Sunday, January 13, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Thirukkural - An ancient Tamil lietature of Moral Science Chapter 1
12th January 2008
Couplet 2
The second Thirukkural is as follows:
Katradhanaalaaya payanenkol Vaalarivan
Nattraal thozhaar yenin.
The break up is like this:
Katradhanaal aaya payan yen kol Vaal arivan
Nal thaall thozhaar Yenin/
Means
Learning and scholarship are of no avail if they do not lead
One to worship at the wise one’s divine feet.
Education must make one, think of God. The idea is that the concept of reaching God's feet is the culmination of all birth, which can be achieved only by right learning and appropriate conduct in keeping with such learning. But the end of all learning is universally accepted to lead one to God-head. For, knowledge leads to steadfastness. "The steadfast, having controlled the senses, sits focussed on Me as the supreme" ( Gita 2,61)
In this respect these Kurallines are of import. similar to the Biblical lines, that " Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind and with all thy strength". This is also the natural thing to do, for the Psalmist says, "the human soul thirsts for God like the thirsty land" (Psalms 143:6). This is also what the Holy Koran lays down when it says "We have no knowledge saving what thou hast taught us". ( Chapter 1, Rukoo 3). The right knowledge, therefore, would take one to God. Thus the purpose of all education is categorically laid down here as "the holy one of knowing God and worshipping Him" ( courtesy: Thirukkural by Dr. S.M. Diaz I.P.S. Ph.D.)
The expression "Vaalarivan" refers to God, of "pure intelligemce". Thiruvalluvar would have expressed as "Iraivan" means "God" in this place, but he never mentioned such words, so even non believers of God also read this and understand the important of education and reach the supremacy which is equivalent to God.
Couplet 2
The second Thirukkural is as follows:
Katradhanaalaaya payanenkol Vaalarivan
Nattraal thozhaar yenin.
The break up is like this:
Katradhanaal aaya payan yen kol Vaal arivan
Nal thaall thozhaar Yenin/
Means
Learning and scholarship are of no avail if they do not lead
One to worship at the wise one’s divine feet.
Education must make one, think of God. The idea is that the concept of reaching God's feet is the culmination of all birth, which can be achieved only by right learning and appropriate conduct in keeping with such learning. But the end of all learning is universally accepted to lead one to God-head. For, knowledge leads to steadfastness. "The steadfast, having controlled the senses, sits focussed on Me as the supreme" ( Gita 2,61)
In this respect these Kurallines are of import. similar to the Biblical lines, that " Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind and with all thy strength". This is also the natural thing to do, for the Psalmist says, "the human soul thirsts for God like the thirsty land" (Psalms 143:6). This is also what the Holy Koran lays down when it says "We have no knowledge saving what thou hast taught us". ( Chapter 1, Rukoo 3). The right knowledge, therefore, would take one to God. Thus the purpose of all education is categorically laid down here as "the holy one of knowing God and worshipping Him" ( courtesy: Thirukkural by Dr. S.M. Diaz I.P.S. Ph.D.)
The expression "Vaalarivan" refers to God, of "pure intelligemce". Thiruvalluvar would have expressed as "Iraivan" means "God" in this place, but he never mentioned such words, so even non believers of God also read this and understand the important of education and reach the supremacy which is equivalent to God.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
An autobiography of a middle class man - chapter 2
10th January 2008
Chapter 2
Creating a blog and writing was my desire since I heard about blogs. I was not well conversant with the technicalities of computer. I was postponing it and was spending lot of time on my computer. Quite often the computer used to go out of order, and I had to wait for the technician to come and set it right. Slowly, I gathered confidence, that I can handle this art of technology and started my venture. Incidentally, when my daughter-in-law,was introduced to us, by my son, she told that her hobby was writing, and she was going to write a novel. Her statement woke up the sleeping giant in me and my urge to write was growing.
Story telling, i.e.,imagining certain things and narrating them, in an interesting way to others was one of my in born quality, and it was once again encouraged by my mother by talking to me and asking me to narrate things to her, during my early days. In my pre high school days, I used to lose my pens quite often, and tell different stories to my mother, whenever I lost one.
Once, I told her that somebody interrupted me, while coming from the school ( We had to walk up and down four miles from our home to school and back), slapped me on my cheek and taken away the pen. My mother believed that story, and sympathised with me and did not scold me for the loss. Unluckily, the same evening, my uncle (who was the youngest brother of my mother, who was also studying with me in the same school)came home and inquired to my mother, " did Hari get back the pen he lost in the school?". The truth was that, I lost the pen when I was in the school itself and was searching for that. My uncle who was senior to me by two classes in the school, was also searching the pen for me. We walked back home after our search was futile. I parted with my uncle at his house at Thalaiyur which is half a mile before my village
and then proceeded to my village, building the imagination of a story to tell my mother. I never anticipated that my uncle will come to our home after one hour, and also check with my mother whether I recovered my pen. My mother got annoyed, not only because I lost the pen, but also for telling a lie, to escape from her scolding. At that time she told me sarcastically in anger, "You can start writing stories. How beautifully you narrated the incident and about the person who robbed the pen from you!".
