Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
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/
Friday, April 3, 2020
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
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Offerings for Maha Shivaratri Puja!
Maha Shivaratri , celebrated on the 14thday 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.
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.
4. Yellow Kaner flower (Cascabela thevetina):
Yellow Kaner, with similar properties as the Bhang , immensely liked by Shiva is also offered during worship.
5. Ber fruit (Ziziphus mauritiana):
It is symbolic of longevity and gratification of desires.
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.
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.
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.
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 :
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Retrospection & Concinnate of 2019 , as we atiptoe into 2020 !
Glimpses , Photographs that make for perfect memories ( so , a google album was created ) . A year with many a first , a year with many a loved ones leaving us & maybe a few souls that have come back as new borns of this year. Many of you will be a part of this album , a few are a part without being here - almost all pictures have a caption.
The year capitulate's into the year that it is , because of our Choices , our strength , our focus & the company we keep. Our lives are entwined, with our karmic & cosmic soul connects - what would we do without you !
2019 , is enshrined with special memories of each departed soul. An appreciation for each individual who is such an enteral part of our lives. Life is short , give it your very best, make each moment special ! Wish you all , a peaceful , healthy & ebullient, 2020 ! Love - RRR
"As long as you feel pain, you're still alive. As long as you make mistakes, you're still human. And as long as you keep trying, there's still hope. Never give up on yourself and never abandon your dreams." -Susan Gale
In Peace : Jayesh's mom , Shashi's mom , Chhaya's ( Chandel) mom, Nancy Donner , Heena Aunty , Hema Mausi , Sanjay Huria's dad, Mala's Mom , Puneet, his grandson Nav, daughter Palak & her husband Palkesh.
The year capitulate's into the year that it is , because of our Choices , our strength , our focus & the company we keep. Our lives are entwined, with our karmic & cosmic soul connects - what would we do without you !
2019 , is enshrined with special memories of each departed soul. An appreciation for each individual who is such an enteral part of our lives. Life is short , give it your very best, make each moment special ! Wish you all , a peaceful , healthy & ebullient, 2020 ! Love - RRR
"As long as you feel pain, you're still alive. As long as you make mistakes, you're still human. And as long as you keep trying, there's still hope. Never give up on yourself and never abandon your dreams." -Susan Gale
In Peace : Jayesh's mom , Shashi's mom , Chhaya's ( Chandel) mom, Nancy Donner , Heena Aunty , Hema Mausi , Sanjay Huria's dad, Mala's Mom , Puneet, his grandson Nav, daughter Palak & her husband Palkesh.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
A Dog at our Door on Diwali Night ??? Really ?
A festive Diwali evening makes a steady progress towards midnight. Puja , Chants , Dinner & some interesting conversations, comes to an end. Farewell time & we see a surprise visitor sitting outside our home.
A Dog guarding our door ! He is one of the few stray dogs who belongs to our street. Another look at his soulful eyes & we see his very anxious expression , saying , " please let me stay , do not ask me to go ! "
How he has managed to slip past the night watchman is beyond us & find our corridor , as his safe haven , away from the frightening crackers.
Is he here because he is unnerved with the crackers bursting or is he here as our acclamatory omen? Or Both ? We shall just acknowledge him as a sign of a positive harbinger !
Did you know ,In the pre-Vedic era, dogs were regarded as auspicious. It was believed that deities assumed the form of dogs.
Dogs can be either wild or tame, thereby representing the qualities of fidelity, devotion & courage. They have a sharp auditory capability , a capacity of great love and compassion, which at most times is beyond the comprehension of us , mere mortals . Cultivating these qualities , according to the Vedic belief , helps human go beyond their physical and bodily limitations to realising the Absolute Truth!
As a few legends go :
*** A dog was always seen with Saibaba. The dog acts as his emissary.
*** In guise of a Dog , God of Dharma ,went to Heavens with Yudhisthira ( the eldest Pandava ).
*** There is also the four Dogs that accompany Lord Dattatreya ( a combination of the Holy Trinity , of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva ). Since He is a form of Shiva , the Adi Guru , Dogs symbolise the virtue of a perfect student , due to their power to Listen, being alert & orientation to the sound of Silence !
These 4 dogs represent :
The 4 Vedas: - Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yayur Veda and Atharva Veda
The 4 Yugas: Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga.
The 4 States of Sound : Para (beyond), Pasyanti (perception); Madhyama (conception), Vaikhari (vocal)
And a Fact :
In Nepal & Assam, the 5 days of Tihar aka Diwali ,shows reverence to not just elders and gods, but also to animals namely crows, dogs, and cows , who have a strong connect with humans. Kukur Tihar is a day when the Dogs are worshipped & they are treated with full respect , honour & pampered !
A Dog is unique & the Human bond, special since forever !
"The Spiritual attitude of Man depends on his Attitude towards a Dog"!
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Significance of the Aapta/Sona leaf on Dusherra.
Every festival is an amalgamation of impressive Ritual's & Tradition's . Distinctive Symbolization guided by the spiritual, religious & practical significance, many being peculiar to the State where its celebrated!
