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Saturday, December 26, 2009

सात सुरांची रचना कशी झाली असावी .

संगीतातील स्वरसाप्तकाचा विकास कसा झाला हा एक संशोधनाचा विषय होईल .प्राचीन संगीतात तीन ते चार च स्वरांचा अंतरभाव होता. आणि हे ही स्वर कोठून निर्माण झाले असावेत असा एक गूढ प्रश्न मनाला पडतो . जंगलातून शिकार करताना कानावर पडण्यार्या पशुपक्ष्याच्या विविध ध्वनीची
हुबेहूब नक्कल करण्याच्या सहज प्रवृत्ती तून काही विशिष्ट ध्वनीचे आकर्षणं तत्कालीन मानवाला वाटले असावे व ते ध्वनी तो आपल्या मुखातून उच्चारू लागला . असे मोजके तीन चार ध्वनी उच्चारणे व त्या द्वारा आपल्या भावना प्रगट करणे या क्रीयेतुनच संगीतातील स्वर निर्मिती झाली असावी . प्राचीन काळी संगीत तीन चार स्वरातच गायले जाई . रीग्वेदात तीनच स्वरांचा उल्लेख आहे .:- १) अनुदात २) उदात ३)स्वारीत
सा रे ग म या चार सुरातच संगीत गायले जात. आज ही आपल्याकडे परंपरेने गाण्यासारखी लोकगीते एकली तर असे आढळते कि त्यातही केवळ दोन तीन स्वरांचा वापर आहे .

सात सुरांची रचना कशी झाली असावी :-
या सात स्वरांच्या निर्मिती बाबत जी अनेक शांशोधने आहेत त्यातील एक जास्त तर्कसंगत व पटणारे संशोधन कै. गोविंदराव टेंबे यांनी आपल्या "कल्पना संगीत " या ग्रंथात दिले आहे - त्याचा सारांश असा की पुरुष कंठातून निघालेल्या चार ध्वनीचे अनुकरण स्त्रिया ही करू लागल्या । स्त्रीयाचा
स्वर पुरुषा पेखा सामान्यापणे निसर्गतः दीड पटीने उंच असतो . पुरुषांचे आवाजातील, मूळ सा रे ग म हे स्वर तसेच स्त्रीयाच्या दीड पट उंचीच्या आवाजातील सा रे ग म असे दोन भिन्न स्वर गट प्रत्यक्ष प्रचारात सतत येऊ लागले . त्यालाच पुढे स्वर ही संज्ञा मिळाली व हे भिन्न भिन्न आठ स्वर प्रचारात आले . कालांतराने हे चार स्वरांचे दोन्ही गट एकत्र येऊन एक सप्तक संगीतात सिद्ध झाले व संगीताचा प्रवास या सात स्वरांच्या माध्यमातून होऊ लागला .

सा पासून प हा दीड पट उंचीचा आहे. स्त्रीयाचा सा हा पुरुषांचा प हा स्वर होतो . आपल्या भारतीय संगीत शास्त्रात स्वर सप्तकात सा व प हे दोनच स्वर अचल मानले आहेत . ते कधीही विकृत होत नाहीत . थोडक्यात असे म्हणता येईल की मूळ चार सुरातून निर्माण झालेले सप्तक हे क्रिया मूळ चार स्वरांच्या दीड पट उंचीच्या स्वरामधून निर्माण झाली असावी.
पं.अरविंद गजेंद्रगडकर

Friday, December 11, 2009

THE ENCOUNTER
_______________________

A six year old boy was playing in the backyard of his house. There stood an iron pole inserted vertically. The children used to climb up and then slide down. The elder ones performed all sorts of exercises.

But that day he was all alone. He found a leather belt. He held it tightly in his little hand and started whipping the pole relentlessly.. His mother stood at the doorstep watching him. He whipped the pole again and again murmuring “why did you kill my father.” He was red with rage. Not knowing the child’s sudden behavior she rushed at him. He screamed “why did you kill my father.” The words deafened her ears and she consoled her young one took him in her arms. She knew she could not bring back his father. Her husband would never return! He was killed by the dacoit.

Her husband was an Inspector in the Police force. He was posted at Badnaver, in Madhya Pradesh. Everybody addressed him as Raosaheb.
Raosaheb was very handsome strongly built and a brave person. He caught hold of dangerous thieves and vagabonds and put them behind the bars.

Life went on.. he found a beautiful lady fell in love and eventually married her. They were blessed with five children. As soon as he returned home from his tour, the children would cluster round him. He played with them. He would pick the young ones and swing them on his arms. Their reverberating laughter and chuckles freshened him up.

Night was pleasant to be in parents arms. This bliss lasted for a very short period. The darkness enveloped the twinkling stars which foretold a grievous future for the family.
That very night the Inspector spoke to his wife about his plans to catch a notorious dacoit. A pall of gloom spread over her. She was dumbfounded as all her plans to desist him from venturing his arduous task.
Parting with his dear ones he strode away in the eerie jungles with his small group—a handful of men and meager ammunition. The dense forest near Badnawar in Madyapradesh was the dacoit’s hideout. They drove in the deep forests in bullocarts – it was the only means to travel in those days. The narrow lanes of the village, after village was traversed until one village was spotted for supplying huge amount of chicken meat and wines. At ones the Inspector directed his men towards that place. Soon they confronted a fierce looking person clad in military uniform with broad mustache. No doubt that he was the famous dacoit Nathyakhanjar the most wanted by the police force. He was surrounded by his men. They were well equipped with ammunition. He roared aloud to bring the Inspector before him. After much interrogation the dacoit had insisted the Inspector to give up his Police uniform his belt and guns and surrender before them. The brave Inspector preferred to fight with him unto his death. It would be an insult to his profession to go back and cowardly submit to the dacoit’s demands. A fierce battle raged between the two troops. A sepoy who fled for his life had climbed a tree and saw the drama with his naked eye. He was a sole survivor and later narrated the whole incident to the family members and the villagers all that had transpired between the two parties. The fearless Inspector was none other than the little boy’s father.

