Ajay Nair's Blog, page 2
December 14, 2021
Unwanted Contemplations!
Blog by Aarthi
[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://onewhohatedbooks.files.wordpr..." data-large-file="https://onewhohatedbooks.files.wordpr..." src="https://onewhohatedbooks.files.wordpr..." alt="" class="wp-image-930" width="449" height="672" srcset="https://onewhohatedbooks.files.wordpr... 449w, https://onewhohatedbooks.files.wordpr... 100w, https://onewhohatedbooks.files.wordpr... 200w, https://onewhohatedbooks.files.wordpr... 867w" sizes="(max-width: 449px) 100vw, 449px" />Photo by Marcus Silva on Pexels.comBrace yourselves for a couple hundred words of my unwanted contemplation! Anyways, most often than not, we dwell so long into these contemplations about how things could go or about how things should have been. The thoughts about how better off I would have been if only something hadn’t gone wrong could be so endearing and so depressing! But, I would like to contemplate on a much more boring subject of reading habits before the advent of our omnipotent and omniscient Android phones! Please don’t miss the point so much that you get into Android vs Apple battle in your mind right now.
One could easily say that the choice of books or the range of diversity between the authors to read from is much wider now than the pre-internet era! I use the word ‘era’ because those times before the internet seem so surreal to have been such recent past! I started reading at a younger age and trust me, I have been to library so much as a kid! But, as an adult, who needs a million reviews or recommendations before choosing to read a book, the era of pre-internet keeps amusing me!
My father was an avid reader in his younger age and he was the one who aggressively pushed me into reading. But in reality, his reading pool was incredibly limited! He preferred reading Tamil books and genres which were more intellectually stimulating! Today, if you ask google, it would instantly give you at least a ten author names that could fit in his reading profile but his reading extended not beyond the few names that his friends or a local library could lend, in addition to the weekly magazine of political commentary!
Despite the complaints about overwhelming amount of choices that we’re bombarded with, it isn’t at all easy to give up even a little choice. This made me wonder about the few names that I could content myself with, if given no other option. Wonder how that ended? Like the hours-long search for a movie to watch in Netflix, just to realize that you don’t have time to watch a whole movie before you could get a bare minimum sleep that would get you through the work on the following day! Sorry, I like my never- ending choices too much to give up on a few!
October 27, 2021
Letters- A Fading Phenomena
Sun shined through windows
Tired eyes yet energetic body
Soon the letter will come from the one
I was waiting for two weeks to read
A few lines only… Yet an emotional roller-coaster
May be a distant relationship thing
These days, no one really knows the feeling
Of holding that letter every two weeks
Yet, the reply from four weeks ago
Knowing the reality the reply of the letter
I just send will be two weeks wait again
No phone calls
No text messages
No face to face calls
Just a few words filled with emotions
Written in their own handwriting
Some had smudges with tears
Some had smile all over them
Imagine the face when you read
Imagine the sound you hear through words
The feeling not so true to new generations
Patience not known to new generations
Two weeks to convey love is a taboo nowadays
Remember those were the sweet memories we cherish
Those were the true test of love
Ping.. A text got send
Next second no return text
End of the world for new generation
Time to stop, reflect yourself to realize
What is love?
Back in time read those letters
Will bring back the true bonds we created
Sitting in two corners of land
We scribbled with passion to fill our love
In to two little pages or a post card
Send away to wait for four weeks
Two weeks one way and to get reply
Love get stronger and stronger with longlines
Enjoy the dreams we create while letter in transit
Imagine the emotions when they read the words
The best time of our lives
Letters in transit…
October 22, 2021
True Friend
A Poem
[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://onewhohatedbooks.files.wordpr..." data-large-file="https://onewhohatedbooks.files.wordpr..." src="https://onewhohatedbooks.files.wordpr..." alt="" class="wp-image-893" />Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.comLean on me to leach my blood
Call me a friend when you need
When in need call me in a hurry
Back stab when opportunity arises
Again, Call me as a friend when you need
Work became difficult at times
You climbed ladders using my shoulders
Don’t forget your path once you saw light
Remember sun always set one day for you too!
I will be here as your friend as always
My shoulders will be there for you to lean
Forgiveness is the path I practice
You need to learn how to see clear
Never forget your story
If there is no story, there is no you
Remember the day you were no one
Remember the ones who made you someone
Remember the souls who allow you to achieve
Remember them to drop a few words
When they need you, they need your support
They have already made their stories
A small help will make them smile
Push them down with your harshness
Their heart will not handle it
They saw your growth, but you didn’t see their heart
Support my humble effort. Thank you.
