Girl Child

Baby Afreen was born three months back to mom Reshma Bano at Bangalore.  Baby Afreen died last month after a cardiac arrest.  

What makes this news any different from the numerous babies dying at hospitals across India or anywhere for that matter?

Baby Afreen was mindlessly attacked by her father for being born a girl and not a boy.  One tiny life snuffed out for no mistake of hers nor her mother's.

We were 4 daughters born to our parents.  All of us girls survived and all of us were educated till 25/26 years, way back when girls were married off at 19.  Thanks to our parents for not doing away with our lives when we were still tender babies, when we could not defend ourselves in any way, just because we were all born girls.

Thanks mom.  Thanks dad in heaven.

Mahalakshmi    

Dear Srik, Sorry I am replying late to your query about my past life follow up with Dr.Vedamalika. I just could not make it due to my mom's bad health, visitors and on-going work, hence the long silence. Prem is a Hindi word for affection and many of them are derived from Sanskrit. It could have existed even in the ancient past is my feeling. Even yesterday's episode on Mrs.Williams felt so close to truth that you almost believe that there is something called past life. You must give it a try for what it is worth. All the best and do share your experience too. Mahalakshmi

Making of Vadu Manga pickle

Yesterday we bought a kilogram of tiny mangoes which are called vadu manga in Tamil.

They are tiny baby raw mangoes. They fall off the trees on their own without getting a chance to grow big. The fall could be due to strong winds, weak flowers which manage to morph into mangoes but have no sustaining power to grow big, birds' interferance, human intervention, etc.

Whatever the cause for their fall, these mangoes are of no use as they taste sour. But Indian grandmas of the past never let go the opportunity to make something of it! So these were patiently picked, sand and dust washed off them, wiped dry, coated with castor oil, pickled with rock salt until they turned tender in about a week. Finally the free following brine (salt water) was reused to soak up some dry red chillies, mustard seeds of which a fine paste was made and returned back to the glass jar of the salted mangoes. The mangoes are left to soak in the spice newly introduced. The taste is very unique, spicy and tangy. Goes very well with curd rice or dosa.

First picture shows the mangoes being salted. Next they are filled in glass jars and capped tight.

It will take 4 to 5 days to get softer after which the spicy paste will be introduced to give it the bite.

Raw mangoes, raw tamarind, ripe red big chillies, gooseberries and many more are pickled. They are nature's way of heralding the onset of summer in the tropics.

Mahalakshmi.

Deep Slumber

Had been to yet another house where my relative's mother-in-law had passed away. These past few months have seen me attending many death ceremonies.

She had been ailing since a very long time now. Had multiple fractures and corrective surgeries. Yet this person whom we fondly called 'Kaamu Maami' loved and lived life to the hilt.

Her diamond ear studs and nose rings would glitter whenever she turned her head this way and that which was quite often as she loved talking to people.

Two sons and a daughter doted on her and fulfilled every wish she could make known. She was strong willed. Never hesitated to ask for things from husband when he was alive and later her children. Loved kanchipuram silk sarees and leaves behind quite a collection and ditto with matching gold jewellery. She would search for an excuse to buy a silk saree or a piece of jewellery. She would then be raring to attend social functions and meet people, exchange notes, enjoy the food, etc.

She lived life to the fullest. Her sons and daughter attended on her in turns when she took very ill a decade back till her end came today. She took all the help that came her way, she never felt she was a burden for her children. Her eldest son who was visiting his son preponed and arrived 24 hours before the event. Both spent time talking and she had told him she could pass away peacefully now since he has come back to Chennai. She was hanging on to dear life waiting to see her eldest son.

Since she loved good food, I am planning to take a couple of dishes for the family within the next 10 days as is the tradition among us Tambrams (Tamil Brahmins). May her soul rest in deep slumber.

Mahalakshmi.

Sessions

My interest in Tarot card readings started when my sister gifted me a set, while on a visit to Chicago in 1991. She knew my interest and passion for the occult from a young age.

It was fun to self-learn. An opportunity to attend a workshop in Chennai in 2001 by Shri K.B.Gopalakrishnan was an eye-opener of sorts. I re-learnt the basics. I learnt the basics of Vedic Astrology from short term courses conducted by him.

Since then I have been learning and practicing simultaneously. Constantly keep reading up on techniques which will help me hone my skills.

Today he had invited me for session and as usual I rushed to be present. We shared our knowledge. Discussed some charts without revealing particulars of the seekers.

Since his office is near the ancient shiva temple at Vadapalani, Chennai, we visited and prayed.

Went to the office to round off for the day by chanting the navagraha mantras. It was bliss and so peaceful to end the session in such a nice way. We all felt the peace within and parted ways to head back home.

Cheers.

Mahalakshmi

Mom's Delicate Health

Dear Kurnaen, Read your comment and wish you all the best for getting that promotion with good pay and perks. Persevere, have faith and you shall be rewarded sooner!

Mom not keeping too well. Worried about her delicate health these past few months. Age is not on her side too as she's almost 86 now.