The body of Raosaheb was brought home and laid for last darshan.
The small boy caught hold of his weeping mothers hand, consoled her and promised to take care of her henceforth.

The heavens rumbled as the guns were fired.....a mark of salutations for the Martyr. The last rights were performed.

Years later,

the promise he had made to his mother had been fulfilled when his mother breathed her last. A huge void left him but this time he was not alone, his better half held him to share his grief .
The above article was published in The Hitavada dt 10/1/2010

Monday, November 16, 2009

GITANJALI...Rabindranath Tagore.

Stream of Life.



.The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and dayruns through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earthin numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birthand of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.

And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.
November 15, 2009 11:39 AM

Tuesday, November 10, 2009


Namrata Vikas Junnarkars Paintings and Sketches!
Namrata





























Namratas Link of her Paintings.

"http://www.facebook.com/album.phpaid=9404&id=100000034101954&l=93c5848d5a"

Friday, November 6, 2009

RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1861-1941)

Rabindranath Tagore was born in Calcutta (India) into a wealthy Brahmin family. He was influenced by Indian Religious Epics and a fourteenth century poet Vidyapati.
He had gone to England in 1878 to study law, he returned to India and instead pursued a career as a writer, playwright, song writer poet philosopher and educator. In 1912 he returned to England with his son. He began translating his poems Gitanjali in to English. Almost all his work was in its native language Bengali….

Tagore’s one friend in England was an artist Rothenstein. He read the translated work of Gitanjali . The poems were incredible. He told to his friend W.B Yeats. Yeats was enthralled. Later Yeats wrote an introduction to Gitanjali when it was published in Sept. 1912. Thereafter, both the poetry and the poet were instant sensation first in London’s literary circle and soon thereafter in the entire world!

His spiritual look his angelic face his long hair and flowing beard was awesome. His words evoked great beauty. Nobody has ever read anything like it. He wrote over one thousand poems; eight volumes of short stories; almost two dozens of play and play-lets; eight novels and many books and essays on philosophy, religious education and social topics. Aside from words and drama, his other great love was music, Bengali style. He composed more than two thousand songs both the music and lyrics.

A glimpse of mysticism and sentimental beauty of Indian Culture were revealed to the West for the first time. Less than a year later, in 1913 Rabindranath received the Noble Prize for Literature. He was the first non westerner to be honored. In 1915 he received the Knighthood by the British King George V . In 1919 following the Amritsar massacre of 400 Indians by British troops Tagore renounced his Knighthood.

Tagore was a creative genius. He had a good grasp of modern post-Newtonian-Physics and was well able to hold debate with Einstein (1930) on the newly emerging principles of quantum mechanics and chaos.

He wrote National Anthem for India and Bangladesh.
His life and works go far beyond his country.

Saturday, October 31, 2009


RABINDRANATH TAGORE'S

GITANJALI
"Song Offerings"
Translations made by the author from the original Bengali.
------------------------------------------
Mind Without Fear
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up
into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action---
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.


Little Flute
Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail
vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life.
This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales,
and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new.
At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in
joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable.
Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine.
Ages pass, and still thou pourest, and still there is room to fill.


Purity
Life of my life, I shall ever try to keep my body pure, knowing
that thy living touch is upon all my limbs.
I shall ever try to keep all untruths out from my thoughts, knowing
that thou art that truth which has kindled the light of reason in my mind.
I shall ever try to drive all evils away from my heart and keep my
love in flower, knowing that thou hast thy seat in the inmost shrine of my heart.
And it shall be my endeavour to reveal thee in my actions, knowing it
is thy power gives me strength to act.
Moment's Indulgence
I ask for a moment's indulgence to sit by thy side. The works
that I have in hand I will finish afterwards.
Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor respite,
and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil.
Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs; and
the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.
Now it is time to sit quite, face to face with thee, and to sing
dedication of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.


Flower
Pluck this little flower and take it, delay not! I fear lest it
droop and drop into the dust.
I may not find a place in thy garland, but honour it with a touch of
pain from thy hand and pluck it. I fear lest the day end before I am
aware, and the time of offering go by.
Though its colour be not deep and its smell be faint, use this flower
in thy service and pluck it while there is time.


Fool
O Fool, try to carry thyself upon thy own shoulders!
O beggar, to come beg at thy own door!
Leave all thy burdens on his hands who can bear all,
and never look behind in regret.
Thy desire at once puts out the light from the lamp it touches with its breath.
It is unholy---take not thy gifts through its unclean hands.
Accept only what is offered by sacred love.


Leave This
Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads!
Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut?
Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee!
He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground
and where the pathmaker is breaking stones.
He is with them in sun and in shower,
and his garment is covered with dust.
Put off thy holy mantle and even like him come down on the dusty soil!
Deliverance?
Where is this deliverance to be found?
Our master himself has joyfully taken upon him the bonds of creation;
he is bound with us all for ever.
Come out of thy meditations and leave aside thy flowers and incense!
What harm is there if thy clothes become tattered and stained?
Meet him and stand by him in toil and in sweat of thy brow.


Journey Home
The time that my journey takes is long and the way of it long.
I came out on the chariot of the first gleam of light, and pursued my
voyage through the wildernesses of worlds leaving my track on many a star and planet.
It is the most distant course that comes nearest to thyself,
and that training is the most intricate which leads to the utter simplicity of a tune.
The traveler has to knock at every alien door to come to his own,
and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end.
My eyes strayed far and wide before I shut them and said `Here art thou!'
The question and the cry `Oh, where?' melt into tears of a thousand
streams and deluge the world with the flood of the assurance `I am!'
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Friday, October 30, 2009

GLOBAL WARMING
&
GREEN HOUSE EFFECT

Our planet Earth is warming up. Its global temperature has risen. During the 20th century, the average global temperature has risen to0.6 degrees Celsius.

