elephant football

Child's wish

Entharo Mahanu Bhavulu

This is one of the most beautiful Karnatic classicals. If you understand the meaning while you listen, it's awesome. This kriti is supposed to have been spontaneously composed by saint Thyagaraja when he saw great people (Mahatmas, his guru-like souls) assembled in a hall as he entered. This is one of the Pancharatna kriti. This Telugu kriti speaks of nothing other than his beloved Sri Rama--the Lord of Thyagaraja.

Raagam: shree (22 kharaharapriya janya),
Aarohanam: S R2 M1 P N2 S
Avarohanam: S N2 P D2 N2 P M1 R2 G2 R2 S
taaLam: aadi
Composer: Tyaagaraaja Language: Telugu


pallavi

endarO mahAnubhavulu |
antareeki vandanamulu ||

There are so many Mahatmas. To all my salutations.

anupallavi

candruni varnamu nI anta candramunu |
hR.dayAravindamuna jUci bhramAnanda anubhavincuva || (Endharo)

in the mirror of their hearts
they behold the moon-like face,
beauty and behaviour (of Rama)
and experience supreme joy of Brahmananda...
to such ones , to them my salutations.
(So many mahatmas... to all my salutations.)


charanam 1

sAmagAnalOla manasija |
lAvanya dhanyamUrdhanyu || (Endharo)

to the one who is fond of samagana (Rama),
his beauty in their minds,
they who think (of rama) such are blessed.
(So many mahatmas... to all my salutations.)


charanam 2

mAnasa vanacaravara sancAramu salipi
mUrtibAguga bodaganEdu va || (Endharo)

to those who contemplate on the beauty of
the one who traveled in the forest (Rama)
So many mahatmas... to all my salutations

charanam 3

saraguna pAdamulaku swAntamanu
sarojamunu samarpanamu jEyuvA || (Endharo)

to the feet (of Rama) which is the essence of all gunas,
those who surrender their lotus heart
to such ones, my salutations.
(So many mahatmas... to all my salutations.)

charanam 4

patitapavanudane parAtparuni gurinci
paramArtamagu nijamAr |
gamu tonu pAdutsUnu sallApamuto swaralayAdi
rAgamula teliyuvA || (Endharo)

the one who is purifier of destitute (Rama),
the one who is supreme of supreme (Rama) ,
by singing happily about him in the correct way
knowing the swara, raga and thala
to them my salutations.
(So many mahatmas... to all my salutations.)


charanam 5

hariguNa maNimaya - saramulu galamuna
shObhillu bhakthakOtu lilalO |
telivitO jelimitO garuNa galgi
jagamellanu sudhA dhR.shticE brOcu vaa || (Endharo)

those who sing the glories of Hari
whose essence is like jewels...
singing with knowledge, loving nature,
with compassion and right attitude
who see the world and blesses it
to them my salutations.
(So many mahatmas... to all my salutations.)

charanam 6

hoyalumIra nadulu galgu sarasuni sadA
kanula jaccunu pulaka sha |
rIrulai AnandapayOdi nimagnulai
modambunanu yashamu galavA || (Endharo)

Those who see the beautiful attracting form of Lord in their minds
and whose bodies are thrilled with joy
and faces lit with peace
and completely drowned in bliss
to them... my salutations
(So many mahatmas... to all my salutations.)


charanam 7

nI mEnu nAma vaibhavambulanu ne parakrama dhair[ya] |
mula shAnta mAnasamu nevulanu vacana satyamunu raghuvIra |
[nI]yada sadbhaktiyu janincakanu dhurmatamulanu kallajesi
natti nemadi |
nIringi sAntasambunanuguna bhajanAnanda
kIrtanamu jIyuva || (Endharo)

They praise your form, name, valour, bravery, peaceful heart, true words.
You (Rama) destroy all bad thoughts that prevent people from praying to you,
they know that and they praise your qualities.
(So many mahatmas... to all my salutations.)

charanam 8

parama bAgavata maunevara shashivibhAkara sanakasanandana |
degishAsura kimpurusha kanaka kashipu suta nArada tumburu |
pavanasUnu bAlacandradhara shuka sarojabhava bhUsuravarulu |
parama pAvanalu dhanushashvatulu kamalabhava sukhamu sadAnubhavulu gAka |

Surya, Chandra, Sanaka Sanadhanas, Dikpalas, Devas,
Kimpurushas, Prahalada, Narada, Tumburu,
Anjaneya, Siva, Suka, Brahma, Brahmanas...
they also enjoy the Brahmananda Swaroopa of God (Rama) always.
Still there are others, and salutations to them also.
(So many mahatmas... to all my salutations.)


charanam 9

BhAgavata ramayana gItadi shruti shastra purAnapu marmamulanu |
shivati shunmatamula gUdamulan moppadimukkoti surAnta |
[an]tarangamula bhAvambula nerigi bhavarAga layAdi sowkyamuce cir |
Ayuvula galigi niravadi sokAtmulai tyagarAjatmulainavA |

Those who know the secrets of Bagavatha, Ramayana, Gita, Sruti, Sasthra and the Epics,
six religious schools like Shaiva, the 33 crores of Devas, bhava, raga, tala
they have a long life and enjoy all good things.


charanam 10

prema muppirigonuvela |
nAmamu dalacuvAru |
ramabhaktudaina tyaga |
raja nutuni nijadasulaina vA || (Endharo)

Those beloved of the Lord (Rama),
when bakthi increases they think of your name,
they are Rama bakthas, they are devotees of the Lord of Tyagaraja
who worship you. .
(So many mahatmas... to all my salutations.)

