A simple handmade card for birthday

Hi,

 Recently, I made a very simple card for my brother. I am sharing few pictures of the same here, please leave your feedback in comment section.

Thanks for stopping by my site.

Handmade rakhi cards 2014

Hi All,

Wish you a very happy Rakhsya Bandhan. This year I got very less time to prepare Rakhi cards, so could not come up with a better design for cards. But, somehow managed to make cards for my brothers. Below, I share few pics. Please leave your valuable feedback at the comment section.

Thanks for stopping by my site.

Why so much tragedy for Karna??

Hi Readers,

Once again I am back with views regarding Karna and Kunti story. Karna the tragic hero of epic Mahabharat. I follow Mahabharata serial in Star Plus. What is most amazing  fact in this serial is that they explain why Krishna play games and breaks rule of war to help Pandava's attain victory. Yesterday, Karna's life came to an end in that serial. There was nice explanation on why he was punished and why he had to undergo so much tragedy. Why supporting Dhurodhana was not correct, although Dhuryodhana helped him to get respect as an warrior. Well, some part of narration was really very beautiful and I want to jot it down here.

During the battle of Kurushetra, when Karna's cart falls in mud and his chaffeur King of Madra and maternal uncle of Nakul and Sahadeba humiliates him, at that point Krishna urges Arjuna to kill Karna. Karna wants to fight back and suddenly realizes that his talent has vanished. He has forgotten what he had learnt. Krishna reminds him of the wordings of Parshuram, who had cursed Karna for not revealing his true identity. He had cursed that when Karna would need his talent badly, at that point he will  forget what he has learnt. Karna is torn apart, he feels cheated and wanted to know why such things had to happen to him. Krishna tells Karna that he is son of the mightiest Sun God. He was born with supernatural power, still he could not do justice to it. Karna wants to know how he was wrong, and how justice was done to him. Krishna explains, that its true life was tough on him. This society did not do justice with him by not letting him use his skills, by not allowing him to be equal with other warriors just because of his birth, and his caste. However, he had the amazing power, by which he could have fought against the society and could have changed rules set by society on cast-ism. He could have liberated people like him. However, he chose to be with Dhuryodhana. Karna again wants to know why supporting Dhuryodhana was regarded as bad, when only this person helped him when he wanted to be known just for his skills and efforts. Krishna says, Dhuryodhana never helped Karna, but used Karna in his favor. Dhuryodhana never uplifted weaker sections of the society, but yes he helped Karna, to get him by his side. This opens eyes of Karna. He understands his faults. He then wants to know from Krishna if ever this world will remember him, for his strength? Krishna says, to kill Karna they need to play foul, is this not enough to prove his strength.

After, Arjuna kills Karna sunset happens. Kunti comes to battle field in search of her son Karna. All of the Pandava brothers were amazed as to why their Mother is so concern for their enemy. Arjuna asks why Kunti is concerned about Karna. Krishna says, enmity is over now you need to know the relation. He asks Arjuna to ask same question to Kunti. Kunti in battle field, shares the relationship with Karna. She says, Karna has been punished for Kunti's fault deed. Rishi Durvasa who gave Kunti boon of a powerful mantra by use of which she could be a Mother, also warned her that she should make use of it in apt situation. If the Mantra is used in haste, it will give negative effect. However, Kunti was not matured enough and just wanted to test the Mantra, which resulted in Karna's birth before her marriage.

Even though she kept this birth of Karna a secret, and had set her son Karna away, somehow she had been longing for him. When she finally got to know about Karna in a friendly competition, she had no guts to reveal the truth of Karna's birth when he was being ridiculed.

Somehow, watching this I felt, how difficult the situation would be for a girl in similar situation. Being a mother after marriage is a boon and curse when attained without marriage. Yes, society is changing, in western world this might not be the usual perception, but in India it still persist. I wanted to think of men who do this. Will situation also affect them. All men become proud father when they are married. What is their feeling when they do the same before marriage? My guess is most of the guys would have to live with a guilt that their decision landed someone in such a situation. If the girl gives birth and still they both did not get married, then he might also long to see his child. Although, exception is always there for both men and women. Some people could do all this and never realize or admit that they have not done something which was good or considered good.

The truth behind everything is things, situations and everything in general is termed good or bad depending on situation, place and most importantly by the timing. Otherwise, whats good is also bad, its just a relative term. Is not it?

"Touching Feet of elders" - Tradition or Taboo

Hi Readers,

Its general practice in Hinduism to show respect to elders by touching their feet. Touching feet also has several twist to it. In ancient Odia culture, one would do a Pranam by bending knees and placing his/her head on ground in same way as we do while praying to god. People would also follow Shastang Pranam by lying down and folding hands in Namaskar. In Rajasthani Culture, they would perform "Dhok" by sitting down and with two hands massaging legs by pressing gently and moving up and down in leg till knee. In general touching feet is followed all over India with little modification based on regions and culture.

The question is why do we touch feet? Why not some other part of body to show respect? Well, I got many interesting reads on this matter. I am trying to compile some of them below.

