Category Archives: mythology

Who is Shiv?

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(20/2/25, SPEAKING TREE ECONOMIC TIMES)


WHO IS SHIV?
ANUP TANEJA
    When we speak of Shaivism, the question arises, ‘Who is Shiv?’ In Puranas, we come across different depictions of Shiv–benevolent as well as fearsome. In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient yogi who lives like a mendicant on Mount Kailash, and also as a householder who is married to Parvati and has two sons, Ganesh and Kartikey. In his fearsome aspect, he is depicted as the slayer of demons. As the patron God of yog, meditation and arts, Shiv is revered as Adiyogi.
Among his various representations in art, the most popular is Nataraj, the Lord of Dance. The iconographical attributes of Shiv are as the serpents adorning his neck; the crescent moon; Ganga flowing from his matted hair; the third eye on his forehead as Trilochan; the trishul, trident, as his weapon; Nandi, the bull, as his vehicle; and the damru, drum, that represents the cosmic sound of creation.
In contrast, in the inner dimension, Shiv is perceived as Neel Purush, the Blue Being. Ultimate Reality, who abides in the highest spiritual centre in the sahasrar region, the brain. In Kashmir Shaivism, the inquiry about Ultimate Reality starts not with the third person but with the first person, with Shiv ‘here’– within oneself as one’s own higher Self.
With the mind getting dissolved in consciousness, realisation dawns upon the seeker that nothing exists apart from Shiv.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Let Your Life Be Like Music

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World Music Day, also known as Fête de la Musique, celebrates the beauty and diversity of music. Sangeet transcends boundaries, cultures, and genres. People worldwide embrace music and its profound impact on their lives.     In his essay Music at Night, Aldous Huxley rightly said, “After silence, which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” Music is to the soul what words are to the mind. Everything in the universe has a rhythm; everything dances.

Science has proven that rhythmic tones diminish the feral instincts not only in humans but also in animals.     Rangers at Kruger National Park in South Africa play instruments to tranquilise rogue elephants. Urdu poet Naubat Rai ‘Nazar’ wrote, “Pathar ke seene mein bhi dil ubhar aata hai/ Iss qadar asar hota hai mausiki ka” – Heart appears even in a stone/This is how music impacts.   The Arabic word mausiqi became music in English.

The universal language of symphonic serenity, which the cosmos uses to express itself, has neither geographical barriers nor requires learning a new language to appreciate. One only needs ears to appreciate nature’s soulful cadences. “Kaanon mein jo shahad ghol de/Pahunchaye jo dil ko sukoon/ Usi ko naam diya hai mausiqi ka” — What pours honey into the years/ Gives solace to the heart/ That’s what we call music.    

Don’t we say in English that it’s mellifluous to our ears? Anything with the power and quality to transport us to an ethereal realm is tuneful. Listen to Chopin’s classical piano masterpieces, Yehudi Menuhin and Niccolo Paganini’s gossamer creations on a violin or Beethoven’s most famous compositions, including Symphony No 5 in C Minor, you’re bound to say, ‘Agar firdaus var roo e zameenast/Hameenst, Hameenst, Hameenst – if there’s heaven elsewhere on earth/ It’s here, here and here.     Tuneful soulfulness also has a therapeutic impact on the human mind.

Many prisons in the Western world have a specific room where prisoners can go and listen to symphonies because rhythms can curb criminal tendencies. In other words, music has a humanising quality. It makes us human and humane. Tunes and tenors are also cathartic. That’s the reason heartbroken people listen to sad songs and ghazals. They feel better after that because sangeet purifies from within and is heart-cleansing. To quote Mirza Ghalib, “Rone se aur ishq mein bebaak ho gaye/ Dhoye gaye hum aise ke bas paak ho gaye” — I felt more liberated in love/Once I shed tears and became sanctified. Let’s listen to soothing music in these times of utter cacophony and merge ourselves into the Elysian bliss because Life is for living/ Death is for the dead. Let life be like music/ And death a note unsaid. Remember, some people have lives; others have musical notes as boon companions. Doesn’t it sound like an ethereal symphony to your ears? June 21 is World Music Day ***

(SPEAKING TREE TIMES OF INDIA, JUNE 21, 2025, “LET YOUR LIFE BE LIKE MUSIC” BY SUMIT PAUL, JUNE 21 IS WORLD MUSIC DAY )   

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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READER’S REWIND: THE TIGER’S TAIL

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    The tiger’s tail takes me back to Shillong of the 60s. Once, I was returning from Guwahati to Shillong in my father’s sky-blue Chevrolet Bel-Air car. Father had returned to Gauhati from Delhi via Kolkata, and the car had gone from Shillong to pick him up from Guwahati airport. (Shillong airport was not operational till mid 70s). I was very young and had tagged along with our friendly chauffeur, Bahadur, to receive Father. Father was a member of the Assam Cabinet. This was before Meghalaya was carved out of the state of Assam; until then, Shillong happened to be the capital of Assam. The sky-blue Chevrolet was cruising along quietly on the winding, hilly road. In those days, the drive from Guwahati to Shillong took about three hours, on account of the single road with a half-hour stop at the picturesque Nongpoh circuit house (midway) surrounded by tall pine trees and lush green hills. Nongpoh was famous for delicious mutton chops.

    We were close to Barapani, on the Shillong-Guwahati Road, aka the GS Road. Father was taking a well-deserved rest on the back seat after a hectic tour, and I was in the front seat with Bahadur. I was talking in undertones with him, and he too was replying in the same manner, as we didn’t want to disturb Father. Since Bahadur was well versed with Shillong and the vicinity, I was trying to find out if there was any wildlife around, even when I had seen plenty of wolves and foxes frequenting the iconic Brightwell Bungalow, our home in Barik Point, Shillong.

    Suddenly, Bahadur pointed at something unusual as well as bizarre on the roadside, a little before the Umiam Dam Project coming up in Barapani near Shillong. A group of about eight tribals were carrying a tiger with its legs bound on a sturdy pole, and the body lashed with strong and thick creepers. They were resting there while the tiger was lying by their side. Bahadur and I promptly got out of the car and approached the party. I started circling the tiger, not knowing how to approach it. Bahadur offered that I wanted to feel the tiger, especially its ears, whiskers, paws, body or the tail. I realised that even a fallen tiger looked so ferocious. I gradually gathered some guts and touched its tail. The tail wasn’t soft and silky as generally made out. I was anxious that the tiger might get up and pounce on me. But sadly, it was lying dead.  I ran my fingers on the tail from one end to the other and finally lifted it with both my hands. It was an amazing experience. Bahadur explained, the tiger uses its tail for balancing, counterbalancing and signalling while chasing targets. Soon we were back in the car. The car was filled with the scent of tiger.

    Father enquired if the tiger was dead. We felt the question was strange, as a tiger alive would have threatened and jeopardised our lives, as no one possessed a gun. We then came to know about the extent of the father’s knowledge about the local flora and fauna. He informed us that different tribes used dissimilar poisons to traumatise and kill the prey. The availability of poisons varied with locales, and in the present case, the poison appeared strong enough to kill the tiger immediately and not just make him unconscious. The Khasi Hills had several little-known Asiatic poisons but very powerful ones. Some strong poisons were extracted from flowers that bloomed once in two years or maybe three. This, however, cannot be authenticated now, but the local wisdom still believes in it. The tiger had probably been killed by a poisonous arrow (Teer) and chased after being hit. Tiger meat is still a delicacy and is used as an aphrodisiac in many parts of Asia.    The hapless tiger with its upturned body was a grotesque sight. They lifted the pole along with the tiger and vanished into thin air, taking a shortcut through some glade, shouting ‘Khublei.’ (‘Thank you’ or ‘God bless you’ in Khasi language). This method of hunting was primitive, though much followed by the old veterans of the village. It was economical as guns and bullets were unnecessary, and was mostly manpower oriented.

