ede tumbi hADidenu andu nAnu

As an young kid I could never appreciate the popular song "yede tumbi hADidenu andu nAnu" (I sang my heart out the other day). Now every line touches me deep within everytime I listen to it. The entire song is amazing. Every line resonates within, but these lines in particular are simply amazing:

"ella kELali yendu nAnu hADuvudilla, hAduvudu anivArya karmavenage. hADu hakkige bEke birudu sanmana" - I do not sing so that everyone listens. I sing because that is my obligation for myself, my nature. Is a singing bird in need of (or does it sing for) praises or rewards?

"hADuvenu maidumbi endinante" - I will sing my heart out like I always do, like any other day;
"yAru kivi muchidaru nanagilla chinthe"- even if others (whoever they are) close their ears, I have no worries.

Most people are stuck in a world where they do things for the world outside; people want to do things to impress others, whether it is in what they choose to study or what they buy or where they work or what they say. This is why most people are stressed out. They are tired and frustrated because of this "impression business", of this inner conflict - the conflict between what they want to do and what they are doing.

This song is an amazing opportunity to reflect on what you want to do with your life. This applies to me, to you and to everyone. Yes, there are a minority of individuals struck by misfortune who do not seem to have the freedom to choose, but even those who can consider themselves powerless.

When we are controlled by "others", we perceive "helplessness" and helplessness results in frustration. People talk about empowering others, but we need to empower ourselves before we thinking of others. As soon as one takes control of life, life is no more stressful. Stress happens when we go against the current, our own nature. This is why Krishna "working against one's own nature is fearful".

Dance as if there is no one around. Live as if this is the only life. If you are not pleased, there is little chance that you can please others in the long run. You may temporarily entertain others but will soon see yourself warring out. Watch for the self-talk, watch for what the you in you has to say. Follow your instincts and you will impress others without trying much more than when you try to. People see the vibes you bring when you have the integrity, when there is congruence and consistency. Find that yourself instead of asking others "how to". If you want to, you will find it out yourself.

This is what I tell myself, and if it appeals to you tell it to yourself. Have a happy life, because there is nothing more important than that in this material life.

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I write not because I want you to read it. I write not because I think it will change the world. I write not because I can "influence" someone in some way. I write not because I want to "impress" someone in some way. I write simply because the I in me wants to write. I write simply because I feel like writing. The day I do not feel, I will not. Till then I will write my heart out :)

ABCD of Upanishad

ABCs of Upanishads (Inspired by company names). Can we teach these to our kids. I will give it a try atleast ;)

A – Aitareya
B – BrihadaraNyaka
C – ChAndogya
D – DarshaNa
E – EkAkshara
F – Paingala
G – Gopala Tapaniya
H – Hamsa
I – Isavasya
J – Jabala
K – Katha / KEna,
L –  
M – Mandukya
N – NirAlamba
O – 
P – Prasna
Q – 
R – Rudra Hridaya
S – Svetasvatara
T – Taittariya
U - 
V – Vasudeva
W – Waraha
Y – Yājñavalkya

Z – 
We may not have direct ones for L, O, Q, and U. 'F' for Paingala is also not perfect. 

Speak IN Samskrit, ABOUT Samskrit

The attempt here is not to be comprehensive but cover the most basic of words that we use on a daily basis. [In fact, I am typing this while I wait for my flight, which will start boarding soon]. It is intentionally kept short so as to make it easier for people to use them as a quick reference (and also because I need to rush).

Samskrita BhArati has many books to make conversation easier. Below is a quick and good introduction from one of the many Samskrita Bhaarati books (not verbatim though).

Samskrita, the Divine Language

By acknowledging that Samskritam (or samskrita or sanskrit) is a soft spoken, magnificent language, divine and superior to others, ancient in origin, embedded in our very culture, people have many a time and oft shown their appreciation for its unique charm. However, Samskritam cannot be promoted by mere appreciation. It is only when we talk in Samskritam, use it in our day-to-day dealings, that Samskritam can make progress and continue to survive.

As long as intellects exist, as long as samskriti (culture) exists, as long as spiritual curiosity / quest exists, samskritam will also exist, because it lives in the hearts and minds of a few who are prepared to do anything to keep it beating. 

In the past, irrespective of class, creed, religion or sects we used to converse in Samskrit, contrary to those who claim that it was the language of the academics or of one particular class.