Typical of Maharashtra, our first exposure to the exchanging of Sona (Gold) leaves, on Dusherra, was, while in school. Since then, I continue to look forward to this offering & receiving of Sona, amongst family & friends. If we did visit a temple, the Priest too would give us a few leaves! The childish happiness at counting the number of leaves we had received, if the leaves are conjoined, not damaged ….. somewhere, even then, we were hoping that the simple Leaves would be converted into real thing or maybe someday, we would receive the real Gold leaves!
To add some weightage to this absurdity, one of my Blessings this year was – May you Prosper with Health, Happiness & next year, make sure give me a real Gold Leaf! The immediate response (expected in a way), was," You are thinking about yourself " …. To which my simple answer was," I am thinking of you, if you don't prosper, how will you manage to get me the gold leaf"! Age and experience, give’s absurdity, a conscious insight!
However, with the passage of time, I do feel, this exchange has declined, the excitement missing (mostly in cities, is my presumption)! And for the first time in so many years, I wanted to know the significance behind this tradition.
So, here goes …..
Ritual
On Dusherra day, people worship the Aapta tree or sona-tree (Bauhinia recemosa) and exchanging its leaves. The leaves symbolize gold (as the name Sona, suggests).
The tree is also worshipped with the following mantra, for a prosperous future.
Ashmantak Mahavruksha MahadoshnivaranI
Istana darshanm dehi kuru shtruvinashnamII
Roughly translated : O great Aapta (Ashmantak) tree, you are the one who overcomes great defects. Unite me with my friends and destroy my foes
Tradition & Legend
**As per one tradition, on winning a war, the victorious Maratha's , returned home with good deal of gold. These soldiers were welcomed home by their wives and sisters with Aarti. In return, the soldiers gave them some gold ornaments & the rest was given as offerings at the temple, seeking, blessing of the Deities and Elder.
**This other tradition, is based on a mythological legend. Kautsa, the son of a Brahmin, insists on paying Guru Dakshina to his guru, Rishi Varatantu, after completing his education. The rishi refuses to accept dakshina, but on Kautsa's insistence, asks him to give him 140 million gold coins. Kautsa requests King Raghu of Ayodhya, for the gold coins, who prays to Lord Indra, asking for a solution. Indra instruct's Kuber, the god of wealth, to shower gold coins on the Aapta tree's of Ayodhya. These coins are then collected by Kautsa and offered to his Guru and remaining to the poor people of Ayodhya. This is why the leaves of this tree are referred to as gold.
Commercial & Medicinal Use's
~~~~These leaves are also called Bidi leaves because the leaves are used for making bidis. But what many don't know is the medicinal uses of these leaves. Here are some scientific research studies that elaborate on the same:
~~~~They help fight bacterial and fungal infection's. They help fight asthma .They help fight diabetes.
A few Details
Martha's - people of Maharashtra
Aarti - a prayer sung with the waving of a lamp
Aapta tree : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhinia_racemosa
Google, in case ! : https://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/vijayadashmi-triumph-righteousness
To add some weightage to this absurdity, one of my Blessings this year was – May you Prosper with Health, Happiness & next year, make sure give me a real Gold Leaf! The immediate response (expected in a way), was," You are thinking about yourself " …. To which my simple answer was," I am thinking of you, if you don't prosper, how will you manage to get me the gold leaf"! Age and experience, give’s absurdity, a conscious insight!
However, with the passage of time, I do feel, this exchange has declined, the excitement missing (mostly in cities, is my presumption)! And for the first time in so many years, I wanted to know the significance behind this tradition.
So, here goes …..
Ritual
On Dusherra day, people worship the Aapta tree or sona-tree (Bauhinia recemosa) and exchanging its leaves. The leaves symbolize gold (as the name Sona, suggests).
The tree is also worshipped with the following mantra, for a prosperous future.
Ashmantak Mahavruksha MahadoshnivaranI
Istana darshanm dehi kuru shtruvinashnamII
Roughly translated : O great Aapta (Ashmantak) tree, you are the one who overcomes great defects. Unite me with my friends and destroy my foes
Tradition & Legend
**As per one tradition, on winning a war, the victorious Maratha's , returned home with good deal of gold. These soldiers were welcomed home by their wives and sisters with Aarti. In return, the soldiers gave them some gold ornaments & the rest was given as offerings at the temple, seeking, blessing of the Deities and Elder.
**This other tradition, is based on a mythological legend. Kautsa, the son of a Brahmin, insists on paying Guru Dakshina to his guru, Rishi Varatantu, after completing his education. The rishi refuses to accept dakshina, but on Kautsa's insistence, asks him to give him 140 million gold coins. Kautsa requests King Raghu of Ayodhya, for the gold coins, who prays to Lord Indra, asking for a solution. Indra instruct's Kuber, the god of wealth, to shower gold coins on the Aapta tree's of Ayodhya. These coins are then collected by Kautsa and offered to his Guru and remaining to the poor people of Ayodhya. This is why the leaves of this tree are referred to as gold.
Commercial & Medicinal Use's
~~~~These leaves are also called Bidi leaves because the leaves are used for making bidis. But what many don't know is the medicinal uses of these leaves. Here are some scientific research studies that elaborate on the same:
~~~~They help fight bacterial and fungal infection's. They help fight asthma .They help fight diabetes.
A few Details
Martha's - people of Maharashtra
Aarti - a prayer sung with the waving of a lamp
Aapta tree : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhinia_racemosa
Google, in case ! : https://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/vijayadashmi-triumph-righteousness
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