that sportswear brands have targetd the markets.
Yoga is at the core a whole body workout from head to toe and affects every organ of the body in a positive way if the postures are practiced correctly.
Infact every person who practices yoga has their own individual workout to suit their body type and health requirements- so much is the customisation that is possible with this lovely form of exercise.
Yoga not only physically keeps one fit but also mentally- improves concentration, keeps one calm and focused and numerous other findings which have been proven by modern medical research.I would definitely recommend yoga toeach and every single person who is looking for a form of fitness today.
(to be continued )

Sundried Tomato with Fresh Fennel

2010-03-19T19:03:00.000+05:30

Hmm so i had some sundried tomatoes lying in the fridge and didnt know what to do with them until i found some fresh fennel , that too organic in the neighbourhood spencers. This recipe comes out more like a preserve and tastes good with lightly toasted bread or as part of a salad.pictures will be uploaded soon. I am particularly fond of tomato not just because red veggies add lovely colour to a dish but the fact that tomatoes are loaded with lycopene,are great to use in face masks for oily skin- i am not kidding here, the ancient indians and egyptians used fresh tomato pulp with fullers earth to remove skin impurities and i've tried this myself and it leaves the skin glowingLycopene has also been shown to improve the skin's ability to protect against harmful UV rays. Not only that , tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants that work towards prevention of certain cancers thanks to the lycopene.
Fennel - for centuries in ancient india, fennel , aniseed have been used as natural acidity regulators after a hevy meal- ever wondered why after a heavy meal of indian food fennel is served as the after mint? well it increases the metabolilism and works like gripe water. Fennel tea is amazing for indigestion and gastric troubles.
Olive Oil- hmm what to say about this lovely perhaps one of the most nutritious cooking and dressing oilsThere is a large body of clinical data to show that consumption of olive oil can provide heart health benefits such as favourable effects on cholesterol regulation and LDL cholesterol oxidation needi say more?
the recipe:
250 gms of sundried tomatoes
2teaspoons of aniseed whole
fresh fennel bulb and leaves
salt and pepper -about a teaspoon
sugar /palm sugar - 1 teaspoon
in a bowl, add the tomatoes , salt,sugar,and pepper and fennel or aniseed seeds( saunf). then chp the fennel bulb stems coarselt and wash along with the fine leaves . add all this to the tomatoes. pour some olive oil to cover the mixture a little and mix well..let soak overnight or for a few days so that the tomatoes absorb the flavour. Donot put it in the fridge unlessit is very hot climate the oil congeals and has to be left outside to return to its natural form...

Maha Shivratri

2010-02-12T18:24:00.000+05:30

Tonight and tomorrow is Maha Shivratri.
http://www.komalkapur.blogspot.com/search/label/MahaShivratri
last year around this time, i have posted a few posts ranging from the meaning of Shivaratri to Kashmir Shaivism. Do go through those posts and leave your valuable comments.
today, i want to dedicate a post to the Devanagari: ॐ नमः शिवाय,mantra.
The book The Ancient Power of Sanskrit Mantra and Ceremony, Volume I defines Om Namah Shivaya as:
"This mantra has no approximate translation. The sounds related directly to the principles which govern each of the first six chakras on the spine...Earth, water, fire, air, ether. Notice that this does not refer to the chakras themselves which have a different set of seed sounds, but rather the principles which govern those chakras in their place. A very rough, non-literal translation could be something like, 'Om and salutations to that which I am capable of becoming.' This mantra will start one out on the path of subtle development of spiritual attainments. It is the beginning on the path of Siddha Yoga, or the Yoga of Perfection of the Divine Vehicle."
"Na" refers to the Gross Body (annamayakosa), "Ma" refers to Pranic Body (pranamayakosa), "Shi" or "Chi" refers to Mental Body (manonmayakosa), "Va" refers to Intellectual Body (vignanamayakosa) and "Ya" refers to Blissful Body (anandamayakosa) and "M" or the "silence" beyond these syllables refers to the Soul or Life within.
IN the expalnation of one of of the most renowned spiritual masters of this millenium, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Aum Namah Shivaya is a panchakosha mantra . When ever you are in doubt or in difficult times one must chat the whole japa. Om Namah Shivaya can be chanted 108 times cycle everyday. It not only affects the cosmic conciousness but also has an effect on the different parts of the human brain.
Adi Shankaracharya says that the name "Shiva" means "the one who purifies the one that repeats His name."
The Universe is said to be made up of vibrations. Vibrations give rise to form. As the name "Rama" gives rise to the form of Rama, similarly, the name "Shiva, in Aum Namah Shivaya" gives rise to the form of Shiva (Maheshwara). (Sivananda)
Namaḥ Shivaya is called Panchakshari (5 syllable mantra) whilst Aum Namah Shivaya is called Sadakshari (6 syllabled mantra). Namah Shivaya is recommended to be chanted by householders, whereas the prefix "Aum" is added to the mantra by those who have renounced the world. However, according to Sivananda, Aum Namaḥ Shivaya is also alright for practise by worldly people, as gradual repetition makes the mind proceed from the gross to the subtle.
Upamanyu said that if you practise this mantra enough so that it vibrates continuously in your heart, then you don't need to do any yoga or further practises like pranayam.
Brahmamuhurta, or the time at around 4 o'clock in the morning is the peak optimum time for spiritual practises like japa because at that time the whole world is asleep and the mind is like a blank sheet of paper on which any impressions to be made last long.
Variations of Panchakshari:
Namah Shivaya
Namaha Shiva
Shivaya Shiva
Shivaya Namah
Shiva Shambo.
Rudra Pooja:The Shri Rudram (Sanskrit श्रि रुद्रम्), to which the Chamakam (चमकम्) is added by scriptural tradition, is a Hindu stotra dedicated to Rudra (an epithet of Shiva), taken from the Yajurveda (TS 4.5, 4.7).[1][2]. Shri Rudram is also known as Sri Rudraprasna, Śatarudrīya, and Rudradhyaya. The text is important in Vedanta where Shiva is equated to the Universal Brahman. The hymn is an early example of enumerating the names of a deity,[3] a tradition developed extensively in the sahasranama literature of Hinduism. By the first few centuries CE, the recitation of the Śatarudrīya is claimed, in the Jābala Upanishad, to lead to immortality.[4] The hymn is referred to in the Shiva Purana.[5]
The text is also famous for its mention of the Shaivite Panchakshara ("five-syllable") mantra (Sanskrit: Namaḥ Śivāya), which appears in the text of the Śatarudrīya in the eighth anuvaka.[6] The text also contains the mantra Aum Namo Bhagavathe Rudraya.Through the chanting of Sri Rudram, Lord Siva's various attributes and aspects are invoked and worshipped. Chanting the Rudram is considered to be of great benefit. The Rudram chanting can be done with or without the accompaniment of a Vedic yagna ritual. When accompanied with the Vedic fire ritual, it is called the Rudra Yagnam. It is said that Lord Shiva after Bhasmasura was killed with the help of Lord Maha Vishnu performed the Tandava Dance and then Performed the "Rudra Yagna" for the Betterment of Humanity, this Place where the Rudra Yagna was performed is where the "Sri Kalahasti" Temple stands now, this temple also has one of the 12 Jyothirlingas of Parameshwara.
It consists of two texts from book four of the Taittiriya Samhita (TS 4.5, 4.7), which is a recension of the Black Yajurveda.
Shri Rudram or the Namakam (chapter five) describes the name or epithets of Rudra, which represent his aspects. Additionally, the devotee asks for the benevolent aspect of Shiva to be invoked rather than the terrible aspect and requests forgiveness of sins. The Chamakam (chapter seven) asks for the fulfilment of wishes. Each part consist of eleven anuvaka or hymns. Traditionally Rudra is assigned the number 11, and among the thirty three deities of the Vedic pantheon, eleven are considered forms of Rudra.
[edit]Shri Rudram
The anuvakas of Shri Rudram correspond to the eleven hymns of TS 4.5, with the final anuvaka extended by an additional eight verses, including the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. The central Shaivite mantra, Aum Namah Sivaya is also derived from the Shri Rudram, it appears (without the aum) in TS 4.5.8.l.
[edit]Chamakam
The second part of the text, corresponding to TS 4.7, asks God for fulfillment of wishes. The repeated phrase, cha me literally means, "and to me [be this granted]", accompanied by a list of desirables which are primarily necessary appurtenances for Vedic sacrifices.
The original context of the Chamakam is the piling up of the fire-altar of the Vedic religion. The hymn invokes, apart from Agni and Vishnu at the beginning, a pantheon of Vedic deities that are successively linked with Indra to enable the yajamana or sacrificer/patron to successfully perform Vedic fire sacrifices or yagnyas, such as the Agnishthoma, Somayaga, and the Ashwamedha. The Chamakam can be interpreted both as a preparatory for a physical external sacrificial ritual, or the inner, possibly yogic sacrifice involving pranic control, since the yogic "vital airs" are explicitly mentioned as sacrificial adjuncts in anuvaka, or stanza 10.
The interpretations of the text commonly taught today are clearly Vedantic, while the Vedic texts at the time of their composition were probably intended for the context of ritual sacrifice.
The President of the Ramakrishna Mission, at Chennai, in commentating on the foreword to Swami Amritananda's translation of Sri Rudram and Purushasuktam, stated that "Rudra to whom these prayers are addressed is not a sectarian deity, but the Supreme Being who is omnipresent and manifests Himself in a myriad forms for the sake of the diverse spiritual aspirants." Sri Rudram occurs in the fourth Kanda of the Taittirya Samhita in the Yajur Veda.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami explains in the lexicon section of his book, Dancing with Siva, that "Sri Rudram is a hymn to the wielder of awesome powers. It is a preeminent Vedic hymn to Lord Siva as the God of dissolution, chanted daily in Siva temples throughout India."
[edit]Smarta interpretation
The prayer is commonly interpreted to show that Vishnu is another aspect of Shiva and to accordingly hold that Vishnu and Shiva are one and the same God from an Advaitan or Smarta viewpoint. Interestingly, the Vishnu sahasranama, in a similar manner, states Shiva is an aspect of Vishnu.
Below is fantastic link i chanced upon, the rudra pooja with an english translation
http://www.scribd.com/doc/18663065/2601866-Rudram-and-Chamakam-With-English-Translation

Life

2010-02-12T17:37:00.000+05:30

Life
life:
i’d consider the beginning of my life to be like a vast ,textured but blank white canvas
ready to be painted on and explored-an empty canvas like that of an artists thats ready to be painted on… only here ,i am trying to unravel the mystery of what life means to me .
i really dont know how to express the concept of life in a few simple short sentences
but,here is what i think life is all about :
lifes about good times and bad,
experiencing a gain and a loss at times,’
joy and sorrows
sharing and daring chossing between the good and the bad,the right and the wrong
its about being optimistic at times and pessimistic at others
leisure and hard work
its about living on the edge
Life-live it to the maximum

p.s i wrote this post sometime in 2006/2007 on my rediif blog just publishing it here now for lack of anything new to write.

Mysore and Coorg

2010-02-10T19:18:00.000+05:30

It was a rather short trip to these two places which i consider made by the Divine. Both are heavenly in their own ways.Mysore is just about two hours away from bnagalore and with the new elrt and nice highway, the drive is rather smooth. W e left on 25th january evening and thought we'd stop off at the mysore temple and press our way to coorgbut the Divine had other plans. 26th morning, we left out hotel and yes our family did stay in Ginger Hotels and had the most amazing darshan in Chamundeshwari temple it was as if the Mother Godess had called us especially for the darshan and ive been going to that temple on the hill since i was a little baby and all the priests know my dad nevertheless it was a fantatic Sahasranam/ Stotram that was specially done for us by the preist and then w ehad the panchamurtham prasad which comes from right inside the sanctum sanctorum and i guess at 9 a.m we were amongst the first devotees to get it. Alas my brother was lazy and couldnt wake for this maybe the divine had something else in mind for him.
We also had the previous nights dinner at Pai vista hotel in the jungle themed restraunt which is right outta african safaries and even the animals are made out of fibre glass ( pics of this and temple in next post)

On 2 coorg then..
i have spent atleast 6 years of my chilhood on an estate in coorg and everytime i visit , its like seeing the divine creations of mother nature come alive . The fragrance of fresh pepper, coffee, vanilla (coorg is one of the largest producers of organic vanilla beans in india), cardamom and cinnamon touch my nose with a slight tinge of the aromas of allspice. Coorg is one place which has been described as the scotland of India and i do so agree with that as having been to scotland myself i can see the similarities except that scotland is famous for scotch whiskey and coorg for coffee, the scenic beauty of both places is stunningly mesmerising. Well in coorg i stayed with family friends and of course my age old buddies sheena and sunil whom i have known for the past 23 years it was their dads birthday which made my dad make such an impromptu trip 2 coorg. The food was divine and of course sheena's artisan jelly and cakes are outta this world of course i did make some amazing veggie thai curry and all but all in a days work it was fab to catch up with old friends. Of course the moment one enters coorg , the unmistakable magenta robes of tibetan and buddhist monks greets you. And of course did i forget to mention the beauty of sunsheen estate- named after my friends sunil and sheena is absolutely stunning i men from coffee to cinnamon to paddy and vanilla to a few organic lemon tree everything nature could ever produce grows here...i had a fab time there and hope to visit again very soon..

My first restraunt review-Tandoor

2010-01-21T20:41:00.000+05:30

I have been going to this place called "Tandoor" ever since i was a little kid .Tandoor as the name suggests is bangalore's answer to authentic punjabi tandoori cuisine. Being a punjabi who ha slived her life between bangalore and delhi as a child and a major part of the teenage years in bangalore, i can quite comfortably say that yes tandoor is a must visit if you love tandoori and mughlai food.unfortunately, my camera is outta charge so i will upload the pics later. The warm lighting, the see thru kitchen,the lovely inlay inspired enamels on the roof, the coper glasses all remind one of a bygone era of havelis in punjab. even the ghazal sufi music is quite pleasant to the ears. I've grown up eating non -vegetarian food altough since ive turned 20 ive eaten only seafood and vegetarian so i can quite comfortably say that the kababs and tikkas here are amongst the very best you can get in bangalore. The best being the royal afghan at the windsor manor.Their Fish Tikka , kadhain prawns, paneer lababdar is exceptinally good. The fish is quite mildly spiced and tender when compared to fish tikka ive eaten elsewhere in bangalore. I have a strong feeling that the same lababdar gravy is used for chicken and fried cubes of cottage chesse is dunked into this upon order. The kadhai prawns are also good. The Garlic Butter Naan of course has been my favourite ever since i was a kid a sper my parents i could ignore the rest of teh food and eat two garlic naans with the vinegerette onions alone. Hmm weird i suppose but when you are a four year old who has a maida high i suppose your parents can't do much?Their Murgh Badami and Malai Tikka and Peshawari kabab have been other cnstant favourites apart from the Dal Makhni and Pudina Parantha.For the desserts they have the typical kulfi,kheer, gajar ka halwa(where i feel my mum's turns out much better). The malai kulfi is the best tough. Beverages include a yummy fruit punch which, lassi, and a whole of of nouveau inspired coolersalong with alcoholic drinks and cocktails. A meal for two at tandoor would cost approx rs 1,500 with starters, 3 dishes of maincourse one being prawns and another fish,2 naans and 2 parantha's a fruit punch and 3 desserts thrown in (i cant live with out eating less than two kulfi's here).Believe me its worth every penny tough and i just cant help butgo there really often.Beware the place is uite popular amongst the expats and the northindian community in bangalore and is always packed but now that they have two places-one in oasis and the original on M.g road and a newer branch at the oasis mall in koramangala. Reservations are a must.
But its worth every

The 12 Laws Of Karma

2010-01-11T18:59:00.001+05:30

An amazing video to understand karma. A beautiful must watch if yoou want 2 gain a deeper insight in2 what "Karma " is all about

Happy New Year

2010-01-08T15:23:00.000+05:30

2009 just wooshed by and the last 3 months of 2009 were just too busy for me..
Here is wishing Everyone a very rocking 2010 and a wonderful year ahead.. i just got back from delhi myself..
here is what november and december of the last year was for me: cousins wedding in phuket in november so was holidaying in thailand for 15 days came back 2 bangalore for 3 weeks then off it was to delhi and i just got back 2 days ago so will blog about my adventures in delhi later..
Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful 2010

Just For everyone

2009-11-09T22:19:00.000+05:30

okie off late i have not much to blog about . so here is a post to thank everyone who has palyed a major part in my life.....
all at random tough
Mum : just the fact of ur existence i know that unconditional love and support exists for me in this world even tough it takes me a coupla days to clean my room and the such.
Dad:i love the advice you give on any and every issue . and the way u still let me mess up ur hair once u get back from work
Pranav- my baby bro. the fact that u make me realise that like isnt as perfect and idealistic as projected outside.
Dinesh Bhaiya- i really aspire to be an ocean of calmness that you are. and the the way you inspire me to carry on when a tsunami has struck me a stough nothing great has happened.
Bawa- there is no logical genetical explanation for the phenomenon i call Bau . the practical wisdom,witty humour and of course indias finest vegan chef.
Master- thank you for always being there and being a guiding force in my life.
Ranjit anna- one of the most awesome people ever. can ask any question from music to astrology he will always have some answers.
Badeppa(paternal grandpa)-i remeber going for long endless trips to nirulas in delhi to eat at the salad bar and eat numerious scoops of hot chocolate fudge.thank you for tolerating my madness
Maternal Grandparents- the number of times i have lost my temper over stupid issues from less salt in tamatr ki kadhi to not having my clothes ironed properly-thank you for the madness again
Abhishek, Madhuri, Spandan, Sampath , Amrita, Anju, Bhairavi, Arvind,Gaurav, Vishal, Mrigank, Ritika, Shalini,MS. Anjana Mani- the fact that all of you are always just there 24/7 whenever we need you
Sheeena and Sunil- 23 years of my life and you've known me for all 23 . thank you for always being my friends and seeing me thru thick and thin all the time .
Chris,Korin, Meggan Brummer, Gayatri and atul, preet,clare,kavitha-thank you for making me feel like one of'em in aussie .
Varnit,leisha,arun,vandana,rohan,sehar, nilufer,priyanka ,neha- for seeing me thru those maddening teenage years - we were going thru the same nonsense together.