    This one-off episode, just twenty minutes of screen time, wrapped around my soul like the tail of a tiger. It struck me not with a roar, but with a whisper so powerful that it echoed through the quiet chambers of my heart. It was a scene that stuck in my mind for life. A mix of danger and beauty.

    Since then, whenever I visit Shillong, I stop at the location near the dam to remember the animal that had found space in my heart, and I don’t know why. How could an animal carcass find space in my heart, I could never figure out? I have seen umpteen tigers since then, some in zoos and some in sanctuaries, but that sleeping beauty of my childhood days was different, and the feel of the tiger’s tail was indelible. It lives in me even now as I watch the world in silence. The memory doesn’t fade. It has only grown sharper with time and refuses to forget me. That is why I scripted this story with freshness, as if it had happened only yesterday. Childhood memories always stay alive.

Written by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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The Significance of Number 18 in Hindu Scriptures

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    Number 18 unquestionably is considered auspicious and has great significance in Hindu scriptures. This significance is highlighted in the great epic, the Mahabharata. While reading the holy epic Mahabharata, you will find that it is divided into 18 parvas (sections). Let’s not forget that the holy war of the Mahabharata, fought in Kurukshetra, was fought over 18 days. The battlefield witnessed 18 divisions (akshauhinis) of armies. 11 divisions were on the Kauravas’ side and 7 were on the Pandavas’ side. At the end of the war, which lasted 18 days, it is believed that only 18 prominent individuals survived. This underlines the transformative impact of this conflict, which had spiritual and moral dimensions.

    The Bhagavad Gita, which is a sacred discourse delivered by Lord Krishna and is the most important part of the Mahabharata, also consists of 18 chapters. At the end of its 2nd chapter, Lord Krishna outlines 18 qualities that define a person of steady wisdom (sthita-prajna), highlighting the traits of one who has achieved spiritual victory.

    Apart from the Mahabharata, the number 18 also appears in other key Hindu texts. There are 18 major Puranas and 18 Upapuranas, which include stories, teachings, and cosmological concepts. There are 18 Dharmashastras, guiding principles of law and ethics for righteous living.

    The central idea of all scriptures of all religions in the world is the same. The prime idea is the victory of the higher being over the lower one, or righteousness over unrighteousness, or of the good over the evil, and of dharma over adharma. Ved Vyas had originally titled the Mahabharat as Jaya (victory). The word Jaya is in the opening stanzas of both the Mahabharata and the Gita.

    Interestingly, in the ancient Katapayadi system (numerical notation system) of Sanskrit numerology, where letters are assigned numerical values, the word “Jaya” (meaning “victory”) equals 18. The original name of the Mahabharata was Jaya Samhita, and it appears in the opening verses of both the Mahabharata and the Gita. This numerical value emphasises the theme of spiritual triumph. To highlight the significance of the word Jaya, the number 18 is given a prominent place not only in the Mahabharata but also in various other Hindu scriptures. Thus, the number 18 is repeatedly used as an auspicious reminder to stay alert in our constant battle for inner spiritual victory.

Across all Hindu scriptures, the central message remains unchanged: the victory of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (unrighteousness), the higher self over the lower, and good over evil. The repeated use of the number 18 serves as a symbolic reminder of this ongoing inner battle—and the ultimate goal of achieving spiritual victory, or jaya.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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MAHA SHIVRATRI: A NIGHT OF DIVINE ILLUMINATION

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    Maha Shivratri, meaning the Great Night of Shiva, is one of the most significant festivals in Hinduism. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Supreme Soul, and celebrated annually on the 14th day of the waning moon in the Phalguna month (between February and March). The festival focuses on Lord Shiva. He is revered for his wisdom, power and ability to eliminate ignorance, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

    At the core of Maha Shivratri’s celebration is the aradhana of Lord Shiva. In Hindu teachings, ignorance is considered the root cause of suffering. Suffering manifests when individuals become attached to worldly desires, attachments, and validations. The festival also highlights Shiva’s ability to conquer lust, not just in the sexual sense, but as a metaphor for all worldly attachments and cravings. In the Bhagavad Gita, these desires are described as an insatiable fire that leads to suffering. By overcoming these desires, individuals can achieve self-realization and deepen their spiritual connection.

    A key mythological story associated with Maha Shivratri is the tale of Lord Shiva’s destruction of Kamadev, the god of love and desire. Kamadev tried to disturb Shiva’s meditation by shooting love arrows, but Shiva, in his anger, opened his third eye and burned Kamadev to ashes. This act symbolizes the destruction of desire and attachment. Shiva’s third eye represents a higher spiritual vision that allows him to see beyond the material world, revealing deeper truths and wisdom. For devotees, this myth signifies the goal of Maha Shivratri: to awaken their inner light and gain higher knowledge.

    On Maha Shivratri, devotees engage in spiritual practices such as fasting, chanting mantras, and staying awake throughout the night. These rituals help individuals transcend material distractions and focus on the divine. Fasting and remaining awake symbolize vigilance and spiritual discipline while chanting the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” and reciting hymns like the Shiva Chalisa to purify the mind and body. These practices are meant to deepen the connection with Lord Shiva and guide devotees towards spiritual enlightenment.

    Maha Shivratri also commemorates the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati, symbolizing the union of masculine and feminine energies, which maintain the balance of the universe. Additionally, it honours Shiva’s cosmic dance, the Tandava, representing the eternal cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. The dance also signifies the natural rhythm of the universe and reminds devotees of the importance of aligning with the flow of life. Shiva’s Trishul (Trident) represents various trinities: creation, preservation, and destruction; past, present, and future; body, mind and atman.

    The festival also emphasizes the renewal of righteousness. According to the Bhagavad Gita, when righteousness declines, the Supreme Being manifests to restore balance. Lord Shiva’s role as the destroyer of evil and protector of the righteous is central to this. Observing Maha Shivratri encourages individuals to purify themselves, embrace virtues like honesty, charity, and forgiveness, and reaffirm their commitment to righteousness.

    The worship of Lord Shiva is often performed through the Shiva Lingam, a representation of Shiva’s formless nature. Temples like those in Somnath, Vishwanath, Mahakaleshwar, and Rameshwar are important pilgrimage sites, attracting millions of devotees. Maha Shivratri is celebrated differently across India and the world.

    Maha Shivratri is a night of inner transformation. By fasting, devotion, and meditation, devotees purify their minds, bodies, and souls, creating space for divine light. This sacred night serves as an annual reminder that Lord Shiva’s wisdom illuminates the path to spiritual awakening, guiding individuals from ignorance to divine knowledge.

Written by Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in eight prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in the libraries and archives of Canada; the Open Library; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore and the Library of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation, Mumbai. The title also finds a mention in a book titled ‘Enduring Cancer: Life, Death and Diagnosis in Delhi’ by Dwaipayan Banerjee published by the Duke University Press).

BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(It is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(This is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is catalogued and included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California; The Peshastin Public Library and The George Public Library near Washington, a Northern Central Washington Libraries branch; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Arizona in the US and the Salina Public Library, Kansas, USA.

BOOK TITLE: REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).

BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen but for any reader. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal and Arunachal Times and Goan net. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

(It is the story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE. Included in the library of Friends of Tibet and Maharashtra Mitra Mandal Library in Bandra, Mumbai.

(POEMS, SHORT STORIES AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS, JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

TIMES OF INDIA

Speaking Tree: Basant Celebrates Ma Saraswati, Shiv, And Spring 1.2.25;

    BHAVANS JOURNAL

    Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars, June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. The Nag Mandir 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24; 47. Exploring Ancient Egypt, 1.8.24; 48. The Story of Dhruva, 16.8.24; 49. Two Hundred Years of Tea in Assam 16.9.24; 50. The Cosmic Messenger 16.10.24; 51. Biblioburro: The Four-Legged Library 16.11.24; 52. The Cologne Cathedral 1.1.25; 53. Gandhi to Mahatma 16.1.25;

    THE SHILLONG TIMES

    Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: Happy New Year 8.1.23; 2.Poem: Spring 12.3.23; 3.Poem: Right and Wrong 20.3.23; 4. The Gush of Emotion—Writing, 26.3.23; 5. The Nag Mandir, 7.5.23; 6. Poem: Mother 7.5.23; 7. Poem: Rain Rain 9.7.23; 8. Poem: You Come Alone You Go Alone 6.8.23; 9. Poem: Rain Rain (Second Time) 10.8.23; 10. Poem: Guru Teacher 1.10.23; 11. Poem: Autumn … The Interim Heaven 15.10.23; 12. Poem: Happy Diwali 12.11.23; 13. Overcoming Blindness: Learn it the John Milton Way 10.12.23; 14. The Happy Prince and The Happy Man’s Shirt 31.12.23; 15. Annus Mirabilis -2024 7.1.24; 16. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. Poem: Together But Not Made For Each Other, 11.2.24; 18. The Birds Bees and The Spiders of Nicholas Guildford and Jonathan Swift 25.2.24; 19. The Overcoats of Nikolai Gogol and Ruskin Bond 10.3.24; 20. The Ethnic Colours of Holi 24.3.24; 21. A Lesson from Dalai Lama, 21.4.24; 22. Poem: Morning Walk 28.4.24; 23. Trip to Rhine Falls, Switzerland, 19.5.24; 24. Poem: Hurt 2.6.24; 25. Poem: Your Conscience Was My Sign On 16.6.24; 26.Poem: The Eerie Ways of Time 7.7.24; 27.Poem: Celebrating the T20 World Champions 14.7.24;28. Read to Rise above mediocrity, 4.8.24; 29. Poem: Desire vs Reality 11.8.24; 30. Jack Ma’s Pristine Advice to Employers, Employees and the Youth 22.9.24; 31. Tagore and Kipling 3.11.24; 32. Poem: Merry Christmas 22.12.24; 33. Poem: The Sunset Point, 5.1.25; 34. Cancer Warning Labels on Alcoholic Beverages, 12.1.25; 35. Poem: Hope … In the Arc of Twilight, 19.1.25; 36. Basant Panchami, celebrates the Arrival of Spring 2.2.25; 37. Poem: The Falling World Order, 9.2.25;

    THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

    Article: 1. The Magic of Reading 11.12.23; 2. Gandhi to Mahatma 29.1.24; 3. Geography of Solitude 8.4.24; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 22.4.24; 5. A Source of Inspiration, 29.4.24; 6. The Four-Legged Library, 12.5.24; 7. Age and Achievement, 10.6.24; 8. Read … To Rise Above Mediocrity, 1.7.24; 9. Crusade for a College, 25.8.24; 10. Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory (Panorama) 27.9.24; 11. Short story: Love in the Air, 20.10.24; 12. Short story: The Prick of Conscience, 5.1.25; 13. Lost in translation, 6.1.25; 14. Travellers’ tales 20.1.2025; 15. Audit your days 17.2.25;

    THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

    Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;

    BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

    Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24

    THE GOAN NET

    Poem: 1. Autumn – The Interim Heaven, 6.10.24; 2. Reader’s Rewind 17.11.84; 3. Reader’s Rewind: The Irony of Tash Moustache or Mooch 5.12.24; 4. The Sunset Point 22.12.24; 5. Reader’s Rewind: The Joy of a Morning Walk, 3.1.25; 6. Harmony in creation 26.1.25; 7. Poem: What is truly Good for me? 2.1.25; 8. Poem: We both were left behind, 9.2.25;

    ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

    Aritcles: 29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

    (ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

    *****

    AUDIT YOUR DAYS ON MOTHER EARTH

    article, mythology, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Copyright@shravancharitymission

    MOTHER EARTH

            The human lifespan, though finite, is a precious gift that we spend on various pursuits—some meaningful, others fleeting. The longest human lifespan recorded is just over 120 years, or about 43,800 days. However, the global average life expectancy, according to a 2022 data, is around 72 years (26,280 days). As we traverse through life, we inevitably pass through different stages, each with its own set of milestones. But just as life brings moments of joy and accomplishment, it also serves as a reminder that time is always moving forward, unstoppable and indifferent. This brings to mind the famous song from the 1966 Raj Kapoor film Teesri Kasam – “Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo, Khuda ke pas jaana hai, na hathi hai na ghoda hai wahan paidal hi jaana hai” (Don’t tell lies, for when you stand before God, there are no horses or elephants, only your own feet to carry you). Time waits for no one, and it eventually strips away the superficiality of life, leaving behind only what truly matters.

        In Hindu philosophy, this journey of life is divided into four Ashramas—stages that represent the different phases of human existence: Brahmacharya (Student Stage), Grihastha (Householder Stage), Vanaprastha (Hermit Stage), and Sannyasa (Wandering Ascetic Stage). Each stage has a unique essence, from learning and acquiring knowledge to fulfilling familial responsibilities and eventually renouncing worldly attachments. However, as we near the end of our lives, the burden of materialism fades, and the wisdom of introspection takes center stage.

        As we navigate through life, we are given the freedom by the Supreme God to perform our actions—our karmas. In this game of life, one might succeed in areas like politics, career, or accumulating wealth, but these achievements often come at the cost of neglecting spirituality. The Srimad Bhagwatam reminds us that even when we live in a community, our karma is personal and individual. This is why it’s crucial to continuously audit our actions and the time we spend on Mother Earth. We cannot afford to wait until the end of our lives to reflect on the sum total of our experiences. Now is the time to evaluate how we’ve affected others—how many smiles we’ve shared, and how many we’ve taken away.

        A poignant story captures this lesson: A notorious man meets a Sadhu, who informs him that he will die in a month. Upon hearing this, the man undergoes a dramatic transformation. He begins apologizing for his past wrongs, seeking forgiveness from those he hurt. On the 30th day, he approaches the Sadhu again, sharing how he has completely changed. The Sadhu reveals that he was never going to die, but he merely frightened him into reforming his ways. This story illustrates the deep impact time, or the awareness of its passage, can have on our actions and behavior.

        Karma is deeply intertwined with time. Our actions in the past shape the present, and our present actions will determine our future. Yet, the key to karma lies in intention. The intention behind our actions is what truly matters. When we act out of pure desire for the fruits of our labor, anxiety and misery follow, as we become fixated on outcomes. But when we perform our duties with the right intention, seeking neither reward nor recognition, we align ourselves with the true purpose of life.