There are demands on time but when I think of myself as a baby who depended on her time and what all she must have sacrificed to give me a life then what I do for her in return now is not even interest for that capital! I am glad I am able to give whatever care I can for her in her twilight days.

Cheer is what we can try to spread by sharing.
Mahalakshmi.

Questions And The Cycle Of Life

A man and woman get married.
A child is born. A girl child.
Parents now want to know when a boy child will be born to them. Help! Help!
A boy is also born.
The kids start schooling. If they don't attend school then its Help! Help!
There are stages and ages at which certain questions are asked:
Will our kids do well in studies? If they don't do well, its Help! Help!
What will they study to become - engineer, doctor, lawyer, pilot, accountant, IT, etc.? If they don't pursue education, its Help! Help!
After they do finish their education, its a question of when will they land a job? If they don't land a job, its Help! Help!
After they land a job, will they get due promotions with good pay and perks? If they don't then its Help! Help!
When will they buy their car? If they don't buy a car, the banker will help provided they have a job!
When will they buy their apartment/house/Villa? If they don't buy a house, the banker will help provided they have the paying capacity!
Will they find suitable life partners? If so when?

Now that they have found good life partners, the next question is when will they have children?
Will it be a boy or a girl?

And the story continues with a little twist here and a variation there in every family's history.
This is the template of life. These questions keep coming on and on with every generation. So goes life's cycle.

Happy Sivaratri.
Mahalakshmi

Rishikesh, Hardwar and Manasarovar

When our family visited Delhi for my nephew's wedding little did I realize that my thoughts about mother nature would change forever.

We had a couple of days to visit places around Delhi. Instead of the usual tour of the city we preferred to go to Rishikesh and Hardwar which was some distance away.

Nothing could prepare us for the sights and sounds as we approached Rishikesh. The Ganga gurgling and gushing down with such force, seeing so much pristine water, the hills far away, tall trees and so much green cover on the highway of which I was in awe of.

Hardwar's many temples, our taking a dip in the flowing Ganges, the fast approaching mighty Himalayas as our bus raced, the rudraksh trees, wild and exotic flowers on the wayside, collecting rounded pebbles of varied sizes, shapes and colors on the shores of the Ganges were all such unforgettable memories. They appear so fresh and recent even today even though it is about 9 years since our visit.

Alas we could see neither the morning nor the evening Aarti which is a must-see in these places. I have watched the Ganga Aarti at 6am and 6pm on some TV channel and felt so connected to the divine.

I din't feel like returning back home and wanted to very much stay back there itself and be in close proximity to mother nature. I mentioned to my husband that if I was ever found missing, the place to look for me would be somewhere in Rishikesh or Hardwar. Such was my love for that place. I found a strange peace and quiet in these places.

Manasarover I have not had the chance to visit yet. But in my mind's eye, I have been there. I have gone around the divine lake and have drunk in the beauty of the Mount Meru bathed as if in molten gold at sunrise.

What if I can't physically travel to such places, my mind can and does travel often enough to these places.

Today is Valentine's Day and I dedicate today's blog for my love of these holy places.

Mahalakshmi.

Going, Going, Gone!

Hi Srini S. Welcome aboard.

In my earlier blogs I had mentioned about my neighbour not allowing his daughter to marry a muslim boy from next door. This had been going on for the past 5 or 6 years. The girl has not yet got married to anyone. Instead she has turned hysterical, screaming, banging doors, etc.

It was too much for the other family members to bear. Ultimately and reluctantly they put up their flat for sale. They wanted to perhaps erase their daughter's unpleasant memories by moving away from here.

Just the day before, they told us they were about to leave the place anytime soon. They moved out today in the early hours when all of us were in deep sleep. It was so sad. Three generations had stayed here from the past 52 years and I could see how difficult and painful such a decision was for the entire family just because of their daughter.

In my heart of hearts I wished the girl does not come to any harm, being far away from this place.

Can only wish and pray.

Maha.

Past Lives - Part 2

Met Dr.Vedamalika on the 8th Jan at the appointed hour.

There was a crowd already waiting to get in to see her, of course by appointment.

When my turn came, I was quite surprised to see her small physical frame. She undoubtedly has a very sweet high pitched voice. Though she looked quite pale and tired, maybe due to so many calls and requests for appointments besides the hectic shooting schedules for TV channels. The good thing was that she herself answered each call which came through her mobile phone. Many have assistants perform this task which robs a caller of talking directly to the concerned person. Despite that, she paid very good attention to what I was saying.

She recorded my personal details on a lengthy page in a register. She probed whether I came for some treatment or to know about my past lives. I said I was curious to learn about my past lives. She asked about any recurring dreams, goals, pain that I had or anything I wished to achieve. After I told her some of it, she sent me to lie down on a bed in another room.

There was a soothing vedic chant playing on the music system in the background which filled the entire room. There was also an aromatic incense which helped set the mood for a deep slumber!