Tabouleh

2009-11-06T14:32:00.000+05:30

Here is a basic recipe:2 bunches of fresh parsley (1 1/2 cup chopped, with stems discarded)2 tablespoons of fresh mint, chopped,1 medium onion, finely chopped,6 medium tomatoes, diced1 tablespoon salt1/2 teaspoon black pepper1/2 cup bulghur or daliya , medium grade6 tablespoons lemon juice6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.its an easy to make middle eastern salad or a med salad but quik to make and those are the ingredients required.
first soak the dliya in luke warm water for approx 10 mins then drain out , soak in fridge cold watre for another 5-7 mins ,drain put the daliya in a muslin cloth and squeeze out the water. next coarsely chop the mint and parsely,chop the tomatoes and the onions.
now in a plate separate the grains of daliya and put in 2 a serving bowl, add parsely, onions, mint tomatoes, sprinkle the olive oil(i use cold pressed extra virgin or it tastes good even with canola oil),lime juice, salt and pepper and toss well.
Refrigerate for about 2 hours before serving . Tasted quite good. I made it on a sunny afternoon when i wasnt in the mood 2 cook much.to make the serving bowl look nice one can use lettuce leaves to line the bowl and then add the salad in.Tastes good with pitta bread(ill putup that recipe soon just ahve 2 get pics) or whole wheat bread which is slightly toasted and buttered.am sorry i havent been able 2 upload the pics will do it once i can access my own system which has crashed.

The Festival of Lights- Diwali

2009-10-14T10:04:00.000+05:30

It is the festive season in India and as per the Hindu Calender, Diwali or the vedic new year is just around the corner- to be celebrated on the 17th of october. Diwali has many stories and signifies different aspects in different parts of india.
As per Hindu calendar, the five day festival of Diwali is centered on the new moon day that ends the month of Ashwin and begins the month of Kartika, beginning on the 13th day of the dark half of Ashwin (Ashwin 28th) and ending on the 2nd day of the bright half of Kartika (Kartika 2nd). The main day of celebration varies regionally- in south diwali is celebrated one day earlier -this is called chotti diwali in the punjab and the rest of north india. Basically, on this day , the homecoming of Ram from exile is celebrated with great pomp and crcakers are burnt. On this day, Lakshmi and Ganesha poojan is done - to bring wealth and prosperity in to the house.
Diwali isnt only celebrated by the Hindus in Inidia but today has become a global phenomenon thanks to globalisation.
In Jainism, Diwalli marks the attainment of nirvana by Mahavira on 15 October, 527 BC.
Deepavali has been significant in Sikhism since the illumination of the town of Amritsar commemorating the return of Guru Har Gobind Ji (1595-1644), the sixth Guru of Sikhism, who was imprisoned along with 52 other Hindu kings at Fort Gwalior by Emperor Jahangir. After freeing the other prisoners, he went to the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in the holy city of Amritsar, where he was welcomed happily by the people who lit candles and divas to greet the Guru. Because of this, Sikhs often refer to Diwali also as Bandi Chhorh Divas - "the day of release of detainees.
The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists in Nepal, a majority-Hindu country, particularly the Newar Buddhists.
In India and Nepal,Diwali is now considered to be a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians and Nepalese regardless of faith. Kerala is the only state in India where Deepavali is not a big celeberation.
Kidha is celebrated for a differing number of days by different communities. Though the core days are common and fall on exactly the same set of days across Nepal and India, they fall in different Gregorian months depending on the version of the Hindu calendar being used in the region. The Amanta ("ending on the new-moon") version of the Hindu Calendar has been adopted as the Indian national calendar. According to this calendar, which is prevalent in southern India and Maharashtra, the 6-day celebration is spread over the last four days of the month of Ashwina and the first two days of the new month of Kartika. According to the Purnimaanta ("ending on the full-moon") version prevalent in northern India, it falls in the middle of the month of Ashwayuja/Ashvin. In the Gregorian calendar, it falls generally in the months of October or November. In Nepal, it is celebrated according to Nepalese calendar. The festival marks the last three days and the first two days of Nepalese era.
On the day of Deepavali / Deepavali, many wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks. Some North Indian business communities start their financial year on Deepavali and new account books are opened on this day.

A refreshingly refreshing Drink

2009-10-02T22:49:00.000+05:30

okie so its the ingredients that make this drink an absolute delight- a version of the desi adrak-pudina shikanjvi but with a modern twist to it.
i will put up th epics in a few days as im having a problem with my net conection here.
so here goes:
for the ingredients:
a few leaves of fresh pudina (mint) ( i used approx 5-7 as i like it a bit mild)
freshly grated ginger - about 1/2 to 1 tsp (depending on how strong you want the ginger flavour)
sugar or jaggery-about 2 tsps of sugar, i used fructose a healthy low cal sugar alternative ..
juice of 1/2 a lemon
a pinch of black salt( optional)
okie so now in a stone/steel mortar and pestle grindle the mint leaves into a paste- this brings out the amazing mint oil(incase you dont want to continue making the drink after this, the mint oil is an excellent remedy for joint pains when heated with olive oil or an excellent remedy for acidity-mix the mint oil and a little bit of the paste in watre and boil until warm and drink it up)
then add the freshly grated ot finely chopped ginger(for this recipe finely chopped is better)to the mint and grind some more,
then add the sugar and grind again for about 1 min approx.
Add this to a serving glass,then add the lemon juice - i love lemon juice so i used half a lemon but one can use less if preffered-the lemon basically balances out the flavours and acids when soda is used- yes the twist in the drink is soda- so after this adda pinch of black salt if desired and then add chilled soda and voila - a modern twist of the traditional desi pudina - adrak shikanjvi is ready.
the recipe takes about 5 mins approx and it actually isnt a stedious as i make it sound here but then ive even engligtened on the effects of pudina ka taila and what the use of lemon in the drink is etc, etc.
This drink is exceptional when served mid afternoon on a hot summers day or even after a hearty meal- be it lunch or dinner- it has ingredients which aid digestion.Hope you all like this and od leave your comments.

A new Layout or Template- Suggestions Please

2009-09-19T12:38:00.002+05:30

okie so am a bit bored with the existing layout and template of my blog. So am open to suggestions as to what kind of colours and layout i can have now. Also, what more would the redaers of the blog like in terms of content?
stuff about my life ever since i got back from sydney my opinions on everything and anything , recipes and restraunt reviews,stuff about spirituality and related things, or anything else?leave your comments and do lemme know....

BBMP at Fault or parental negligence?

2009-09-18T14:22:00.002+05:30

For the last two days , Karnataka's new and popular local english news channel News 9 has been running stories about an 18 month ols boy Vijay , who was washed away in a storm watre drain.
Many of the press people and bangalores high elite intellectuals feel that having an uncovered drain in the backyards of of one of Bengaluru's poshest and busiest suburbh i.e Koramangala, is all the fault of the BBMP and also negilienge of the BBMP.
OOk, i agree that the state of infrastructure in this city is quite appalling when compared to say Delhi . But what about Vijay's parents who couldn't use their common sense and stop their child from playing in the heavy rain and near an uncovered drain?are they not to be blamed equally or as much as the civic authorities of BBMP? In bfact it has been the civic authorities who have been conducting the search for the body in different lakes for the last two days. Okie so what? Children have fallen into wells in NCR region, Punjab and Haryana and other cities but how much has the state media or national media blamed the civic authorities for negligence?It in fact, in my humble opinion is a sheer waste of media airtime where they were called BBMP "sick" and running a campaign to send "Get Well Soon Roses" to the BBmp. How ridiculous to run the story for 48 hrs. non stop when they were more pressing matters of state and national importance for the channel to cover. Ok so isnce this is a blog and im entitled to air my views,here is what i feel: yes its the fault of bbmp partially - yes the lack of covered drainage and other civic amenities and proper garbage dispensing systems but this is only 40 to 50% of the faults. The rest is the fault of or negiligence on part of the parents as well.
As for issues like cleanliness well all the citizens of bangalore are also at fault. As far as covered drainage is concernedyes i think it is a must - even 5000 yrs ago the Indus Valley people were more civilised than us - atleast they had a proper grabage collection system and covered drainage. In the face of modernisation and globalisation , are the citizens of India and especially the citizens of Bangalore retrograding? For, i think that it only when the citizen scome together or support the civic bodies like bbmp can the civic bodies take action. For example, 2 years ago, the bbmp started waste segregation for recycling plastic in whitefield and koramngala. The experiment flopped in whitefield. Why? residents thought throwing plastic waste and paper paste in seperate bins was too much of a hassel. But considering that whitefield is a locality where many Nri's live, it would have been easier because in the western nations garbage segregation is a must but why? their logic was that the local authorities didnt supply them with bins - that imho is nonsens- it worked and is still wokring in koramangala- the reason being the citizens of koramngala wanted to make a difference . So all am saying is it is in the attitude of citizens that can make all the difference. The drain in koramangala could have been covered but for some residents who oppose it. I hope now that the people opposing the covering of the drain( its been on blueprint for 5 yrs) suport the endeavours ofbbmp insted of opposing it. I seriously do hope they wake up now.

A short Update

2009-08-19T15:46:00.002+05:30

okie so ive taken the semester off because of the racism issue and other reasons.what ive been doing:
just got back frm delhi and had a bad back so got an amazing session of cranio sacral therapy yesterday.
Watched love aaj kal- yup its watchable especially for the hep looks of saif and teh aahun aahun song and the punju twist to it.
catching up on my sleep..

A unique Gurubani Satsang in Bangalore......

2009-06-23T20:51:00.004+05:30

So, it was the 19th of June, a friday evening and quite a pleasant one at that in bangalore city but i had other plans being from Punjab and a punju kudi at heart , i was craving for some kara parsad and gurubani as i couldnt make it to amritsar during these holidays. So , i headed to kanakpura road,H.H Sri Sri Ravishankarji's ashram for a Gurubani kirtan. It was beyond amazing..mesmerising. It all started with the traditionally served langar khana with maa ki kali dal, gobi, chawal , kara parsad. Then to the Vishalakshi Mandap the main meditation hall( which is in the pic) which was decorated with a floral Ek Onkar. It all started with a normal satsang sung by Richa Chopra and then a small talk on the Granth Sahib by teh Granthiji and Gyaniji of the Gurudwara in Bangalore aand they proceed to sing the ardas and shabads with explanations the posts which follow will complete the series.
JGD...

On Pain and Suffering

2009-06-11T10:45:00.001+05:30

Tzatziki Dip

2009-05-31T16:48:00.002+05:30

Hmm Tzatziki is a greek style cucumber dip which is oh so simple ( preperation time about 10 mins + extra for draining out yoghurt) with delightful flavours and of course cucumbers.
Here is what is needed :
500g (2 cups) yoghurt
1 cucumber , peeled, halved, seeded and coasely or finely chopped or grated.
2-3 medium or 1-2 large garlic clove depending on how garlicy you want it to taste , crushed
1 tbs finely chopped fresh chives (optional tough just adds taste and flavour)
2 tbs olive oil
1 1/2 tbs fresh lemon juice
Salt, to taste,1 tsp ground cumin
Freshly ground black pepper .
Method:Start with hanging the curds in a muslin cloth or hanky, refer the link below on how to do this . it is simple and easy on this blog.
http://bawandinesh.name/hanging-curds/
then coarsely cut or grate the cucumber( if yoou grate it then just squeeze it a bit to remeove the excess water/ juice that comes out frm grated cucumber and discard the juice )
then combine all the ingredients starting with the hung yoghurt with olive oil and using a fork / spoon to mix it well . And add the spices and garlic and cucumber and mix well. Cover and keep in the fridge for a couple of hours so that the yoghurt absorbs the flavours . To make it absolutely delicious make it in the evening and keep it in the fridge overnight . Serve with toasted bread , as dip with weggies or even with rige, its a kind of khera raita which could taste good with rice as well.

An amazing Kitan and Must Watch

2009-05-24T13:52:00.005+05:30

this kirtan is really amazing really strikes a chord whether u believe in the philosophies of sikhism or not its a must watch. Also has an english translation . Ans=d also tells the story of Guru Gobind Singhji in the intro before the kirtan. Do watch it and leave your valuable comment

25 random things you did not know about me

2009-05-19T11:41:00.002+05:30

Here goes. these are probably some hard to face facts for some people and some were even for me when i sat down and introspected.
1. I am an early morning person usually, if it demand i can also pull allnighters when needed.
2. I dont drink coffee - tough i used to be able to have double espresso shots at least thrice a day until a few years ago.
3. I am and always be a milk baby - i can have milk and milk products anytime of the day/week/month/year, summer or winter.
4.Pink is not my favourite colour. It just happens to be white which is classical and fashionable at all times.
5. I love listening as well as singing bhajans and devotional songs.
6. The most beautiful place i have ever seen is The Golden Temple , in Amritsar,altough the Art of Living Ashram comes a close 2nd , London city 3rd , the Sydney Harbour brige 4th.
7. I love chocolates and sweets( kheer happens to be my fav followed by cheesecake)
8. I love cooking.
9. Right now i am supposed to be working on some 3d animation related thing but am so not interested inbthat thats why am here blogging.
10. I love Oriflame, Body Shop and Nivea products.
11. Im not brand concious . I actually pick up most of my clothes at sales or at 10$ shoppes.
12. I have shoe and artificial jewellery fetish.
13. I hate wearing black jeans and donot possess a pair - thats the reality.
14. Am most comfortable wearing kurtas nd jeans or tracks and sweats or just a simple salwar suit.
15. I hate attending ostentatious over the top punjabi weddings- well thats because i believe in simplicity
16. I am a deeply spiritual person and have been even since the age of 10 or even before that.
17. I used to play the harmonium until i was 17 years old.
18. I hate 3D animation but love vfx.and hope to get back to it one day.
19. If i wasnt into animation, id probably be running a restraunt or be busy being a chef.
20.I hate orkut and facebook but i cant live like an antisocial element hence am on these socially antisocial networks.
21. Im a vegetarian . Tough there was a time when i could eat meat morning noon and night.
22. I owe whatever i am today to my parents, Guruji, and a whole lot of God's Angels who are on this planet.
23. The teachings of H.H Sri Sri Ravishankar have had a deep impact on my life .
24. Well contraray to what people think , i tend to loose my temper sometimes especially when my little brother irritates me.
25. Im happy being busy and busy being happy... :)

When You Believe

2009-05-19T09:55:00.002+05:30

this is the most beautiful song ive ever heard.. absolutely reinforced my faith in th divinity and struck a chord deep down really hard.....
Jai Gurudev, and all the Gratitude for my parents, Guruji, God and all the angels who are always there for me 24/7 this song is decicated to everone ....

Tera Mai

2009-05-13T08:58:00.002+05:30

today is 13th of May ..Happy Birthday Guruji
Mai Tera..
Thank You for always being there and for the Grace....

People Come into Your Life for a Reason

2009-05-10T07:34:00.002+05:30

people come inti your life for a reason- this video struck a chord with me somewhere deep down.
A beautiful Slide show. Do take a peek if you have the time.
JGD

Another Great Video - H.H Sri Sri Ravishankarji

2009-04-27T06:53:00.004+05:30

in this video Guruji speaks about issues facing South Asia, especially Sri Lnaka and INdia ...

An interesting Interview of Dr. David Frawley

2009-04-14T16:43:00.003+05:30

here is an interesting interview of Dr David Frawley , a world reknowned Vedic Scholar . talking about the Gunas, etc. The first few line sare in Dutch but the Rest of it is in English and btw this is the first time ive tried to embed a video into the post so lemme know if it works. The interview is pretty long about 75 mins .. but just lemme know if the video works...

Interesting Salad

2009-04-14T14:27:00.002+05:30

An easy Salad:
what you need:
for the dressing:olive oil, vinegar , salt, pepper(freashly ground) ready to mix in salad seasoning , some finely chopped garlic(about 2 -3 pods is enough), some water (depending on what consistency you want it to be. A pinch of sugar. Mix up all ingredients for the dressing...
For the salad:
mixed salad leaves (i used iceberg lettuce,red lettuce , rocket , cabbage)
boconncini or riccota cheese,
black and green olives sliced
sundried tomatoes and cherry tomatoes.
If you have some eggplan(brinjal) you could lightly grill that and use it like i did or even use grilled zucchuni.Toss up the salad and add the dressing and you have an dabsolutely wonderful salad to eat...

