• Chanting,  Music,  Spirituality

    Durga Suktam – Praise of the Goddess – Lyrics and Chanting

    Here is my chanting of Durga Suktam with Saraswati Veena as an accompaniment. जातवेदसे सुनवाम सोममरातीयतो निदहाति वेदः ।स नः पर्षदति दुर्गाणि विश्वा नावेव सिन्धुं दुरितात्यग्निः ॥१॥ Jātavedase Sunavāma Somam-ārātīyato ṇidahāti Vedah |Sa ṇah Parssad-āti ḍurgānni Viśvā ṇāve[a-ī]va Sindhum ḍurita-āty[i]-āgnih ||1|| We offer oblations of Soma unto Agni. May he burn those who are against us. May that Agni lead us beyond all difficulties, like a boatman takes his boat across a river. तामग्निवर्णां तपसा ज्वलन्तीं वैरोचनीं कर्मफलेषु जुष्टाम् ।दुर्गां देवीँशरणमहं प्रपद्ये सुतरसि तरसे नमः ॥२॥ ṭām-āgni-Varnnām ṭapasā Jvalantīm Vairocanīm k͟harma-Phalessu Jussttām |ḍurgām ḍevī[ngu]m-ṣarannam-āham Prapadye Su-ṭarasi ṭarase ṇamah ||2|| I take refuge in that Goddess, who has the lusture of…

  • Family,  Ilaiyaraaja,  Music

    Grateful to my mother

    “Amma Endrazhaikaatha Uyir Illaye” The famous song of Ilaiyaraja that celebrates the greatness of mothers has stood the test of time remaining as one of the top songs that glorifies the sentiment of devoted children to their mothers. It is a moving song that makes us feel grateful to our mothers who have given us everything including this very life. I used to love this song when I was younger mainly for the musical merit of this. I have many things to be thankful for. Of the many things that my mother has done for me, I am indebted to her mainly for instilling in me a passionate love for…

  • Books,  My Book,  My Interests

    My Fascination with Historical Fiction

    Historical fiction has always fascinated people. There is something extraordinary about leaving the four corners of one’s mind and into different landscapes, long-forgotten but absolutely inviting. A time in history when there were no computers and phones to distract people from their lives. A period in history where humans lived intensely, experiencing emotions like happiness, love, and anger from the depth of their beings. We have connected with the psyches for many millennia through our epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. We have felt the pain of Lord Rama and enjoyed the victory of good over evil in the end. Every time we read the epics and the Puranas, a part…

  • Places,  Spirituality

    Mylapore – The Rhythm of My Soul

    Years back, when we were living in the U.S., I used to longingly look at videos of Kapaleeswarar temple and the Mada streets of Mylapore. I vividly remember dreaming about the sensation of my feet touching the granite stone flooring of these temples. I yearned to return to the cosy feeling of being swarmed in the vibrancy of Mylapore.  As a true child of God, I requested Kapaleeswarar to bring me back to Mylapore. As an ocean of compassion, He made that happen in His own way. Mylapore has a magic to it, a secret rhythm to calm one’s tensions. What is it that sings to us? Is it the…

  • A R Rahman,  Music

    Chandralekha – Konjam Nilavu Piano Rendition

    One of the coolest songs composed by A R Rahman is “Chandralekha… Konjam Nilavu.” This song is from the movie “Thiruda Thiruda” which was released in 1993. It has been almost 30 years since the song got released but the music and style of the song are so modern and sound fresh. I personally enjoy this song quite a bit even now. The attitude of the woman is very confident and powerful. I enjoyed playing this song on the piano for fun. Sharing it right here: The original is inimitable and mesmerising. I tried my best to bring the dynamics and power through my attitude but how can anyone do…

  • Evils,  Society

    Impossible Beauty Standards

    Why is it that women are still struggling to maintain or achieve impossible beauty standards?! The models that we see in magazines are airbrushed to perfection. How can a real human being with real skin, bones and flesh look like a doll or a photoshopped picture? The beauty in being human is in accepting and understanding the differences that each one of us has been gifted with. If the entire world wants only a certain kind of model body and manages to make every woman blonde, blue-eyed and like a barbie doll, will this world be beautiful? If every flower looks like a lotus or a rose, will the world…

  • Ilaiyaraaja,  Music

    The Magic of Ilaiyaraaja’s Music

    I was born in the mid-80s and honestly did not enjoy Ilaiyaraaja’s music as a kid. To me, music meant Rahman’s music. I enjoyed this music intensely. I used to sing these songs so loudly that I am reasonably confident that I irritated and aggravated the neighbours from when I was a 10-year-old. Thank God my neighbours have not vocalised the irritation to my face (yet). Imagine a kid blaring “Dil Se Re” and “Chaiyya Chaiyya” on TV and singing at the top of one’s lungs. I never got enough of these songs. Though I listened all the time to these on TV whenever they telecasted them, I loved listening…

  • Spirituality

    Guru Purnima – Gratitude to my teachers – Sadhguru

    Today, it is Guru Purnima. I would like to thank all my teachers who have influenced me and taught me things that I greatly value. If I write about each of them I will have to write a voluminous book. There are so many people who have taught me wonderful things that I am grateful for. My deep gratitude to Sadhguru who taught me meditation and took me to higher states of consciousness. It is our good fortune to be at a time when such a person is existing among us. I have had the good fortune to be near Sadhguru for more than a decade. I got initiated into…