Samskrit, like any other language, can be learnt and studied by repeatedly hearing and speaking, by aural means alone, by oral practice alonem, i.e. even without reading any book, without grammatical rules. So, one MUST talk in Samskrit.

Hence speak IN Samskrit as much as ABOUT Samskrit.

If one inquires “Where should we speak in Samskrit”, the answer is – in school, in classrooms, at home, with friends, in a factory, on road, in market, everywhere, in whatever capacity one can. You can speak in playgrounds, dining tables, in transit, on phone. Talk in Samskrit with students, with children, with servants, with the vegetable vendor, with the milkman. It can be spoken irrespective of caste, creed, class, religion.

So the best method to learn Samskrit is to speak in Samskrit. Here are a few basic phrases that we use frequently. Samskrit is within you, so the more you use it more it reveals itself from within.

Hence speak IN Samskrit not just ABOUT Samskrit.

The most basic words:

English	Samskrit
Me, I	AhaM
YOU	Tvaṁ bhavaan – men, bhavati – women
He She	aah saa
WE	vayaM
YOU (Plural)	yooyam
THEY	te
WHO	kah – men, kaa – women,
WHEN	kadA
WHERE	kutra
HOW	kathAm
WHY	kimartham
WHAT – will discuss later
MINE	mama
YOUR	tava bhavataH – men, bhavatyaah – women
TRY, ATTEMPT	prayatnam
TELL	vada
Water	jalaM
COME	aagacchatu
Sit	upavishatu
enough	paryaaptam

The basic phrases:

English	Samskrit
Hello	namaste / namaskaarah / hari Om
Good Day	shubha dinam
Good Evening	shubha saayam
Good Night	shubha raatri
Good Luck	Shubham astu
Please	krupayaa
Excuse me / Pardon Me / Sorry	kshamyataam / krupayaa kshamyataam
Thank You	dhanyavaadah
Welcome	swaagatam
Don’t worry	chintaa maastu
All right	saadhu, astu
Good	saadhu / samyak
Very good	utthamam / shobhanam
Excellent	bahu Utthamam
HOW ARE YOU? Are you doing good?	bhavaan (bhavati for women) katham asti? bhavaan khushalam vaa?
I am good	ahaM khushalam asmi
Where are You?	tvaṁ kutra asi ?
Madam	manye / mahodayA
Sir	mahodaya / Sreemaan
Please Come	aagacchatu
Lets go	gacchaamah
See you later / Meet you again / see you soon	punar milaamah
A little	swalpam
Please be seated	upavishatu
Atah kim?	What else?
.. am going to          I am going to office          I am going for lunch          I am going to a shop          I am going to school          I am going to the temple	gacchaami         kaaryaalayam gacchaami         bhojanaartham gacchaami         aapaNam gacchaami         shaalaam gacchaami         dEvaalayam gacchaami
…. you are going to       [you] are going to office	tvaṁ gacchasi Tvaṁ kaaryaalam gacchasi
.. he is going to     He is going to the temple	sah dEvaalayam gacchati (he is going ….)
May you … (order / request)    May you go (or simply ‘go to’) the temple	tvaṁ  …. gaccha  tvaṁ dEvaalayam gacCha
May he …. (order / request)    May he (or let him) go to the temple	sah … gacChatu sah dEvaalayam gacChatu
I do not know	ahaM na jaanaami
You do not know	tvaṁ na jaanasi bhavaan (men) na jaanati bhavaati (women) na jaanati
Have some food	bhOjanam karotu … bhojanam sveekarotu
Have some tea	chaayaM pibatu …
Will you have some tea?	chaayaM pibati kim?
Will you have some water?	jalaM pibati kim? jalaM avashyakaM kim?
Food is very tasty / relishing	bhojanam bahu swaadishtam asti* * aaseet for “was”

Vedic Insight: Speed of Light

Even though I have not verified the authenticity of this writing, the description is in itself interesting. Taken from a FB post.

Speed of light in Rigveda ::
Ancient Vedic science “Nimisharda” is a phrase used in Indian languages of Sanskrit origin while referring to something that happens/moves instantly, similar to the ‘blink of an eye’. Nimisharda means half of a Nimesa, (Ardha is half).

In Sanskrit ‘Nimisha’ means ‘blink of an eye’ and Nimisharda implies within the blink of an eye. This phrase is commonly used to refer to instantaneous events.

Below is the mathematical calculations of a research done by S S De and P V Vartak on the speed of light calculated using the Rigvedic hymns and commentaries on them.

