My Goddess Durga!

Today is Shashthi - Sixth Day and the very auspicious last few days of Navratri begin ..... my passive Bengali instincts are working overtime and I would like to salute Maa Durga - the most powerful form of Shakti !

For me, my mother is my very own Maa Durga and I bow before her to grant me health, knowledge, wisdom, courage and peace for the year to come and I call upon her to always be my Guardian Angel and silently show me the path to righteousness and true prosperity ! I shall always count on her to bless my family and friends to help them achieve true happiness.

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Vishnu-mayeti sadbita,

Namas Tasyai Namas Tasyai Namas Tasyai Namo Namah !

To that Goddess who in all beings is called Vishnu Maya,

Salutations, Salutations and Salutations to Thee again and again!

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Buddhi rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ......

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Nidra rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Kshudha rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Chhaya rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Shakti rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Trishna rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Kshama rupen samsthita ..... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Lajja rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Shanti rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Shraddha rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Kanti rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai .....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Lakshmi rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Vritti rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Smriti rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Daya rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Tushti rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Matri rupen samsthita .... Namas Tasyai ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Intelligence,

Salutations, Salutations and Salutations to Thee again and again!

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Sleep,

Salutations .....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Hunger,

Salutations .....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Reflection,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Power,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Thirst,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Forgiveness,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Modesty,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Peace,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Faith,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Loveliness,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Good Fortune,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Activity,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Memory,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Compassion,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as Contentment,

Salutations ....

To that Goddess who abides in all beings as MOTHER,

Salutations .....

Sant Kabir ....

I have been really influenced with the Sufi Philosophy of Sant Kabir and I would like to share this blog link which attempts to fathom the depths of his teachings in a simple and lucid manner.
http://maybemay.blogspot.com/search/label/Kabir

One of the posts titled "Maya - Maha Thugini" is quite thought provoking yet soothing indeed! The original lines composed by Sant Kabir defines Maya or Illusion in a manner challenging even the age old religious scriptures which have always defined Maya as an ultimate Distraction which hampers Realisation. Sant Kabir compares her to Gods and Goddesses and makes one realise that Maya or Worldly Illusion cannot be ignored .... One has to bow before her and accept the disruptive elements she bears instead of challenging her. It's link is as below:

/maybemay.blogspot.com/2009/04/kabir-maya-maha-thugini.html#links

Reminds me of a few lines from the film "Chitralekha" which she sings in response to Swami ji addressing her as a characterless prostitute lost from the path of GOD:

संसार से भागे फिरते हो , भगवान् को तुम क्या पाओगे।

इस लोक को भी अपना न सके, उस लोक में भी पछताओगे।

यह पाप है क्या, यह पुण्य है क्या?रीतों पर धर्म की मुहरें हैं।

हर युग में बदलते धर्मों को, कैसे आदर्श बनाओगे?

संसार से .....

यह भोग भी एक तपस्या है, तुम त्याग के मारे क्या जानो?

अपमान रचेता का होगा, रचना को अगर ठुकराओगे।

संसार से .....

हम कहते हैं यह जग अपना है, तुम कहते हो झूठा सपना है।

हम जनम बिताकर जायेंगे, तुम जनम गंवाकर जाओगे।

संसार से ....

About GOD !

Dear K~,

As you keep growing, you will be exposed to a multi-faith based society and many schools of thought on GOD. I encourage you to form your own views after having absorbed even the tiniest detail around you.

For me, GOD is Spirit - Soul, Endless Energy which can be rightfully experienced through Spirituality. We often confuse Spirituality with Religion. Believing in the Almighty does not always imply that one fasts on each sacred day of the religious calendar nor that a ceremonial worshipping session takes place every single day! The urge to worship should stem from the unconditional faith and love for HIM and not due to any kind of social pressure or force of habit.

I place someone who is in a constant state of joy, spreading smiles all around while performing even the most routine daily tasks (reminds me of Bharti Didi, our present maid!) on a higher spiritual plane than even the most impressive religious scholar indulging in unnecessary debate and sermon in a subtle effort to prove his superiority yet failing in basic human tenets of exchanging love and harmony. The pleasing and contributing disposition of the former is far more appealing and impressive because it silently nurtures and recharges every being around who then achieve higher goals in life having been placed in such a pacific mental and emotional state.

