Comments on the Sanskrit Song at UN

Comments on the Sanskrit Song at UN

The world is currently home to almost 8 billion (that is 8 followed by nine zeroes). So obviously there will be many hundreds, if not thousands of disparate (diverse) opinions on any given issue. Whether it is food preference, coffee/tea/(g)oat milk, language, or dress/skin color, we all have our own likes and dislikes. So we may never agree and totally concur on any issue. But despite such differences we must live and coexist harmoniously. If not for our own sakes at least we must live peacefully for our progeny, for the future lives (humans and other animals) yet to be born. If we can view the other person as a reflection of ourselves then we may not initiate grudges and discords; strong discords will eventually lead to hate and simmering hatred whether explicit or dormant can be a breeding ground to serious strife. Peace and tolerance are important facets of life. In most situations human life is finite; a generation spans at most thirty years. Many individuals’ (particularly children’s and the aged infirm community’s) precious lives are cut short due to famine, disease, and wars. Thus we earnestly need genuine well-wishers, good-natured individuals, and dedicated people who love and sacrifice their lives for an enduring peace under the sky. This is the reason why we admire and value personalities like Borlaug, Mahatma Gandhi, and Doctors without Borders (Medicine sans frontier). 

Here, in this short lyric our esteemed Paramacharya brings out the essential love (a somewhat misunderstood word) to establish peace on the earth. He was fully aware about all the isms and divisions of religions (faith). He also conversed sweetly even with the most hardcore atheists. The Swami urges us to totally avoid war, fighting, encroachment, and the bitter endless spans of strife. 

The mother earth is compared to the Kama-dhenu here. It can and does yield all the fruits for the benefit of humankind. Actually there is a vivid account in Srimad-Bhagavatam about Emperor Prudhu (that is why the earth is referred to as prithvi in Sanskrit) who entreats mother earth to provide sustenance to his people. The Father (above) is the most compassionate. The song concludes with a loving benediction from the great seer (a veritable wandering sanyasi). When the song was performed at the United Nations in 1966, India was experiencing terrible end to end wars in the northern border; concurrently it was going through a great shortage of foods (Cf. the present situation with wheat, baby food, and cooking oil shortages across the world). Therefore this original Sanskrit lyric has a unique place in the annals of India and the larger world. Then also the world was reeling the armed conflicts in Asia and middle east. Sadly, the current times are not any more peaceful. In the Upanishads and many of the Hindu scriptures we often close a poem, an essay, a narration, or an exhortation with the invocation of Peace. It ("the peace word") is uttered three times. Saying anything three times means it is true. So be it. ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Let there be peace in the world on the eve of Buddha’s birth day.  Copyright 2022 by the author J Krishnamurti's Talk at UN

Knitted Caps, Boots, and Socks

Knitted Caps, Boots, and Socks 

For a change I want to post the accomplishments of a gifted person. These colorful woolen and acrylic knitted things are really godsend in cold places. Talk about the cold here in the Northeast, sometimes with wind chill it can descend into minus 15 or 20 degrees F. The house too gets pretty cold and dry even with indoor 24/7 heating. So, children and elders need all coverings – ranging from cozy socks, gloves, mittens, sweaters, cardigans, pullovers, and most important the head covering thing, colorful cap. 

When I first saw the picture of Swami Prabhupada (the ISKON founder) with a cap and layers of clothing with socks, I did not fully realize the harshness of cold here in the northern latitudes. Hailing from a tropical India, the Swami must have felt really the cold in West Virginia, NY, or UK. Through a friend I came to appreciate the importance of a nice close fitting warm cap over the head. Much body heat gets lost through the exposed head; a woolen cap keeps the body warm and healthy. Many bouts of cold, flu, or earaches can be prevented with a simple cap and scarf. To some covering the head and neck may signal loss of youth and pristine vigor. But who cares for others’ silly opinions? Our own health and comfort is more important than any silly fad or snarky look. 

The creator (LOH) of these priceless wintry accouterments probably spent weeks and months knitting and crocheting during the winter times. She had to first find the attractive pattern on the Internet and gather all assorted colored yarns. These days the raw materials have become exorbitant. There is no Woolworth store now. In India at least you can get some Coates yarn or other (Lal Imli) woolen thread. Here in US mostly it is from outside and it appears the crafts and knitting activities have become favorite hobbies through the pandemic, pushing up prices. 