Using computer climate models the scientists have estimated that the year 2100 the average global temperature will be 1.4 degrees to 5.8 degrees Celsius.

The glaciers are melting causing floods and tsunami. The whole climate around the planet earth is changing causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions..

The deforestation contributes to global warming considerably. Trees use carbon dioxide and give off oxygen in its place, this helps to create a balance of gases in the atmosphere.

Life on earth depends on energy from the sun. About 30% of the sunlight that beams towards the earth is deflected in the outer space . The rest reaches the planets surface and is reflected upwards as a type of slow moving energy called infrared radiation. As it rises the infrared radiation is absorbed by the “greenhouse gases” such as water vapour carbon dioxide ozone methane and nitrous oxide which slows the escape of heat from the atmosphere.

Although green house gases make up only 1% of the total earth atmosphere. they regulate our climate trapping heat and holding it in a kind of warm air blanket that surrounds the planet. This phenomenon the scientists term as ‘ green house effect.’without it there would be no life on earth.
Venus is too hot, Mars is too cold and Earth is just right.

The problem begins when the humans disturb the Nature, by their activities producing more green- house gases which trap more heat than necessary to warm the planet to an ideal temperature.

The gross activities producing greenhouse effect are:
Burning Natural Gas coal and Oil…. It raises the level of carbon in the atmosphere.
Some Farming practices and land use change increases the level of Methane and Nitrous Oxide in the atmosphere.
Factories produce industrial gases which are responsible for global warming.
Deforestation
Population growth.. means more food output, more farming more supplies for each individual produces green house gases and adds to global warming subsequently.

A lot of damage has already done to our planet. But due to awareness to further check this global warming nations are holding talks. The rich countries are mainly responsible for emission of greenhouse gases. It’s essential to save Our Planet.

(Enviormental issues.About.com)

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Speech at Chicago-Welcome Address


Sisters and Brothers of America,
It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.
My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: "As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee."
The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: "Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me." Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.
By Swami Vivekananda
Each soul is potentially divine.
Our goal is to manifest this divinity within,by controlling nature, external and internal.

Do this either by work, worship, or psychic control, or philosophy-by one or more, or all of these-and be free.

This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details.
-------Swami Vivekananda.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009





श्रीकृष्ण जयंती




श्रीज्ञानेश्वर महाराज जयंती......




पसायदान




आता विश्वात्मके देवें / येणे वाग्यज्ञें तोषावे / तोषोनि मज द्यावें / पसायदान हें //१//


आतां म्हणजे श्रीमत् ज्ञानेश्वरी या भगवत् गीतेवरील टीकाग्रंथाचे कार्य पूर्ण झाल्या नंतर विश्वात्मक प्रभू ने - सदगुरू निवृत्तीनाथानी मी हा जो वाग्यज्ञ केला त्यामुळे माझ्यावर प्रसन्न व्हावे आणि त्या प्र्स्न्न्तेतून मला हे पसायदान द्यावे .


जे खळांची व्यंकटी सांडो / तया सत्कर्मी रति वाढो / भूतां परस्परे पडो /मैत्रजीवांचे //२//


.या विश्वात जी खलवृत्तीची - दुष्ट प्रवृत्तीची मंडळी असतील त्यांचे खलत्व म्हणजे दुष्टपणा -वाकडेपणा जावो . त्याना सत्कर्मात आवड निर्माण होवो आणि ती आवड दिवसेदिवस वर्धिष्णु होवो. सर्व प्राणिमात्रांना एकमेकाविषयी प्रेम निर्माण होवो .




दुरितांचे तिमिर जावो / विश्व स्वधर्म सूर्ये पाहो जो जें वांछील तो तें लाहो / प्राणिजात //३//


अज्ञानामुळे घडणारे जे पाप,त्या पापाचा अंधकार नष्ट होवो. विश्वाची सर्व कर्मे स्वधर्माच्या प्रकाशामध्ये होवोत आणि आपली विश्वाकडे पाहण्याची दृष्टी ही स्वधर्माच्या स्वरुपबोधाच्या प्रकाशामध्ये असो . असा जो साधक असेल त्याची जी इच्छा असेल ती बहुधा पारमार्थिकच असणार ती त्याची इच्छा पूर्ण होवो.


वर्षत सकळमंगळी / ईश्वर निष्ठाची मांदियाळी / अनवरत भूमंडळीं / भेटतु या भूतां //४//


सर्व मांगल्याचा वर्षाव करणारा , ईश्वरनिष्ठ संताचा समुदाय अखंड त्या साधकाला भेटो


चलां कल्पतरूंचे आरव/ चेतना चिंतामणीचें गांव / बोलते जें अर्णव / पीयुशाचे //५// चंद्रमे जें अलांछन / मार्तंड जें तापहीन / तें सर्वांही सदा सज्जन / सोयरे होतु //६//


संत म्हणजे जणू चालते बोलते कल्प्तारुंचे कोवले कोवले कोम्ब असतात । चिंतामणि सर्व ऐहिक इच्छा पूर्ण करतो । पण हे संत साधकांच्या पारमार्थिक इच्छा पूर्ण करणारे चैतन्यरूप चिंतामणि रत्नांचे गाँव असतात । हे संत बोलायला लागले की जणू अमृताचा सागर उंचबलतो आहे असे वाटते ।


चन्द्रमा लांछित आहे पण हे संत कुठलेही लांछन न नसलेले निष्कलंक चंद्रमा आहेत। ताप न देणारे हे सूर्य आहेत । हे संतसज्जन सुष्ट दुष्ट सर्वाना नेहमीच आपल्या सोयरा प्रमाने होवोत .


