Tag Archives: hinduism

JANMASHTAMI: Celebrating Krishna’s Arrival

article, short story, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Copyright@shravancharitymission

JANMASHTAMI: Celebrating Krishna’s Arrival

Kamlesh Tripathi

    Janmashtami celebrates the stormy midnight birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, during the waning phase of the moon. The hour is symbolic.

    The story begins with Kansa, the tyrannical king of Mathura. A divine prophecy warned him that the eighth child of his cousin, Devaki, would cause his death. Terrified, Kansa imprisoned Devaki and her husband Vasudeva and killed their first six children. The seventh child, Balarama, was miraculously transferred to the womb of Rohini, the first consort of Vasudeva and was thus saved.

    A comparison can be drawn with the Greek hero Perseus, who survives despite his grandfather Acrisius’ dastardly attempt to kill him. Though he is abandoned and left adrift in a wooden chest at sea with his mother, the gods protect him. On the other hand, Krishna, the eighth child of Devaki, is secretly carried away from the prison and saved, while Kansa kills infants in his attempt to escape fate. Both narratives show the failure of human power against divine will.

    Krishna was born in the prison of Mathura. Legend has it that when divine forces intervened, the chains of Vasudeva fell away, the prison doors opened, and the guards were overcome by sleep. Vasudeva carried the newborn Krishna across the swollen Yamuna to Gokul, where he left him in the care of Nanda and Yashoda. In return, he brought back their newborn daughter.

    Although born to Devaki and Vasudeva, Krishna became the beloved son of Yashoda and Nanda. He belonged simultaneously to the royal world of Mathura and the pastoral world of Gokul and Vrindavan.

    Krishna stole butter, teased the gopis, played his flute and wandered through the lanes of Vrindavan with his friends. His childhood is remembered not for grandeur but for mischief. Yashoda sometimes had to chase him, scold him and even tie him to a wooden mortar.

    The famous episode of Yashoda looking into Krishna’s mouth is especially symbolic. She saw the entire universe in it. The child she was trying to discipline was none other than the cosmic being himself. He is simultaneously the God, child, philosopher, prankster, warrior, lover, king and the cowherd.    

    In temples and homes, devotees fast and stay awake until midnight, waiting for the moment believed to be Krishna’s birth. At midnight, the idol of the infant Krishna is placed in a cradle. He is bathed and dressed in new clothes and adorned with flowers. Devotees sing bhajans and chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna as bells ring and conch shells are blown.

    In Maharashtra, the festival takes a particularly lively form through Dahi Handi. Inspired by Krishna’s childhood habit of stealing butter, young men and women form human pyramids to reach and break a pot of curd or butter suspended high above the ground.

    In Mathura and Vrindavan, the celebrations have a special emotional intensity. These are the lands associated with Krishna’s childhood, his flute, his friends and the Gopis. Temples are beautifully decorated, devotional music fills the streets, and the atmosphere becomes one of collective remembrance. Even homes are decorated with jhankis of Krishna. Janmashtami is celebrated all over India and in many parts of the world by the Indian diaspora. In Dwarka, the main ritual and midnight Abhishek take place at 12:00 AM, marking the birth of Lord Krishna.

    Krishna’s greatest gift to humanity is his wisdom. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna became the charioteer of Arjuna and delivered the Bhagavad Gita. There he addressed one of humanity’s oldest dilemmas: That one must perform one’s duty without becoming enslaved by the fruits of action. Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana—you have a right to action, but not to its fruits.

    He also teaches balance. Life is neither entirely about renunciation nor entirely about indulgence. Krishna played the flute, loved music, enjoyed friendship, fought battles, ruled a kingdom and imparted spiritual wisdom. His life embraced the world without becoming imprisoned by it.

