HANUMAN-THE MONKEY GOD

THE RAM DARBAR

India's huge,remarkable & compelling cultural heritage spans over thousands of years. A land of innumerable religious stories, myths & legends - that have emanated from myriad religious/cultural influences culminating into literary & oral traditions,India stands unique in  many ways;India is simply beyond compare! The diversity of India impacts upon the geo-strategic & geo-political relationship within her states across the length & breadth of the largest democracy of the world.

The Indian Mythology as diverse as the land itself,the myths & beliefs represent  the 'PHILOSOPHICAL INDIA'. Recently,at Munchen, one of my friends asked me ,Quote," YOU PEOPLE HAVE 33 CRORE GODS / GODDESSES. HOW DO YOU PRAY THEM" ,Unquote. It takes years to understand India, her religious thoughts & beliefs, differing cultural patterns,vibrancy & dynamism.While all this is not easily understood by the Westerners ; to Indians, it makes perfect sense.It was difficult to convince my German friend fully.He told me that in India, he was puzzled & somewhat confused, as he saw that there were more Gods & Goddesses than men.Notwithstanding this,what he told me was extra-ordinary." I am simply spellbound & enamoured", he said, & told me that even if it took ten years for him to understand India,he would keep on visiting India till he gets answers to all his queries.I wished him good luck & God Speed.I offered ,that, in all such visits, I shall be his host.

Be that as it may,India ,no doubt,is a fascinating land.From well over 400 BC till date,the religious myths & legends of India are narrated all over her nooks & corners.Based upon these, there are festivities galore.Out of 365 days in a year, there is some festival or the other or a major religious activity of some significance  in almost 100 days!

What had amazed & fascinated my German Friend was Lord Hanuman-the Monkey God.He had been to Sangam, seen Hanuman lying flat on his back in total grandeur,with thousands of devotees chanting non stop Hanuman-Chalisa.

Ramayana, an epic poem of about 50,000 lines was composed by Valmiki the Muni (A hermit / sage combined) Ramcharitmanas an equally worshiped epic was composed by Tulsi Das. The latter is believed to be a reincarnation of Valmiki who was born in 1497.Both describe Lord Ram  in details - The Maryadapurushottam, the Model of every good man.To an Indian ,especially a Hindu, the word Ram in itself is the Ultimate.The word is so holy that even while a dead body is being taken to  the cremation ground, the carriage party continues to recite  loud & continuous chants of Rama.

I told my German friend that even Ram was  not complete without Hanuman-The Monkey God.There is no photograph of Lord Ram that does not show the Monkey God. Monkey God is always  positioned at HIS feet.

Hanuman first met Rama in a dense forest. It was here that he urged Rama to help Sugriva in restoring his wife & kingdom from the cruel hands of his younger brother Bali. Ram & Lakshman had set out to trace Sita .This meeting with Hanuman is the beginning landmark of the RAM-HANUMAN relationship.It was in the presence of all Monkey Army that Hanuman promised, that he along with all his comrades will trace Sita,come what   may !

Hanuman had not seen Sita. Lord Ram gave him his signet ring to show it to Sita as a sign as & when he located her.He set out along with other monkey soldiers in right earnest but having reached the land's end near Rameshwaram, the Monkey God was dejected with his own performance, as his party could not find any trace of Sita .It was here that Sampati-the great thinker & visionary told Rama  that it was Rawan the Demon King who had abducted Sita & that Sita was confined in Lanka. Hanuman was entrusted with the noble yet  onerous task of retrieving Sita from Lanka.

Hanuman son of Pawan & Anjani flew over the ocean after successfully clearing all impediments put in his way.On reaching the shores of Lanka,he turned himself into a miniature form.Having entered Ravan's palace without any difficulty or any sentry having seen him, he roamed around the palace & its precincts freely.He did not find Sita any where.Though disappointed in his initial maneuver, Hanuman decided to fly to the adjacent green forest.Lo & behold! What he saw was a small beautiful palace guarded by Rakshashis of all sizes & shapes roaming around with all sorts of weapons.Sitting all by herself, Hanuman saw an extremely beautiful & radiant lady engrossed in her thoughts.He jumped around the trees shaking their branches & clusters of leaves to attract her attention.Sita knew that this was no ordinary happening .She now saw Hanuman in his miniature form. Hanuman jumped down to pay his obeisance to Mother Sita & with folded hands presented Rama's signet ring to her.In return, Sita gave Hanuman a jewel from her hair for onward handing it over to Lord Rama.With tears flowing from their eyes,Hanuman assured Sita that Rama would come soon. 