किंबहुनाn सर्वसुखी / पूर्ण होऊनि तीही लोकी /भजिजो आदिपुरुखी / अखंडित //७//


साधकाने ऐहिक आणि पारत्रिक सर्व सुखाने तिन्ही लोकात परिपूर्ण होऊंन त्या आदिपुरुशाला अखंडित भजावे ।



आणि ग्रंथोपजीविये / विशेषी लोकी इये / दृष्टादृष्टविजये / होआवें जी //८//

ज्ञानऐश्वारित सांगितल्या प्रमाणे जो जीवन जगत असेल त्याला या कलियुगात वर्त्तमान परिस्थितीत ऐहिक आणि पारत्रिक ऐश्वर्य प्राप्त होवो ।


तेथ म्हणे श्रीविश्वेशरावो / हा होईल दानपसावो /येणे वरें ज्ञानदेवो / सुखिया जाला //९//


त्यावर विश्वाचे स्वामी श्रीनिवृत्तिनाथ म्हणतात 'तू मागीतलेले हे पसायदान पूर्ण होईल 'या सद्गुरुंच्या आशीर्वादाने ज्ञानदेवाना अतिशय संतोष झाला । ................स्वामी माधवनाथ पुणे .


Wednesday, August 12, 2009




Saturn's Rings to Disappear Tuesday By Robert Roy BrittEditorial Directorposted: 10 August 200909:01 am ET
In a celestial feat any magician would appreciate, Saturn will make its wide but thin ring system disappear from our view Aug. 11.
Saturn's rings,
loaded with ice and mud, boulders and tiny moons, is 170,000 miles wide. But the shimmering setup is only about 30 feet thick. The rings harbor 35 trillion-trillion tons of ice, dust and rock, scientists estimate.
The
rings shine because they reflect sunlight. But every 15 years, the rings turn edge-on to the sun and reflect almost no sunlight.
"The light reflecting off this extremely narrow band is so small that for all intents and purposes the rings simply vanish," explained Linda Spilker, deputy project scientist for the Cassini Saturn mission at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Mysterious rings
The rings remain a bit of a mystery. Scientists are not sure when or how they formed, though likely a
collision of other objects was involved.
Saturn's equator is tilted relative to its orbit around the sun by 27 degrees – similar to the 23-degree tilt of the Earth. As Saturn circles the sun, first one hemisphere and then the other is tilted sunward. This causes seasons on Saturn, just as Earth's tilt causes seasons on our planet.
While Earth goes around the sun once every 365 days or so, Saturn's annual orbit takes 29.7 years. So every 15 years, the attitude shift puts the gas giant planet's equator, and its ring plane, directly in line with sunlight. Scientists call it an equinox, and this one marks the arrival of spring to the giant planet's northern hemisphere. (On Earth, equinoxes occur in March and September.)
"Whenever equinox occurs on Saturn, sunlight will hit Saturn's thin rings, the ring plane, edge-on," Spilker said.
Galileo puzzled
Galileo Galilei was the first to notice the rings and their then-mysterious transformation in the 17th century. Through one of the first telescopes, which he built himself, Galileo discovered Saturn's rings. He didn't know what they were, though, since all he could see were two lobes attached to the planet like ears. He entered the newfound setup in his notebook as a tiny drawing, mid-sentence, to serve as a noun.
By December 1612, Galileo had studied the phenomenon for more than two years, and the lobes (he thought they might be moons) were getting thinner. Then they disappeared.
"I do not know what to say in a case so surprising, so unlooked for and so novel," he wrote in a letter.
Dutch mathematician Christiaan Huygens, using a better telescope, figured out what the rings were in 1655.
"Galileo had every right to be mystified by the rings," Spilker said. "While we know how Saturn pulls off its ring-plane crossing illusion, we are still fascinated and mystified by Saturn's rings, and equinox is a great time for us to learn more."
Up-close view
The edge-on setup
casts shadows across the rings in a unique way that can reveal moonlets and other structures otherwise not visible.
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has a front-row seat to the event.
Cassini is watching for topographic features – perhaps some tiny moons or warps in the rings, and it has already spotted some mystery features in the days leading up to the equinox. In one new image, an object seems to have punched through one of the rings, dragging material with it to
leave a visible scar. The craft's near-infrared and ultraviolet instruments will be on the hunt for signs of seasonal change on the planet.
"We are not sure what we will find," Spilker said. "Like any great magician, Saturn never fails to impress."

Saturday, August 1, 2009

COME DECEMBER.

----
There is something in the air-- the music of December. With the faint breeze of music, catches the December fever, and I get all set to greet it with my hands widely stretched. I hug this season with pride,- cause it is the most enchanting and memorable of all the seasons.

Frozen Fingers
I dash out from my cosy bed for an early morning walk. The lovely feeling for the cool cool breeze tickling my nose pink. With watery eyes and frozen fingers I reminisce the winter in North. The valley of Kashmir stretches with pall of snow. The dazzling snow on the mountains, on roads,on building, on trees and on their fine branches. The winter in pure whiteness. One perceives its magnificent beauty unblinkingly.

I remember the warmth of the silent falling snowflakes
Playing with snowballs making a snowman, zooming on the set ice with rollers and skies., rushing in the house to warm the frozen limbs beside the heated furnace called ‘Bukharin’ savouring the best food and fruits. Those were the days of childhood unforgettable .Trekking the mountains where father had been stationed with the battalion . On reaching we would storm father’s mess. Replenished our mugs with hot tea over gossips . A thrilling adventure during our vacations. During school we would freeze with cold. The teacher held each students hands over a well lit charcoal earthen pot (kangri) … to thaw them up. A feeling of love and care embarked within us . Whether Muslim or Christian, a Sikh or a Hindu all mingled together freely.

