Try some; it's yum!

So today I would like to pour out my frustration about the age old bicker – “You’re vegetarian? Never ate non-veg? Is eating plants that breathe okay?!”

I am truly sick and frustrated with this question. Mainly because – I am a Brahmin; we are programmed to snarl or make disgusting faces when someone says meat!  Also because, I am a freaking vegetarian. I don’t comment or condemn you eating meat, so STOP asking me to start eating meat. If you want to promote something, maybe world peace or same sex marriage and even raising a vampire army is better than asking me to eat meat.

Here is my answer! I don’t eat meat, because my environment demands me not to; like it or not I grew up within this circle and it is home. Maybe in another environment I would’ve been a meat-eater. However, I also have another answer. I don’t believe in caste system or any kind of differences. But, I think – you are what you are from the Karma you have done in the past. Maybe previous life or this.

I’m sure all of you have heard, the way to get closer to god is to leave all worldly desires. Meat, alcohol, cigarettes, sex, hookah and many more things starting from a shoe, to a table, to a house is restricted to a sadhu – why? Because they are addictive. Brahmins are believed to be born out of less bad karma and more good karmas. Hence, we are restricted to eat meat, drink or smoke – just a way to make us stay away from falling back to the trap of worldly things. BTW, Brahmins is just a name given by us. Don’t go all “discriminating bitch” on me.

Same way – Kshetriyas were born to protect – to protect you need strength and power – so they are allowed to eat meat and indulge in worldly things – because they are here to save the world. Of course, if there is a Kshetriya who lives like a Brahmin – then it is said their next birth would be a better one. So, you get my point, I hope!

This reminds me, In the book Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, one of the main characters explain Shantaram the difference between good and bad; which I think would fit perfectly to explain this situation.

He says, “Everything we do in this world, which leads to destruction is bad, otherwise is good.” He gives an example saying – Robbery is said to be bad. Not because it’s about integrity and taking away materials that is not yours. Imagine if everyone starts robbing – we will lead the world into destruction. That’s why it’s bad.

Same way – everyone eating meat would lead in extinction of animals, in turn destruction; because we live in a world where even bees, ants and cockroaches are important for human survival.

So next time before asking me why not, ask yourself, “Do I really care?”

Couples be like

Vegans be like

Meat-eaters be like

Skinny vegans be like

Eggs be like

Chicks be like

And i'm like ;)

The 5th Veda

“But the thing that sticks in the mind is that this is an art seemingly grounded in innocence, as if the Hindu and Buddhist traditions at their roots escaped the concept of guilt,” said New York Times during Asian Art Museum named “Essence of India,"in 1986. In other words, “they witnessed a pure form of art.”

Indian form of art is not a subject I know extensively or even faintly. Haying said that, it does not mean I have not experienced it greatly. For most of you like me, Indian forms of art follows a dictum written by Bharata Muni – known as Natyashastra. This is known as the 5^th veda created by Brahma, preached to humans through Bharata Muni.

Though the original content is said to be long gone, the translated versions explains why Natyashastra is the base for all art forms and how it should be performed. Indian art is not just another treat for the eye and mind, but a ritual which should be processed and refined and practiced. Maybe that’s why veteran artists are told to have done sadhana (achievement) and are called Pundits (masters); but it never comes easy.

Like how I have discussed in you complete me! the harmony of 7 chakras with the other half, in performing arts – it’s the harmony of Bhava (emotion), Lasya (Grace), Tala (Rhythm) and Rasa (the essence of the performing art). If you find your balance through these – you can manipulate the art of performing arts and it is said to 

impress God himself.

Express yourself!

 Rasa is mainly divided into 8 different Bhavas such as -

• Srungara – love and ecstasy
• Hasya – laughter
• Raudra – fury
• Bhayanaka - horror
• Karunya – pity
• Santam - tranquility (added in the later years)
• Veera – Bravery
• Adbhuta – Marvel or shocked
• Bhibhatsa – Disgust

Any piece of advice communicated through a visual-aural form has more impact on human mind than any other form. A drama, besides offering entertainment, can also influence and uplift the minds of spectators.

In theatre, the different kinds of acts are differentiated through the medium it is communicated.