Election. Politics. Please Cast Your Vote

2009-04-14T14:13:00.005+05:30

Hmm i know i wont be in India during the elections. But i'd like to tell all Citizens of India to please please Cast their VOTE.Every vote Counts . I am not saying cast your vote for any particular party (well, personally tough i am a fan of L.K ADVANI- which seems to be the better of the two evils when in a country of 83% hindus(including sikhs,jain and Bhuddhists), we have an Italian ruling us i mean c'mon Sonia Gandhi isnt Indian by birth . A nation of over a billion people and we had to vote for Sonia? Could we not find an Indian to to lead our country?? And how did her party handle the Mumbai Attacks? And the recent Minority Appeasement??The overly corrupt policies in the worlds largest democracy? Its high time that all people of 18 years and above should exercise their FUNDAMENTAL and UNIVERSAL RIGHT TO VOTE. and please vote for whom you think is the right party - its ur choice i was just airing my personal opinion on my blog. BUT DONT FORGET TO CAST YOUR VOTE.Remember you have the power to change teh country with your vote and EVERY VOTE COUNTS....

The Gayatri Manttra

2009-04-05T05:36:00.008+05:30

One of the most popular and the most widely chanted of all Vedic Mantras seems to be the Gayatri Mantra. Of course by now, it is commonly known that chanting of mantras or even Om has deep effects on the body .(this article is going to be a bit long so read it with a lot of patience as explaining a mantra and its effects are not so easy.)

OM BHUR BHUVAH SVAH
TAT
SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI
DHIYO YONAH
PRACHODAYAT.
the meaning or interpretation by the arya samaj:

Aum = The sacred syllable Om, identified with Brahman, the immanent reality and with the Hindu trinity (Lord Bhrama, Vishnu and Shivji)
bhoor = The base of the universe. The Sanskrit root 'bhu' means base, ground etc.. Thus, bhoor is the base of the universe, or the Netherworlds as used in some interpretations (see Ram Mohan Roy below). Together, bhoor-bhuvah-svaha constitute the early Vedic cosmos.
bhuva = Earth
svaha = Heaven
tat = That
savitur = Savitr's. Savitr is a name for the Sun, but specifically for the rising or setting Sun.
varenyam = Supreme/Excellent
bhargo = Radiance/ Splendour. The root word is 'bha' meaning shine. Other words derived from this root include bhaskar (sun) and prabhat (dawn).
devasya = Of the Deity (Savitr's). Here, 'deva' means deity and 'sya' is a possessive suffix.
dheemahi = we contemplate
dhiyo = Intellects (Plural of Dhihi = Mind or the intellect)
yo = Who
naha = Our
prachodayat = Awakens, rouses, inspires. 'Pra' is a prefix, the root 'chod' means drive, inspire etc. and 'yaad' is a causative suffix.

"O God, Thou art the giver of life, the remover of pain and sorrow, the bestower of happiness; O Creator of the Universe, may we receive Thy supreme sin-destroying light; may Thou guide our intellect in the right direction." Thats the interpretation by the Arya Samaj.

Now, the effects of the Gayatri Mantra ,:-The balanced qualities of the Mantra:The Gayatri is a perfectly balanced mantra, almost akin to the chinese yin and yang. The body or text of the Gayatri Mantra is feminine, and her message or invocation is masculine. Gayatri is the mother of the Vedas and this means the mother of all knowledge. She appeals to the masculine Savitur, which is said to be the radiance of perception and intelligence. This radiance, which is everywhere and in every experience, is likened to the radiance of our solar sun. In other words, all of the knowledge of the intricate ways of existence is contained within the syllables of the mantra and so too is the means and vehicle with which to go beyond knowledge as well.
Gayatri Mantra's vibrational influence on the physical body.
Silently thinking or speaking or chanting the Gayatri Mantra influences the physical body,i.e Our energy centers, levels and rhythms are activated by the measure of breaths that are drawn in through the nostrils and released during recitation of the Gayatri Mantra, (even during silent repetition clears the emotional body, leads one to the inner heart. The Gayatri stimulates and facilitates insightfulness and awakening to the Truth within all.
(even during silent repetition). This balances electromagnetic rhythm and energy currents in the body with prana. Prana is an undetectable life force energy. During recitation, all elements of the mantra are in use; even the breath is a precision instrument. It all works together, like an orchestra and the Conductor. The breath, voice, meditation and intention efficiently and effortlessly function (like the sun shines).
The Vedas are ancient (from beginning-less time) scriptures that reveal the secrets of life and the way to live it in accord with the entire universe. Not only the well-known chakra system but all energy and rejuvenating centers are activated by the sound of the Gayatri.
The mantra works in a multitude of ways, which align the energies, magnetic currents, biochemistry and brainwave patterns on a very subtle level. Immediately or in time, one will notice the wonderful effect.
By chanting the Gayatri Mantra, the mantra itself reveals the teachings within it. The Gayatri is flawless and whole. The Gayatri Mantra regenerates unobstructed perception in the same way that crops are renewed. For example, wind carries seeds onto the terrain. In time, wild flowers and wheat inherit the fields. Again and again an unobstructed flow, season after season. The earth propagates her released seeds and in turn the seeds flourish and produce another generation. The mantra works like that. Gayatri's meaning is the good season that prospers the Earth. Fruit comes forth again and again. Gayatri is like the power in the sun. How can we really speak about such a thing, is it comprehensible at all? Any definition that you hear can be compared to one grain of sand upon infinite shores. A definition can never indicate the immense significance and intensity of this mantra.
I feel a kind of magic chanting the Gayatri mantra which is in the all powerful Sanskrit Language(infact most of the vedic mantras are)
Remember that this explanation is not even a fraction of the profound possibilities lying in the secret recesses of this mantra. The Gayatri Mantra aligns precisely balanced energies, unobstructed and distinct, to generate currents, which act like lasers. Intoning a true pitch, word and meter (Sanskrit) translates sound waves, one retrogressing into another. You can visualize a still pond and as a pebble touches the surface on its way to the bottom, rings are formed. If you watch these rings for a while you would see them moving out and in at the same time. This is an illustration and not truly the pattern of Gayatri's yantra but it gives you an idea. The mantra's potency becomes more and more rarefied until it reaches a frequency that carries the inherent message within the mantra to its proper place. These sound vibrations are encoded in electromagnetic waves. They rarefy to finer and finer frequencies until no frequent vibration or information is detectable. Though no frequency is detected, information is still present (like in the case of homeopathy) on the subtlest level. The more refined the mantra frequency moves into the field of sound, the greater its power. This is true for enlightenment as well. A very subtle perception can powerfully awaken you to the "Truth". The Gayatri's message speaks of being deeply focused on that which illumines the whole of consciousness, and ultimately realizing enlightenment. Its reference is plural and impersonal. The mantra when chanted properly is indeed magical. It's a beauty. It is a joy.

Not only this, but recently, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankarji has also explained how the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra affects the vertebrae and the chanting ofecah syllable of the Mantra has an effect on each of the vertebrae.

Semester 2..

2009-03-23T05:18:00.003+05:30

why such a random post you all might wonder when i havent posted much about my studies before. Simple. This semester is hard . Endless assignments no time to breathe. Only good thing: no all night renders and vfx . Thankfully. Ok so this semester i have to study script writing which is quite a boring subject- i mean for chirssake what is an animatior/compositor gonna make use of script writing eventually -i don't think so , well unless we entre the mainstream which i intend not to. Ok so making a walk cycle is cool, modelling a character is cool, sound is cool fine. but why script writing? i mean seriously - write 3, 30 second secenes to have a one nd half minute movie that too animated? the amount of hard work going in2 3d modelling and animating it am not even sure the movie would end up as one and a half minutes probably longer like umm 5 minutes ....and im already frustrated its already week 3. all i can say is that just 10 more weeks for sem 2 to get over. i can't wait actually id be quite relieved. But who know how tough the last sem is gonna be?? so no point breathing a sigh of relief now...

170 Beautiful Quotes ....

2009-03-18T05:41:00.004+05:30

170 WONDERFUL SRI SRI QUOTES·

Master is the Door.· "An uncommitted mind feels no direction." :H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.· "Compassion creates cooperation. Company creates competition. " - H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"People who are willing to serve will have good times even in thebad times." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"People usually blame the bad time and just wait for the good time.Even if an astrologer says that you are in a hopeless time, you can stillmake it a good time!" - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"I don't think there is any love affair without war. Everyone whofalls in love has to go through some fight." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji.·

"Shame accompanies arrogance. Shyness accompanies Love." "Retainyour shyness and drop your shame." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"Wake up and see that everyone loves you. If you ever feel lonelyand feel that no one loves and cares for you - remember me. Know that thereis one person in this universe who will always love you, always stand byyou." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"Discipline protects freedom. They go hand in hand.. .. Freedomwithout discipline is like a country without defence." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·

"Life is too short to keep solving problem one after the another Itell you. Just wake up and walk ahead, problems will get solved bythemselves. You are not alone my dear! Wake up. You are not alone. Allproblems are getting solved." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"Suppose a set of gifts are bought and given to everyone and theyall say, 'Oh, what a beautiful gift,' and they are holding the wrappingpapers, but not going past the wrapping paper. The secret is, that all thecharm and joy you see in the world is just a wrapping paper, colourful andbeautiful, with all glittery designs, but inside you is the real gift, thedivinity itself." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"Being more aware in life and laughing every moment, we pass throughthis world. That is growth, that is blossoming in our personality. " - H. H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "

I have never seen your Face But, I have fallen in love with you Ihave not heard your name But, My hearts Beats your Name I have never touchedyou But you are in every cell of my being I have never met you But you R MEWhen I dissolve you EXIT All I Want To Know Is to dissolve All I Want To BeIS ONE." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"Silence is the seed of creation.., The purpose of words is tocreate silence.., True laughter and celebration are born out of deepsilence! Inevitably one experiences profound silence in the presence of themaster! Questions disappear! Worries, anxieties and desires vanish.., ONE ISLEFT SPEECHLESS!" - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"Your worries, your feelings, your thoughts arise in your own mind.You are totally responsible for all your feelings-how you feel, what youthink, what you do- all that. You are responsible. " - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·

"Your mind is tired, is burned down through its galloping on desireafter desire---it' s so tired! Just turn back and see all the desires youhave achieved. Have they given you rest? No. They've only created a few moredesires in you." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"That which gives you long-term joy and short tem misery is theright action. But that which gets you some short-term joy but a long-termmisery follows. That action is not the right action. It's intelligent toavoid long-term misery at the cost of short-term pain." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·

"Forgetfulness of the Divine is misery. Forgetfulness of the trivialis Ecstasy." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"You have nothing to lose. All that you can lose is your tension andyour worry, your little-mindedness, fear, and anxiety. And fear and anxiety,tension and worry in the small, little mind will keep the mind from beingfree, will keep the mind from experiencing its infinite potential, will keepthe mind from becoming more powerful on this planet." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·
"The mind sees through its own eye. You can trust anything in theworld except your doubting mind. It will doubt you. When such a thing comes,dropping that is called surrender, dropping the judgements." - H. H. Sri SriRavi Shankar ji.·

"Celebrate Life. Care for others and share whatever you have withthose less fortunate than you. Broaden your vision, for the whole worldbelongs to you." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"There is one thing that is ever fresh and new. That is love. Anytechnique you do, do it with love. Even if you simply hold a stick, love thestick in front of you. It is your breath. Love is very essential." - H. H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"Creation is all anxious to fulfil your desire when you becomehollow and empty." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"The Divine has come to you in love through so many forms: mother,father, wife, husband, children and friends. The same love comes to you inthe form of the Master to elevate you to the level of divine love, which isalso your own nature." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

Jai Guru Dev dear. How r u?> "Make your whole life a game! There is no purpose; there is no aim -Nothing!> > Just take it lightly, easily. Play the Game! That is worship, that is> Celebration! " -H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "

Worry is enemy of love. You can not be in love and be worried at the same time. " - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"When you own something big, then your consciousness also expands,and when you own something small, then small negative emotions, such asanger and greed, start to rise." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"D i s p a s s i o n is the state of Being and G l o r y is thehappening around it." -H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"ek vyakti krodh me chilla raha hai to woh bimar hai, karuna hi uskeliye dava hai. baato se nahi samjha payenge usko. pran shakti urja ko badhaoto ye sab manasik bimariya hat jati hai." - Poojya Gurudev.·
"If you can't see the Divine in me, then open your eyes! If you cansee the Divine in me, then you are a part of me; you cannot be away from me.If you feel a part of me, you will see the Divine in yourself. And when yousee the Divine in yourself, you'll see the Divine in everyone." H. H. SriSri Ravi Shankar ji.·

"The purpose of sorrow is to bring you back to the Self, which isall joy. But this realization is possible only through Knowledge-awareness .Knowledge leads sorrow towards the Self. Without Knowledge, the sorrow doesnot get completed & instead multiplies. Knowledge completes sorrow." -Poojya Gurudev.·
"Suffering is a product of limited knowledge." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·

