Kurukshetra

Walking in the biting cold, teeth chattering, with Rajan my travel companion was an exhilarating experience. We are headed towards Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra and are eager to reach this humongous water body created especially for providing water to the crores of animals and men engaged in the Kurukshetra war.

We are in Kurukshetra, a small town about three hours drive from N. Delhi. This is the place where wehere the Mahabharatha war between the Pandavas and Kauravas took place.  We left N. Delhi at 5:15 PM by the Kalka Shatabdi to reach Kurukshetra at &:15. The weather is very cold though N. Delhi had been somewhat warm. The Kurukshetra Railway Station platform is nice and neat and is quite broad. Though Make My Trip shows 14 Hotels in Kurukshetra, the locals directed us to the Pearl Marc hotel not very far from the station. After checking in and relaxing a bit we decided to take a walk to the Brahma Sarovar. The people are quite friendly and were more than happy to guide us to the gates of the huge Sarovar. On the way we passed by Arjun Chowk with a statue of the Mahabharata hero.

The huge water reservoir in the darkness with a few lights blinking on the opposite shore so far away. It is indeed a Sarovar. According to local tradition, it was first excavated by King Kuru and is associated with Prajapathi or Brahmaji who first performed a sacrifice here. On one side of the huge tank is a statue of Krishna and Arjun on a chariot. This is well lit in the night and is a sight to be seen.

Millions of people flock to Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse to take bath in this tank.

The next day we started early (eight O’ Clock is early in winter!) to reach Jyothi sar. About 6 Kms away, this is the spot where there stands an immortal banyan tree which bears witness to the Gitopadesam or the teaching of the Bhagwad Gita by Krishna to Arjuna. The name Jyothi Sar is a corruption of the word Jyothishwar which is the name of the Shiv Ling which is situated here in a temple near the Banyan tree. In fact there is one more banyan tree near the Shiv Mandir that bears witness to the ravages of the Foreign invaders. This place has withstood alkl these onslaughts and stands witness to the ancient culture and tradition of the Indian Sub-Continent.

There is a large water tank here too which we perambulated to reach the Banyan Tree. Near the Banyan tree is a marble statue of a Chariot with four horses wherein the images of Krishna and Arjuna are placed, the former imparting divine wisdom and the latter absorbing it with folded arms and rapt attention. This statue has been placed here by H H the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

We sat beneath the immortal banyan and meditated on the verses of the Bh. Gita, allowing the vibrations of eons of spiritual wisdom to wash over us like the cold breeze on that late-winter morning.

Onward to Bheeshma Kund in Narkthari Village, Kurukshetra, where the Pitamaha Bheeshma fell on the Tenth day of the war. There he lies on a bed of arrows with a pillow of arrows created by the great warrior Arjun. When Bheeshma wanted water, Arjun directed his arrow consecrated by the mystical formula called Parjanyaaasthra into the earth at the right-side of the Grandsire. Immediately there welled up a jet of nectar-like and fragrant water which fell into Bheeshmas mouth. Legend has it that Mother Ganga flew out of the earth to quench her son’s thirst. The Grandsire quaffed the drink to his hearts content. This spring of water is now a deep tank near the temple.

Kurukshetra is famous not just because it is the location of the great and glorious battle between right and wrong (Dharma and Adharma). It was already a famous place consecrated by Kuru the founder and fore father of both the Pandavas and Kauravas. Kuru had sought and received a boon from Vishnu that anyone who died at Kurukshetra would attain moksh immediately. This is why Dridharashtra selected this place for the war, hoping half-heartedly that the sanctity of the location would reform his erring son.

More importantly, Kurukshetra is the place where two of the greates spiritual  treasures of Hinduism were born. One, of course, is the Bh. Giota which is God speaking to Man. The other is the Vishnu Sahasranaamam or the Thousand Names of Vishnu which is man singing the praise of the One Supreme Being.

