EXAMS!

EXAMS! As a kid my parents were never under pressure with my examinations neither was I under such tremendous pressure! My childhood was a breeze! :-))) My school started in the last week of June! The season of rains. My father was in the defence, so I and my brother went to school by a truck! Sadly there weren't enough seats, but nevertheless we learned to defy gravity via the sudden brakes!

There would be no space in the front where it would be well ventilated, especially during summers as all of us would want some respite from the hot air and it would be completely unoccupied during winters and all the cold wind would be freely available! :-))).

The exam system was something like 4 unit tests and two exams! The first two unit tests would be over by October and the next two in Jan & March. The first exam or the half-yearly exam would be conducted in December and the Annual Examinations would be conducted in April. After that a brief holiday of 10-15 days would be given and the results would be announced in the first week of May. We were lucky enough to get almost a good two monthly vacation. There would be no holiday homework and also the next class or session would start in June only.


But my kids aged 13 & 9 have been have been having classes immediately after the exams, there would be a gap of only 10 days between the starting of the next session and the exams! After which they are given a 1 @ 1/2 month vacation. Not that I'm complaining, but I'd be happy for all the kids if they could have a long homework-free, two-monthly vacation like my generation! They do get lots of holidays thanks to all the festivals in our country, but it is really tiring picking them up during the hot summer season, especially during the first session conducted in April.

As a kid I too had to carry a heavy load of bag, that was stuffed with books and notes. Also I had to study from the first chapter to the last during the Annual exams, at least my kids don't have that! But, since the education department has lessened that kind of burden, I think they can also print two separate books for each term. That's because I want to see my and other kids walk tall as adults. WHY................. I fear that because of the heavy load they'll grow up with a twisted spine!

There is something called a second and third language system in schools. I think children are smart enough to learn new languages and most of them do it with ease, I see no point in kids as well as parents like me and others being burdened to learn this as a compulsion. It is my humble opinion that either lots of languages are provided as an option or it should be made mandatory and some other subjects are introduced. I don't know exactly what those are! But, I sincerely hope that this situation changes at least when my grandkids attend school! :-)))

Like Gandhi ji said, an education or course that helps a person earn his / her livelihood should also be considered in schools! Some years ago, when PCs were becoming a part of every sphere of our lives, I imagined school kids carrying just laptops (now I-pads). That hasn't materialized yet. Digital screens replacing blackboards and so on...

Whatever technological inventions that we are enjoying today, is only because someone dared to dream the impossible and worked hard towards making it a possibility. I HOPE! I PRAY! I DREAM!

For a stress free childhood and stress free parenting too!

Everyone's friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

GANESHA!

Ganesha, the name itself evokes many sweet memories. In Hindusim, we have many forms of the same GOD! The scriptures or the Vedas, say that GOD is formless, can't be fit into a particular gender, caste, or anything else either. If we say NOTHING! we can't comprehend that, but that's what GOD has been described as MAHASHUNYA! Recently, researchers have also revealed that our Universe didn't form after a BIG BANG! There was nothing before it was, the Universe just came into being.

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT! Likewise if I'm and score of others like me are not given a particular form of GOD, it would be quite difficult to comprehend! (I SUPPOSE!) GOD is everywhere, in everything or everyone, animal, human and the list goes on. The Vedas agree on that and that's why Hindus worship, Earth, Rivers, certain plants and trees, books, tools, the five elements and the list goes on..... I've still got to learn that! :-))

Coming back to Ganesha, he is the son of Lord Shiva (One of the trinities) and Goddess Parvathi! He was born with a human like head. He was guarding the chambers of Goddess Parvathi, when Lord Shiva tried to get in her chambers, but was prevented by Ganesha. Shiva got angry and cut off Ganesha's head with his trident! Parvathi was grief stricken and wanted her son back! So Ganesha's head was reinstated with an elephant's ! From then on, he has a human body and an elephant's head!

As a kid, while doing my daily prayers, my mother would show me a picture of Ganesha and tell me that he was a very friendly GOD and one could initiate him immediately. All one needed was unshaken faith and belief! As a kid, I never understood GOD, but with time, I saw a good friend, with whom I could share all my thoughts! This may sound a bit odd, but even now I have these small (sometimes long!) conversations with GOD. My day starts with a humble prayer that goes like this:

त्वमेव माता च, पिता त्वमेव।  त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव।
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणम्  त्वमेव, त्वमेव सर्वं मम  देवदेव।

अन्यथा शरणं  नास्ति त्वमेव शरणं  मम 
तस्मात् कारुण्य भावेन  रक्ष रक्ष जनार्दन 

The first shloka means that : You are my mother, father, relative and friend, You are knowledge and all the wealth in the world, in fact you are everything to me O Lord!

The second one means that : I have no one else to go, you are my only refuge, so, kindly take me into your protection, O Lord!

One about Lord Ganesha:

वक्रतुंड महाकाय सूर्य कोटि समप्रभ निर्विघ्नं कुरु में देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा 

Meaning: O lord with a twisted trunk, huge form, with the effulgence of a crore Suns, kindly bless all the work I undertake be free of any obstacles.

This shloka also reveals that Ganesha is an obstacle remover and hence is worshipped the first and foremost before undertaking any work.

ஐந்து கரத்தானை , ஆனை  முகத்தானை, இந்திந்திளம் பிறை போலும் எயிற்றானை 
நந்தி மகன்தனை ஞானக் கொழுதினை , புந்தியில் வைத்தடி போற்றுகின்றேனே .

I do talk my mother tongue, ie Tamil very well, but this verse is in Literary form and hence I couldn't translate into a lucid form, Hence I've just reproduced someone else's translation below:


                                        We emplace in our minds

The sacred feet of the One

The embodiment of wisdom

The five handed

Elephant Visaged- with tusks

Curved like the crescent moon

The son of the Supreme Siva.

 

 

Everyone's friend,

 

Lakshmi! :-)))

Holi - The Festival of Colours! :-)))

होली है भई , होली है. 

बुरा न मानो होली है। 

The above statement in Hindi, means that since today is Holi, let's forget and forgive each other and please do not take any offence on this playful festival.

Today is Holi! A festival of colours celebrated mostly in North of India and nowadays in almost all the parts of India! It is a spring festival, falls on the full moon day or Purnima. Holi has derived its name from Holika, Now, Who is this? Holika was the sister of the demon Hiranyakashyap. Hirankashyap had received many boons from Lord Brahma (One of the Hindu Trinities) after a very long penance (Tapas). Initially, he wanted to live forever, but that was not permissible according to rules. One that has born, has to die one day. Hence when asked to choose something else for a boon, he intelligently asked this:

Let my death, not be by a man, or an animal, nor by any weapon that was in use at that time, neither at night nor in day, not in the house and also not outside it and the list went on. He thought that he couldn't die like this. Anyway, Lord Brahma gave him the boon. With such POWER, comes ...... YES! ARROGANCE! He started driving all the devas (the gods) from their abodes and conquered their places. He not only conquered heaven, but also Earth!

He made a rule that from then on, everyone should take his name and not of God's, especially, Lord Vishnu! He was blessed with a son and unfortunately for him, his son was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He tried killing his son many times, but it didn't happen and one of these were using Holika, his sister. Holika had the boon that fire won't harm her at all. Hence she proposed that Prahlad (Hiranyakashyap's son!) be seated on her lap, while she will sit on a pyre. Nothing happened to Prahlada, but Holika was burnt alive.

A day before Holi, a bonfire is lit, people go around it singing songs. The actual spiritual meaning that underlies in any festival that involves lighting a bonfire is to dispose off all bad or negative aspects from one's life and embrace the good or positive. Not many know of this, but nevertheless its a great time to be with friends, family members and loved ones! YAY! PARTY TIME!

