MUSIC IS DIVINE - 1 OF 3

Hi friends,

1. CARNATIC SONGS
Anyone not interested in music misses something in life. I have a lot of interest in music, especially after my wedding. My wife is a classical singer. You may be surprised if I tell you she sang five songs on our girl seeing the ceremony in 1973. She follows the style of  GNB, MLV, Radha & Jayalakshmi, and Sudha Ragunathan. My daughter is also a good singer. Whenever I am alone I have the habit of humming my favourite songs. They are: 

1. Sri Chakra Raja Ragamaliga Sudha Ragunathan
2. Sobillu sabdhaswara Jaganmohini Radha Jayalakhsmi
3. Chinnanjiru Kiliye Ragamaliga G.N.B
4. Ongi Ulagalandha Uthaman Arabhi M.L.V
5. Banturithi Kolu Hamsanadham Radha Jayalakshmi
6. Krishna Nee Begane Baro Yaman Kalyani Yesudass
7. Chamaja vara ghamana Hindolam G.N.B
8. Alaipayudhey Kanna Kanada Sudha Ragunathan
9. Radha Samedha Krishna Kalyani G.N.B
​10.Thaye Yashoda unthan Thodi Madurai Mani Iyer

2. CARNATIC BASED TAMIL FILM SONGS
I have given above ten songs in Carnatic music as my favourite. Music in any form is divine. To bring Carnatic ragaa into film songs is not an easy task. A lot of talent is needed to do that as huge money is at stake. Our music directors, lyricists and playback singers have combined wonderfully well to bring out the best effect. These are my favourite film songs based on Carnatic raga. 

1. அமுதும் தேனும் எதற்கு                 சீர்காழி
2. ஒரு நாள் போதுமா                          பால முரளி
3. பாட்டும் நானே பாவமும் நானே            டி எம் எஸ்
4. தங்க ரதம் வந்தது                 பால முரளி
5. யார் தருவார் இந்த அரியாசனம்          டி எம் எஸ்
6. ராதே உனக்கு கோபம் ஆகாதடி           எம் கே டி
7. ஆடாத மனமும் உண்டோ                  டி எம் எஸ் / எம் எல் வி    
8. பாடறீயேன் படிப்பறியேன்                   சித்ரா
9. க்ருஷ்ணா முகுந்தா முராரெ                   எம் கே டி  
10.எல்லாம் இன்ப மயம்                          எம் எல் வி

1. Amudum thenum etharku                 Sirkazhi
2. Oru naal poduma                          Bala Murali
3. Pattum naane bhavamun naane            T.M.S
4. Thanga radham vandhadu                 Bala Murali
5. Yaar tharuvar indha ariyasanam          T.M.S
6. Radhe unakku kobam agaadhadi           M.K.T
7. Aadatha manamum undo                   T.M.S/M.L.V    
8. Paadariyen padippariyen                   Chitra
9. Krishna mukunda murare                   M.K.T  
10.Ellam inba mayam                          M.L.V


3. HINDI FILM SONGS
I have mentioned above my favourite songs in Carnatic music, and Tamil film songs based on Carnatic raga. My Hindi friends may get upset if their songs are ignored. Language has no barrier as far as music is concerned. I like many Hindi songs also. SDBurman, RDBurman, MD. Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Lata, Asha are great composers and singers in Hindi movies. Majruh Sultanpuri, Shahir Ludhianvi are great lyricists like our Kannadasan and Vaali. The songs I enjoy are:

1. Tere mere sapne                      Guide                     Md.Rafi
2. Sou saal pahele                       Jab pyar...               Md.Rafi
3. O mere dil ke chain                   Kati patang               Kishore kumar
4. Mere beegi beegi se                  Anamica                   Kishore kumar
5. Din dhal jaaye haye                   Guide                     Md.Rafi
6. Piya tu ab to aaja                     caravan                   Asha bhonsle
7. Mera jeevan kora kagaz               Kora kagaz               Kishore kumar
8. Dil pukare aare aare                  Jewel thief               Md.Rafi/Lata
9. Mere dil mein aaj kya hai             Daag                      Kishore kumar
10.Jeevan ki bagiya mahkegi             Tere mere sapne         Kishor/Lata

SEPARATION IN SUMMER

Some people like their wife. Some love them. Some adore them. Some find them indispensable. Hence they are called better half. One of my friends calls his wife as the best half. Everyone has experienced the agony of sending his wife to her parent's house for the summer vacation. 