I post this short article to express gratitude to all such artistic people (there are some wonderful men too in this company) who bring warmth and joy to young and old alike. These invaluable knitted coverings keep the body healthy and warm. All our family members have enjoyed wearing these attractive caps, mittens, little boots, and socks. Copyright 2022 by the author 

 

Lessons Learned From My Swimming

In an earlier post I’ve omitted several important things associated with this water sport. Foremost in every enduring physical activity, one must carefully assess one’s reserve energy, stamina, and physical fitness. This careful assessment comes with only experience. Suddenly one cannot stop swimming in the middle of a fast flowing stream and flip over to the edge; one has to control and properly steer the body away from physical danger. Even in tranquil pool waters one can get stuck with severe cramp in the thigh, calf, or hand. Then we have to gently learn to float for a while and some how cross towards the nearest edge, ladder, or bank. This maneuvering must occur while keeping normal breathing without letting the body drown due to sheer exhaustion. History is replete with terrible tragedies in swimming. The famous English Channel swimmer Captain Matthew Webb could not handle the dangerous whirlpool-whipping currents of Niagara River.

Here is a portrait of the famous Indian swimmer Mihir Sen with Prime Minister Nehru. It ought to inspire young students and athletes in any age. (Photo is from the Internet; Copyright probably belongs to his daughter.) 

Some of the hostel students used to do stretching exercises before the dip. I did not do any stretching, per se during my daily swimming. I took those trips to the pool as a fun outing. Perhaps I should have done a little stretching before the diving. At least twice or thrice in the season I got severe muscle cramping while doing the long laps, i.e., along the length. In hindsight now I consider the cramping due to excessive (over) exercise, lack of fluids, or electrolytic imbalance. During running or bicycle riding one can move to the shoulder and rest till the spasm of cramping pain eases a bit. But while swimming we’ve to be extremely careful. I did not know these complications initially; did not talk with my friends about such issues. Slowly I learned to handle the cramping on my own. One of my legs would become suddenly stiff refusing to move at all. Then I would gently move my hands and turn over to the backstroke style (floating) and drag my body to the nearest ledge. Oh, damn, that used to be a very long tiring strenuous swim for that twenty or thirty feet distance.  

With a bit of experience under my belt, such painful episodes stopped bothering me. I developed confidence and I could gauge my physical strength correctly. Then suddenly one weekend I got into a very dangerous situation. My troublesome teenager nephew (S.Y.) dragged me into an almost fatal situation. In the village I used to carry the same nephew (then a toddler) around the garden and coconut orchard to soothe him from stomach aches. So our bonding goes back many years – both in the ancestral village and in the mega city we used to play tricks and tease each other. That eventful summer he was idling at home and getting bored with nothing to do. One weekend he accompanied me to the hostel and pestered me about swimming. When I asked repeatedly, “Do you really know swimming?” he’d just bluff in the affirmative. I had my doubts and I yielded to the repeated beseeching. So we went to the pool for a few laps, no just for one lap across the width. To be on the safe side we should have started the swim from the shallow side. But we took to the plunge from the middle and just after few strokes my nephew started sinking; he was gasping for breath. 

Instinctively he grabbed on to my body for help. I was actually a little ahead, totally unaware of his precarious situation. In such conditions the best course would be like this: the drowning person should keep the nose above water and hold on the waist (lower part) and help the rescuer to gently reach the nearest bank. Ideally the drowning person should not put his entire weight on the rescuer. But here we both were on the verge of sinking together. Luckily I pulled all my reserve strength and slowly dragged him to the edge. He was at least ten or fifteen pounds heavier than me. Then and there I took an instant oath - never to get into such dangerous situations. This a warning to all average swimmers! 

My diving antics were more joyful. Jumping off from the lower diving boards (10 – 15’) was no big deal and I used try the straight vertical drop like a bamboo pole or the sitting posture to make a big splash. But on half a dozen times I did venture the jumps from the top most diving board. It was not that easy. I would climb all the way to the top and linger for many minutes – a bit apprehensive about the steep fall into the deep waters. Then suddenly out of nowhere a slender high school lad would appear right behind me. He would goad me gently, “Uncle, jump. No big deal.” Or, sometimes the teasing teenager would suddenly push me over the edge to clinch the issue – “to be or not to be”. 

