dwaraka

Author: Pandian Ramaiah

  • Sarpa Sattra Yagna by Janamejaya | The Mahabharata Paintings

    ‘தட்சகன் விஷமயமானவன். அவன் பூமி மீது எஞ்சுவது பேரபாயம்’ என்றார் ஸௌனகர்.

    ‘ஸௌனகரே, விஷம் இல்லையேல் அமுதும் இல்லை. தட்சகன் காமமூர்த்தி. சகலவிதமான செயலூக்கங்களுக்கும் காரணம் அவனே. அதை மறவாதீர்!’ (- ஆஸ்திகன்)

    English translation:

    ‘Takshaka is poisonous. Leaving him alive on earth is a disaster’ said Shounaka.

    ‘Shounaka, there is no amudham (elixir) without poison. Takshaka is icon of desire. He is the cause of all kinds of karya-karma motivations. Don’t forget that!’ (said by Astika)

    Short story – இறுதி விஷம் – Jeyamohan

    This is an argument between Astika – the naishtika brahmachari – with minister Saunaka during the Snake sacrifice yagna performed by King Janamejaya. This is from a short story இறுதி விஷம் (‘Final Poison‘) written with a Mahabharata theme by Writer Jeyamohan.

    Mahabharata was an interesting epic no one can avoid. During this series I am planning to write about 28 paintings of Mahabharata. Here is the first one – the snake sacrifice.

    Illustration of Razmnama, Persian version of Mahabharata – Picture (c) Wikipedia

    Parikshit – the last existed descendant after the cruel Mahabharata war – was dreaded by the fear of snake bite. He isolated himself from everyone, every place. We know the bitter meaning of isolation in this covid-19 period, isn’t it? He did not even had mobile phones or internet enabled laptops then 🙂 He was afraid because has was cursed to die of snake bite in 7 days.

    Nothing could save him. He bite a fruit on the 7th day. The worm inside the fruit transformed itself in to a scary snake. He is nothing but the super king of Naga – Takshaka. The snake bite Parikshit. Before someone could save him, the poison killed him instantly. Takshaka went away silently without a trace.

    Parikshit bitten by Takshak from Birla razmnama. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya

    Prince Janamejaya enraged by this. He wanted to perform the powerful yagna – the sarpa sattra. This is a sacrificial ritual that would force all the snakes in this world to come and get into fire to perform self-sacrifice (suicide). All snakes died in this yagna. Takshaka was the one left alone. He came for self sacrifice with reluctance. His death would be the death of all snake creatures of this world.

    The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya
    The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya

    There came Astika to save him. One of his arguments to justify the life of Takshaka were given in the beginning of this blog post. Janamejaya tried to cover up his decision of killing all the snakes as a dharma for his father’s death. Astika questioned him about dharma on behalf of the snakes being killed. To make Janamejaya to know about dharma, Astika suggested him to summon Vaisampayana – Sage Vyasa’s disciple – who knows the story of his forefathers.

    The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya
    The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya

    This is how Mahabharata narration to Janamejaya starts! We know the rest. Emperor Akbar made the epic to be translated into Persian as the Razmnama or the Book of War, at his court. Some of the paintings of this work are given above.

    The snake sacrifice happened in Takshashila, now in Pakistan.

    References / Gratitude:

    This blog post is a part of Blogchatter’s WRITE A PAGE A DAY campaign.

  • A sunny January morning

    Picture post!

  • Sumitra | Kalpatta Narayanan

    Sumitra dies suddenly. Those who come to attend her funeral, shares their memory in this novel.

    Sumitra (Novel)
    Author: Kalpatta Narayanan
    Translation: K.V. Shylaja (Malayalam – ഇത്രമാത്രം)
    Edition: Vamsi, Thiruvannamalai. (Second Edition August 2015)

    Library Reservation:
    NLB – Cumitrā / Malaiyāḷa mūlam, Kalpaṭṭā Nārāyaṇan̲; Tamil̲il, Kē. Vi. Ṣailajā .
    Anna Centenary Library: Not available
    Connemara Library: Catalog site is down.