The longer the separation more the feeling for food, companionship, caring and sharing. Every day we long for their return. If the place of her visit is nearby we visit there often until her return. A man cannot live without his wife. All wives know this and feel happy about it. 

When I was young, I also sent my wife to her parent's house during the summer and suffered. Two days before her arrival, I used to spend a sleepless night. On the day of her arrival, I went to the station long before the arrival of the train.

I am unable to guess why men are like this and fight with the wife afterwards. Why can't they love her all the time? It is intriguing. I am not sure whether wives also suffer due to separation. I think they are happy to go to their parents. What do you say bitter half?

BHISHMA THE KING MAKER PART 4 OF 4

continued from part  3


Then Bhishma with the help of other elders was able to persuade them to bifurcate the kingdom into two parts which they could rule separately. Yudishtran accepted the proposal and took the kingdom of  Indraprastha and  Dhuryodana took control of Hastinapura. 

Even after bifurcation, Dhuryodana was not happy. He once visited Indraprastham, and seeing its prosperity, he grew jealous and envied Yudishtra and his brothers. He wanted to usurp Yudishtran's kingdom also. He planned along with his uncle Sakuni and hatched out a plan.

Sakuni suggested to him to invite Yudishtran for a game of dice which the kings in those days should accept as a matter of honour. As Sakuni was an expert, he played on behalf of Dhuryodana and won all the games. Yudishtran lost all his property including his brothers and wife. 

In the final game, Dhuryodana told him, if he won, he could get back his wife and brothers but they should go to the forest for 12 years of which the last one year should be in exile and if they were caught in exile, they should go to the forest again for another 12years.

Droupathy, the wife of Pandavas, was brought to the court to dishonour her chastity. Lord Krishna came to her rescue.  Droupathy got two boons from King Drudharashtra and got her husbands released and went to the forest to spend 12 years. They suffered a lot in the forest including the one year in exile.

After completing the term in the forest, Lord Krishna was sent as a mediator to Dhuryodana to restore the Pandava's rights. The greedy Dhuryodana refused to give them any land even the size of a pinhead. Hence the war between the cousins was declared to be held at Kurukshetra.

The war took place for 14 days. The Kauravas army was led by Bhishma initially and then by Drona, Karna and Duryodhana. On the tenth day, Bhishma fell to the ground. Arjuna made a bed of arrows for him to lay on. He chanted Vishnu Sahasranamam, a thousand names of Lord Vishnu.

Lord Krishna played a pivotal role in the victory of Pandavas. On the 14th day, when the war was over with victory to the Pandavas, Bhishma breathed his last. He was laid to rest with state honours. Thus the life of the Kingmaker of Mahabharat came to an end.

After the war, only Lord Krishna, the Pandavas, and Droupathy, who was pregnant,  survived. She gave birth to Parikshit. The Pandavas ruled the kingdom for some time and Parikshit was crowned later. Then the Pandavas went to the forest for penance. CONCLUDED.

BHISHMA THE KING MAKER PART 3 OF 4

[continued from part 2]

Hi Friends,

Since Dirutharashtran was blind and relinquished his right, Bhishma crowned Pandu as the king. Pandu won many battles and expanded his kingdom. He took his two wives and retired to the forest leaving the responsibility to the brothers. Kanthari was pregnant at that time.

One day Pandu went for hunting. He saw a deer and without noticing that it was in the company of its female, he sent an arrow which killed the male. Actually, a sage was under the guise of the deer with his wife. The sage cursed Pandu that he would also meet with the same fate.

He told his wives what had happened. Kunthi said when she was a girl, sage Durvasar came to her place. The sage was pleased with her services. Knowing what was going to happen later in her life, he blessed her with a mantra with which she could bear a child of any celestial Lord. 

Pandu persuaded his wives to get children with the help of the mantra. Kunthi got three sons viz., Yudishtra, Bheema, and Arjuna through Yama, Vaayu, and Indra respy. Then Mathri got the twins Nakula and Sahadeva through Aswini brothers. Pandu was happy to get the children.

