ATHIRATHRAM

Bird (Garuda) Shaped Altar

It was a bright morning today. Everything was happening as it was supposed to happen, but still I was feeling a headache. I had a bad dream yesterday night. Only thing I could recollect from it was fire. I have no idea why I’m trying too much to remember that dream. I’ve found no luck till now, but that has resulted in my headache. It was a regular day in office till I just walked past my colleague who was in her notice period. She was reading something and I casually asked about it. She was so pumped up and told me she was reading about Athirathram, one among 7 somayagam (Starts with fire and ends with fire). She told me that it is again happening in Panjal, a small village in Kerala. She told that last time it happened in 1975 at the same place and this place was selected again due to its perfect geographical location. Athirathram is for universe peace. There are only two people in Namboodiri Brahmins community who knows how to perform this ritual. Both of them are aged more than 75. She was giving me more and more details like that, but some how I couldn’t give much ear to her. I have an aggregated headache now, I could see fire all around, I was sweating, I felt like a very bright flash of light getting into my eyes. I almost lost consciousness and some how I found a chair nearby and sat there. I had some water and I’m feeling good now. I just have no idea what was wrong with me, but I was visualizing something and I could correlate the same with the dream I was trying to memorize. I’m still sweating and decided to take a half day off and go home. Once I reached home first thing I did was switch on my laptop and read more about Athirathram.

I knew, Athirathram had something to do with my dream. I never believed in re-birth or something like that. I read a lot about Athirathram to be conducted in Panjal (April 4^th-15^th 2011). Did I read too much about it and fell asleep? I might be, that is why I’m visualizing the same dream again. Yes! this is the same old man whom I saw in my dream last night. Oh! God this man is talking to me. If I’m not dreaming, then I’m living my dream. I suddenly felt fire all around my flat and I closed my eyes and opened it, in order to prove myself that I’m not in a dream. I may not be in a dream but there is an Old man standing next to me just wearing a white dhoti. What is this man who speaks Malayalam doing in my Mumbai Flat? He told me that, he had a story to be told to the world. Ok fine, then why are you here? Go call a press conference and talk to them and for God’s sake get out of my apartment. My shouting had done no good. He just sat besides my bed; he told me to be relaxed and will go away once he was done with his story. I just looked at this man. He was leaner than Gandhiji. Kareena would have envied him for his size zero. He was in his 70s and his white hair was neatly oiled and combed. I didn’t know why I was doing, I offered him a drink and he just told me to be seated and just listen to his story. Every word that came out of him was so expressive and I just could visualize what he was speaking. Story expressed in his words.

My name is Shivshankaran and this is the story that changed my life or destroyed my life. This incident happened in 1975. I was working in Mumbai then. When I heard Athirathram is happening in my home town and this time it will be filmed and studied by scientists all over the world. I was so excited and wanted to study how it rained in the end. I was sure that Rain in Kerala that too in April is never happening. I interrupted him and asked why are you telling me all these things, he only answered that our frequencies match. He told me that that he tried doing the same yesterday night when I was asleep and didn’t work the way it was supposed to happen. I was in my thoughts, which mean this old man was in my room yesterday and was talking to me and I was not dreaming about it. He asked me not to interrupt and listen to him and ask my doubts in the end. He continued his story.

When I reached my home town to volunteer for the function I was so excited and happy to get this chance. After working for entire night for preparing the bird shaped Altar for the Yaga, I took a shortcut to my home to catch some sleep. I had to walk by a haunted house before I reach my home and I saw some light and heard some one talking inside. I decided to decode what was happening there and slowly moved towards the house and put my ears over the gap between the window panes. It was surprising to know that it was a team of scientists planning for an artificial rain to promote the Yaga. They just wanted to prove their point of coming here from their respective countries spending lot of money. I couldn’t digest the fact that these bustards are here for the sake of science and have no belief in our rituals and is planning something like this. I just broke open the door and went inside and kicked the table in which they have kept their drinks and was discussing. That was the last time my memory was stable, I felt as if something hard hitting back of my head. I fell down and lost consciousness. When I got back my consciousness, I was in a lab like setup tied to a pillar. I saw few white guys busy in some scientific experiments. The fumes of chemical experiments were getting deep into my nose. I tried hard to get myself free and may be God was in my side, I was successful in getting my left hand free. I just checked the date in my newly bought watch. Oh God I was laying in this state for last 3 days and the Ahirathram has already reached its third day. Suddenly I saw a man standing in front of me with a syringe and he just injected some drug into me. I again lost my consciousness. They gave me food and I was their prisoner for next few days. I cried shouted and tried all my luck to get out of this house or get some help. It looked as if my fate was already sealed and nothing went my way.