It was the winter of the year 1962 when war with China broke out . Father moved to the borders of NEFA . A huge fleet carrying jawans and arms drifted towards the borders. We were used to seeing them parading with heavy guns . Practicing artillery.—they would scream c-h-a-r-g-e . Piercing the bayonet of the rifles through the heavy sand bags. All their practice would be proved ‘ perfect’ when the enemy would crumble dead!

Nightmares
In the biting cold of the Himalayas the only attire which seemed to warm them up was ‘Courage’. Their echoes and echoes of the marauding planes awakened us from dreadful nightmares. How many had laid their lives, returned wounded or in one piece was the ever growing concern of their near and dear ones.

Mother seemed never to tire from hearing about Dad’s welfare & whereabouts. Our eldest brother (14) years would masquerade as father imitating his voice and thumping footsteps. Poor mother’s impatience would make way through streams of tears.. We kids then realizing the grievousness would cluster round her and console her. We prayed the almighty sincerely. Our prayers were answered. And with the advent of December, one day, father knocked at the door. Oh! Our joy had no bounds. Thank God, the war was at last over!.

My above article was published in Hitwada

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The Moon Walk


Mrs.Prajakta.A.Dighe

Forty one years ago it was 2oth July 1969, I was studying in College. I remember we (my friends) and the rest of people young and old all rejoiced at the news of ‘the first men on the moon.’ Neil Armstrong and Edward Aldrin had stepped out of their shuttle they hoisted flag of USA on the Moon. The third astronaut Michael Collins had circled the moon. It was a memorable day for the world. Neil Armstrong had remarked a small step for the man and it is a giant leap for the Mankind. True the three astronauts tireless efforts and rigorous training these astronauts do is really laudable. Today's young astronaut from Satara Arti Patil who is undergoing the tough Astronaut training at USA had addressed about the training they undergo. The mind boggling experience , and only the fit are able to pass these tests.. she said.

After forty long years the 40th anniversary of NASA ‘s moon landing, President Barack Obama hailed the three astronauts of Apollo 11
An article caught my attention in Telegraph ; it read. The Apollo 11 astronauts were neglected by NASA. They were not give the support needed to readjust to life on Earth after returning from the first manned voyage to the Moon NASA has admitted. It speaks volumes about America. The current chief of medical operation Dr.JD. Polk told Time that the three men and their families should have been offered psychological help after the mission ended on July 24th 1969.
The
Telegraph carried the news about Buzz Aldrin's talks to Marc Lee about the depression and alcoholism he faced after the moon landing. His two failed marriages and difficult relationship with his Father and the tragedy of his Mother who killed herself shortly before the Lunar Mission because she did not think she could handle her son's imminent fame .
The Apollo 11 crew have made history Their names have to be writtn in golden letters..their adventure to another planet is immortal! These heroes should have been proprly rewared.

NASA had done a disservice in failing to offer them any help in readjusting to life on Earth remarked Lawrence Palinkas a Professor of anthropology at the University of South California.
People in war also face the same experience. They fight for their nation at times they lay down their precious life ,some are maimed forever . They too are not rewarded for their valour. It really pains ,its criminal on part of all of us to overlook such a serious matter.

On 25th May 1961President J.F Kennedy had pledged that America would land men on the moon by the end of the decade. His dream was fulfilled at last on the day 20th July 1969. But the earthly dreams of the Astronauts remained unfulfilled….

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

William Shakespeare


  • Sonnet #39 Posted: XXXIX.
    O, how thy worth with manners may I sing,When thou art all the better part of me?What can mine own praise to mine own self bring?And what is 't but mine own when I praise thee?Even for this let us divided live,And our dear love lose name of single one,That by this separation I may giveThat due to thee which thou deservest alone.O absence, what a torment wouldst thou prove,Were it not thy sour leisure gave sweet leaveTo entertain the time with thoughts of love,Which time and thoughts so sweetly doth deceive,And that thou teachest how to make one twain,By praising him here who doth hence remain!


Sunday, June 28, 2009


Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) built its first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the early 90s. The 45 m tall PSLV with a lift-off mass of 295 tonne, had its maiden success on October 15, 1994, when it launched India's IRS-P2 remote sensing satellite into a Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) of 820 km altitude. Since its first successful launch in 1994, PSLV has launched nine Indian Remote Sensing satellites as well as two micro satellites HAMSAT and IMS-1 built by ISRO, a recoverable space capsule SRE-1, and fourteen small satellites for foreign customers into polar Sun Synchronous Orbits. Besides, it has launched one Indian meteorological satellite Kalpana-1 into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). PSLV has emerged as ISRO's workhorse launch vehicle and proved its reliability and versatility by scoring continuous successes in launching multiple payloads to both SSO as well as GTO.Considering the maturity of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) demonstrated through various performances, PSLV is chosen for the first lunar mission. The upgraded version of PSLV viz., PSLV-XL (PSLV-C11) is used to inject the 1380 kg mass spacecraft into a 255 x 22860 km orbit. PSLV has four stages, using solid and liquid propulsion systems alternately. Six strap-on motors augment the first stage thrust. PSLV-XL is the upgraded version of PSLV. In PSLV-XL, the six strap-on motors carry 4 tonne more propellant compared to PSLV; There is also an increase in the length of each strap-on.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

When Love Blossomed!


It was a quite evening, she was waiting for some one she belonged to. The day was special and pleasant in her life. She reflected on their strange meeting. .Her mind went back to that momentuous day of her betrothal.

