Kalash ........

Kalasha, also spelled as Kalash (literally “pitcher, pot”), is a metal (brass, copper, silver or gold) pot with a large base and small mouth, large enough to hold a coconut. Sometimes “Kalasha” also refers to such a pot filled with water and topped with a coronet of mango leaves and a coconut. Sanskrit is a poetically strong language with mysterious power to describe most complex ideas by simplest examples. Since the time of Rigveda, Kalash is used to explain basic sources of life. And no doubt, it depicts very nature of nature. Pot represents the container of the fertility (Prosperity). Place to create new world. Place to give birth to world. Womb that nurtures and nourishes life.  The water in the kalasha symbolizes place from where entire creation emerged. It is the giver of life to all and has the potential of creating innumerable names and forms, the inert objects and the sentient beings and all that is auspicious in the world from the energy behind the universe. The coconut, a cash crop, represents prosperity and power. The water in the pot represents the life-giving ability of Nature. The mango leaves and the thread represent the love that “binds” all in creation. The kalasha is therefore considered auspicious and worshipped. The waters from all the holy rivers, the knowledge of all the Vedas and the blessings of all the deities are invoked in the kalasha and its water is thereafter used for all the rituals, including the abhisheka. Thus the kalasha also symbolizes immortality. Men of wisdom are full and complete as they identify with the infinite Truth. They brim with joy and love and respect all that is auspicious. We greet them with a purnakumbha (“full pot”) acknowledging their greatness and as a sign of respectful and reverential welcome, with a “full heart”.

On Ganesh chaturthi..........

Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations

   The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and many other parts of India. Started by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, to promote culture and nationalism, the festival was revived by Lokmanya Tilak (a freedom fighter) to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the British who had banned public assemblies. The festival gave the Indians a feeling of unity and revived their patriotic spirit and faith. This public festival formed the background for political leaders who delivered speeches to inspire people against the Western rule. The festival is so popular that the preparations begin months in advance.

   Ganesha statues installed in street corners and in homes, and elaborate arrangements are made for lighting, decoration, mirrors and the most common of flowers. Poojas (prayer services) are performed daily. The artists who make the idols of Ganesh compete with each other to make bigger and more magnificent and elegant idols. The relevantly larger ones are anything from 10 meters to 30 meters in height. These statues are then carried on decorated floats to be immersed in the sea after one, three, five, seven and ten days. Thousands of processions converge on the beaches to immerse the holy idols in the sea. This procession and immersion is accompanied by drum- beats, devotional songs and dancing.

   It is still forbidden to look at the moon on that day as the moon had laughed at Ganesha when he fell from his vehicle, the rat. With the immersion of the idol amidst the chanting of "Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai!" (Hail Lord Ganesh). The festival ends with pleas to Ganesha to return the next year with chants of "Ganpati bappa morya, pudcha varshi laukar ya" (Hail Lord Ganesh, return again soon next year.

हिंदी दिवस (१४ सितम्बर ) के अवसर पर .....

जो जीवन की धूल चाट कर बड़ा हुआ है

जो जीवन की धूल चाट कर बड़ा हुआ है
तूफ़ानों से लड़ा और फिर खड़ा हुआ है
जिसने सोने को खोदा लोहा मोड़ा है
जो रवि के रथ का घोड़ा है
वह जन मारे नहीं मरेगा
नहीं मरेगा

जो जीवन की आग जला कर आग बना है
फौलादी पंजे फैलाए नाग बना है
जिसने शोषण को तोड़ा शासन मोड़ा है
जो युग के रथ का घोड़ा है
वह जन मारे नहीं मरेगा
नहीं मरेगा-

 केदारनाथ अग्रवाल (Kedarnath Agarwal)

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Tulsi..........

‘Tulsi’ is a sacred plant. The plant grows to a height of two to three feet. There are two varieties - the black (krishna) and the white. This plant has vertical springs which bear small flowers. Most probably its root name is tulas (तुळस) and tulsi (तुलसी) is its Sanskrit version.

नरा नार्यश्च तां दृष्‍ट्‌वा तुलनां दातुमक्षमा: । तेन नाम्‍ना च तुलसी तां वदन्‍ति पुराविद: ।। - ब्रह्‍मवैवर्त पुराण, प्रकृतिखंड १५ 

Meaning: Man saw this plant but could not compare it to any other. Hence archaeologists began calling it tulsi. -Brahmavaivarta Puran, Prakrutikhand 15

If one worships Vishnu without tulsi leaves then it is in vain because without offering tulsi leaves or without sprinkling food with water using them, Vishnu does not partake of the offering. Looking at, touching, meditating upon, praying to, worshipping, planting or eating tulsi leaves can cleanse one of sins committed in several births in the bygone eras. It is said that all deities reside in this plant right from the roots to the shoots.’

Why are tulsi leaves offered to Vishnu?: Commonly it is said that in the ritualistic worship of a deity, it is offered its favourite item; for example, Ganapati likes red flowers, Shankar bel and Vishnu tulsi. Then a story as to why that deity likes that particular substance is narrated. In reality superior deities like Shankar, Vishnu, Ganapati do not have any likes or dislikes. Yet the reason for offering certain substances to certain deities is as follows.

One of the objectives of ritualistic worship is that the idol which is to be worshipped should get charged with divine consciousness (chaitanya) and that it should help one in making spiritual progress. In order to generate that divine consciousness, the substance which is offered to that idol has more ability to attract the pure particles (pavitrakas) [most subtle spiritual particles] of that deity, from as far as the maha region as compared to other substances. Red flowers have the ability to attract the pure particles of Ganapati, bel of Shankar, tulsi of Vishnu, etc. Hence tulsi leaves are offered to Vishnu. A tulsi plant is planted on a pedestal in front of the house and tulsi is even wedded to Krishna.

How a woman feels loved ............

A woman feels emotionally supported when you listen. It has been shown that men speak 2000 words a day, women, 7000. While men principally talk to relay facts, make a point, or achieve a goal, women speak for all of these reasons as well as for many other reasons such as to relieve stress, create intimacy, and form a bond. 

Unfortunately when a man tries to listen, often he either tries to solve her problems or he feels blamed. A woman was telling her husband about a friend. Her husband's response was:  “Have I done something wrong?”  She had to laugh at the impossibility of his question – he hardly even knew the woman involved. As a man, instead of thinking of your reactions, you can focus on listening. Yogi Bhajan once explained to a group of men,  "communicate to others that you have the capacity to hear them." 

Joe was a fine detail carpenter and a man of few words. Kathy, his wife of 20 years used to get angry all the time about their lack of communication. In couples therapy, she realized that  if he didn't feel blamed, he enjoyed listening to her.  In fact, once she started to tell him how much she appreciated his attention, he himself sought out conversation.

One thing Joe didn’t understand though, was why she had to bring up the same issues over and over again. He thought they had settled certain questions the last time they talked. A woman does need to go over the same issues many times (even monthly), but all she needs is that you listen. Maybe there will be some small changes you can make that will relieve the tension. Over much time, with the support of a loving relationship, she can conquer her demons and the issues can change.

Expressions of emotional support     

Treat her like you did when you first met her

Hug her          Display affection	Ask specific questions about the day	Take her side when she is upset with someone
Make eye contact when listening	Validate her feelings	Practice listening and asking questions
Offer to help if you see she is tired	If she is hurt let her know you are sorry for her pain	If you need to withdraw tell her you’ll be back