I wanted to stop these people from creating artificial rain. It was the D-day when all were ready to do their experiment and create an artificial rain. I got some consciousness and to my surprise I couldn’t see anyone in the lab. I tried to extend my legs as much as I can and I started kicking a table nearby. This helped me to break some test tubes and beakers and it has created a fire with some unknown chemical reaction. Slowly and suddenly the entire room was in fire. I was going to die here burning, but I was happy I derailed the plan of artificial rain. I tried hard and some how managed to get my hands free. I scrolled out of the house just before the house collapsed and was completely eaten up by fire. That was the 12^th day (last day) of Athirathra and I could see smoke going up the sky as the result of burning the Yagasala to mark the end of the ritual. I was lying down unable to move and saw an eagle with white ring around its neck flying over the fire. It was a clear sky. I was successful in derailing the project for artificial rain, but what will happen to the belief of the fellow citizen who was expecting down pour. The sky was so clear that for next one month it is not going to rain. It was paining too much and I tried to stand up and suddenly I felt darkness all over. What is happening where did these dark clouds come from? It started raining like rainy season. I just lay down there and enjoyed every bit of the rain. I tried to keep my eyes open but I couldn’t.

I just couldn’t believe any of this what this old man just told me. I stood up and started making tea for us. Now what do you want me to do? He smiled and told me it was 35 years back now it’s your turn, come to Panjal in April 2011. What the Fuck? I just turned around and couldn’t believe myself. There was no one around and I was all standing alone in my kitchen. I was speechless and couldn’t wait till April and I booked next flight to Cochin and reached panjal which was 110 Km away from the Airport. With the little details I had, I zeroed down on Shivsankaran’s house. When I reached there, his daughter welcomed me in and offered me coffee. Her husband asked me why I wanted to meet his father-in-law. I had no answers and just told that he was my grand father’s friend. Even though he was not convinced he took me inside his house. He led to a room where there was a bed-ridden old man. This is the same man who was talking to me in Mumbai few hours back. His daughter told me, he was bedridden after a fire accident 35 years back. He is in coma and cannot talk. Doctors say he can understand what we speak and he can only move his eye lids.

I had no idea what was happening and what did he mean by matching frequencies. Was he talking to me through telepathy or was it just a dream and a mere coincidence? I have no answers to these questions and would have to wait till April 2011 till I get some clue.

Facts About Athirathram

I started collecting details about athirathram and I have just collated the details which can be used for your reference. They say if you copy from one it is Plagiarism, but mine is called research as I’ve copied from many.

The most important concept of human race, when it all started was Hunger. That hunger for food developed mind in human race. Then it became life and words. Explosion of words became the universe. Vedas are written with the letters of this cycle of events which contribute the creation of life. Vedas are the science of Nature and source of Dharma. The God who lives in us will know the effect of veda recitation. The one who knows this will have no difference between me and the one who is not me. With these precise Mandra’s perfected voice we present the offerings to Agni which we have woken up to perfection, these will energise the veins of nature. Mahershis found out this and named it Yaga. Athirathram is one among the 7 somayagam. Some hidden stars have made this place so perfect for the yaga, Suka Maharshi (Suka Jathi Sthri), the son on Vyasa have meditated in this very place. Thus Panjal has and will witness many more maha yagas like this.

Wikipedia suggests the following explanation about Athirathram.

The Atiratra Agnicayana (ati-rātrá agní-cayana)( "the building up of the fireplace performed over-night") or Athirathram (Malayalam: അതിരാത്രം); the piling of the altar of Agni is a Śrauta ritual of the Vedic religion, the predecessor of modern day Hinduism which is considered to be the greatest ritual as per the Vedic ritual hierarchy. It is also the world's oldest surviving ritual. Its mantras and theological explanations in the Brahmana texts are first attested in the Yajurveda Samhitas (Taittiriya, Kathaka; Vajasaneyi). The practice of this ritual was generally discontinued among Brahmins by the late Vedic period, during the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in India. Nevertheless, a continuous, unbroken 3,000 year tradition has been found to exist among a few Nambudiri Brahmin families in Kerala, South India.

The entire ritual takes twelve days to perform, in the course of which a great bird-shaped altar, the uttaravedi "northern altar" is built out of 10,800 bricks. The liturgical text is in chapters 11 to 18 of the White Yajurveda; the corresponding exposition of the ritual is in Books 6 to 9 of the Shatapatha Brahmana. The original essence and purpose of the ritual is not correctly known. But, the immediate practical purpose of the Agnicayana is to build up for the sacrificer an immortal body that is permanently beyond the reach of the transitoriness, suffering, and death that, according to this rite, characterize man's mortal existence.