As Hanuman was leaving, Ravana somehow managed to catch Hanuman and ordered the Rakshashas to set his tail on fire.It was here Sita prayed to the Fire God that it should not touch Hanuman & cause any harm to him.With only the tip on his tail on fire-that had by now taken a gigantic form, Hanuman jumped all over the palace of Ravana & the township of Ravana. The entire Lanka was set ablaze. With Lanka on fire, Hanuman jumped into the ocean & the Sea God Varuna  extinguished  fire on Hanuman's tail.

Back home,Rama ,Lakshman & the entire Money Army received Hanuman & gave him a standing ovation .It was a great jubilation.Now,preparations for invasion of Lanka were set into motion. Rama's War Camp was  established near Rameshwaram. SHIVA blessed Lord Rama & wished HIM victory over evil.

How Rama killed Ravana is now history.This event is celebrated every year as VICTORY OF TRUTH OVER EVIL in India in a grand manner on Vijayadashmi Day.The homecoming celebrations of Rama to Ayodhya are a treat to watch.

As I stand in front of Mukut Hanuman at Ayodhya,I can now fully comprehend as to why Rama liked him the most.

To SANKAT MOCHAN- I apologize that I addressed you throughout as 'he ' or 'his'.
It was your Master LORD RAM whom I addressed as 'HIM' everywhere.
I also know that  otherwise you would have been angry upon me & I did not want to take a chance ! 
I also know that you are never angry !

THE FAQIR OF DWARKA MAI & KABIR OF MAGHAR

"WHEN MY EGO WAS THERE,GOD REALIZATION WAS MISSING,

NOW ON REALIZING GOD,MY EGO IS LOST.

HERE IS NO DARKNESS ,NOW THAT I SEE LIGHT"

                                                                                                  - KABIR

"IF YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE NOT THE BODY,

HALF THE PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED;

IF YOU EXPERIENCE YOU ARE THE SOUL,THE DISTANCE TO GOD - REALIZATION IS CROSSED;

IF YOU FEEL THE PRESENCE OF LORD,YOUR MISSION IS FULFILLED"

                                                                                                   - SAI OF SHIRDI

Both are universally worshiped Avatars . Kabir was a 15 Century mystic poet who was buried at Maghar- a place quite close  to Gorakhpur. Side by side located are a temple & a 'mazar' that house  the 'flowers' of the great poet. In Shirdi ,during His  advent in India, Sai (1838-1918),taught the fundamentals of spirituality, morality &  goodness to humanity & promoted a unique blend of togetherness of all religions & classes of society. At the Samadhi of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba , thousands of men, women & children of different religions, castes & creed,& from all walks of life arrive daily, with astonishing regularity , to pay their obeisance & seek HIS Blessings.

Sai  & Kabir have a lot in common. Sai is the reincarnation of Lord Dattatreya, Neelkanth Shiva & Kabir. Sai was born on 27 September 1838 & achieved HIS Mahasamadhi on 15 October 1918. He is an IMMORTAL MORTAL. HE is indeed a combined incarnation of BRAHMA,VISHNU , MAHAKAAL & KABIR.

Long many years ago, I sat on the 'chabutra' where Sai sat under the Neem Tree.I collected a few dry 'neem leaves'. These are my precious possession today.I have placed the leaves  in the  first few pages of pocket edition of Gita that my father had given to me. All my life,especially during service,I kept the Gita in my left breast pocket.Lord Krishna & Sai have saved me a number of times from disasters.I have had a number of close shaves from sure death ! Such is the strength of Sai.

Sai had assured the mankind that HIS Blessings shall always be with them.In HIS own words:-

'WHOSOEVER PUTS HIS FEET ON THE SOIL OF SHIRDI, HIS SUFFERINGS WOULD COME TO NAUGHT.

I SHALL BE ACTIVE , VIGOROUS,PERPETUALLY  FOREVER,

EVEN AFTER LEAVING THIS EARTHLY BODY.

MY TOMB SHALL BLESS & ANSWER TO THE NEEDS OF MY DEVOTEES.

I AM LIVING FOR EVER,TO HELP, GUIDE ALL THOSE WHO COME TO ME,WHO SURRENDER & SEEK REFUGE IN ME"

In reverence to  the FAQIRIS of these two universally accepted & recognized Avatars,I bow in reverence on this-the first Day of 2014.

