Yosemite - An Ode

After a lot of deliberation, I finally made up my mind late last month. To visit Yosemite.

Yes, I have plans of visiting the famous Yosemite National Park over the coming weekend - and I'm looking forward to it, because it is a trip I'm doing for myself. An opportunity to spend some quiet time in the lap of nature! All by myself, with myself, and for myself...

This National Park is one of the tourist attractions in the Eastern Central region of the state of California.

Yosemite is visited by over 3.5 million people each year, many of whom only spend time in the seven square miles of the Yosemite Valley. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves, and biological diversity. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness. Although not the first designated national park, Yosemite was a focal point in the development of the national park idea, largely owing to the work of people like John Muir.

I have always felt a sense of tranquility and exhilaration on all my previous trips here. I have very special memories of the place, and have heard ecstatic reviews of it's beauty from people who worship it, and have designated it as their hideaway.

But, this trip is very special and close to my heart - I want to go back to Mother Nature - go back and feel how tiny and atomic I really am. I want to go back and touch a place that is so special to so many I know. I want to be in awe at the grandeur of nature. I want to be one with the forces of nature...nothing comes close to this feeling.

I want to do this for all the right reasons...

All beautiful things I feel are associated with music, and specifically a song equally beautiful - would like to share one of those songs that evokes a million vibes...enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfK4gNVsTOM&feature=related

Life is too short to run away from feelings and emotions - running away from them would be a lie to yourself and to the world...live them, and they will let you live with them...

Relationships On the Fly!

On my recent visit to India and on my first visit to the 'bazaar' on one hot summer afternoon with my MIL - I realized something that amused me, and I also learnt something fantastic...

It was mid March, and I along with my MIL set out to buy some stuff that I could bring back home here. The rows and rows of shops on either sides of the street with their dazzling collection of bright colored clothes, had my eyes popping within minutes!

The colors/dyes used as it is for the clothes in the state of Rajasthan are vibrant, and bold - the yellows, the oranges, blues, and fluorescent green. Very spirited. A hue for every woman!

With my head reeling both from the heat and the wide range of choices, we decided to enter one of the shops that was selling kids clothes. I sat down on one of the mattresses covered with white bedsheets - the water cooler was running full blast. The heat was something.

Right then, a little boy ran over to us with two bottles of mineral water, cool and nice. Phew! What a relief!

He was about 10-12 years of age. He had a wide grin on his face and an eagereness to please the shop's customers. He had a small round face, arms and legs - thin,wiry. He had shiny skin. Shiny from the oil on his head dripping all over his face, and also from the sweat! He wore an undershirt, and a pair of worn out shorts.

An instant feeling of tenderness swept over me. Wish he could afford better clothes I thought. But, he was oblivious to everything around him - he seemed so happy, energetic, and full of life. He seemed to be living it up - totally! The confidence and the look on his face seemed to say "I own everything!" His arrogance was adorable and fantastic! You couldn't touch his ego...

Even in the heat, I noticed that he wasn't wearing any shoes - didn't his little feet burn on the melting coal tar road? There were visible blisters - maybe his mother rubbed some oil and kissed them every night. Maybe she didn't even notice, since she could have been doing her best to feed the hungry mouths first. Who knows what his story was. I smiled at him and took the bottles, and said "Thank You". He bent low, and said "You welcome Didi". The smile dazzled!

Wow! what did I just hear? He called me "Didi" which literally translated means an older sister in Hindi. I liked the lilt, and the affection in his voice. We were related - right at that instant!

I asked him what his name was, and before he could answer, the shopkeeper shouted in a loud voice "Chotu, run now. You don't have the whole day to serve water. Get me the clothes from the tailor and pick up my son from the school in the next hour"

Chotu, looked at me and smiled a guilty smile - and said "bye bye Didi" and ran away not waiting for a response! He didn't care after that...

A relationship formed in an instant and gone the next!