The veil of time had lifted. The short religious ceremony in her home came up before her. The air was filled with joy. The jewellery added charm to her face . Her hair was neatly made up with jasmine flowers tucked in them the scent of which filled the air. Her sister had escorted her to the drawing room full of guests. Her heart beat faster and she felt discomfort. She glanced at her parents. They were happy and full of spirit

He had very gently slipped the ring on her finger and she managed to steal a glance at him. But, he was quite composed. She felt nervous. She had wanted some more time to decide her fate, but as a girl she had no choice . The approval of the boy was the only important thing.

The members of both the families were happy. The event was of paramount importance to them. She saw that her mother was happy, their marriage had been a success. Their love had not faltered in adverse circumstances. Had her mother felt the same strangeness when she married. How could a man choose his life partner without knowing much . He was a perfect stranger to her as she was to him. Hadn’t she seen, read, and heared about the numerous marriages broken due to lack of acquiantence.. So she dreaded her marriage too. Just exchange of glances and words of introduction were enough for him.

Finally after the ceremony they were allowed a few moments of privacy. He wished to stroll in her company in the garden. The evening was pleasant. They sat on the green grass. A good deal more had passed than words between them. She made a mental note of all that she meant to ask him. Now was the time she tried to open her mouth but in vain. At last he broke the silence “You don’t seem to feel well.” She simply nodded. If only he had known the storm within her.! "I am the most blessed soul. God is great. He does listen to your sincere prayers.' He spoke with an air of delight. “At last he has answered my prayers in the form of You.' He laughed.. She bit her lips She had expected some silly questions from him. But he was different, intelligent, confident and mature. There was no doubt of any sort in his tone,about his decision, she was abashed. He could detect with a glance that there was a warm response in her!
...... My above article was published in Hitvada.

Monday, June 8, 2009

COOKING IS FUN


If you are married, just married or going to be married remember and follow some of the effective hints towards a happy married life. You do everything to please your beloved, stay beautiful, in form, in style learn and talk the way he likes. But the most important aspect of a married woman besides being loving and caring comes through acquiring the art of cooking ambrosial meals. I might sound a bit ante deluvian but certainly this aspect of women have conquered many a domestic battles and finally their people’s hearts too. Haven’t you heard men folks utter “My wife is a wonderful cook! Expert!.

Cooking is an art which should not be overlooked as a job of servants. The affluent ladies have shed cooking as a useless garment. They take pride in emphasizing the number of cooks and servants employed and never fail to give a call to one of them while gossiping with others.

Gone are the days when cooking was tedious job with smoky choolas and improper arrangements. I mean a strenuous sitting, standing or bending low in cooking and then serving meals? Even then women toiled hard, learnt all the elaborate dishes and satisfied their people’s appetites. In the good old days it was a must for every marriageable girl to know cooking. My grandmother would proudly say “When occasion demanded we were required to cook for huge number of people all alone.” She added, “Nowadays women have to hunt for a cook even to prepare the daily meals for a small family.” .

Considering the modern trend in living with the readymade Masalas, Mixers and the recent cooking appliances in the house, cooking appears even more interesting and time saving .

One wonders why cant self-cooking be accepted as a part and parcel of our living style. Why do we have to grumble over it? Actually cooking is fun! If you have a positive approach towards it. If we are required to spend some time in the kitchen , liven it up peacefully , manipulating our daily menu with a little imagination and common sense things turn out pleasant. Don’t we eat to live. If we innovate our dishes plus the traditional ones – the magic and love both show in it. Even the same dal sabji, roti, chutney etc. turn out more palatable. You have put your love in spending your time and energy. It is the secret of a loving wife, be it a housewife or a serving one. Try out and say cooking is fun!


My above article was published in Hitvada.
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Saturday, June 6, 2009

तुकाराम गाथा......


वेदांचा तो अर्थ आम्हासीच ठावा / येरांनी वाहावा भार माथा //१//
खादल्याची गोडी देखिल्यासी नाही / भार धन वाही मजुरीचे //२//
उत्पत्ति पाळणं-संहाराचे निज / जेणे नेले बीज त्याचे हाती //३//
तुका म्हणे आम्हा सांपडले मूळ / आपणचि फळ आले हाता //४//

दिवाकर अनंत घैसास म्हणतात....
"वेदांचा तो अर्थ आम्हासी ठावा / येरांनी वाहावा भार माथा" हे तुकारामा चे विधान वरवर पाहाता मोठे धृष्टतेचे वाटते आणि म्हणूनच अनुभवाच्या मार्गाने ब्राह्मस्थिति पोहोचणार्या संतांची बाजू मांडण्यासाठी या विधानाचा मराठी साहित्यात वारंवार उपयोग केला जातो महाराज . म्हणतात , जो एखाध्या खाद्य पदार्थाचे नुसते वर्णन करतो किंवा वर्णन ऐकतो किंवा तो खाद्य पदार्थ नुसता पाहातो त्याला प्रत्यक्षात त्या पदार्थाची चव कशी आहे, त्याची गोडी, शरीरावर होणारे त्याचे भलेबुरे परिणाम,त्याचे खरे गुण यांचा अनुभव येणे शक्य नाही. त्याचप्रमाणे वेदांतील ब्रम्हस्थितीची वर्णने तोंडपाठ करणार्यांपेक्षा "एकं सत् विप्रः बहुधा वदन्ति /"अशासारख्या "सत्य एकच आहे व प्रज्ञावंत त्याला निरनिराळी नावे देतात एवढेच -" हे सांगणार्या वचनाचा अर्थ जे संत , योगी स्वानुभवाने एकत्वाची प्रचीती घेतात त्यांनाच जास्त समजतो. पाठांतर करणार्याना फक्त मेंदूत सर्व शब्द साठवून पुनरुच्चार करण्याचे श्रम पडतात.
तसेच आम्हा संताना हे माहित आहे कि जो जगाची ,वेदांचीही - उत्पत्ती करतो , पालन करतो संहार करतो त्या परमेश्वराच्याच हाती या सृष्टीचे मूळ बीज आहे आणि आम्ही संतांनी ते मूळ बीज ॐ कार रूपाने ,सोहम रूपाने अनुभवून आत्मसात् केले आहे. ज्याअर्थी या प्रमाणे मूळ आम्हाला गवसले आहे त्याअर्थी संसाराचे परमोच्य फळ जी मुक्ती तीही आम्हाला प्राप्त आहे कारण कारणातच कार्य हे समाविष्ट असते. मजुराने धनाची पेटी वाहून नेली तरी त्याला ते धन मिळात नाही तसे वेद पठणाचे श्रम करणार्याना त्यातील अर्थाचे ज्ञान होत नाही असे इथे दृष्टांताने त्यांनी सांगितले आहे. .