Morning Poetry

talirin tumbil
kulirin cimizhu
atinullilum
undarivin niravu

atutaanallayo naam tedendatu
atutaanallayo naam nedendatu…


pearl drop glistens
on a leaf blade’s tip—
there is fullness of wisdom
even in that drop.

isn’t that drop all we need
isn’t it all we should get

-- vipinan

Capricon

A Sardarji and a Bengali, both suffering from serious diseases, share the same room in a hospital. They are taken violently ill and they cannot even utter a word.

After a few days of living together, the Bengali gets really bored and
wants to start off a conversation with his fellow patient.

He realises that he has not enough energy left to say a sentence; instead he just attempts to say a word. After much effort he turns to the Sardarji, points his finger towards himself and says "Bengali".
Sardarji doesn't want to let the poor Bengali down who has struggled so hard to start a conversation. Sardarji musters all his energy and says "Punjabi" gesturing the same way as Bengali did.

Bengali is happy now and wants to continue the conversation.
After much more effort this time he says, again pointing his finger
towards himself "Sharath Bose."
Sardarji after some effort says "Devindar Singh".

Bengali is even happier that they now know each other's names.
After some time, Bengali turns towards Sardarji and mustering all his
energy says "Cancer" - -

again doing the same gesture as before...
Sardarji smiles and with some effort says "Capricon."

THE ROSE

THE ROSE

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose.
I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically res ponded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. !

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and expe rience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.

She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet.

I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that

It's never too late to be all you can possibly be.


Growing Older is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

Same Choice?

Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children,the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe,that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child."Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked,"Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher

The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"

Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home! Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

That day, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world.

Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Speaking English

For those of you who watch what you eat... Here's the final word on
nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those
conflicting medical studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks
than the British or Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than
the British or Americans.

3. The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart
attacks than the British or Americans.

4. The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer
heart attacks than the British or Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats
and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is
apparently what kills you.

Magic Act

David and Dania performing their quick change act. Absolutly Amazing!

Oh God

Oh God

it is said
that you live in me

In a way
I am a home for you

if it is true

then

I request you
to keep your home neat and clean

as I can't do this anymore

Oh God...

Hindu Arabic Nemeric system

Before the rise of the Arab empire, the Hindu-Arabic numeral system was already moving West and was mentioned in Syria in 662 AD
by the Syrian-Orthodox scholar Severus Sebokht who wrote:
"I will omit all discussion of the science of the Indians, ... , of their subtle discoveries in astronomy, discoveries that are more
ingenious than those of the Greeks and the Babylonians, and of their valuable methods of calculation which surpass description.
I wish only to say that this computation is done by means of nine signs. If those who believe, because they speak Greek, that they
have arrived at the limits of science, would read the Indian texts, they would be convinced, even if a little late in the day, that there are
others who know something of value."

Impact on Mathematics
The significance of the development of the positional number system is probably best described by the French mathematician
Pierre Simon Laplace (1749 - 1827) who wrote:
"It is India that gave us the ingenuous method of expressing all numbers by the means of ten symbols, each symbol receiving a value of position, as well as an absolute value; a profound and important idea which appears so simple to us now that we ignore its true merit, but its very simplicity, the great ease which it has lent to all computations, puts our arithmetic in the first rank of useful
inventions, and we shall appreciate the grandeur of this achievement when we remember that it escaped the genius of Archimedes
and Apollonius, two of the greatest minds produced by antiquity."

Tobias Dantzig, the father of George Dantzig had this to say in Number:

"This long period of nearly five thousand years saw the rise and fall of many a civilization, each leaving behind it a heritage of
literature, art, philosophy, and religion. But what was the net achievement in the field of reckoning, the earliest art practiced by man?
An inflexible numeration so crude as to make progress well nigh impossible, and a calculating device so limited in scope that even
elementary calculations called for the services of an expert [...]
Man used these devices for thousands of years without contributing a single important idea to the system [...] Even when compared
with the slow growth of ideas during the dark ages, the history of reckoning presents a peculiar picture of desolate stagnation.
When viewed in this light, the achievements of the unknown Hindu, who some time in the first centuries of our era discovered the
principle of position, assumes the importance of a world event."

Sarasvati Nadi Darshan

Discovery and rebirth of Vedic River Sarasvati with the creation of a National Water Grid

Sarasvati River

A very interesting eight-minute movie is based on a series of Sarasvati Darshan Exhibition posters documenting scientific evidence of the Sarasvati River from a number of disciplines including geologists, hydrologists and ground water specialists. The posters also show artifacts and archaeological evidence from the area.

Scary Daddy

Tabla Child Prodigy

This is a proof that the present life is a continuation of the past life. Present life modified becomes your future life.



