Sweet Marjoram - The Aromatic Queen Herb

This carefree Sweet Marjoram plant enchants me. Within a few weeks of sunshine and pleasant summer weather, this plant has grown like wild and put on the flowers. In south India we know this plant as Maruvam (Telugu) and its green stems are used in garlands. Ladies like this plant for its sweet aroma and often a small stem in hair can spread the scent across many feet. For me the plant brings pleasant memories of my formative years - memories of mother, temple garlands, rich fresh flower markets, and floral gardens. The plant needs very little care if planted in well prepared container or ground. I use a general mix of one part compost (or cow manure), one part sand, and one part clay. Experienced gardeners do not care that much while planting in containers. They just throw whatever is readily available in the garden (stock) and quickly make a pot. But they always care for good drainage. Marjoram does not like water logging. After the growing season (i.e., fall here) I bring the pot inside and leave it near a  sunny window. We reduce the water because the plant goes into a dormant state. We use the plant mostly for its aroma. Coconut oil infused with marjoram is good for skin and hair. Dried stems (with or without the flower buds) come in handy for keeping the air fresh in bathrooms or even home offices. A very happy and pleasant herbal plant. This sweet scented herb has many diverse medicinal uses. It contains more than fifty aromatic compounds and oils. The plant can be propagated with seeds or cuttings. In season (spring, summer) we can get this plant for very little ($ 1-2) at the local Farmers Market. That is an inexpensive way to grow this plant for the beginners. 

Sanskrit: Maru (prastha pushpakamu), Hindi: Murwa. Copyright 2021 by the author

Lyrics of "kshirabdi kanyaku" Song - An Annamayya Kirtana

రాగం: మంగళ కౌశిక 

తాళం: 

క్షీరాబ్ధి కన్య(క)కు శ్రీ మహాలక్ష్మికిని

నీరజాలయమునకు నీరాజనం

జలజాక్షి మోమునకు జక్కవ (జక్కువ) కుచంబులకు

నెలకొన్న కప్పురపు నీరాజనం

అలివేణి తురుమునకు హస్తకమలంబుల(న)కు

నిలువుమాణిక్యముల నీరాజనం

చరణ కిసలయముల(న)కు సకియరంభోరులకు

నిరతమగు ముత్తేల నీరాజనం

అరది జఘనంబునకు అతివ నిజనాభికిని

ని(వి)రతి నానావర్ణ నీరాజనం

పగటు శ్రీవేంకటేశు పట్టపురాణియై

నెగడు నతి (సతి) కళలకును నీరాజనం

జగతి నలమేల్మంగ చక్కదనముల కెల్ల

నిగుడు నిజ శోభనపు నీరాజనం

(నిలువు మాణిక్యముల) 

raagaM: maMgaLa kauSika 

taaLaM: 

ksheeraabdhi kanya(ka)ku Sree mahaalakshmikini

neerajaalayamunaku neeraajanaM

jalajaakshi mOmunaku jakkava (jakkuva) kuchaMbulaku

nelakonna kappurapu neeraajanaM

alivaeNi turumunaku hastakamalaMbula(na)ku

niluvumaaNikyamula neeraajanaM

charaNa kisalayamula(na)ku sakiyaraMbhOrulaku

niratamagu muttaela neeraajanaM

aradi jaghanaMbunaku ativa nijanaabhikini

ni(vi)rati naanaavarNa neeraajanaM

pagaTu SreevaeMkaTaeSu paTTapuraaNiyai

negaDu nati (sati) kaLalakunu neeraajanaM

jagati nalamaelmaMga chakkadanamula kella

niguDu nija SObhanapu neeraajanaM

(niluvu maaNikyamula) 

(I've listened to the renditions by Dr. Balamuralikrishna and Sri G. Balakrishna Prasad. There are many more versions of this popular devotional song often sung at the conclusion of a function, puja, or dance program. I must offer apologies to its composer and the Devi for singing thing song without fully knowing its meaning. Only now I've begun exploring this exquisite composition.

We approach Devi Padmavati with the innocence of a child or earnest devotee. Hence the singer or interpreter should be extremely cautious while giving meaning to each phrase here. We'll look into the profound meaning later. When in doubt about any word or phrase here, we should consult Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa or Sri Shanmukha Sarma or other rishis like Sri Ganapathi Muni. Copyright 2021 by the author)

In the Kewra Groves (Translation of Telugu Original Song)

Won’t you give me kisses (He)

Among the groves of kewra, Dear?

Would I let your restless mind go to sleep

This night?

Ah! Rough flirting here behind kewra gardens (She)

Do not, do not tear my sari, of youth

Darling, please - 

Why now these Kalidasa’s descriptions? (He)

Why now these amorous depictions of Srinadha?