The fourth verse of the Rigvedic hymn 1:50 (50th hymn in book 1 of rigveda) is as follows:
तरणिर्विश्वदर्शतो जयोतिष्क्र्दसि सूर्य | विश्वमा भासिरोचनम |
taraNir vishvadarshato jyotishkrdasi surya | vishvamaa bhaasirochanam ||

which means:
“Swift and all beautiful art thou, O Surya (Surya=Sun), maker of the light, Illumining all the radiant realm.”

Commenting on this verse in his Rigvedic commentary, Sayana who was a minister in the court of Bukka of the great Vijayanagar Empire of Karnataka in South India (in early 14th century) says:
" tatha ca smaryate yojananam. sahasre dve dve sate dve ca yojane ekena nimishardhena kramaman." which means “It is remembered here that Sun (light) traverses 2,202 yojanas in half a nimisha”
NOTE: Nimisharda= half of a nimisha.

In the vedas Yojana is a unit of distance and Nimisha is a unit of time.
Unit of Time: Nimesa.
The Moksha dharma parva of Shanti Parva in Mahabharata describes Nimisha as follows: 15 Nimisha = 1 Kastha.

30 Kashta = 1 Kala,
30.3 Kala = 1 Muhurta,
30 Muhurtas = 1 Diva-Ratri (Day-Night),
We know Day-Night is 24 hours So we get 24 hours = 30 x 30.3 x 30 x 15 nimisha, in other words 409050 nimisha.

We know 1 hour = 60 x 60 = 3600 seconds.
So 24 hours = 24 x 3600 seconds = 409050 nimisha.
409050 nimesa = 86,400 seconds,
1 nimesa = 0.2112 seconds (This is a recursive decimal! Wink of an eye=.2112 seconds!).
1/2 nimesa = 0.1056 seconds.

Unit of Distance:
Yojana Yojana is defined in Chapter 6 of Book 1 of the ancient vedic text “Vishnu Purana” as follows:-
10 ParamAnus = 1 Parasúkshma,
10 Parasúkshmas = 1 Trasarenu,
10 Trasarenus = 1 Mahírajas (particle of dust),
10 Mahírajas= 1 Bálágra (hair’s point),
10 Bálágra = 1 Likhsha,
10 Likhsha= 1 Yuka,
10 Yukas = 1 Yavodara (heart of barley),
10 Yavodaras = 1 Yava (barley grain of middle size),
10 Yava = 1 Angula (1.89 cm or approx 3/4 inch),
6 fingers = 1 Pada (the breadth of it),
2 Padas = 1 Vitasti (span),
2 Vitasti = 1 Hasta (cubit),
4 Hastas = a Dhanu,
1 Danda, or paurusa (a man’s height),
or 2 Nárikás = 6 feet,
2000 Dhanus = 1 Gavyuti (distance to which a cow’s call or lowing can be heard) = 12000 feet 4 Gavyutis = 1 Yojana = 9.09 miles

Calculation: So now we can calculate what is the value of the speed of light in modern units based on the value given as 2202 Yojanas in 1/2 Nimesa = 2202 x 9.09 miles per 0.1056 seconds = 20016.18 miles per 0.1056 seconds = 189547 miles per second !!

As per the modern science speed of light is 186000 miles per second ! And so I without the slightest doubt attribute the slight difference between the two values to our error in accurately translating from Vedic units to SI/CGS units. Note that we have approximated 1 Angula as exactly 3/4 inch. While the approximation is true, the Angula is not exactly 3/4 inch.

 — with Surya Kumar.

'Thoughts' that ought to be thought!

Some random thoughts and quotes recorded here as a journal :)

• Think for a moment and you have Thought For the Day! 
• Many a times we do not even have a minute to 'think', because we are not sure what is there to 'think' about. Many a times thinking happens in not thinking too much, in those moments of silence of being with the self. 

• What do you do when nothing works? Do nothing. 

• Best thing to do when feeling down is to sit up straight and bounce back into action!
• We are 'momentum beings'. If one is feeling down and lets that feeling persist, it only gets worse. One way to break the momentum is to do the exact opposite to what seems natural, but many times the obvious is the most difficult thing to do.

• One in the crowd is worth none on its own!
• Most people do what is in trend (the "in thing") and thus lose their identity in their attempts to do what the society expects of them. This does not mean that one should be anti-social but we have the right and the ability to live up to what we are. This is not easy but nothing significant is achieved by being in one's comfort zone, so be prepared to stand out, be the odd ball. You could be hit around but that will give one the experience to excel. 