"If you want to grow in Divine Love, you have got to drop the prideand all of the artificial wall we build between ourselves and others. In the"wall" we keep judging others, and we think others are judging us." H. H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"When something bothers you too much in the mind, you want to talk.This is in between. I tell you, when something bothers you in the mind, getinto action---work. You will see that gives a bigger relief." - H. H. SriSri Ravi Shankar ji.· "
When every action of yours is preceded by witnessing, then everymove you make in this sansara becomes perfect and significant. " -H. H. SriSri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Choice less awareness is the only joyful state, a peaceful state, astate without confusion." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"From the object move on to the Centre, move on to the Experiencerof pleasure. This is the way to have a continued experience, continued joyin life." H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "
When there is a total sense of belongingness, real play happens.Winning or losing is irrelevant." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Khud ki ninda band karna adhyatmic jeevan ki pehli sidhi hai." - H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "The mind has two abilities - one is to focus, the other is toexpand and relax. When you put a thread through a needle, the mind isfocusing. When you are looking at the empty sky, the mind is expanding. Thisability to focus and expand should come simultaneously in theconsciousness. " - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"When we express love too much, then also it disappears, dies out.It's like when you keep the seed on the surface of the soil, not a littledeep inside, it doesn't grow." H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Look into the motives behind your actions. Often you don't go forthings you really want. You go to things because others would want you to orbecause of what others would say, think, or do about it." H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·
" You reject something, but if you reject it without anger it is notbondage; if you reject something with anger, then that is bondage. Youreceive some, and when you receive: "Oh, oh, oh!" you are excited about it,then that is bondage. Whatever is done with anger or excitement makes astrong impression in the mind and that becomes bondage." - H. H. Sri SriRavi Shankar ji.·
"You complete this existence. You being here on this planet, at thistime brings the time into fullness." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "Ordinary people just look at the behaviour; the intelligent onelooks beyond behaviour and is amazed by the play of consciousness(Brahman)." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"The mere presence of the sun brings all the activity in the world.In the same way, your mere presence is a service, is the goal. There is nogain, no loss, no purpose, no defeat." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Nature is limitless. Always expand your consciousness, you are borna king, do not be a beggar and shrink your consciousness. " - H. H. Sri SriRavi Shankar ji.·
"In the modern world, spiritualism cannot survive without materialism and the materialism cannot survive without spiritualism. Only aharmony needs to be created between the two, which is quite possible and practicable. " - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"See, the wick (of a candle)is dark & ugly, but the glow isbeautiful. So are you. The wick is the body & you are the glow.. ..The bodyis nothing but a handful of ashes, would-be ashes. You will see, when youshift from the wick to the glow, your mind becomes stable-Bheda. " - H. H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji.·
"If you really love something, you want to know more about it.Wanting knowledge of that which you love is very natural. And when you gettotal knowledge of it, you will certainly love it." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·
"Love makes your practice fresh & new. It is love which nourishes,pushes forward your technique, your progress, your growth." - H. H. Sri SriRavi Shankar ji.·
"When your mind wanders around, allow it to go. Don't try to hold itback. Don't try to force it. Where it goes, let it go. Follow it and bringit back. This is Dana, forgiving." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Truth transcends duality, and God is the absolute and only truth.In the same way, no matter what is happening in your mind, you are God." -H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Do not take life seriously or you are bound to be disturbed. Tomaintain equanimity- take it as a game and not seriously." - H. H. Sri SriRavi Shankar ji.·
"Every storm that has come into your life has widened your horizon,has made you deep and more powerful. Every storm has destroyed somesmallness in you, something in you that has been very small." - H. H. SriSri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"You are like a free bird. You are fully open. Feel that you areflying like a bird. Learn to fly. This is some thing which you have toexperience within yourself. There is nothing else. If you consider yourselfas bonded, you will remain bound here." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Tomorrow is another day another morning, afternoon, evening,midnight & then tomorrow's gone. Some days you have highs, some days youhave lows. But where are they all? All gone! Till this moment, all is gone.Right now, right now, right now. This is awareness; this is knowledge." -Poojya Gurudev.·
"The only true security that can be found in this world is in thevery process of giving love." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "Demand for rights is ignorance, agony. Knowing no one can take awayyour rights is freedom. Giving away your rights is love, wisdom." - PoojyaGurudev.· "Depression and low feelings cannot touch you. They can do nothingto you. However chi ti clouds are, they cannot overshadow the sun. It couldbe the darkest day, but still it will remain day, and those clouds can nevermake it night." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"An educated person has concepts as solid as earth, ready to receiveinformation from all sources like the air around us, with an attitude likethat of water, that takes the shape of the container it is poured in and isenthused by the fire of imagination and at the same time has freedom in themind like space that is all pervading." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"If you manipulate words, it is a lie; If you play on words, it is ajoke; If you rely on words, it is ignorance; If you transcend words, it isWISDOM." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "Dialogue always brings the way." Rishi Vidhyadhar ji.· ·
"If a person is yelling in anger, then he is sick, compassion is theonly medicine for him. You can not make him understand with words. If yougrow life force energy then all these mental illnesses will go away." - H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"More will be given to you only if you utilise properly what youalready have! This is a law in nature." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"When you move in the world, recognize the Divinity in things aroundyou, in people around you. Listen with your heart. When you listen, listento something more. Not just to the sound, but to the silence, too." - H. H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Reactions do not take you any further in life, and if we're justreacting and reacting, then we are back to an animalistic life. Animalssimply react. In fact, they don't even hold grudges. You do not need to holdon to a grudge. You do not need to react. You can simply be compassionate.This is reality. This is truth."- H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Never mind any words from anybody. If you could just do that, thenyou have won the world." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Only in two states the boredom does not occur: in a state of totalinertia or in a state of Divine Consciousness. If you are bored, itindicates you are evolving. Boredom moves you." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji.·
"For every step, the previous phase has to be dissolved. One phasedissolves to give space for another, and it is always evolutionary. So thereis no reverting back, no reversing--- it is evolutionary. It can stop for awhile, but then it continues." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "One should always admit his ignorance. Once you do that, your urgefor knowledge remains uninhibited. " - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Conflict is the nature of the world; comfort is the nature of theself. Amidst the conflict seek comfort." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Through this boat of knowledge, cross over to the other shore,where you belong, from where you have come. Your abode is there. Itswaiting. And the father, the mother, and the beloved are waiting right thereforyouwith open arms." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Just as a lit candle can light another candle, only one who has cangive. One who is free can free you, one who is love can kindle love." - H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"What are you afraid of? What do you think you will lose? Just wakeup and see you have nothing to lose in the first place! And, even if youthink you have something, how long can you hold on to it ?!" - H. H. Sri SriRavi Shankar ji.·
"If you don't realize you are blessed, then the doership begins. Ifyou want to make a difference in your life, feel you are blessed." - H. H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"This entire creation is a story. Its one light & one Being, oneDivinity becoming a billion sparks and playing in a billion parts.Such ahuge Drama!" - Guruji.·
"In most of our problems, the main problem is that we fight with ourmind." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "A commitment can only be felt when it oversteps convenience. Thatwhich is convenient, you do not call commitment. If you just go on yourconvenience, your commitment falls apart causing more inconvenience! " - H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Wisdom is de-linking the event from the emotion, and de-linking theemotion from the sensation. Ignorance is linking some sensation or someemotional feeling that you have back again to an event." - H.H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·
"Rishi means whose words are followed by the meaning. The meaningdirectly gets translated in to heart. Say peace and the word peace carriespeace behind it. You hear the word peace and then you are peacefulimmediately. " - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Just complaining without looking for a solution isirresponsibility. " - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Learn to get in touch with silence within yourself, and know thateverything in this life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences,all events are blessings given to us to learn from..!" - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·
"Do not depend on arguments. Mystery is beyond argument, and miracleis beyond argument. And love is a miracle in life. Enlightenment is amiracle in life. Joy is a miracle in life." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"The purpose of every practice -- spiritual practice, meditation,breathing techniques, and kriya, all this -- is to uncover something thatblocks the expression of Divine Love." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Everyone loves in this world. Everything loves. But that lovedoesn't stay too long as love. It immediately becomes hatred, almostimmediately. But yoga is that skill, that preservative, that maintains thatlove as love throughout." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"You don't have to worry; your life is not a big burden, a bigresponsibility for the Divine. It can take care of you very well.... ..Befilled with love, be filled with gratitude, get rid of the fear in you bybeing in love." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Thoughts simply arise but it is your choice who has to act or notact, according to impulse or logic." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"This present moment has mind of its own. The existence has a mindof its own. And it knows and its running the show." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·
"Legendary is the love that withstands rejection. It will be free ofanger and ego. Legendary is the commitment that withstands humiliation. Itwill be one-pointed and will reach the goal. Legendary is the wisdom thatwithstands turbulence. It will be integrated into life. Legendary is thefaith that withstands a million chances of doubt. It will bring perfection-siddhis." -H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji
"Do some asanas and yoga along with pranayama and Sudarshan Kriya.This will keep your mind in place and spirit uplifted throughout the day." -Poojya Gurudev.· "
Spiritual Blossoming means expanding in all dimensions. Beinghappy, at ease with yourself & with everybody around you." - H. H. Sri SriRavi Shankar ji.· "An identity is related to an action. Denial of identity will dumpyou in inaction, lethargy and sloth & hence Krishna reminds Arjuna of hiskshatriya identity even while giving Brahma gyana to remind him of hisduties and responsibilities. " - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Want, or desire, arises when you are not happy. Have you seen this?When you are very happy then there is contentment. Contentment means nowant." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Being together is the foundation of knowledge. That is where youcan begin on the steps of wisdom." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"There is no experience that equals the ecstasy of prayer. So adevotee takes every opportunity to pray & to dance for God to dawn. That isevolution!" Sri Sri.·
"The heart always long for the old. The mind always long for thenew. Life is an combination of both." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Even an illiterate, through faith, attains deep Knowledge." - H. H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "Acceptance brings sincerity. Don't label yourself. You don't knowwho you are. Simply accept that you don't know how great you are or howstupid you are." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "Emptiness is the doorway between material and spiritual worlds. Itis where you come to understand the nature of the spirit. If you do not knowemptiness, you can not know the joy of the being. The knack of experiencingbeing causes emptiness. From the emptiness begins the fullness." - PoojyaGurudev.·
"In the world & in time there is always room for improvement. Youcan improve your time & your nature. Only the Being is perfect all the time.Take refuge in the Being & become incorrigible. "I am" incorrigible. " - H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Don't make an effort to impress others, or to express yourself.When you come from the Self, your expression is perfect & your impressionlasts for ages." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"In the presence of pure bliss, joy; all complaints vanish and lifeappears like a play." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Drop all your hates now. You are stuck with your hates. This is aplace to be in love and joy. Drop all your hatreds." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·
"Acceptance brings sincerity. Don't label yourself. You don't knowwho you are. Simply accept that you don't know how great you are or howstupid you are."- H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"If you can see that wherever there is an attraction, there isKrishna; then you are Radha, you are in your centre." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.· "
If you are unable to meditate because your mind is chattering toomuch, just feel that you are little stupid & then you will be able to sinkdeep into meditation." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "Expressing God is conscious action." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji.·
"Sukha, dukha, logic and feverishness these four reins pull youbackwards." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"If you do anything patiently, you do not waste that time. But ifyou do things with restless mind or body, you waste the time." - H. H. SriSri Ravi Shankarji.·
"When you realise your unboundedness then no action is anachievement. " - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"As we attach events & emotions to individuals, the cycle continues.You will be never free from that. So first detach the event & emotion fromthat person, space & time. This is called Astrology." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·
"Effect of asana is clearing out all conflicts, duality. The seed ofnegativity & the tendency for conflict in you can only be annihilated bySadhana." Sri Sri.
"Abundance is a state of consciousness. It is when you feel;you have plenty,> when you have enough." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"The easy way to silence the thoughts is to arouse the feelings. Forthrough feelings only peace, joy & love dawn. And they are all your verynature." -Gurudev.·
"Your own judgements bring the barrier, separate you, makes youbehave so funny. When you are judging, you are judging your own self, butyou are super-imposing it on this, or this, or this, or this." - H. H. SriSri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Longing gives you the power to bless. Bless the entire creation.For, the longing in you is God." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"When you gain respect, you often do it at the cost of your freedom.Wisdom is to put the freedom first and not bother about respect." - PoojyaGurudev.·
"Intense Love Wants Expression." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"God expects only one thing from you, "your unshakeable faith" Ifyour faith shakes very quickly, if it keeps shaking too often, or if yourealise that you do not have any faith at all when difficulty strikes, thenit is akin to being like the husk. Look into your life; are you mere husk orgrain?" - Gurudev.·
"All your gains can only be smaller than you. Taking pride in anygains is belittling yourself." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Steadiness is dignity. Steadiness is strength and steadiness isdispassion." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Have proper food, do proper exercises, involve in good activities,have good tendencies. Then, your body will be well balanced and in a cooland pleasant state of mind." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"One who is awakened and brings knowledge and experience to thepeople is a Guru." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.· "
Know the non-existence of past events right now and accept them." -H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Life evaporates in desire, but if life could be condensed, itbecomes solidified love. This condensed life is awareness." - H. H. Sri SriRavi Shankar ji.·
"Be thankful that you have been bestowed with the qualities that youhave because it is not your own making. And these qualities depend on thepart you have been given to play. When you understand this basic truth, thenyour inner perfection becomes stable." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"The world is full of differences and arguments are inevitable. Withforbearance or patience and wisdom, skilfully make your way up." - PoojyaGurudev.·
"Often one confuses ego with self esteem. Ego needs the other forcomparison, self esteem is just confidence in oneself." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·
"Anytime you are confused, your mind is in conflict, do asana, sitin asana. You will see, right away clarity comes." - H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji.·
"Success means crossing a limit. To cross a limit you need to assumethat you have a limit. Assuming a limit is underestimating yourself. If youhave no boundaries then where is your success?" - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji.·
"The Guru makes the abstract more real and what you thought as solidappears more unreal. Sensitivity and subtlety dawns. Perception of love, notas emotion, but as the substratum of existence becomes evident." - H. H. SriSri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"If you do pranayama faithfully then you get the Knowledge of theprana; if your do your meditation faithfully, the Knowledge of consciousnessfollows. Even an illiterate, through faith, attains deep Knowledge." - H. H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"When you make Service your sole purpose in life, it eliminates fear, focuses your mind and gives you meaning." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji.·
"It is possible only in this human body to comprehend, to uphold,and having had a human life and having known this path, if you still do notrealize this - you are at the greatest loss." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji.·
"If you find fools around you, they are going to make you wiser. Thenumber of fools around you indicates the strength of your centeredness.Don't try to get rid of them!" - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"Happiness springs forth from faith. Happiness is forgetting thebody consciousness. Pain or sorrow is holding on to the body consciousness. "- Poojya Gurudev.·
"Do not let politics sway you away from the path. If you are afraidof politics you cannot be successful in the spiritual realm. You have tocross the barricade of politics. It is a test of your strength, yourcommitment and your focus." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
Death is what? Dropping the past. Die every moment and you are bornevery moment." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.·
"If you get attached to your virtues, you look down upon everybodyelse and they (the virtues) start diminishing. Non- attachment to virtuesbrings the highest self respect." - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.

Seekers and Sadhaks: Amazing Knowledge....

2009-03-14T11:08:00.001+05:30

There are two types of sadhaks or seekers. The first type of seekers is those having the capability and capacity to digest knowledge, and act according to knowledge. The other type of seekers are those who make mistakes, knowingly make mistakes and feel sorry for them later on. To repeat, the second type of sadhaks is those who make mistakes but who are pained by their own mistakes. Even then, you are on the path of devotion, because the pain of not having done something that you should be doing or should have done will make you deep. If you cover your mistake, you will not even feel bad about it deeply. If you feel deeply bad about it, you feel your helplessness, your weakness, that weakness itself can make you a prayerful seeker. And then you will see whatever that was bothering you will fall away from you. Whatever habit you don´t want to have, you´ll feel that it has fallen off from you when you cry for help. It is said, the Divine dawns in you when you cry for it, when you sing for it. When you sing, very quickly the Divine love comes back to you, dawns on you again; it comes to one´s experiences. This is for sure! The Divine is only waiting for you to dig a little deeper into yourself; that is all. Because it can then fill you with much more nectar! The deeper you are, you´ll be filled with more nectar. Divine is waiting to give you more. It wants you to create more space in you. Cry from your soul for help. This is for those seekers who are weak. Those seekers who are strong, for them, with the power of knowledge they can sing with that joy of what they have achieved! Sing with the gratitude in your heart. Sing the glory of the Divine.(Read What is God - Sri Sri ) The moment you sing in gratitude, in glory of the Divine, it immediately dawns in you, and fills you up again. There are two aspects. One is a seeker who is grateful for all his growth and all that he has received, so grateful with the knowledge. The other is so helpless and weak due to own weakness. And both will be helped. And both can grow when they both sing. Because in that singing, either with pain or with joy and gratitude, the Divine dawns and the experience happens, for sure! Of all the truths in the world, Divine love alone is the supreme. Because anything else you do, be it a righteous action, if it has no love behind it, that action is worthless. Suppose you have knowledge and the knowledge does not create love and totality of awareness in you, that knowledge is useless! How can you even have the knowledge if there is no love? If you love astronomy then you will go more deep into it. Of the eternal truth, only love stands, and it is the most important. And what is Love? Love is not just an emotion - "Oh, I love you so much." That´s not love. Love is seeing that there is no difference. "I am you, you are me. You are part of me, I am part of you." Feeling that oneness is love. And it´s not just an intellectual understanding, but coming in the level of experience and living that. Living life as joy and ease is spirituality. Spirituality is not some ritual, or doing something. It´s a very pleasant, uplifted state of your being and seeing that the whole world is all spirit or consciousness. Seeing that there is one Big Mind among all the human beings, animals and all the life in the world is spirituality, and that Love is the essence of Life.
JAIGURUDEV!

Sydney.4 months later...

2009-03-10T11:10:00.002+05:30

ok so i got back to sydney. after four months of vacations back home. the city seems a bit different. the weather is wierd , unpredictable, just typically like sydney.... george street same yet different- some places are shut down thanks to the recession. Unilodge - i am lucky to have got a room here , albeit a small studio and much smaller than the prevoius one but am comfortable here. This semester seems to be tougher than the last one... thats all from me for now. will blog regularly once i get my internet working...

Back to Sydney.

2009-03-02T22:13:00.003+05:30

ITS been 4 short months of sumer vacs back in india for me and now i am going back to sydney for my second smester. so will post more once i get back to the land down under.......until then do go thru some of my earlier posts and leave ur comments incas eu havent read em.........

Shiva

2009-02-22T15:00:00.005+05:30

The Whole Creation,is the dance or play

SHIVA

(Shiva Tandav).,the dance of one conciousness.

Which manifested into a million species in the world.

Like the Mind, Memory and Intellect.

Shiva is also a tatva(element or principle in us).

Shivratri is when the Shiva Tatva and Shakti become one.

Shivratri is auspicious becaus ethe environment is more alive.

- H.H Sri Sri Ravishankarji.

(Mahashivratri is on 23rd feb. Do catch the celebrations live from 6 p.m onwards on Sanskar T.v.)

Forever Bangalorean!!!

