Pearl droplets

As we flip through the pages of our rich history, we find that man has thrived on outdoing his contemporaries. He had little time to reason relationships and crushed his peers and foes alike mercilessly. All the chapters in the history book suggest that trust and amity were virtues unknown to him. Yet there seem to pages in that book that have a different shade and set examples for us. Let us browse through them.

The name ‘Karna’ is always spelt ‘friendship’ and ‘trust’. It is common knowledge that Karna and Duryodhana exemplified friendship. But did you know that Duryodhana’s wife Banumathi and Karna too were good friends? Well, yes they were, and this episode revolves around these three.

For a few days during the ‘Ritu kaal’ Karna stayed at Hasthinapura, the Kaurava capital. The ornate palace was a kingdom by itself. It would take days for any human to adore the number of rooms and their embellishments. Yet, Karna and Duryodhana preferred rooms in close proximity with each other. Set on a peaceful blue base, the mattress and headrest all sheathed with tiger skin were fit for a warrior of the cadre of Karna. The ambience of the whole enclosure was amplified with flamboyant paintings, paintings of brave hunts, war and blood. In all this rugged festooning, a cool zephyr maintained its visit to the chamber. The curtains, green in color, laced with gold threads, separated the room from the outside. It would but take another page to elucidate Duryodhana’s abode.

Royal feasts are known not only for their excellence in driving the taste buds to their extremity of pleasure, but also in rendering dizzying sleep to all those who have enjoyed it. Different as he was, Karna couldn’t however enjoy the siesta and was on his bed staring at the non-moving ‘punkah’, trying to visualize the clean blue sky that lay beyond.

Banumathi, feeling as bored, joined Karna in his room. She was as gorgeous as ever. Her pure white skin could hardly get a breath from the outside as jewels covered every inch of it. The Kundalis, with emeralds, armlets and golden choodies, with intricate exhibitions of art on them, were but examples of the exquisite. Her anklets brought pride unto themselves adorning her scented feet. The long pearl necklace and black elegant silk robe were but made for each other.

Karna, glad to have to have somebody to talk to, invited her in. He started narrating the hunting experiences he and Duryodhana had the other day. He followed that with another anecdote and another and soon both of them were engrossed in a deep conversation. Banumathi took her turn too, narrating a hilarious incident and peals of laughter rented the otherwise serene air. Guffaws and conversations alternated and took a travel along with the drifting breeze.

Duryodhana woke from his nap and looked around for his consort. Her gurgling laughter could reach his ears and he followed its scent. As they led to his friend’s room, he walked gracefully towards it and paused briefly near the green curtains.

Banumathi was quick to notice her husband and started to get up. Karna deeply engrossed in the dialogue and oblivious to his friend’s presence, was disturbed by the abrupt gesture of Banumathi. He had more time to dispense with and more to talk about. His hands reached out to stop the leaving Banumathi but caught hold of her pearl necklace instead. It soon gave way to a shower of pearls dropping on the mirror polished floor, the reverberation of which echoed through the palace. It was only then that Karna became aware of his friend’s presence.

Feelings of embarrassment run high in both Karna’s and Banumathi’s minds. Though actions may be white and pure, their interpretation are often stained. Both were worried and feared this same stain from this unprecedented triviality. Seconds ticked by, but seemed like ages. The silence seemed to kill.

The unease ceased as Duryodhana calmly walked and started collecting the strewn pearls. Briefly pausing, he looked up and asked, ”Do you want me to string these for you again, dear?”

Now, Duryodhana trusted his friend and wife more than he trusted himself. If history showed Duryodhana as an example for Adharma, what words would it have for us in its pages…

the end!!!

This is a short essay that my friend and I wrote in our school days:



The door to wisdom is knocked by an inquisitive brain.
Every time he asks a question, his mind races into a maze of amazing intricacies, each waiting to be solved. Material development is achieved by reasoning, in any field. Yet there exist some intangible things in the world about which numerous unanswered questions have been asked. One such aspect is the Eternal Sleep.

The questions on Death increase by octaves as one moves towards it and a perspective of a commoner like us wondering what it is, lies in us trying to answer four simple questions
Why, when, how and what.