An act of touching the feet of our elders give's strength, intellect, knowledge and fame. There is scientific reason to back and support this conclusion.

According to modern science, a human body contains negative and positive currents of electricity. The left side of the human body carries negative current and the right side of the body has positive current. Have you observed any patient of paralysis? Right from his toe to the scalp, the body divides it self into two vertical halves and one half with his organs becomes a prey to such disease. One half of the body is invalid and the other half is active and conscious. One eye, one hand, one leg, one foot become inert; dead like with no movement, no sense, no feeling. Absolutely useless and totally immobile. This proves that each half has distinct currents – either negative or positive. Two halves together complete a circuit built of positive and negative.

At the time of bowing to our Guru, teacher, seniors and elders, we stand in front of them, facing them. The vertical body parts in that case are in the opposite direction. The left side of the Guru shall be in front of the right side of the disciple. In other words negative in front of positive. Keeping in view of this fact, our Rishis in ancient times have suggested the salute of touching feet by crossing the hands, i.e. right hand touches right foot and left hand touches left foot of our elders. Thus the positive current in both flows in an uniformed circuit and in simulate way negative flows jointly in a circuit. Thus both the currents form a well-unified circuit.

If you touch the feet of someone who harbors ill feelings towards you, they will be forced to give you a blessing. So in effect any mistake that you did to them knowingly or unknowingly will be forgiven by god. You will not be affected by their ill-will in any way too.

However, in modern day practice, we are slowly drifting from our original value. Now, saying Hello, Hi is slowly replacing Namaskar and Pranam. We are coping western cultures without any logic. we are neglecting our age-old practices considering it as a TABOO. We need to re-think about the logic behind the whole process.

Donkey in Pit

Hi Readers,

I am back after a long pause with another short story. May be most of you already know about it. However, I am still sharing it.

A Man's favorite donkey fell into a pit. The man tried his best to pull the donkey. However, he could not pull it out, no matter how hard he tries. So, decided to bury the donkey alive. He kept pouring soil from above. The donkey feels soil, shakes the soil and steps on it. More soil is poured on donkey and he shakes it off and steps up. The more load was poured the higher it raised. By following same process, finally the donkey was out of the pit and grazing in green pasture.

The moral is after shaking off(shaking problems), and rising up or stepping up(learning from problems) one would graze in Green Pasture( lead a better life).

This story is really very small one, with a good message to convey. 

Growing older and wiser :)

Hi Readers,

After a long pause I am back again. What do you think what kept me away from my blogging sites? The reason is what do I write, then I had other things to shift my focus and partly because I was busy. Spent quite a lot of time reading.

Let me share how I feel now. I feel I have gradually become more patient, I have been quite calm and understanding. But, I wonder what made me develop these characteristic..? When my Mom used to ask me to be more patient some five years back, I used to get irritated. But, now my family especially my Mom agrees that I have become more patient, more soft.

What has basically made this change in me? May be as I am growing older, I am getting wiser... :) :)
Or may be as life pushes and pulls me through one problem and the other, I am growing resistant to being angry and upset with these things. Now, when problems come, I read motivational books, I spent time wisely on things that really matter. I have learnt the basics to skip things, flip my focus from a negative thing to positive one. I appreciate people more, I try to see their positive side and ignore negatives.I respect people who have faced many troubles in life but still gathered courage to either let it go or struggle and come out as a winner.

I do not know what more to say or analyse as to how I did this, from a young impatient person I am gradually growing as a patient listener. May be my acceptance and letting go of things helped and contributed well in developing me as a better person than yesterday. And yes this journey is not going to stop but I am sure it will go slow but will make me better and better person as I grow. I do not know how successful I could be in today's time. Whether I could make all my dreams come true, but yes I know by the time I will die, I would have been a much better individual. And, of-course in my long term goal I have a point to build character, being nice and being a better person. I know with my effort and God's mercy I will surely achieve this goal of mine. Feeling awesome with my achievement in this regard.

Thanks

May God restore peace in your life...

The story of a loyal Hero

Hi Readers,

Any guesses on whom this story is based on. Well, it's from the epic tales of Mahabharata. Any guesses now... Its Karna. The characters whom I like the most in tale of Mahabharata is the mightiest Bhisma, who was always composed and calm. He was strongest man who could protect and flourish the kingdom of Hastinapur without ever having a urge to be known as the King. He left his position of being King of Hastinapur to his younger brother for the well being of his father, his step mother and his step brother's. The second man in this list is Karna. Though born to the mighty Lord Sun and Queen Kunti, he never enjoyed royalty. With his firm courage and faith, he became one of the great warrior. When Krishna finally revealed his biological birth and wanted him to join Pandavas, this heroic man did not accept it. He could have accepted the request and could have been the King of Hastinapur, as he was elder to Yudhisthira. However, he chose not to abandon his adoptive parents, who bestowed all their love upon him. He chose to stay firmly by the side of Duryodhan, because he had saved him from criticism. Though, Duryodhan always used him, he stayed by his words, by his friendship till his death. Let me now describe the side of Karna in detail.