At the same time, Kanthari also delivered not a baby but a big ball made of flesh. She prayed to Vyasar who asked her to bring 100 vessels full of ghee. He then made 100 small pieces from the big ball and put them into each vessel. 

He was finally left with a small piece which he put in another vessel. He told Kanthari that the pieces in 100 vessels would give her 100 sons and the last vessel a girl child. The first piece was Dhuryodana when Kunthi delivered Bheema and the rest one after the other. 

Yudishtra became eldest to all. Pandu advised his wives to take the children to the palace and went to the forest for penance. Pandu's five children were called the Pandavas and the 100 brothers of Dhuryodana were called the Kauravas. 

The two groups were not friendly from the beginning and they were always fighting with each other. Pandavas under the guidance of Yudishtra followed righteousness while the Kauravas on the advice of their uncle Sakuni followed wrong principles. The enmity between them grew day by day.

Meanwhile, with Sathyavathi already dead and Bhishma becoming very old, no one could settle their disputes and there was no end to their fights. Duryodhana claimed his right to the kingdom as the eldest son of the eldest brother. 

Bhishma advised him that as he relinquished his right to the kingdom to his brothers, his father also relinquished his right to his brother Pandu. So naturally Pandu's eldest son Yudishtran should have the right to the kingdom. This was not acceptable to Duryodhana.

to be continued in part  4

BHISHMA THE KING MAKER PART 2 OF 4

continued from part 1

They were Chitrangathan and Vichithraveeriyan. Bhishma conducted their marriage. Chitrangathan married Ambikai and Vichithraveeriyan married Ambaligai. Bhishma crowned Chithrangathan as the king. He died early due to ill health and without any children. 

Bhishma then crowned Vichithraveeriyan as the king. He was suffering from tuberculosis and was unable to get children. He also died after a while. Bhishma was then clueless.  

Satyavati told him about her illegitimate son Vyasar. She suggested that the two widows, Ambikai and Ambalikai could copulate with him and get children. They would be her heirs to the throne and they could be crowned. 

Bhishma agreed to this suggestion. Satyavati invited her son Vyasa and requested him to go to bed with the widow Ambigai first. 

As he was dark and ugly in looks, Ambhigai closed her eyes in the bed.  Before leaving Vyasar told Sathyavathi since Ambigai closed her eyes,  she would get a baby without vision.  

She then asked him to go to bed with the second widow Ambaligai who went pale on seeing him in bed. While leaving, Vyasar told his mother that she would get a baby pale and weak. 

She again sent him to Ambigai, who sent her maid to the bedroom in her guise. Vyasa was happy with the maid. Ambigai, Ambaligai and the maid became pregnant and each delivered a male child. 

They were Drutharashtran, Pandu and Vidura.  Drutharashtran, the first, was blind and Pandu the second was pale and weak and Vidura the third was intelligent. 

Bhishma got Drutharashtra married to Kanthari, the daughter of king Subalan, Pandu to Kunthi the adopted daughter of Kosala king as his first wife and then to Maathri the daughter of Mathura king as his second wife. Vidura married a lower caste girl since he was the son of a maid.  

to be continued in part 3

BHISHMA THE KING MAKER PART 1 OF 4

Hi friends,

The Kuru Empire was ruled by King Chandhanu. He was old. His son was Deva Vrathan.  One day the king saw a beautiful girl and instantly fell in love with her. She belonged to the lower caste of the fishing community.  He kept his desire within himself and he became sick. 

The son was worried. He asked his father the reason. The king did not tell him. Then the son asked the king's charioteer who told him that the king was in love with a girl and about his desire to marry her. He wanted to fulfill the desire of his father at any cost.

The son went to meet the girl to get her acceptance. She was beautiful and she could guess who he was and welcomed him. The son told her about his father's desire and requested her to marry his father. The girl was agreeable provided her children succeeded the king to the throne. 

To fulfill his father's desire, he promised her that he would never aspire for the kingdom and he would relinquish all his rights. But the girl said that "you might relinquish your rights but your children would fight in the future". He swore on his sword that he would never marry in his lifetime.

What he did was beyond human endeavour. From the celestial, all the Gods blessed him and praised him as BHISHMA meaning one who did the impossible. The girl was satisfied and agreed to marry the king. The marriage was celebrated. The girl's name was Sathyavathi.