        Ultimately, the message is clear: auditing our days on Earth isn’t just about assessing what we’ve achieved in the material world, but about evaluating the kindness we’ve extended and the harm we’ve caused. By striving for spiritual growth alongside our worldly pursuits, we can lead a more fulfilling and purposeful life. Time, after all, is the one thing we cannot control, so we must use it wisely.

    Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

    *

    https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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    Like it and Share it

    *

    Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

    NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

    Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

    IFSC code: BKID0006805

    *

    Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

    BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

    (The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in eight prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in the libraries and archives of Canada; the Open Library; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore and the Library of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation, Mumbai. The title also finds a mention in a book titled ‘Enduring Cancer: Life, Death and Diagnosis in Delhi’ by Dwaipayan Banerjee published by the Duke University Press).

    BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

    (It is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

    BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

    (This is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is catalogued and included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California; The Peshastin Public Library and The George Public Library near Washington, a Northern Central Washington Libraries branch; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Arizona in the US and the Salina Public Library, Kansas, USA.

    BOOK TITLE: REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

    (Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).

    BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

    (Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen but for any reader. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

    BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

    (Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal and Arunachal Times and Goan net. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

    BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

    (Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

    BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

    (It is the story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE. Included in the Library of Friends of Tibet and Maharashtra Mitra Mandal Library in Bandra, Mumbai.

    (POEMS, SHORT STORIES AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS, JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

    TIMES OF INDIA

    Speaking Tree: Basant Celebrates Ma Saraswati, Shiv, And Spring 1.2.25;

      BHAVANS JOURNAL

      Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars, June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. The Nag Mandir 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24; 47. Exploring Ancient Egypt, 1.8.24; 48. The Story of Dhruva, 16.8.24; 49. Two Hundred Years of Tea in Assam 16.9.24; 50. The Cosmic Messenger 16.10.24; 51. Biblioburro: The Four-Legged Library 16.11.24; 52. The Cologne Cathedral 1.1.25; 53. Gandhi to Mahatma 16.1.25;

      THE SHILLONG TIMES

      Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: Happy New Year 8.1.23; 2.Poem: Spring 12.3.23; 3.Poem: Right and Wrong 20.3.23; 4. The Gush of Emotion—Writing, 26.3.23; 5. The Nag Mandir, 7.5.23; 6. Poem: Mother 7.5.23; 7. Poem: Rain Rain 9.7.23; 8. Poem: You Come Alone You Go Alone 6.8.23; 9. Poem: Rain Rain (Second Time) 10.8.23; 10. Poem: Guru Teacher 1.10.23; 11. Poem: Autumn … The Interim Heaven 15.10.23; 12. Poem: Happy Diwali 12.11.23; 13. Overcoming Blindness: Learn it the John Milton Way 10.12.23; 14. The Happy Prince and The Happy Man’s Shirt 31.12.23; 15. Annus Mirabilis -2024 7.1.24; 16. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. Poem: Together But Not Made For Each Other, 11.2.24; 18. The Birds Bees and The Spiders of Nicholas Guildford and Jonathan Swift 25.2.24; 19. The Overcoats of Nikolai Gogol and Ruskin Bond 10.3.24; 20. The Ethnic Colours of Holi 24.3.24; 21. A Lesson from Dalai Lama, 21.4.24; 22. Poem: Morning Walk 28.4.24; 23. Trip to Rhine Falls, Switzerland, 19.5.24; 24. Poem: Hurt 2.6.24; 25. Poem: Your Conscience Was My Sign On 16.6.24; 26.Poem: The Eerie Ways of Time 7.7.24; 27.Poem: Celebrating the T20 World Champions 14.7.24;28. Read to Rise above mediocrity, 4.8.24; 29. Poem: Desire vs Reality 11.8.24; 30. Jack Ma’s Pristine Advice to Employers, Employees and the Youth 22.9.24; 31. Tagore and Kipling 3.11.24; 32. Poem: Merry Christmas 22.12.24; 33. Poem: The Sunset Point, 5.1.25; 34. Cancer Warning Labels on Alcoholic Beverages, 12.1.25; 35. Poem: Hope … In the Arc of Twilight, 19.1.25; 36. Basant Panchami celebrates the Arrival of Spring 2.2.25; 37. Poem: The Falling World Order, 9.2.25;

      THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

      Article: 1. The Magic of Reading 11.12.23; 2. Gandhi to Mahatma 29.1.24; 3. Geography of Solitude 8.4.24; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 22.4.24; 5. A Source of Inspiration, 29.4.24; 6. The Four-Legged Library, 12.5.24; 7. Age and Achievement, 10.6.24; 8. Read … To Rise Above Mediocrity, 1.7.24; 9. Crusade for a College, 25.8.24; 10. Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory (Panorama) 27.9.24; 11. Short story: Love in the Air, 20.10.24; 12. Short story: The Prick of Conscience, 5.1.25; 13. Lost in translation, 6.1.25; 14. Travellers’ tales 20.1.2025;

      THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

      Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;

      BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

      Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24

      THE GOAN NET

      Poem: 1. Autumn – The Interim Heaven, 6.10.24; 2. Reader’s Rewind 17.11.84; 3. Reader’s Rewind: The Irony of Tash Moustache or Mooch 5.12.24; 4. The Sunset Point 22.12.24; 5. Reader’s Rewind: The Joy of a Morning Walk, 3.1.25; 6. Harmony in creation 26.1.25; 7. Poem: What is truly Good for me? 2.1.25; 8. Poem: We both were left behind, 9.2.25;

      ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

      Aritcles: 29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

      (ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

      *****

      Basant Panchami, celebrates Ma Saraswati, Lord Shiva and the Arrival of Spring

      article, mythology, travelogue, travel,, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

      Copyright@shravancharitymission

          Basant Panchami is a lively and vibrant festival that marks the arrival of spring and the veneration of the Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, wisdom, music, and arts. The festival is celebrated across various regions of India and is known for its colourful customs, significance, and connection to both spiritual and seasonal transitions. Also, referred to as Saraswati Puja, Basant Panchami celebrates the Goddess’s association with learning and creativity and heralds the arrival of the spring season.

          Observed on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month Magha, typically in late January or early February, Basant Panchami is a festival that signifies the beginning of spring, although it falls 40 days before the official start of the season. This 40-day transition is rooted in traditional beliefs, which hold that the changing seasons take around 40 days to fully unfold. As such, the celebration serves as an early greeting to spring, often referred to as the “King of all Seasons,” with its vibrancy, new life, and energy.

          Yellow colour plays an important role during Basant Panchami. It is associated with the Goddess Saraswati, whose presence is symbolized by the colour as well as her attire. Yellow represents creativity, knowledge, and the ripening mustard fields, which are in bloom at this time of year. People wear yellow clothing to participate in the celebration, embracing the spirit of renewal and vibrancy that the colour represents.

          In northern India, where the weather is still cold, and in central and western regions, where the spring-like weather begins to take hold, the festival marks a gradual transition toward the full bloom of spring. This change in the atmosphere, along with the blossoming mustard flowers, signifies the shift from winter’s dormancy to the energetic growth of spring.

          In some parts of India, Basant Panchami is also associated with Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love, and his consort, Rati. According to legend, Kamadev awakened Lord Shiva from his deep meditation to help Parvati win his affection. Basant Panchami celebrates the awakening of the earth’s desires and the renewal of life.