Karna was born to Kunti and Sun God. Kunti had received a boon from Sage Durvasa to bear sons from Gods. She just had to utter a Mantra and call upon which ever God she wanted and they would give her a son before they depart. Kunti just wanted to test the powerful Mantra and thus Karna was born. However, she abandoned him. Later, post marriage to Pandu, Kunti and Madri had five sons whom she raised after death of Pandu and Madri. Karna's fate took him to Adhiratha and Radha, who adopted him. They bestowed all their love and never let him feel that he was an abandoned child. Karna never enjoyed the royalty that his biological brother's Pandavas enjoyed. He could not get him a Guru or teacher. However, with his courage and trust to learn he changed his look and became the disciple of Parshuram. He became a great warrior. He had same ability as his biological brother Arjuna. However, when Karna wanted to fight against Arjuna in a bravery show, he was not allowed. He was ridiculed because he was son of Suta(an inferior caste compared to Khatriya or Warrior class) his adoptive parents. When he was being humiliated , his biological mother and father chose to remain silent. They witnessed him being ridiculed. At this time, Duryodhan came to his rescue and made him King of Anga. Thus Karna was first time equipped with firm sense of self by Duryodhan. Karna became his friend and he was a true friend to Duryodhan till his death. Though he was aware that Duryodhan is actually using him, exploiting him and is not going by Dharma or law, he chose to be by his words and friendship.

In the battle of Mahabharata, Krishna came to Karna. Like the knowledge  of Gita that Krishna gave to Arjuna, he also gave similar Gyan to Karna. This is known as Karna-gita. In this chapter of Mahabharata, Krishna reveals the real identity of Karna. Krishna makes him aware of his biological parents. His biological brothers and asks him to abandon Duryodhan and join Pandavas. The interaction between Krishna and Karna is very interesting. Krishna states:-

... the scriptures teach that son born
to a women before her marriage
is as much counted as the son of his wedded husband
as the sons she bears in marriage.
You, Karna was born this way.
Under law you are the son of Pandu.
Under the constraint of the book of law,
come with me and you shall be King.

You Kunteya, surrounded by Parthas
as the moon by the stars, reign you over the realm
and bestow blessings on Kunti!
Your friends shall shudder with joy,
your enemies with fear.
Today, let their be brotherhood, between you and your Pandava brothers.

Karna however rejects the new identity. He accepts that by law he may be the son of Pandu, but he appeals to love as the determiner of his identity.

An unmarried maiden conceived me, by the sun, Janardan.
and at the behest of sun, she abandoned me at birth.
Yes, Krishna under law I was born the son of Pandu,
however Kunti abandoned me as though i was stillborn.
And Adhiratha, a suta, no sooner than he see me,
he carried me to his home,Madhusudan
and offered me to Radha, with love.

Acknowledging his adoptive parent's low caste birth, he nonetheless praises his adoptive parents for their generosity and undying dedication. Emphasizing his helplessness, he attributes his survival and nurture to Adhirath and Radha. He appeals to keep his identity as Radheya(son of Radha) not as son of Kunti.

A man who knows the law and always took care
to listen to the scriptures on the Law,
Adhiratha, the suta, thinks of me as his son,
and my love demands me to think of him as my father.

Karna then goes on to defend his links with Duryodhan,

can make me a traitor of my words...
Duryodhan has raised arms and prepared for war
because he relies on me...
Neither death, nor capture, neither greed nor fear
can make me break my promise..

Karna then states that if he has to reveal his identity to Yudhisthira, then Yudhisthira would hand him his Kingdom. Yudhisthira the son of Dharma, would immediately yield his throne to Karna, the eldest of Kunti's sons. In an interesting and insightful observation, Karna predicts his own demise. If Yudhisthira yielded to Karna, then Karna out of gratitude and loyalty would yield it to Duryodhan, his protector and friend. But, Karna states that this would not be correct. He acknowledges the moral superiority of Yudhisthira ,asking" Let the Law spirited Yudhisthira be king forever."

Then Krishna returns to Pandavas and declares that his mission has been failed. Kunti then meets Karna at the banks of Ganges and pleads him to abandon Duryodhan and join Pandavas. The father Sun God, Surya then speaks and urges Karna to listen to his mother Kunti. At this, Karna replies that he believes Kunti and Karna and he can not forget the wrong that has been done.

.... the irreparable wrong that you have done by casting me out
has destroyed the name and fame that I could have had...
What enemy could have done greater harm than you have?
When there was time to act
you did not show me the compassion...
you have never acted in my interest like a mother,
and now, here you are, enlightening me solely on your interest..

Karna reminds Kunti that the sons of Dhritarastra have been in his support, and now he should not betray them. But, he agrees to one concession now, that he will spare the life of all Pandavas except Arjuna.

In all this interchange, Karna refuses to change his side for two reasons, love and loyalty. Karna stands as the literature's great tragic figure. He lives according to the heroic values of valor and courage.Due to his inauspicious birth, over which he had no control, his fate was marked from the beginning. The generosity firstly by his adoptive parents and then by Duryodhana, who befriended him equipped Karna with a firm sense of self.