Life at the counter continued...the shopkeeper started piling mountains of clothes before us. I loved all of them - but, can't afford to buy them all! My little doll would look pretty in most of them, but how would I carry them all :-) My MIL lovingly coaxed me to pick at least a few for her grandchild, defending why I needed one of every kind.

The bright yellow - that was it! I love the bright colors - full of life. Maybe a poor compliment and supplement at the same time to my own life! I never tire of making fun of the blandness of what I or my life lack - me, my own enemy :-)

As I picked the yellow dress, the shopkeeper gave a victorious shout in his bawling voice "Didi, that's beautiful! You must have it Didi. It will look great!"

What did I hear? He called me "Didi" too? Hmmm...he was in his mid Fifties, and did I grow into the role of his big sister too? In 10 minutes?

He seemed genuinely happy at my choice, and pushed me to buy the Red, along with the Orange one! His affectionate prodding, his celebratory smiles, and compliments on my choices amused me no end...of course I was his Didi, so why not? :-)

The story went on....I turned to being an aunt, a sister, a mother, a friend and what not to people I met during the course of my journey. A vegetable vendor, a shoe shine boy, a super-market assistant, a bank teller, a neighbour...and a million others.

But, what touched me most about this system of forming relationships in a matter of minutes with people you never even met before was - the simplicity, the openness, the humility, and the affection. It is so easy to sit in your high seat and treat people all around you like dirt, no matter who you are. But it is that much more difficult to establish a bond and relate to the other person.

It is not about people who belong to a lower social status or anything - I saw it at all levels of the society. I think it is about having the humility, and making the effort to swallow your ego. It is about taking that step forward to bond with whoever it is - big or small. You give a part of yourself everytime you make that connection, and that is exactly the reason why it is difficult. But, it maybe worth it!

A fake relationship even at it's face value, made that 5 minutes with the person so very pleasant. You felt as if the other person was equally interested/involved in making the best things happen to you too, in terms of a good price, good choice, whatever - though it was he himself selling you the goods! Isn't it smart and a good business tactic too?

I found it very interesting and amusing to be a distant spectator to this game that required a very specialized skill - to be able to make relationships on the fly!

My Kind Of Day - Complete With A Song!

The heater running on a Memorial Day weekend seemed like a joke to me over this long weekend..

Cooking some good food, spending time with good friends, and helping the little one ride a bike, were my accomplishments...what was yours ?

The best part yet was, sharing a bowl of oatmeal with my hubby (well, was a little bland for my taste, without the sugar)....wow! but took me back in time...put the smile back on :-)

Far removed from the daily rat race..

In the face of relaxed times, I always laugh to myself when I think of what would be a good blessing to give to anyone?

Be happy? - maybe
May you have all the riches? - No, not worth it
May you have all the love - isn't a reality, so why bother
May you have many children - that's expensive and a lot of work!
May you be the luckiest - as in what?

Always confuses me - I better get ready though. With me growing older, people are going to start touching my feet very soon - like they do to elders, in all the Indian customs.

My kind of a blessing would be - May you have the satisfaction of waking up early, watching the Sun rise, having a strong cup of filter coffee, and see your child wake up! I think that would be something!

Speaking of children, I had the most hilarious conversation with my five and a half year old over this weekend - she is now trying to act like a big girl, and recently has heard of the concept of death. So, while she and me were walking the aisles of a super market, she says "Mumma, will you also die one day?". I said matter of factly "Of course, baby - everyone does". So she says "Mumma, but you know what? I'll give you a BIG party just before you die - so you have sooo much fun! I'll invite all your friends, and have ice-cream, cake, fruit punch, potato chips and fruit too!. won't you love it Mumma?" Then, she has this smile on - waiting for me to jump and squeal at the offer!

I almost choked on my coffee - now, do you call this innocence or what? She almost sold me a deal to die (for!)...children I tell you - they are something to die for!

Rummaging through my old stack of CDs, I came across an all time favorite - check it out (Song: Jab Koi Baat bigad Jaye from the movie Jurm)! This clipping is enacted by actors of the famous serial "Kuch Is Tarah"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r820tjF0Gp8

Have a great day and a good cup of coffee!