I wrap up with what Kabir had said :

"SPEAK IN A LANGUAGE SANS EGO,

TO CALM,COMFORT & COOL OTHERS,

SO THAT THE SELF BECOMES PURE"

"THIS BODY IS FULL OF POISON,

WHEREAS,THE GURU IS LIKE PURE NECTAR.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE YOUR HEAD WHILE SERVING THE GURU,

THIS IS A CHEAPER BARGAIN."

"POSSESS NOT VANITY OR 'AHANKAR',

 LAUGH NOT ON OTHERS,

YOUR BOAT IS IN DEEP SEA,

YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT MAY HAPPEN"

"YOU HAVE COME TO THIS WORLD

DO SOME GOOD WORK,

SERVE THE CREATOR & MANKIND,

LOOK AFTER & FEED THE POOR"

OH SHIVA . MY DAY STARTS WITH YOU! WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY 2014.

"WITH THE STICK RAISED HIGH, ILLUSION HERDS THE WORLDS.
LORD WHITE AS JASMINE(SHIVA)
NO ONE CAN OVERCOME YOUR ILLUSION"


                                                                                    MAHADEVIYAKKA,
LEGENDARY INDIAN POETESS OF SOUTH INDIA:10TH CENTURY




Right from my childhood days , the first thing that I did after getting up very early in the      morning ,was to wash my face &  rush out to have the glimpse of  the mighty & lofty Himalayas from my home.While the tips of the hoary headed Himalayas started getting washed by the Sun God's hues,I opened my palms & chanted, "KAR AGRE WASATE LUXMI, KAR MADHYE CHE SARASWATI, KAR PRISHTHE WASTEH GOVIDAH, PRABHATE KAR DARSHANAM".This was taught to me by my Grandfather.This process continues till date & I pray to Mahakaal in the words of Basavanna:-

'The rich will make temples for Shiva.
What shall I,a poor man do ?
My legs are pillars,
The Body ,the shrine,
The head,a cupola of gold.
Listen,O Lord of the Meeting Rivers,
Things standing shall fall
But the moving ever shall stay'

SHIVA is a very ancient God.Out of the majestic spread of 300 Kilometers of the  Himalayas that I see from my home (comprising of  21 world renowned peaks), the grandest of them being Trishul -the abode of SHIVA. I was told this by my Grandpa.Thus started my getting to know HIM in  the form of a Lingam at the local Shiva Temple.HE represents the underlying unity of existence in which all opposites are reconciled.HE is the creator & destroyer-the Ultimate! As Lord of the Dance 'Tandav', HE conquers death & disease & is invoked to cure sickness.Recall the famous Maha Mritunjaya Mantra!

He is the great ascetic who has conquered desire,smeared with ashes-'The Bhidru Baba' -as I call HIM lovingly.,HE haunts the cremation grounds.HE is erotic & a passionate husband.These opposing qualities are certainly a paradox to the philosopher,but to the worshipers,these represent the richness of existence & the totality of the divine being.The ultimate reconciliation is brought about when half HIS body  becomes female & half remains male-The ARDHANARINARESHWAR !

My Grandpa told me that SHIVA is so simple that HE judged you from your mind,intent,dedication,simplicity & devotion.HE does not like show offs & fakes.HE really loves those who are genuine.I still remember the story of the famous 'Bahalia' & the Cow that offered her milk to the SHIVA'S LINGAM !Blessed were both !!

SHIVA'S wife is a perfect wife in the forms of SATI & PARWATI, but like SHIVA, she too has multiple forms.As DURGA, she is the beautiful & the ferocious warrior goddess, & as the personification of death & destruction,she is KALI. 

One of the children of SHIVA & PARVATI  is GANESH ( My GAN-DA), the elephant-headed God.HE is the patron of learning- the GURU,the giver of good fortune & the most popular Deity.In a Hindu home,nothing can commence/happen without first offering prayers to the Elephant God.

As 2013 passes into 2014,I invoke the Choicest Blessings of Lord SHIVA upon all living bodies of this universe.I pray to the Trinity,BRAHMA,VISHNU & MAHESH to bless  this     world ,so that, it can become a better place to live in harmoniously & peacefully.

SHIVA shall ever be the focal point & key of Hindu cosmology that introduces us to the cyclical theory of time & to the theory of the transmigration of our souls.

To all my Bothers & Sisters( In the words of Great Vivekananda) of this world-here is wishing you all a healthy, happy & eventful 2014.

GOD BLESS, GOD SPEED. & GOOD LUCK.

JAI SHAMBHO-JAI MAHAKAAL !!