Why…
Because it is inevitable. A beginning is well defined only with an end. Life continues deteriorating with time and hence at some point it must come to a standstill. The only thing that is definite for us on this earth, as soon as we are born and also throughout our life is Death itself. Death not only completes life but also breathes meaning into our existence. Life spent on Lust, Wrath, Anguish and turbulence is too fragile to survive, and may be death catalyses the freedom of our soul from vicious shackles of earthly existence.

When…
Statistical life span of man, scales the average time a human manages to spend on this earth. But what death means is the cessation of life. This meaning could imply not to the physical death that one tends to ‘measure’. Death in itself has a different definition. A man could literally die many a time in his single life on earth. We are still in search of the Bard’s ‘courageous man who lives only once’. Probably thoughts of this dimension kill the hope and faith on existence. This implies that precious life may be spent on pensiveness precipitating dejection and boredom. So, drop this question and live your life as He wants you to.

How…
Death finds many ways to divulge its presence. Technology might shift the blame on wars, disasters, or epidemics, but we know they were the fruits of our own seed. Death, definite as it is, shows sympathy only in its modus operandi. People die unaware of the process, or tread on the eternal journey through a path of agony and suffering. If it’s the same death that happens to both, it is obvious to ask the question, “Why the difference?”. Because death is a great leveler. We tally all our accounts and dues before we pack our bags.

What…
When man started out afresh in this large terrain he wondered what would follow the bright sun, the lovely day, enabling him to see the green around him. He was horrified visualizing what was in store for him among the dark horizon and dying sky, but when night arrived, his fear vanished with the sunset, dying with the rising of the moon. He smiled and said,
“If night be so lovely, then lovelier still to be, I expect DEATH…”

the virgo/libra cusp

This is just a copy and paste of an online article. If you know me just ask urself how much of this s*** is true.

Virgo/LibraSeptember 19 to September 23
Virgo is the sixth sign of the zodiac; Libra is the seventh. Virgo/Libras strive to create balance and harmony between themselves and others. They bring their skills and talents together for the good of others. Despite their inherent modesty, those born on the Virgo/Libra cusp are industrious and efficient when working for a good cause. Objective and just, Virgo/Libras are excellent arbitrators and enjoy lots of friends. The astrological symbol of Virgo is the Virgin; Libra is represented by the Scales. Virgo/Libras abhor unfairness and conflict, striving above all for peace, but at times they are easily deterred from their beliefs. They are able to see all sides of an argument, but as their mental scales sway back and forth, they may never find balance and can become fickle and indecisive. They are skilled at seeing all sides of a situation, which is an expression of Virgo's mutable quality. Virgo/Libras are skilled at initiating group projects. In this way, the cardinal quality of Libra is exemplified. When Virgo/Libras set goals for themselves, they are determined to succeed. This astrological combination tends to be about other people rather than personal development. They are socially inclined and charming, but their focus is about smaller-scale projects and individuals. Because of Virgo's association with individuals and health, and Libra's innate interest in others, many Virgo/Libras are drawn toward careers in medicine. Virgo is ruled by the planet Mercury. In ancient Roman mythology, Mercury (and his Greek equivalent, Hermes) was the messenger god. He was a quick, nervous type, and he was known for his strong reasoning and ability to analyze. Communication is his province. As a planet, Mercury is androgynous. Libra is ruled by the planet Venus. In ancient Roman mythology, Venus (and her Greek equivalent, Aphrodite) was the goddess of love, beauty and pleasure. She represented joy, happiness and appreciation of beautiful things and people. Libra is the masculine, or day, aspect of Venus; Taurus is the feminine, or night aspect. Virgo/Librans are happiest when they're in a relationship. They are seductive and attractive, and their cultural awareness and talkative nature help them shine in the social situations they so enjoy. They tend to explore subjects deeply and are very good at understanding the deeper meaning of what others say. Many Virgo/Libras have an excellent head for business, relying on logic rather than ego or emotion to make their deals. They are reliable, practical, diligent, controlled and rational. The element associated with Virgo is Earth. The element associated with Libra is Air. Virgo/Libras tend to respond to the world with intellect and by examining the worth of each possible response. Their intellectual orientation to the world around them makes them skilled at communication and abstract reasoning, and their intelligence combines with their interest in others to become an intellectual exploration of the people around them. Because of their responsibility and attention to detail, those born on the Virgo/Libra cusp tend to be perfectionists. They may worry about small details, but this is often necessary when attempting to be as fair and diplomatic as possible. They are team workers, skilled at cooperative action, but they can also be self-doubting. Open-minded and always polite, they have a strong sense of loyalty because of their ability to put themselves into the shoes of others. Virgo/Libras love to debate but not to quarrel; a fine distinction that is nonetheless very important. They are kind and considerate, and they rarely display anger. Instead, they may employ subtle means of getting even when their strong sense of fairness and legality, or their refined sensitivities, are violated. They tend to be somewhat health-conscious, which ensures they take good care of themselves and their loved ones. In their leisure time, Virgo/Libras often turn their interest in health into an exercise or fitness program. However, they have a definite lazy streak, preferring to read and go out with friends. Exercise generally appeals to them only if it is effective and allows socializing at the same time. Some have a particular affinity for activities that let them get out in nature, such as hiking and horseback riding. In love relationships, Virgo/Libras are playful, romantic and devoted. The great strength of the Virgo/Libra-born is in their attention to detail and their desire to be of service. They pick up on the little things that most others miss. Their drive for peace and harmony and their ability to obtain balance and cooperation from a disparate group is unparalleled. Their skill at seeing all sides of a situation makes them one of the most just characters of the zodiac.