The next day is Holi (FINALLY! I've got back to the subject!). People smear each other with lots of colours, sing songs, have a gala time! The main snacks served on this day are Gujias, (Triangle shaped savouries, with a sweet filling, and deep-fried in hot oil) and Thandai. Thandai is usually spiced up with Bhang, (English Name-cannabis, I Think). Those who want to get a little high and energetic have Thandai with Bhang and other poor souls like me opt for the Bhang-free Thandai!

My childhood memories consists of Holi starting with roaming about with friends, smearing each other with gulals (coloured powders) and drenching each other with Pichkari (A pistol, used to fill colour and spray). Pichakri was available in lots of shapes, mostly based on the current trend, my favourite was a Gun shaped and an elephant-shaped one!

I'm giving below a link to a holi song, that's still played on TV, on Holi!

Everyone's friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiMsWs64WLU

What's in a name?!

My name is Lakshmi! I was.given the name Seetha Lakshmi, in the memory of my paternal grandmother! Though she has four granddaughters, I'm the lucky one to have inherited her name.

As a child, I was not very happy with my name, as I felt it was funny to have two different names combined as one. Seetha and Lakshmi! I.was also made fun of. Some would call me Seetha and some Lakshmi.

My name means:
Seetha-Cool/Mud
Lakshmi-Goddess of WEALTH!

According to Ramayana, most revered of by Hindus, Goddess Seetha, the consort of Lord Rama was believed to have come out of Mother Earth's womb, and hence the name! Since Lord Rama is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who else but an incarnation of his consort Goddess Lakshmi be his wife on Earth?!

Hence the name Seetha Lakshmi! I love my name very much! Though most of my family and close friends call me Lakshmi. Surprisingly, my better half's name is Srinivasan, one of the 1000 names assigned to.Lord Vishnu!

Everyone's friend,
Lakshmi! :-)))

My culture! :-))

I've been meaning to write a blog on what my heritage and culture is all about! Now that I'm unwell and not doing much of my routine work I've been gifted with enough time to pursue this, I;e scratch my itch! :-)

I'd be writing about all that I've been gifted to by my family, immediate and extended, the treasury of culture

I belong to a family of Palakkad Tamil Brahmins! Though, I had the fortune of visiting certain parts of India, courtesy my father's job, my mom imbued me with all the culture, tradition and values, that are unique to my family!

I'll be adding everything that falls under this broad spectrum, of course, with invaluable.inputs from my Amma and other well-informed people of my family!
Lakshmi!  :-)))

English Help!

http://www.english4keralasyllabus.com/2013/02/read-following-passage-poem-and-answer.html

Dear all,

As I'm unable to help I've given you all a link for comprehensions in poems, poetry and prose. This is a very good site, make use of it, please!

Everyone's friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

BEST OF LUCK!

Dear Kids / Parents,

I'm going through some dizzy spells and severe migraines. Hence the delay! If I've missed on certain topics, kindly bring it to my notice. My e-mail id is anagha2802@gmail.com.

The spelling mistakes are unintentional. Kindly refer to the textbooks, teachers, friends, adults at home and finally :-)) use your common sense. You've got loads of it!

I KNOW YOU ALL CAN DO YOUR BEST! THE POWER IS WITHIN YOU!

Kindly take nutritious food, avoid junk or street food, drink plenty of water fluids to rehydrate your body, take ample rest and don't try to cram your brain in the last moment. I've done that and forgot even what I studied. :-( Hence the BIG ADVICE! HAHA! :-)))

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, DON'T LOSE YOUR SELF CONFIDENCE, TRUST IN YOUR ABILITIES! GOD has given you some talents, never lose those! EVERYONE OF YOU IS PRECIOUS!

Everyone's Friend,
Lakshmi!

P.S. Owing to my health, I won't be posting anything, anymore. See you all in next session! (HOPEFULLY!)

ALL THE BEST!