2009-02-22T09:08:00.004+05:30

Bangalore Mirror” did a fantastic job by inviting His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar, and arranging a Huge gathering of city folks to spend an evening with Him in Kantirava Stadium on 21st Feb!
Wow, what a pleasant evening it was. Thousands of citizens from Bangalore, Flood Lights filling the stadium ground, and soothing melodious music by DR. Manikandan and Bhanudidi.
Without wasting time in formalities, Sri Sri immediately tuned up with Bangaloreans and spoke about various things we could do in Bangalore. First and foremost, clean and green bangalore. He sighted an example of a city in Maharashtra, where volunteers are taking brooms in hand, and cleaning up the city!!
He said then, that we have to clean up the city from outside and then from inside. The violence in the city was never heard of.He then reflected on his growing up years. In His youth college days, He recalled that when all south India was protesting anti-Hindi slogans, Karnataka remained silent, and preferred to be peaceful. He said, the students even used to get gifts, clothes to make them protest, but they didn’t except it. In those days, there was no view of meat on roadside shops. All non-veg would be available only in one corner of the city, and it would need to be wrapped and hidden and taken, if one wished to. This was because the city had such sensitivity towards anything violent. We need to bring back that sensitivity and stand up and take action against the perpetrators of crime and violence. He suggested that we should be careful not to give violent video games to children, which involve shooting or killing a person. Because such children become insensitive to violence, and can commit such violent methods in their future life. We need to be careful in what upbringing we give to children.
He said, He was just coming from a visit to a village in Bihar where 220 maoist activists are caught in the jail. These maoists had taken the breathing process, the Sudarshan Kriya, and experienced a big transformation in their mindset. They were much healed after a meeting with Sri Sri and the reason for their terrorist activities has been lack of spiritual education, pranayam to them, ever before.
He said, “Violence free Society, Disease free body, Quiver free breath, Confusion free mind, Inhibition free intellect, Trauma free memory, Ego that compasses all, and Sorrow free soul are birthrights of each individual.”
He said, eating food raised in chemical fertilised farms is giving body aches to people. Organic farming and its purchase needs to be inculcated.
He gave some fantastic tips to involve people and expand belongingness:- He said, just meet five new people and greet them, ask them how are you, did you have your meal and so on.
He gave a new perspective to life:- “In a period of say 80 years of life, 40 years are spend sleeping. Daily 2 hours in Bathroom means 8 more years spent in using Bathroom. Then further few more years spent in travelling and eating. only about 10-12 years are spent in actual living, working and in company of people we love. There is so less time to spend being happy! So make a resolution that let’s say every Thursday, I will be happy, come what may! May be my assistant hasn’t done the work, but I will be happy, may be I lost money in share market, but I will be happy today. Postpone any regret or worry or anger for next day! “
Then He led us into a fantastic “Sookshma Vyayam”, with some very quotable quotes like "no pain no gain" , the subtle exercise, starting right on top of head to the bottom of feet. It was so simple and efficient, that in 10 min we felt so very much refreshed. He said, this subtle exercise gives very good circulation in all parts of body. He suggested that everyone should take out time to learn more of yoga, breathing techniques and Sudarshan Kriya.
Then He led us into a guided meditation. He explained that meditation is not concentration, it is mind without agitation,deconcentration.
Finally Sri Sri released a music album and Bangalore Mirror members thanked for His coming to the program.
Bangalorean at heart, in the hearts of Bangaloreans, we love you Sri Sri !

you can find more at:http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=10&contentid=2009022220090222100952301394246b4&sectxslt=

Kashmir Shaivism

2009-02-21T09:06:00.004+05:30

Since Mahashivratri is just around the corner, i thought i'd do a few posts on this rich tradition. Here is a brief history of Kashmiri Shaivism:
The ancient tradition of Kashmir Shaivism is a non-dual (advaita) school of philosophy which takes as its source the ninety-two Tantras of Lord Shiva. This includes the sixty-four monastic Bhairava Tantras, the eighteen mono-dualistic Rudra Tantras, and the ten dualistic Shiva Tantras. This philosophical tradition is also known by its adherents as Trika. It is called Trika because it encompasses the threefold signs of man and his world. These three signs are Shiva, his Shakti (energy), and Jiva (individual ). Also signified are three primary energies: para (supreme) energy, para-para (combination of highest and lowest) energy. and apara (lowest) energy. These are also termed iccha Shakti, the energy of will, jnana Shakti, the energy of knowledge, and kriya Shakti, the energy of action. These three energies represent the threefold activities of the world: knower, knowing, and known. Kashmir Shaivism also known as the Trika tradition, encompasses four systems of philosophy: the Pratyabhijna system, the Kula system, the Krama system, and the Spanda system.
The teaching of Kashmir Saivism is so rich and detailed in its descriptions of what it reveals as the ascent of individual consciousness to universal God Consciousness (Parama Shiva) that it has been characterized as a mystical geography of awareness. It includes a highly developed system of spirituality that emphasizes not only the intellectual understanding of its concepts, but also the direct realization, the direct experience, of its truth. For the Kashmir Shaiva, the very nature of truth, its defining characteristic, is that it is unlimited and universal. The human intellect, on the other hand, is limited and individual. As such it cannot contain within its grasp that reality which transcends it. For the Kashmir Shaiva truth, as universal, is said to be anirvacaniya, unspeakable. Words cannot express or reveal it. Any attempt to define and contain it with the spoken word only limits it. If truth is to be known and understood, it must be experienced through direct realization. As the philosophy of Kaśmir Śaivism is deeply rooted in the Tantras, the lineage of Kaśmir Śaivism begins with Śhiva himself. According to tradition, as the knowledge of the Tantras were lost by the time of Kali Yuga, Shiva took the form of Śrikanthanath at Mt Kailaśha, where he fully initiated Durvasa Ṛiṣhi, into all forms of the Tantrika knowledge, including abheda (without differentiation), bhedabheda (with and without differentiation), and bheda (differentiated), as described in the Bhairava Tantras, Rudra Tantras, and Śiva Tantras, respectively. Durvasa Ṛṣi intensely meditated in the hope of finding an adequate pupil to initiate, but failed to do so. Instead, he created three "mind-born" sons, and initiated the first son, Tryambaka fully into the monistic abheda philosophy of the Bhairava Tantras; this is known as Kaśmir Śaivism.
Concepts in KashmirShaivism:Anuttara is the ultimate principle in Kashmir Shaivism, and as such, it is the fundamental reality underneath the whole Universe. Among the multiple interpretations of anuttara are: "supreme", "above all" and "unsurpassed reality". In the Sanskrit alphabet anuttara is associated to the first letter - "A" (in devanagari "अ"). As the ultimate principle, anuttara is identified with Śiva, Śhakti (as Śakti is identical to Śiva), the supreme consciousness (chit), uncreated light (prakāśa), supreme subject (aham) and atemporal vibration (spanda). The practitioner who realized anuttara is considered to be above the need for gradual practice, in possession of an instantaneous realization and perfect freedom (svātantrya). Anuttara is different from the notion of transcendence in that, even though it is above all, it does not imply a state of separation from the universe. Aham, the Heart of Śhiva,Aham is the concept of supreme reality as heart. It is considered to be a non-dual interior space of Śiva, support for the entire manifestation, supreme mantra and identical to Śhakti.
Kula, the spiritual group
Kula is a complex notion primarily translated as family or group. On various levels there exist such structures formed of many parts, interconnected and complementary. They are called families on account of having a common unifying bond, which is ultimately the Supreme Lord, Śhiva. The practices related to Kaula are very obscure and mystical and the focus is away from much philosophical tinkering and more into immediate experimentation. In essence, Kaula is a form of body alchemy where the lower aspects of one's being are dissolved into the higher ones, as they all are considered to form a unified group (a kula) which relies on Śhiva as ultimate support.

Mahashivratri

2009-02-20T10:47:00.004+05:30

This year, Mahashivratri falls on 23rd February. " MahaShivrartri " or the "Great Night of Shiva" is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna

Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana) or Phalguna

(as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar (that is, the night before and day of the new moon). The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all night long vigil.Observing Mahasivrathri is transforming as we awaken to whom we truly are. Lord Siva, the dissolver of ego enables clearance of past karmic negatives that have blocked us from our true potentials. Proximity of the mind with Source does align our thoughts to be empowered as we are in touch with our inner wisdom of calm, serenity, inspiration, abundance and knowing. Shaivism,names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. Followers of Shaivism, called "Shaivas," and also "Saivas" or "Saivites," revere Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivas believe that Shiva is All and in all, the creator, preserver, destroyer, revealer and concealer of all that is. Shaivism is widespread throughout India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, mostly. Notable areas of the practice of Shaivism also include parts of Southeast Asia like Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Maha Shivratri is not only celebrated by Shaivites today but also by Vaishnavites and other Hindus.

Message of The Granth Sahib

2009-02-19T09:55:00.004+05:30

ok so this is my second post for the day .. Like all Scriptures be it the Gita, Torah, Bible or the teachings of any Great Saint, all have an underlying message not only for the followers of that particular religion but also to the whole of Humanity. The Granth Sahib is one such scripture which has messages for whole of humanity, believers and non believers alike. Here is what i find some of the deepest teachings an Messages of the Granth Sahib.
1.All peoples of the world are equal
The Guru Granth Sahib promotes the message of equality of all beings and at the same time state that Sikh believers "obtain the supreme status" (SSGS, Page 446). Discrimination of all types is strictly forbidden based on the Sikh tenet Fatherhood of God which states that no one should be reckoned low or high, stating that instead believers should –“reckon the entire mankind as One” (Akal Ustat, 15.85).
Sri Guru Granth Sahib promotes the concept of equality by highlighting the fact that we are made of the same flesh, blood and bone and we have the same light of God with us – Soul. Our building bricks are the same: The God-conscious being is always unstained, like the sun, which gives its comfort and warmth to all.
The God-conscious being looks upon all alike, like the wind, which blows equally upon the king and the poor beggar.
2.One God for all
Sikhism is strictly monotheistic in its belief. This means that God is believed to be the one and sole Reality in the cosmos, meaning that no other being have extra-human power. Sikh Gurus state that God alone is worthy of worship, and the highest end of existence, that is mukti or liberation can come through Devotion to God alone.
Besides its monotheism, Sikhism also emphasizes another philosophical idea, which is known as monism. Monism is the belief the world is only a "vision" or illusion (Maya) and that God is the sole "Continuing Reality" so that selfishness, egoism and hate are meaningless.
God is merciful and infinite. The One and Only is all-pervading.
He Himself is all-in-all. Who else can we speak of? God Himself grants His gifts, and He Himself receives them.Coming and going are all by the Hukam of Your Will; Your place is steady and unchanging.
3.Speak and live truthfully
Sikhs believe in the importance of truthful living, which can only be created by purity of mind and not through religious purification rites. They believe that impurity of mind leads to many other vices such as anger, lust, attachment, ego, and greed.
"So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will."
4. Control the five vices
Devotees of Guru Sahib believe they must control the animal instincts of Pride/Ego, Anger/Temper, Greed/Urges, Attachment/Dependency and Lust/Addiction.
"All virtues are obtained, all fruits and rewards, and the desires of the mind; my hopes have been totally fulfilled. The Medicine, the Mantra, the Magic Charm, will cure all illnesses and totally take away all pain.Lust, anger, egotism, jealousy and desire are eliminated by chanting the Name of the Lord."
-Guru Granth Sahib Page 1388
5. Live in God's hukam
A Sikh believes they should live and accept the command of God easily and without too much emotional distress. They attempt to live in contentment and in Chardikala (positive attitude).
"Shalok: He wanders around in the four quarters and in the ten directions, according to the dictates of his karma.Pleasure and pain, liberation and reincarnation, O Nanak, come according to one's pre-ordained destiny. "
-Guru Granth Sahib
6. Virtues:The Sikh religion emphasizes several other virtues: Truth (Sat), contentment (santokh), Love (Pyar), Compassion/Mercy (daya), Service (seva), Charity (dana), forgiveness (ksama), humility (nimrata), patience (dheerjh), non-attachment (vairagya) and renunciation (taiga).
These believers attempt to avoid anger (krodh), egoism (ahankara), avarice (lobh), lust (kama), infatuation (moha), sinful acts (papa), pride (man), doubt (duvidha), ownership (mamata), hatred (vair), and hostility (virodh). In the Sikh religion, freedom from these vices , or Sahaj, is attained through tension-free, ethical living, grounded in spirituality avoiding self-mortification and other religious rites of cleansing.
First, is the Lord's Praise; second, contentment; third, humility, and fourth, giving to charities. Fifth is to hold one's desires in restraint. These are the five most sublime daily prayers.
SGGS Page 1384
Humility is the word, forgiveness is the virtue, and sweet speech is the magic mantra.
7. Womens' Status:Sikhism also preaches that equal respect should be given to women.
"In the earth and in the sky, I do not see any second. Among all the women and the men, His Light is shining. "
-Guru Granth Sahib Page 223 Shabad 706
I will do a few more posts on the Great Philosophy of Sikhism and scriptures like the bhagvad gita and Yog Vasistha .

The Guru Granth Sahib

2009-02-19T09:39:00.003+05:30

The Granth Sahib is regarded as the most sacred scripture of the Sikh Religion but also regarded as a holy scripture by Punjabi Hindu's as weel as Nanak Panthis. Many people find solace in the techings of the Granth and the Gurus of Sikhism.
The Guru Granth Sahib ( ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ, gurū granth sāhib), or Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib, is the holy scripture and the final Guru of the Sikhs.
Guru Gobind Singhji , the tenth of the Gurus, affirmed the sacred text Adi Granth
as his successor, terminating the line of human Gurus, and elevating the text to Guru Granth Sahib. From that point on, the text remained not only the holy scripture of the Sikhs, but is also regarded by them as the living embodiment of the Ten Gurus. The role of Guru Granth Sahib, as a source or guide of prayer, is pivotal in worship in Sikhism, from which all the Kirtans and Gurubanis draw from including the Ardas. The Granth Sahib also contains the Sukhmani Sahib as part of it.
The Adi Granth was first compiled by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Devji, from hymns of the first five Sikh Gurus and other great saints of the Hindu and Muslim traditions, seeing that originally Sikhism was an amalgamation of the techings of Hinduism and Sikhism. The original scribe of the Adi Granth was Bhai Gurdasji and later Bhai Mani Singhji. After the demise of the tenth Sikh Guru many handwritten copies were prepared for distribution by Baba Deep Singhji. The 'Guru Granth Sahib' is a voluminous text of 1430 pages, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh Gurus, from 1469 to 1708. It is compiled in the form of hymns written in praise of God, which describe what God is like and the right way to live. Written in the Gurmukhi(punjabi script) script, it is written predominantly in archaic Punjabi but includes occasional use of other languages including Braj, Punjabi, Khariboli (Hindi), Sanskrit, regional dialects, and Persian. Written in the Gurmukhi script, the compositions in Sri Guru Granth Sahib are a melange of ar Punjabi and various other dialects. The various dialects used are often coalesced under the generic title of Sant Bhasha( the language of the Guru's preachings) The languages used include Lehndi dialect of Punjabi, regional Prakrits, Apabhramsa, Sanskrit, Hindi languages (Brajbhasha, Old Hindi, Awadhi etc.), Sindhi, and Persian.This is how the Granth Sahib came to be. I could post more but it would turn out to be a long Post and therefore will post on the techings, history ,of the holy scripture in following posts.

Playing Your Part- A beautiful Knowledge Sheet.

2009-02-15T13:32:00.005+05:30

Be thankful for the qualities you have been bestowed upon as they are not your own making. In the same way, it depends on the part that you have been given to play. Say, in a drama, you are given the part of a villain, and you play that role perfectly.. A villain always knows that when I am playing the role of a villain, it's just a role I am playing. I'm very sincere to my role.There is a saying in Sanskrit, "Durjanam Prathamam Vande Sajjanam Tadanantaram ," First, worship the bad person, and then the good man. The bad man is falling and giving you an example, "don't do what I did." Do not hate a criminal in jail, because he's a criminal. In prison, if there is a criminal, he is an embodiment of God. He has done you a greater service. Don't ever hate a drug addict, because he has given you such a beautiful lesson, and he has been given that role. He is just performing his role that way. When you understand these basic laws of truth, then your inner perfection becomes so stable that nothing on this planet can shake your inner perfection. Nothing can shake you. Your knowledge of a mistake comes to you when you are innocent! The knowledge of a mistake dawns in the moment when you are 'out of the mistake'. However the past has been, whatever mistake has happened, do not consider yourself to be a sinner or the maker of that mistake. In the present moment you are new again, pure and clear. Mistakes of the past are past. When this knowledge comes, that moment you are again perfect. Often, mothers scold their children and afterwards feel so guilty. Then they go on regretting, "Oh, poor thing. I got soangry and annoyed at this kid, poor child! I should not have done this."Then you prepare yourself to get angry again. Okay, you got angry with your kid once or twice. Why? Because of lack of awareness! Awareness was missing so the anger came up, it happened. That's what Krishna tells Arjunaa, "Arjunaa, you think you are not going to do what you are supposed to do? I tell you, you will do it. Even if you don't want, you are going to do it!" In a very clever way He puts it: "You better surrender to me directly." He says: "Drop everything. Surrender to Me, and do what I say". Then He says: "Well, I have told you whatever I have to say, now you think it over and do what you like, you do whatever you want to do, do however you like". But then He said, "but remember, you will do only what I want". These last few sentences of Krishna were so confusing, and people have struggled to make sense out of them. There are thousands of commentaries trying to make sense out of these few words, three contradicting statements. First He says, Surrender everything, I'll do everything for you,or just do as I say. Then he says: Think, think and see what is right for you, do whatever you feel is right. And then in the third statement he says: But remember (anyway) you will do only what I want you to do. All of our wanting to do, 'doership', is there to eliminate the*tamas* or inertia in you. Once inertia is eliminated, then you are in activity. When you are acting, you become a witness to the acting. Then you know you are not doing. Things are happening through you. This is the final level of realization. You can see this in every action of yours. Have you noticed this? You are busy 'doing' when you accomplish something. In the beginning you think, "Oh! I have accomplished. " But your accomplishment becomes more and more and more and as time goes by, you will begin tofeel, "no, it's all happening. I did not do anything, I did not accomplish." A writer will feel, "I did not write, it just started flowing, it started happening." All the creative work in the world - whether painting,dance, drama, music, anything - has all come from that unknown corner. It just spontaneously started happening. You are not the doer. The best sculptor will say, "I didn't do it, it just started happening." The best painter will say the same thing; the best music composer would say the samething. I tell you, the same is true for criminals too. You ask the worstcriminal, "did you do this?" He will reply, "No, it happened! What could I do?" *Knowledge of the Self is the only thing that can take you from imperfection to perfection.- H. H - Sri Sri Ravishankar

Basics of Pasta

2009-02-10T12:01:00.003+05:30

ok no its no hidden secret that i lurrvv pasta. there have been a coupla recipes of pasta on my blog .but what abou the basics ? how does one get started on the preperations of pasta?
ok here goes:
in order to boil any form of pasta( on the gas obviously, i use the microwave on in absolute emergency cases), in a vessel start boiling some water with salt, one the water reaches a luke warmish temperature, add the pasta u want, and then add a few drops of oil from the top(this prevents the pasta from sticking and becming gooy), boil the pasta for a few minutes until done. remove from the gas , let cool for about 10 mins .Then, put it in vegetable/food stainer and then pour a bottle of cold/room temperature water over it and leave it for atleast a few minutes before cooking.
2. always boil/ cook pasta on a medium flame while using the gas, in the micro do it on medium high for boiling and cooking.
3. Nobody would tell you this but using a combination of olive oil and butter to cool up the main dish always makes it richer and tastier.
4. The secret of the taste of pasta lies in the herbs and sauce used and not in the shape of the pasta.
5. Rosemary and Thyme add that extra body to any pasta sauce
6. A combination od American Sweetcorn and Basil with macaroni in white sauce is the easiest pasta dish to make.
7. Cheddar, Parmesan, Mozzarella are the best cheeses to use in pasta , you could combine all three and make a three cheese sauce ( recipe out soon)
8. Pasta is the general name given to a group of foods made of of whole grain cereals, originating in italy, some popular kinds of pasta are :spagetthi,fusili, penne,macaroni,fettucine(evey town and village in italy has its own unique style and shape of pasta)
9. Pastas made out of various kinds of Lentils was first popular in Pondicherry India .
10. The best accompaniment to pasta is red wine, in case you dont drink just like me, try it with a glass of chilled apple juice or an interesting mixed fruit mocktail..