    To a child, he is the mischievous Kanha who steals butter. To a mother, he is the adorable little boy whom Yashoda lovingly disciplines. To a devotee, he is the supreme Lord. To a philosopher, he is the teacher of the Gita. To a lover of poetry and music, he is the flute-playing Krishna of Vrindavan. And to those facing moral dilemmas, he remains the divine charioteer of Kurukshetra.

    Janmashtami asks us to discover Krishna within ourselves. It is the courage to confront Kansa-like forces of fear and tyranny. The symbolism of his midnight birth is perhaps the most powerful message of all. When the world appears darkest, hope can still be born. When injustice seems invincible, righteousness can still emerge. And when life appears imprisoned by circumstances, a new beginning may be waiting behind the closed doors. That is the enduring magic of Janmashtami.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

*

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

***

The Legend Surrounding Ganga Dussehra

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

Copyright@shravancharitymission

The Legend Surrounding Ganga Dussehra

Kamlesh Tripathi

        

Celebrated on Dashami, the tenth day of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, the Ganga Dussehra, also known as Gangavataran, is one of the most revered festivals in Hinduism. It continues for ten days and commemorates the divine descent of the holy river Ganga from heaven to earth.  

    The festival is observed with immense enthusiasm in all the states through which the River Ganga flows. Holy cities such as Haridwar, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Prayagraj, and Patna come alive with pilgrims, devotional songs, lamps floating on the river, and the picturesque evening aartis. Devotees take a holy dip in the Ganga, believing that her sacred waters would purify their body, mind, and soul. The twinkling diyas drifting across the river under the night sky create a spectacle of unmatched spiritual beauty.

    On this occasion, even the sacred river Yamuna is worshipped wherever it flows. Kite-flying festivals, offerings of selected fruits, and the serving of refreshing drinks like lassi, sharbat, and shikanji add colour and joy to the celebrations.

    The story goes that long ago, there ruled a noble king named Sagar. He had two queens, Keshini and Sumati, but he had no children. He was desperate for heirs, so he performed severe tapasya to please Lord Shiva. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva granted him a rare boon, according to which one queen would bear sixty thousand sons, while the other would have a single son who would continue the royal lineage.

    Over time, the boon materialised. One queen gave birth to a divine vessel that later produced sixty thousand sons, while the other gave birth to a prince named Asmanja. Though powerful, Asmanja grew into a wicked person with a dark nature and was eventually banished from the kingdom. His virtuous son, Anshuman, however, remained the hope of the dynasty.

    King Sagar later decided to perform the Ashwamedha Yagya, a sacred ritual signifying royal supremacy. A ceremonial horse was thus released to wander freely across kingdoms. But Indra, fearing King Sagar’s growing power, secretly stole the horse and hid it near the hermitage of Kapil Muni.

    Sixty thousand sons of King Sagar went searching for the horse. In their impatience and anger, they accused Kapil Muni of theft while he sat deep in meditation. Disturbed and angered by their disrespect, the sage opened his fiery eyes and reduced all the sixty thousand princes to ashes.

    When the tragic news reached King Sagar, he sent his grandson Anshuman to seek forgiveness and recover the horse. Kapil Muni forgave him but revealed that only the holy waters of the Ganga could liberate the souls of the dead princes. Anshuman tried but failed to bring Ganga to earth. Even his son Dilip could not succeed.

    Finally, it was Bhagirath, whose determination bore results. He undertook severe penance for years to invoke Goddess Ganga. The goddess agreed to descend but warned that the impact of her drop from heaven would shatter the earth. Bhagirath then prayed to Lord Shiva for help.

    Lord Shiva agreed and stood upon the Himalayas to receive the mighty river. River Ganga descended from heaven with a thunderous force. Shiva caught her in his divine jatas (matted locks) and gently released her to mankind as a calm, life-giving river. Guided by Bhagirath, the sacred waters finally reached the ashes of King Sagar’s sons and granted them salvation.

