Un-weeping Willow (Long Nature Poem)

Un-weeping Willow

Is it a willow

An ash or hemlock?

I do not know

How could I?

I’ve been always in the car

Going at almost fifty en route

Between Dewitt and Fayetteville

Maybe one day I will

Take its photo or go near 

Just to touch it and see up close

What tree it is

But even without knowing its name

I know it well, so I think

I know it instinctively somehow

Because 

I have seen fallen trees

Even in our backyard, we’ve tornado ripped

Maple and walnut, majestic veteran trees 

Yes, really I have witnessed

Many, in fact

I’d seen them in my native land

In Vijayawada, an almond tree in our compound

In Cocanada countless banyan and other trees

Some times, a whole field of flattened bananas 

I was in college then, in that seaport

A furious cyclonic storm

Hit us suddenly in the evening

Everything turned pitch dark

It was as though, the sea

From

The Bay of Bengal got 

Its soul stirred, it roared mightily

All lights were out

Our mess closed down

We walked to the Udipi restaurant

On the Main Road

No water in the tap, only well water

Nothing for us – the stranded hostel students

No water, no electricity, no food

We were

Only an insignificant minuscule compared to

The thousands of fishermen

They lost everything

Housing, boats, clothes

And their folks, sadly even little children too

Next day, or after couple of days

I went out for a walk

To see our Pithapuram Rajah College

The roads, town, and shops

The whole neighborhood lost its identity

Nothing was recognizable

Everywhere, the downed electric poles, naked wires

Old trees, must be older to me by several decades

Uprooted, branches sliced off

Limbs hanging barely

Tin rooftops, bamboo poles

Clay tiles, shabby sign boards

All sorts of debris thrown out

On to the well planned grid of roads

Barely we could 

Make our way to the college

There too

In the sprawling campus

A few stately green deciduous trees

Torn mercilessly, begging for attention

With fresh sap on the wounded limbs

Outstretched hanging branches

But who felt the most empathy

For all the trees and flora in Cocanada?

Who else would it be?

Our Professor Chacko, of the Botany department

I saw him standing next to his children

In the college botanical collection

With a frown on his face

Still, he was a bit happy

But for the Hope Island

The storm damage could’ve been much worse.

This fallen willow tree

Is exceptionally lucky

To be able to survive, to gently lean on to

The Mother Earth’s bosom

But for a little bruise

On its feet and maybe on its trunk

A little strained root system perhaps

But, such little aches and pains -

Which we all grownups get accustomed 

Sooner or later in life

It happens to us all 

Man, animal, or tree.

Yet this leaning, more like a reclining tree

(The image of Ranganayaka,

Of Nellore flashes through mind)

Showed no worries

No record, no visible memory of its terrible accident

Accident born of a strong gale

Or wind shear

Such winds visit us during late summer

Or fall

It withstood the onslaught like a sturdy big oak

As a fearless yogi

The PWD workers too loved it

They never disturbed it

Never entertained the thought of uprooting it

Why?

They just go around it

Going about their business of 

Lawn mowing, fall clearing

As I pass by this semi-uprooted Salix

Everyday while driving on route 5

I have only one thought

How many of us will be that lucky?

Like this gently reposed tree

How many of us can move on?

In life, late into old age

Without a care, without a scar

Of ill health, accident, bodily neglect, or social scorn

How many of us will be looked after

By those around us

Like this fallen tree?

Would our earthly brethren 

Show us the same dignity

As accorded to this fortunate willow

Who knows answer to these troubling 

Questions? 

In these hard scrappy times

For us mortals, nothing is certain

Neither loving care in old age

Nor material security, nor emotional warmth

Here or anywhere. How sad!  

Copyright 2021 by the author

Restoring Vision For The Blind Lady (Grace and Bhakti)

Restoring Vision For The Blind Lady

1963, it was during the month of Asviyuja (September).  In Tiruchirappalli the Kanchi Kamakoti Swamis (Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi and Sri Jayendra Saraswathi) were conducting the Navaratri festival celebrations. 