Then rapidly I would free fall for a while before hitting the green waters. With stretched hands and streamlined body I would try to reach the bottom as rapidly as possible. Then touch the floor and quickly turn around and start towards the shining light from the surface above. Maybe it was exhilarating a minute or two; I had to hold my breath and reach the fresh air in the open. Oh, what a relief! To feel that fresh air normal breathing out in the open. Mostly I did one dive per day but even that did affect my hearing. I should have used thick cotton swab (from the lab) or earplugs (rubber stoppers) for my own protection. But I did not notice the long-term effect till the season’s end. Then suddenly I would feel water in the inner ear and some sort of blockage (muffled hearing). 

Who has time for going to the dispensary for the swimmer’s ear? I was too busy in the grad school with lab, some dabbling in poetry, and vacantly looking at the owls. Probably I tried a few drops of hydrogen peroxide or some ear-drops. Now I recall why some swimmers used to jump up and down with tilted head – to drain the water from ear canal. Finally after six months somehow I got rid of the ear blockage. Luckily my hearing stayed perfect through all these years. Now I do wear earplugs or tight woolen cap while working with noisy lawn mower or snow blower. 

Copyright 2022 by the author

The UN Song by M. S. Subbulakshmi

SlO|| maitreeM bhajataakhila hRd^jaitreeM

aatmavadaeva paraanapi paSyata

yuddhaM tyajata spardhaaM tyajata 

tyajata paraeshvakrama maakramaNam^||

 

SlO|| jananee pRthvee kaamadughoo೭stae 

janakOdaeva@h sakaladayaaLu@h

daamyata datta dayadhvaM janataa@h 

SraeyO bhooyaat^ sakalajanaanaam^||

శ్లో|| మైత్రీం భజతాఖిల హృద్‌జైత్రీం

ఆత్మవదేవ పరానపి పశ్యత

యుద్ధం త్యజత స్పర్ధాం త్యజత

త్యజత పరేష్వక్రమ మాక్రమణమ్‌||

శ్లో|| జననీ పృథ్వీ కామదుఘూ೭స్తే 

జనకోదేవః సకలదయాళుః 

దామ్యత దత్త దయధ్వం జనతాః

శ్రేయో భూయాత్‌ సకలజనానామ్‌||

मैत्रीम् भजताखिल हृद्जैत्रीम् 

आत्मा वदेव परानपि पस्यत 

युद्धं त्यजत स्पर्धां त्यजत 

त्यजत परेश्वक्रम माक्रमणम् 

 

जननी पृउध्वी कामदुघास्ते 

जनकोदेवः सकल दयाळुः 

दाम्यत दत्त दयध्वं जनताः 

श्रेयो भूयात् सकल जनानां 

M S Subbulakshmi Performing

(This unique Sanskrit song was composed by none other than Sri Paramacharya of Kanchi. It was performed at the United Nations in 1966. Those years were very trying for India, stuck between back to back wars and food shortages. I am giving the song lyrics in Telugu and Sanskrit scripts for the larger audience. English transliteration is also included. Will add meaning later. Copyright 2022 by the author)

Unconventional Swimming Lessons

Unconventional Swimming Lessons

Despite living close to large fresh water bodies (river, canal, tanks, and yes even sea), I did not learn swimming for many years. My village friends and some classmates used to spend hours in the wide canal waters, at times with a fly rod. Once my classmate got almost smacked in the eye while diving from a tree branch into the large tank near our street corner. Mother could have used her good offices to arrange swimming lessons for me from any of her village friends. Perhaps she was too busy with other things and I never learned the water sport in my native village. Thus though clean water was close by I could not avail the fun of aquatic sports.  Rarely I did any serious swimming in my school days except a few half-hearted strokes or paddling with my tiny hands. This is what they mean by the age-old adage: “The temple is near but the Lord is far away.” 

In the graduate school we had to endure very hot summers; still makes me dehydrate just by thinking even now! And there was a functioning Olympic size pool with clean green tinted (bleach) waters. One day at the breakfast table my friends and I were idly talking about while munching on toast and fruit. Two other friends were in their swimming trunks for the morning lap. Casually I asked my Tamil friend (M.S.) to teach me swimming. “No problem, first get yourself a nice swimming shorts (trunk).” I waited anxiously the whole day to get out of the lab sooner and rushed to the strip mall in the evening. For about ten or fifteen rupees I bought a simple grey trunk; but it was too late for my first lesson that evening.