Child prodigy Aditya Phatak (age 2.5) from Pune, India plays tabla with his grandfather who sings Jo Bhaje Hari Ko Sada (bhajan by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi).

Kaupina Panchakam

Kaupeena Panchakam by Sri Adi Shankaracharya
This is a very short poem with five stanzas written by Shankaracharya which glorifies the life of a Sannyasi. A Sadhu renounces every thing before entering in to Sannyas, and wears only a kaupina aka kaupeena (loin cloth). That too is for the sake of the world.

Vedantha Vakhyeshu Sada ramantho, Bhikshannamathrena trishtimantha, Vishokamantha karane charantha, Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha -1 Who is reveling in the thoughts of Vedantic declarations, Whom does a meager portion of begged-food satisfy, Who is walking around without a trace of sorrow The man with just the loincloth is indeed the lucky one. -1 Moolam tharo kevalam ashrayantha, Panidhvayam bhokthuma manthrayantha, Kandhamiva sreemapi kuthsayantha, Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha -2 Who rests (sleeps) at the roots of a tree, Taking only two hands-full of food Who is disregarding wealth as a torn piece of cloth The man with just the loincloth is indeed the lucky one. -2 Swananda bhava pari thushti mantha, Sushantha sarvendriya vruthi mantha, Aharnisam brahma sukhe ramantha, Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha - 3 Always contented in the joy of ones own self Who is peaceful by curbing desires his senses Who is immersed day and night in the bliss of Brahman The man with just the loincloth is indeed the lucky one. -3 Dehadhi bhavam parivarthayantha, Swathmana athmanyavalokayantha, Naantha na Madhyam na bahi smarantha, Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha - 4 Always witnessing the changes of his own body, Who is seeing himself as the Self, the changeless, And who never bothers to think about the end, middle and outside (of the world), The man with just the loincloth is indeed the lucky one. -4 Brahmaksharam pavanamucharantho, Brahmahamasmeethi vibhavayantha, Bhikshashano dikshu paribramayantha, Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha - 5 Always singing the sacred glory of Brahman, the eternal Always contemplating that ‘I am Brahman’, Who is wandering around just on alms obtained, The man with just the loincloth is indeed the lucky one. -5

The Kaupinam

The Kaupina It is a loin cloth passed between the legs and held by a string at the waist, just enough to cover the private parts. The remainder of the cloth acts as a curtain. Kaupina is a distinctly Indian form of clothing from ancient times. Even today (2006) one can come across priests, fishermen, craftsmen, laborers, tribals, and ascetics wearing only the kaupina. Even women (during their menstrual cycles) used to wear kaupina. People who wore other attires (like dhoti or sari ) also wore kaupina as an undergarment. But its use has decreased after the arrival of machine-made undergarments.

Kaupina in Indian Culture
Kaupina features often in Indian literature.
Sri Shankaracharya has written a poem containing five verses on praising the Kaupina called Kaupina Panchakam
. It is considered to be one of the highest Vedantic text of dispassion for the Sadhaks.
Kaupina is the attire of Lord Shiva, and sadhus who worship him wear the kaupina as the sole clothing as they beg or meditate.

In the recent times, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, a great Mahatma, used only a Kaupina as he walked around Arunachala hills in Thiruvannamala.

A part of the Hindu initiation ceremony involves teaching the boys how to wear the kaupina.
You will also see many drawings and temple sculptures with people wearing just a kaupina.

As part of the History Many illustrations of India drawn by visiting Europeans in 18th and 19th centuries feature men working in a kaupina -- either by choice or out of poverty. Many medieval poets and saints are also described as "clad in kaupina". Kaupina aka Kaupeena, Kaupinam.

revelling in the self

contemplation5.jpg
Originally uploaded by trekkee.

see the joy and peace on his face, the light in his eyes. i had a dream of his wonderful face one day.

bhagavan ramana maharshi

bhagavan_wa16.jpg
Originally uploaded by trekkee.

a self realized master who taught the world through his silence

Think About It

Think - About It

Today before you think of saying an unkind word
Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife
Think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life
Think of someone who left too early from this world.

Before you complain about your children
Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house; someone didn't clean or sweep
Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive
Think of someone who walks the same distance every day.

And when you are tired and complain about your job
Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But when you think of pointing the finger or condemning another
Remember that three fingers will be pointing at you.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down
Put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around.


Life is a gift
Live it...
Enjoy it...
Celebrate it...
And fulfill it.


And while you are at it give Love to someone today
Love someone with what you do and the words you say
Love is not meant to be kept locked inside of us and hidden
So give it away "Give Love to someone today!"

Blonde Typist

Poor girl. she is still in the previous century.

Modern Crows

These crows must be belonging to some R&D wing.

Clever Crows: Some crows in Japan come up with a clever way to eat food that they naturally wouldn't be able to.

Amazing Chinese Acrobat

I dont know how they practice it?
This is just amazing. The video was filmed at the Shanghai Grand Theater in China.

Next gen. Car

Top Gear GM Highwire

Table Tennis 49

Excellent Ping Pong Rally. Table Tennis 49 times