Even though, I faced admonitions from her for my wrong act, that statement inspired me to become a writer. Becoming a writer was my dream and ambition, since the age of ten, and I wanted to read lot of stories, to build my talent, and subscribing to "Aananda Vikatan" was one of them.
The school, where we studied, was four miles from our place, and in those days, there was no other mode of transport to go to school, except by walking. There used to be groups to go together, and these groups will split on petty quarrels and join on advantages of going together. My younger sister, my younger brother, and some of my cousins and friends used to form a group and walk to and fro from school. It will take nearly an hour or an hour and half to reach the school. Normally, while going to school, there used to be only chit chats, and the concentration will be only to reach school on time. But, while coming back, we all used to be in a relaxed mood, and that is the time, I started telling stories to my group.
The stories generally used to be consisting characters of King, Queen , Prince, Princess and Villain, (mostly commander-in-chief of the army). There will be fights, horse riding, sword fights etc. All these stories were mixtures of films I have seen and the stories I have read, with little bit of my own imaginations. As the time passed, I started building up my own stories and I had lot of fans. Other than summer, or before the harvest season, we cannot go to our school by taking the short cut through the fields, and were forced to go through the road only, which is one mile more than the short cut route. This gave lot of scope for stretching my imagination to narrate the story, until, we reach our village.
My mother was always admirer of my lies, I mean, my imaginations and build up of stories. She sincerely felt that I have the talent to become a writer one day.
Once, after reaching Hyderabad, for my higher studies, I happened to write a letter on the occasion of my Grandfather's cousin's sixtieth birth day. The letter had beautiful narration of the characters of the person who was celebrating, his wife, his sons, and the close relatives, and was written in chaste Tamil. It appears, that the letter was read in public on the occasion, and everybody clapped and appreciated the letter. It seems one lady came and told my mother "I have not seen your son. But, I like to see him. You are very lucky to have a son who can write like this." My mother proudly told me this, when I went to my village for vacation. ( to be continued)
Chapter 2
Creating a blog and writing was my desire since I heard about blogs. I was not well conversant with the technicalities of computer. I was postponing it and was spending lot of time on my computer. Quite often the computer used to go out of order, and I had to wait for the technician to come and set it right. Slowly, I gathered confidence, that I can handle this art of technology and started my venture. Incidentally, when my daughter-in-law,was introduced to us, by my son, she told that her hobby was writing, and she was going to write a novel. Her statement woke up the sleeping giant in me and my urge to write was growing.
Story telling, i.e.,imagining certain things and narrating them, in an interesting way to others was one of my in born quality, and it was once again encouraged by my mother by talking to me and asking me to narrate things to her, during my early days. In my pre high school days, I used to lose my pens quite often, and tell different stories to my mother, whenever I lost one.
Once, I told her that somebody interrupted me, while coming from the school ( We had to walk up and down four miles from our home to school and back), slapped me on my cheek and taken away the pen. My mother believed that story, and sympathised with me and did not scold me for the loss. Unluckily, the same evening, my uncle (who was the youngest brother of my mother, who was also studying with me in the same school)came home and inquired to my mother, " did Hari get back the pen he lost in the school?". The truth was that, I lost the pen when I was in the school itself and was searching for that. My uncle who was senior to me by two classes in the school, was also searching the pen for me. We walked back home after our search was futile. I parted with my uncle at his house at Thalaiyur which is half a mile before my village
and then proceeded to my village, building the imagination of a story to tell my mother. I never anticipated that my uncle will come to our home after one hour, and also check with my mother whether I recovered my pen. My mother got annoyed, not only because I lost the pen, but also for telling a lie, to escape from her scolding. At that time she told me sarcastically in anger, "You can start writing stories. How beautifully you narrated the incident and about the person who robbed the pen from you!".
Even though, I faced admonitions from her for my wrong act, that statement inspired me to become a writer. Becoming a writer was my dream and ambition, since the age of ten, and I wanted to read lot of stories, to build my talent, and subscribing to "Aananda Vikatan" was one of them.
The school, where we studied, was four miles from our place, and in those days, there was no other mode of transport to go to school, except by walking. There used to be groups to go together, and these groups will split on petty quarrels and join on advantages of going together. My younger sister, my younger brother, and some of my cousins and friends used to form a group and walk to and fro from school. It will take nearly an hour or an hour and half to reach the school. Normally, while going to school, there used to be only chit chats, and the concentration will be only to reach school on time. But, while coming back, we all used to be in a relaxed mood, and that is the time, I started telling stories to my group.
The stories generally used to be consisting characters of King, Queen , Prince, Princess and Villain, (mostly commander-in-chief of the army). There will be fights, horse riding, sword fights etc. All these stories were mixtures of films I have seen and the stories I have read, with little bit of my own imaginations. As the time passed, I started building up my own stories and I had lot of fans. Other than summer, or before the harvest season, we cannot go to our school by taking the short cut through the fields, and were forced to go through the road only, which is one mile more than the short cut route. This gave lot of scope for stretching my imagination to narrate the story, until, we reach our village.
My mother was always admirer of my lies, I mean, my imaginations and build up of stories. She sincerely felt that I have the talent to become a writer one day.
Once, after reaching Hyderabad, for my higher studies, I happened to write a letter on the occasion of my Grandfather's cousin's sixtieth birth day. The letter had beautiful narration of the characters of the person who was celebrating, his wife, his sons, and the close relatives, and was written in chaste Tamil. It appears, that the letter was read in public on the occasion, and everybody clapped and appreciated the letter. It seems one lady came and told my mother "I have not seen your son. But, I like to see him. You are very lucky to have a son who can write like this." My mother proudly told me this, when I went to my village for vacation. ( to be continued)
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Karatholuvu said... - Your story about your story-telling talent stimulated by your mother is itself a storey within a story and it is very fascinating. It is amazing what one's parents can do just by listening to their kids.
Awaiting your next installment.
AALAYAM THOZHUVOM said...- please visit,
http://picasaweb.google.com/slnvasu/PavatakkudiShivanTemple#
hvaidya said...- Thank you for giving me the link. I found the lingam lying in an open area in the first photos and a temple on the other photos. Has it been renovated?
- AALAYAM THOZHUVOM said...
- Thank u HariSir, for quick response!The LINGAMSWAMI is in your mother's village[THALAIYUR],on the southurnside of agraharam,Sorry to say,it is still in the open area, i took the fotos only 2 days back,if u have any contacts there, please help us, atleast to put a shed there, thanks.
If u need more in formation pl. contact me,
KUMBAKONAM-LAKSHMINARAYANAN,
9443714218,THANKING U ONCE AGAIN
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Thirukkural - what is this?
When I was talking to a relative of mine, he told me that he does not have time to read "kural, kiral etc" (a way of expressing opposite things in Tamil). True. He is a man, who does not have time, to read anything, other than the subjects, which are necessary for him. Since he spends more time in the sky, than the earth, by touring the entire world, to make money, he feels a literature has no role to play in his life. Is that true?
Every speedy action has to halt at some stage. When that rest occurs, when there is no need for him to make money, and plenty of time available to him, because, he need not have to travel, what is going to give him company?
There is an impression among many, in the present day generation, that there is no need to learn any thing else, other than the subject they deal with, and they are afraid, any diversion will hamper the progress in the field, they are in.
May be true. But when they miss certain subjects, which they consider, that it is not necessary for them to read and learn, they are loosing certain important messages, which are relevant to their day today activities. Hence, it is necessary for everybody, to spare some specific time to read everything, and choose whichever necessary for their life, and apply them in their life.
For example,
A man wise enough to have men of
greater wisdom than he, to advise him
shall be a really powerful ruler.(444)
This English translation of 444th Kural does not require explanation. But, how many are prepared to have more intelligent men than him around them? May be few successful men. But if everybody, who reads this Kural and understand and applies this Kural in his carrier/life, is sure to win.
This is another one:
Where the leader has this company of
counsellors who could reprove him
None on earth can bring about his ruin (447)
How important and relevant even in today's life!
This one:
Placate and make friend with the enemies
even more swiftly than thou rewardest friends (679)
I can quote many like this, but many may feel that they already know these things. The truth always is that you do not know what you do not know.
So my dear friends, please spare some time to read these articles on Kural and derive the benefits and mind you, I am writing this only for those who have not read Thirukkural.
Every speedy action has to halt at some stage. When that rest occurs, when there is no need for him to make money, and plenty of time available to him, because, he need not have to travel, what is going to give him company?
There is an impression among many, in the present day generation, that there is no need to learn any thing else, other than the subject they deal with, and they are afraid, any diversion will hamper the progress in the field, they are in.
May be true. But when they miss certain subjects, which they consider, that it is not necessary for them to read and learn, they are loosing certain important messages, which are relevant to their day today activities. Hence, it is necessary for everybody, to spare some specific time to read everything, and choose whichever necessary for their life, and apply them in their life.
For example,
A man wise enough to have men of
greater wisdom than he, to advise him
shall be a really powerful ruler.(444)
This English translation of 444th Kural does not require explanation. But, how many are prepared to have more intelligent men than him around them? May be few successful men. But if everybody, who reads this Kural and understand and applies this Kural in his carrier/life, is sure to win.
This is another one:
Where the leader has this company of
counsellors who could reprove him
None on earth can bring about his ruin (447)
How important and relevant even in today's life!
This one:
Placate and make friend with the enemies
even more swiftly than thou rewardest friends (679)
I can quote many like this, but many may feel that they already know these things. The truth always is that you do not know what you do not know.
So my dear friends, please spare some time to read these articles on Kural and derive the benefits and mind you, I am writing this only for those who have not read Thirukkural.
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