Satyavati belonged to the fishing community. Prior to her marriage, she was rowing boat on the river Ganges. One day a sage, Parasarar came to cross the river in her boat. He was attracted to the girl and he expressed his desire to her. She said her body would smell like fish.

The sage removed the smell with his power and had physical pleasure with her. She became pregnant and delivered an illegitimate male child. He was Dvypayanar or Vyasa. He was dark and ugly. After the marriage with King Chandhanu, she had two male children through the king. 

to be continued in part 2

DECISION MAKING

Dear friends,

1. Decision-making is a difficult process. We make decisions in many instances or incidents in our day-to-day life. Some may be correct and some may be wrong. Sometimes we may be clueless. How to find whether the decision made is right or wrong? There are guiding principles by our forefathers. They are:

1. What our Sastras mention about it.

2. What our religious Guru says about it

3. What our parents say about it.

4. What the Law states about it.

5. What our conscience tells about it.

In present-day practical life, many people do not know anything clear about the Sastras. Hence it cannot be referred to. It is also not possible to approach the religious Guru, now and then, unless he has already said or wrote anything about it. 

Then the parent's words are not very well taken nowadays due to higher education. The conscience of a person favours only that person and it does not decide impartially. So what the Law states are final. There may be instances where the law is silent on the matter. 

In such cases, the decision of the individual is final as he is going to live his life and face the consequences of his decision. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

2. We do not like a politician. But we go on be writing about him. We do not like an actor. But we go on be writing about him. We are giving free publicity to them. Why? They will not pay you a pie. They make you write and you become prey. What they can do if no one writes about them? I am surprised by this attitude of the people. We are only wasting our time and energy. We can do something useful.

I have no likes and dislikes about anyone prominent. There is a reason. I value prominence only by the contribution to society. If a prominent person has not contributed anything to the society, and if he/she has amassed public wealth, I never talk, read, think, or gossip about them. 

I just ignore them. I do not care for them. They are non-existent as far as I am concerned. We should always recognize people who perform. I am glad to find a friend from Coimbatore who writes about people who contribute to the community in his place. We have to encourage people like them.

Every one of us knows about some persons in our place who contribute to the welfare of society. Why can't we write about them and make others know about them and bring them into prominence? Why do we go after people who are stale and fit for nothing? We have to think. 

Ignoring them is the first step. Identifying talent is the next step. Giving them prominence is the third step. Encouraging them to take up the mantle is the fourth step. Electing them as our representatives is the fifth step. No point in crying over the split milk? Bring in the revolution. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

MY LOVE AFFAIRS

Hi friends,

Bachelor life is always full of dreams both good and bad. I was no exception. I had an inherent sympathy and kindness towards physically challenged persons. Hence, I had the ambition to marry such a girl and to make her happy in life. 

When I was 27, my parents were looking for a suitable girl for my marriage. I was alone in Chennai. I used to casually go thro the matrimonial column in The Hindu on Sundays to find a girl of my choice. An advt was to my expectation and I wanted to pursue further.

I talked to the father of the girl over the phone. We agreed to meet at a hotel in the evening. On my request, he came with his daughter also. The girl was fair, shy, good looking, educated, healthy, working in Central Govt in Tenampet as UDC and was about 5 years younger to me. 

The father was a nice man. He was working in a bank. The girl's left leg was slightly twisted at the ankle and was short in length making her limp. I liked her and told her father that I would come back after getting clearance from my parents. I met my parents and explained to them.

My father gave me a long lecture about our family conditions and the problems of marrying a physically challenged and working girl and brainwashed me. Due to attachment to the family and considering my responsibility as an elder son, I had to bury my ambition and informed the girl's father politely.

I used to go to office by route 11 or 11A from T.Nagar to Mount Road in Chennai. One day, it was fully crowded and only one seat in the three-seater facing the rear entrance was vacant. I got the ticket and took that seat. I saw a beautiful girl sitting to my left on the last seat. 

No word could express her beauty. She just looked holy in a beautiful saree. All the eyes on the bus were only on her. I had never seen such beauty in my life. Instantly, I fell in love with her. When she got down at TVS, Oh my God, why are you so merciless? so cruel? Do you have a heart? 