There were spacious pandals specially erected for the thousands of thronging devotees. During those nine days Sri Paramacharya was observing the diksha and he was conducting all the scheduled events with close personal supervision. Not only that, the Swami had cancelled all special visits and interviews during the nine-day festival. (It was a rare occasion solely meant for the common devotee - man and woman.)

Among the devotees there was one ninety-year-old lady. Besides the advanced crippling old age, she was also blind. The lady had been fasting for three days. She had come trekking all the way from a twenty-mile distance solely to see Sri Paramacharya (the elder Swami). 

Other than uttering “Sivaa Sivaa, Hara Haraa” she would not speak at all. Did not ask for any food. Foremost she wanted to get a ‘darsan’ of the Swami – thus she kept on muttering. All (the people) kept on wondering whether it was possible; the Swami had gone into the Navaratri diksha, forswearing interviews or special ‘darsan’, etc.

Yet, one of the devotees got an idea. From the room, Sri Paramacharya used to come out once or twice breaking his self-imposed isolation. Thus thinking the devotee gently helped her settle near the exit door. There she sat and continued chanting ‘Siva-Sivaa, Hara-Haraa’. That was her stubborn act; now no one would disturb her. That was her pure devotion. Now, paradoxically hundreds of other devotees too crowded around her with the faint hope of seeing Sri Paramacharya.

Later inadvertently one of Swami’s close associates (a disciple) opened the door and observed the meditating lady bhakta, leaning against the doorway. The assembled crowd slowly narrated her story. The disciple rushed inside and communicated the matter to the Swami.

At noon Paramacharya was about go to the Puja-mandir and then suddenly turned back upon hearing about the fasting lady. The Swami opened the (back) door and came out to meet the waiting lady. There Sri Paramacharya saw the chanting lady waiting in the red-hot burning midday sun.

“What, grandmother! I’ve come to see you. How long have you been sitting here?” Thus spoke endearingly the Swami to the lady in Tamil.

The crowd came to her help, as she was also hard of hearing. They repeated Swami’s words into her ears. Hearing those words, the grand lady started speaking loudly, 

“Have you come, my Deva! Have you come, my father, to bless me? Please stand in front of me, I’ve to pay respects (prostrate) to your feet.” So she said in Tamil.

“Grandma, you don’t have vision. How will you see me?”

“At least, I can hear your words if you come near.”

“Not like that. You do what I say.” Said Paramacharya to her.

He made her stand in the sun a little farther. The Swami did perambulation around her. During that encircling process He stopped at each of the eight directions and kept on asking her thus: “Am I visible to you? Are you able to see me?”

“Yes, Yes. I am able to see your saffron robe. Your staff is visible…” And she went on describing sequentially the entire form of Paramacharya. By the time Swami completed the circle, she went on talking, “You look to me as clearly as I had seen you twenty years back. Now also, you appear the same, my father (appa).”

She prostrated and paid respects.

All the persons in the crowd around her were surprised at her – the (blind) lady’s bhakti towards the Guru. They admired Paramacharya’s greatness (and his miraculous power).

(Translated from “Nadichedevudu” – a Telugu work by N. Venkataseshayya)

Copyright 2021 by the author

The Indian Cucumber

Indian Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus)

For me gardening is a hobby – an activity that keeps my fingers nimble and body free of aches. I try to grow plants with minimal inputs like some of the best (and brilliant) Indian farmers. On the Internet, particularly on YouTube there are many nice videos that explain about gardening, about growing anything except hair on the head. I learned gardening from my mother with a rusty kitchen spatula (the tool used to turn dosas) and watching countless amateur gardeners. Luckily I got good training from horticulture professors also. In these posts I try to put out useful information for the readers. In some instances I’ve kindled interest in a few friends too. I do not have the last word on any plant or gardening technique. We all learn by sharing our failures and knowledge with others. At most hobbyists try to share fun and joy around. That’s all.

