नववर्षाभिनन्दनम्, புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்! Ramanavami is just a few days away, so I convey my greetings for that occasion too! रामनवमी शुभाशयाः ! ராமநவமி வணக்கங்கள்! If you are lucky enough, perhaps you will get to hear a lot of live Carnatic Music at this time of the year. My ‘cultural’ immersion was last month. March started with a concert by Sanjeev Abhyankar. I have adored his music ever since I chanced upon his videos some 10+ years back. So, it was very exciting for me to finally hear him live. Oh! What a wonderful, ecstatic experience it was! His voice is just out of the world! What m ..read more

शिवरात्रि शुभाशयाः ! சிவராத்ரி வாழ்த்துக்கள்! Shivaratri Greetings! Prayers to the Lord to protect us always! I have such a great affection for the Lord in his form of Nataraja, the Dancing Lord. What is it about this particular depiction of Shiva which fascinates me so? There is elegance and beauty in the form, but of course! I am sure that everyone will agree that the bronze-casts of Tamil Nadu are second to none. But there is more than that. That unperturbed face seems to be quite in opposition to the vigour of the Tandava, for surely the dance must be vigorous to make the hair fly so! On ..read more

Happy Saraswati Puja! For those South Indians wondering if they have read right, yes, indeed it is Vasanta Panchami (वसन्तपञ्चमी) which is celebrated as Saraswati Puja in many parts of India. After 42 years of being married to a Bengali, I happily celebrate Her twice a year! The community here celebrates this annually but on a smaller scale than Durga Puja. Saraswati Puja is the day when young children will be initiated into their first steps in learning. Our family too has seen young ones take their first steps of education during this month of தை or मघ. I’m happy to say that my eldest gran ..read more

जय श्री राम ! ஸ்ரீ ராம ஜெயம் ! Hail Lord Rama! I have been following the news about Ayodhya for quite some time. Now that it has reached its date for प्राण प्रतिष्ठा (prANa pratishTHA) when the विग्रह (vigraha) will be ceremoniously consecrated, the internet has been inundated with content on Ayodhya. It has all reached a feverish pitch now, hasn’t it! I have been spending more time on checking out these videos than I should, I confess. Well, I couldn’t let the moment pass without posting a suitable song to celebrate the occasion. So here I am, rather sooner than normal! So, what have I learn ..read more

Note Before: I cannot write this post without mentioning how sad I am at the passing of O.S.Thyagarajan and Rashid Khan in recent weeks. The world of music has suffered a loss. I have only heard them online, not even once on a live stage, yet their passing has left me grieving. I am, at present, re-studying the Gita. I am told that death is no more than a change of clothes for the Atma. So why the grief? But there it is…and life goes on. My very best wishes to those who celebrate Pongal / Makara Sankranti! May the Gods bless all of us with abundance! Curious, I looked up a Tamil dictionary to ..read more

Yet one more year is coming to a close. Has it been a good one for you? 2023 was a hard one for me. I clung to my faith for strength. I honestly don’t know how people without faith manage! Thankfully, I have made it safely to the end of this year with God’s blessings. I am sharing my story with you, my dear readers, in the hope that those with major health issues may take heart from it. It’s a long story; if you only want the music, just jump on to the end! This post is about me and so is the picture. Taken in October 2023, in front of Ma Durga. But first, a very Happy New Year to all of you ..read more

Happy Deepavali/Diwali to all! Today, I come with a story for you, my dear readers! This story is from a time before time, so long ago that even time has forgotten when. Or perhaps, it is a story which happens every day in the minds of each one of us mortals. There is one heroine, the great Goddess, Adishakti, she who is the Original Power. Or perhaps there are many heroines, starting with Maha-Lakshmi, Maha-Kali and Maha-Saraswati, followed by many other Shaktis. The villains are many, from Madhu, Kaitabha, Shumbha, Nishumbha, Dhumralochana, Raktabija, Chanda, Munda, Durdhara, Durmukha, to n ..read more

I am sitting on the floor, ‘reading’ a book to my grandson as he sits across from me. He gets up, turns his back to me, wiggles his little bottom closer and plonks down on my lap, saying ‘oolf‘ as he points to a picture of a wolf. I smile to myself, hugging him close. This little one likes a cuddle as much as I like cuddling. Match made in heaven! As I watch him, I feel so very proud and happy! I am delighted to report that he can name almost all the domesticated and wild animals in his book of animals, counts to ten, makes a fair attempt at a few nursery rhymes, communicates well in two-or-t ..read more

Namaskarams to all my readers! After nearly one year, I have come back to announce the birth of yet another grandchild! A few weeks ago, my daughter gave birth to her third little boy and my fourth grandson. My heart is so full of joy! To love and be loved by my grandchildren seems to me like the greatest gift I have been given in my life. I am so very grateful for this privilege. My relationship with my latest bundle of joy started in October last year. Deep in my daily meditation, I had a glimpse of a little child, toddling up to me with hands held high asking to be carried. Afterwards, I t ..read more

I wish you all a very happy Deepavali / Deewali! May the Gods all enlighten us just as the fireworks light up the skies around the world! Checking back on old posts, I see that I have celebrated the stories of the destruction of Narakasura by Krishna, and the return of Rama to Ayodhya. So this year, my homage is to Goddess Lakshmi who is worshipped during this festival in many parts of India. It is said that Deepavali is the day she was born from the oceans. I am sure all of you know the story, but allow me to tell it again. It is the story of समुद्र मन्थन (Samudra Manthana) from the Bhagavat ..read more