Lost in Images?
How often do you feel disarrayed, having scattered notions, and not feeling a grasp of the self, or more simplistically, to say felt lost?
It happens oftener than it should, doesn’t it? We are breathing in a space where we have so much going on around us and we relate to keep us busy. And this can throw us off balance being in the excess, in the too much’s.
Our minds are constantly running. We either are continually thinking or we hold ourselves busy performing anything meaningful to us. And that’s where we suffer most of our vitality and can have us lose the touch with the self. Especially when we’re focused too much (consciously and subconsciously) on the impossible, the negatives, the dreads and challenges in life and enduring emotions that are fearful to us, for example, beings anxious, nervous and fearful in general and anything that causes breaking off our union with our absolute, essential self is called de-centering of the self.
Replant your “Self” back!!!
When you feel you are being stretched in many directions, when you feel dissociative, when you feel you’ve lost touch with yourself and when you realize you need to stop being mindful of the outside circumstances and start paying attention to what’s happening inside you, you’d know you’re de-centered or lost in images.
While we are de-centered, we become a self-that’s untruthful and unreal. This false self can project out of the non-positive thought processes, lived experiences and the challenges we are facing in the present moment and can have us believe like we are living with the original self. Living with this false self can be terrifying and not only affect us mentally but can physically too.
This is exactly where centering comes in and establishing the real, the original self again. Centering is gathering our spirit back to ourselves. Making us self-conscious of the potential we bring within us and owning yourself and your spirit back again. Choosing to let go of undisciplined self and replanting the sorted self.
Centering is nothing but assembling yourself again. It Is a process calling yourself/ your presence back to yourself. It is a practice of cultivating self-awareness and to retain your energy back.
Why you need to replant yourself?
While you center yourself, you energetically shed off everything that doesn’t belong to you. It is a treat to absorb in all the scattered good energy and drawing out all unrequired.
All those times when you’ve felt foggy, muddled in your mind, had scattered notions, been distracted or have felt having a troubled cloud-like formation of chaotic thoughts has been the reason of being not centered.
Centering can stimulate focus, create and restore your organizational strengths.
Techniques to consider.
There are many approaches or processes you can perform to recapture the balance. Here I’ve discussed two, one being breathing and second visualizing.
With breathing:
You are allowing yourself to return to the center and as you breathe (you can choose the count you’re comfortable with) and call back the good energy and your original self-back to you.
-with the first breath, you inhale, empty your mind. With a second, let go of the stiffness, relax your body and muscles. With a third, let go of conflictions that had you constantly thinking. With next breath, choose anything you want to give up. And if you do not have the list or if you find difficult enlisting you can say, ‘ as I breathe out I let go of everything that’s doesn’t serve me, I let go of all the energy that makes me unbalanced, I let go of anything that doesn’t work for me. Etc.’
With visualizing:
– as you’re breathing, visualize the bad, non-required energy leave your body and your body field. Anything, it could be an emotion such as fear, nervousness, any disturbance in mind and body, visualize it dispersing out of your center, your presence and gradually leaving your body field.
Once, you have emptied yourself off above. Visualize your energies and pulling them back together to their original place as we have scattered them. Center them in the heart or in the mind to draw your energy back to yourself while building a positive state of being.
Centering can be done anytime you feel scattered or out of balance.
Things to know before.
– center where you feel most grounded.
-You can center yourself in the heart or in the mind (the head). If you’ve been feeling burdened and have unbalanced emotions, reestablish yourself in the heart.
If you’re feeling out of control, less confident, or if you’re centering yourself to gain more control, it is advisable to center yourself in the head. Centering in the crown benefits crown chakra and centering in the heart benefits the heart charka.
November 23, 2020
What if trees could speak?
Blog by Aswathi Ashok
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Photo by jplenio via Pixabay.
Trees can live up to 5000 years or more. Over the course of their lifetime they would have seen a myriad incidents happen in front of them. If trees could speak and were to narrate a story I am sure they would have a lot to tell.
We all know the importance of an eye witness of a crime or an incident, don’t we? These trees have witnessed different civilizations, the rise and fall of empires, the freedom struggle, the growth of technology -how tractors replaced cattles for ploughing., the gradual change in farming and irrigation techniques etc.
They have seen people of different era, how the humans lived and built cities to what they are today, how humans now live a much more sophisticated life, How we have developed so much in every possible field of study with our endless curiosity to learn, and how technology has supplanted every old traditional methods.