    Although there are different chapters in this novel, each is similar to a short story in its own style. This is written from authors perspective. Life is moving on without informing anyone. Those who travel with us are different, kind people like Sumitra, some of us are so passionate like you who read this post patiently, some of are so rude fools who behave as if they were got after getting an employment at Delhi. We will remember each of these differently. It is a novel that evokes the memory of each and every one of them.

    The wet land of Wayanad, Kerala is shown page by page.

    Sumitra bathes again and again. As if the world was smearing dirt on her again and again. She does not even like the flies that come and sit on Vasudevan and his friends, who were lying on ‘palankalam’ (storage house of harvest). She does not allow the dust and spider webs of the ‘palankalam’. She cleans it often. She swallows the world with her ‘wide view’ from where she is. But when the world around her does not have a broad vision, she needs to bath again and again.

    Violations of social norm happen in seconds like the lightning strikes in heavy rain. If the reader is not cautious, he/she may misunderstood the novel and Sumitra. As the story goes along, I get couple of thoughts – One – her grace told in that story. Another one – I’m afraid it may be fabricated by others with their partial visibility.

    Sumitra’s experience with ‘Pothuval’, friendship with Madavi and Dasan, benefaction with the old man ‘Gowdar’ are interesting to read. The pickle that Sumitra gives to Gowder and the small loans that Gowder gives to Sumitra reminded me of Vannadasan’s kindness . Human is a social animal – Sumitra too.

    The translation gives the scene of the Wayanad land. Feel free to read on. Kudos to Tamil translator.

    See you in another post, dear readers! 🍯🍯🍯 Happy Pongal/Sankranti 🍯🍯🍯

  • SJ182 – Sriwijaya Air – Boeing 737

    Boeing Charged with 737 Max Conspiracy is not yet over. Yet another crash reported from Indonesia. Prayers for the lost souls.

  • Margazhi Music Season 26 Dec 2020

    Dec 26th was another day with pleasant evening. I could attend three sessions. Vocal by Vishnudev Namboothiri, followed by Sruthi Sagar’s flute, followed by Dr S Sowmya’s vocal.

    Vishnudev Namboothiri

    Dakshinaamoorthee vidalitha – Dikshitar
    ni cittamu nirmalamu – Tyaagaraaja – Telugu
    தொடுக்கவோ நல்ல சொன்மலர் இல்லை நான் (thodukkavo nalla sonmalar illai nan) – திருவருட்பா (thiruvarutpa) – Tamil
    guru vara mahimala Walajapet Venkatramana Bhaagavatar – Telugu

    Dr S Sowmya:

    vanajaksha enne
    venuga devi samrakshi dhoham
    murugane senthil muthalvane mayon marugane
    aguvagana sothara
    Emani nE nI mahima delupudunamma
    sAramaina mATalanda cAlu cAlu rA

    I missed to listen to Sanjay Sub. I felt too tired. I need to wait for On-Demand.

  • Margazhi Music Season 25 Dec 2020

    This year has been very tough for many us. Some of my friends lost their job. Some of them have been deported. Some of them lost their kith or kins due to COVID-19. This pandemic, after starting from Wuhan, spread all over the world.

    To me – COVID19 scares me – about opportunities, travel back home, health of my family in India. On the other hand, COVID19 pandemic had brought in opportunities as well.

    NLB conducted Novel writing workshops in Zoom. I attended the workshops conducted by Writer Jeyamohan and Writer Indira Soundarajan. Don’t worry. I’m not writing anything! Recently I attended the Venmurasu discussion conducted by Chennai readers. Again on zoom. And now… Chennai music season – Music Academy conducts a ‘mini’ music season this year.

    It started 24th Dec (Yesterday). I was able to listen to Nadaswaram concert.

    I got chance to attend 3 vocals and 1 instrumental today.