• Think Strong Feel Powerful!
• Mind and body are non-different. How we think is what we will be. 

• Passion without Strategy is like a car without the steering .... and, life is not a straight road :)
• I am not sure if I've heard this somewhere or this is my own statement (I feel this is my own). It is a profound thought, irrespective. 
• Most people lack passion, and those who seem to have passion lack strategy. One may have it in him/her to pursue the inner call but the lack strategy may soon drain the passion out. So, one may have the passion but one also needs the direction and a plan to get where he/she wants to be, because life is not a simple straight highway. It has turns and twists that make it exciting. 

• Life is like a hodgepodge puzzle with so many dots that are waiting to be connected, and the meaning to life emerges in the process.

• 'Whatever Happens, Happens for a reason' could be a cliche but there is more meaning to it than just the words. I take a few great examples from the Indian Movie Industry:
• Dr. Rajkumar becomes a singer by "chance", because PB Srinivas was not available. That one song adds new dimensions to the career of a legend. 
• SRK was supposedly the Original Choice for Munnabhai roles! Now, we know, no one could have fit into that role other than Sanjay Dutt. 
• Satrughan Sinha was the first choice for the roles played by Amitabh Bhacchan in Sholay and Zanjeer.
• Danny Denzongpa was supposedly the original choice for Gabbhar Singh
• Can one imagine Dr. Rajkumar not singing? Sanjay not being the Munnabhai, anyone other than AB in Zanjeer or Sholay? anyone other than Amjad Khan being Gabbhar Singh?

• Are we not fortunate that things do not happen as they were supposed to but then the outcome is the best it could have been.

• We never know why you meet people in your life, but I have enough evidence to believe that there is always a reason why events happen. 
• I helped a lady find a job, purely by chance, and am now happily married to her purely by choice :)
• I returned to India, due to an accident in Canada, only to reconnect with people that I had not even hoped to meet; now I am too glad to be associated with them, that changed the direction of my life
• I did a workshop for some children because I had nothing else to at that time, and now that is a big part of what I am doing and what I will continue to do for the rest of my life :)
• I stayed with a gentleman in Singapore but lost connection for years in the middle, now I am back working with him on few of the best projects in my life :)

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Realizations of a Married Man (for fun only though ;) ): 

Live Wire can kill you in a moment
Live Wife may take a while
but the end result is the same.

Wile is a trick to mislead, so is a Wife.

Wife like Wine rots with time but one gets better the other gets worse...

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Wide* and wife differ by a letter both are part of the game, equally out of reach.

*Wide, in cricket a delivery that cannot be played!

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We didn't choose our parents, we have the best. We didn't choose our schools but we have the greatest memories. Then we chose our wives, wish we had not :D :P ;)

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ಲಜ್ಜೆ ಬೇಡ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಇಡಲು ಎಷ್ಟೆ ಕಷ್ಟವಿದ್ದರು
ಸಾಗು ಮುಂದೆ ಹಿಂದೆ ಬೇಡ ನಷ್ಟ ಎಷ್ಟೆ ಇದ್ದರು.

ಇಂದೆ ಬಾಳು, ಮುಂದೆ ಬಾಳು ಹಳೆಯದೆಲ್ಲ ಹಳಸಲು
ಹಳಸ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಹೊಸದ ಕಟ್ಟು ಬಾಳ ಉಳಿಸಿ ಬೆಳಸಲು.

ಹಿಂದೆ ಅಯಿತೆಷ್ಟೊ ತಪ್ಪು, ತಪ್ಪು ಸಹಜ ಮನುಜಗೆ
ತಪ್ಪಿನಿಂದ ದಾಟಿ ನಿಂತು ಇರಲಿ ಎಂದು ಗೆಲು ನಗೆ.

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ಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರನ್ನಾದರೂ ನೋಡಬಹುದೇನೊ,
ಜೊತೆಯಲಿ ಪಳಗಲು ಒಂದೆರಡು ದಿನಬೇಕೇನೊ,
ಇಚ್ಚಿಸಿ ಪ್ರೀತಿಸಲು, ಪ್ರೇಮಿಸಲು ವರ್ಷಗಳೇ ಕಳೆಯಿತೇನೊ,
ಆದರೆ ಮರೆಯಲು ಒಂದು ಇಡೀ ಜೀವನವೇ ಕಮ್ಮಿಯೇನೊ!

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