The ritual emerged from predecessor rituals, which were incorporated as building blocks, around the 10th century BC, and was likely continuously practiced until the late Vedic period, or the 6th century BC. In post-Vedic times, there were various revivals of the practice, under the Gupta Empire in the north (ca. 4th to 6th century), and under the Chola Empire in the south (ca. 9th century), but by the 11th century, the practice was held to have been discontinued; except for the Nambudiris of Kerala.

To observe the ritual, goat sacrifice is essential. Since, animal sacrifice is frowned upon by the Hindu society since the end of Vedic age and is a punishable offense in modern India. All documented Agnicayanas have been performed without this and may be deemed incomplete.

In 1975 Indologist Frits Staal documented in great detail the performance of an Agnicayana conducted performed by Nambudiri Brahmins according to Samaveda tradition at Panjal, Kerala. The last performance before that had been in 1956, and the Nambudiris were concerned that the ritual was threatened by extinction. It had never before been observed by outsiders. In exchange for a financial participation of the scholars towards the cost of the ritual, the Nambudiris agreed that it should be filmed and recorded. The ritual was performed from 12 to 24 April 1975. An effigy was used to symbolize the goat sacrifice. Staal (1989) bases a general analysis of the similarities of grammar and ritual on this performance.

The preparation for Athiratram takes about six months, and involves making a large number of mud vessels and wooden items. Athirathram is performed by one person, while 40 others assist him.

Panjal Athirathram 2011 will be led by Puthillathu Ramanujan Somayajippadu as 'Yajamanan' and Dhanyapathanadi as 'Yajamanapathni' and marked by the participation of hundreds of vedic scholars from all around the country.

Interestingly this ritual will be performed after 35 years and involves the chanting of selected mantras from three vedas -- Rig veda, Yagur veda and Sama veda, the last three days of the rituals will go on non-stop for 72-hours, with each priest getting a break of barely 30 minutes.

The Yajurveda and Samaveda practices that precede the Athirathram have begun at the Panjal Thottathil Mana and Kavupra Maarath Mana. Preparations for the Panjal Athirathram 2011 began after obtaining consent from Shukapuram temple, as called for by tradition.In 1975 Athirathram, a 12 day ritual was performed at Panjal(the same location), Kerala by Namboothiri Bramhins according to Samaveda tradition.

After a gap of 35 years, Athirathram will be held at the sleepy hamlet of Panjal in Thrissur district of Kerala, in April 2011.The choice of Panjal as the venue for Athirathram 2011 is also in line with geographic and vaastu principles. The yagnashala (where the ceremonies will be performed) is uniquely positioned to imbibe the energy of the sun, which has made Panjal the venue for almost all key yagnas held in Kerala in the past. The rituals will begin every day with the vedic chantings and homas. On the last four days, the rituals would be held throughout the day and night without any break.The expenses are estimated to touch Rupees 10 million and the organisers are expecting at elast 15,000 people to witness the rituals daily.People of all religious belief can participate in the Athirathram .The organisers are also planning to approach the scientific community to study the various effects of the ritual on the atmosphere and the surroundings.1975 Athirathram performance was instigated by the Indologist Dr. Frits Staal of the University of California and by Mr. Robert Gardner, with support from several international agencies.

The official website on Athirathram described that, the Vedic rituals have come down to human beings in two broad types-the Grhya and the Srauta. The former is concerned with rites of an individual, such as the Upanayana or Marriage. The later on the other hand, is solemn and exalted, show casing in oral tradition the great learning of the Sruti literature, comprising, in other words, the three Vedas- Rig, Yajur and Sama and their ancillary texts. The Grhya system is still in existence almost all over India, whereas, the Srauta type has survived in only few isolated pockets of Brahman groups.

The two Vedic Scholars primarily responsible for the 1975 performance were Brahmasree Muttathukattu Mammunnu Itti Ravi (undisputed master of the Jaiminiya Samaveda) and Brahmasree Cherumukku Vaidikan Vallabhan Somayajipad or CV (occupies a central position in the ritual realm of the Rig-Veda and Yajurveda). Frits Staal who is currently Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and South and Southeast Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley succeeded in preserving this ritual. He was responsible for organizing and recording the ritual in detail with the help of grants and donations from Harvard, the Smithsonian Institution, The Rock Foundation and others. Seventeen priests are required for performing the `Agni`. The course of time is 12 days.