Beeshma Kund Shrine

This spot, Bheeshma Kund is the exact spot where Bheeshmachrya responds to Yudhistra’s spiritual query, “ Kim ekam daivatham loke, kin va api ekam Paraayanam..?” i.e. “Who is the Single or Only Deity suited for Human Beings to always meditate upon?” Bheeshma identifies Krishna-Vishnu single, sole Brahman or Causeless Cause that is worthy of praise and prayer. He then identifies the Lord by his One Thousand Names.

At Beeshma Kund

Rajan and I meditated in the shrine that cold wintry morning upon the Vishnu Sahsranaamam as it was played on Rajan’s mobile phone. Then we poured the water from the Narkathari Tirth on our heads and with all respect and reverence made our way out of the Holiest Place. 

Kurukshetra also has a Shakti Peeth. North India has a total of 52 Shakti Peeths. These are places where the body parts of Devi fell when they were cut by Vishnu’s Chakra and thrown about. Kurukshetra is the spot where the right ankle fell. There is a Badrakali temple on this spot. We visited this also.

Badrakali Temple

Vel's University

I spoke yesterday at the Vel's University School of Business Studies on the Purpose Empowerment Praise model for Leadership and Motivation. 

The feedback mail received from them!

10.01.2014

To

Mr. S. Srikanth

Corporate Trainer

Chennai

Greeting from School of Management Studies.

on behalf of the Management, faculty and students of School of Management studies, we express our sincere thanks for a great Guest lecture which held on 09.01.2014 at our MBA department, VELS University. Students were really inspired and motivated by your speech.

Looking forward towards a continuous association with us.

Dr.S.Ramani
Director-Consultant

School of Management Studies

Sakshi Gopal

The Sakshi Gopal Temple

I spent the New Year 2014 in Odisha visiting places like Konark, Puri and Bubhaneshwar. I also happened to visit the Sakshi Gopal Temple in the village subsequently named Sakshi Gopal. This is a temple of Krishna as Venugopal. The story related as the explanation for the origin of this temple is fascinating as it epitomizes the power of belief and faith.

Mahindra a village youth wants to marry Vasanthi, the daughter of Raghav. Vasanthi too wants to marry him. But Raghave is bent on marrying her to an older but wealthy man, Sukhdev. Mahindra sets off for Puri to earn his living and after sometime Raghav joins Sukhdev and his party on a pilgrimage to Puri. Suddenly Raghav contracts small pox and is left to his own devices in the outskirts of the town by Sukhdev and his cronies. But, Mahindra who happens to hear about Raghav’s situation rushes to his aid and nurses him night and day till he recovers his health. Raghav is touched and understanding Mahindra’s good nature vows before the sanctum of the Puri Jagannath Mandir to give his daughter Vasanthi in marriage to him.

They return back to their native village. Induced by Sukhdev’s costly gifts and false promises, Raghv changes his mind and once again refuses to give Vasanthi to  Mahindra. Mahindra complains to the Village Head. The Village elders conduct an inquiry when Raghav stoutly denies his promise. Mahindra has no witness to substantiate his version, except of course the Lord of Puri Himself. Mahindra calls the Lord as his witness. But the Villagers laugh and ask him to bring the Lord to give witness or Sakshi. Mahindra vows to do so and goes to Puri where he prays incessantly to the Lord. The Lord finally appears and agrees and promises to follow Mahindra and give witness upon condtion that Mahindra should never turn back on his way home.

Throughout the journey back Mahindra keeps hearing the sound of the Lord’s anklets. But as they approached the sandy area near his village, the sound of the anklets were muffled and he couldn’t hear them. So, like Orpheus in the Greek myth, he turned back and there beheld the image of Lord Venugopal. He weeps at the feet of the Lord but to no avail. Luckily the villagers are overjoyed that the Lord had come thus far to stand witrness for his devotee. They ensure that Mahindra is married to Vasanthi and he is also made the first Pujari of the Temple.

It is also pertinent to note that there is a shrine for Sakshi Gopal within the precincts of the Puri Jagannath Mandir.

The first time I read about Sakshi Gopal was the Amar Chitra Katha story which is very neutral on locale and community. The ISKCON version places Mahindra’s village in South India and makes him a Brahmin. Actually visiting the temple was an experiential thing that I enjoyed.