Next morning after brushing I dashed directly to my friend’s hostel room on the ground floor. We quickly grabbed the breakfast and proceeded towards the pool. He was telling me stories about how he used to swim in Tamil Nadu in a large well with rope tied around his waist. Sweet innocent high school outdoor activities in clean water surroundings – days of the bygone era. After a quick shower we went down to the pool. It is a big pool with diving boards going all the way up to thirty feet high. 

My teacher friend was very brave and physically fit. He took me directly to the deep end near the high diving board. There he proceeded with stern instructions: “Look dear, if you want to learn really you’ve to follow my advice. You can stay like all those idle guys in the shallow waters for several seasons without ever learning anything about water. They stand there like the cranes, just walking on the floor in the shallow water.”

“No, I want to learn fast. I want to enjoy swimming and deep water diving.”

“Ok, I’ll teach you in two days. You just have to follow my rules. And fully trust me.”

That’s it. He really taught me everything in two or three days. There were no ropes, floating devices, goggles, and not even earplugs. No long pole to rescue me from drowning. My instructor continued thus: “First you get rid of water phobia. I ask you to jump into the sixteen feet deep water. You just jump. And then follow your (body) instincts to stay afloat, just enough to keep your nose above water. Be utterly calm and continue steady gentle breathing.”

That was it - a small adventurous beginning. I was standing next to the diving board in wet swimming costume. And without any thought, I just jumped straight into the pool. With a bit of paddling and pushing with hands (Newton’s Third Law) I could keep my head above the water and gently I crawled towards the cement hand railing on the edge. My instructor was happy to see me afloat breathing normally. We continued talking with further helpful instructions, he standing over the edge and me vertically floating in the pool.  

  

After two weeks my teacher had let me swim on my own without any supervision. I did not pay for his lessons in any way. But I used to accompany him to the Sunday group meetings (picnic) with packed lunches from the mess. Eventually we all graduated and dispersed from the city. Later he tracked me down in Tamil Nadu on one afternoon and we went for a nice high tea outside the college campus. 

That summer when I visited my native place in Andhra I had a marvelous vacation time (a blast!) in the village. We were living very close to the big agricultural feeder canal and every morning I would take a dip in the water. I did several laps covering the width and tried my screw rotations (freestyle and backstroke combination) on the slightly muddy waters. All the fear of water was gone forever. 

As I look back fondly at those youthful days I’ve only few complaints: I did not fully learn the diving technique. With more patience and perseverance I could have developed a smooth diving, the angle of attack, and perhaps one or two flips in midair. Also I should have perfected the forward (breast) stroke keeping the head a little lower into the water with the upper body more parallel (horizontal) to the floor. But then there were other distractions like looking at other swimmers, the canteen dosas, and enjoying the Amaltas flower bunches on the way. I also learned other subjects like adult education from my hostel mate. That summer fully engrossed in the water sport was a memorable phase in my life. I made new friends and the swimming season ended with a “swimmer’s ear”. We almost watched with a sigh of despair at the closing of swimming pool for the season; it was getting terribly cold and we couldn’t continue any further with dirty mossy water. I got introduced to authors like Herman Hesse and Joyce through my humanities hostel mates. My lab friends got envious at my carefree attitude to life (studies). I think they got jealous because I learnt swimming so quickly, so easily, so effortlessly. 

Despite spending two or three hours in the pool I still managed with my lab work pretty well – way ahead of my group. I think every youngster should master bicycle and swimming. They teach bodily balance and floating ability. Every summer when I read about the recurring drowning of young college students I really feel sorry for such water accidents, tragedies that are really preventable.  To be Continued. Copyright 2022 by the author. Pool Photo adapted from the Internet (Copyright holder unknown)   

What's The Time?

What’s The Time

(Brushing Up on Simple Math)

I came across this strange analog clock in social media. A group member has passed it on to me. It took me few minutes to figure out all the numbers. Interestingly doctors prescribe simple questions like analog clock dial, three object names (words), and other elementary things to test the mental acuity of elders. This is to detect the early signs of fading memory ability and other coordinating skills. In India too it would be nice if all the elders are given such tests. 

My father worked with all types of wristwatches and clocks. So, naturally I’ve a bit of fascination with dials, machines, etc. Long time back we had some costly watches, which would glow in the night. The dials were painted with Radium (radioactive) and so were the rotating hands. The letters shine in the night and one could tell the time easily even while sitting in a totally dark theater hall or on a park bench in the night. Unfortunately Radium due to its natural radioactivity can have deleterious effects on health. 

