Food For Thought

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Define the English word ' FINE '

‘ Define ‘ Fine ‘  -  P.Natarajan  (Camp: Denver )

I received a quote from a friend of mine, who lives in Michigan, which I have placed in the opening lines of this mail. The rest of the piece is added by me out of interest :-

A ‘ FINE ‘ is a tax for doing a wrong
A tax is a ‘Fine’ for doing well.
Now interest arises to define ‘Fine’
Buyers look for superior or fine quality.
‘M.S.’ was a fine singer
The guests found meals served in fine porcelain vessels.
Fine quality assures free of impurities.
But fine dust implies small particles of impurity
Fine refers to one’s state of health
The Doctor informed the patient is doing fine.
Car parked in no parking zone attracts fine.
Fine is a forfeiture or penalty levied by the court of Law to the offended party.
Fine Arts are arts of beauty rather than for utility.


A fine view of a garden - 'A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOR EVER' - keats

Diplomacy is also a fine art displayed by shrewd politicians
Yarn when extended to a thread like state like a wire is called as fine drawn.
Smooth or even grained rice is certified as fine grain Sonamousri
M.S.Dhoni's fine captaincy was splendid or I.Sharma’s fine bowling was superb 
resulting in India taking a 1-0 lead in the second Test against England @ Lords.
Fine Print marks intentional ambiguity in contracts.
Fine quantity means small measures..

“ FINE TUNING “ - the varied contextual usage of the word of ‘FINE’ becomes more apparent &  grandeur too.

pn


                                                      



Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Eight Dimensions of Human Life and Family Rules


P.Natarajan.
camp: Denver (U.S.)

A) Eight dimensions of Human Life :-
1. Physical
2. Relationship
3. Finance
4. Occupation
5. Emotion
6. Mental & Intellectual
7. Community
8. Spirituality

II. Mirror Reflection:-
1 Letting Go
2. Forgiveness
3. Love
4. Gratitude

III. Multipliers:-Recommended Book to read

IV. Define POWER:-(see below)
P -  Pictures you are holding in mind (Vision)
O - Ownership ( Possessions  - Acquiring Knowledge & Wealth - Self Starter - Entrepreneur )
W -  Watching for Evidence ( Need for Back-up for making logical conclusions)
E - Expectations ( Ambitions - Fixing Goals - One’s Life Mission)
R - Redeem ( Release yourself , Be Receptive )

V. Classify Outcome or Result-
E + R  =  Outcome
Event + Response = Result or Outcome
( No Blaming Self or Others - but gain Self Awareness )

VI. Be Positive - adopt a means by figurative thinking or feelings in steps as illustrated below:-
darkness  to  dark
dark  to  ambr
amber to light
light to brightness

VII Suffering is no suffering but arguing with the reality

VIII Meditation for 5 Minutes and realize yourself :-

1) Relax / deep breath
2) Visualize 
3) See the outcome
4) Release the Outcome

The VIII (eight) dimensions of human life for betterment of self

B) FAMILY RULES:-
       HELP EACH OTHER
    SAY PLEASE     DREAM
       &    THANK    B\IG
                 YOU
        B E   H A P P Y
      D O   Y O U R   BEST
ALWAYS TEL THE TRUTH
    S  H  A  R  E
      NEVER GIVE UP
  BE                PLAY
 NICE      &     FAIR
KEEP  YOUR  PROMISES
L A U G H  O F T E N
PAY WITH HUGS gAND KISSES
    H  A  V  E     F  U  N
LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS
 SAY I LOVE Y O U

pn

Monday, July 14, 2014

The Significance of the Month ' AADI '



Significance of the Tamil Month ‘ Aadi ’
- P.Natarajan, camp: Denver CO.

‘Aadi’ - the 4th month in the Tamil Calendar begins on 17th July this year and lasts up to 16th August. This article describing the significance of Aadi month  is the third in the series after  ‘Vaikasi’ and ‘Aani’ which were written in the beginning of the  respective Tamil Months. The Sun traverses in Kataka Rasi during this time and hence ‘Aadi month’ is also called as ‘Kataka’ or ‘Karkataka’- the month of Cancer in the Zodiac Sign.