A quickie update and what am currently reading..

2009-02-03T10:42:00.003+05:30

oh so i haventor almost 10 days .. ive been really busy with seva for the International Womens Conference which starts on friday been having some amazing satsangs with the argenteninians who were down foe the international AMC....and some excellent knowledge during the satsangs will post on that soon.... been doing some interesting reading lately tough: the world is flat by friedman is so amazing the way he eventually convinces you that the earhth maybe round but today techinally is flat a must read for some interesting facts and stories on globalisation,
Imagining India : a book by one of the greatest IT czars of India , Nandan Nilekani and how this great is posed for the future...,
Celebrating Silence - knowledge sheets by on eof the greatest Spiritualists and Humanitarian Leaders and Saint of this era- His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankarji
The Sacred Sukhmani Sahib - probably the most profound scripture of the Sikhs and Hindu's alike. will do a post on my favourite quotes from this one soon.
A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffery Archer-just started reading this so cant comment much.
Notes To Myself by Hugh Parther- a classical ,perennnial favourite, a must read wheather you are 18,20.40 or 60....
will again update my blog soon after the IWC...

Indiblogger

2009-01-22T20:45:00.001+05:30

my blog is now listed on indiblogger , the blogger community. to get yours listed log onto www.indiblogger.com

A short poem

2009-01-19T10:28:00.003+05:30

ok i know i did promise i'd write write on the golden temple but that'll have to wait. as the last two posts have been about punjab and its culture i decided id put up something else instead.Here's a short poem that touched me .ikts by teal henderson from chicken soup for the teenage soul.its about not losing hope and having faith in oneself.
the poem is called "Again":
If when you wake upin the morning,
And the Hurting is so great,
You don't want to get out of bed
And face the world of hate.
If everything in life goes wrong
And nothing you do seems right,
You just try a little harder
And soon you'll see thelight.
For every person who has put you down
And filled your life with pain,
You must strive to achieve greatness
And show them you can win .
For every dissappointment,
For the times you are let down,
There will be a better moment
And your life will turn around.
Because everyone feels heatache,
And everyone feels pain,
But only those who have true courage
Can get up and try again.

The Story of Guru Nanak

2009-01-18T14:05:00.003+05:30

as i promised yesterday, i do a few posts on the unique traditions of Punjab. During the Islamic invasions, the land of Punjab( which included present day pakistan)was the most threatened actually it was the religious traditions of the land which were threatened. That was the time when the bhakthi movement started in the various parts of India but had not yet reached punjab so that is how the initial roots of what came to be the rich tradition of " Sikhism" were eventually sown .Now it was the great Guru Nanak who started the bhakti movement in punjab Now here is a short story of Guru Nanak .Birth and early life
Guru Nanak Dev was born on 13 November 1469 into a Hindu Khatri( a sub caste of Kshatriya) family of the Bedi caste, in the village of Talwandi, now called Nankana Sahib, in Lahore, Present day pakistan.Today, his birthplace is marked by Gurdwara Janamastan.
His father, Mehta Kalyan Das popularly known as Mehta Kalu, was the patwari (accountant) of crop revenue for the village of Talwandi under the Muslim landlord of the village, Rai Bular, who was responsible for collecting taxes. Guru Nanak's mother was Triptha Devi and he had one elder sister, Nanaki.At the age of five years Nanak is said to have voiced interest in divine and spiritual subjects. At age seven, his father, enrolled him at the village school as per the norm.[8] Notable lore recounts that as a child Nanak astonished his teacher by describing the implicit symbolism of the first letter of the alphabet, as denoting the unity or oneness of God. Other childhood accounts refer to strange and miraculous events about Nanak such as a poisonous cobra being seen to shield the sleeping child's head from the harsh sunlight. Guru Nanak's teachings can be found in the Sikh scripture Guru Granth, a vast collection of revelatory verses recorded in Gurmukhi.
From these some common principles seem discernible. Firstly a supreme Godhead who although incomprehensible manifests in a variety of religious forms, the Singular 'Doer' and formless source of all forms. It is described as the indestructible or timeless form and in both impersonal and personal forms. Salvation or liberation depends on the grace ('nadir'- glance) of God alone and although outside the power of the individual, manifests through the individual whom is seen to be unceasing in their efforts. Religious awakening is compared to undergoing a living death.
Guru Nanak describes the dangers of the self (haumai- 'I am') and calls upon devotees to engage in worship through God's name and singing of God's qualities, discarding doubt in the process. However such worship must be selfless (seva). God's name cleanses the individual to make such worship possible. This is related to the revelation that God is the Doer and without God there is no other. Guru Nanak warned against hypocrisy and falsehood saying that these are pervasive in humanity and that religious actions can also be in vain. However the practice of satsang is considered exalted. It may also be said that ascetic practices are disfavoured by Guru Nanak who suggests remaining inwardly detached whilst living as a householder.Also, Guru Nanak said that" na koi hindu na hi koi musalmaan- hum sab ek hai , hamara rab bhi ek hi hai" loosely translated this means that there is no Hindu or Muslim, we are all one , even our GOD is one.(How similar it is to the teachings of the Vedic philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam).Through popular tradition, Guru Nanak's teaching is understood to be practiced in three ways:
Naam Jaapna: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (ceasless devotion to God)
Kirat Karō: Earning/making a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud
Vaṇḍ Chakkō: Sharing with others, helping those with less who are in need
Guru Nanak put the greatest emphasis on the worship of True Name (naam japna). One should follow the direction of Awakened individuals rather than the mind (state of manmukh- being led by the mind)- the latter being perilous and leading only to frustration.
In the context of his times, reforms that occurred in the wake of Nanak's teachings and the bhakti movement at large included bhakti devotion being open to all castes, women not to be marginalized from its institutions, and both Godhead and Devotion transcending any religious consideration or divide, as God is not separate from any individual.
Common errors today are to understand Guru Nanak as a mere reformer or intellectual thinker. People tend to think of him as someone who attempted to reconcile Hindu and Muslim differences, and consequently of Sikhism as a thoughtful and conscientious attempt to combine elements of Hinduism and Islam. However, a close study of even a few of his shloks quickly dispel this false notion. Guru Nanak Dev spoke from direct understanding as an Awoken personality and not as a scholar, utilizing the language of [Punjab] at the time as a person of Hindu background living in a highly Islamic state. He encouraged people to worship within their own traditions, but to keep the focus on God's names rather than egotistic considerations.For over twenty years beginning in about 1497, Guru Nanak traveled in all four directions on foot. He traveled as far east as Assam and Burma. To the South he went as far as Sri Lanka (Ceylon). To the north he ventured even to places outside India like Tibet, Chinaand RussiaHe also went towards the west into Arabia and Persia and further on. From the stories ive heard from nani and dadaji, Nanakdevji travelled as far as Mecca and Medina and also visited many islamic centres. ( not very shocking as one of his closest disciple Bhai Mastana was a follower of the Islamic Sufi Sect)As his end approached Guru Nanak would frequently test the devotion of his sons and nearest followers and in doing so demonstrate their state of mind to one another. There were numerous such occasions and one particular devotee, Baba Lehna, rose to eminence because he never faltered in his faith in Guru NanakGuru Nanak appointed Baba Lehna as the successor Guru, renaming him as Guru Angad Dev, meaning 'one's very own' or 'part of you'. This successorhood wasn't a mere gesture. Via a transformation, compared in Sikh tradition as the passing of a flame from one candle to another, the Guru-aspect of Guru Nanak descended upon Guru Angad. Guru Angad became Guru Nanak. In Guru Granth Sahib this is described as having even a physical manifestation whereby Angad in person suddenly appeared to look like Nanak.
(To Sikhs, although there were ten separate Gurus in physical form, there was actually only one single Guru whose metamorphosised light moved from one successor or vessel to the next, granting a kind of rebirth to those personalities on their initiation. Hence they all held the original name of 'Nanak'.)
Shortly after proclaiming Lehna as the next Guru, Nanak announced that the time of his death had arrived, and retreated to a tree whereby he sat in the lotus position,nd the praan (life-force) was guided upwards and outwards from his body . The date was said to be 22 September,539according to the western calendar.And, upon his death, his followers from Hinduism as well as Islam were having quarels about his cremation and his successoer decided to just cover his body with a chaddar and let them carry on with their fight. The next morning when a compromise was reached between Nanaks followers, Guru Arjan Dev lifted tjhe chaddar not to finf Nanaks Body but lotus flowers where his body was and there after the Hindus immeresed the flowers in the Ganges and the Muslims buried the flowers at one of their dargahs. Look forward to the post on the Golden Temple tomorrow and also my first experience there.

The Sacred Sukhmani

2009-01-17T10:58:00.004+05:30

The Sukhmani sahib is considered a sacred scripture by bothe the Hindu's and Sikh's of Punjab. The Sukhmani coprises an integral part of the core of the most sacred scripture of Sikhism : The Guru Granth Sahib. Sukhmani Sahib is the name given to the set of hymns divided into 24 sections which appear in the Guru Granth Sahib. Each section, which is called an Astapadi(ashta means 8), consists of 8 hymns per Astapadi. The word Sukhmani literally means Peace in your mind. This set of Hymns orform of Guru Bani is very popular among the the Sikh's as well a sthe Hindu's, who frequently recite it in their places of worship called Gurdwaras and even in certain t and at home. The full recital takes about 90 minutes and is normally undertaken by everyone in the congregation.
According to Sikh doctorine, this Bani is believed to bring peace to one's mind and compoundly peace to the world. This set of 192 hymns were compiled by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji.This scripture has some beautiful Sayings and some very interesting knowledge points. The Sukhmani Sahibis a must read along with Yog Vasisth and Celebrating Silence. It is a great gift to humanity from the Guru's of Sikhism. My next post will reflect more on the origins of Sikhism and the unique religion and Culture of the Punjab in the next few posts.

Cool Salad

2009-01-15T10:28:00.003+05:30

mm ate this one last night at an old family frineds place it was yumm..
what you need : some nicely washed crisp green lettuce, red ,yellow and green capsicum cut into strips ,onion cut into strips , lots of broken/crushed roasted peanuts without the skin. for the dressing : mix extra virgin olive oil,soy sauce, crushed dry mint/basil leaves and thyme /oregano/rosemary( basically a combination of herbs you like),lime juice a few drops are fine, salt,black nd white pepper and a few drops of honey. now mis this up and add to the salad. add the peanuts at the end for garnish makes it nice nd crunchy...unfortunately didnt carry my camera to take a pic when we were making it there but believe me its yumm.. one could also use a mix of green lettuce, red lettuce and rocket that comes out tastier as rocket is quite flavourful...

Want to try out a new template

2009-01-12T08:45:00.001+05:30

ok so i am going to try out a new template soon. this one is quite popular do lemme know how this one looks compared to the previous theme and depending on the feedback, ill switch back to the previous template.

Satsang

2009-01-11T13:10:00.002+05:30

ok so i went to the ashram ( the international art of living centre) yesterday . It was AMAZING. Guruji( His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankarji) is there these days . It was my first one for 2009 . Believe me i couldnt have asked for anything better than to start the new year soaked in a state of bliss.Belive me even tough i reached a bit late , the singing in VM was still going on and when Guruji started to speak , it was the most amazing thing and deep knowledge.Last evening was a q n a session and guruji spoke on various topics from spirituality and materialism to the effect of planets and the role of leadership and life in general.
I cant quote verbatim but ill put down in short points what was spoken:
1. The world has enough for everyonee's needs but not for everyone's greed
2. Spirituality and Meaterialism can coexist
3.The planets( grahas ) do have effects but if one chants the mahahmantra of Om Namah Shivaya , the negative effects gets balanced out
4. Some one asked a really silly question on Karma and choice so Guruji answered:asking the question is ur karma, u being in the VM is also ur good karma but asnsswering the question is not my karma but my free choice.
5. Sadhna Seva Satsang.

Delhi.

2009-01-10T10:39:00.003+05:30

I went back home for a quick visit after about one year . Usually its every 3-4 months a short trip but since am studying in sydny it was just this once. Delhi seems to be the second punjab in India. A huge population of Punjabis and Sikhs is the pride of this place. Not only that, it is India's capital City with huge pockets of Biharis, Rajasthanis, Bengalis and smaller pockets representing the rest of the country . Delhi even todayrepresents the best of both the Indi's-one steeped in tradition and culture and yet moving forward in a globalising economy. The best of Ethnic and Western worlds- probably the best example of east meets west can be found in this city because apart from communities representing all of India , Delhi is home to a huge expat population from every nook nd corner of the world-thanks to the embassies.
Delhi noe has the largest CNG transport system in the world, world's largest rail travel network including the metro. Food . Food and more Food9well one shouldnt expect anything less in a city that boasts of a h uge punjabi populace)from chhole bhature with piyaz ki chutni, to mushroom and gobi tikka to anar ki jucie to chaat,from greek and italian to the dal makhnni at maurya and the new concept of plated indian food at the Varq( a newly opened restraunt at the taj mansing btw the singadha palak with rice is a must try here believe me its yumm)to the little eateries on Pandara Road( karahi paneer and mushroom tawa masala is a must try here)to the raidiwalas selling the yummiest shakarkhadi ki chat(sweet potatoes) and chhole with thande kulche and momos an dchowmein being available on the streets. To eating ghar ka khana with mamis and buas and bade bhaiyyas who speak purrfect punjabi despite being educated in boston and england, being pamperde by your bhabis, nana-nani and badepappa, chilling out with cousins and lazing around in bed for half the morning in delhi's cold weather-it was a truly different world from the life i lead in sydney or in bangalore- maybe one of the reasons the whole family was going on a pampering spree for me was that i came home to delhi after a year.Anyways now to the shopping part-one can get the best of ethnic wear ( yes girls in delhi actually wear a mix or balance of ethnic and western wear, fusion wear, western wear and designer wear here) however i decied to go more on the ethnic side as i prefer variety in my wardrobe ( a mix of westerns, ethnic and fusion wear) and since ive been picking up my western clothes in aussie land .i ended up buying a very lovely chanderi silk suit and five casual suits gifted by my nani . I also did pick up gorgeous wollen sweaters and aatons of other things. Delhi being the second punjab of India has a lot many religious places of interest -be it temples or Gurudwaras. One such p[lace i love gfoing to is Nanak Piao which is right near nanis house , the peace and power of that place is something else only9 another post for this).All in all the delhi trip was fun, short and sweet maybe after am done with my studies ill go back to visiting there once every three months.I however do feel sad at not being able to visit Amritsar and Jallundar this time around.

Happy New Year - 2009

2009-01-01T21:25:00.002+05:30

ok 2008 has passed us by - there were moments. some great. some good and some not so good and some terribly bad . 2008 saw many things - terrorism, economic recession , depression, suicide, crime, martyrs giving up their lives, human unity, the strength of values , the strength of spirituality , hope and above all peace.
Heres wishing everyone a great 2009 and may the terrible times of 2008 tide over and may everyone have a 2009 filled with inner peace , outer dynamism, peace, bliss and above all a 2009 soaked in divine grace.......
PS: i may not be able to blog regularly until the 10th of january as i am in delhi and donot have frequent access to the computer and a internet connection......will write about my delhi trip in later posts after 10th of january...

New Look for the New Year/ Festive Season

2008-12-20T13:04:00.002+05:30

mm ok so ive been working on my blog this holiday season. a new look : a new magical template downloaded from bloggerbuster.com, a snowflake widget also from the same site and this is the first time im using a widget on my blog.... i know i still have a long way 2 go for colour and all otherwise comments and criticisms are welcome...