All the people on the bus simply cried when she got down from the bus. She did not have the left leg below the knee and she managed with a wooden artificial leg. Her friend, carrying a crutch, helped her to get down. My heart was broken into pieces. Afterward, I tried to locate her but I could not. I guessed she belonged to a middle-class family.

After about 2 years, I saw her in Pondy bazaar opposite to Nalli. She was clad in a silk saree with jasmine flowers. She was getting down from an Ambassador car. She was 9 months pregnant. Her husband and MIL helped her on both sides. I was so happy that there were people with similar ambitions to me. I saluted the man who had married her. MAY GOD BLESS THEM.

I AM STILL A STUDENT

You would have noticed students in the middle level, say 6th to 9th standard, discuss among themselves about their performance and prospects after an examination is over. It is an exciting and interesting experience for them as well as for us. 

You would have also discussed that during your school days. Studious students may say that they expect centum. Below-average students may not participate in such discussions. They may be elsewhere discussing cinema or girls. 

Only the average students are in dilemma. They discuss a lot. They cannot estimate their performance. They are afraid of their parents reprimanding at home. Their discussion is lively to listen.

Some may find out to which teacher the answer papers have gone for evaluation. They know about valuation standards of each teacher. Some may predict the results based on the nature of the teacher. Their comments are as under.

1. Some teachers are strict and will not give marks. 2. Some, after a shave, are angry and will not give marks. 3. Some will give marks based on the length of the answer. 4. Some may give marks for the services rendered at their homes. 

As I am an amateur writer, while writing articles, I also think about some friends who are like those teachers. I am worried what comments they will give on my post. I am happy to mention here that almost all friends give good comments. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

GOD ANSWERS SINCERE PRAYERS

Hi friends,

1979, I was 34, sitting on the porch of my 1 BHK rented apartment and sipping coffee at 7 AM. My 3-year-old cute little daughter was sitting on my lap and relishing few sips. She was very fond of coffee. The flat owner was at Thanjavur and the caretaker was few buildings away.

At that time, the caretaker who was crossing my house inquired whether I had remitted the rent in the bank. I told him you are only interested in the rent but never cared about the house. I told him to check the account and not to shout from the middle of the road for others to hear.

I was upset and thought about how long I could pay rent. At that moment, I decided to own a house at any cost. I took a day's leave and went to the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and met the secretary Mr Chakravarthy. He gave me a list of 33 plots at AnnaNagar of which I selected one.

My wife's relative Mr Rajaraman who was working there helped me to get the allotment order. I paid through a cooperative loan and became a proud owner of a piece of land. My father had dreams of owning a house and he was so happy about my buying a plot and was ready to help me.

I took a loan from LIC under OYHS and started constructing the house with physical help from my father. He could not extend any financial help. LIC was paying only in instalments for the work done. It was a tedious job to carry on the work and also to get the payment from LIC.

I was getting a salary of Rs. 1000. I had to pay LIC premium 100, Interest 200, house rent 150, for parents 100, coop society 100, watchman 100. I was left with only 250 to run the family. I suffered a lot to manage without taking any hand loan. My wife steered the boat efficiently.

In those days, we have to buy the building materials and pay for labour for the work done every Saturday. With great difficulty, I was able to rotate the money from LIC. On one occasion, LIC delayed the payment and I did not have enough money to pay for the labour.

If I did not pay for the labour on Saturday, workers would not turn up on Monday and they would go elsewhere. It would be difficult to get them back and work would get delayed. With a low budget, I could not afford any delay. My father could not help me. I prayed to the Lord sincerely.

On Friday, I was clueless. I did not wish to pledge my wife's jewels. I never asked for money from others due to self-respect. At 9 PM, God sent my brother. He gave Rs.7000 to my father being the sale value of the motorcycle, my father got him earlier, as a car was provided by his bank.

My father gave me the money so that work could continue. I returned the money after getting it from LIC. When you are honest, sincere and truthful in your prayers, God will always come to your rescue at the proper place and at the proper time. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

A DIFFERENT LOVE STORY

Hi friends,

In early 1970, I was 25, a bachelor, staying in a rented room near Pondy Bazaar, T.Nagar, Chennai. Like every bachelor, I was eating food in the hotels during the day and dreaming about my would-be wife and homely meals during the night. 