    Thus, the mighty Ganga not only became a river, but a symbol of eternal spiritual flow. Even today, whenever devotees stand before the sacred river with folded hands, they remember Bhagirath’s perseverance and Lord Shiva’s grace that brought heaven to earth.

    Ganga Dussehra takes you back to those times when Bhagirath’s tireless efforts and determination brought Ganga to Mother Earth. The descent of Ganga symbolises the descent of purity into human life, washing away ignorance and ego. Lord Shiva’s role teaches balance and restraint. Even the most powerful force must be guided with wisdom and compassion.

    The sacred river Ganga continues to nourish millions, spiritually and physically, reminding mankind that rivers are not merely waterways but living symbols of culture, civilisation, and divine grace.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

*

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

***

The Roller Coaster Life of Kunti … by Kamlesh Tripathi

article, story, storytelling, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Copyright@shravancharitymission

–The Roller Coaster Life of Kunti–

Kamlesh Tripathi

    Kunti’s life is a powerful narrative of endurance, sacrifice, and wisdom. Despite immense personal suffering, she upheld her duties as a mother and a queen with unwavering resolve. Her story remains a timeless testament of strength and moral courage.

    She is one of the most significant characters in the Mahabharata. Kunti was originally named Pritha. She was born into a Yadava clan as the daughter of King Shurasena of Mathura. She was later adopted by his issueless cousin Kuntibhoja, from whom she got the name Kunti. She was raised in a royal household and was trained in discipline, duty, and service.

    A defining moment in her early life came when the unpredictable and short-tempered sage Durvasa visited Kuntibhoja’s court. Kunti was entrusted with his care, a task that required patience and precision, as even a small mistake could have brought grave consequences. Through her unwavering dedication, she pleased the sage, who granted her a powerful boon, a mantra that enabled her to invoke any deity and bear a child by them. This divine gift, though extraordinary, soon became the source of deep personal conflict.

    Out of youthful curiosity, one day Kunti decided to test the mantra. In the hour of dawn, she invoked Surya, the Sun God. Bound by the power of the mantra, Surya appeared and gifted her a son. Despite her fear and reluctance, she was assured that her virginity would remain intact. The child, Karna, was thus born with divine armour and earrings. Nevertheless, bound by the rigid norms of society and fearing disgrace, Kunti made the heart-wrenching decision to abandon her newborn. She placed him in a basket and set him afloat on a river, praying for his safety. This act remained a lifelong source of sorrow and guilt for her.

    In time, Kunti was married to King Pandu of Hastinapur, after which she became the queen of the Kuru kingdom. But soon after, Pandu married Madri, a princess of Madra Desh, located in the North-western part of the Indian subcontinent, on the advice of Bhishma. Though initially dejected, Kunti reconciled herself to the situation and treated Madri with kindness and sisterly affection.

    King Pandu’s life took a tragic turn when he accidentally killed Sage Kindama, who had taken the form of a deer while copulating with his wife. As he lay dying, the sage cursed Pandu that he would die if ever he attempted to have sexual intimacy with his wives. Traumatised, Pandu renounced his throne and retreated to the forest with Kunti and Madri. But burdened by the inability to have children, he expressed his despair to his wives. Kunti then revealed her divine boon. With Pandu’s consent, she invoked the Gods to bear her sons: Yudhishthira from Dharma, the God of justice; Bhima from Vayu Deva, the Wind God; and Arjuna from Indra, the king of Devas.

    Showing generosity, Kunti shared the mantra with Madri, who invoked the Ashvins and gave birth to twin sons, Nakula and Sahadeva. Kunti treated the children with equal love, particularly caring for the youngest, Sahadeva.

    Tragedy struck again when King Pandu, forgetting the curse, tried to embrace Madri and died instantly. Overcome with grief and guilt, Madri chose to immolate herself on his funeral pyre, entrusting Kunti with the care of all five children. With immense strength, Kunti accepted this responsibility and returned to Hastinapur with the young princes.