The First day begins with the Yajamana and his priests entering the ritual enclosure carrying three sacred fires in pots. The main ritual vessel is prepared from clay. A symbolic animal sacrifice would be performed for Vayu. After selection of five chief priests fire is produced by friction. This is followed by tying a turban around the head of Yajamana. He is protected by a golden breast plate, is given a staff and closes his fists and deprived of speaking (except for recitations), from bathing etc. The Yajamana picks up the main ritual vessel filled with fire, and takes three steps with it. On the Second day another ritual pot, also made of clay is prepared. A sacrificial pole is made on the Third day. The measurements of the Mahavedi and of the bird-shaped offering altar are laid out. On the Fourth day among others, the Indra God is invited to attend the ritual. Seeds are sown in the plowed ground and the main ritual vessel of the first day is buried. Construction of the bird shaped altar is started. From Fifth day to Seventh day, after the morning activity, subsequent layers of the altar are laid on each day. The evening activity follows. On the Eighth day in addition to the normal ritual of the day, the fifth layer is laid. Then the Yajamana wishes the bricks to turn into cows. Offerings are made to Rudra. On the Ninth day, the implements used in the process are putdown on the new altar in the shape of a man .The Agni from new domestic altar is installed on the new offering altar. Long continuous oblation of ghee is made followed by other oblation and offerings. The hall of recitation is made .The symbolic animal sacrifice is performed. The ceremonies from Tenth day up to the dawn of twelfth day will continue throughout out the next two days and nights. On the tenth day some priests including Yajamana crawl in snake like procession on to altar for offering. Numerous rites are performed simultaneously. Fires are installed in hearths in the recital hall also. Symbolically eleven animals are sacrificed. On the twelfth day the Yajamana and his wife take “Avabhratha bath” followed by a symbolic sacrifice of goat. The Yajamana installs three fires on his home after returning to the home. He perform morning and evening Agnihothra for the rest of his life. Each day, the rituals vary. The major offerings to the sacrificial fire are Somarasa, the juice of Somalatha, an herbal plant plus dozens of other herbs. The fire is created by rubbing two pieces of wood, as detailed in ancient Vedic scriptures. No modern prop is used.

Athirathram is now being revived through a grand public event by “Varthathe Trust” formed by a group of like-minded individuals from India and abroad, cutting across different professions such as financial services (banking), advertising and law. Preparations are currently on for Athirathram. The Trust is based in Ottapalam, Palakkad district, Kerala. The Trust has been formed to serve the society at large by imparting and disseminating ancient Indian scientific and philosophical knowledge towards attaining unity, peace, prosperity and ultimate wisdom.

Athirathram is planned in Panjal from April 4-15, 2011. The training and rehearsals for the ritual are on-going. The Yajamana of the 2011 Panjal Agni will be “Putillattu Ramanajan Somayaji”. The ritual will be performed just as it was done 4000 years ago, with wooden vessels and bricks. No use of metal will be made. The Yajamana or the main conductor of Athirathram has gone through rigorous preparation prescribed for performance of Athirathram. The Adhvaryam of the Yajurveda in the ritual and the heaviest load will be borne by the Kapra family, the Hautram of the Rig-Veda is led by the Naras family and the Audgatram of the Samaveda in the ritual by Tottam.

Lakshmi Narayana Temple, Panjal, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

References: -

http://www.athirathram2011.com

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/15/stories/2011021559340300.htm

http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=6625

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnicayana

http://manamlagaru.com/columnists.php?col_id=335

UNFAITHFUL

I woke up early today. May be, it will be more right to say I got out of my bed and got ready. Its only 5:30 in the morning and I was already in my office wear. I just wrapped my tie over shoulder and was sipping a cup of tea. I didn’t sleep yesterday or I couldn’t. I’m still terrified and petrified. I’m waiting for the newspaper. As soon as the news paper came I jumped out and took out the Mumbai Mirror. I was very sure what I was looking for. It was easy to locate the news. The news I was searching was the headline today. “Corporate woman Robbed, Raped and Ripped Apart.” I went through every details of the news. The news was reported as below.

The woman was raped and was pushed out from a moving train in Mumbai. She has succumbed to her injuries and died yesterday. The incident raises serious apprehensions on the safety of women in trains. The rape of the 33 year old woman who was travelling from Churchgate (place of work ) to her home in Andheri in a vacant First Class compartment can be mildly termed shocking. The accused was found to be Ganeshswamy a disabled man from Tamil Nadu, who was later nabbed by police for the heinous crime. Ganeshswamy allegedly tried to rob Shalini in the train and when she tried to resist, he flung her out of the moving train. She suffered fatal injuries as a result, especially on her head after hitting her head in the railway tracks. She was later raped by the same person in the tracks and left in the sorry state for hours before the police found her.