This means they are the witnesses to everything mankind has ever done over the years, right from when it grows out of a plant embryo into a seedling and starts photosynthesis. These plants would have seen humans both at our best and at our weakest.
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Photo by Veeterzy via Pexels
I sometimes do wonder whether these tall trees around me- are happy the way they are? Do they wish to talk? If they did, what would they want to tell us?
I am sure they might have so many things to say or they might choose not to say at all. What would they actually want to tell us, that probably we would never know since they don’t speak, but I’m guessing if they did, they might have these following points in their mind, don’t you think?
1)As mentioned earlier, trees have been witnesses of how we (our ancestors) have fought the freedom struggle with unity and trust on each other to how we (humans) have evolved over the years distrusting each other. How easily we betray each other because of which we no longer trust anyone completely. Long gone are the days where humans worked with conscience, where people appreciated one’s success without being jealous.
2)How people have become money minded and no longer immune to venality. This being the main reason for rise in crime rates and corruption.
3)In earlier days kids go out and play. Now-a-days they sit at home all day with their tablet or iPhone/Android. Technology is definitely a boon since it has helped us handle many of the most herculean tasks with much ease. Machines play a major role in our lives now, but the way kids are getting addicted to technology is definitely not a good sign. Kids have always been the only friends trees had, apart from other animals. They might have noticed how the kids no longer play outside. Who knows , may be the trees are even waiting for their friends(kids) to return to play. 4) There have been so many issues of felling of trees for construction works and other human needs which depletes the forest. This in turn is deleterious to both the environment, animals as well as us. Yeah I agree people around the globe have also been considerate enough to plant more trees in order to maintain the greenery of the forests but the huge amount of trees that are cut down is undoubtedly more than the numbers being planted .We could be certain of this fact owing to the global warming issues we face today at various parts of the earth
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Photo by Taryn Elliott via Pexels
Trees have always been there to help us when we knew nothing about technology. They have given us shade, fruits, maintained the level of carbon-di-oxide in the atmosphere, made the soil fertile for agriculture, gave shelter to many animals including us before we constructed houses, etc. Hence, it is our duty to save them as well. It’s time we think about these issues that trees might want to tell us.
In case you think trees might want to tell us more. Feel free to share your views in the comment section below.
November 11, 2020
Diwali- one festival- many stories.
We know Diwali as Festival of Lights. In simpler terms, Win over evil is the message. This festival is celebrated in India and now all over the world. Each part of India celebrates this in various beliefs. I do not know any other festival out there with this many stories and beliefs. As a part of my blog series about my homeland Kerala. I found this as an apt time to write about Diwali. This weekend we celebrate Diwali. So why not?
When I was growing up, my parents told me why we celebrate Deepavali. (in my language Malayalam we say Deepavali for Diwali- If we break this word “Deepam” meaning Lights. “Vali” means crackers). South India, we celebrate this all night long with crackers. Women made lots of delicious delicacies and no one sleep that night. The story my parents and grandparents told me was.
Story one
[image error]Photo by Suren Singh on Pexels.com
This auspicious day, Lord Shiva gave a boon to Chundasur (a demon). After many years of penance, Chundasur asked Lord Shiva, “If I point my finger to anyone, that person should blow up”. Lord Shiva gave him that power. Chundasur knows there are many times Gods have cheated demons. So he said, “Lord, I want to test this power on you. I want to make sure this works” Lord Shiva sensed the danger, and he started running. Chundasur followed him. The people put fireworks to hinder Chundasur’s path and placed lights for Shiva for a safer path. They made nice delicacies for Shiva to keep him energized. Later Chundasur got tricked to touch his own head, and he dies. What an interesting story isn’t it? As a child, I loved this festival. We placed crackers after crackers to make sure we keep this demon away from our homes and placed Diyas. This festival is etched in my heart and soul. I am sure very few people know about this story and its relation to Diwali.
There are many more stories.
Story two
[image error]Photo by Suvan Chowdhury on Pexels.com
The one we all know or popular is Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and winning a war against Ravana. On this day there was no moon to show the path. People of Ayodhya welcomed him with thousands of lights on streets and houses. This is also a story we believe happened, and we celebrate Diwali.