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

तुकाराम गाथा ....

सदा माझे डोळां जडो तुझी मूर्ती \ रखुमाईच्या पती सोयरिया \\१\\
गोड तुझे रूप गोड तुझे नाम \ देई मज प्रेम सर्वकाळ \\२\\
विठो माउलिये हाची वर देई \ संचरोनिया राही हृदयामाजी \\३\\
तुका म्हणे कांहि न मागे आणिक \ तुझे पायीं सुख सर्व आहे \\४\
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दिवाकर अनंत घैसास म्हणतात.....आपण रोज केव्हातरी थोडा वेळ देवाच्या मूर्ति चे ध्यान करतो , मूर्ति समोर काही अर्पण करतो , नमस्कार करतो ,दर्शन घेतो ,प्रदक्षिणा घालतो ,घंटानाद करतो आणि मग नित्य व्यवसायाला लागतो. पण आपल्या डोल्यांसमोर देवाची मूर्ति कही निरंतर नसते. व्यवहारिक गोष्टींचेच ध्यान मग चालू असते . "संसार मुख्यः फवल्या वेळात देव" असा आपला दिनक्रम असतो. खरी गोडी आपल्याला इतर विषयांची असते . बाह्य पदार्थाचे सौंदर्या आपणाला भूल पाड़ते. तुकाराम महाराज मात्र देवाजावळ असे मागतात की त्यांच्या डोळ्या पुढे त्यांची मूर्तीच सदा सर्वकाळ राहवी; अन्य चिंतनच नको. रुक्मिणीचा पती पांडुरंग त्याना सोयरा वाटतो . त्याचे रूप तर गोडच आहे, नाम तर जास्तच गोड आहे मग त्यानी देवाला म्हटले की तुझे प्रेम मला सर्वकाल मिळूदे ! माझ्या मनात तुझ्याबद्दलचे प्रेम सर्वकाळ राहू दे ;आणि पांडुरंगा पुढे विठुमाऊली होतो !ती विठाई तुकरामाच्या ह्रदयात नित्य संचारून राहो !अर्थात् ह्रदयस्थ परमेश्वरच सदा सर्वदा जाग्रत राहों ! बाह्य मूर्ति बाहेर नाही रहात ! अंतरबाह्य तोच पांडुरंग चैतन्यरुपात नांदू लागतो . अशा पांडुरंगाच्या अक्षय शाश्वत चरणांशीच सारे काही सुख आहे, म्हणूनच तुकारामाची मागणी त्या विठू माऊलीने त्यांचे जीवनच व्यापून राहावे अशी आहे . इश्वरः सर्वभूतानाम हृद्देशे तिष्टति याची अनुभूति सतत यावी अशी ही प्रार्थना आहे .
मन करा रे प्रसन्न \ सर्व सिद्दींचे कारण \ मोक्ष अथवा बंधन \सुख समाधान इच्छा ते \\१\\ मने प्रतिमा स्थापिली \ मने मना पूजा केली \मने इच्छा पुरविली \ मन मऊली सकलाळांची \\ २\\ मन गुरु आणि शिष्य \ करी अपुलेंचि दास्य \प्रसन्ना आपआपणास गति अथवा अधोगति \\३\\ साधक वाचक पंडित \ श्रोते वक्ते ऐका मात \नहीं नहीं आन दैवत \ तुका म्हणे दुसरे \\
दिवाकर अनंत घैसास म्हणतात
.............ऐका वेगळ्या चालीमधे रचलेला हा तुकाराम महाराजांचा अभंग मोठे तत्वज्ञान सांगतो , मन हेच मुख्या परामार्थसाधन आहे व त्याची नित्य प्रसन्नता हेच परम साद्य आहे. प्रसन्नता म्हणजे काय ? उत्साहाने ओंसनडून चंचल होणे नव्हे . प्रसन्नता म्हणजेच शांती समाधान . ज्याचे मन सम अवस्थेत असते त्याने जन्ममरणरूपी संसार जिंकला आहे .इहैव तैर्जितः सर्गो येषां साम्ये स्थिताम मनः .तसेच बंध आणि मोक्ष याना कारण मनच आहे. मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बांध मोक्षयोः ज्याने मन जिंकले त्याने जगच जिंकले 'इन्द्रिया मधे मन म्हणजे मीच आहे.' असे भगवंताचे म्हांणणे आहे श्रद्धा हेच मनाचे बलस्थान आहे.तिनेच मनुष्य पाशाण मुर्तित देव पाहतो .मनच सर्वंची आई आहे कारण ब्रह्मदेवाने सृष्टि उत्पन्न केली ती मनानेच संकल्पपूर्वक केली आहे..मानस प्रजास सृष्टि रूप झाली . मानवी मन हे विश्वमनाशी एकरूप झाले की तेथेच परमेश्वरी शक्ति प्रगट होते सर्व भेद मनानेच निर्मिले जातात . ....