(When)

The sweetest nectar-filled (my) heart is all yours now

Day after day

This moment

Condenses and distills the feelings of

Ages of romance

Perhaps

I am the bee in the Brindavan (He)

Here, on the earth

You are the fragrant parijata

Thousand springs – (She)

In your eyes

Every union

Of ours, from now on

From henceforth

Will be a honeymoon

(Will be a season of spring)

In these murmurs of Gautami waves (He)

In this cool swing of moonlight

Why now the (these) worries of separation?

Ensconced in your lap (She)

(I) Will always be (complete) in your heart

Will sleep behind your anchel (He)

This is the translation of my original Telugu melodious duet "మొగలి పూల పొదలలో". The audio (in my voice) is available at YouTube Audio of Mogali Pula Song. I consider it a beautiful song with all the three qualities: imagination, meaning, and music. I should upload many more Telugu original songs and devotional pieces. Copyright 2021 by the author

Remembering Pujya Pratyagbodhananda Swami

Remembering Swami Pratyagbodhananda

Swami Pratyagbodhananda’s discourses were always witty, lovely and full of insight. Not a single moment used to be dull; entire sessions were filled with humorous anecdotes, colorful stories, and scintillating observations on human follies, rather frailties. But, through all questions, prodding, tooth-pulling queries, and responses, the preceptor wanted nothing but wisdom and welfare for his students. Swamiji’s command over English idiom and vocabulary was superb. Always he had at the tip of his tongue – the right word, the most precise word to convey exactly what was purported to be. Total unity between thought (meaning) and word is very difficult to achieve in practice; Kalidasa himself immortalized the travails of communication in the couplet: vaga-arthau…

Swamiji’s heart was full of kindness for all. But when it comes to calling a spade a spade, he spared none. He was totally impartial: Swami always exhibited the same level of abhorrence to any and all bad habits. Whether they belong to Gujarat, Andhra, Tamil, or Uttar Pradesh, or even North America – they’re all taken to cleaners, when they (students, disciples) were found wanting in correct Sanskrit pronunciation or any behavioral trait. But, wherever there is any virtue (or redeeming quality), he would point it out with the same acuteness of observation. A good deed is never just glossed over, without proper appreciation. Ex: American kitchen counters are sparklingly clean, adorned with a fresh bouquet of flowers in a vase. 

When it comes to speaking Sanskrit words, many tend to trip and commit mistakes. Ideally, one should read and write in Sanskrit (Devanagari) script. And practice; practice a lot uttering Sanskrit verses and words. Also, gradually learn how to break, give pauses to long phrases with correct emphasis and intonation. Swami illustrated the problem with the word, “prasadam”. This word gets mangled by the people of south and north (India) alike. Thus, original prasadam gets morphed into sadam in Tamil. Up north, it is spoken as “par-shad”. The native English speaker (as do today’s urbanites in Indian mega cities) has difficulty with pronouncing aspirated consonants (and of course, double and triple consonants): buddhi. Misspeaking and mispronunciation are not just innocent mistakes. Often they lead to misunderstandings, some times with disastrous consequences. Purity of body, purity of food, and purity in speech – they are all important for spiritual progress. Thus carelessness in these matters, can lead to unnecessary pitfalls (delays) in the path, a fact often stressed by many enlightened teachers.

To a mellowed (unbiased, unencumbered mature) adult, Swamiji’s remarks appear harmless; they are simply meant to stimulate the audience, guide them to learn Sanskrit words with utmost care. Diction is very important (in Hindu liturgy as in any tradition) – clear pronunciation with proper emphasis on aspirated consonants is a must. Without correct diction, we cannot utter Vishnu sahasranama (or any nama-vali) flawlessly. Nor can we decipher the deeper meaning of Lalita Sahasranama. For those, who are learning to recite Sanskrit words via English transliteration, the guidance of a preceptor is needed – needed badly. Much grief and hardship can be avoided if one follows closely the words of Swami Pratyagbodhananda (or pujya Swami Dayanand Saraswati). Just reading, muttering the English transliterated verses, names, or slokas is not enough. One must a have rudimentary knowledge of Sanskrit characters, pronunciation of vowels, diphthongs, consonants, and one must also understand the key to the English transliteration scheme. Lot of hard work, in deed. Alas, there are no short cuts to any learning! Who said any spiritual progress is easy?