          An important mythological story tied to Basant Panchami is the tale of Lord Shiva. When the sages sought to wake Shiva from his meditation, they enlisted Kamadev, the god of love, to stir Shiva’s desires. However, when Kamadev shot his flower arrows at Shiva, God’s third eye opened, unleashing a fireball that reduced Kamadeva to ashes in Umananda Islet in the centre of River Brahmaputra in Guwahati, Assam. Kamadev returned to life on the day of Vasant Panchami after Shiva married Parvati. That is why Kamadeva, the god of love and desire, is worshipped along with his wife Rati on this day.

          On Basant Panchami, it is a common practice for families to encourage children to write their first words with their fingers, symbolizing a new beginning in education. The day also brings people together to study or engage in musical activities, as these pursuits are considered auspicious on this day.

          Flying kites is another fun and popular tradition linked to the festival, especially in northern and western India, where the skies are filled with colourful kites on this auspicious day.

          Historically, the festival has also been important in Sikh culture. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire, promoted Basant Panchami as a day of social gatherings, particularly in Gurdwaras. The day also holds significance for Sikhs, as it is a time to remember the martyrdom of Haqiqat Rai, a young boy executed for refusing to convert to Islam in 1741. His sacrifice is honoured on this day, adding a layer of historical remembrance to the celebration.

          Basant Panchami is not limited to India alone. It is also celebrated in Nepal, Bali, Indonesia and other countries where you have a Hindu diaspora.

      Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

      *

      https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

      *

      Like it and Share it

      *

      Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

      NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

      Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

      IFSC code: BKID0006805

      *

      Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

      BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

      (The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in eight prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in the libraries and archives of Canada; the Open Library; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore and the Library of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation, Mumbai. The title also finds a mention in a book titled ‘Enduring Cancer: Life, Death and Diagnosis in Delhi’ by Dwaipayan Banerjee published by the Duke University Press).

      BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

      (It is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

      BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

      (This is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is catalogued and included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California; The Peshastin Public Library and The George Public Library near Washington, a Northern Central Washington Libraries branch; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Arizona in the US and the Salina Public Library, Kansas, USA.

      BOOK TITLE: REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

      (Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).

      BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

      (Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen but for any reader. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

      BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

      (Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal, Arunachal Times and Goan net. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

      BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

      (Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

      BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

      (It is the story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE. Included in the library of Friends of Tibet and Maharashtra Mitra Mandal Library in Bandra, Mumbai.

      (POEMS, SHORT STORIES AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

      BHAVANS JOURNAL

      Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars, June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. The Nag Mandir 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24; 47. Exploring Ancient Egypt, 1.8.24; 48. The Story of Dhruva, 16.8.24; 49. Two Hundred Years of Tea in Assam 16.9.24; 50. The Cosmic Messenger 16.10.24; 51. Biblioburro: The Four-Legged Library 16.11.24; 52. The Cologne Cathedral 1.1.25; 53. Gandhi to Mahatma 16.1.25;

      THE SHILLONG TIMES

      Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: Happy New Year 8.1.23; 2.Poem: Spring 12.3.23; 3.Poem: Right and Wrong 20.3.23; 4. The Gush of Emotion—Writing, 26.3.23; 5. The Nag Mandir, 7.5.23; 6. Poem: Mother 7.5.23; 7. Poem: Rain Rain 9.7.23; 8. Poem: You Come Alone You Go Alone 6.8.23; 9. Poem: Rain Rain (Second Time) 10.8.23; 10. Poem: Guru Teacher 1.10.23; 11. Poem: Autumn … The Interim Heaven 15.10.23; 12. Poem: Happy Diwali 12.11.23; 13. Overcoming Blindness: Learn it the John Milton Way 10.12.23; 14. The Happy Prince and The Happy Man’s Shirt 31.12.23; 15. Annus Mirabilis -2024 7.1.24; 16. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. Poem: Together But Not Made For Each Other, 11.2.24; 18. The Birds Bees and The Spiders of Nicholas Guildford and Jonathan Swift 25.2.24; 19. The Overcoats of Nikolai Gogol and Ruskin Bond 10.3.24; 20. The Ethnic Colours of Holi 24.3.24; 21. A Lesson from Dalai Lama, 21.4.24; 22. Poem: Morning Walk 28.4.24; 23. Trip to Rhine Falls, Switzerland, 19.5.24; 24. Poem: Hurt 2.6.24; 25. Poem: Your Conscience Was My Sign On 16.6.24; 26.Poem: The Eerie Ways of Time 7.7.24; 27.Poem: Celebrating the T20 World Champions 14.7.24;28. Read to Rise above mediocrity, 4.8.24; 29. Poem: Desire vs Reality 11.8.24; 30. Jack Ma’s Pristine Advice to Employers, Employees and the Youth 22.9.24; 31. Tagore and Kipling 3.11.24; 32. Poem: Merry Christmas 22.12.24; 33. Poem: The Sunset Point, 5.1.25; 34. Cancer Warning Labels on Alcoholic Beverages, 12.1.25; 35. Poem: Hope … In the Arc of Twilight, 19.1.25;

      THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

      Article: 1. The Magic of Reading 11.12.23; 2. Gandhi to Mahatma 29.1.24; 3. Geography of Solitude 8.4.24; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 22.4.24; 5. A Source of Inspiration, 29.4.24; 6. The Four-Legged Library, 12.5.24; 7. Age and Achievement, 10.6.24; 8. Read … To Rise Above Mediocrity, 1.7.24; 9. Crusade for a College, 25.8.24; 10. Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory (Panorama) 27.9.24; 11. Short story: Love in the Air, 20.10.24; 12. Short story: The Prick of Conscience, 5.1.25; 13. Lost in translation, 6.1.25; 14. Travellers’ tales;

      THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

      Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;

      BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

      Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24

      THE GOAN NET

      Poem: 1. Autumn – The Interim Heaven, 6.10.24; 2. Reader’s Rewind 17.11.84; 3. Reader’s Rewind: The Irony of Tash Moustache or Mooch 5.12.24; 4. The Sunset Point 22.12.24; 5. Reader’s Rewind: The Joy of a Morning Walk, 3.1.25;

      ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

      Aritcles: 29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

      (ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

      *****

      THE BOON AND BANE OF ASHWATTHAMA

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      Copyright@shravancharitymission

          Maharathi Ashwatthama was cursed by Lord Krishna during the holy war of Mahabharat for the horrendous infanticide that he had already committed and intended to commit and also for all the other crimes committed by him during the course of the war in the Dvapar-Yug. It was unbecoming for a Maharathi in any yug to have behaved like Ashwatthama.

          Ashwatthama was the son of Dronacharya, the royal preceptor of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. His mother was Kripi. As per the scripts of Mahabharat, Ashwatthama means “the sacred voice which relates to that of a horse”. It is believed that he was named so because when he was born he cried like a horse. He was trained in warfare along with the Kauravas and the Pandavas by his father, Dronacharya. Ashwatthama had acquired knowledge of various divine weapons, namely Narayanastra, Brahmastra, Brahmashirastra, and many others.

          He was born in a cave amid a forest in present-day Uttarakhand. Dronacharya performed rigorous tapasya for many years to please Lord Shiva in order to obtain a son who after birth possessed the same valiance as Shiva.