You might be surprised, why I’m so interested in this news. I knew Shalini for last 3 years. Last time we were together was yesterday in that same train where she was thrown out. All the newspaper and police will have the same story to say, but the truth is only known to 3 people, Ganeshswamy, Shalini herself and to me. Our story started in coffee shop in Pune. I was with one of my friend having coffee when Shalini entered the shop. She had something in special; she was dazzling in her blue top. She had that charisma that I unknowingly started checking her out. Next 20 minutes I was observing all her gestures. She was very elegant in her looks and carried herself well. I still don’t know why we were exchanging smiles each other.

That could have been the end of our story but we met again in different places in Pune. We started talking and knowing each other. She always restricted my advances. She told me that I’m a student and keep away from her as she was a married woman. I don’t know what was wrong with me, I just liked her company. When moved to Mumbai for Job, I never knew what was in store for me. They call it coincidence, I call it bad luck. When I was coming back from Delhi after completing as official assignment, I met Suraj. He was the only non-Gujarati speaking man in Mumbai-Rajadhani. We talked about Indian economy, quality and safety standards of Indian Banks. I was so impressed with this man. He was working for an MNC bank. I always made it a point to be in touch with him. There is nothing like a good contact in corporate world. That was shock of my life when I met him again at Pheonix Mall. He introduced his wife to me; yeah you guessed it right, Shalini.

Our relationship grew to that extend that I became a frequent visitor to Suraj’s House. Now I’m a changed man, I tried to keep away from shalini as far as possible. I wanted to keep contact with Suraj for a Job Switch. Shalini was getting more and more close to me as I was trying to get as far as I can. Even though Mumbai is the second most populous city in the world with a population of 14 million, I couldn’t help myself from bumping into Shalini where ever I go. I started avoiding her as I don’t want to be an unfaithful friend. I always knew our relationship will hamper my career growth.

Yesterday when she invited me for dinner, I had no idea I would be reading this news today. I just couldn’t make up any reason to say no to her. It was a boring dinner. I was only physically present there but my mind was filled with something else. I was so uncomfortable with her. She might have sensed that and she was also not talking much. She came all way from Andheri to Churchgate in train so that her driver will have no idea where she was. I had no complements for the black sari she was wearing or for her low cut blouse which exposed the gap between her assets. I was more concerned about my future than her cleavage.

It was drizzling but we still walked to Churchgate station after our dinner, we hardly talked during our walk. When we sat inside the first class compartment of the local train, I started talking to her. Was I talking so loudly to overcome the noisy rain outside or am I shouting at Shalini? I just told her what I had in mind. I cannot fool around with her anymore. Life is tough and we have to move on. The entire compartment was empty and I stood up and moved to the door. Rain was sprinkling water all over me, but I couldn’t feel it as I was in a different world altogether. She also came near me and started convincing me. I told her to keep away from me or I’ll do anything to secure my future, even if it takes me to kill her. She was so stubborn and asked me to go ahead. She would have never imagined I could do something like that, neither did I. I have no idea why I did that, but I did that. I held her close and kissed her passionately; I could taste the rain drops of her lips. I suddenly became a Vampire and forced my lips away from her and pushed her out of the moving train. I got down at the next station and took a taxi to home.

My hands are shivering; I just kept the newspaper on my bed and decided to move out of my flat as I needed some fresh air. Now the newspaper has full page advertisement of Piggy Chop’s “7 Khoon Maaf.” Will I be excused from my crime? May be the police will never come after me, as they already has got their culprit. It was still raining cats and dogs. Yesterday’s rain has not stopped yet or is it God’s way of expressing grief? I just walked into the rain without any aim; I walked, walked and walked.

The entire story is not a work of fiction. If you find any resemblance to some facts in this story, it is not coincidence, but intentional. Author reserves all right to say which facts are not fictional.

Cabalistic Cadence

(Story Told by Sufi, Retold….)

When I was a Kid I never liked Railway Stations. I always felt as if the trains going around my head like a whirlpool. I hated that feeling. Time changes everything, when I started going to collage 3500Kms away from my home I had no choice but to be in the train for 3 long days. A decade before flight tickets were not so cheep. Instead of being jealous of my brother, when he fly back home, I feel sorry for him. He doesn’t know what he is missing. There was a famous dialogue from an old Hindi movie which says "To know India (Clours and its Diversity) you should travel by the second class compartment of Indian Railway". I’ve experienced it to its fullest.