Story three
[image error]Photo by Shiva Kumar on Pexels.com
Narakasur (Son of Earth and Varaham- third incarnation of Lord Vishnu) – Here Earth request Vishnu to make their son Narakasur the strongest of all. Later, Narakasur became a problem for everyone. He conquers the entire world and heaven. Vishnu had to incarnate himself as Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna kills him and frees almost 16000 women from slavery. Before death, Narakasur realized his mistake and prayed to Lord Krishna that his death should be celebrated with light and crackers. Hence a lot of us celebrate Diwali.
Story four
[image error]Photo by Raweena Perera on Pexels.com
According to Jainism. Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana on this auspicious day. We believe that his soul attained the purest form on this day. He preached Dharma.
Story five
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According to Sikhism. Guru Har Govindji–Sixth Sikh Guru got released from prison. He came home with other prisoners got freed. People celebrated with decorating the streets with oil lamps. This marked Diwali.
If you read all these stories, one aspect we can see. Win over evil. A beautiful message. World need this. A little love and hope. Diwali definitely shows us the importance of this. We need to stand unified and fight for good. Let us flourish the light of hope on this November 14 and celebrate Diwali. Let us all welcome the positive vibes over to our homes. This year 2020 need this hope of new beginning. Let’s make this happen. Happy Diwali everyone.
[image error]Photo by Dhivakaran S on Pexels.com
November 6, 2020
theyyam-dance of gods
In my previous blog, I said, this month is all about my hometown. Kerala. Small yet rich in culture. Our traditions we follow in Kerala is not in practice with any other states in India. We hold that unique nature. We portray our vibrant culture and traditions through a wide variety of festivals.
[image error]Photo by Sidhick Kannur on Pexels.com
Today I am going to introduce you to an art form called Theyyam. We have festivals dedicated for this art form. Originated in Malabar (northern part of Kerala), I can describe this art form in modern day as Dance-Drama. Usually the season for Theyyam festival is in the months of November to March. During my college days, I got the privilege to take part in these festivals. I still cannot forget those images of Theyyam characters. Vivid and colorful.
Theyyam is very sacred and related to temple arts. The stories they perform always revolves around Hindu mythology. They usually perform this art form before shrines and sometimes ancestor worshiped temples managed by some families. Not everyone can perform this art. Takes years of training and dedication. Before they perform these individuals perform religious practices including celibacy for a period of time.
[image error]Theyyam photo by Manyu Varma @ Unsplash
Theyyam simply means God. Some people refer to this art form as “Dance of Gods”. This art form is mainly performed by men from certain tribes from Kerala. They have the rights to perform. Mostly these tribes are called scheduled caste (in modern times we say low caste). This art form has deep roots from the times of Dravidian culture.
People believe that when the performance happens, the spirit of the deity (GOD) conceptually transferred to the performer and they seek blessings from them. People widely believe that these performers, while they are in the presence of divine, they can cure their illness and give solutions to their problems.
I have to admit this. As a Keralite, I have witnessed this in person. I believe there are some supernatural abilities when you have faith. I have personally travelled to Parassini Kadavu Sri Muthappan Temple, one of the temples in North Kerala where my friends have told me that if we go there and pray to Theyyam, you will pass all the exams. I did. Not sure whether or not because of the prayer, I passed all the exams. Don’t think I have done any extra preparations for the exam. I did the same as all the years. But in the previous years I have failed many papers. All the papers got cleared after I met with this Theyyam. I cannot forget this experience in my life.
[image error]Theyyam Photo by Vineeth Vinod @ Unsplash
Some form of Theyyam have performers walking on fire, hot coal or even jumping in to them. We may think it is some sort of magic. I had a friend from Payyanur, and he invited me once to see this art form. I went to his home four days prior to this performance. I talked personally to the performer. He said, he is on a strict religious rules for forty-one days. He has to put daily some medicine oil on his body. He has to pray every single day before this performance. One day prior to the performance I saw two trucks full of wood came in. They put them on fire. The fire was about two stories high. I couldn’t believe these performers jumped in and we could feel the heat far away. Nothing happened. I saw the same person next day, and he did not even have one single burn spot.
One cannot take the eye from Theyyam. The headgear is so elaborate and the make on their faces are unique. Mostly makeup takes about hours. They lie down on the floor when their face get painted. Headgear is made from coconut leaves. They make the crown from bamboo and wooden planks. Some weigh a lot. Each character is unique to witness. Male and female characters are all played by men.
In short the performance is like this. Begins with a part called Vellattam or Thottam. Here not much makeup you can see. They will recite about the shrine of that particular temple. Drummers and performer will accompany them, will recite some ritual songs. After that they will go back to get ready with all the headgear and makeup. This time they come out and the atmosphere will change. The energy will change. The music and drum beats will change. The people around will feel the energy or God in them.