          He was born with a divine gem on his forehead which gave him power over, all living beings, lower than human beings. It also protected him from hunger, thirst, fatigue, old age, disease, weapons, and deities. The gem made him almost invincible and immortal.

          He was a friend of evil Duryodhan and fought the devastating War of Mahabharat from his side. He fought against the upstanding Pandavas, who with the blessings of Lord Krishna, won the battle of Mahabharat, fought in Kurukshetra. While Arjun killed several warriors, Bhima killed the ninety-nine brothers of Duryodhan and also defeated him in a mace (gada) fight in which he was mortally wounded by Bhima on the thigh on account of which he too died.

          Ashwatthama, in order to avenge his father’s death caused by mendacious means, as well as the deceitful killing of other Kuru (Kaurav) warriors by the Pandavas, attacked their camp at night along with Kripacharya and Kritavarma. Ashwatthama killed Dhrishtadyumma (the twin brother of Draupadi), Shikhandi, Upapandavas (the five sons of Draupadi), the remaining Pandavas and the remaining members of the Panchal army. Even though many warriors tried to fight back, but Ashwatthama remained unharmed due to his body being possessed by Lord Shiva. Those who tried to flee from Ashwatthama’s wrath were hacked by Kripacharya and Kritavarma at the camp’s entrance.

          After the carnage, Ashwatthama, Kripacharya and Kritavarma went to Duryodhan. They told him about the killing of all the Panchalas and the Upapandavas. Duryodhana congratulated Ashwatthama for achieving what Bhishma, Dronacharya, and Karna could not before breathing his last breath.

          The Pandavas and Krishna, were away that night. When they returned to the camp they got the gory news. Upon hearing the news, Yudhishthir fainted, and the Pandavas turned inconsolable. Bhima angrily rushed to kill Ashwatthama and others followed. They found him in Sage Vyasa’s ashram near the bank of the Ganges.

                  Ashwatthama, believing that his time had come, invoked the Brahmastra to attack Pandavas from a tiny blade of grass to fulfil the oath of killing them. Krishna advised Arjun to fire his Brahmastra as an anti-weapon against Ashwatthama to defend themselves. Sage Vyasa intervened and prevented the destructive weapons from clashing against each other. He asked both Arjun and Ashwatthama to take their weapons back. Arjun, knowing how to do so, took it back.

          But Ashwatthama, not knowing how to retract it, despite his early education on Brahmastra, redirected the Brahmastra toward the womb of the pregnant Uttara in an attempt to end the lineage of the Pandavas. But Krishna shielded the Pandavas’ only heir with his Sudarshana Chakra. Krishna also saved Uttara’s unborn child from the ill effects of the Brahmastra. Ashwatthama was then made to surrender the gem on his forehead that carved a permanent wound there and was cursed by Lord Krishna, for his immortality, and that he would roam in the forests till the end of Kali-Yug with blood and pus oozing out of his wound, and with no one to talk to him. Thereafter Ashwatthama went to the forest never to be seen again. Though Ashwatthama was a Maharathi of Dwapar-Yug his act of infanticide turned him into a demon not fit even for Kali-Yug. The search for Ashwatthama is still on in Kali-Yug but he is nowhere to be seen because of the curse.   

      Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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      https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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      Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

      NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

      Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

      IFSC code: BKID0006805

      *

      Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

      BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

      (The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in eight prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in the libraries and archives of Canada; the Open Library; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore and the Library of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation, Mumbai. The title also finds a mention in a book titled ‘Enduring Cancer: Life, Death and Diagnosis in Delhi’ by Dwaipayan Banerjee published by the Duke University Press).

      BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

      (It is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

      BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

      (This is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is catalogued and included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California; The Peshastin Public Library and The George Public Library near Washington, a Northern Central Washington Libraries branch; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Arizona in the US and the Salina Public Library, Kansas, USA.

      BOOK TITLE: REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

      (Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).

      BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

      (Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen but for any reader. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

      BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

      (Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal and Arunachal Times. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

      BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

      (Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

      BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

      (It is the story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE). Included in the library of Friends of Tibet.

      (POEMS, SHORT STORIES AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

      BHAVANS JOURNAL

      Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars, June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. The Nag Mandir 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24; 47. Exploring Ancient Egypt, 1.8.24; 48. The Story of Dhruva, 16.8.24; 49. Two Hundred Years of Tea in Assam 16.9.24; 50. The Cosmic Messenger 16.10.24;

      THE SHILLONG TIMES

      Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: Happy New Year 8.1.23; 2.Poem: Spring 12.3.23; 3.Poem: Right and Wrong 20.3.23; 4. The Gush of Emotion—Writing, 26.3.23; 5. The Nag Mandir, 7.5.23; 6. Poem: Mother 7.5.23; 7. Poem: Rain Rain 9.7.23; 8. Poem: You Come Alone You Go Alone 6.8.23; 9. Poem: Rain Rain (Second Time) 10.8.23; 10. Poem: Guru Teacher 1.10.23; 11. Poem: Autumn … The Interim Heaven 15.10.23; 12. Poem: Happy Diwali 12.11.23; 13. Overcoming Blindness: Learn it the John Milton Way 10.12.23; 14. The Happy Prince and The Happy Man’s Shirt 31.12.23; 15. Annus Mirabilis -2024 7.1.24; 16. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. Poem: Together But Not Made For Each Other, 11.2.24; 18. The Birds Bees and The Spiders of Nicholas Guildford and Jonathan Swift 25.2.24; 19. The Overcoats of Nikolai Gogol and Ruskin Bond 10.3.24; 20. The Ethnic Colours of Holi 24.3.24; 21. A Lesson from Dalai Lama, 21.4.24; 22. Poem: Morning Walk 28.4.24; 23. Trip to Rhine Falls, Switzerland, 19.5.24; 24. Poem: Hurt 2.6.24; 25. Poem: Your Conscience Was My Sign On 16.6.24; 26.Poem: The Eerie Ways of Time 7.7.24; 27.Poem: Celebrating the T20 World Champions 14.7.24;28. Read to Rise above mediocrity, 4.8.24; 29. Poem: Desire vs Reality 11.8.24; 30. Jack Ma’s Pristine Advice to Employers, Employees and the Youth 22.9.24;

      THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

      Article: 1. The Magic of Reading 11.12.23; 2. Gandhi to Mahatma 29.1.24; 3. Geography of Solitude 8.4.24; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 22.4.24; 5. A Source of Inspiration, 29.4.24; 6. The Four-Legged Library, 12.5.24; 7. Age and Achievement, 10.6.24; 8. Read … To Rise Above Mediocrity, 1.7.24; 9. Crusade for a College, 25.8.24; 10. Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory (Panorama) 27.9.24; 11. Short story: Love in the Air, 20.10.24;

      THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

      Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;

      BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

      Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24

      THE GOAN

      Poem: Autumn – The Interim Heaven, 6.10.24

      ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

      Aritcles: 29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

      (ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

      *****

       

      DA VINCI: UNVEILING COMPASSION THROUGH CUISINE

      article, mythology, Uncategorized, , ,

      Copyright@shravancharitymission

      This article is by Sumit Paul.