While this delightful story adds charm to a visit to this quaint Krishna Templeat Sakshi Gopal in coastal Odisha between Puri and Bubaneshwar, it cannot be denied that the Pandas or pujaris who occupy the temple currently are a set of rogues and thieves. They create much nuisance for the unwary traveller. They force you to make an entry in a register as “evidence” (Sakshi – Got it?) of your visit. Once the entry is made they demand huge sums of money as dakshina and pester you throughout your visit thereby taking away the serene and divine ambience that is needed for devotion to the Lord of the Universe.

Another matter to be noted is that in all Odisha temple you will find some Shikaras are stone but others are plastered. This is because during Mughal period all the Temple statuary was hidden by plaster to protet them from vandals. Subsequently the Archeological Department has slowly removed the plaster and restored the stone and statuary as far as possible to their original splendor. But still the damage is tremendous and the general air of decay and dilapidation is saddening, especially at National Heritage spots like Konark and Lingharaj temple.

Decay and Dilapidation

Maha Kaala Bhairavashtami

Kala Bhairavar fully decorated

Today is Kalashtami or Maha Kalabhairavashtami. The eigth day after the Full Moon or the Eighth day of the Waning Moon in the month of Margsirsha. As it comes exactly in the middle of the fifteen days from the first day after the full moon to New Moon day, this Ashtami is also called Madhyashtami or the Centered Eighth Day. This day is sacred to a Hindu deity called Kaala Bhairavar. This deity is a personification of Shiva.

There are many stories about Bhairavar. Some say he came from the head of Brahma. But the more plausible tale is related thus in the Shiva Mahapuranam. Those were the ages when Brahma sported a fifth head atop his four. Steeped in arrogance Brahma remarked to Vishnu that he was the supreme  being superior even to Shiva. Angered by this Shiva manifested Kala Bhairava from between his eyebrows. Kaala Bhairava immediately proceeded to behead Brahma and removed the very head that had blasphemed Shiva. But in this process he became a sinner guilty of beheading a Brahmin. Brahma’s skull stuck to his hand. He had to wander everywhere before he got his reprieve.

Kala Bhairava is a resident of Kasipuri. He is also Kshetrapalaka and the keys of every Shiva temple are deposited in the Bhairava shrine at the close of the Rituals. 

Gopura Dharshanam Koti Punyam

These photos were taken during a recent visit to Tinneveli district.

Nelliyappar Thirunelveli

Sankarankovil

Tenkasi

Thiruchendur

Goats

Nagapattinam Diary IV

Kaaraikal Pulambal (Lament from Kaaraikal)

Left Nagapattinam for Karaikaal. Birthplace of Punithavati Ammaiyar a.k.a Karaikaal Ammaiyar. Yesterday they celebrate her marriage to Paramadattar  Chettiar. Today there is a Mango Festival (Mangani Thiruvizha) in Karaikaal. This is in memory of the miracle the lady performed by praying to Shiva and obtaining a divine mango.

Visited the temple of Kaaraikal Ammiyar. The idol was worth the wait in the queue. Beautifully decorated the divine lady is shown with arms cupped together seeking the divine mango from Lord Shiva.

The people of Nagai and environs like Thiruvarur and Karaikaal are outspoken to the point of rudeness. In fact they call themselves modumutti meaning reckless one. They are insensitive to the feelings of others and highly indisciplined. They ride roughshod over others and believe their forceful tone can get anything done.  But they are cowards at heart. As we stood in the queue patiently, many of the worthy citizens of Kaaraikal simply forced themselves in causing a congestion at the small door to the samctorum. This actually impeded people trying to come out and slowed the queue down. Repeated requests to join the queue bore some fruit and we passed into the sanctum sanctorum. May Karaikaal Ammaiyar make these people wise!

Nagapattinam Diary III

For a person who believes in Universal Brotherhood, Naagai has a great example.  All the three major religions of India are represented here.

In the evening I visited Velankanni. It was just a walk away as I stayed at VPN residency at Velankanni. 
It is a cluttered tourist spot; stuffy and hot. The shops cram every corner and shut out the view of the seahore which is a great beauty of Velankanni. 