Time has flown like anything, today when I stand in the Calicut Railway station I still get that old feeling. I’ve been flying for last couple of years, but I still love Indian Railway. Janshatabdi to Trivandrum was in the platform 1. When I got in to the A/c compartment I felt uneasy as usual. Those people in A/compartment never talk to anyone; they just take up a bulky English novel and look into to the same page till they get down. The first thing I asked the TT was who is my co-passenger and from where he/she is boarding the train. M 38 from Ernakulam that was his reply. That was a relief that next 5 hrs I can occupy both the seats in the chair car. I opened my laptop and started listening to some old Malayalam Songs. As they say if you are in Rome do as Romans do, I took out a Malayalam Novel titled “Sufi Paranja Kada” (The Story told by Sufi). Author K P Ramanunni had written in such a fashion that I was almost lost in the book. It was a story of a very special Hindu girl who loved a Muslim trader in the backdrop of British East India Company rule. Author successfully managed to depict the cultural change she undergoes when she changes her religion to Muslim to marry the protagonist. I could really visualize the beauty of the Karthiyani Alias Zuhara. Did I sleep when I was reading the page where Zuhara in her Muslim outfit standing outside a temple, or was I dreaming about it? But anyway when I opened my eyes I could see Zuhara. She was standing in front of me.

What just happened? From the Past (East India Company era) how could Zuhara get into my era? that too into a moving Super fast Train? She was as beautiful as the author had explained. Almost for next 15-20 seconds I was just staring at her beautiful blue eyes. She was saying something but I couldn’t hear a thing. I was mesmerised by the beauty of her lips. Some how I pulled my earphone out of ears, and asked her how I can help her? She told the TT has allocated the seat for her till Ernakulam. I offered her the seat. She sat next to me; I could smell very strong Arabian perfume from her. She might have been a masterpiece by God. I just tried not to look at her and started looking outside the window. Her eyes had a wonderful attraction and I couldn’t resist myself from staring at her. Was she aware of the fact that I was not convinced by the fact that she is just a Passenger and not Zuhara. Well I need to distract myself so I opened some work related material and tried to be busy with it even though her perfume was pulling my attention towards her. She had different plans! Are you a Student?? Her question was enough for me to build up a conversation from there.

I closed the monitor of my laptop and started talking to her. We started speaking like anything. Nobody would have believed we just met, if they had listened to our conversation. We talked about micro biology to Joint family system; Feminism to carbon credit. Were these topics to be talked to a young attractive lady sitting next to you? I have no idea. Most of the talking was done by her and I was just listening. Now our chit chat moved to altogether another level. May be because she saw a novel with me, she asked whether I’ve read any Muslim Literature? Thanks to my friend who has once given me the pdf copy of Quran. I started talking about the limited knowledge I had about Quran. The English translation I’ve read has not given too much insight into Muslim religion. But still I knew the basic concept in which this religion was build up. We talked about the similar concepts and history shared by Christianity and Muslim. We discussed about the family tree of Prophet Ibrahim.

She told me she was a Mujahidin and was not against Christianity and she told that she could not digest the basic concept of Christianity as she believes in a single God (a supreme Power who has no beginning and end). Christ being son of the God is the concept she couldn’t digest. She says he was the 2^nd last Prophet and Mohammad the last. God is God and he cannot have any children. Nobody is special to him.She was telling a story, I just listened to her like a small kid. I was lost in her beautiful eyes. She started explaining the scientific concepts in Quran and suggested me some books for reading.

What is this beautiful soul trying to do to me? Is she trying to brain wash me? Will I be converted and be in the same dilemma as Zuhera was in? Suddenly lot of questions came to my mind. Why am I thinking all these, she is well educated and have read many books, may be she was really a genius. While she was talking to me she was also scribbling something in a piece of paper. May be she was also interested in fashion designing. We still talked about the religious books and many more. Some how I didn’t know we have already reached Ernakulam as I was lost in the smart way of her talk and her beauty. I was not ready to believe she was trying to convert me. I just didn’t recognize that we have been talking continuously for last 4 hrs. When she asked my email id I didn’t know why I was so reluctant, I took out my visiting card then decided not to give her. She could have sensed that, she shared her email id with me and said to be in touch. She stood up and walked towards the door as the train was approaching station, and then suddenly she came back and gave me a sweet which I have never tasted before. Her eyes said goodbye and walked away from me.

As she stepped out of the train I noticed the paper she was scribbling. What a strange design. The design was a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the shape of a ‘T’. It looked familiar, but complicated. I liked the sketch and kept the same with me. After few days when I was reading some Buddhist literature, I came across a similar painting. I got up and looked all pockets of my unwashed jeans. I got that piece of paper and I couldn’t believe myself, it was not similar, but same. How could she just make this 1000 year old Buddhist religious painting with out any reference and not getting distracted while talking to me? I searched in the net to get as much data of the same painting and I came to know what I was looking was called “Maṇḍala”. This is a pictorial representation of Universe.