[image error]Theyyam Photo by Vineeth Vinod @ Unsplash
The Theyyam will enter the shrine and he gets seated in front of the shrine. That is when symbolically people believe the power is in the Theyyam. We consider him divine. People will ask his blessings. He sometimes even predicts what is going to happen.
I hope you enjoyed this blog about Theyyam. I will try to bring more unique experiences about my hometown. Kerala- Gods Own Country. Thank you for reading.
November 4, 2020
the gone time!!
Poem by Ananya Agarwal
[image error]Photo by Ananya Agarwal
Why did you lose me?
Here in earth and heaven
Never will my love reduce for you
The long days or the never ending nights,
The dreams of being with you
Wanting to hear you out
Or rather having the time we used to.
From irritating to gossiping
From fighting to withstanding
Never would I lose your side
For then why did you lose me?
Went on a place I could never talk
Never knew whether you were good enough
Happy without us….
The smile through your eyes,
The care through your words
The shoulder for the tears
Or the back for my fears…
I was in love with your voice
Or the pattern of the noise,
From giggling to screaming
Never would I lose you
For then why did you lose me?
[image error]Photo by Cameron Yartz on Pexels.com
I miss you as a teddy misses the hugs
Or the stars without the moon
You were mere friend when you were here,
But your mere absence has made me numb.
For why does it happen?
Why did u just had to lose me?
Today as I know, late but realized
No amount of time I was with you
Did I ever re-read those memories
Cherish the moments with you;
Cauz weren’t we too busy
Running for the new and not stopping afar.
Every day gives a lesson
Your departure gave me a life lesson,
The short time was enough for us,
For you could just walk away,
Pondering me with a question
Why did you lose me?
[image error]Photo by Barna David on Pexels.com
All I could know now
So let us all focus on the present
Cauz today is always a gift
For the future always remains a mystery.
One never knows or could live…
Though I am in love with your voice
Or the pattern of your noise
The shoulder for my tears
the back for my fears…
November 1, 2020
kerala piravi- celebrating kerala day
What is Kerala Day and why we celebrate this?
Just like we celebrate Canada Day here. My small land where I come from has a day called Kerala Day #KeralaPiravi. Means birth of Kerala. The small state which differs from any other states in India. The most beautiful land with lots of greenery and backwaters. We call our land “Gods Own Country”
November 1,.1956, way after India’s Independence in 1947, Kerala became an independent state in the Republic of India. That day onwards we celebrated this day as Kerala Day or in Malayalam keralapiravi. Prior to this, Kerala was divided in to three provinces. Malabar, Cochin and Travancore. If today it stayed like that, I belong to Travancore Province.
[image error]Photo by Aneesh S on Pexels.com
The interesting fact we all should know- after independence there was an uproar among the people to carve out new states as per the language they speak. If you travel now in India, you can easily see all the states they have their own mother tongue or we call dialect. In Kerala we speak Malayalam.
They give the name Kerala to the state because of its abundance of coconut trees. The word “Kera” means coconut and “Alam” means land. In local dialect the state is know as Keralam. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Parasurama (the sixth incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu) threw his axe from Kanyakumari. He asked the water to move away to form the land. Hence the name “Gods Own Country” If we travel all across India, you can notice the difference as soon as you cross the border to Kerala. Devine for sure. Land, Greenery backwaters, food, Kerala stands different. May be because the land is formed by the God. Who know? Or in other words, I am little biased, because I am born there. Always we feel special towards our mother land. Don’t we?
[image error]Photo by Pritha Ganguly on Pexels.com
This month, I am dedicating my blogs to introduce some facts about my home town in general. Some festivals we celebrate, Some superstitions etc. Stay tuned for the coming weeks.
October 27, 2020
Halloween dream- a poem
Blurred vision ahead with chillness around
Stumbled on a halt with frozen limbs
Felt so lonely alone in cold darkness
No helping hand around to rescue
Move forward a voice shouted with a push
Legs shaken and body without soul
Can I move forward my mind doubts?
[image error]Photo by Pedro Figueras on Pexels.com
Freaked brain with numerous questions
Cold wind touches my skin
Awareness of life in me
Felt the warmth of love on my face
Eyes start to clear through blurry vision
Wake up a voice whispered
Shaken and jolted with surprise
Woken up to see my younger one
Daada “I am hungry, Time to wake up”.
[image error]Photo by Gabby K on Pexels.com