Indian Style Pasta

2008-12-17T22:00:00.001+05:30

mmm ok i just made this dish randomly at an impromptue art of living volunteers part/ meet ( yup we aol wallas nyways party every minute) so mmm there were very few ingredients basic semolina pasta and a small pan available so as we are taught to make best use of what is available to us and be happy heres what i did: goodlifle milk( well thats what was the fancy milk that was in the fridge ), jeera , butter, cornflour, onions, capsicum, carrot and green onions and ginger were the only veggies available and of course salt n pepper.
ok so first boil the pasta with a little oil and then let cool , then in the pan sautee jeera and once its starts to pop n crinkle add the onions , green onions , carrots nd capsicum. then keep aside. Add butter and once its starts to melt add milkand let boil / cook for a few mins ... then sautee the boiled pasta with the jeera and veggie mix , add salt nd pepper and the milky sauce and a little cornflour to thicken and cook for about 3 minutes and voila indian style pasta is ready..

Dance in the Rain

2008-12-12T11:19:00.000+05:30

One Crazy Week

2008-12-02T09:54:00.000+05:30

ok so i havent blogged for almost a month.... been too busy back home .won't say no more. This last week has been the craziest scariest week for an entire nation that is still reeling from the shock of the cycle of events in Mumbai . The whole world watched with shock and tears as terror took the nation's commercial capital by storm . My heart goes out to Moshe(the two year old Jewish orphan) and all those brave Indians who lost their lives. Terror has once again shaken a peaceful race and peaceful nation and its high time we as Indians should stand United in the war against terror , more so now. We must as a multicultural , mutiethnic religiously and racially diverse nation stand united at least for the sake of India we must forget our racial, caste, religious, linguistic differences for once-to fight terror. Mumbai is returning to normalcy and the spirit of Mumbaikars and all Indiandians living in Mumbai should be saluted.Terror is the face of misguided youth and corruption and creates fear in people. We must now stand united to fight this menace. The episode of 27/11 (India's 9/11) has not only brought Indians togther in grief but 4 whole nations US,UK,Isreal and INdia together on a world platform.
The entire cycle of events in Mumbai shows that the need of the day and age is the message of Love and Peace , Grace, Enligtenment,The value of Life . However, all is not lost there still is hope and His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankarji( Guruji) one of the biggest messiahs of this message still giving the world and us Indians hope that all is not lost there can still be peace and love in this world. We should,nt get too shaken up by such events instead its time to Stand Up and Take Action against the menace of terrorism once and for all as a nation and as a race we must stand united and fight against terror and simultaneously spread the message of Peace.

Cheesy Guacamole Dip....its yummm

2008-11-06T15:26:00.001+05:30

mmm .. so you have a few avocados rotting away in your fridge and dont know what to do with them? just go ahead and make guacamole its the simplest , easiest and tastiest and most nutritious avocado dish around..so what exactly is guacamole? an avocado dip, essentially mexican and american in nature....
what u need: one semi ripe to ripe avocado
salt,pepper,grated ginger,finely chopped onions, garlic and tomatoes,lemon juice, lemon rind and a tsp of sugar and two amul cheese singles. Cut the avocado from the centre into two halves.. scoop out the green fleshy part into a bowl and mash a little.. add allthe other ingredients except the cheese and mix then put into a blender and add the cheese and whirr for 2-3 mins and its ready ..you can make this one without the cheese too .. same ingredients except for cheese no need of a blender but texture might differ and onions and tomatoes remain whole...

The Simplest Easiest Potato Cutlet

2008-10-22T15:48:00.000+05:30

well according to me it is..
all u need is boiled and peeled and grated potatoes, finely chopped garlic, ginger,basil,capsicum, salt and pepper to taste and raw bread crumbs as a binder if u wish . mix all the ingredients together, shape in2 an oval/circle well mine were squre basically any shape that appeals and lightlyshallow pan fry them in olive oil until a light golden brownish...... turned out yumm will post a pic whenever i have the time....and dont forget to top it up with some thai sweet chilli sauce or hot and sour sauce while serving or eating........ you could also add lightly sauteed onions to the potato mix and even peas or corn or both.... you could even indianise this one : no basil add peas and garam massala and some freshly finely chopped methi and onions and serve with imili chutney ...

Punjabi Food

2008-10-20T07:44:00.000+05:30

ok so its so obvious that am a punjabi at heart and i love my punjabi khana never mind that sometimes there is a tad bit too much ghee and tail(oil) but yup thanks to the punjabi diaspora , the rozi punjajabi khana has become a major part of say the biritish cuisine culture or canadian cuisine or wherever there is a huge punjabi diaspora. well every one is familiar with most of the daily food of what we punjjus eat in our everyday lives: things like rajma chawal, mutter paneer, paneer makhani, dal makhani or as we call it maa ki dal,kofte, tikkas, naan, various style of pulavs the most popular being matarale chawal(peas pulav) and chole biryani( a biryani with chole in it)this chole biryani is well an authenically punjabi invention . i mean we love chole . we cant live with out this pulse called channa(maize).its probably one of the most healtier pulses around.oh and did i mention we love wheat and bajra too. infact punjab is known as the bread basket of india almost 70%of indian wheat comes punjab and india is 2nd largest producer of wheat in the world. Punjabi cuisine is as varied as say gujrati cuisine while the gujjus have such things as khakra and dhokla we have our papdi chat( well yes this one originated in punjab) and chole biryani . Sarson da saag and makki(corn) di roti and bajre di roti are also quite popular .Baigan ka bhartha and gobi bhartha are also unique punjabi dishes. "Kulche " and "pranthe"is the staple daily food diet basically. I mean we even make mushroom pranhas and rabdi wale pranthe thats how much we love pranthe : be it alu, mooli, gajar or saag or even a simple piyaz and dhaniya parantha.Kulche chole, kulche alu are also the simplest things one can eat and even the tastiest esp with rasse wale alu.Chole bhature , chole with plain rice , chole alu, chole paneer .chole with just about anything. didnt i just mention that chole is the staple for most of us? ok apart from chole and saag and dal we veggies also love pakore i mean saag and palak ke and piyaz ke pakore. We also love dairy produce especially buffalos mik( bhais ka doodh in slang punjabi), ghee( well without iit no prantha, roti or dal is complete),dahi(curd),paneer,butter. and every other possible dairy product .The average punjabi (living in punjab)has the highest consumption of dairy products in India.For those non veggies out there its tikkas and butter chicken and chicken achari well paneer achari is tasatier tough and those who love fish and seafood punjab being the land offive rivers aint dissappainting theres plenty of yummy ri ver fish and freahwater prawns and all for all of you . Lassi, gulab jamuns,gajar ka halwa, besan de laddu , patesha, rabdi, phirni,kheer ,badam and kaju burfi , dry fruit mix, sharbat esp badam and litchi wali are also an essential part of punjabi cuisine. give me an alu prantha with some good ol' aam da achar or chole bhature with imli chutney with a good glass of chilled meethi lassi followed by gajar ka halwa/rabdi/phirni anytime of the day id lap it all up in a matter of a few seconds..

Sydney.Summer . Sunscreen.

2008-10-20T07:29:00.000+05:30

Sydneys getting hotter by day. its Summer now and theres almost a festive tinge in the air here as australians have their seasons and festivals upside down ....a summer chistmas and autumn easter (well almost autumn).OK so summer is the season associated with cool beaches, flowy skirts and tuinics and dresses and of course loads of ice tea but if ur a true to heart punjju kudi then its ice cold meethi lassi or nimbu paani(the aussie lemonade comes as close tough). Back home sunscreen is requiredv like uva uvb 15 spf is cool for asians and us Indians in general during summers back home.Sunscreen. Here in sydney you need loads of it . the ozone layer here has a huge hole in it thanks to the absurd phenomenon of global warming. the suns rays can damage the skin really badly and lead to irreversible skin cancer and freckles . Ok so i have gentical freckles on my face. i wouldnt want anymore . so heres what every indian student in sydney does during summers in sydney : use sunscreen . and use loads nd loads of it . the uva uvb+ozone safe and cfc free sunscreean of spf30/45 ++with a skin whitening lotion and after sun treatment.seriously man u practically end up using gallons and gallons of this damn thing called a "sunscreen lotion" and " after sun complex"for your face especially.I mean ive been here 3 .5 months and have usewd 6 bottles including skin whitening.its craziness....But then again out here you get sunscreen for even your hair .. for chirssake the human hair is the last thing that i would think expects spf protection seriously..but then i guess people here have to be extra careful thanks to a phenomenon called global warming.

I have 2 blogs now

2008-10-02T19:24:00.000+05:30

www.komalkapur.wordpress.com
thats my other blog . i will now be blogging on both this one and the above mentioned one ....ive still got a lot of work to do on the wordpress blog tough..

A Wednesday

2008-10-02T19:15:00.000+05:30

Saw this one yesterday evening once i was absolutely fed up of working on maya 9 a 3d animation software)for my homework.
Its a movie. with great substance. great actors or in the case of such calibre id like to call them artists: naseerudin shah, anupam kher, jimmy shergill ,Aamir Bashir and deepal shaw in an itsy bitsy role.
What the movie is about: in three simple words: the common manor as we law abiding disciplined indians like to call ourselves:aam aadmi.yes you got it right the common man .in another four words: stand up, speak out.
yes , its about the common man, standing up and speaking out and cleaning up the system. i wont spoil anyones surprise about the story too much. watch it for its a movie with substance and if only to see the brilliant acting by anupam kher,shergill and shah.

Bachna Ae Haseeno

2008-10-01T06:22:00.000+05:30

The film follows the journey of Raj Sharma played by Ranbir Kapoor, from the age of 18 to 30. He meets three girls at different stages of his life: Mahi , played by Minissha Lamba - a small-town girl from Punjab, Radhika ,played by Bipasha Basu - a model from Mumbai and Gayatri . Deepika Padukone, an NRI taxidriver from Australia. The film is about a boy who goes from one love affair to another, only to run into true love.Hmm the plot sounds like a run off the mill hindi fillum except that its yash raj bollystyle , a good looking hereo, great heroines and awesome locales : right from the golden temple and gullies of amritsar and the opera house in sydeny to the beautiful mountains of switzerland.....
Watch it for timpepass and Ranbir Kapoor . Minnisha Lamba and Bipasha Basu look good and fit their characters, its good to see that Dipika Padukone hasnt repeated any of the crazy OSO histrionics this time round but has a lot to learn as an actress, she portrays the role of of an indian student in Sydney managing two jobs for her M.B.A and also acting like a punjaban kudi by saying she always keeps a made in jallundar hockey stick in the boot of her taxi.. she ultimately is ranbir kapoors true love...they make a cute pair.. the story has a few interesting twists and turns ... and is good for mere time pass and is lighthearted.....watch it at your own risk..

Potatoes with Herbs..

2008-09-29T10:30:00.002+05:30

this is one dish which is just an anytime tossup that is if u have boiled potatoes or baby potatoes lying in your fridge...
heres what you need:
butter, salt and pepper, mint,chives and parsely(you could use any other herbs of your choice and even sbstitute with onions ),and of course potatoes which are boiled and peeled (in the case of baby potatoes and in case you are using normal potatoes , chop them roughly..
heres the next step:
melt the butter in a pn, ad dthe herbs and salt and pepper and sautee for 2 mins then add the potatoes nd cook for a few mins .. and voila a quick snack/side dish is ready..you could also make this as salad :to do this just chill in the fridge and then serve or serve hot...will post a picture up soon as am still trying to figure out how to embed pictures..

Potatoes with Herbs..

2008-09-29T10:30:00.001+05:30

My Favourite Top 10 Hindi Movies

2008-09-17T15:12:00.000+05:30

This ones gonna be a very long post.... top ten why because there are just about 10 movies i can watch over and over again..
1. Dil Wale Dulhania Leyjayenge :why:because it reminds me of my punjabi roots and not only that it also teaches to be rooted in indian values"some of the best in the world"wherever an indian goes.. it drives home the message that "you can take an indian out of india but you can never take india out of an indian"
2.Swades : another powerful perfomance by Shahrukh Khan a.k.a Mohan Bhargava, who gives up the big american drem to develop his village in India.. a truly inspirational story which has influenced the lives of many NRI'S....and Indian youth
3.Rang De Basanti: again a story delivering a powerful message to everyone:stand up for your rights no matter what happens.
4.Dil Chata Hai: Teaches about friendship, relationships,following your heart,living dreams,speaking ones own mind
5.Kal Ho Na Ho:I just like the title song apart from the story , drives home the message that life is ever changing, live evervday to the fullest you may or may not be around forever.. and smile...
also about deep friendships and being there for others..
6Hum Aapke Hain Kaun: a bygone era of Bollywood... and for Madhuri Dixit and the songs..
7. Rock On.. read my previous podt and you'll know why
8.Chak De India: that each an every individual has the potential to be , to get what they want in in life..and women have it too..
9.Veer Zaara:An enduring story of love ,friendship and two nations...
10.Parineeta and Devdas: i really donno why but can watch em a hundred times..

ROCK ON.......

2008-09-15T06:37:00.000+05:30

i just saw this movie last evening .... the music rocks... the story rocks.... arjun rampal and farhan akhtar rocked the movie..... rock on is not just about a rock band, of cool music and cool hairstyles of rampal and akhtar.. its a movie with substance... with a story.. a bit offbeat from the regular bolly masala movies ..... arjun rampal does some great acting in the character of joe....and farhan akhtar, the director of substance movies like dil chata hai has substance as an actor.. he really brings his character aditya to life.....rock on is about: life .. ,dreams, living ones dreams , accepting success and failure, stories of friendship, betrayal ,the transition and transformation of people from a wild youth to a sober adult life , about cool music, secrets and with a deep lesson for the youth of today... the greatest lesson i learnt from watching rock on:live your dreams as a youth cos thats when you have no responsibility...... life life the way you want to because you dont know really what the future holds for you....live life the way you want to. meanwhile, the lyrics also strike a chord.... socha hai .... and pichle saat dino main happen to be my favorite......

Rock On .. the tagline of the movie is .. live your dream....

its a must watch ...

Time Flies!

2008-08-29T15:23:00.001+05:30

mmm i didnt even realise that its meen almost more than one month since ive been in this beautiful city called sydney.i dont know where and how 6 weeks have flown by ....

India

2008-08-15T14:52:00.000+05:30

since its 15th august, Indian Independance Day, though of posting a 2nd post and this is going to be some of my favourite quotations on this Great Nation that is.

This is indeed India!
The land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendour and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of hundred nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of traditions, whose yesterday's bear date with the modering antiquities for the rest of nations-the one sole country under the sun that is endowed with an imperishable interest for alien prince and alien peasant, for lettered and ignorant, wise and fool, rich and poor, bond and free, the oQuotationsne land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the world combined.~~~ Mark Twain

In religion, India is the only millionaire......the One land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for all the shows of all the rest of the globe combined.
~~~ Mark Twain (American writer)

We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.~~~ Albert Einstein (German Physicist)

When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous.~~~ Albert Einstein

Tell me, why is the media here so negative? Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognise our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?~~~ Abdul Kalam (President of India)
She (India) has left indelible imprints on one fourth of the human race in the course of a long succession of centuries. She has the right to reclaim ... her place amongst the great nations summarizing and symbolizing the spirit of humanity. From Persia to the Chinese sea, from the icy regions of Siberia to Islands of Java and Borneo, India has propagated her beliefs, her tales, and her civilization!~~~ Sylvia Levi
If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India.
~~~ Max Mueller (German scholar)

There has been no more revolutionary contribution than the one which the Hindus (Indians) made when they invented zero.~~~ Lancelot Hogben (English mathematician)

India – The land of Vedas, the remarkable works contain not only religious ideas for a perfect life, but also facts which science has proved true. Electricity, radium, electronics, airship, all were known to the seers who founded the Vedas.~~~ Wheeler Wilcox (American poet)

India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most astrictive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only!
~~~ Mark Twain (American writer)

The Sanskrit language, whatever be its antiquity is of wonderful structure, more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin and more exquisitely refined than either.~~~Sir William Jones (English scholar)

A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.
~~~ Gandhi

India is not an underdeveloped country, but rather, in the context of its history and cultural heritage, a highly developed one in an advanced state of decay~~~ Shashi Tharoor (Indian author . In his ‘The Great Indian Novel’)

It is not only a country and something geographical, but the home and the youth of the soul, the everywhere and nowhere, the oneness of all times. ~~~ Herman Hesse (German poet and novelist)