      DA VINCI: UNVEILING COMPASSION THROUGH CUISINE 
SUMIT PAUL
'I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men' ... LEONARDO DA VINCI 
    One of the greatest minds in recorded history, Leonardo da Vinci was a sensitive man. Only a sensitive man like him could have painted the legendary Mona Lisa, La Gioconda. Are sensitivity and vegetarianism interwoven human attributes? Perhaps, they are. Ghazal maestro Mehdi Hasan once told me that he gave up eating meat with these words, "Ibadat-e-mausiqi mein jaanwaron ke qatl se khalal padta hai" - the worship of music is hampered by the killing of animals.
    Persian mystic Jalaluddin Rumi was also a vegetarian. He believed that all lives were sacred, "Even a seemingly lifeless stone has a degree of consciousness; respect it. "Like many mystics, especially Rabia Basri, Rumi was a staunch vegetarian and shunned even milk and milk products. They were today's vegans. Rumi even refrained from sacrificing animals as an Islamic ritual on Eid-al-Adah, Bakrid.
    This is the apogee of compassion and fellow feeling. Here, the point is not to condemn non-vegetarianism. It is just a symbol, a metaphor, to be precise. This shows the totality of compassion and a complete banishment of violence of any imaginable sort.
    Animals are not inferior creatures. Leonardo da Vinci wrote in his note book, "Look at all animals as you look at humans." This creates sensitivity that further blossoms into universal empathy. The sanctity of every life is to be saved and preserved.
    Da Vinci makes us believe that what we eat, directly influences our thinking. It is like the Eastern thinking: 'Jaisa anna, vaisa mann.' If we consume an animal, its blood and gore will make us act like a slaughterer. Elsewhere, he said. "Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds them. We live by the death of others. We are burial places.
    Instead of circulating inauthentic and unverified teachings of Rumi and Leonardo da Vinci, maybe we should popularise their spiritually trenchant views on animal-killing for one's palate. Rumi, da Vinci, Keats, Einstein, Tolstoy, Franz Kafka, Shelly, GB Shaw, Pythagoras and Alexander Pope were all vegetarians.
    Our compassion is often limited to humans. It doesn't encompass all creatures. We often argue that animals were created by the Creator for human consumption. This, is a very warped way of thinking. Creator, if at all it does exist, cannot be so ruthless as to create animals for our palate.
    Leonardo da Vinci wrote, "Sensitivity makes us compassionate, and compassion is not just a quality. It's a virtue. A virtuous heart is always ethical and embraces all creatures on the Earth; from the tiniest to the biggest. So, be sensitive and compassionate to all." And Leo Tolstoy underscored this by saying, "Compassion and vegetarianism go hand in hand." They indeed go together. We need to love animals, not devour them.
    April 15 is Leonardo da Vinci's birth anniversary.

      Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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      https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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      Like it and Share it

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      Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

      NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

      Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

      IFSC code: BKID0006805

      *

      Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

      BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

      (The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in eight prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in the libraries and archives of Canada; the Open Library; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore and the Library of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation, Mumbai. The title also finds a mention in a book titled ‘Enduring Cancer: Life, Death and Diagnosis in Delhi’ by Dwaipayan Banerjee published by the Duke University Press).

      BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

      (It is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

      BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

      (This is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is catalogued and included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California; The Peshastin Public Library and The George Public Library near Washington, a Northern Central Washington Libraries branch; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Arizona in the US and the Salina Public Library, Kansas, USA.

      BOOK TITLE: REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

      (Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).

      BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

      (Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen but for any reader. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

      BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

      (Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal and Arunachal Times. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

      BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

      (Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

      BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

      (It is the story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE). Included in the library of Friends of Tibet.

      (POEMS AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

      BHAVANS JOURNAL

      Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars, June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. The Nag Mandir 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24; 47. Exploring Ancient Egypt, 1.8.24; 48. The Story of Dhruva, 16.8.24; 49. Two Hundred Years of Tea in Assam 16.9.24;

      THE SHILLONG TIMES

      Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: Happy New Year 8.1.23; 2.Poem: Spring 12.3.23; 3.Poem: Right and Wrong 20.3.23; 4. The Gush of Emotion—Writing, 26.3.23; 5. The Nag Mandir, 7.5.23; 6. Poem: Mother 7.5.23; 7. Poem: Rain Rain 9.7.23; 8. Poem: You Come Alone You Go Alone 6.8.23; 9. Poem: Rain Rain (Second Time) 10.8.23; 10. Poem: Guru Teacher 1.10.23; 11. Poem: Autumn … The Interim Heaven 15.10.23; 12. Poem: Happy Diwali 12.11.23; 13. Overcoming Blindness: Learn it the John Milton Way 10.12.23; 14. The Happy Prince and The Happy Man’s Shirt 31.12.23; 15. Annus Mirabilis -2024 7.1.24; 16. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. Poem: Together But Not Made For Each Other, 11.2.24; 18. The Birds Bees and The Spiders of Nicholas Guildford and Jonathan Swift 25.2.24; 19. The Overcoats of Nikolai Gogol and Ruskin Bond 10.3.24; 20. The Ethnic Colours of Holi 24.3.24; 21. A Lesson from Dalai Lama, 21.4.24; 22. Poem: Morning Walk 28.4.24; 23. Trip to Rhine Falls, Switzerland, 19.5.24; 24. Poem: Hurt 2.6.24; 25. Poem: Your Conscience Was My Sign On 16.6.24; 26.Poem: The Eerie Ways of Time 7.7.24; 27.Poem: Celebrating the T20 World Champions 14.7.24;28. Read to Rise above mediocrity, 4.8.24; 29. Poem: Desire vs Reality 11.8.24;

      THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

      Article: 1. The Magic of Reading 11.12.23; 2. Gandhi to Mahatma 29.1.24; 3. Geography of Solitude 8.4.24; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 22.4.24; 5. A Source of Inspiration, 29.4.24; 6. The Four-Legged Library, 12.5.24; 7. Age and Achievement, 10.6.24; 8. Read … To Rise Above Mediocrity, 1.7.24; 9. Crusade for a College, 25.8.24;

      THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

      Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;

      BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

      Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24

      ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

      29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

      (ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

      *****

      THE STORY OF NARAD MUNI-THE COSMIC MESSENGER

      mythology, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

      Copyright@shravancharitymission

          Narad Muni is a divine sage, popular in Hindu mythology as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He is a mind-created (manasputras) child of Lord Brahma, the creator. Narad appears in several Hindu texts, notably the Mahabharat, telling Yudhishthir the story of Prahalad. He also appears in Ramayan and Purans.  He is also referred to as Rishiraja, meaning the king of all sages and is gifted with the knowledge of the past, present, and future.

          In the Indian scriptures, Narad travels to distant worlds and Lokas. He is depicted carrying a khartal (a musical instrument) and the veena and is regarded as one of the great masters of the ancient musical instrument. He is depicted as wise, mischievous and even humorous in mythological tales. He is noted for being meddlesome and provoking conflict between the gods and the demons.  Texts named after Narad include the Narad Puran and the Naradsmriti.  

          Long ago, there lived a Gandharva known by the name Upabarhana. Gandharvas are musical beings, a category of Devatas who live in Gandharvaloka in heaven. Upabarhana was a handsome person. Once the residents of heaven organised a spiritual gathering to glorify Lord Narayan (Vishnu). All the Devatas, including Gandharvas and Apsaras, were invited to participate in this gathering. Upabarhana too, went for this spiritual event but unfortunately, instead of glorifying Lord Narayan, he started singing songs for the demigods which was inappropriate for the occasion. Thus the members of the festival got upset with this behaviour of his.