    In the Kuru court, Kunti faced dreadful challenges. The sons of Dhritarashtra, especially Duryodhana, harboured deep jealousy toward the Pandavas. There were repeated attempts on their lives, including the poisoning of Bhima and the infamous Lakshagraha (house of lac) plot, where a palace made of lac was set on fire to kill them. Forewarned by Vidura, Kunti and her sons escaped through a secret tunnel. Then there was the disrobing of Draupadi (or the attempted disrobing) in the Kaurava court in Hastinapur, immediately after Yudhishthira lost her in a rigged game of dice, where Lord Krishna saved her. This was followed by the horrendous declaration that the Pandavas (sons of Pandu) had become das (servants/slaves) when they lost in the Dice Game (Dyut Krida). Kunti took all the atrocities on the chin.

    Living in disguise, the Pandavas spent time in Ekachakra village, where Kunti displayed both compassion and courage. When a Brahmin family was to sacrifice a member to the demon Bakasura, Kunti offered her son Bhima instead. Bhima defeated the demon, saving the village. Later, at her insistence, Bhima married Hidimbi, and their son Ghatotkacha was born.

    A turning point came at the swayamvara of Draupadi, where Arjuna won her hand in marriage. When the brothers returned home and told Kunti they had brought alms, she unknowingly asked them to share it equally. Bound by her words, Draupadi became the wife of all five brothers. Though initially shocked, Kunti accepted the outcome, which ultimately strengthened the unity among her sons.

    As the Pandavas established their kingdom in Indraprastha, Kunti guided them through political and personal challenges. However, after losing their kingdom in a game of dice, they were exiled for thirteen years. During this time, Kunti remained in Hastinapura, choosing to live in Vidura’s house rather than the royal palace.

    Before the great war of the Mahabharat, Kunti met Karna and revealed that he was her firstborn son. She pleaded with him to join the Pandavas, but he refused out of loyalty to Duryodhana. Nevertheless, he promised Kunti that she would still have five sons at the end of the war, sparing all except Arjuna. Kunti also experienced Ashwatthama’s brutal murder of the five Pandav sons (the Upapandavas) while they were sleeping on the final night of the Kurukshetra war, later attempting to destroy the last heir in Uttara’s womb by Brahmastra, but was saved by Lord Krishna.

        After the Kurukshetra war, in which Karna was killed, Kunti revealed the truth of his birth to the Pandavas. This revelation caused deep grief, particularly to Yudhishthira, who cursed all women to be unable to keep secrets. Having fulfilled her duties, Kunti eventually renounced worldly life. She retired to the forest with Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and others. There, she met her end in a forest fire, bringing her long and eventful life to a close.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

*

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

***

SHIVA’S RATRI … MAHASHIVRATRI … by Kamlesh Tripathi

Uncategorized, , , ,

Copyright@shravancharitymission

Shiva’s Ratri … MahaShivratri

Kamlesh Tripathi

    Maha Shivratri means The Towering Night of Shiva. It is one of the most sacred festivals in the Hindu tradition. It is dedicated to Lord God Shiva, the Supreme Soul, and is celebrated annually on the 14th day of the waning moon in the month of Phalguna (February–March). The festival symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, wisdom over ignorance, and spiritual awakening over worldly illusion.

    One of the most popular legends associated with Maha Shivratri is the burning of Kamadeva, the god of desire, to ashes. When Kamadeva attempted to disturb Shiva, while he was in meditation with his arrows of attraction, Shiva opened his third eye and reduced him to ashes. This act doesn’t symbolise the rejection of love, but the abstinence from worldly craving. Shiva’s third eye represents spiritual insight. It is the awakening of inner vision that burns away ignorance. Maha Shivratri, therefore, becomes an archetypal night of self-purification and awakening.