UME-UME-OOO ! A TRIBUTE TO THE BARWELS

                                                          Lt Col Noel Fredrick Barwel

If I recall correctly, it was 25 December 1949. Lt Col Noel Fredrick Barwel (NFB) and his wife Marion Barwel (MB) had specially invited both of us brothers for tea at their bungalow Ridgeway, Ranikhet. NFB was a great friend of my Grandfather. He  had fought in the World War and had been granted the brevet rank of Lt Col.Soon , thereafter, he had started practicing what he was best at-practicing law-as a Barrister at the Calcutta High Court. It was here that he had a massive & fatal heart attack while pleading a case. He was the last  Barrister of the Calcutta High Court.

He and his wife had taken on rent the bungalow that had a sprawling area and an extremely well kept garden. Faqir Singh  was their Man Friday. He was all in all. He looked after everything even whether the Sahibs were there or not. Of course, he had a battery of assistants to help him. Mem Sab paid them decently and both NFB & MB were loved by one and all.They loved children and made it a point to distribute chocolates/lemon drops every time they met the young brigade. For the children, it was always a festive time meeting the grand couple who walked all over the Mall especially towards the Ranikhet Club as and when they visited Ranikhet. They had no children.

My Grandfather had done his Law from Allahabad University in 1909. He had studied with Bharat Ratna Pandit GB Pant right from Ramsay Inter College days till they graduated. The latter was one year junior to him. Both of them returned to Ranikhet and Almora respectively and started practicing in the local/District Courts. Till Garhwal Division was carved out of the Kumaon Region and given a separate Commissioner in 1969, my Grandfather was the sole Government Counsel in the entire Hill Region. He was also a Legal Adviser to NE Railway. So, both NFB and my Grandfather had a common interest -the Legal profession. It was NFB who had advised my father to also pursue a career in Law; which he did and followed earnestly in the footsteps of his father.

It was NFB who had saved the Ranikhet Club from extinction. He fought the case and the case can be found in AIR 1948 , All 146, NFB vs John Jackson & Ors, 21 Jul 1947. As you enter the Ranikhet Club, you find his photograph in uniform on the right hand side. Above the Front Office, is an enlargement of one of his photographs that he had given to my Grandfather. I had got it mounted in walnut wood in 'chinar pattern' at Srinagar.

So, we were told on the 24th itself that we shall be accompanying our Father & Grandfather to wish the Barwells a Merry Christmas. Every Christmas, whenever, the Barwells were at Ranikhet, my Grandfather prepared a 'dali' and  presented it with great love and affection to the Barwells. The Dali was delivered at our place at exactly 1 PM on 25 Dec. I still recall that we brothers had a few similar patterns of woolen dresses that were prepared by 'Kayya' the family tailor. That evening we were sporting British Tweed Coats and Italian Corduroy Trousers. At about 3 PM, Grandfather's friend from Kalika came in his car  near our house and we all left for Ridgeway. We reached there in another 20 minutes or so.

It was a festive sight. It was virtually a mela. There were separate yet well laid out tables displaying all kinds of local sweets, cakes, pastries, biscuits, and what have you. Everyone was enjoying.

Faqir Singh had seen the car entering the gate. He received us and took us inside the Main Hall where both NFB & MB received us with open arms.We were simply thrilled and enamoured to see the get up of the interiors and the giant Christmas Tree. The Dalis were presented and gracefully accepted by both husband and wife. We were the darlings as other children were in the lawn outside.

We were helped in picking up our plates by Faqir Singh. The eatables were delicious. The tastes and varieties of cakes ,pastries and other goodies were simply out of this world. At one point, MB came to me and asked whether I was enjoying the tea and the goodies. As I was simply hogging ,I simply nodded my head as my mouth was full.We had been extensively briefed by our Grandfather to maintain good discipline and demeanour. We ensured it, as the eatables were just superb.

My plate had nothing left now. As it is, it was a difficult task to hold even a quarter plate in our small hands! We talked in Hindi/Kumaoni at home although we heard both my Grandfather and Father speaking in impeccable English. Given our age and service then, this was like Greek to us. Faqir Singh saw my dilemma. He came up and asked me in chaste Kumaoni whether I wanted some thing more. I was looking for this divine opportunity and I said UME-UME-OOO by rotating and pointing my finger towards the table. In the meantime, MB had seen us talking and she asked Faqir Singh as to what was I demanding. He told her that I was asking for UME( Muffin)-UME(Strawberry Jam)-OOO(Chocolate Sauce). She had a hearty laugh. Later, whenever, we met NFB & MB, either one of them always asked me " UME-UME-OOO".