GOD for me does not always mean a photo or statue of a Hindu GOD or Jesus or Buddha whom I have been worshipping since childhood .... whenever I shut my eyes with deep reverence I behold many more faces .... the loving gaze of my lost Maa, the serene face of my best friend who heard my woes out one afternoon with patience, the happy face of the garbage collector after I rewarded him a hundred rupee note for returning me my wallet, one word of love and care from your Papa, the tight kiss planted by you this morning .... any intensely felt emotion assumes a divine form for me and I am filled with the strongest urge to remain in a constant state of bliss which only increases each time I do something to please the living world around me. For me, this is true prayer because I can see the tangible manifestation of HIM who comes to life in many forms instead of being buried in complex chapters of books or a still statue. The real meaning of prayer is divine communication which generates endless emotional, mental and physical energy .... liberates one of all woes of heart, mind and body!

I do not intend to challenge any faith, any worship method, books or gurus .... No! That's not my intention but for me GOD is a very private and personal experience which I fail to achieve in the crowded temples getting pushed by a rude policeman from one row to the other, silently watching a VIP being quietly ushered inside the altar by the priest .... true devotion for any guru is hard to generate when I am asked to offer a thousand rupee donation as a mandatory gesture .... when it can be better utilised to cover the shivering bodies in an attempt to sleep on the footpath of Nizamuddin Railway station .... the highly sanskritised slokas fail to ignite the same bhakti in me as the soulful bhajans of Meera Bai and Sant Kabir who never shunned even one soul from their abode based on caste or illness.For me, any thought or person invoking love and compassion becomes my GOD because I am inspired to perform good deeds.

Light an incense stick and read prayers only if it calms and soothes you every morning.

Draw strength in your weak and sad moments from my words and photo once I am gone from this world like I do remembering your Dida.

Don't nourish any hollow virtues based on the religious texts but live the smallest of your convictions to the fullest if they generate happiness and love around you.

Never hurt anyone and learn to forgive and forget .... it helps one to stay fixed on larger goals of life and focus on more consequential issues.

That will be a true prayer!

K~, I urge you to define your own GOD !

Stay Happy! My little girl ....

Love

Mumma

Marriages made in heaven ....

Meri Jaan! Mujhe Jaan na kaho Meri Jaan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhVt6wc6DF8

Maa loved this song which she kept humming very often .... a tune which stilled itself in my nascent mind forever and I love to sing it myself .... for it reminds me of very deep felt emotions! The song is from the black and white movie "Anubhav" directed by the very talented Basu Bhattacharya, fondly known as Basu da. After many years of obsession with this song, I decided to search it's roots which led to the discovery of the plot of this movie - Marital Discord. I read further and discovered that Basu da had infact created a trilogy of films on the same subject with three of his immortal films Anubhav(1971), Aavishkaar(1973) and Griha Pravesh(1979). Although, much has been said and written formally about these films, easily available all over the internet in the form of Synopsis, Critique and Reviews, I would still like to pen down my very own personal thoughts after having watched all three films .... This is MY blog which gives me immense freedom to express my own thoughts without the fear of getting subjected to any form of ceremonial Public Assessment.

Man and Woman ......

They are drawn towards each other, with a feeble attraction to begin with which grows in leaps and bounds, intensifying the urge to complement each other mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Days and nights pass like a wink of the eye, when they are obsessed with each other's thoughts and actions, emotions and decisions become life-mate bound. They formalise this symbiosis and companionship .... exchange vows and are wed together declaring their ownership on each other to the entire world anticipating that life shall always be as delightful as this moment, emotions shall always ride high and life will remain unabbreviated forever.

Years pass by ....

They struggle together with true dedication and aid for each other. Each morning brings a new ray of hope and every evening becomes a celebration of success ending with nights of passion. Glorious milestones are achieved both personally and professionally. Now, they either plan to make a family to escalate this joy and complete their life as Man and Wife or immerse themselves further in fresh ambition of higher self-esteem bordering materialism leaving very little time and space to continue with the expressions of love and aegis for each other.