She came to me and softly spoke a few sentences apparently to induce hynosis. I was fully awake even after 20 minutes of lying there. But after a while, there was this heaviness of the eyes as if in slumber. Then she came back after 30 minutes to ask some questions to which I did answer in a heavy voice - even to my own ears! I was aware while I was answering and recalled all her questions and my answers to it.

She said this is a preliminary training session and the next one will be 'the' session when I will be led into the astral world with her help, to know about my past lives.
She suggested I buy myself her CD in which she has spoken, sung, instructed how to get hypnotized for a week on my own at home. A week's self training will suffice to venture into the final one.

She also suggested I write down anything which came to my mind during the everyday session at home. Yes, I already had a vision of a bridge with many arches under which a huge volume of water is gushing through. I see so many other people on the steps of this bank of a river which I instinctively know as the Cauvery in Kumbakonam. It seemed like I was there to see the flooding river and it was far from pleasant. What was I doing there, I wonder?!

As I finished writing the above scene, something very strange comes to mind. Very recently, to be specific, on 28th November, 2011, a well wisher had asked me what he could get me from Thanjavur-Kumbakonam and I asked him to get me some Cauvery water from the flowing river which I wanted to drink not having got an opportunity in my life so far! What a strange coincidence indeed, coming to think of this one.

Then yesterday, I could see myself in a temple and the mood is very tense as a particular community was killing another community inside the temple premises. Then before the enemy could come and get me I give him a slip very quickly. These two incidents are as good as any record for the meeting next week when hopefully I shall unravel my unknown past lives.

I am so upbeat, thrilled and excited with a childlike curiosity. I think its fun. An adventure I do not want to miss for any reason whatsoever.

Chou until then.

Mahalakshmi

Why This Kolaveri

We had been to the place to find out about my past lives on 7th Jan.

Dr.Vedamalika lives in the suburbs. We took a call taxi. The driver put on some Tamil pop music and I usually try to concentrate on my mantra chanting if I have to travel long distance. If the song is an unfamiliar one I am able to cut out the music otherwise its a struggle between my chanting and the piped music. All was well until the current rage 'Why This Kolaveri' song sung by actor Dhanush was aired! I stopped and started listening to it yet again. I could hear another voice following the music. It was so totally out of tune. It was the driver singing along, rather it sounded as if he was reciting some poetry in a bad, flat tune!! Had a difficult time suffering it out though he seemed to enjoy his singing every word of the song.

Alas the doctor was busy with a shooting schedule and could not meet us. We had to be content with checking out her exact address so that the next time around won't be spent in searching her house!

We decided to visit the Mangaadu temple which is at a distance from there. We managed to have a peaceful darshan. I prayed for all my clients who were eager to get married soon. Since it was the eve of full moon day, I decided to sing the Lalitha Sahasranamam at the temple premises before heading back home.

I did manage to get an appointment for the 8th Jan. I shall write about my experience after I finish the next session in the coming week which will hopefully give me an insight about my past lives!

Mahalakshmi.

Past Life

Ever since a program 'Munjenmam' is being aired on Vijay TV, I sit glued to the channel with so much interest.

This one deals with past lives of a person. Most of those who got to the clinical couch are popular TV artistes.

They come from a varied background. They reveal varied past life experiences as the session progresses under the able guidance of Dr.Vedamalika. I am following the episodes very keenly. As a young girl, though, I neither had an inclination nor belief in such subjects. But with age and experience, I have now got more than interested in the occult sciences.

Earlier, on two different occasions, hypnotists did try to hypnotize me and gave up as they found my mind unbending and unyielding to any of their suggestions!

This time around it seems different as my mind is free of any hangups and is willing to undergo this experience even if it were only to 'find out' more on the subject. Who can be a better tool than 'me'!

So I hunted down this doctor and have fixed up a session for myself for today. I am ready to go now.

I shall perhaps later share my experience in the blog.

Cheers!

Mahalakshmi

First Pay Packet

The first pay packet means so much to an individual. Its money earned out of one's own efforts.

I remember my first pay packet and what I did with it.

I had earned Rs.70/- in a part time job in the year 1973 when I was 19 years old. Since I was also a student studying for my Diploma in Secretarial Practice, I was in need of a table lamp to study long into the night.

I headed straight to an electrical shop in the Sultan Bazar area in Hyderabad to buy a dark pink table lamp which was an adjustable one. I was very thrilled with the first purchase from my own money. The rest of it went towards house expenses.

Today my sons handed me their first contributions from their pay towards running the home. I felt so thrilled. Hope they realize it means so much to me and their father. I accepted only 60% of their income so that they are left with 40% to do what they wished with their money.

I had two minds whether to accept any money at all from them but decided it is better they contributed a portion towards expenses as that would make them more responsible towards the family and later they will not have issues while running their own families.

I have noticed how some individuals have always thought twice about giving part of their earnings for household expenses. I think that is very selfish and amounts to taking it for granted that parents are always there to spend for them and they have only rights and no responsibilities whatsoever.

Shouldering of such responsibilities is what makes men out of boys (and women out of girls).

Cheers!
Mahalakshmi