Rear View of the Cathedral

 Naduthittu church where mother Mary appeared before lame buttermilk vendor boy

Nadduthittu Church

Nagapattinam Diary II

We next visited a series of shiva temples. The Navanitheswarar temple at Sikkal, the Agastheeswarar temple  and Kaayarogana swami temple at Naagai. We were informed that there are in all  twelve shiva templeas in Nagai.

The oldest amonst these is the Kaayarogan swami samedha Neelayadakshi temple.
Highlights:

• has the samaadhi of Aribadha Nayanar a Shivaite saint who was born in Naagai.
• Is one of the Sapthaidanga Shetram (Lit. Seven (holy) places) and has the famous Thyagaraja Swami idols. 

The temple also called Naagai Karonam in the Thirumurai is huge though not in the same league as Thiruvaroor or Chidambaram. 

Sikkal Temple

Kaayarogana Swamy Temple

Agastheeswarar Temple

Nagapattinam Diary - I

Some thoughts  I had and, of course photos taken during a recent visit to Nagapattinam district also known as Nagai.

Visited Nagoor dharga. This is the samaadhi of a muslim saint.

The Entrance to the Darga

The four minarets can be seen

The tower in front of the Darga

Comfort Zone

In Life Own Satisfaction is better than Success because Success is a measure decided by others, while satisfaction is a measure decided by us. 

Thought on this saying:

Can this also not result in complacency and indolence? Sometimes we need to use external benchmarks to evaluate whether we are at peak performance. 

Reliance on them absolutely and becoming frustrated on this account is the reason for stress and despair.

As, usual balance is the key!

Calamity creates Opportunity

14.06 2013

I am in Hydrabad to conduct a one-day public program on Excellence in Negotiation Skills. 

Red alert in Hyderabad. The Telengana rally has girdle-locked the Twin Cities. All main roads are blocked. Hyderabad is under quasi curfew. My Coordinator and I started very early and took a long and circuitous route through Panch Gutta and  Jubilee Hills to reach the Hotel Golconda in the Masab Tank area.

Weather looks like rain. Windy and cloudy with occasional showers. 

The Telengana crisis has made hotels and malls with glass fronts quite wary of stone throwing mobs. So huge nets have been erected shielding these road-fronted, glass-encased,buildings from a random Telengana stone.

The company that makes and sells these nets must have had a windfall out of this if not a tidy fortune!

Reclining Buddha

Reclining Buddha--View from behind the feet.

A different view showing head and the base of the feet. The fingerprints are clearly delineated by mother of pearl in lay work!!!

Picture Post Card View of Emerald Buddha Temple from Outside

The Grand Palace _ Bangkok

Grand Palace Outer View

I could take some beautiful shots of the Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple.

This complex consistes of three parts:
The Emerald Buddha Temple
The Middle Palace and
The Inner Palace.

No one is allowed inside the inner palace.

The Thais are highly ettiquette-driven. It is  not correct to enter a temple scantilly dressed. Our guide a stout tThai woman kept poking chinese girls who were in mini skirts or shorts and forcing them to wrap their sarongs. It is not seemly in Thailand to expose the upper ans lower torso. 

On the Banks of the Chao Phraya

Here I am...once more gazing out of my hotel window at the wide expanse of the Chao Phraya river flowing throgh the middle of Bangkok. I am here this time for a meeting with a client. The hotel is the Anantara Riverside Resort and Spa, a wonderful and huge property right on the banks of the river.

The entire place is alike a museum with carvings, sculptures and bas relief adorning the walls and corners. The elephant motif is pronounced.

Bangkok is the same old traffic loaded, ancient yet modern city. Every time I drive through Bangkok, I feel India could have achieved this long long ago. Till 1995 we were looking with awe towards Singapore, Kualalampur,and Bangkok as developed ultra modern cities. They were foren. We were Indian. Today any metrocity in India looks as modern as or better than cities like, for example, Bangkok. A drive through Bangkok today is no different fromn a drive through an urban sprawl like Gurgaon or OMR in Chennai. Bur in Indiua this modernization is still in pockets while here it is evenly spread. This is not to say that there are no poor underprivileged people. But here they seem to be contented with their lot and sincerely attempting  to do something.

