Perfect day!

To me, a day that starts with music and ends with books is a perfect day. It doesn’t matter what happens during the day. That’s not totally in my control and I really can’t expect everyday to be the same. But I guess we can hope for the start and end to be peaceful. After marriage, for about two years before the baby was born, this was how my life was. First thing in the morning, I would keep the milk on the stove and switch on the TV for what else but M.S. amma’s voice. The early morning breeze combined with hot filter coffee and M.S. amma’s voice in the background was divine. Once the baby was born, sleep was the only thing that was divine. :)

What makes me happy these days is that I have transferred the same ritual to my son without my consciousness. He loves M.S. amma’s voice and can listen to her songs for an hour. (I am not kidding.) Once he wakes up, the day starts with 'Bhaja Govindam', followed by 'Vishnu Sahasranamam'. If time permits, a few of her famous songs follows. There are about 20 songs that my son loves in her voice. (We will ignore the fact that this is more a selfish motive and I finish off my morning chores during that time. We are concentrating on spiritual experience here. :))

In the evening, I take him to the park or a walk in our street and then finish off the home work activities given by therapists. All this goes until 8 p.m. And then I loudly say ‘Book Time’, he flashes his 1000 watts smile and keeps saying ‘ook ime’ until I actually give him all the books. I then go to kitchen to have dinner. After five minutes, he will bring a book to the kitchen and ask me to read it. Once we have the read book for 5-6 times, he will go and bring another book. This routine continues until I finish my dinner, clean vessels and cut the vegetables for next day. After which I sit with him to read some more books. :)

I hope I am able to continue this for all the years to come.

My son,

I guess few years down the line, I would be more than happy if the day ends with you reading “text books” :) Yes, I am a normal mother who expects her son to take the IIT – IIM route.
Hey, what happened? Why did you fall down? :)

So, readers, What is your perfect day?

Mahalakshmi and Saraswati (M.S)

The month of "Margazhi" remains special to most of Madrasis (or Chennaites) and I am no different. Though I am in Bangalore for the last 6 months, I have not missed Chennai life much. May be I travelled often to Chennai. Or may be balancing work and home has not given me time to think on these lines. But last few days everyday as I open the door, I miss Chennai.

I miss the rangoli, the smell of coffee, the suprabatham by M.S amma (M.S. Subbulakshmi) followed by Thiruppavai, Thiruvempavai and Thiruppalliyezhuchchi, the retired Mamas accompanied by Mamis in traditional dhotis and 9 yards saree, the Pongal from temples, in short the divinity in Chennai air. In Bangalore I can listen to only M.S. amma's songs.

There are very few people who make you feel elevated looking at them as if they are taking you to a calmer world. M.S. is one of them. M.S. to me is a combination of Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi. Every time I see a picture of her, I feel there is a divine power in her and the divine power flows in her voice. No wonder that people thought her as "new Meera", after seeing the film Meera.

The days when I wake up at 5 AM and listen to the suprabatham, my mind is at peace. I get energized and I feel the presence of God more than any other time. The feeling gives me the needed motivation to face the day and be successful. Like most of the people in Chennai, I also love listening to "kurai ondrum illai" (Translation: "No regrets have I") in the magical voice of M.S. Irrespective of whatever problems I face, listening to the song gives you a sensation that He will take care of all your problems and you are set free.

In her own words - "if one sings with sincerity and devotion, such music has the capacity to move the audience to divine experience, irrespective of their religious beliefs, their language and the countries to which they may belong". Well, she definitely knows what she is speaking about.