One session was devoted to japa (chanting the Lord’s name). The efficacy of calling Vishnu’s name is illustrated vividly with a short story: How an illiterate, yet ardent devotee called the Lord, (a)gha Mochan. Even calling His name incorrectly yields veritable results. Because embedded in such action is pure bhakti feeling. Also, Swami emphasized how in the case of the Lord, the name has the same power as the Lord Himself. The name and named are the same. We can do the nama japa, anywhere, at any time, and even mispronunciations and mistakes are pardoned by the Lord Narayana. In a sense, nama japa is (or appears to be) slightly superior to chanting a ‘mantra’. For a (un-initiated) devotee, a nama japa is more accessible, it requires less (mental) preparation. 

At our local temple, Swami spoke at length on the origins of Sri Bhagavatam, how the book came to be written. He talked about the birth of Sage Suka; Veda Vyasa’s dissatisfaction and despair – even after writing all the eighteen puranas and Maha Bharata, he was still tormented by unhappiness – a feeling of incompleteness enveloped him. Then Narada suggested Vyasa to write Sri Bhagavata Purana. The discourse included the story of Parikshat, his impending death due to a curse (mediated by the great serpent, Takshaka), and his attainment of moksha (Vaikuntha) after listening to Srimad-Bhagavatam narration. Swami also described the six essential attributes of “Bhagavan”. 

The last session was conducted for young children. Despite being a Sunday afternoon (tail end) event, it too brought out a great vivacity during the interactive discussion with youth. Our Swami urged Mr. Raman to initiate a Purna Vidya Teaching Program for Syracuse children. After eliciting responses (on what they did for Mothers Day) from the audience, Swamiji ended the session with a story of Lord Krishna and a poor village student. Krishna acts as a loving elder brother (Gopal Bhaiya) to the young kid and presents him with a small miraculous milk pot.

Hindu scriptures extol the benefits of sat-sang, association with the Lord’s bhaktas. Visiting or meeting a swami like Sri Pratyagbodhananda is tantamount to going to a holy place (like Brindavan). In deed, it is an indescribable boon for all the Indian residents to see the Swami in our midst, in our homes. Lucky for us, we all got to spend three days in Swamiji’s company and participate in sat-sang. 

These days, despite a plethora of modern (English) books, videos, and Internet articles (audio & video), it is extremely difficult to come across correct, authentic exposition of traditional scriptures (Ramayana, Bhagavata Purana, and Maha Bharata). In this context, it is very lucky to have a speaker like Swami Pratyagbodhananda who can crisscross four languages and bring the original meaning of Veda Vyasa’s Sri Bhagavata purana (with Sri Vallabha-acharya’scommentary) – bring he did, its original glory with witty jokes and hilarious interludes. That itself is a great soul uplifting religious retreat! 

(These are my reflections, after a three day session with Swami Pratyagbodhananda some years back.  To be Continued. Copyright 2021 by the author)

The Geraniums

This plant gives copious bunches of flowers throughout the year. There is plenty of information on the Internet. So, I'll add only a few tips for the interested gardener. I cultivate this plant mostly in containers. That way I can bring the plant indoors for the winter. The plant can be left in a cool corner in the garage during the dormant (sub-freezing temperatures) period. Cutting back on light and water will help during the cold season as the plant cannot utilize more water (due to lack of evaporation) or fertilizer (no vigorous growth). The plant in the photo is several years old. Propagation is mostly through cuttings. Freshly cut stems readily develop roots in plain water. For rooting spring, fall (autumn), and winter seasons are good. That is because the air is dry and free of ambient fungus and bacteria. We can also root freshly cut (at 45 degrees angle) stems in clean soil, sand, peat moss, or perlite mix. It is better to keep the soil a bit dry till it gets one or two new leaves. My nephew (PDR) selects 3 or 4 inch stems and saves them in peat moss for the winter. We can also spray with acrylic clear polymer or put wax on the ends to keep the stems green and fresh. I've read somewhere they use geranium for making perfumes. If you rub the leaves or flower stalks gently and smell finger tips you can feel a gentle scent. The aroma is not great but I think one can use it (may be as a base) to mix with other flower (or fruit) aromas to generate a new perfume. I've not come across any serious pest issues with this plant. During winter sometimes we just leave it near a sunny window. It does complain about the dry indoor air and starts growing very tall. That is a normal behavior with most plants during winter here. When any plant growth is restricted due to scarcity of light, nutrient, or water, it exhibits an odd growth (ex: small leaves, more distance between the nodes, etc.). This was once explained elegantly by Professor (Dr.) M Wali in a talk. With proper care the it stays like a perennial for many years.The plant comes with flowers in various colors. Copyright 2021 by the author

 