Now let us come to this unique simple vegetable. We call it “Dosa-kaya” in Telugu. There is another closely related variety of this spherical fruit (vegetable) in south India. That one is more like the American football in shape, sort of an ellipsoid but has the same yellowish color when fully ripened. Here, many years ago all the Indian vegetables used to be very precious and scarce. There used to be one Asian grocery store and all the Asian countries’ culinary spices and vegetables (Korean, Indian, etc.) were lumped into one little store or corner isle. There we would find some eggplants and one or two Indian vegetables – that too if we were lucky. Now much has changed and we have several grocery stores catering exclusively to Indian customers. So, now we have the luxury of getting betel leaves, dosakaya, and many other things from the subcontinent. 

I find growing this vine (creeper) much easier than the common American cucumber. Compared to the ubiquitous common cucumber, this Indian dosakaya is pest free and asks for very little extra care. Originally we got this plant through pure chance. I must have sprinkled a few seeds into a pot during winter. Due to the snow and severe chilly weather there is no outdoor gardening in winters here. We keep several indoor (container) plants for flowers (hibiscus, jasmine, crossandra, geranium, etc.), couple of herbs (marjoram), and some foliage plants. Ideally one should plant the seeds in tiny pots with peat moss (coconut peat) about four weeks before the spring. That way we get heads up and can have nice three months for this dosakaya vine to grow. Anyway, we got several seedlings growing nicely in the indoor plant. In the beginning we didn’t know anything. I could not identify the plant because we never had any contact with this strange vine. It went on growing by leaps and bounds.

So, one day I just transplanted the seedlings to a nice big pot with a bit of compost. I added a tomato steel cage to provide some support for the wandering vine. Suddenly we found ourselves with tiny yellow flowers and small round yellow colored fruits. In Telugu kids used to call this vegetable as “nakka dosakaya”. That is it is referred as “Fox Dosakaya”. This may be because the farmer collects all the green fruits and puts them into a big pit in the ground. They are covered with dry leaves for a bit of ripening process. Eventually the fruit gets yellow color and now it is ready for the market. The fox also lives and raises its family in a cave or underground burrow. Hence the name “nakka dosakaya”.    

  

We mostly use this vegetable to make subji with dal or chutney. The reader can find lots of recipes on the Internet. Also in many Andhra marriages this dosakaya is served as a freshly made hot pickle. Normally people use the pickle for three or four days and usually it gets exhausted by then. Not like the other pickles like mango, gongura, lime, citron, red chilli, tamarind, or amla. But with the advent of fridge one can keep this dosakaya pickle also for months without any spoilage or dulling of taste. 

This humble vegetable has quite a few medicinal uses. It acts as diuretic and is beneficial for urinary troubles (burning, dripping). This fruit is helpful for treating piles and easing thirst. In some situations the patient is advised to limit the intake of fluids (especially heart patients). Fully ripened fruit may produce diarrhea, so one should be careful. Antidotes for dosakaya are: ginger (శొంఠి), saunf, salt, honey, black pepper powder, wheat flour, and ganuga (karanj) seeds decoction. Tender dosakaya works for nausea and it boosts energy. Seeds and seed powder are also useful for medicinal purposes. Earlier seeds were used for typhus fever.

Ganesa Kirtana - A Rare Tyagaraja Composition

సౌరాష్ట్ర రాగం    ఆది తాళం 

శ్రీ గణపతిని సేవించ రారే శ్రిత మానవులారా

వాగధిపతి సుపూజల( జేకొని

బా(గు)గ నటింపుచును వెడలిన || శ్రీ || 

పనస నారికేళాది జంబూ ఫలము లారగించి

ఘనతరంబునను  మహిపై పదములు

ఘల్లు ఘల్లున నుంచి

అనయము (శ్రీ) హరి చరణయుగముల(లు) 