Perhaps in return for conquest, arrogance and spoilation, India will teach us the tolerance and gentleness of the mature mind, the quiet content of the unacquisitive soul, the calm of the understanding spirit, and a unifying, a pacifying love for all living things.
~~~ Will Durant ( American Historian)

INDIA@61-What a great Glorious Nation

2008-08-15T13:25:00.000+05:30

Date:15 August 1947:"At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity."
quoted Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru , who eventually came to be the first prime minister of a free and independant nation that is INDIA today.India was once upon a time ruled by first the invaders-the mughalsfor alm ost a thousand years or more,by the british for almost 200.
Yet today, despite being supressed and oppressed, India is amongst the largest in resources,manpower and probably the most powerful economy in Asia today. Not even Nehru could have envisioned this back in 1947.
India, has always been rich in Human Values over all the civilisations and cultures of the world.
The worlds first civilisation took birth in India.And it is not very surprising that India has become a leader where human values,spirituality,economics ,modern urban villages ,a plethora of religious beliefs, people of different races,colours, linguistic families ,etc co-exist harmoniously and peacefully.
India, today is home to the maximum number of millionaires,the worlds largest IT and spirituality hub, home to the worlds largest and fastest growing Media Industry,secon largest in manpower resources and its a very loonog list. India ,today with all its multicultural social systems has still maintained her values thanks to its traditions of spirituality and strong value systems in a world where almost all is lost.Today , we have an Indian Diaspora in practically every nook and corner of the globe, a temple, a buddhist shrine,gurudwara or a number of yoga centres in every nook and corner of the world. Today the Indian Bhangra dominates the music scene and a Shahrukh Khan Movie almost grosses as much in London as a hollywood multistarer.
Indian Men and Women have made their mark in every aspect and sphere of Human life.Be it Indira Nooyi or Mata Amritanandamayi, Amartya Sen or Shri Shri Ravishankar. Today these are regared and respected and Honoured as the great daughters and sons of the Indian soil.
India at 61 is still young. It is still strong and steeply immersed in the philosophies of Krishna,Nanak, Buddha,Allah,Adi Shankaracharya,Jesus and still moves on in a bustling world raring to go.
On this Independance day , all Indians should remeber and feel the gratitude to their forefathers and the modern indians who have built and are still building this great glorious nation
We should also salute our personal independance and freedom and also salute the youth who are taking this great nation forward by leaps and bounds.
Some of My Favorite quotes on this Great Nation that IS:

India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. While the world sleeps a dynamic and a pulsating India is emerging. Its time to fly India. ~ Bhavin Rawal,London)

India is probably the best country in the world, both scenic and peaceful, it truly is god's country. ~ Kobe Bryant
If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India. ~ Romain Rolland (French Nobel Laureate)

With one foot grounded in time-honored traditions and the other fervently striding into the entrepreneurial e-age, India embraces diversity passionately as few other countries on earth could.
- Lonely Planet (Travel guide book)
It is impossible not to be astonished by India. Nowhere on Earth does humanity present itself in such a dizzying, creative burst of cultures and religions, races and tongues. Enriched by successive waves of migration and marauders from distant lands, every one of them left an indelible imprint which was absorbed into the Indian way of life. Every aspect of the country presents itself on a massive, exaggerated scale, worthy in comparison only to the superlative mountains that overshadow it. It is this variety which provides a breathtaking ensemble for experiences that is uniquely Indian. Perhaps the only thing more difficult than to be indifferent to India would be to describe or understand India completely. There are perhaps very few nations in the world with the enormous variety that India has to offer. Modern day India represents the largest democracy in the world with a seamless picture of unity in diversity unparalleled anywhere else. ~ A Rough Guide to India (a travel book [1])

Tell me, why is the media here so negative? Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognise our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?~~~ Abdul Kalam (President of India)

Choices

2008-08-11T16:00:00.000+05:30

I was recntly watching a talk by Rishi Nityapragyaji on Choices.Well, i could apply every aspect of the talk to my life. What i like about Guruji and Rishiji's talks is that they are very practical to the modern day and age..
What rishiji was basically saying was that people generally make choices based on comfort and convienience and therefore have short term happiness and donot lead a high value lifebut he also said that those who make choices based on challenges tend to lead a higher value life in teh long term.heres the link to the talk...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryViIaeG9no
it is a must watch for not only those of art of living but for everybody....

Tomato, Basil and Pine Nut Pesto

2008-08-11T14:49:00.000+05:30

this one is quite easy:
heres what you need:
2 ripe fresh tomatoes roughly chopped
sundried tomatoes cut into about 8-10 strips
fresh green olives about 8-10
a handful of pinenuts well if u dont have access to pine nuts use almonds as a substitute
sunflower or olive oil
salt
pepper and mixed herbs you could also use fresh basil leaves as per taste
a few drops of lime juice
garlic (optional tough i dint add any)but it makes the pesto quite tasty
whirr all the ingredients together in a mixie or hand blender and voila the pesto is ready you could use this as a dressing ,as pasta sauce,on bread or as a dip...ill put a pic up really soon..

Quick and Easy Tomato and Cheesy Pasta

2008-08-08T16:12:00.000+05:30

hmm i decided to try this recipe last night for dinner.. its quick and easy pasta as the name suggests..you could use leftover boiled pasta (if you use pasta made of durrum wheat or whole wheat like i do then its just healthier and cuts out half the calories as there are other ingredients that make it rich)

here goes the recipe:

pasta boiled

tomato puree 2-3 tbsps for a big quantity for 2 ppl(make sure its either organic/homemade or sugarfree)

mixed pasta herbs

cream cheese dissolved in 2 tbsps of milk and boiled for 2 mins..

salt ,pepper

butter

procedure:you could also toss this one up in the microwave including the cheesy sauce..like i did..

in a bowl /pan add some butter and let it melt for 2 mins.. plunk in the pasta and add the tomato puree,cheesy sauce ,salt ,pepper and herbs tossit up and then cook on a medium for 2-3 mins. if doing it in the microwave,use a microsafe bowl ..

heres a picture i know its not that gr8 ba pic but tasted yummm..

Leaving Home

2008-07-15T12:14:00.000+05:30

im leaving. leaving home. on the 22nd of july.
why you may ask. well ive reached a point where i can make my own decisions. the decision about future studies. im leaving for Sydney. Australia. a city i first visited when i was 16 and fell inlove with. Its my destiny thats taking me there. But why Sydney?i dont know. the only thing i know is that its pretty good for what i wanna study. Digital Media and 3D animation. i know u'll say why not us? as its the best i again dont know. i guess its just destiny again. I know deep down that somewhere i am going to miss home. Especially Dad. I guess every girl has a special connection with their fathers which just cant be expressed in words. I share an extremely deep bond with dad which all daughters do i guess. Leaving home is bringing me bittersweet memories. Altough am not a bangalorean but this place has become home in someways. Especially the Ashram: i just lovve going there its the most peaceful slice of heaven bang in the middle of a chaotic city. I'd miss my own bedroom, my friends : some of whom ive known all the 21.5 yrs ive lived on this planet , some of whom ive known only for a few months but share a deep bond with. some of whom ive known a few weeks.still in a way ill miss all of them.

Mind Matters

2008-07-01T08:24:00.000+05:30

during one of the satsangs while i was doing my yes+ advanced course at the ashram, Guruji( His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar) was speaking about the most extraordinary thing- the human mind. Guruji was saying that one's own mind can be their best friend at times and the worst enemy at others.. we must learn to control our thoughts and accpet them as they are . Guruji also said that a meditative mind accepts situations and people as they are and brings in more focus into one's life. He said that being with the self and following what you think is right is the best way to focus on the goal ahead. Meditation and silence for a few minutes everyday can help bring the mind back to the present .. as the human mind plays the "wandering between past , present and future " game everyday. Meditation also helps soothe and calm the mind and th e body and helps one to accept present situation , etc as they are.After hearing this, i realised how practical and true to our lives the knowledge is and in all its simplicity. below is an extract from the book Mind Matters again authored by Guruji:
Mind and Meditation:
Focus sharpens the mind and relaxation expands the mind .An expanded mind without sharpnesscannot bring holistic development.At the same time ,a sharp mind without expansion causes tension,anger and frustration .
The balance of a focused mind and an expanded conciousness brings perfection.Expanded conciousness is peace and joy.Focused conciousness is love and creativity .Apoint of focused conciousness is individual self.When every atom of the expanded conciousness becomes sharp,focused,that is the awakening of Divinity.

Paneer Bhurjhi

2008-06-25T13:41:00.000+05:30

this is one of my favorite punjabi dishes. can be eaten at any time of the day. preferably with a piyaz dhaniya patha paratha..
heres whats needed to cook it:
paneer ( soak it in luke warm water for a few minutes it becomes nice and soft)
salt as per taste
oil or ghee depending on how much you use but donot use more than 2 tablespoons of any
finely chopped tomatoes
salt as per taste
jeera(cumin powder)
turmeric powder
dhaniya(coriander) powder
finely chopped green capsicum
finely chopped onions
finely chopped fresh coriander
to cook:
in a non stick pan, add the ghee or oil, the onions, tomatoes , capsicum and sautee until the onions turn slightly whitish, then add the soft grated/ mashed up paneer and the masala and cook for a few minutes and its ready to eat.. you could also eat it with bread..

Quick and Easy version of Pasta Primavera

2008-06-13T09:16:00.000+05:30

ok i used to think that pasta primavera is some complicated exotic italian pasta meant to be ordered and eaten in some niche boutique kinda italian restraunt until i came accross this quick and easy recipe given by a friend.. but i have made my own alterations:
ok what you need :
veggies of your choice: you could use brocolli, asparagus, zucchini, carrots
a few pods of crushed garlic
finely chopped leeks (even half a leek would do)
sauteed onions(sautee the onions in butter until they turnslighty whitish)
herbs of your choice:i use oregano/basil or thyme depending on the flavours i want to give it.
fresh cream : well use a low fat cream if your calorie concious...
some readymade pasta seasoning: easlylife one is good , but if you have masterfoods its the best.
any pasta of your choice: i use penne or fusilior even spagetthi would do..
no to make the pasta:
in a non stick pan: add 2 spoons of olive oil, the crushed garlic pods, the vegetables and sautee for a few minutes,add the leeks and then add the cream and cook for 2-3 minutes on a medium flame. then add whatever boiled pasta you have to this sauce. add the herbs and the pasta seasoning... and its ready to serve.. you could go that extra step and add cheese as garnish-parmesan preferably if you like( it only makes it richer)....pasta primavera is ready..

Sab Maya Hai

2008-06-02T12:31:00.000+05:30

pls note im reposting this from my old rediff iland blog over here.. had written this in 2006...

sab maya hai??
"Maya" simply means illusion. everything we do in our everday lives is an illusion. i am sure that the many of you reading this blog may be wondering why i am talking of such a mundane and inane concept of illusion. well, let me say that a wise learned man would say life itself is an illussion. we imagine things and when they actually come true ,we think its maya . afterall nothing is permanent right??life itself is the biggest maya...everything happening in life is also maya .....no.. in this case maya does not refer to a software used in animation but ,i am looking at maya from yhe viewpoint of someone who is of a high spiritual quotient..spiritual quotient. the new one in the power quotient line of i.q and e.q. today ,they say that a whole individual is one with i.q,e.q and s.q. the sankat moc-han temple gets bombed,iisc,bangalore experiences a terror attack,someone as important a leader as mahajan passes on.. yet the average man goes on with his own routine life. why?? because he knows everything is an illusion..................... sab maya hai.

Nature

2008-06-02T12:24:00.000+05:30

nature??
i know the picture ive chosen is more akin to mother nature rather than what i am reffering to.... here are just some abstract thoughts on human nature...

a soft smile,

a loud scream of frustration,

mood swings,

tears of joy

greater tears of sorrow.... excitement

envy

jealousy

pride

greed

laughter

attachment

worry

relief

wonder

hatred

love

happiness

success

failure

shock

surprise........

some aspects of human nature..................

Learn

2008-06-02T12:21:00.000+05:30

Learn

learn to be yourself
dont imitate others.set your own style statements ,dont bother what others think of it. always remember you are you and nobody can be you because you are unique. remember God made you with an objective in mind-to achieve a goal through a mission always remember-a smile costs nothing-its priceless
learn that while your on this planet, to respect it and preserve it its yours after all.
learn to listen rather than talk.
learn to do what you think is right, dont worry .
learn general etiquette.
learn not to shed tears over defeats but greater tears of joy over your victories
learn to walk as if the world belongs to you..
learn to live in the present for the future,
let bygones be bygones.
learn that academic education is only a slice of life, not the whole pizza..
learn to accept people for who they are-mental characteristicsnot what they have-materialistic possessions.
learn that learning occupies your whole life- from the cradle to the grave-its all a learning experience.
learn,
its an experience of life and time...

Our Task is to discover our true essence once again

2008-05-17T14:55:00.000+05:30

our task is to discover our true essence once again
once,a group of siamese monks covered their precious golden buddha with an outer covering of clay to keep their treasure from being looted.The golden figure lay hidden for centuries .We are all like the Golden Bhudda covered with a shell of hardness created out of fear,and yet underneath is a "golden essence",our real self.Sometime along the way we began to cover up our natural self.Our task now is to discover our true essence once again. excerpted from jack canfield.
So wrote the famous author Jack canfield. and indeed we are all like the beautiful Golden Bhudda whom the monks covered with clay. As far as each one of us is concerned,we have been conditioned to live in societies where, over a period of time,we start covering up our true identities and fear whats going to happen in our lives.we start building masks to cover ourselves .it is my belief that each one of us should start peeling back the layers of masks and rediscover our true selves as ,each one of us is beautiful inside and is not aware of our beauty..yes,its time again to rediscover ourselves,introspect and find little joys in the beauty of life...

Life

2008-03-08T15:07:00.000+05:30

Life
life: i'd consider the beginning of my life to be like a vast ,textured but blank white canvas ready to be painted on and explored-an empty canvas like that of an artists thats ready to be painted on... only here ,i am trying to unravel the mystery of what life means to me .i really dont know how to express the concept of life in a few simple short sentences but,here is what i think life is all about :lifes about good times and bad,
experiencing a gain and a loss at times,
'joy and sorrows
sharing and daring
chossing between the good and the bad,
the right and the wrong
its about being optimistic at times and pessimistic at others
leisure and hard work
its about living on the edge
Life-live it to the maximum

Of Festivities and Indias Multicultural Identity

2007-10-29T13:21:00.000+05:30

It is a genral opinion that India is a truly diverse and multiethnic society -people from different creeds , race and religion have formed the multicultural fabric of this truly diverse country -its strength lies in its diversity. India is known as the land of festivals and festivities across the globe-and why not. Practically all major festivals are celebrated here with equal pomp and entusiasm. Its a long list since its such a diverse country-we almost celebrate a festival a day kind of scene.
Navratri and Dusshera just got over and is an important festival in Gujrat especially and yes i did enjoy thegarba a great deal altough am more at home with my bhangra beats.
Diwali is probably the most important festival for a majority of the Indians but is still celebrated by everybody with enthusiasm .
Holi especially in north indian state of punjab is celebrated with such joy and is where both Hindus and Sikhs play and do the puja together -an excellent example of the strength of indias multicultural harmony..the year 2007 saw Krishna Janmashtami and Kheer Bhawani (two major Hindu festivals)being celebrated in Kashmir..
Christmas is also celebrated by people of all faiths in their own unique way.
Id is also one of the major festivals and yes i quite do enjoy the yummy biryani and sheeri korma.
Each region in India has its own unique traditions-bihu -the harvest feastival of Assam is celebrated quite differently from Lohri-the harvest festival of Punjab which is again differs from the traditions of the harvest festivals of those of South India.
Couple of weeks ago i saw a picture of the golden temple , the shrad had just got over-the picture depicted a girl praying in front of the temple-the caption read-a Hindu girl pays obeisance to her sikh ancestors-this happens only in india which is truly multicultural,multiethnic and the worlds most secular and democratic country-a country where everyday is a celebration ,a festival , of life, of joy ,of ones very existence.....everyday is a celebration and a festival nevermind the problems of the country .. indias multiculturalism is truly her strength..

2007-05-29T20:42:00.000+05:30

This pic is dedicated to all my crazy college friends and also to all the memories of all the crazy things weve done in college....

ill always cherish these memories forever..

I Wish

2007-05-15T16:10:00.000+05:30

I Wish ......
i was 16 forever
more like the girl next door
i had long straight hair instead of frizzy wavy curls
i had a figure that reads 24-36-24
i had the brains of einstein
the artistic ability of da vinci
the voice of lata mangeshkar
the ability to come up with smart answers like my bro
i wish i couls eat all the chocolates in this world..
i could live life in a fairytale dream..
but alas... wishes remain wishes and some dreams are just impossible to well to achieve.. .i wish all dreams were achievable ..... but im happy being me..

A Day in the life of a college student..

2007-03-03T13:08:00.000+05:30

Tring Tringgg...... tringgggg .. the time is 6:oo am .. peeps my alarm clock... but oversleep.. slept at 2 last night...... not realising that monday is college..
get out of bed in a jiffy .. its finally 7:30... have a quick bath.... eat breakfast in the car....
walk into the college gates.... time is 8:30.. gosh am running late .. ill miss attendance..but always tend to mke it on time.... am still half asleep .... so i sit at the backbenches , and pretend to be sick and sleep for an hour.. during the political science lecture..... next is economics probably the only subject i like..... but still suffering from monday morning blues..... we have college till 2:15...
cant concentrate my mind is on other things as usual.... my "dimaag ki batti" is completeley off.....
its 11:15 short break.... roam around campus.. meeting up with some friends going down the road to just bake for an egg puff.... its amazing... there ..... rush back to class ateend another boring lecture.. its 12:30.. time for lunch... run to the canteen ask chechi for sambhar rice.. no sambhar rice she says....i forgot to get lunch from home in a hurry..now my only choice is sweet chariot on cunningham road... the auto man asks for rs 30.. gosh i have only 100 bucks on me.. am literally broke.. so i borrow a friends bike ... finally getting some food the time is 1:15......i gobble up my chicken a la kiev .. and rush back to college..... grab an ice tea.....from nestle and run to class... attend the economics lecture.. where i sleep again.....finally its 2:15.. times up my friend tells the lecturer.... we leave college together.. and off we are to forum mall.......another week ahead ....