On English, Excellence, and Asexual Rice

On English, Excellence, and Asexual Rice

In bygone days (Treta-yug) we youngsters used to get hold of a national newspaper (ex: The Hindu, Indian Express) and read the editorials with serious attention. Also, our masters at Typing and Shorthand Institutes insisted on comprehending the prevailing times and editorials; this was to improve our grammar, pronunciation, and coherent thought processes. Some of us took such valuable advice seriously and got benefited immensely. Every bit of advice, particularly from elders was valued and appreciated, even if grudgingly at times. Touch typing still is a very precious skill for many professionals, journalists, writers, and even laypersons. These days except the few remaining royal figure heads, presidents, and select upper (uber) management in big companies, almost all others have to type their own letters, memos, and articles. The secretaries are gone, we don’t know to where but that is the fact of life now. So, even in circa 2021 fast and accurate typing is needed for everyone. The shorthand part needs some elaboration. Even in this age of Mars exploration and AI (the much hyped Artificial Intelligence), this seemingly archaic skill has its own advantages. With a microcassette tape recorder one can record a speech or official presentation in any language; alternatively we can use the smart phone with an augmented mike. Later we can transcribe leisurely and generate a faithful print out. Currently software technology exists to generate a verbatim stream of English words on the screen from speech. But are there technological tools for all the world languages to accomplish speech synthesis (written word to audio) and the reverse (speech to text)? Even if technology exists, is it accessible and affordable to the average freelance reporter working on a shoestring budget in a remote corner? These are some issues to think and ponder. 

Those of us who use English for transactional purposes (technical articles, blogs, art, science, etc.) have a heavy cross to bear. We should be utterly aware of the “echo-chamber effect” and endless repetition of the same “prevailing/fashionable opinions”. In the beginning one erroneously believes that fluency in English is itself a great achievement. We need both fluency and accuracy in transmitting (communicating) an idea. But that itself is nothing to crow about. Such skills may bring promotions to government officers, bureaucrats, or even some managers in modern companies. But what is the use of having a language skill if one cannot offer new ideas or bring about an amelioration of society’s ills? Sadly proficiency in English goes (parades) with profound ignorance of knowledge in other languages, cultures, science, math, and arts; and this deplorable trait is found in many intellectuals, current and past. Much of all the thought, analysis, and commentary across the world are unfortunately, repeat unfortunately revolves around the wisdom propounded by just 26 English letters. That is an unjustifiable overpowering burden forcibly imposed on a broad spectrum of cultures, peoples, and languages. Definitely we need a more diverse cross currents of opinion rather than the stale secondhand recycled smoke of most of the English media outlets. 

Thus keeping in mind the aforementioned views and perspectives, I would like to draw attention to few rare gems found on the Internet. Recently I’ve come across two very interesting articles: 1. An editorial in The Statesman (Pursuit of Excellence)on “Excellence”. A pursuit of excellence in all matters is a worthy goal for everyone, from the topmost statesman to the street sweeper (or trash picker). This point is well articulated and presented with an emphatic closing line. 2. On the radio I heard about the modern advances with gene editing technologies and their implications for future generations. There in the middle of the discussion one of the hosts talked about “asexual rice”(New Rice)  and its role in providing food for the growing (billions of mouths) world population. An article in the Egyptian paper explains what is this “asexual rice” and what is its importance. This is really a well-written popular science article. 

The readers (young and elder brains) will find both the articles thought provoking. They might broaden our mental horizons. Copyright 2021 by the author

A Rainbow Cloud

A Rainbow Cloud

Just 9:00 a.m.

Rays hitting me at 60 degrees

It doesn’t happen often

To see a rainbow colored patch

Of cloud…clouds in the eastern sky

That too on a sunny

Fair weather morning

Yet

I watched such things

As water colored cloud fringes

Fluffy petal-like vaporous clouds

In all colors –

Pale rose

Navy blue

A bit of brinjal violet

Are they cirrus?

Is it only me?

How lucky am I to discover

Such a pure joy!

Pity! Only I can see these 

Semi-transparent colors

Many people miss them

Often we just 

Drive through life in a hurry

Barely we got time to bend

See our reflection, ponder

These waving autumn

Acer saccharum1 colors in the canal waters

Alas, we are utterly blind to

Such beautiful celestial scenes

We lack “the third eye vision”

We are stuck in the muck, 

Ever sinking deeper, welded to this earthly gravity

To the daily grind

Is that why?