Life seems fine .... complete and happy yet hit with subtle waves of alienation and desolation for each other! They discover they have lost out on the warmth and zest in their relationship.

Basu da has depicted this inevitable sequence of events very realistically in all the three films which I would like to summarize below:

Anubhav revolves around Meeta, played by Tanuja with such conviction that every married woman is likely to have a few deja vu moments. It traces the emotional struggle of Meeta to re-establish her lost love and affection for Amar, her husband for six years after going through tumultous phases of being lonely at home complicated with the reappearance of her ex-lover Shashi.

Aavishkaar depicts the domestic fights and differences between Amar and Mansi after being married for eight years with a baby. The story runs through one night with flashback scenes of their better past painted with romance and dating.

Grihapravesh plays the story of Amar and Mansi (Basu da had a fetish for these names I guess)who lead a frugal life in the hope of buying luxuries and flat with their savings soon, making their lives dull and mundane. Mansi turns unattractive and unkept after motherhood and Amar is attracted to Sapna, a young and effervescent modern office woman. Sapna insists Amar on getting married to her which he finally agrees upon believing that a fresh and exciting married life with Sapna outweighs his dull duties towards his family. Mansi buys a day's time from Amar and morphs herself into the sensuous, beautiful woman along with redoing the interiors of their rented home by getting it white washed and new furniture put in place.

All these plots bear resemblance with the present world around us. If one was to debate, there is no novelty in any of the stories above but what makes these simple films stand apart is the treatment given by the much talented director.

If I was to describe the essence of all these three films, a factor running common in all the three films in one single word, it would be HOPE. Yes! All these films generate hope and happiness in the end.

Be it a Meeta in Anubhav who literally baby sits her husband in his illness, has been completely dedicated to her husband fulfilling all his wishes and finally, crying her heart out while desperately trying to convince him to steer control of her disturbed present life with her past haunting her. Finally, she manages to revive the lost intimacy in her precariously placed marriage.

Or the Amar and Mansi in Aavishkaar who converse the entire night recalling their beautiful courtship .... and pondering together about their present state of affairs and finally vowing to make sincere efforts to revamp each other's lives.

Or the shy and introvert Mansi in Griha Pravesh who wins back her husband by reviving her physical beauty and her abilities to keep the home speckless, convincing him that she can indeed beat any modern day Sapna when it comes to provide true happiness and satisfaction because her beauty is not just skin deep and that her sexiness is divine .... ethereal and can still ignite the same passion in him like years ago!

These films do not attempt to potray any hollow virtues based on the much misinterpreted religious scriptures perpetuating male superiority over females nor create perfectly black and white characters .... Good and Bad! There is no moral classification of events and actions as Right or Wrong. There is no depiction of an aggrieved and helpless wife who is left in a miserable condition for the rest of her life because her husband deserted her and the son growing up to avenge her sob story against his father. Basu da has indeed created indubitably strong female characters with rightful desires and a will to live life happily being firmly grounded in family values.

What makes these movies set in the 70's so contemporary even today is the real life treatment of the characters - both male and female. The plots were very bold and only seasoned actors like Tanuja, Sharmila Tagore, Sarika, Late Sanjeev Kumar and Rajesh Khanna could have justified them with their subtle yet convincing acting skills.

These films do not promise any quick-fix solutions like a marriage counsellor would do towards ending marital discord but presents such situations in a realistic manner and instills the dying confidence in the minds of present world that each relationship needs time, care and honesty. It forces one to recall the strengths of his/her life partner which was alluring enough to inspire marriage and instills confidence that the same magic and charm can be recreated if sincerely attempted! It reminds each one of us that we all are human with our moments of weakness and they should be utilised to strengthen ourselves further rather than being lead into the darkness of guilt and social stigma.

It enlivens the age old proverb that says - "There is nothing as weak as a virtue that has not been tested in the fire of temptation."

(Sadly, Basu da lived through an unsuccessful marriage himself and was charged with domestic violence and neglect by his own wife. It perhaps explains his obsession with the subject and his creative efforts to find answers for a failed marriage .... a confession .... or catharsis?)