2020 leads us to a swivel over 2021


A year that began ,
With many a promises ,
It uplifted our hopes ,
Only to bring all to a halt ,
With just one blow,
Life came to a standstill ,
Till we picked up the pieces ,
Rising to the occasion ,
Courage and Strength ,
On an all time high ,
An energised Spirit ,
To move on ....
Building a life with different norms ,
The weak became strong ,
The strong needed support ,
A human mechanism which which worked on a elusive system ,
A time to retrospect ,
Hidden talents to surface ,
Inspite of loosing many a dear ones ,
Stability of family connect,
Bond of friendship became impregnable,
Nature went for a facelift ,
To rejuvenate ,
To breathe again .
A year that has taught us ,
Never to loose faith,
A Balance needs to be maintained ,
In every aspect ,
This is the key learning of 2020 ,
Farewell , to a teacher that taught what no other year could have ,
Let's give 2021 a raised eyebrow welcome -
Expecting much and yet ,
Knowing nothing !

My cracked Mug !

A few ceramic mugs , all similar looking from the outside but insides glazed with different colours. 

Few months back I saw a crack in one of the mugs. The first thought was to throw it , albeit,decided against it. After all , there was no seepage ! A few week later I noticed a small chip on the mug  , however , the mug held its own! It’s presence in my life could not be ignored. It was uncanny , how no matter who handed me a mug or I pulled out a mug , the mug that almost always found its way towards me ,was , the cracked Mug! 

And therein comes my analysis ! 

This Mug  is my alter ego ! A constant reminder on how similar we both are !

It’s a constant reminder that we both might look perfect from  the outside ,almost flawless, and yet there are the cracks and the chips , which very few notice or see. Unobserved by most , every crack , every chip has a story to tell. 

The same would hold true for a few others too , we only see the impeccable side , the powerhouse , that holds within itself all that it is bestowed with - till we notice the Chink that creates Music! 

I hold on to my cracked , resilient Mug! My alter ego ! The Mug that is functional & has a purpose , inspite of the cracks and the chips! 

 

To Indulge !

A lockdown relaxed ! 

Life limps into normalcy ! 

An outing after eight months !

Feels like a child delivered !

Every pain , every emergency , every hardship forgotten ! 

A simple evening out !

Social distancing at it best !

A cup of mint tea !

Wind blowing across your face !

Horses trotting with their riders !

With a purpose in mind !

Jogger’s with their determined stride !

Kids play along with their mask on !

A buzz , an energy of well being !

And that’s when you say ! 

Life is beautiful ! 

The Web !

The sky is the Limit !

The sky changes shades , 

Like humans change Emotions   

Mysterious beauty of the sky , 

Like masked dexterity of  humans , 

A constant change , 

A surprising revelation , 

An obeisance  to magic , 

A window to what was always within , 

A glimpse into what we possess, 

A moment in time , that shall never come back. 

@Alibag beach 

Photo credit : friends 

Say no to paper, save a Tree!

Travelogue happens only with Serious about Sabbatical!!!
http://ritasvita.blogspot.com/
Your own Experience will Reveal the most refreshing Wisdom!
http://anytimewisdom.blogspot.com/

Lockdown,!

While-

The Dawn shimmers , 

The Roads take a breather from the density , 

Mother Earth rejuvenates , 

Nature replenishes , 

Birds sing carefree in smogless sky, 

Animals walk dauntless on the land that once belonged to them, 

Work takes a Pause , 

When the crow spots the Wine  for his cheese ,

Places of worship revel in their solitude , 

The buildings watch the serene city , 

Meanwhile , The Humans - 

Learn to live with their family , 

Learn to explore their creative talent , 

Learn to appreciate,

Learn to forgive , 

Learn to be empathetic, 

Learn to accept flaws , 

Learn to listen to their heartbeat , 

Learn not to take anything/ anyone for granted , 

Learn to give a helping hand , 

Learn contentment in meagre , 

Learn peace in the quietude , 

Learn the meaning of Balance , 

Find Happiness in the most unexpected , 

Understand Love is overflowing , sorrow is temporary,, 

Life is Beautiful , 

Every moment is to be lived , 

Every experience is wisdom ! 

