Sep 06

You are Framed!!

One of the most horrible crimes we can commit in a relationship is to frame people! Limit their scope, actions and responses into a framework and expect the magnanimous human personality with its countless manifestations and attributes to fit into that framework. We did the same to God, we do the same to human beings (or is it vice versa?!!)! And we wonder why relationships don’t work or seem so complicated!!! Sigh….

Sep 04

ನಿಮ್ಮ ನೆನಪಿನಲ್ಲಿ……

೩ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ, ಮಂಗಳಕ್ಕನ ಮನೆಗೆ ರಜೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ, ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಮರಳಿ ಬರುವಾಗ ಹೃದಯ ಭಾರವಾಗಿ ಬರೆದ ಸಾಲುಗಳಿವು….. ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ… ಮಂಗಳ… ತ್ರಿವೇಣಿ… ಜ್ಯೋತಿ… ಸುಶ್ಮ… ಮನಸ್ಸು.. ಪದೇ ಪದೇ ನೆನಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ತಾಯಿರುತ್ತೆ… ನಿಮ್ಮ ನೆನಪಿಗೆ….


ಹೊಸ ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಸುಧೆ ಸವಿಯುವ ಮುಂಜಾನೆಯ ಸಮಯದಿ
ಹೃದಯ ತುಂಬಿ ಬರುತಲಿಹುದು ನಿಮ್ಮ ನೆನಪಿನ ಹರುಷದಿ

ಸಾಗುತಿತ್ತು ಜೀವನ ಗುರಿ ಅರಿಯದಾವುದೋ ಹಾದಿಲಿ
ಅಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕಂಡು ಬಂದೆ ಮಗುವು ಬರುವ ತೆರದಲಿ
ಎಂತು ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತೋ ಅರಿಯೆ ಅರಿವೆ ಕಾಣದಾ ಬದುಕು
ಈಗ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಕಿರಣ ಅದಕು ಇದಕು ಎದಕು…

ಮನಕೆ ನಿಲುಕದಾಗಿದೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳ ಈ ಒಗಟು
ಕೂಡಿ ಹುಟ್ಟದಿದ್ದರೂ ಬೆಸೆದಿಹುದು ನೇಹ ಸೊಗಡು
ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕೂಡಿ ಕಳೆದ ಆ ದಿನಗಳ ಸವಿ ನೆನಪು
ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ತರುತಲಿಹುದು ಹೊಸ ಕಾಂತಿ ಹೊಳಪು

ಇಂತು ಬಾಳ ಪಯಣ ನಡೆಯೆ ನದಿಯು ಹರಿವ ಚಂದದಿ
ಅಡೆ ತಡೆಗಳ ಹಾದಿ ಮೀರಿ ಸೇರುವಂತೆ ಜಲಧಿ!
ನಿಮ್ಮ ನೆನಹಿನ ಸೊಗಸು ಸೆಳೆಯುತಿರಲು ಮನವನು
ಮತ್ತೆ ಬರುವೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸಂಗ ಸವಿಯೆ ಸ್ನೇಹ ಸವಿಯನು!! 🙂

ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ….

ಪ್ರವೀಣ 🙂

Jul 29

Mr. Hyde……

Got into the Bus 333T (Volvo) near my office. There was a pleasant Kannada station playing on the radio. There were 2 girls from North (very coincidental… I hold nothing against them.. just their attitudes. Read on) started acting smart… passing ridiculous comments.. and making stupid remarks.. with their usual gusto! To top it off.. they started playing some stupid pop numbers on their laptop in full volume.
Couldn’t tolerate it.. mouthed off.. and before getting down… called them B*******! I know I lost my cool.. I also know that I wanted to lose it.

Jul 19

Lost & Found….. :)

Had been to Gramin – an aesthetic restaurant at the Raheja Arcade in Koramangala. Heard a wonderful, long forgotten Hindi song from the B&W days… decided to get back home and listen to the song in peace and maybe watch its video on Youtube.
Now.. I don’t remember the song… gosh.. its just so killing!!!!!!!!!! 🙁 🙁 🙁

Update on 20th July: The song is “Lag ja gale…. ke phir ye“… YIPEEEEE!!!

Jul 18

ಅಪರಾಧಿ ನಾನಲ್ಲ……..

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ವರ್ಗಾವಣೆಯಾಗಿ ಬಂದು ಸುಮಾರು ೩ ತಿಂಗಳಾಯ್ತು! ಬಂದಾಗಿಂದ, ಬ್ಲಾಗಿಗೆ ಬರಗಾಲ ಬಂದಿದೆ ಅಂತ ಅನ್ನಿಸ್ತಿದೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಓನರ್ ಕಾರಣ ಅಂತ ಅನ್ಕೊಳ್ಬಾರ್ದು ಅಂತ ನನ್ನ ಸವಿನಯ ಮನವಿ! ಬರೀಬೇಕು ಅಂತ ಬಹಳ ಸರ್ತಿ ಯೋಚನೆ ಮಾಡ್ದೆ, ಆದರೆ, ಯೋಜನೆ, ಯೋಚನೆ ಹಂತದಲ್ಲೇ ನಿಂತ್ಕೊಂಡುಬಿಡ್ಬೇಕೇ!! ಅದಕ್ಕೂ ಕಾರಣ ನಾನಲ್ಲ! ಊರು, ನಮ್ಮೂರಾದ್ರೂ, ಕೆಲ್ಸ ಅಂತ ಇರುತ್ತೆ ನೋಡಿ! ಹೊಸ ಕಡೆ, ಹೊಸ ವಾತಾವರಣ, ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಬೇಡಿಕೆಗಳು, ಇವೆಲ್ಲ ತಲೆ ತುಂಬ. ಅದೂ ಅಲ್ದೆ, ಆ ಕಾಟ್ ಜಾಗದಿಂದ ಇನ್ನೂ ಪೂರ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ಸಾಮಾನುಗಳನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ.. ಸಾಗಿಸಿರ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ.. ಒಂದೆರಡು ವಾರ ಅದರ ಓಡಾಟ ಆಯ್ತು, ಅದಾದ್ಮೇಲಾದ್ರೂ ಬರೀಬಹುದಿತ್ತಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ಕೇಳ್ತೀರ… ನಿಜವೇ… ಆದ್ರೆ, ವಾರಾಂತ್ಯದಲ್ಲೇ ಬರೀಬೇಕು ಅಂತ.. ಏನೋ ಒಂದು ಚಟ.. ಯಾವಾಗ್ಲೋ ಬರೋ ಯೋಚನೆಗಳಿಗೆಲ್ಲ, ವಾರಾಂತ್ಯದಲ್ಲೇ ಬಾ..ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿದ್ರೆ.. ಅವೂ ನನ್ಮಾತು ಕೇಳ್ಬೇಕಲ್ಲ! ತಮ್ಮದೇ ಹಟ…ತಮ್ಮದೇ ದಾರಿ ಇವಕ್ಕೆ!

ವಾರಾಂತ್ಯ ನನಗೊಬ್ಬನಿಗೇ ಅಂತಂದ್ರೆ, ಅದೊಂದು ವಿಷ್ಯ, ಆದರೆ, ಅದು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ವಾರಾಂತ್ಯನೇ ಅಲ್ವ?! ಸರಿ, ಬರೆಯೋದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ಸುತ್ತಾಡೋದು, ಮಾತಾಡೋದು, ಬಂಧು, ಬಳಗ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸೇರ್ಕೊಂಡು ಬಿಡುತ್ವೆ, ಏತನ್ಮಧ್ಯೆ, ಡಿ.ವಿ.ಜಿ ಅವರು ಹೇಳೋ ಹಾಗೆ, ತಲೆನಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಗೆ, ಗೂಬೆ, ಕೋಗಿಲೆ, ನವಿಲು, ಗುಬ್ಬಚ್ಚಿ, ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಕೂಗುಗಳು ಸೇರಿ ಹೋಗಿ, ಈ ಗದ್ದಲದಲ್ಲಿ, ಪಾಪ ಬರವಣಿಗೆಗೆ ಬೇಕಿರೋ ಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿ ಅನ್ನೋ ಮರಿಯ ಸದ್ದು ಎಲ್ಲೋ ಅಡಗಿಹೋಗುತ್ತೆ! ಈ ಮರಿ ಬೆಳೆದು, ಆ ಬೇರೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಗದ್ದಲಗಳನ್ನೂ ಮೀರಿ ಗಲಾಟೆ ಮಾಡೋಕೆ, ಇಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಬೇಕಾಯ್ತು ನೋಡಿ!

ಅಂತೂ, ಇಂತೂ ಸದ್ಯ ಬಂತಲ್ಲ!! ಏನೋ ಒಂದಷ್ಟು ಮಾತುಗಳಿಗೆ, ಪದಗಳ ರೂಪ ಕೊಟ್ಟು, ಕೀಲಿಮಣೆ ಮೇಲೆ ಟಕಟಕಿಸಿದ್ದು ಆಯ್ತು. ಇನ್ಮುಂದೆ, ಹೀಗೆಲ್ಲ, ಧೂಳು ಹಿಡಿಯೋಕೆ ಆಸ್ಪದ ಕೊಡಲ್ಲ… ಏನೋ ಒಂದು… ಹರಟ್ತಾಯಿರ್ತೀನಿ… ಕೇಳೋದು, ಓದೋದು.. ನಿಮಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಅಷ್ಟೇ! 🙂

Jul 05

Bhavani Ashtakam – An Ode to the Universal Mother!