Sun begins its journey Southward from North in Aadi , religiously known as ‘Dakshinayana Punya Kala’. ‘Pithru-Tharpanam’ (obeisances to forefathers) is performed before Utharayana ends and hence falls on 16th July this year.

Aadi marks the twilight zone and beginning of  the night time for Devas. As we light the oil lamp in ‘Sandhya-Kalam’ and worship the Gods, Devas also start worshipping Goddess Shakthi in Aadi month. The Sun symbolises fatherhood and the Moon motherhood and the Sun sets forth its journey to meet the Moon in her house ‘Kataka’ in Aadi month. The Sun adores Pasupathi’ as its Lord and the moon  ‘Gowri’ in turn. The Lord goes to the house of Shakti to be in union with the Goddess in Aadi. Thus Goddess Shakti  predominantly rules in this month of Karkataka or Cancer. For the same reasons, ‘Aradhana’ to Goddess Shakti and many festivals in temples take place in grand manner in the month of Aadi. The wind blows mighty in Aadi to mark the union of the Lord with Shakti. ‘Aadi Kartril Ammiyum Parakkum’ is a famous Tamil proverb.

As Devas are engaged in worshipping Shakti auspicious ceremonies like marriages and Upanayanams  are not conducted during the month of Aadi or ‘ Ashada ‘  as it is believed that blessings of Devas can not be invoked as they are engaged in ‘Shakti-Upasana’. The newly married brides go to their parents’ homes during this period to learn more about religious matters and how to lead a harmonious life in their in laws’  place. Further if the bride happens to conceive in Ashada, the delivery will be in April-May during the peak summer season which would cause more anxiety. This is also a reason for the brides going to their mothers’  homes in Ashada when   ’sampradaya offerings’ (‘Seer’’ in Tamil) are made from the brides’ side.

‘Varalakshmi Vratham’ is an important puja observed by women in Aadi which falls on a Friday occurring just before the full moon day. Sumangalis exchange ‘thamboolam’, bangles after the Upasana of Devi Varalakshmi in mutual interest.

                                              Varalakshmi Vratam.jpg


                                          
‘Lord Vamana’ is the principal Lord of the month Aadi. He shines beautifully as a rising Sun. Aandal, one of the greatest devotees of Lord , vows to marry the Lord from her childhood.
                                                                    
                                          Aandal.jpg

She was born in Aadi month in the star Pooram. ‘Aadipooram’  is celebrated as the birthday of Aandal. Aandal’s or Kodhai Nachiyar’s  devotional music known as Thiruppavai’  is  in praise of Lord Krishna and she carries the Lord with her music to heights of bhakti..
                                                                   andal garland.jpg

Aandal ensures that the garland already earmarked for puja is in order and would enhance Lord’s looks by looking at the mirror after she wears it first. She would imagine the mirror image of Lord Krishna appearing beautifully with the garland round him - such was her immense devotion.
During the Aadi Pooram festival in temples Goddess Devi is taken in procession with elaborate decoration - known as car festival.. I remember even today how eagerly I watched the car festival, as a boy of 6 in Nagapattinam when  Neelayadhakshi Amman seated in the car came in procession and stopped in front of our house. We lived in the Sannathi Street then.

Alavandar alias Yamunacharya is another celebrated Vaishnavite born in the month of Aadi in the star Uthiradam in Veera Narayana Puram., near Mannargudi in Tamilnadu. Alavandar the grandson of the great Nathamunigal,  was a child prodigy, a great scholar and Acharya .  Alavandar came under the tutelage of  Sri Manakkal Nambi and learnt Vedas & Upanishads.
Yamunacharya.jpg

( Sri Alavandar Swamy in the Picture )

with proficiency.  Swami Alavandar is amongst the most important acharyas of Sri Vaishnava tradition. He was the foremost to identify that Sri Ramanuja was the future of Sri Vaishnavism and ordered all his disciples to give due respect to Sri Ramanuja.