Siva is always peaceful

With half-closed eyes

Though the world goes

Through all sorts of upheavals, pain

Through wicked inane wars, ruthless plundering

Yet, He is forever in deep meditation

Because the answer to violence

Is not more hurtful action

The Trident(s) must be put away

All the treachery, man made, of course

Luckily it’s countered by

Enormous beauty in nature

The eye-piercing dark blue skies

Of the northern latitudes

The Aurora colors, the breathtaking

Paintings of evening westward sky

The (sky) blue is nothing but Siva’s neck –

It is trying to keep out the

Timeless poisonous flames of 

Cosmic rays and bursts of ionic radiation

Of

The solar flares

Who can get this? Who can feel this?

What I am describing here -

Who can really?

A Tagore can understand, he was blessed 

With the inner eye

Perhaps a modern Krishna too

Certainly, Sir Raman can even 

Derive a correct explanation, an exact equation

Put it into an exact mathematical expression

But here, now

Explanation is not the point

Just looking at such clouds

Makes my day

It is a gift from our sun, 

(Adi-Narayana)

Yes - rain, moisture, cloud, water

And light – it’s all due to the sun

It keeps reminding me

There are things in the world

Beyond my imagination, my limited vocabulary

It tells me to look high up

Reach those skies, it’s beckoning me:

“Come, float in my lap

Touch these cool wispy clouds

And lose yourself in my gentle embrace”

If I ever find my 

Sweet loving angel, my Urvasi

It will be there, in those

Rainbow clouds

There I float on 

The wings of imagination

Resting on the bosoms 

Of

Soft silk-cotton vapors of

Aromatic lotuses, fragrant 

Michael Champaka, and

Freshly showered beds of

Parijatas2

And wandering between the

Hanging celestial gardens

1. Sugar Maple 2. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Copyright 2021 by the author

Arudra's "Gandhi Puttina Desama" Song with Translation

Is this the place

Where Gandhi was born?

Is this the society

Which Nehru had desired?

 

Are these the times

When socialism and the reign of Rama

Can happen?

 

A country with abundant green crops

Yet, famines occur daily

The bulging river’s (streams’) life-giving waters

Wasted into the salty sea

Here, we offer the last rites

(Good byes)

To

Youth’s energy and future

Yes, we’ve the vote

But livelihood (employment) is missing

 

Strike, workers’ protests, melee -

Scorched buses and looting

Peace and tolerance destroyed

By rowdies’ lathi

Even brothers fight for

Power struggle

What’ll happen to the country?

In (these times of) increased

Violence and hatred

 

Permits for businesses

Licenses for transactions

Of course, unfit candidates

Get jobs with bribes

Without recommendation

You can’t get a (tiny) space

Even in the cemetery

Only democracy in name

The chiefs (Lords) control

All the food (resources)!

 

(This was the scenario penned by the famous Telugu lyricist, “Arudra” in 1971. I have referred to this song in an earlier blog on Literary Criticism. For completeness and proper context I am giving the full English translation here. The reader can understand and appreciate the passion of the poet. It is for the youth to find out how much the country has changed in the last fifty years. Or, how much things have remained the same despite seventeen national and state elections.) Copyright 2021 by the author

 

Movie Video Link

    గాంధి పుట్టిన దేశమా ఇది

    నెహ్రు కోరిన సంఘమా ఇది

    గాంధి పుట్టిన దేశమా ఇది

    నెహ్రు కోరిన సంఘమా ఇది

    సామ్యవాదం.. రామరాజ్యం.. సంభవించే కాలమా

    గాంధి పుట్టిన దేశమా...

    సస్యశ్యామల దేశం.. ఐనా నిత్యం క్షామం

    సస్యశ్యామల దేశం.. ఐనా నిత్యం క్షామం

    ఉప్పోంగే నదులజీవజలాలు.. ఉప్పు సముద్రం పాలు

    యువకుల శక్తికి భవితవ్యానికి ఇక్కడ తిలోదకాలు

    ఉన్నది మనకు ఓటు.. బ్రతుకు తెరువుకే లోటు

  

    సమ్మె ఘోరావు దొమ్మీ... బస్సుల దహనం లూటీ

    సమ్మె ఘోరావు దొమ్మీ... బస్సుల దహనం లూటీ

    శాంతి సహనం సమధర్మంపై విరిగెను గుండా లాఠీ

    అధికారంకై పెనుగులాటలో... అన్నాదమ్ముల పోటీ

    హెచ్చెను హింసా ద్వేషం.. ఏమౌతుందీ దేశం

   

    వ్యాపారాలకు పర్మిట్... వ్యవహారాలకు లైసెన్స్

    అర్హత లేని ఉద్యోగాలకు.. లంచం ఇస్తే ఓ యస్

    సిఫార్సు లేనిదే స్మశాన మందు దొరకదు రవ్వంత చోటు

    పేరుకు ప్రజలది రాజ్యం.. పెత్తందార్లకే భోజ్యం