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Tukaram Gatha

समचरणदृिष्ट विटेवरी साजिरी । तेथें माझी हरी वृित्त राहो ॥1॥
आणीक न लगे मायिक पदार्थ । तेथें माझें आर्त्त नको देवा ॥ध्रु.॥
ब्रह्मादिक पदें दुःखाची शिराणी । तेथें दुिश्चत झणी जडों देसी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे त्याचें कळलें आह्मां वर्म । जे जे कर्मधर्म नाशवंत॥3॥

दिवाकर अनंत घैसास म्हणतात :........तुकाराम्बुवाना एकच आस लागून राहिली आहे कि ज्या विठ्ठ्लाचे चरणही सम आहेत व दृष्टीही सम आहे व जो विटेवर उभा असून फारच सुंदर दिसत आहे ,त्या विठ्ठ्लाचे रूप न्याहाळीत मनाच्या सर्व वृत्ती एकवटून राहोत .म्हणूनच ते श्री हरीला विनवणी करीत आहेत कि हे हरी मला मायेच्या क्षेत्रातील आणखीन दुसरा कोणताही पदार्थ नको आहे मझ्या मनात त्याची जरासुद्धा वासना अतृप्त इच्या राहू देयू नकोस .भक्ताने आपल्याकडून भगवंताच्या ठिकाणी कितीही प्रयत्नाने मन लावण्याचा अभ्यास केला तरी त्यावर श्रीहरी ची कृपा होईल तरच मन तेथे स्थिर होणार . हे भाक्तीमार्गा चे रहस्यच सांगताहेत ......ददामि बुधीयोगं तं तेन मामुपयान्ति ते . असे श्री कृष्णाचे गीतेत वचन आहे बुद्धीची जोडणी भगवंताशी होण्यास भगवंताचेच कृपा बळ उपयोगी पडते 'मत्पर' असून जो 'युक्त ' असतो तोच भक्त खरा योगी . एकट्याच्या बळावर चित् एकाग्र होणे नाही . तुकारामबुवा पुढे म्हणतात "देवा ,ब्रह्मदेव इंद्र आणि इतर उच्च स्वर्गातील गती व स्थान म्हणजे दुखाचीच कथा ! क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति ! असे जीव पुन्हा मृतुलोकी जन्माला येणारच ! त्याचे इगित मला कळले आहे . त्या साठी केले जाणारे यज्ञ दान आदी कर्माचरण सगळे नष्ट होणारे असते तेव्हा हे हरी तू माझ्हे मन तिकडे वळूच देऊ नकोस . मला माझ्या मनाची खात्री नाही !" इथे भक्त आत्मनिवेदन करीत आहे . देवाला शरण आहे . पर्यायाने समदृष्टी ने जगाकडे पहावे व आपल्या चारणाकडून आचारंही समतोल व्हावे असे हे गूढ मागणे आहे.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Supernova Remnant EO102 in the small magellanic cloud

"Something in us recognizes the Cosmos as home. We are made of steller ash. Our origin and evolution have been tied to distant cosmic events. The exploration of Cosmos is a voyage of self-discovery!"
....CARL SAGAN


COSMOS

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

In Love With Oneself

That day when I looked into the mirror, I was wonderstruck. Oh ! I was looking very nice. I felt happy at heart to know myself so very presentable and charming that I realized later I had fallen in love with my own self.

My thoughts recalled the legendary Greek tale of young ‘Narcissus’. He had fallen in love with his image in a pond. Everyday he would visit the pond and pine for the handsome figure, little knowing that it was his own reflection. His attempts and wait proved futile as the image vanished with slight touch. In the end Narcissus perished with grief.

The self within me was awakened. It said Dearie you are exceptional. At night when I was going to bed I remembered those sweet words, ‘exceptional lady! I tried to sleep. But sleep would not come to me because I was waiting for someone of my image. Hence I was tempted to look into the mirror.

The mirror on the wall whispered, “you are the fairest of all”. I drew a deep breath as I stood admiring my reflection. A young beautiful face,the nose, the eyes, the dark hairs and the well curved lips all in perfection. I thanked God a million times for making me like this.

Then it became a regular habit for me to give a quick glance at the mirror wherever I found one. I had always found myself pleasing. I whistled softly in delight. The surreptitious glances caught my cheerful mood. The twinkling eyes and the blushing cheeks. Ah, the perfect lady came an honest approbation from within.

Then years flew by leaving my jaded self to ponder the events. The encounter with my present image left me in utter dismay. How I had changed. The face had lost its luster and freshness. A tuft of grey hair was conspicuous. I tried plucking them off but in vain as they were numerous. In a subdued state I kept glancing at my reflection. My eyes penetrated deep into the image. It was true that the body had lost its charm even then something more binding than looks had reappeared. My long lost Ego.

For a moment I flashed my mirror at the world. I had not known at all these years. When I peeped inside their hearts. I could see the infinite formes like those from two mirrors placed opposite each other. A whole world of love was embraced.

A new light dawned upon me. I loved myself more than before. Once again with the aged hand I wiped the dust from the mirror.
_____________________________________________By Prajakta.A.Dighe
The above article was published in The Hitvada.



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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The Awakening!

Hello friends i am back after a prolonged illness. Viewing life on the bed was altogether a different experience. I could feel the touch of my nurse her loving and caring hands seemed most beautiful. she reminded me of Florence Nightingale who attended the wounded persons for hours.. my doctor who seemed to me the man of worship after God the Almighty. A new light shone on my inward eye......a Bliss of Solitude ....like William Wordsworth!
As I tread the known paths the known streets after months my heart fills with joy . The morning sunrise the bells ringing in the Temple .. herald the Omnipresense of Him . The chirping of the birds sounds like the singing of the nightingales... The cool breeze kissing my new face fluttering the butts hanging on my forehead .I have something to say.. This is Paradise! I had missed... The Heavens resides in YOU itself and Nowhere.. Take a Dip and sevour a drop atleast!