Now I’m not only astonished but scared too. Who was she, what was she? Was she a human? If yes then definitely a genius. Was she from some different time? May be from future? Was she an Alian? I wanted to talk to her. I searched for the chit she handed to me with her phone number and email id. Where did I loose it? How could I miss place contact details of a beautiful lady? Will I ever meet her? Oh God why didn’t I give my contact details to her. I missed her beauty when she walked out of the train. But now I miss a wonderful person, a genius, someone from diff times (Future or Past) or may be an alien.

Thangka painting of Vajradhatu Mandala

The Hindu mandala, or mandala, in various languages has different terms: Sanskrit, "circle"; Chinese, man-ta-tao; Japanese and Korean, mandara; and Tibetan, dkyil 'khor. The mandala is a symbolic pictorial representation of the universe, originating in India but is prominent in Tibetan Buddhism (Buddhism), and which is visualized in context of the Tantric ritual (Tantrism). Although mandalas are commonly founds on scrolls as water paintings, for important rituals the practice is to trace the mandala onto consecrated ground using water colors that can be erased upon the termination of the ritual. In meditation, they can be visualized without physical representation.

Invisible Friend

Somewhere I’ve read about a dancer who claims that some invisible dancer is dancing with him during his performances. I could never understand the depth of it till I experienced the same. I was a bit nostalgic when I walked the lanes of my engineering collage. Its been half a decade I’ve been here. I still felt very homely here. I could see lots of new faces walking around. I walked slowly though the campus. I could feel that each leaves out there talking to me. Each place and every corner has something to remind me. This place has been home to many firsts. Everything was as normal as any alumni of any campus coming back, but some where I was feeling a bit strange. Was I been followed by some one? I was looking around again and again. A voice-less voice told me “Don’t walk ahead of me, I may not follow, don’t walk behind me, I may not lead, but walk alongside me and be my friend.” I felt as if someone was guiding me through the campus. My legs were moving but not in synchronize with my brain. I walked and walked and walked.

There have been lot of changes in the campus. The life here has changed a lot. Ekta café has got some insider in the admin dept and has successfully removed “Thilak ka Dhaba” from campus. I wonder how my fellow juniors will able to spent those night-outs with out the mid night tea and biscuts, offcourse the counters too. Trees have been cut, hills have been uprooted and new concrete constructions have come up. The air was cold as it was 5 years back. The play ground look well maintained, seniors will have a tough time for ragging as there are no stones to pick up.

As still taking my tour through the campus I could feel the presence of someone who is still walking with me. Some how I was getting a bit uncomfortable as the time passes. When I moved to the Scorpio I could feel my invisible friend asking me to stay back. But time has changed; I’m a Project Manager in the corporate life and have to move on. I have a flight to catch tomorrow morning from Delhi. As I made myself comfortable in the air conditioned vehicle, I don’t know why I was sweating. I felt as if my invisible friend moving away from me. It looked as if a shadow moving away from me. When the ignition of my vehicle started I asked my invisible friend, what can I do for him? Did I hear something or was it a hallucination. He replied “You cannot help me, I’ve to find my way myself”. As my vehicle moved down hill I could feel the separation.

Who was he? Was it P or S? Or just a hallucination… I have lot of good memories to cherish in this place but why am I getting this strange feeling?? What ever it was, my mind promised me to come back again. Don’t know when and why. I’m all alone in deep silent. I have mile to go ahead but sleep is slipping down curtain in my eyes.

Life in Mumbai Thrills but Kills

Today was the last day of Ravi in Mumbai. It stopped raining. His train was late by 8 hrs and we decided to utilize this. Making it a blessing in disguise, we moved to our usual Giregaon Chopatti to get a Gola and some Pani puries. Life suddenly asked many questions to me, I was not sure what I was feeling. I was not happy, may be I was not ready to accept the fact that Ravi won’t be with us in Mumbai from tomorrow. The feeling was different; I didn't felt so even when my first crush walked away. (Please don’t let your imagination grow, let me make it straight that I’m straight).

After our usual routine we decided to make a small (Big) walk across Marine Drive. The cool breeze was mesmerising and I was feeling good. We kept on walking toward the other end of marine drive and our minds wanted to walk but our legs denied. I just don’t know how I’ve made even this stretch of 2km walk after an exhausting day of apartment search in Mumbai.

We rested our-self on the sides of Marine Drive. It was so relaxing and refreshing. Then my eyes were on a smart kid who was walking towards us. He was in black Jeans and red and blue stripe t-shirt. I could sense something was wrong with the kid. He was also not happy like me, oh God is he crying?? He came and sat next to us. He might me God; just help me to look at the beautiful girl sitting next to us. Now it is easy for me to look at her, making her feel that I’m looking at the kid. Somewhere down my heart, I had a feeling that something is wrong with this kid. Oh! God is he a human bomb jut sitting next to us and nobody with him. But his red eyes and sad face said me something else.