    Endu Daginado – V Venkatanagarajan (Vocal)
    Tyagaraja
    Telugu


    Seethamma Mayamma – Ashwanth Narayanan (Vocal)
    Tyagaraja
    Telugu

    Manasa guru guha – Ashwanth Narayanan (Vocal)
    Muttuswaamee Dikshitar
    Sanskrit

    Brochevarevarura – Ashwanth Narayanan (Vocal)
    Mysore Vasudevacharya
    Telugu

    Vizhikku thunai – Ashwanth Narayanan (Vocal)
    Arunagirinathar
    Tamil

    Santhana Gopalakishnam – Ashwanth Narayanan (Vocal)
    Muttuswaamee Dikshitar
    Sanskrit

    Aazhi mazhai kanna – Ranjani Gayatri (Vocal)
    Andal Thiruppavai
    Tamil

    …. – Ranjani Gayatri (Vocal)
    Purandaradasa ?
    ?

    Vithobha Chala – Ranjani Gayatri (Vocal)
    Bhajan

    Siddhi Vinayakam Anisam – Jayanthi Kumaresh (Veena)
    Muttuswaamee Dikshitar
    Sanskrit

    Guruleka Etuvanti – Jayanthi Kumaresh (Veena)
    Tyagaraja
    Telugu

    Kamakshi Loka Sakshini – Jayanthi Kumaresh (Veena)
    Syama Sastry
    Telugu

    Be safe! Stay at home!

  • Tenali Raman

    ACK enchants children always. Here is the one on Tenali Rama.

  • Dumbo – The only flying elephant

    Kannan wrote something about the movie Disney’s Jumbo.

  • Writer Ashokamithran – A documentary screening

    As part of Singapore South Asian International Film Festival, a documentary on eminent writer of Tamil/Indian English literary world  – Ashokamithran.

    As I couldn’t reach on time, I missed the first part. It was a neat portrait of the writer. It is good to know that it has been completed and screened for the writer, before he died.

    It has given space for other writers to criticize him, which adds value to the movie. If you want me to point out, I may recall Prapanchan, Na Muthusamy. But I regret to hear Actress Rohini’s criticism – without grasping the content of the story. Surprisingly Actor Nassar scores well! I raised my eyebrows ^^!

    ashokamithran documentary

    The dissimulating discussions after the screening, are not noteworthy, as it cares very much for the Indian society and it vowed to write against current Indian issues. As per fluid theory, if there is a low pressure, it would be filled up. if not, nothing would happen!

    By the time you hear the term Ashokamithran, something may come across your mind. For me, it is his way of expressing something, in a polite but mighty language. This stylish film tries to follow him in this aspect.

    Hope the film would be made available for public viewing asap!

    Good work!

  • கவுனி அரிசி பொங்கல் | bubur hitam

    This is a sweet blog post, which explains the cooking process of a popular Chettinad sweet dish – ‘kavuni arisi pongal’ (black rice pongal). Similar kind of sweet is called as Bubur Hitam in Indonesia/Malaysia/Singapore.

    Things you need:

    1. Black rice (கவுனி அரிசி/kavuni rice) – 1 tumbler
    2. Jaggery powder (சர்க்கரை) – 3/4 of a tumbler
    3. Coconut scamble (தேங்காய் கால் மூடி துருவியது) – 1/4 tumbler
    4. Ghee – 2 spoons
    5. Salt – a pinch (Only to add taste. Do not add more)
    • Soak black rice for 4 hours. Because black rice is so hard. So do not cook like normal rice.
    • After soaking the rice, clean it. add 3 tumblers of water. Cook it in Indian rice cooker. Wait for 5 whistles. Wait until steam is released.
    • Reduce the flame.
    • Open the cooker. Release unnecessary water. Add jaggery powder and stir it well. Make sure the cooker content has sufficient water.
    • After jaggery is mixed with rice, add ghee, coconut scramble and pinch of salt and stir it well until it comes to colloidal state.
    • Switch off the stove. Serve the dish to your kids.

    It would be a perfect evening time snacks or a perfect dessert for lunch.