MB was working in Calcutta and had become old. Her eyesight was also failing. My father used to visit her there. On one such visit, she told him not to come.She was admitted in an old age home now.

Even then, she kept on sending monthly pay to Faqir Singh . 

Both NFB and MB are no more today. There is no better day than today to pray for their departed souls. RIP. Bless us !

It was NFB who introduced his clerk Shanker to literature. Shanker later rose to become one of the best writers of Calcutta.Such was the influence of NFB.

Read 'KATO AJANARE" or "SO MUCH UNKNOWN".

To all, here is wishing you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Ranikhet Club

Ranikhet Club

Mani Shankar Mukherjee

FROM NDA TO KARWAR

It was great meeting CMs after a long spell of time-some after 48 years!

It was sad to know that more than 50 of our CMs had passed away !RIP.There were tears in the eyes of all of us  as photo after photo of  the departed souls were projected by Frankie on the screen at Habibullah Hall. After the slide show was over,there was total silence & you could even hear the sound of a falling       pin !Such is the pain that all human faculties suddenly succumb to realize the realities of life.Well,this feeling can be simply summed up as the 'CAMARADERIE'-the NDA is known for !

It was painful to depart & leave the sprawling NDA Complex.Fifty One  Years reduced to  just two & a half days !Another miracle. As I was driving past the Gole Market towards Pune, I wondered as to how many of us would be back here to celebrate 75 Years of our having joined this illustrious Institution !!

Back in Pune, we went straight to the West & East Street. Old Kwality & Kayani Bakery were very much there.Too much of a rush all over. While Kanta took almost one hour to purchase assorted biscuits & Chura from Waferwala & Budhanis, I simply loafed around remembering as to how we could cycle all  the way through Glider Dome, change in the woods, see a movie, have a meal & return !It just does not seem possible today. I asked Kanta to buy Lakshminarayan Chura & which she did. We then went to a nearby Mall & spent some time out there.

It was a great drive to Sirdi all the way. Sai was so kind to us. For the evening arti, our names were called out first & we were the closest to HIM for full 30 minutes! Easily, this was the best  thing that could have happened to us. The next day, we drove to Shani Shringneshwar Temple & sought Lord Shanis's blessings.We were  back to Pune the next day. It was a long drive alright but we did not feel any tiredness as the purpose was divine. We went out to meet some friends.

We took off from Pune for Dabolim, Goa on 13 Dec. It was just a forty five minutes flight. By 4PM, we were crossing Goa/Karnataka state boundary. I heard the Karnataka policeman asking our driver -'LIQUOR,WINE,ANY THING?'. Our driver said 'NO' & we crossed the barrier. At about 4.40 PM, we entered Kamat Gate of Naval Base Karwar.

What a place folks!You all have to see to believe it. A number of photos are already uploaded in the Facebook & else where but some are shown herewith.

This place is awesome. Project Seabird of the Indian Navy is India's pride. I am sanguine that in the years to come, it shall become the greatest port of the world. It is good that INS Vikramaditya is shortly arriving here. The people of Karwar are simply rejoicing the event. Entire India is rejoicing the event. I feel sad that I won't be here then to see it coming alongside, but having spent a number of days on board INS Viraat during Op Jupiter part of Pawan, I feel satisfied in the fact that I may revisit Karwar to be on board this majestic & best Carrier Class.

I thought Ranikhet affords you long walks till I came here. Daily 10-12 Kms of long walks. Mornings & evenings are super with the sea just 25-30 metres away. Zero pollution !From my room,I  hear the sound of waves' music day in & day out. Ever since we are here, there is no normal water for us. It is Daab all the way!Of course, some glasses of chilled beer fill in the gaps. We have by now visited all Goa Beaches but the Beaches inside are simply out of this world.

Last night, Vasco Da  Gamma (VDG) visited me in  my dreams. Till  then, I did not know that he had stayed twice at Anjadip-an island off the coast of Canacona, now in Karnataka some five hundred plus years ago.

Remnants of a Portuguese  Fort are still there. There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Aja Devi & other ruins that go back to history of the days of Tipu Sultan. His name is also etched in history of Mirjan Fort along with Hyder Ali.

Well, folks, more from Ranikhet.

To all of you, here is wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

We shall be cerebrating the Christmas Eve at GOA!!TALLY HO !!

  

NOSTALGIA-51 YEARS !!