Thoughts Of You!

I re-dedicate this poem after all these years it has been written, to that little something that keeps me going...

I dedicate this with every ounce of truth within my being - pure and strong...

Thoughts Of You !

The golden rays of the morning sun,
The sounds of the chirping birds,
The dew on the grass blades,
The blossom of the flowers,
The gurgling of the stream,
The cool, moist grass on the river bank,
The setting sun in the sky,
The sound of the faraway church bells,
The crescent moon shyly coming up in the sky,
The silent language of the twinkling stars,
The powerful surging of the seas,
The mild cool breeze,
The gentle sway of the palm trees,
The sweet fragrance of the jasmine flowers,
The distant music that fills my ears,
The beauty of a child's laughter,
The purity of a mother's love,
The brilliance of moonlight,
And all that's so pure & untainted,
so true and untouched,
Everything makes me think of nothing else but you - my you

Salutations to the Sun God!

Kowsalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravarthathe
Uthishta narasardoola karthavyam daivamahnikam ...

Growing up, I always woke up every morning to this melodious recital by M.S.Subbalakshmi.The fragrance of the coffee wafting from the kitchen, somehow seemed to tie-up with my mom's appearance in front of me, with a smile on her face. The rising Sun, the sight of Mumma clad in a simple, soft cotton saree, and her forehead adorned with a red 'Bindi' was my perfect start to any day!
Just those sights and sounds are so strongly etched in my memory - that even to this day, they make me nostalgic whenever I smell the morning coffee or hear to the above Shloka...

As the mercury levels rise, the activity around me seems to increase too...there is happiness around - children screaming, laughing, splashing water in the parks, people walking, biking, running - they all of a sudden seem to be charged with life - sunshine smiles all around!

Our lives appear to be so intricately wound with that of the Sun God!
Our sleep, day/night, sleep/fatigue, even our moods...everything is so very much linked to him!

In the Hindu mythology, he is worshipped as one of the 'Navagrahas' (Nine Planets literally). They are considered in all Hindu traditions as important steps towards creation of life on the earth.

Many other mythologies like Greek, Egyptian etc. recognize the Sun as a celestial being and refer to him as one of the Gods.

In the Hindu mythology, he is refered by various names- Surya, Adithya, Ravi, Bhanu etc.

Beeja Mantram

OM, Hram, Hreem, Hroum, Sah, suryaya namah |

This mantra they say is to be recited six thousand times to propitiate Surya Bhagavan and to obtain his blessings on every Sunday in the morning by those who are suffering from all bodily ailments to get rid of them.


Further, Lord Surya (Sun God) is said to have Seven rays :

These are 1. Susumna 2. Suradana 3. Udanvasu 4. Visvakarma 5. Udavasu 6. Visvavyaca 7. Harikesa

“Susumna”: This is equivalent to the brightness of thousand rays. This ray with this name make Candra (Moon) the most beautiful one.

“Surandana” : The moon has originated from this ray. Even the rays of are only the rays of Surya (Sun) alone.

“Udannvasu” : From this the Kuja graha (planet) is originated. This ray of Surya will protect the living being from the defects of blood, and gives them health, brilliance and wealth.

“Visva karma” : This constructs the Budhagraha (planet). This ray will remove the mental agitations of the people and grants all auspiciousness and peace.

“Udavasu” : This ray constructs Bruhaspati planet. This planet grants pleasures and liberation to all living beings. By worshipping this planet all hurdles, obstructions, opposition will be removed and success is achieved.

“Visva vyaca” : From this ray Sukra and Sani have originated. Among them sukra is responsible for Virya (sperm) Sukra is incharge of humans procreation and also his ray brings death. Hence by worshipping this ray one will get complete longevity.

“Harikesa” : Due to this ray, all Stars (Nakshatras) are born. These come to be known as Nashatra because they are protecting the human bodies from the loss of strength, virya, and teja.

Whether worshipped as a God or not, he seems to be a force of nature that breathes the very life! My salutations to the mighty Sun....

Have a great summer!