A couple of days ago, a friend of mine shared with me an amazing Sanskrit hymn – “Bhavani Ashtakam”. I realized that it had been a long time since I wrote of some Sanskrit hymns. After listing out some of my favorite hymns in Sanskrit, I had kinda let that go into the oblivion. Devotional songs have always been an enchanting proposition for me, and no matter what time or day, I cherish losing myself to the rhythms of devotional numbers that are transcendental in their effect, bringing the ethereal experience of spirituality to the commoner levels. Not all songs have this effect, I am afraid. It takes a wonderful combination of right music, and appropriate literature to blend together seamlessly, one not over riding the other, and create that wholesome experience, necessary to spur the divine feeling inside the listener. This particular hymn Bhavani Ashtakam, has been sung by Bangalore Sisters. Their another amazing album was the Ganesha Stotramala. It is indeed a collectible material, if you are looking for enchanting hymns on Ganesha. The particular composition of Bhavani Ashtakam, that I am interested in right now, is a composition of Sri Adi Shankara. He has eloborated on the effervescence of the worldly matters – the relationships, the materialisms, etc, and harkens on the Universal Mother as the sole protector and sustainer from this whirlpool of Samsaara.
Na taato, na maata, na bandur na daata,
Na putro, na putri , na bhrutyo , na bharta,
Na jaaya na Vidya, na Vruthir mamaiva,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam twam ekaa Bhavaani.
I have no father, no mother, no relative, no protector. (I have) no son, no daughter, no servants, no husband, no progenies, no education and no employment that I can call as my own! You are my only protector, you the only one O! Bhavaani! (The one who takes everyone out of this Bhava-worldly miseries)

Bhavaabdhava paare , Maha dhukha Bheeru,
Papaatha prakaami , pralobhi pramatta,
Ku samsaara paasha pravartyassadaaham,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam twam ekaa Bhavaani.

I have been caught in this torrential flow of the samsaara, and in great agony! (Because) I am lustful, greedy, intoxicated (mad), and I keep turning myself towards the noose of this destructive samsaara (worldly affairs). I have none but you as my protector, you the only one, O! Bhavaani!

Na janaami daanam, Na cha dhyaana yogam,
Na janaami tantram, na cha stotra mantram,
Na janaami poojaam, na cha nyaasa yogam,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam twam ekaa Bhavani

I know nothing about sacrifices, neither about meditation, I know of no rituals, no hymns or praises, I do not know about worship, neither about losing merging my existence in worship or service of the divine. You are my only salvation, you the only one O! Bhavaani!

Na janaami Punyam, Na janaami teertham,
Na janaami muktim, layam vaa kadaachit,
Na janaami bhaktim, vrathamvaapi maata,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam, twam ekaa Bhavani.

I do not know of fruits begotten by good deeds, I do not know of sacred places, I do not know of salvation, or even a bit of destruction. I do not know of devotion or of vows. You are my only salvation, you the only one O! Bhavani!

Kukarmi, kusangi, kubuddhi, kudaasa,
Kulaachara heena, kadhachaara leena,
Kudrushti, kuvaakya prabandhassadaaham,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam, twam ekaa Bhavani.

I am a sinner, have indulged in bad company, have borne ill thoughts, enslaved myself to vice, I have abandoned the path of virtue, and not interested in pious ways, I have cast evil eyes and have always indulged in mouthing inappropriate talks – (Yet, today I come to you) you are my only means & end, you the only one O! Bhavaani!

Pradesam, Ramesam, Mahesam, Suresam,
Dhinesam, Nishitheswaram vaa kadachit,
Na janami chaanyath sadaaham sharanye,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam twam ekaa Bhavani

I do not know anything of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Sun or the moon. I do not know of anyone else whom I can take refuge of. You are my only salvation, you the only one O! Bhavaani!


Vivaade, Vishaade, pramaade, pravaase,
Jale chaanale parvathe shatru madhye,
Aranye, sharanye sadaa maam prapaahi,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam, twam ekaa Bhavani.

In strife, in agony, in danger or in travel, whether am in water or fire, whether am in the mountains amidst the enemies, in forest, I shall always seek refuge in thee! Do protect me! For you are the only salvation, you the only one O! Bhavani!

 

Anaatho, daridro, jaraa roga yukto,
Maha Ksheena deenassadaa jaadya vakthra,
Vipattou pravishta, pranashtassadhaham,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam, twam ekaa Bhavani.
I am an orphan, destitute, bearing the diseases of my old age, malnourished, sad, and always bearing a grief-stricken (diseased) face. I find myself surrounded by danger and facing a terrible end. You are my only salvation, you the only one O! Bhavaani!

When I first heard this stotra, the most hard hitting aspect of it, was the gruesome picture drawn of humankind. It was certainly unnerving for most part of it. And yet, it does come as a hardhitting argument – something like those gory pictures we see, in order to drive home the point of saving the nature, environment or cute animals! And there is a divine beauty to the human life too, something that we always forget about and meander around in loss and pain. We forget that we are all happy creatures of this Neverland, and were meant to be happy! Time and again, we need to be reminded of this, and what better place than the lap of the universal mother, to learn of our life and its essence!