    Maha Shivratri commemorates the divine wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvati. It symbolises the union of masculine and feminine energies, which maintains the balance of the universe. Additionally, it highlights 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 several trinities such as: creation, preservation, and destruction; past, present, and future; body, mind and the atman.

    On this day, devotees engage in spiritual practices such as fasting, chanting of mantras, and staying awake through the night. These rituals help individuals transcend material distractions and focus on the divine. These devotional activities symbolise vigilance and spiritual discipline. They include chanting “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.    

    At the centre of Maha Shivratri’s celebration is the aradhana of Lord Shiva. In Hinduism, ignorance (avidya) is considered the root cause of suffering. Suffering commences when individuals get attached to unwanted worldly desires. Shiva, the great yogi seated in deep meditation, represents mastery over these impulses. His stillness and detachment reflect the ideal of self-control and higher awareness.

               The festival also emphasises 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. 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 such as Somnath, Kashi-Vishwanath, Mahakaleshwar, and Rameshwar are important pilgrimage sites, attracting millions of devotees. Maha Shivratri is celebrated in various forms across India and the world.

    It is a night of inner transformation. By fasting, devotion, and meditation, devotees purify their minds, bodies, and souls, creating space for the 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.

    Shiva is known by a thousand names, which reflect his multifaceted roles as creator, destroyer, and a supreme yogi. His key names are Mahadev (The Great God), Shankara (Benefactor), Rudra (The Roarer), and Bholenath (Kind-hearted). Other prominent names are Mahesh, Shambhu, Neelakanta (Blue-throated), and Nataraja (The King of Dance), highlighting his various attributes and cosmic roles.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet & Columnist

*

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

***

Mythology: Lord Krishna and the deadly bird Bakasura

short story, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , ,

Copyright@shravancharitymission


    On a vibrant summer day shine bright in the morning, mother Yashoda leaped out of her bed to prepare for the day. She held her darling Krishna in her arms and began to dress Him up. She applied kajal in Krishna’s gorgeous blooming eyes, wishing to ward off all the evil eye. She combed His beautiful curls and adorned them with various colourful flowers and admired the sweet, charming face of her little child adorned with tilak.

    Mother Yashoda then packed sweets for little Krishna and bid Him bye for the day, just as the gopas waited eagerly for Him. Soon, Krishna and Balaram, along with the gopas and their calves, set out to the forest of Khandiravan in Vrindavan.
    Just as they were resting on the banks of the river Yamuna, watching their calves relish the water, an unusual monster suddenly appeared behind them. The monster was so huge that it resembled a huge crane. It appeared as if a huge mountain was struck by a thunderbolt.
This monster was none other than demon Bakasura, the servant of King Kansa, who was sent to kill Lord Krishna. All the gopas got scared and began running hither and thither. The gopas too were terrified by the demon Bakasura, who immediately attacked Lord Krishna with his sharp beak and swallowed Him quickly.
The gopas, headed by Balram, felt threatened by this mighty bird. But due to Lord Krishna’s presence, suddenly Bakasura began to feel a burning sensation in his stomach. Being unable to tolerate it, the monster quickly threw up Lord Krishna and tried to kill Him with his beaks. But to the monster’s surprise, Lord Krishna suddenly caught hold of the beaks of the huge bird and tore them apart … and thus ended the life of Bakasura. From the sky, the denizens of the heavenly planets showered flowers. And once again Lord Krishna restored the peace of Vrindavan.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

*

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

***

John Milton and Surdas Surmounted Their Blind Vision … by Kamlesh Tripathi

article, articles, autobiography, book corner, book talk,, literary corner, literature, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Copyright@shravancharitymission

    Though, John Milton and Surdas lived in a similar world of poetry, they were separated by continents, century, race and culture. Surdas lived between 1479-1586, while Milton lived between, 1608–1674. Both are remembered today not only for the brilliance of their poetry, but also for their profound inner vision, which becomes even more brilliant by the fact that they both composed their enduring works after losing their eyesight.