The girl I was staring suddenly became Mother Teresa and extended her helping hand toward the Kid. She asked him what happened and where is his family. I wanted to yell to her to move away from the kid, as he may be potential human bomb. Sea breeze went through her hair covering her face, She was looking awesome in moon light (Sorry street light). How can I miss a chance to hit her? I also as a Gentleman tried to offer my helping hand. The kid was so confused and had no idea where he comes from and where he was going. He knows no address or any phone number.

We were all trying to help him by asking him lot of question. But he was getting more and more confused, or was he acting. Oh God! My mind has so corrupted and its not ready to accept innocence. I was expecting a sexy girl to come out from some where and say this is a TV show and you have been shot with hidden cameras and shower me with lot of gift vouchers, which I’ll never use in my life. But nothing of such thing happened.

Now how to trace him back to his home if he is really genuine? We asked him about his school and decided to get the principal’s number and then trace this boy back. Hail Just Dial. But the idea was not easily accepted, there were arguments and counter arguments for this notion. Then the kid tried to remember some phone number. 996761…… He got the first six digits but still four numbers missing. We asked him to try harder.

This took me back to my 7th grade where I was supposed to call my father in regard with an accident that happened to my younger brother (Will explain about this in some other blog). I just couldn't recollect my dad’s number. But I needed it badly and the tension and pressure to rush my brother to hospital made it even worse. I just couldn’t remember the number. Those times we don’t have mobile phones and I told my class teacher I can’t remember the number but will be able to dial the number. But again the phone deceived me. The school phone was an old fashioned one and had no key board but circular dialling ones. It was too much for me; I just took a paper and drew the key board on it and then touching each number by my finger read out the number aloud. 612301 (I still remember this number).

How did you reach here, are you Gujrati, ya Marwadi, Who came with you, the girl was asking the kid and I woke up from my memories. I took out my mobile and handed over to the Kid and asked him to dial the number, taking lessons from my experience. I was feeling so great and was proud to impress the beautiful lady. Kid typed 996761…… Oh god this logic is also not working. Why am I getting into all this trouble? I tried to help the kid again and I reduced to my knees and slowly started speaking to the kid. I didn’t notice a guy in hid 30s, well built and in jeans and shirt walking towards me. I was busy trying to decode something from the kid. Suddenly I heard that sound that I’ve heard lot of times in James Bond movies.

I now realized that I’m on Gun Point and the man has taken the kid to his side and ready to shoot me. For a second I thought I was in a dream and he will shoot me and I’ll wake up from the dream like inception. But nothing happened. By the time I could realise what was happening, the girl has already explained everything to him and he walked back to his bike. When he was walking back, he shouted back two words, Thank You. (Thank You for not shooting me)

I wanted to hit that girl but, now I wanted to get away from this place now. We walked fast to the nearest ATM and then towards Churchgate station. Life in this metro is always eventful. They say night life is fun, it is really adventurous these days.

Mumbai Night life Thrills but Kills …… Oh it is raining again.. Run Forest Run. Run for your life, but life changes here in seconds (Not just a Docomo Ad.) Once I reached Churchgate station all drenched in rain, I felt so normal and had no tension. I forgot was on point blank 10 mins back. This is Mumbai and people come back to Leopold Café in hours after 26/11. Life never stops for anyone in this city of opportunities.

Goodbye Kiss

Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends. ~Richard Bach

“You can shed tears that he is gone,
or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all he's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him only that he is gone,
or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what he'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”

Sonam Tashi, life took a different turn but those memories will be cherished for life long. You have been there for me for everything. Secrets were not secrets between us. Your paintings that had all those hidden meanings, which I used to mock suddenly, became more relevant for me. Life can take you away from me but not your smiling face and all those nigger things u did. You were not a friend who would come to bail me out of the Jail or one who will sympathise me, but one who will be sitting next to me in the cell saying “We are screwed nigger.” Time spent with you will be always cherish able. You were hard like a rock during our hard times.
I’ve never met ur better half in real. But I’m sure you would have made her feel, she was the luckiest wife in the world. Life has been very unfair to your 8 month old baby boy.
You were one of those individual who make life looks so simple. Those philosophical talks we shared, those counter strikes we played all played back again as if it was done yesterday. Cyborg will always be eternal. It’s been years I’ve met you but somehow today everything comes back as a flashback to me. As you have said, tears are not for an artist, when your customers get emotional on your creation, you get money and if they shed a couple of tears you become a great artist.
You may or may not be a great artist but certainly a great friend. I’ve not shed tears for you, as tears are for the one who is dead. You will always live in my memories.