You’ve to tell the time now. 

Sin (pi/2) = sin (90) = 1

This is the first derivative of ‘2x’. Answer is 2

Here is a matrix of four elements (two rows and two columns). But we are asked to find out the value of the determinant. One can figure out by drawing out two arrows.

(5 x 2) – (7 x 1) = 3

Next, here the big pi (Π) indicates we have to do product of various terms. Here n takes values from 1 to 3. So the product is 

For n = 1, (1 + 1)/1 = 2

        n = 2, (2 + 1)/2 = 3/2

        n = 3, (3 + 1)/3 = 4/3

2 x (3/2) x (4/3) = 4

The next number is expressed as a combination of squares and square roots. 

Sq. root of (49 + 576) = √625 = 25; and √25 = 5

Now, the factorial sign appears here. Definition: “n! = 1.2.3…n”

So, 3! = 1.2.3 = 6

(A slight detour – those who remember the analog clock dials can quickly tell the correct time for this symbol clock also.  That is by taking a cue from memory and a bit of chance. But we would miss the mathematics and lot of fun.) To be Continued. Copyright 2022 by the author Copyright of the mathematical symbol clock is not known

Meaning and the Import of "sthirata nahi nahire" Song

Translating this classic song into English is not easy. I’ve to search and look around for the right word to communicate correctly what the great composer meant exactly. Foremost I humbly bow to my guru and parents. I offer heaps of tree Jasmine (Millingtonia hortensis) flowers at their feet.

O (hapless) mind! How can you get steadiness? There is no way out of distractions. There is no peace. (No easy way out to get peace in life.) 

1. In the mundane world, we humans will come across three principal sources of despair or anxiety. We cannot easily get over them or avoid them, however best we may try. They’ll singe and sear our hearts. These are: a) afflictions (problems) related to the physical (i.e., biological) corporeal body. b) Problems due to the five (earth, fire, wind, water, and sky) material elements. c) Problems that are caused by fate (karma), curse, or an act of ‘devata’. So, the accumulated pain caused by these three types of “burning fire” is limitless like an ocean. If by mistake we let ourselves (or forced into) into this ocean, then there is no chance for tranquility. In such situations the mind cannot stay alert and steady; like a lamp in stormy wind it waves and flickers violently. Further what happens if we add two more elements like pride and ego? Now it is impossible for the mind to get any peace or be steady with courage in such terrible situation. Instances like losing a tooth or getting stuck in a tornado/cyclone do happen in real life. Similarly getting involved in crippling road accidents or drowning in fast moving streams is also a fact of life. 

2. Objects enter into our consciousness through sound, touch, form (shape), taste, and smell (olfactory sense). Such objects (or things) wrap around human consciousness (mind) like powerful ropes or (unbreakable) shackles. O mind, how can such people with entanglements have any tranquility? In such circumstances, how can the mind be calm and steady to focus on prayer, meditation, or any worthwhile endeavor?

What is unnatural or perverse wisdom (cleverness)? Mistaking what is real to be false and believing some thing inherently unreal as real – that is indeed strange; the composer is gently hinting us the core problem. Identifying oneself with the physical body and not recognizing the ‘self’ as the real ‘oneself’ – that is the major blunder in our thinking. We also refer the ‘core self’ as ‘atma’. So, with such distorted thinking, how can we ever have any peace in life? How can the mind find any grip and steadiness in its pursuit? How can it focus?

3. Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra’s Swami’s guru was (is) Sri Parama Sivendra Saraswati (1539 – 1586 A.D.). The last stanza says thus: For those who discard (eschew) the yogic path of Paramahamsa Sivendra Swami, there is no respite in life here on the earth. However great they may be, the earthly carnal pleasures (borne out of the senses) are fleeting; there is no permanence to them. We have such powerful stories like Pururuva and Urvasi. Or, consider the story of Ahalya (wife of king Pradyumna) and Indra (from Yoga Vasistham as expounded by Sri Shanmukha Sarma). So, if one is entrapped in such transient pleasures there will not be peace. O mind, be watchful for such missteps and dangerous slippery path. In that path, O mind, you’ll not find peace or steadiness. Listen to the guru’s (here it refers to the afore mentioned esteemed Sri Sivendra Swami of Kanchi Mutt) gentle advice in these difficult complex matters. The complete lyrics and audio links were given in the previous post here. Copyright 2022 by the author