హృదయాంబుజమున నుంచి

వినయమునను (శ్రీ) త్యాగరాజ వినుతుని

వివిధ గతుల ధళుంగుమని వెడలిన  || శ్రీ || 

Srii gaNapatini sEvinca raarE

Srita maanavulaaraa

vaagadhipati supuujala( jEkoni

baaguga naTinpuchunu veDalina (Srii gaNapatini)

panasa naarikELaadi jamboo phalamu laaraginci

ghanatarambunanu mahipai padamulu

ghallu ghallununchi

anayamu (Srii) hari charaNayugamula(lu) 

hRdayaambujamuna nunchi

vinayamunanu (Srii) tyaaagaraaja vinutuni

vividha gatula dhaLungumani veDalina

(Come, let us pray (and serve) the Lord of all Groups, O worshippers. Sri Ganapati has just arrived after enjoying the puja(s) from Lord Brahma. Lo and behold His dancing steps and moves.

He has arrived after relishing jackfruit, coconut, jamun, and other fruits (at the puja). Gently, wearily He is putting heavy steps on the ground with the tingling sound of tiny bells. (Let us meet Him and pray.) Let us meet Him with our minds always focused on the feet of Lord Narayana ensconced in our hearts. We will go and meet Sri Ganapati with pure bhakti and obedience; the Lord whom Tyagaraja praises is coming out (in the procession) in splendorous glory and colors. Though I am utterly ignorant of Carnatic music theory, I learned this song with proper tune just by reading from Ms. Syama Sundari's compilation. I'll try to put audio link later. Copyright 2021 by the author.)

Lyrics of "Vedamu tiirchadu" Song

వేదము తీర్చదు వేరే శాస్త్రము(లు)

ఏదియు తీర్చదు ఇది నీ మాయ

నీవల్ల బ్రతికిరి నిండు దేవతలు

నీవల్ల అసురులు నెరి చెడిరి 

ఆవల కంతయు ఆత్మవు నీవె

సేవ చేయ నీ చిక్కిరి భువికి (1)

నెమ్మి పాండవులు నీవారంటివి

కమ్మర విడిచితి కౌరవుల

ఇమ్ముల కీ వావి కిద్దర కొకటే

తెమ్మలాయె నీ తీరని చిక్కు (2)

జగముల కెల్ల స్వతంత్ర నీవె

నెగదిన (అగణిత) జీవులు నీవారు

తగు శ్రీవెంకటపతి దైవమా ఇన్నియు

తెగి నీ దాసులు తీర్చిన చిక్కు! (3)

vEdamu tiirchadu vErE Saastramu(lu)

Ediyu tiirchadu idi nii maaya

niivalla bratikiri ninDu dEvatalu

niivalla asurulu neri cheDiri

aavala kantayu aatmavu niive

sEva chEya nii chikkiri bhuviki

nemmi paanDavulu niivaaranTivi

kammara viDichiti kauravula

immula kii vaavi kiddara kokaTE

temmalaaye nii tiirani chikku

jagamula kella swatantra niive

negadina (agaNita) jiivulu niivaaru

tagu SriivenkaTapati daivamaa inniyu

tegi nii daasulu tiirchina chikku! 

(I learned this devotional song from a CD with Dr. Balamuralikrishna's vibrant voice. Here I give the lyrics straight from my memory. Roughly the gist of the composition is this: Vedas cannot decipher nor any of the sastras. Nothing will explain, this is all Your (Lord Venkatesa's) maya. The Devas got life while the Asuras got perished - all because of You. But You are the soul (support) behind all this and the Devas descended on the earth to serve You. You befriended the Pandavas while You left the Kauravas to their own devices. But You apportioned everything equally before the war. Now, Your plan is all clear (to us). In all the worlds (the entire Universe) You are truly independent and without any opposition. All the sentient beings and all the life is Yours. All these divine (everything) entities, they're all You (Lord Venkatesa). That's how Your obedient servants (devotees) have resolved this puzzle! As I could not come up with something original for Krishna-ashtami quickly, I submit this piece as a small gesture towards Krishna's birth day. Originally I wanted a nice lullaby or childhood prank-filled story, perhaps it will come later.)

There may be one or two mistakes. They will be corrected later. Copyright 2021 by the author