    Milton was an English Puritan poet and a political thinker, whereas the Indian Surdas was a devotional Hindi saint-poet who spearheaded the Bhakti movement. They both belonged to different religions — Christianity and Hinduism, respectively but with a fire for poetry.

    Surdas was either born blind or had lost his eyesight in early childhood. Milton, on the other hand, lost his eyesight in his forties, around 1652, most likely due to glaucoma.

    Despite limitations, Surdas is widely recognised as a major figure in the Bhakti movement, primarily devoted to Lord Krishna. His emotive and spiritual dohas (verses) are said to have been passed down orally and later compiled in the Sursagar, or ‘Ocean of melodies or Ocean of tunes.’ His compositions, which were mostly in Braj Bhasha, are a dialect of Hindi spoken in the region associated with Krishna’s early life.

    By the time Milton lost his eyesight, he was already an accomplished poet and an intellectual. Milton’s blindness, instead of stalling his creativity, seemed to refine it. He composed his greatest epics–Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes through dictation, relying on aides to transcribe his verses. Like Surdas, Milton too did not see blindness as a handicap but as a pathway leading to a higher form of spiritual attainment.

    Both poets had a religious mind. Although stylistically different, both had infused their works with philosophical and devotional seriousness. Milton, a devout Christian, wrote with the spontaneous aim of interpreting and elevating spiritual truth. In Paradise Lost, he sets out “to justify the ways of God to men.” He addresses themes such as the Fall of Man, temptation, obedience, and redemption. He wrote in Paradise Lost, “Solitude sometimes is the best society,” which reminds you of Ernest Hemingway’s words in his 1954 Nobel Acceptance Speech, “Writing, at its best, is a lonely life.” Milton’s theological affinity, shaped by the rigorous study of scripture and classical texts, transforms into a poetic splendour. Meanwhile, Surdas’s creations are acts of loving surrender. Krishna appears in multiple forms in his dohas (verses): as a mischievous child, a divine lover, and also the supreme being. Lines such as “Ka mangu kachu thira na rahai” (What should I ask for, when nothing is permanent?) captures the essence of his Bhakti without expectation.

    Milton’s epics are not just stories but musings on justice, free will, human suffering, and divine grace. His works show outstanding intellectual discipline, theological depth, and poetic mastery.  Surdas, too, uses his poetic expressions to explore the soul’s belongingness, the relevance of humility, and the spiritual path to surrender before God. Their works are more than a literary endeavour. They become a vehicle for exploring human conditions and articulating metaphysical realities.

    Another uniting theme between Milton and Surdas was their poetic sense of duty. Neither viewed poetry as mere personal or artistic expression. For both, it was a sacred responsibility, a way to convey, inspire and elevate. Milton’s epic verse seeks to engage the intellect and the soul, guiding readers towards a better understanding of divine justice and human morality. Surdas’s dohas were intended for oral performance and collective singing. It invited listeners into a shared space of devotion and spiritual intimacy. The duo’s poetry continues to be read, sung, studied, and revered, not only for its beauty but also for its power to move the soul.

    Language, for both the poets, was of the essence. Milton promoted the English language to unprecedented heights at a time when Latin was still seen as the language of serious scholarship. Milton chose English and, through his use of blank verse, gave it towering dignity. His English stood along with the classical languages of Homer and Virgil. On the other hand, Surdas did something outstandingly transformative. He wrote in Braj Bhasha, a regional and vernacular dialect. Braj Bhasha is written in the Devanagari script. By using it to express the spiritual and emotional state of his mind, he not only made religious ideas accessible to the masses but also raised Braj to the level of a respected literary language. Through them, both English and Braj Bhasha became vessels of sacred expression.

    Finally, what makes Milton and Surdas an enduring duo is not just their literary genius, but their ability to transform personal blindness into a powerful metaphor for inner vision. Where physical sight failed, spiritual insight flourished. Through their works, both poets remind us that the deepest prayers are often seen not with the eyes but with the heart. Whether through the sonorous cadences of Milton’s blank verse or the lilting melodies of Surdas’s bhajans, they teach us that poetry can be a form of prayer, and vision a matter of the soul. Surely, where there is a will there is a way.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

*

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

***

MYTHOLOGY: THE STORY OF KING AMBARISHA

moral lesson, spiritual, story, storytelling, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Copyright@shravancharitymission

In the Hindu texts, Ambarisha is a mythological Ikshvaku (Suryavanshi) king, and the son of Mandhata. He is believed to have conquered the whole world in a week. He lived during the Treta Yuga.

    According to the Bhagavata Purana, the king was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, and he adhered firmly to the truth. On being pleased with his devotion, Lord Vishnu gave his Sudarshana Chakra to Ambarisha, who worshipped the deity’s weapon with great devotion. Once, during the Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Ambarisha performed the Dvadashi Vrata at Vrindavana, which required that the king start a fast on Ekadashi and break it at the start of Dvadasi (the twelfth day), and then feed all his people. As the moment of breaking the fast was drawing near, the mighty sage Durvasa appeared out of nowhere. He was received with full honours by King Ambarisha. Durvasa Muni agreed to the king’s request to be his honoured guest and have a meal with him, but asked the king to wait until he finished his bath in the Yamuna River and returned. As the auspicious moment approached when the king had to break his fast to fulfil the vow of the vrata, Durvasa did not turn up. On the advice of his priests, the king broke his fast by consuming a little water and waited for the arrival of sage Durvasa to offer him food. Durvasa, who was well known for his short temper, could ascertain by his mystic power that King Ambarisha had violated the respect due to a guest by breaking his fast before the guest had taken his meal, and in his rage he created an asura to kill Ambarisha, out of a strand of his hair. But because Ambarisha was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, the Sudarshana Chakra intervened to destroy the asura, and further started chasing Durvasa himself. Sage Durvasa became extremely frightened, and he ran for his life.

    The Sudarshan Chakra was soon inches away from Durvasa Muni’s back, as it chased him like a blazing forest fire. On the run and desperate to protect himself, Durvasa Muni went everywhere: through the sky, over the earth’s surface, into caves and under the ocean. He ran through all three planets, but could not escape the Lord’s weapon. Sudarshan Chakra followed him nonstop.

    Sage Durvasa felt the unbearable heat. Finally, he went to Satya-loka and asked Brahma for protection, saying, “O my Lord, kindly protect me.” Brahma said, “I cannot help you. I am under the control of Lord Narayana, the master of the Sudarshan Chakra.” Having been told that Brahma couldn’t protect him. Durvasa Muni went to Lord Shiva in Kailash and asked for his protection.

    “You should go to the Supreme Lord Narayana. This Sudarshan Chakra is unbearable even for me,” said Shiva. Durvasa Muni then proceeded to Vaikuntha, the celestial abode of Lord Vishnu. There, he fell at Lord Narayana’s lotus feet and begged for protection.

    “Oh, Durvasa, you should know that I am completely under the control of my devotees. So you should go to Maharaja Ambarisha. Only he can protect you from this Sudarshan Chakra.” Immediately upon being advised so by Lord Vishnu, Durvasa Muni realised his mistake and rushed back to Maharaja Ambarisha.

    The sage begged the devoted king Ambarisha for forgiveness. The king then politely requested the Sudarshan Chakra not to harm the sage Durvasa. At the king’s request, the Sudarshan Chakra became peaceful and returned to Lord Narayana.

    Maharaja Ambarisha then offered delicious prasad to the sage. The sage said, “My dear King, please have your meal first. In the beginning, I thought you were an ordinary person, but now I understand that you are the most exalted devotee of the Lord.”