We had dinner at a nice Indian restaurent called the Indian Cor
ner opposite to Maa Hotel. There are lot of north Indians here who are traders and businessmen. But there is no service oriented community as in Dubhai or Muscat.

Ooty Flowers

Managed a two-day break at Oootacamund en famille. These snaps were taken during a leisurely stroll through the Botanical Gardens. 

I liked this quotation engraved on a slab in the Rose Garden:

Roses for the Garden

Roses are a gift of price 
Sent to us from Paradise
More Divine our Nature grows
In the Eden of the Rose.

Roses, why for silver sell?
O, Rose merchant fairly tell
What you buy instead of those
That is costlier than the Rose

Kis I of Mreve

Unusual Vs. Not Usual

Another casual shot. As I came out of my house, I saw these EB workers using this contraption to fix a bulb on a street light. Thought it's not an usual sight though it may not be an unusual sight!

Dolie-Walas Relaxing

sabhari Malai Dolie Walas Relaxing

I  took this snap from my Nokia Lumia 920 mobile camera during my recent visit to Sabharimalai. After an exhausting descent from Neeli Malai, my son and I had almost reached the comforting shelter of Pamba Ganapathy Sheds. On the left sitting in the shade I saw these Dolie Walas with their dolies neatly stacked in a  row! Liked the frame-snapped it!

Nicholas Nickleby and Mahabharath

This is a 2002  movie adaptation of Charles Dicken’s third novel. Dickens is able to bring out the stark black and white images of ‘good” and “bad” in his novels. The Victorian idiom enables these “passion play” imagery.

Ralph Nickleby is the personification of evil or to use its Indian equivalent “adharma”. Nicholas Nickleby the honorable nephew is “good” or “dharma”. The story is essentially a tale of the triumph of good over evil.

As I was watching the movie, I could not help but speculate on the parallels between Nicholas Nickleby and the Mahabharath! Both are tales that describe the travils of dharma as it is put down continuously by evil. The pandavas are personified in Nicholas and Kate. The insults thsat Kate undergoes in Ralph’s house from his evil friends are similar to the famous scene where Draupadhi is dishonored in public in Duryodhana’;s court. Just as we have Vikarna and Vidhur who try to counsel evil, we have a friend of Ralph’s who not only advises Ralph and hios cronies to desist but also feels guilty for not having spoken up! We even have a “pair of Krishna equivalents” in the Cheerybyl brothers.

The comparison rose up naturally in my mind and there is no contrivance here. I think this only proves the essential fact that the fight between good and evil, the initial victory of the latter and the eventual triumph of the former are essential themes deeply embedded in the human consciousness so as to transcend cultures and continents. Of course, in the complicated world we have cocreated, there are no convenient pegs for hanging good and evil. Our times are more Elizabethean than Victorian! There is a lot of grey!

But, the real battle between the forces of dharma and adharma is happening outside but inside each one of us! Each one of us has a little bit of both Ralph and Nicholas in us. The battle within is the Kurukshetra. It is both a Dharmakshetra and Kurukshetra. It is Kurukshetra because we can’t transcend our own inner evil by inaction. It is only by action that we help dharma to emerge victorious.

Action is neither good nor bad. It is the coin of life. We exchange time for action. We accumulate karma with action! To stop acting is itself an action! “So, Act!” says Krishna. But, act within the framework of love and good. Any action that is prompted by a general desire for doing well by everyone including oneself and that is rooted in love and a sincere commitment not to harm others by thought, words or action is preferable over inaction.

We wonder why evilis victorious. We wonder whether good will triumph at all! Yet, the Lord has promised to return whenever there is a threat that good will be totally destroyed. How much more should evil win before the balance is irretrievably tilted and the cosmic force in irreversibly released in the final battle against evil?

But this is the revelation; the second coming and the Hope! Amen