          The Prajapatis, who supervised the affairs of the universe felt he needed to be punished for his misdemeanour. So they cursed him to become an ugly low-class person. As a result, Upabarhana fell on planet Earth from the heaven. He was now deprived of his exalted position as a Gandharva and took birth as the only son of a maidservant on earth. In the process, he lost the grace and beauty of which he was so proud.

          The maid-servant was poor and uneducated. But she was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to serve the noble-hearted Brahmins. She did menial services for the maintenance of herself and her child. The boy was dependent on his mother and had no experience of another Loka. He believed that she would never leave him and they lived in a Gurukul.

          Once, some sages came there. They were learned Vedic scholars and devotees of Lord Narayan (Vishnu). They decided to stay there during the four months of the rainy season. This allowed the maid-servant and the son to offer their services.

          Whenever the scholars talked about Lord Narayan, the boy would attentively hear them. Thus, his love for Lord Narayan started unfolding. In the company of the scholars, the boy slowly became an ardent follower of the Lord. The sages were impressed by the demeanour of the boy and he gradually engaged himself in the service of the Lord. When the sages were about to depart, they taught him Srimad Bhagavatam and supported him in the path of bhakti leading to Lord Vishnu & Lord Krishna. After the departure of the great sages, the boy continued to live with his mother. He was overwhelmed by the inspiration he had received from the sages in their wonderful company.

          One day when the mother of the boy went out to milk a cow in the evening. While walking along the path, she stamped a snake, retaliating, the snake too bit her foot and she died on the spot. In this tragic incident, the boy saw the hand of God. Since he was now left alone he decided to travel to places in search of knowledge and enlightenment. He passed through many cities, towns, villages, valleys, gardens, forests, hills, and mountains and he kept remembering his Narayan while travelling.

          After days of travelling, the boy (Narad) reached a tranquil forest location. He was thirsty and hungry. He came across a river, where he bathed and quenched his thirst in the nearby stream. Relieved he sat under the shade of a big banyan tree and began his meditation thinking of Narayan (Vishnu) as he had been taught by the priests that he had served. After a while, Narad experienced a vision wherein Lord Vishnu appeared before him and said, ‘My dear Narad, despite my blessings because of which you can see me at this moment, you would not be able to see my divine form again till you’re dead.’ Vishnu then explained the reason why Narad had been given a chance to see his divine form. It was because Vishnu’s beauty and love would be a source of inspiration and would fuel Narad’s dormant desire to be with the Lord again. After apprising Narad in this manner, Vishnu disappeared from his sight. The boy awoke from his meditation, both thrilled and disappointed.

          Thereafter, the boy started chanting the Lord’s name. He travelled across the world. In due course of time, he was accepted by Lord Narayan and he became detached from all material taints and passed away. After leaving his mortal body, he entered a spiritual body as the son of Lord Brahma who was creating the universe, and as a befitting associate of the Lord, he became the great sage Narad Muni. Narad Muni is a great teacher and the guru of several devoted kings like Dhruva, Prahlada, Mrigari, Priyavrata, and others.

                  In the Mahabharat, Narad is portrayed as being conversant with the Vedas and the Upanishads and acquainted with Purans. He has a mastery over the six Angas (limbs of knowledge): pronunciation, grammar, prosody, terms, religious rites and astronomy. All celestial beings worship him for his knowledge – he is supposed to be well-versed in all that occurred in the ancient Kalpas (time cycles). He is eloquent, resolute, intelligent and a possessor of powerful memory. He knows the science of morals and politics. He is skilled in drawing inferences from evidence and very proficient in distinguishing inferior things from superior ones. He is a master of the Sankhya and Yoga systems of philosophy, conversant with the sciences of war and treaties and proficient in drawing conclusions by judging things, not within direct knowledge. He knows about the six sciences of a treaty, war, military campaigns, maintenance of posts against the enemy and strategies of ambushes and reserves. He is a thorough master of every branch of learning. He is fond of war and music and incapable of being repulsed by any science or any course of action.

          Narad temples are few, the most prominent being the Sri Narad Muni Temple at Chigateri Karnataka.

          The famous chant of Narad Muni is Narayan—Narayan.

      Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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      https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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      Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

      NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

      Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

      IFSC code: BKID0006805

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      Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

      BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

      (The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in eight prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in the libraries and archives of Canada; the Open Library; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore and the Library of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation, Mumbai. The title also finds a mention in a book titled ‘Enduring Cancer: Life, Death and Diagnosis in Delhi’ by Dwaipayan Banerjee published by the Duke University Press).

      BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

      (It is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

      BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

      (This is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is catalogued and included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California; The Peshastin Public Library and The George Public Library near Washington, a Northern Central Washington Libraries branch; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Arizona in the US and the Salina Public Library, Kansas, USA.

      BOOK TITLE: REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

      (Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).

      BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

      (Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen but for any reader. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

      BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

      (Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal and Arunachal Times. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

      BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

      (Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

      BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

      (It is the story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE). Included in the library of Friends of Tibet.

      (POEMS AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

      BHAVANS JOURNAL

      Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars, June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. The Nag Mandir 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24; 47. Exploring Ancient Egypt, 1.8.24; 48. The Story of Dhruva, 16.8.24;

      THE SHILLONG TIMES

      Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: Happy New Year 8.1.23; 2.Poem: Spring 12.3.23; 3.Poem: Right and Wrong 20.3.23; 4. The Gush of Emotion—Writing, 26.3.23; 5. The Nag Mandir, 7.5.23; 6. Poem: Mother 7.5.23; 7. Poem: Rain Rain 9.7.23; 8. Poem: You Come Alone You Go Alone 6.8.23; 9. Poem: Rain Rain (Second Time) 10.8.23; 10. Poem: Guru Teacher 1.10.23; 11. Poem: Autumn … The Interim Heaven 15.10.23; 12. Poem: Happy Diwali 12.11.23; 13. Overcoming Blindness: Learn it the John Milton Way 10.12.23; 14. The Happy Prince and The Happy Man’s Shirt 31.12.23; 15. Annus Mirabilis -2024 7.1.24; 16. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. Poem: Together But Not Made For Each Other, 11.2.24; 18. The Birds Bees and The Spiders of Nicholas Guildford and Jonathan Swift 25.2.24; 19. The Overcoats of Nikolai Gogol and Ruskin Bond 10.3.24; 20. The Ethnic Colours of Holi 24.3.24; 21. A Lesson from Dalai Lama, 21.4.24; 22. Poem: Morning Walk 28.4.24; 23. Trip to Rhine Falls, Switzerland, 19.5.24; 24. Poem: Hurt 2.6.24; 25. Poem: Your Conscience Was My Sign On 16.6.24; 26.Poem: The Eerie Ways of Time 7.7.24; 27.Poem: Celebrating the T20 World Champions 14.7.24;28. Read to Rise above mediocrity, 4.8.24; 29. Poem: Desire vs Reality 11.8.24;

      THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

      Article: 1. The Magic of Reading 11.12.23; 2. Gandhi to Mahatma 29.1.24; 3. Geography of Solitude 8.4.24; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 22.4.24; 5. A Source of Inspiration, 29.4.24; 6. The Four-Legged Library, 12.5.24; 7. Age and Achievement, 10.6.24; 8. Read … To Rise Above Mediocrity, 1.7.24; 9. Crusade for a College, 25.8.24;

      THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

      Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;

      BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

      Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24

      ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

      29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

      (ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

      *****