Written by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

*

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

***

INDIA AFLOAT LIKE THE SHIP OF THESEUS

Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Copyright@shravancharitymission

    Resilient India, much like the Ship of Theseus, has undergone profound and continuous transformations over the centuries, yet its essence remains remarkably consistent. The Ship of Theseus’s paradox is a classic philosophical thought experiment that queries whether an object that has had all its parts replaced over time can still be considered the same object. The paradox raises fundamental questions about identity, continuity, and change—questions that can be deeply applied to the story of India.

    During its primordial history, India has been subjected to multiple invasions, foreign influences, colonial rule, and internal upheavals. From the early invasions of the Mughals to British colonisation, followed by independence and the ongoing evolution of its society, India has seen drastic political, social, and cultural changes. Yet, despite these transformations, India has retained its core identity, much like the Ship of Theseus, which, although constantly repaired and refurbished, still retains its function and spirit. The question, then, arises: Is India still the same India after all these changes? Or has it become something fundamentally different?

    The analogy of the “rotting planks” and the “invaders” is especially apt in this context. India’s history has been marked by waves of foreign influence and control. Yet, like the ship that stays afloat even as its parts and planks are gradually replaced, India has managed to preserve its relevance through the centuries. The country’s resilience and ability to absorb and adapt to these changes demonstrate its remarkable continuity.

    Hinduism, in particular, serves as an example of this enduring continuity. Despite the multiple invasions, foreign rule, and the introduction of different religions and philosophies, Hinduism has not only survived but has thrived. It has evolved, integrating new ideas and practices, yet its core spiritual principles have remained unchanged. Hinduism flourished during ancient times, including the Ram Rajya and Mahabharata, and even after the numerous foreign invasions, it continues to flourish even today. (Mahakumbh is a live example of that).

    The Ship of Theseus’s paradox becomes even more compelling when we apply it to India’s history. Just as the ship’s identity persists even as its parts are replaced, India’s identity remains intact, even though it has undergone substantial transformations. Over the centuries, India has experienced numerous political and cultural shifts—each of these changes can be seen as the replacement of one “plank” of the ship. British colonial rule introduced new administrative systems, ideologies, and governance structures, while independence and partition created dramatic changes in India’s political landscape.

    Yet, beneath these changes, the core of India remains the same. The specific manifestations of India’s identity may have shifted over time, but its fundamental essence remains intact. India’s ability to absorb external influences while maintaining its unique cultural identity is what allows it to continue to thrive, much like a ship that, despite repairs and refurbishments, retains its original course.

    The paradox of identity that the Ship of Theseus presents raises important philosophical questions: If every component of India has changed over the centuries, is it still the same India? Or is it a new entity altogether? From a metaphysical perspective, the answer may lie in the idea that identity is not static. Just as the ship retains its spirit even as its physical form changes, India retains its soul even as its political, social, and cultural structures evolve.

    India’s story, then, is one of dynamic continuity. It is a living, breathing entity that evolves while retaining the essence of its civilization. Each phase of India’s history—whether the ancient period, the medieval era, the colonial period, or post-independence India—adds a new layer to the country’s identity. These layers are not a sign of India losing its original self, but rather of a nation that is constantly redefined, reshaped, and yet always remains connected to its roots. Just like the Ship of Theseus, India’s identity is not determined by the individual parts but by the broader spirit that she carries through time.

Written and 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 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; 2. Mahashivratri: A Night of Divine Illumination, 26.2.25;

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; 38. A Peep into Native American Literature’

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; 9. India Afloat like Ship of Theseus; 10. Maha Shivratri: A night of divine illumination, spiritual awakening, 26.2.25;

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITALARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI 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)

*****

MAHA SHIVRATRI: A NIGHT OF DIVINE ILLUMINATION

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

Copyright@shravancharitymission

    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

*

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 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)

    *****

    THE BOON AND BANE OF ASHWATTHAMA

    article, mythology, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    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

    *

    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 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)

    *****