• ritasvita 

Offerings for Maha Shivaratri Puja!



     

Maha Shivaratri , celebrated on the 14^thday of the month of Phalgun (February-March). The darkest night of the month , when devotee's pray to Lord Shiva, for a spiritual awakening.

Every year, Mom follows these ritual &traditions, religiously! This year was no different. She got the ready packet of offerings for the puja from the flower shop. The two main essentials for Shiva puja are the Bel leaves &  Datura fruits. This year , we got a ripe Datura, which split open the next day, releasing the numerous seeds on the Thali. We have never seen a split Datura before & this was quite a revelation. The outer spiky exterior is a complete contrast to the soft insides, And the seeds are also soft, and look like sprout. Wanting to put up these pictures for others to see, I decided to do a quick exploration on the elements that are a must for Maha Shivratri puja. What I should have also done , sprinkle the seeds on a planter & wait for the seed to become a flowering plan !

Lord Shiva, Adiyogi ( the first Guru), the hermit of Mount Kailash, clad in animal skin, is worshipped by his devotee's with Love , Devotion in their heart & offerings, which are closely associated with Lord Shiva. 

So, a quick peek into what they are & their connection to Lord Shiva.

1.The leaves of Bel Patta (Aegle maramelos) & fruit:

Bel leaves are important as their trifoliate shape signifies Shiva's three eyes (the creation, destruction and preservation) as well as the three spokes of the Trishul . Since they have a cooling effect, they are offered to the Shivalinga to soothe this hot-tempered deity. According to Skanda Purana Bel tree originated from the sweat of Goddess Lakshmi or Parvathi which had fallen on the mountain Mandra.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegle_marmelos

2. Chandan (sandal wood):

Similar to Bel Patta , water and Chandan paste is applied to Shiv linga to keep it cool and calm, since Shiva is considered to be in a highly blazing state.

3. Bhang (Cannabis):

As per logic & belief , Lord Shiva kept himself intoxicated with bhang to meditate for long duration and stay warm. It is also believed that bhang helped him in controlling his anger and thus keeping the world safe from his destructive power.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhang

4. Yellow Kaner flower (Cascabela thevetina):

Yellow Kaner, with similar properties as the Bhang ,  immensely liked by Shiva is also offered during worship.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascabela_thevetia

5. Ber fruit (Ziziphus mauritiana):

It is symbolic of longevity and gratification of desires.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziziphus_mauritiana

6. Datura ( Devils trumpet) - the White colour flower & fruit:

According to the Vamana Purana, Daturais believed to appear from the chest of God Shiva. Shiva, the Neelkanth, who drank poison for the welfare of the world during the churning of the cosmic ocean ( Samudra Manthan ) between Dev and Asur. Therefore, Datura is offered to Shiva to get rid of toxic emotions & nature. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura

7.Flowers of Madar/Aak flower ( Calotropis):

This white flower with bluish tinge matches the bluish hue of Shiva's throat, however , it is the pure white ( not as wild as the bluish one ) , that is offered. As is with Datura, the milky fluid of this plant can be poisonous & at the same time, it has medicinal quality, Its offered for Peace & prosperity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calotropis_gigantea

 8. Rudraksha beads: The Tear of Lord Shiva

As per Shiva Purana, Lord Shiva once went into deep meditation & when he opened his eyes, tear drops fell on the Earth. These tear drops took the form of Rudraksha tree. Rudraksha beads, are used for prayers , since they possess powerful electromagnetic and inductive properties & brings auspiciousness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudraksha

Insight:

We can give offerings of what Shiva symbolizes or what makes him who he is, with hope & faith that we can follow a spiritual path . Positivity & Negativity are within us - Poison ( of all elements) to be caged ( as Shiva has in his throat) & positive qualities to be imbibed!

An interesting Read :

The Legend & significance : 

https://www.artofliving.org/mahashivratri/significance-of-mahashivratri

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratri