Fire. Blog marathon post 8

You are my fire

The one desire

Believe me when I say

I want it that way

- 'Backstreet boys'

We often use 'fire', 'flame', 'hot' as adjectives to define a steamy relationship or a person.

Ask a teen, they will say, ‘fire is someone really hot’. And flames, well it’s a relationship predictor. Urgh, teens is such innocence! A fun desired game defining what your relationship status is.

A grown up will coin it as a spark in the relationship even wildness subjectively. Also as a metaphor for passion.

An encyclopaedia will define it as, ‘A flame is the visible, gaseous part of a fire. It is caused by highly exothermic reaction taking place in a thin zone'.

We all talk about the implied and the actual meaning of it. Do we ever realise the significance it holds as one of the elements of earth? Fire defines purity.

Why do we light an oil lamp, or a candle? Our knowledge is so conjectural. Childhood tails narrated by grandma always taught how symbolic it is to lit a lamp when Sun sets.  In a metamorphic way it burns the negativity inside and around us, gives peace within. How beautiful this believe is! Fire/flame is auspicious and spiritually significant. As light removes darkness, flame removes the shadows of past and the handcuffs of anger and anxiety.

Let the fire destroy all our evils.

Deepamjyothi Parabrahma

Deepamjyothi Janardhana

Deepo me hara tu paapam

Deepaa Jyothir Namastute

I salute the lord, the sustainer of the creation, in the form of this light. I salute this light (the lord), may he destroy afflictions resulting from my omissions and commissions.

Read More...

Only if, God was a pedestrain - A Thought

Glitter path with a tint of red, fading away in the wavy water ripples. Droplets articulating irregular designs. Bells chiming in a temple around, melodic sound giving goose bumps. Pedestrians crossing the road through the junction, mining their way tactfully in the dark. Splashing water and trembling in the cold evening. Pants folded until knees, bags or handkerchief on the head, an instinctively unsuccessful attempt to cover oneself.

In a dilapidated bench (old and rustic), folding legs close to my chest, nestling in the warmth of my own. Cocoon in corner, I wait for the bus. Rare are these times when I am on my own, defining a state of perfect nullity. When there are no to-do lists running in my mind. When I don't keep gazing my phone and type rigorously. Rather, I notice small gestures of people around, their body language and smiles. It's so amazing to think how we all so many times are at cross roads yet are always oblivious of each other. 

Green replaces the shade of red. Cars speed down, then screeching as breaks pull hard steering away from the pits, judging and predicting, which is smaller in size. The traffic is moving in a shape of different alphabets.

A cosy couple stands next to me leaning on the pole, giggling while rubbing their hands together. Romantic moment lost in themselves with a disconnect from the surroundings. That's what this lovely weather of drizzle does! For some it's a moment of life, for some a struggle. A small boy trying to float his paper boat, beholds my attention. His subtle joy of sailing his boat in the ocean of rain water is immense. A proud mother claps cheering him up. Eyes full of pride and elation. Such innocent little things that make a difference. I smile.

Dark shadows of vehicles speeding down, spoiling the beautiful reflection of green on road. Street shins with headlights as the traffic increases, it’s an irony how road is lit up in the night. Our vehicles are the reasons to illuminate path, replacing street lamps! We have a quick fix, ready to accept attitude. Why to complain about full beam as they are as blind as we are. Street lights lit in mornings losing their essence, but never show up when required. We live in a funny world. 

Cars sludge on the pedestrians by the roadside, some of them yelling on the drivers others wiping off the marshy stains on their clothes and body. The other side of the road, a man wave in our direction. The son waves back, as mother holds his hand to cross the road. The moment they step down, a truck honks in ears and they jump backwards in the shed again. Zebra crossing is way underestimated here. After a long struggle to cross the road, seeing empty they start walking. 

A car comes from nowhere in a split second racing like a Ferrari in a track. Mother and son are stoned as they know it's too late. Car hits them and losing control bangs on a pole. The man waving from the other side, runs towards them. My heart missed a beat, the shade of road is nothing like before- it’s scary. The boat that sailed few minutes back is sinking. 

A continuous itchy thought arises, seeing daily risk for pedestrians on road. A struggle far more than imagined and believed. Can they be rescued? Only if God was a pedestrian, I suppose.

©AJP

Read More...

Miracles!

Something big has happened to you, a life changing event when you beam and just cannot stop smiling. You are surprised about how in the world did that happen. Maybe some unspoken wish of yours just got fulfilled in fraction of a second. Maybe when you were saved by an Angel sent by god. For instance, in an accident not even a single scar troubled you, though the car was a complete wreck. When your heart says thank God! Thank God! The moment you know it, its surely a miracle!

So, what is a miracle? Generally miracle is associated with something big, a life changing event- when it is practically impossible, beyond the laws of nature. The moment when your true self says, ‘Gosh, how did this happen?’

I firmly believe in miracles. But my point is- miracles are just not the biggie’s but also the small unusual things that happen to us. It’s an experience that gives sheer joy and remains close to heart. The fact is, we are always surrounded by tiny miracles.

Definitely some power is always working on us. The power that wants us to be happy, to bless. But we are not willing. Its human nature to live in a state of denial. Knowingly or unknowingly we are so engrossed in our diurnal stuff that we shut ourselves. We are closed circuits wherein our antennas do not catch any signals from above. We are not receptive enough as the server is down from our end.

Heart of a child is like a heart of gold. The childish innocence within helps us open our heart and mind. The moment we open ourselves, we do see them happening.

Like the days, when your mind is occupied by thoughts resembling a DJ remix nonstop version. When you want to shut your mind saying, ‘Not now..Not now’. In a fix as what to do and suddenly some hoarding with a caption answers the dilemma-with words turning bold galvanising you. It’s like a sign from the Universe. You smile to yourself thinking how stupid that is! Eventually you go with a gut feel and later when you look back, you know that it was the best decision. Ever experienced it?

Looking at the sky when suddenly a star falls. Did your heart miss a beat? How often in a lifetime do you see that happen? You being a part of it is definitely a high.

Murmuration of starlings- what a site it is! How synchronised the birds dance captivating your attention. It’s completely out of the box phenomena as to why they do so. Treat for your eyes and soul. Watch this video it’ll take your heart away! In a casual day if something so charismatic happens you tend to relive it in your memories again and again. It’s a moment of one of its kind.

A beautiful flower called Brahma kamal (Saussurea Obvallata) is considered very auspicious. Have you ever seen it blossom? The uniqueness of this flower makes it so very special. It usually blossoms in the night for 4-5 hours and that too once in years! The wait plus rare experience of actually seeing it come to life is definitely auspicious. I still remember one of my friends oozing with joy, showing photo of this flower in her garden. At that time I thought, ‘Come on, it’s just a flower!’ That’s what ignorance does to you sometimes. When actually she gave me the little background to it, I couldn't stop myself admiring. I so wanted to see it myself but alas it had gone back to sleep for years. I still imagine how so beautiful, adorable and flawless the experience would have been.




Have you ever witnessed any formations in the clouds? It’s so serene. Oh my god, is it really what I am seeing (mind questions)? You put in all logics in the world. Detail analysis, rubbing your eyes, your mind has chalked out all possibilities. Finally you believe it’s seriously there! Out of the box, some abstract figure flashes itself just for you to notice.



While going on a long trip, driving through a jungle, suddenly you see a tall tree standing straight in arrogance and pride. Just the trunk with no leaves and branches highlighting its character. Right besides is another tree replicating a lady like figure standing sideways, flaunting her curves, looking admiringly to her male counterpart. A couple posing for you in the jungle!

Doesn't these events fill you with fanaticism? Give credence to these tiny things around and you will see them proliferate.

To the teensy weensy things we love- 'the little miracles'.

Read More...

The light within

Nature is the best example of balance. Invincible Sun gives us warmth and light until it sets so that we witness darkness. Trees flourish and then comes autumn when the leaves shed. Rivers and water bodies make sure we are alive, but sometimes also leads to massive destruction. 

My point is there’s always a flip side to all. We have a dark side as well as the light within us. Both aspects exist simultaneously. The dark side is more powerful and aggressive, though the light within is calm, serene and peaceful. Sitting on the fence, life questions you sometimes and seek answers. Especially when anger rises to its zenith, you cannot see, cannot hear the words of wisdom, cannot speak well and just cannot act the way you are meant to. Your true self hides. Split personality takes over. Your mind keeps echoing in whispers. Darkness becomes way louder than the light within. Feelings of vengeance, hatred, schemas, etc etc grips you. 

Don’t be a hostage. Set yourself free! The decision is yours. You are more powerful than you realise. You are the reason of your own growth and destruction. Take a pick.

To the light within us. Follow it-rise and shine in life!

Read More...