• Communicating by speech – Vaachika Abhinaya
• Extraneous representation that uses stage, costume, make up and ornaments - Aaharya Abhinaya
• Representation of temperament of characters displayed in the form off subtle movements – Sattvika Abhinaya, also considered highest quality of Abhinaya
• To represent phenomena like animals, sunrise or trees – Chitrabhinaya
• Communication through body movement – Angika Abhinaya

Navarasa sculptures

“Indian art never relaxes its sense of wonder and thus remains attached to realities both more fundamental and more transcendent is the conclusion in the article,” concluded the review in New York Times.

Finally,

Yatho Hasta thatho Drishti, Yato Drishti thato Manah, Yato Manah thatho Bhaava, Yatho Bhaava thatho Rasa.

Where the hands(hasta) are, go the eyes (drishti);

Where the eyes are, goes the mind (manah); 

Where the mind goes, there is an expression of inner feeling (Bhaava);

And where there is bhava, mood or sentiment, essence of the form (Rasa) is evoked.

Guys, sorry for the long post!

Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for reading.

Here's pun for fun ;)

Where did they all go to die?

Remember them? Small boxes with dial pads that were not virtual images but real buttons, connected to a curly string where you have a receiver on the other end? They were substantial in number 2 decades ago and painted ugly yellow – which you get used to anyway because, after 10 of them in just one street your eyes were like – “Yeah, alright; ugly and bright.”

Yes! *shrieked excitedly* Those nasty looking 1Rs Telephone booths. Where are they? I miss them. Recently I found one near an old, very very old shop in Ganaganagar. I couldn’t suppress my excitement which made the shop owner and the girl using the phone very uncomfortable. Never mind about that!

At one point of time in history, these telephone booths had a box around it the size of a human – as if it needed protection; it connected nations worldwide and just charged us 1Rs-7Rs. Have you seen people back then waiting near these phones for a long time, or asking the owner of the phone to just give out a shout when they get calls? I always wondered – If mobility was not there to our phones, how will we be? I think that would be a better world. At least for me! I won’t have my mom calling 2 min after 8.30pm asking me why I am late! Or people just calling me randomly in the middle of nowhere “to talk.” “Yeah, sure guys. I listen to you talk incessantly for 10 min.” *smirking* The best thing that could happen is, people would man up and meet you face-to-face; talk out issues or fights, whatever that is, instead of a text or calling on the phone! 

Mind you, telephone booth was not a failed technology under any circumstance. It just became obsolete with the popularity of cell phones and internet communication services such as Skype. Recognizing industry trends, many companies changed their business models. *shrugs* But don’t under-estimate the telephones. However ugly, they never failed to show up in every corner and many other places on every street; no one ever complained – “there is not enough telephone booths here.” Our whole nation communicated joy, sorrows and hassles out in public, right with these phones.

I have a feeling they will be back. Maybe not for the purpose it was invented, but for “trend.” Just curious to know – would it be a powder room to retouch make up or a curious artefact in the middle of home space or a camouflage transporter that helps you hide inside and walk so you need not be seen!

What will you use it for? Lemme know.

What If?!

A week ago, I was on my way back home when I shuddered at a thought that had crossed my mind. There, in the middle of an annoying traffic chaos, a thought occurred, which, if real, can demolish the purpose of your life and living.

What if we were just a part of this universe? What if it’s not about humans – our evolution and reproduction? What if we are just another pawn in some game?

Freaky! Especially when I thought for the last 16 years that I am the center of the earth and, “I've got the power!”

I thought she says it better ;)

Anyway, the thing is, what if we were created so that plants can survive or rocks? :-/ Did you ever just stop and think, it’s just not about our survival and maybe by being greedy and selfish, we are destroying the things that are the reason for our living. Are we really that important to the universe? Because we all know universe existed much much before WITHOUT humans and it was all cool!

Who gives us these answers? If these answers come through experience and wisdom; how do we know it’s the right answer?

Maybe, being in The Island movie is a better option than real life At least there, they knew how they came into being and what their purpose of life and living is. Then again, what’s the fun in that?! I don’t want to know that I am some pathetic unimportant pawn in a game; I like that I think I am the center of the universe; because be careful in what you believe. What you believe, is what you get.

You complete me!

I am rarely impressed by entertainment & leisure articles in magazine. Things like – “10 tricks to get slim” or “Life after death” or “Who married whom or what!” or Cryogenics has taken a new turn,” all of this… meh! Sometimes I come across articles I love to read and cherish. Recently, well, not so recently. But it was – Finding soul mates. So I did some research and here’s how it goes.

It is believed, Greek philosophy has its roots deep and oldest in this world. So Plato, a Greek philosopher explains in his book – Symposium, about this soul mate theory. When humans were originally created, we were said to have two faces, 2 pairs of legs, hands, ears, genitals, stomachs. You get the idea right? Just picture this, you and another human stuck together.

Anyway, the story goes on saying, Zeus, father of gods and men, and, ruler of sky and thunder was threatened by the power of a human. He was mortified that humans would take over the gods. So, greedily, he cut us in half – separating us. Once we were separated, we started roaming the earth aimless feeling incomplete and always searching for the other half. And I guess Zeus went on about his business like wars and things and well, still is god from what I know.

We would have looked like this!

It was the thought of a human “uncut” version and the story behind it seemed amusing and even plausible. I started wondering, are my parents really that powerful to take over gods? Or are they not each other’s other half! I dread this thought. What can you do, when you have no way to know the answer? I write. U? Well anyway, the other version – the spiritual version of the soul mate theory, which I came across in my research, is something to know about.

As you know or have heard – every human has seven chakras in the body. Lower being the genital region or base of the spine, which is the base chakra. Working upwards are – Spleen chakra in the lower abdomen, Solar Plexus chakra in the stomach area, Heart chakra at the heart center, Throat chakra (self-explanatory), Third eye chakra in between the eyes and Crown chakra on top of the head.

It is said, when all these 7 chakras are in tune between two beings, you find absolute harmony. When this is achieved, you reach absolute oneness or unio mystica - which means two people functioning as one. Then, you have found your soul mate. I have heard people talk about match made in heaven – well, it’s called Gandhrva Vivaha – a concept that matches are indeed made in heaven and once you find that significant other, it does not matter if you marry or stay apart in this earth world.

The seven chakras

However, it surely does not mean you will need to run around to find this harmony. Because I believe, you on your own will be enough to attain anything you want. You don’t need anyone to support or complete you; but, when you find them, just say – “you complete me.”

A winter tale

“The sun was bright, so bright that it almost blinded one to look at it. It was just another gleeful start to the day. As we cruised on the road, a gust of spine chilling wind hit the face and almost instantly drained the blood from the face. The hands and feet went numb desperately looking to hide under the layers of clothing; the chillness in the wind could make your bones curl up in despair to avoid the piercing wind. All this did not seem to have stopped millions maneuvering through their mundane tasks, cursing the unfriendly winter.

Teeth chattered, mostly praying the wind to die. Traffic moved slowly, everyone were avoiding the notorious weather from getting to them. Let’s not forget, this is the winter that once wiped out an entire civilization and reshaped the face of the earth. Even today, hundreds of inhabitants are victim to this deleterious winter tide. The warmth of the bright glistening sun on the face was outrun by a villainous gale every time. The air current was maybe the cause of many dead spirits on the road, but not mine,” I said when someone asked me, “How was your morning?”

Well, what can I say! It was a cold morning.

I think, I am an old lady!

Last Tuesday, if I remember correctly, my day started with a glass of hot water at 11ish in the morning. I could not sleep all night and slept through the sunrise into the break of noon. I had my breakfast and watched TV all day, all the while thinking, what is happening – shooting across LOC, small kids raped by mentors and belief in God is just a saying. I remember thinking to myself, “in those days” people actually had belief, restrain, strength and little idea about what’s right and what’s wrong. See now. World will come to an end.

Then I began to feel comfy and cozy and slept through the noon until evening. When it was time to get up, because Goddess Lakshmi will come home, also my mom screamed on top of her voice to get up, I drank hot water again with lime and pepper and sat down to watch TV series. Yes!

I think somewhere between 22 and a half and 23 years I grew up. I grew up so fast and so old that I think I am an old lady. I don’t know how it happened. I have become wiser, less crazier, more responsible, too very worried and frustrated and that much sick. Also, I am always so tired, that my tired is tired. Uh-huh. Told you! All the signs right there, that’s me.

You may think, it’s just a lazy day, it will be fine. But I don’t. Also, I am not much into socializing and all that schizzles. I am happy with people I know. I don’t want to know new people and I am for the love of god not pretending to like someone. See, all the traits of “letting it go.” I am questioning my best trait – “to boss around.” I don’t think it’s worth it. I am happy to reach home early – eat and sleep. Sometimes I think, I suppose I could be the new age leader, and then I start wondering – is it really the truest calling of my heart? No..no that would be comfort of my bed.

I read once, inside an older person is a younger person wondering what the hell happened. I think it’s reversed with me. Some people will never be old enough to know better, but me, yeah, I think, I am an old lady!