Aadi Amavasya is the day when The Sun who as the father meets the Moon who is considered the mother in the house ‘Kataka’ belonging to the Moon. People go to Rameswaram to have a dip in the Bay of Bengal or other sacred places and perform tharpana to forefathers and thus get rid of the sins committed and to invoke their blessings.

Aadi Perukku also known as Pathinettam Perukku falls on 18th day of Aadi.  It is a day when people pay tribute to Water for its life saving properties.



Water is Nature’s bountiful resource for grace. Pachai Amman , also known as  Kanni Amman in Thirumullaivoyal is worshipped. Devotees rush to have rendezvous with the goddess on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays in Aadi. She is considered as the  goddess of marriage. Like Earth gives food, Water is also considered as sacred necessity to meet the needs of an individual. Water resources like Temple Tanks (like the temple tank in Vaitheeswaran Koil or Teppakulam in Meenakshi Temple, Madurai), rivers like Ganga, Kaveri, Narmada, Yamuna are considered sacred and bath in these and in the seas running along Tiruchendur Temple, Rameswaram and in Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, etc. purifies the body and soul. During Adiperukku the river basins receive copious rain due to the onset of monsoon on the day of Aadi Pathinettu which coincides with August 2nd or 3rd every year. That is why Aadi is the best month for sowing ,rooting, planting of seeds and vegetation as it is a peak monsoon season. ‘ Aadi Pattam Thedi Vidhai’ is a famous saying in Tamil, meaning that the month is the best for sowing the seeds.

‘ Mulaipari ‘ is an important ritual in the villages at this time when they carry on their heads pots of sprouted and germinated Navadhanya in pots and carry them to river basins, offer prayers for
marriages to happen and implying fertility to women and for the continuation of human race with
with peace and harmony. They pour the germinated seeds into the river as offerings.

Mulaipari.jpg
                                                                                                          
Aadi rings in joy and fervour as large section of people rush for shopping from dawn to dusk as best deals are offered with a tag in Tamil ‘Aadi Thallupadi’. (Sales come with attractive discounts)

All the year’s major festivals and worship is packed in the month of Aadi and in the six months that follow. This article has brought out them starting from Dakshinayana Punya Kaalam, Aadi Pandigai on the first day of Aadi, Aadi Krithigai ( a fasting day and worship of Lord Karthikeyan), Thiruvadipuram, Aadi Amavasya,  Rig, Yajur Upakarma, Gayathri japam, Varalakshmi Vratham,  Aadi Velli, Aadi Chevvai, Pathinettam Peru or Aadi Perukku, Aadi Pooram and Mulaipari.The festivals culminate with Makara Sankranti. So the saying in Tamil ‘ Aadi Azhaikkum, Thai Thudaikkum’ appropriately describes the six month period starting from Aadi month.

I wish to divert the readers to the pages of a historic Novel  namely  ‘PONNIYIN SELVAN ’ , a best seller for all times to come, where the great author Amarar KALKI introduces the story and the hero Vandhiyath Thevan in the first chapter in the lake Veeranarayanpuram on the eve of Aadi Perukku. We have seen earlier in this article that Veeranarayanapuram is the birthplace of Alavandar Swamy.

Aadi is the month of dedicated worship to Goddess Shakti and let us offer our prayersGoddess Shakti  for peace and prosperity.

Sarvamangala Mangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike,
Saranye Thriyambike Gowri Narayini Namosthuthe !!

pn

Friday, July 11, 2014

P.Natarajan.
camp: Denver, CO.


Neel presents the Solar System below. He evinced a keen interest and under guidance from his grandmother, rolled the clay balls into shape and size to represent the Planets and placed them in the orbit at appropriate distance from the Sun. The Balloons also represent the Planets.


Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto can be seen in the picture.
IMG_6768.JPG.Neel completed the Project when we were in Canton before arriving Denver. Neel sang the song “My Very Eager Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets”, as he placed the Planets in the orbit around the Sun.

Neel’s color work of alphabets. He sings in a rhythm a .. b....c...(See Picture Below)

pn

pnimage.png