running behind a word

Sometimes we get fascinated by a sentence, a word or a style with which it is delivered. I was watching a movie the other day when I came across a word that caught my attention. "mm...how 'lacanian'" goes a dialogue in the movie referring to sharon stone. ok,, now u must have guessed the movie. As anybody watching the movie in a laptop would do, I sought google's help to find an appropriate synonym.
Somehow the word had a sense of erudition as well as some mystique attached to it and hence my inquisitiveness. All google could offer me was that the word derived its source to a french physcoanalyst Jacques Lacan and the explanations were getting more ambigous with each page sited online. I just didnt want to let go of the word yet and hence shot an email to a professor at the society for lacanian studies and I am quoting her reply below:

" Jacques Lacan was a French psychoanalyst who began a 'return to Freud' direction in France, in contrast to the so-called neo-Freudians, who Lacan thought were going backwards and had missed the genius of Freud, meaning his discovery of the unconscious,infantile sexuality and the logic of dreams. Lacan cut a controversial
figure in the psychoanalytic circles while he was around, that lingers. If you know anything about Freud, you won't have any problem getting the point of Lacan, but if psychoanalysis doesn't interest you, then Lacan won't."

I am just looking forward for an occasion to put to use my new found word.

The greatest wealth in this world

I am dedicating my first blog to a friend who changed the way I view life. Unfortunately he is no more in this world, but his memories remain with those who were blessed to have known him. He taught me a very important lesson, one which I hope everyone realizes before its too late.

The mazes of your life take you for a spin,
and at times u succumb and give in
before late you are deep in a trance
chasin fame or fortune givin love no chance.

have u ever been loved by someone?
not ur lady, not ur kin,
but he called himself and so did u-
to no end
your best friend.

I had one. cheerful guy he was
his friendship so pure and givin
always liftin me up when i was down
filled colors in my shades of grey

seasons grew and so did we
drifting apart i went on with me
lost him and made friends anew
the memories vanished like the morning dew

time flies fast, when u r chasing green.
u remember ppl uve long left lean
once ppl around u are leavin
realise your folly and start healin

but i come to know
hes no longer here
atleast not in this mean world
i just have a note he wrote to me just before leavin
it said "i missed u a lot"

my head spins, my heart starts sinking
i wish then that i was better dyin
i toss in the river all my dimes
sorry my friend, pls forgive me...
when i write on you i cant even rhyme

so when life takes you around
never let ur soul off the ground
or ull be left like me
with no thoughts , dead at heart
ur mind and body far far apart