One day, when I was busy working in the office, the office attender informed me that there was a phone call for me. I went to the phone kept in the corner and answered the call. A lady was on the other side and her voice was so sweet and friendly. 

She said, " I am Rekha, how are you?
I said, "Fine, thank you. I don't know anyone by name Rekha" 
She said "You may not know me. But I know you. I daily see you in Parry's corner bus stand. You always wear white and white with a black belt. You look smart. I like it" 
She was correct. I always wore white and white with a black belt. There was no question of doubting her. 
I said "okay, what can I do for you?" 
She replied "I want to meet you in person" 
I asked, "What for?" 
She replied "I love you" 

I got whirlpools on my head. I could not hold the phone. My mouth went dry. I was in Ecstasy. I forgot the surroundings. A girl was expressing her love to me. To be loved is better than to love. I was on cloud nine.

I blabbered "I have not seen you before" 
She said "That is why I want to meet you. Can you come to Marina beach at 6 PM today?" 

I was frozen. I could not believe my ears. Was it real?  

I said "Okay. How can I find you?" 
She said "I will wait for you near Labour's statue. I will be wearing a light blue saree with a matching blouse. I will have a rose flower and a brown handbag. Okay" 
I said, "okay, I will come". 

The call ended and I kept the receiver back in its place. I felt as if everyone was staring at me with suspicion. I could not move. For a few steps, my legs crossed. I took an hour's permission, did some touch-up in the restroom, and went straight to the beach. I was there an hour earlier. I was imagining the beauty of the girl. I waited up to 7 pm. She did not turn up and I returned to my room disappointed. The next day, a phone call came from her. 

She said "I am so sorry, I could not come yesterday since my father took me with him. Are you angry with me? 
What could I say? I said " It is okay. No problem" 
She said "We shall definitely meet today. 
I was rejuvenated. With enthusiasm returning to my voice, 
I asked her, "When?
She said, "Same place, same time. I will be wearing a pink colour saree. Can you make it?" 

How could I refuse when a lady was calling me to express her love to me. I agreed and went to the beach again on time. Even today she did not turn up till 7 pm. I returned to the room disappointed. The next day again the phone call came and the lady was on the line. I was angry and wanted to shout at her but somehow controlled. 

She again said, "I am so sorry, I was held up at the office. I will definitely come today. Can you make it?". 

Initially, I had the feeling of accepting the invitation. But something cautioned me. I did not want to be disappointed again. I did not want to be fooled again. 

I said " Sorry. I have other work to do. I cannot come". She disconnected the line.

[Later, my friend Amal Raj who was very good at mimicry had a hearty laugh at me with other friends since he had fooled me in a lady's voice.]

SAVING IN SHAVING

Hi friends,

Until I was employed, I used only my father's plastic razor, Bharath blade and alum stone for shaving. He taught me the nuances of shaving. "Move the razor downward and not sideways" was the mantra. I had few cuts initially but alum stone miraculously stopped the bleeding.

I used to curse him for being so stingy in using cheap items. When I started earning, I realized the reality and continued to follow his style. No question of doubting a father's wisdom. I used to get a small piece of alum stone for 25 paise at Nainiappa Naicken street in Broadway, Chennai.

Are you using Alum stone as an aftershave? Many of you may not even be aware of it. Its chemical name is hydrated potassium aluminum sulphate. It is available in chemical shops. It is cheap, anti-microbial, protects skin from cuts and lasts long.

I have been using it for 60 years. At times, I use Dettol if I do not get alum stone. My cheeks are clear without the greenish tinge and even now it remains like that of a baby. Many of you must be using costly aftershave which contains harmful chemicals affecting the skin.

This morning, when I finished my shave, my Alum and Dettol were missing in their place. I am a strict disciplinarian and I do not tolerate my items to be displaced. This rule is relaxed only for my granddaughter who normally does not touch my items excepting pen.

I was about to call for my wife but I could control on time fearing repercussions. When I politely inquired with my DIL, she said that my wife had thrown out everything and purchased a new Old Spice aftershave in Musk flavour. Probably, she wants me to enjoy the rest of my life.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU.