Holi ...Through the Colours of Intoxication

So this year as always India goes to celebrate one more holi. As always people apply and splutter various colours on almost everyone they know and yes they don't really know. Like in many places people get drunk in Bhang if not other alcholic beverages. Yes people get cleverly masked in unrecognizable formats where one drinks and lashes out in objectionable manner.The tradition of consuming bhang on holi is particularly rampant in North India where holi itself is celebrated with a gusto unseen anywhere else.
Over the centuries and over the decades the festive spirit of holi slowly deteriorated; it has been hugely corrupted and misused by people. I greatly feel this has been due to an excessively bad influence of bolloywood movies of the 1960s and the 1970s. The Bachan era (Don) bought in a lot of celebrity status to this festival and corrupted it with open indulgence in consumption of narcotics, alcohol and objectionable sexual opportunism and exhibitionism.
Bhang is a very intoxicating drink and is the official drink of Holi. Bhang escalates the spirit of holi - and believed to be a festival which does not recognise any restrictions. Typically buds and leaves of Indian Hemp plant called Cannabis Sativa(Charas/Grass/Hashish) are squashed and ground into a green paste. This is then added to milk, ghee (reduced butter), and spices to create a drink. The drink is accompanied with pakoras, barfi, jalebis, lassi, and kulfi all combined to be called as a Holi Lunch. Cultivation of Cannabis is illegal in many parts of the world including India where its abundantly grown, and there is only a mild social stigma attached to it compared to smoking marijuana outright. The psycho-active component of cannabis preparations is delta 9-TetraHydroCannabinol and not DeHydroCrotinin. Delta 9-THC as it is referred to is prepared from the Indian hemp plant cannabis sativa, a hardy, aromatic annual herb. cannabis is probably the most commonly used illicit drug in the world. The cannabis herb contains other psychoactive components too, but Delta 9-THC is most abundant. The most potent forms of cannabis come from the flowering tops of the plants or from the dried, black-brown, resinous exudate from the leaves referred to as hashish or charas. The stem and leaves of the plant when cut, dried and chopped are then smoked in cigarettes commonly called as "Joints" "Grass" or mixed with milk, sweetmeats and cakes to make "Bhang".
As far as health effects go, Cannabis smoke is a potential cause of Cancer because of presence of similar if not more carcinogenic substances as cigarette smoke. It can also lead to bronchitis. Far more significant are the psychological effects of cannabis. Chronic Cannabis use may precipitate Psychosis in vulnerable individuals and long-term cannabis use may exert subtle effects on memory, attention and the integration of complex information leading to insanity.
It is important that our youth are sensitised to the message that be it "Bhang" or "Charas" or "Grass", they all contain Delta 9-THC in different potencies. And as with all poisons, there is no such thing as too little of it. People might ignore it for a day; people might ignore these facts for pleasure; people might overlook these facts for forgetting pain and displeasure; but in all it hits back some time in life.
I also want to remind that in this festive mood, it is easy for everyone to forget that there is something known as the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in India. Few Indians realise how powerful this act is, with potential for abuse. For example, someone arrested under this act is presumed guilty until proven innocent, which is against normal jurisprudence. Bail can be granted only after a court hearing. Given the Indian judicial system, this can take a few months to many years. Its in all good that one stays away and discourage usage of Bhang or Joints or to that extent alcohol to the fullest extent.
But though Bhang is derived from Cannabis, and is listed under Narcotic substance source; Bhang does not come under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Potency scale of products(2% to 20%) from Cannabis Bhang (Hashish). Extracts from unpollinated female parts of the Cannabis are the most potent of all the forms. Bhang should be elevated into this list as the effects irrespective of potency does have an abuse on the human body. And with laws not monitoring this unorganised production might lead to a fatal case due high potency of Charas black resign presence.
Sources - Web and Paper on Potency of Cannibies

The True Spirit of Holi

We in our modern era and our modern cosmopolitan culture are very fast in keeping in pace with the modern culture and the in-things by conveniently ignoring the core spirit of our Indian festivals. Indian festivals have a strong traditional, cultural heritage and are among the most symbolic in expressions and intent. Over the years and decades the core essence is slowly but forgotten. It is for us to rediscover the true symbolism and true meaning in the festival. A closer look and little thought with some bit of media surfing should reveal the significance of Holi in more ways than that meets the eye.
Mythological Significance

1. Prahalad & Hiranyakshyap - Due to profound devotion of his Son Prahalada, Hiranyakshyap who has been graced by Bramha and hated MahaVishnu; orders extermination of Prahalada in fire. Hiranyakshayap's sister Holika is inturn set ablaze as the devotion in Prahalada protects him from being engulfed in Agni(fire) but Holika pays the price of her price in "Holika Dahaa"
2. From the Shri Krishna era; Lord Krishna is shown applying colours to Radha and other Gopikas. It also states that Holi is the celebration of death of Ogress Pootana who tried to killing infant Krishna by feeding poisonous milk.
3. Another legend of Holi which is extremely popular down South is that of Lord Shiva and Kaamadeva. As per the legend Kaamadeva sacrifices himself by getting incinerated by Rudradeva's Agninetram to break Siva's Samadhi to protect the world from Tarakasur who in turn was killed by Karthikeya swamy son of Parvathy & Siva.

Cultural Significance

Holi is typically a two day festival which leads to a New year Ugaadi. It symbolises destruction of old habits and adaption of new cleaner and austere habits as one steps into a new year. It lets us symbolically leave behind the past of bad and unpleasant feelings and fill ourselves with brightness and colours of new coming year. It prepares us to enter the new Year in a cleansed, Pure and a rejuvenated state.

On the Poornima night the night before Holi; all the people of the society gather for Holika Dahan. People put into the fire Flattened Dried Cow dung cakes, alond with old clothes and old thrash. Sajjana Sangatyam - Social Well being is the motive behind this Dahan.The symbolism behind this one is destroying old things at home is of destroying all the bad and evil we have picked up in our daily lives till that date. Symbolically with burning of old useless and unwanted things we are destroying the poor shades of our past life to start new one. While burning the discarded things of all others from the society; signifies destruction of all Social Taboos and Social evil in the society, where the society proclaims destruction of all things which are bad. Having completed this ritual of Holika dahan individuals and society alike have set ablaze all the social perils and evils [Kama (Lust), Krodha (Rage), Lobha (Greed), Moha (Attachment) and Ahankar (ego) ]; In the same way Lord Shiva destroyed Kamaa we should also be aiming to eliminate all the lust and desire from ourself and aid in universal brotherhood and social well-being. This when achieved will lead way to peace and prosperity to the entire world which is much required in today's world. One also takes Oath on Agni that one is willing to forget and forgive all the previous animosity against others and oneself and promise to be a better person.

On the Second day everyone gets together to smear colours on each other. Everyone comes out to meet and greet everyone friends and enemies alike and exchange colours. This signifies that one after being purified in the Holika Dahan by stripping ourself of all the evil and bad one is pure and Divine. And a person by socialising and applying colours exchange all the Goodness and purity of the other. The more a person socialises the more the good characters and good spirits one is able to attract and adopt. Colours act as an exchange of key characteristics of goodness and well being each colour signifying one key characteristic. Adapting colours in equivalent to inviting and exchanging more goodness to self and others. In other sense it reinstates and realigns all the brotherhood and friendship to set sail for new heights. As Agarbathi wards off bad odour without loosing its characteristic odour in the same fashion it is believed one is inviting others goodness by keeping off evil from this day. One should aim to find the colours of Divine or the colours of Param Athma the Supreme Spirit during this stage. Usage of natural colours like Pasupu(Haldi), Kumkum, Bilvaku, Vibhuti (Ashes), Chanda (sandal) have there own key attributes and attractive potency to retain and store human characterstic traits.

These purpose adds a very different dimension to the festival in all. And I really hope the true spirit is identified and lives on to live on.

Biological Significance

This festival occurs at the onset of spring. As Holi comes at a time of the year when people have a tendency to feel sleepy and lazy. This is natural for the body to experiences some tardiness due to the change from the cold to the heat in the atmosphere. This period, during which the weather changes, is prone to cause viral fever and cold. Thus, the playful throwing of the coloured powders has a medicinal significance as the coloured powders are made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurveda doctors. Biologists believe the liquid dye or Abeer penetrates the body and enters into the pores. It has the effect of strengthening the ions in the body and adds health and beauty to it. It's also thought that deficiency of a particular colour in our body causes ailment, which can be cured only after supplementing the body with that particular colour.

Another scientific reason for celebrating the Holi, pertains to the tradition of Holika Dahan. The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Following the tradition when people perform Parikrima (going round) around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus, cleansing it.

However, current Holi colors are chemical concoctions that are in fact toxic and are to be avoided at all costs. There is a movement in Indian metros to make Holi safe again.

So wish you all a Safe, and a Sound Holi.

Sound of Music from ANIMALS!!!

We as Indians are very much familiar with the seven basic notes of classical music which incidentally are the 101 of all basic music learning. One could infact sing each and every song in these syllables.
Going back to these Indian notes, or Swaras or Swaramulu as they are called, the seven notes are actually derivatives of
Shadja
Rishabh
Gandhar
Madhyam
Pancham D
haivat
Nishad.
Interestingly, these swaras are believed to have originated from the sounds different animals, and some have additional meanings of their own.
The association with animals is as follows:
Sa (meaning Sagar) - Peacock
Re (Bull) - Bull
Ga (Gagan) - Goat
Ma (Middle) - Dove
Pa (Fifth) - Cuckoo
Dha (Dharti) - Horse
Ni (Outcast) - Elephant
Was amazed and intriguided my small accidental discovery of this. Hope people who are into singing and music know this.

Weekend Trip to Home

The last time after I was in Hyderabad was for my Sankranti vacations. It was till date the longest vacation I have ever taken in my professional life; a good 9 days there with 4 days off. Considering that I have taken just 2 days off for my marriage and 1 day for my honeymoon; this was a long trip.
Post such a long trip; my next trip to Hyderabad was on 1st of March that's a good 42 days after my last visit. I find this it amazing for the fact that its the longest gap between two consecutive visits of mine. Yes during my stay at Kozhikode the gap was much longer, but those days were much different. I found a few things changed during this gap. Earlier my gaps were as short as 5 days; with almost 3 trips a month, that meant I hardly used to spend a weekend in Pune. Offlate after marriage I got to spend time money, and effort going in and around Pune. One as gets to accustomed to the localities I feel one gets connected, that connection temporarily overshadows the core identity. This is what seemed to have happened when I tried to reconnect back to my family and the city.
I was hardly getting the slang and salutations which I was so much used to earlier. Every now and then there was a slip of tongue; though I was very much aware; with my flow the occurrences where irreversible and in correctable. Got to thank my lucky stars that no one took note of those changes. I vividly remember when I first returned home after my 4 months stay in Kozhikode, Kerala that my mom had serious complains on my language. And she said that my Telugu started to sound very non-Teluguish and I was starting to speak Telugu as a language I recently learned. Yes may-be I never realised it nor I intentionally did it; but while one tries to put an attempt to adopt a certain slang of another language for greater acceptance once native slang also gets impacted to little extent. So in addition to expanding adaptive technique of mutual acceptability one more propounding thing was the influence of my gal. Now after six months of marriage, things change; and believe me they change a lot. I don't think any one would be in a position to guess how I call my gal (no am not giving any prizes/ nor am letting it out); that very way of addressing her got pushed when I got to meet my children (cousin's). No matter how hard I tried it kept slipping out of my mind. It was only after 36 hours that things were stable; but that was only after a long and dedicated monitoring of my tongue.
Anyways it was a great weekend to unwind and have fun. Cousin's Kids Annaprasana ceremony was time to catchup with all of my cousins too. And yeah I forgot felt good to see my parents and high my regular fights with my mom too.

Movies I was watching...Oscar Fever

It's been sometime that I had blogged on movies I was watching/ rather there weren't enough bloggable movie content to motivate me. Yes after the Oscars show I have a couple to final break loose my silence.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett this movie is adapted from the 1921's story by F. Scott Fitzgerald is about a man Benjamin who is born in his eighties and ages backwards.

Story is a slow-moving long one which unfolds in a death bed in New Orelans hospital in the back drop of Hurricane Katrina, with the Daisy asking her daughter to read the story in a diary which happens to be an unusual one about daughters biological father.

It talks about Benjamin who was deserted and subsequently brought up by black foster parents working as care takers at old age home. The boy was taken to be a monster and deserted by his father owing to his demise of his wife during pregnancy and primarily due to Gerontological conditions. Subsequently the boy survives his condition to grow younger and reversing his condition to die as a baby. The role has been intelligently and amazingly crafted plots and situation to add reality to a rather unrealistic subject. The backdrop of wars, depressions, Cyclone Katrina, Balle has been used as intelligent props throughout the story. An inherent love story brews with Benjamin and his childhood friend fall madly and deeply in love when there ages coincide around 40 years. Emotions of seeing one age while other grew younger was touchy, and finally when Benjamin dies as a baby in old Granny-like ladies hands who in reality should have been wife and husband longed for the pain one had to endure through at those crucial age. But ahem this is outcastly unreal who cares about this, its not even close to real life was what I felt and stop being emotional at the end.

It received 13 nominations and is the only Best Picture finalist this year to have earned more than $100 million in US. It won three Oscars for Art Direction, Makeup, and Visual Effects, and incidentally has tied the record for the most nominated film not to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

As the Oscars speaks BENJAMIN’s script or even the fine acting aren’t its most impressive accomplishment; the technology–both CGI and makeup–used to make Benjamin and Daisy age are remarkable, and makes the film entirely believable, not undermining performances from both Pitt and Blanchett.

Slumdog Millionaire

Directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan is a British movie in the backdrop of Mumbai's slums. Its an adaptation of Boeke Prize winning novel of 2005 Q&A by Vikas Swarup. Though its not an exact adaptation it reflects a story of slum boy's tale of Rag's to Riches with a love-at-first sight love story. This movie stories the hardcore realities of Mumbai's slums and social conditions woven around Mumbai riots of 1992 and struggle of life during past this to become not only an Ultimate Survivor but also winner of one's Childhood love.

The entire movie was made in a budget of just over 75 crores which is a very small amount considering its international status, but made good returns during its later run. The movie flunked in India and faced lots of criticism from likes of Arinidham Choudary and Amitabh Bachan. Even my Gal had very serious reservations against the movie, even I agree to it to some extent. The poorly did show India in a bad light, and on the purpose front I felt was wrong. During these economical turmoil it showed that the Western countries are much better off than the state of affairs in the World's largest democracy. The movie offered a lot of solace to countries like USA and UK which huge debt-driven infact the largest indebted economy and people in the world are not Africans or Asians or Indians but the Americans.

I was a bit hurt when the places like the pride of India the Taj Mahal was showcased and which showed how tourist were misguided throuout and looted. It does throw a very bad impression of the professional Guides working there in Taj Mahal and tourist who trot to India in search of the Global Symbol of Love and a gateway to India. They would definitely think twice while offering a dime to those children on the roads. It has both the good and bad sides though.

Touchy were parts on exploitation of children by gangsters, mobs, Sex-industry, the drugs, the underworld; It shows that no place is void of evils of this era, be it culturally strong nation like India or China or highly civilised or a developed nation like an USA. Evils of the mankind hunt and haunt young and old, male and female alike. I feel sad when I see people falling in for such evils be it out of necessity or be it out of opportunism. I always hope that there would be days in future where people could make choices and always make a correct and a better choice.

I somehow believed there were lots of other movies and documentaries which showcased the slums and penance of our country but this failed to showcase how life thrives, survives in this hardest of hardest environments. It also fails to address the spirit of Indian culture or Spirit of Mumbaikar who against all odds learns to survive and live a decent life. Its not always illegal and anti-social modes that people end-up in but hard workers over shadow those opportunists. A message should have been sounded aloud making a attempt to bring people and lifes to the mainstream course of moral and spiritually ideal well being and happiness. Would have definitely liked to have this in this movies core message.

From the Oscars front it had a conversion rate of over 90% with winning 8 awards from 9 categories it got nominated for. It missed out on sound mixing which was bagged by the much deserving movie The Dark Knight. Ideally I wouldn't have wanted this movie to be the best movie for the year 2008, yes Danny deserved credit for digging out Gold and making millions and billions out of the Indian theme. If it wasn't for Danny and British production community we wouldn't have got this amount of recognition and laurels for our immensely but sadly under recognised movie making fraternity of technicians and behind the scenes artisans. One might have failed to recognise that the Taj Mahal shown here in the movie was a set which was erected by our own Indians with lots of detail to enable a close-up shots. The set was erected near Pune. Also Kudos to Oscar winners Resul Pookooty and AR Rehman. I believe though Rehman wasn't at his best compared to Swades, Roja or a Vandemataram in this movie he deserved an oscar for what he was and the talent he posses. I hope he wins a life time achievement award at Oscars and Grammy's for his contributions to the music community.

So the Button man from New Orleans had the one tough one to beat in this years Oscars; hadn't the kid from Mumbai shown up and seized moviegoers' hearts it was surely up there and yes this managed a Golden Globe though. This proves that movies which are unreal have little chance against movies which are surreally close, touchy and inspiring. Like politics, aren't always predictable. Benjamin B. is Hillary to Slumdog's Obama.

Arundhati

So much for the Oscar fever the other movie I wanted to talk about is Kodi RamaKrishna's movie Arundhati. This movie staring Anushka Shetty and Sonu Sood with Sayaji Shinde and Manorama in the supporting cast had been raking up a lot of interest back home in the Tollywood. Incidentally I too fell victim to it that I watched it on the first day of the release during my Sankranti Vacation. I was waiting eagerly to watch this movie as it got postponed twice in the week. I watched the Second show with my Gal, and yes it gave enough goosebumps while driving back past the Muslim crematory near RaniGunj to Marriott route of Secunderabad. My Gal couldn't sleep alone and kepy squealing every now and then for next 15 days after watching the much anticipated movie. Well this was the first movie we as a couple watched for the the first time and guess it was a right choice. All through the screen my lady was on my shoulder grasping every inch of my long hand.

The effects were amazing by out standards, but looked very much like CGI and wires frames animation. While the plots were seemingly adopted from Final Destination, The excorcist, Gothika to name a few, there was a bit of resemblance to a few other cult movies of Kodi Ramakrishna's movies. I felt Anoushka could have been a bit better on the dances as I felt she struggled in that. Anyways it was her first character based and role-heavy performance kudos to her too. Shinde and Sonu Sood outlived their roles and gave a spectacular performance. The movie pace I felt was too fast and plots should have been better plotted. The movie wrapped up even before one could realise what hit them. A nice attempt by the crew; though a sad one in terms of getting the women audience to start believing in all the black magic and superstition in this seemingly progressive times.

I still smile when I see my gal shivering when I say to her "Bomallee ninuu Vadalaa!!!"

Keys, mouse, chips, webs, viruses......CiIlitetrate

Cilliterate....or Computer Illiterate
Yes you are if you failed to connect the above words.
Computer literacy can also refer to the comfort level someone has with using computer programs and other applications and technologies that are associated with computers.
My exposure to computers started quite early in my age. I had my own PC when I was in my 6th Standard thanks to my dad who envisioned that Technology is the future. I was only 11 years when I first got to work on a computer of my own. It was year 1992 and by those days standards I had a fairly fast and efficient system. The configuration of today's mobiles are better than my first PC. It was a
Intel 80286 (In an era of 64 bits 286 has had 7 predecesors to Todays P4/Athlons)
Running at 20 Mhz Speed (yes Mega Hertz was big in those days 1024 times lesser than that of todays)
1 MB Ram (we talk of 1 GB as miminmum today thats 1024 times lesser than todays capacity)
40 MB HDD
Display - MDA (Moncrome Display Array) - 14 inch B&W L&T Monitor
Sound card - Our only sounds we heard were beeps
123 Key - TVS Keyboard
Mouse - Never needed one
OS - MS DOS 5.00
Spread Sheet- Lotus Spread sheets
Word Processor - Word Star 4
Database - Fox Pro & DBase 4+
Languages - C, BASIC
Anti Virus - MSAV
DiskDrive - 5 1/4 Floppy Drives

This was the system I had and continue to have (of course its packed) as an antique since 1992 with a bundle of 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 inch floppies. The software which is stored in it is specific to that system and none of todays software runs on the system. I wanted to add some bit of interactivity to the system and install Windows 3.11 which used to run as a front end for DOS, but decided against it as it was too resource hungry for my system.The system then costed my dad a little over 30K rupees without monitor and printer (dot matrix).
All my initial days I learned and played on this system. I was envied by adults and kids alike. I was able to speak a language which many where not even aware off. My first computer was operational to the fullest till 1999. After 7 years it was replaced, I moved to adapt a non intel processor.
I got an AMD K6 in later 1999 (Pic - my cousin - with L&T Dotmatrix printer and K6 on Viewsonic). The system had 128MB RAM, with Windows 98 and 20 GB HDD and 400 Mhz (20 times faster than my older 286)with a 15" Viewsonic Monitor. I used this system during my engineering till 2004. This is system which provided me my first multimedia expereince and internet expereince. Those were the early days of internet and it was costly to have an internet connection. I remeber using various dial-up connection and due to my high internet usage at times our telephone bills used to run up quite high. My primary dial-up those days were Dish-net connection and occassional a Tata Nova. I used to borrow accounts to meet my craze those days. During my early days of internet I was hugely into intenet contests. Quite popular and an addict I was for Contests2win, Hungama.com and occasional MTV contests. I at one stage used to get gifts and memorobila on an weekly basis from these sites (mostly Hungama). Loved collecting points for playing contests and redeeming the same for some cheeky gifts. Approximate count of gifts I collected run in excess of 200 items.
Next I got an AMD Athlon 1800. It was a 1.6 Ghz processor with 384 MB RAM. I got it assembled at Parklane, Secunderabad before carrying it all the way to IIM-K. Incidently I ran Windows 95 on this system.This system I used for 2 years while I was in Kozhikode between 2004 and 2006, and later dumped it at K before returning back to Hyderabad in March 2006. Post which I continue to use my bro's AMD Athlon and my bro's Dell Inspiron laptop which he got it from US.
While in Genpact I was using the companies provided Dell Latitude D510 model. I felt this was the most robust and sturdiest of all Desktops and Laptops I ever got to use.
Moving from Hardware to Software I started with BASIC based programming and games like Prince of Persia, Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego, Genghis Khan
From Banner Mania, Wolf Pack,Para Trooper, Packman, Test Drive to name a few. As years went by and technology improved I got newer games. I still remeber I used to steal a few bucks from my dad's change and save enough to buy one single game from a small computer shop (PARAS Computers) on the road connecting Mozamjahi Market and Koti. Each floppy game costed 20/- then. Much for privacy of today :).
Initial utilitis like Banner Mania and Paint pro were fun to work and impress the guests who came in. I also remeber we used some Basic based application to generate Astrology charts. It was so much fun those old days, for uniqueness is definetly something to cherish.
Today as I blog this I am amazed at the journey I made from 1992 to 2009. 17 Years is time taken, I have moved from a 80286 to a P4 mobile processor, from floppies to SD Micros, from PC Games to Playstation, from B&W monitors to 32" LCD's from beep speakers to 5.1 DTS Home theatre from a small selffocus cam to a Compact DigiCam . From Bannermania to Photoshop; from DOS to Windows Mobile; from PacMan to NFS; from text to HDDVD authoring, I feel I have come offage in technology. It's not that I thrive on getting the latest Gizmos, but addition happens automatically; If that technological tranformation is not happening am afraid to say that one is Technophobic and Cilliterate.
Yes there might be circles who differ on amount of adaption technology in daily life, lets not debate it today. Technology is part of parcel of modern day's life.

Shivaratri - Importance & Lingashatakam

Shivaratri unlike many other traditional Hindu festivals doesn't reflect celebrations or fun or new clothes or sweets or well-wishes. One hardly see's a one getting up early and bathing to wear new clothes on this day. The festival may be a bit unpopular because of these mentioned aspects. But Shivratri has upteen religious importance and spiritual austerity attached which the larger population are unaware. And for the ignorant they believe its the birthdate of Shiva which is untrue.
Shivratri festival falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight(a night before amavasya) in the month of Phalgun which pleases Lord Shiva the most. This has been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when Parvati asked him as to which ritual performed by his devotees pleases him the most.
It is said that if a devotee performs sincere worship of Lord Shiva on this auspicious day he/she attains moksha breaking the birth-rebirth cycle.
On this day after having the having a dip in a holy river, one proceeds to Shivabhishekam or the Ritual Bath of Shiva Lingam.
Lord Shiva is worshiped in a special form of Lingam called ‘Lingodabhavamurti or Jyotirlingam.’
Lord Shiva the ParamAtma or the supreme soul is considered to have no form, and endless energy. Shiva manifests in form of Lingam; in the form of fire which has neither a beginning nor an end. It must be noted here that ‘linga’ only means ‘sign.’ And it is merely an attempt to capture the formless of the almighty. It's believed that the first appearance of Jyotirlingam (Somnath) signifies the importance of this day.
As per Shiva Purana one have to use six items for the same.

• Bathing of Shivalinga with water, milk and honey and Sandal/ bel leaves added to it, represents purification of the soul.
• The Ashes paste applied on the linga after the ritual bath represents virtue.
• Offering of fruits symbolizes longevity and gratification of desires.
• Burning of incense sticks yields wealth.
• The lighting of the lamp symbolizes attainment of knowledge.
• Offering of betel leaves marks satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

Devotees take up Upvas (fast) & Jagran on this day.
UpVaas - Is formed by culmination of two words. Up means closer and Vaas means adobe of God. It means being closer to the Supreme Spiritual form, in a state where one forgoes all the earthly body needs including thirst and hunger. One should strive to get close to the supreme self by concentrating on achieving this closeness and discovering the divinity in ourselves. One by not having even a drop of water one in denying the body of all its urges and attempts to divert our concentration and meditative state focussed on the Paramatman.
Jagran - Is is the awakening of the soul to the resonate onself to the frequency of the Supreme soul. One's endevour should be to connect to the almighty and fill ourself with divinity on this day and all days to continue.
All-Night Shiva WorshipWorship of Lord Shiva continues all through the night on Shivaratri Festival. Devotees stay awake all night and spend the night in Shiva temples in worship of Lord Shiva. Singing of hymns and verses in praise and devotion of Lord Shiva besides the intense chanting of Om Namah Shivay, the mantra that is said free people from all their sins, continue through the night on Shivaratri.
The Lingashatkam is culmination of Eight Slokas. And it's believed that whoever recites these eight slokas, in praise of the Shivalinga with the presence of Lord Shiva, with outmost sense of devotion attains that Supreme abode of Shiva and enjoys everlasting bliss with Him
Text One
Brahma Muraari Suraarchita Lingam Nirmala Bhashita Shobhita Lingam Janmaja Dukha Vinaashaka LingamTat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is adored by Brahma, Vishnu and other Gods, which is praised by pure and holy speeches and which destroys the cycle of births and deaths.
Text Two
Devamuni Pravaraarchita Lingamkaamadaham Karunaakara Lingam Raavana darpa Vinaashaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is the destroyer of desires, which the Devatas and the sages worship, which is infinitely compassionate and which destroyed Raavana's pride.
Text Three
Sarva Sugandha Sulepitha Lingam Buddhi Vivardhana Kaarana Lingam
Siddha Suraasura Vanditha Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is smeared with variety of perfumes and fragrances, which incremental elevates the wisdom and enkindles the light of discrimination, and before which the Siddhas and Suras(demi-Gods) and Asuras(Demons) prostrate.
Text Four
Kanaka Mahaamani Bhushitha Lingam Phanipathi Veshtitha Shobhitha Lingam
Daksha Suyajna Vinaashaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, the destroyer of Daksha Prajapathi's sacrifice, which is decorated with Gold and precious jewels and which is coiled by a sparkling glow emiting from Serpent Lord, Naga.
Text Five
Kumkuma Chandana Lepitha Lingampankaja Haara Sushobhitha Lingam
Sanchitha Paapa Vinaashaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is smeared with saffron and sandal paste, which is decorated with garland of lotuses and which wipes out all accumulated sins.
Text Six
Devaganaarchitha Sevitha Lingam Bhaavair Bhakti Bhirevacha Lingam

Dinakara koti prabhakara Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is worshipped by all of Gods with devotion and outmost faith and whose splendor is like that of a million suns.
Text Seven
Ashta Dalopari Veshtitha Lingam Sarva Samudbhava Kaarana Lingam

Ashta Daridra Vinaashaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which stands on the eight petalled Lotus and which is the creator of all and destroyer of eight types of misery & poverty.

Text Eight
Suraguru Suravara Pujitha Lingam Suravana Pushpa Sadaarchitha Lingam

Paraatparam Paramatmaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is the Transcendent Being and the Supreme Soul, worshipped by all Suras and their king (Indra), with innumerable flowers from the celestial gardens.
Text Nine

Lingashtakam, Idam Punyam padeth Shiva Sannidhow,

Shivalokam avapnothi shive na sahamodathe.

Any one who chants the holy octet of the Lingam,In the holy presence of Lord Shiva,Would in the end reach the world of Shiva, And keep him company.

I hope people get to believe in the Supreme Soul (Parmatma) and connect self to Supreme Energy and in this process are enlighted.

Roundup 2008

As a continuation to the last years blog, I wanted to sign-off on the last year in my blog, but as my constraints on limited blogging time continued to restrain me from completing this activity. The year 2008 started where 2007 ended with lots of unanswered puzzles, frenzy state of mind and dwindling state of mind with a directionless, aimless career, professional life and a personal life. Life was very much at cross roads, and slowly but surely admist all the confusion life slowly blossomed toward the last quarter of the year.

Biggest movers
- Quiting from my first Job and moving out of Hyderabad
- My attempt to reach back and re-engage lost relation with involvement of my family.
- Trip to my native place Machilipatnam, after thirteen (13) Years
- Lived a proper bachelors life after studies.
- Married once and for all now !!!

Biggest Learnings

• Never let go of love and hurt loved ones
• To take life easy and not to pressurise self.
• Understand and respect others feelings.
• Let time take its time to heal and set things right.
• Have immense and never ending belief in God.
• Trust the inner voice, learn to cultivate to let the inner voice to speak.
• Being positive in life does immense good.

Best for the year

Top Albums/Songs
1. Jaane Tu Jaane Naa - Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
2. Bachana Ae Haseno - Khuda Jaane Kyu

Fav Movies
None
Fav Quotes -
Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa
Skipper: Who says a penguin can't fly?
Skipper: We should be up and running in say... 6 to 9 months.
Alex: Sixty-nine months?!
Skipper: No! Six to nine.

Fav Holiday/Travel
- Havelock Islands, Andamans

Fav Food
1. Vada Pav
2. Aloo Paratha

Fav Shopping Spot
1.Big Bazaar, PCMC, Pune
2. Fathima Nagar, Pune

Fav TV Channel
- CNBC TV18

Chronological Milestones

January - Uncertain Days

I got my first Job confirmation from Ocwen for a very succesful process that got concluded in Dec 2007. I was offered a position in Mallad (west), Mumbai for joining its integration team of NCI (NationWide Credits Inc). I put in my resignations in on 9th of Jan 2008 from Genpact, marking an end of era. Here is where my hardships started. Genpact failed to release me on time to join Ocwen, forcing the latter to withdraw the offer and I forced to serve a 3 months notice period as against promised month release by Genpact HR. I went on to take new assignments.

I moved to take charge of a small assigment of setting up Quality team for Merrill Lynch's operations at Genpact. The role, the team and vertical I dreamt since my IIM days. But with this opportunity came in my old Gal and with resignation papers on table made it quite difficult to make a favourable decesion in favour of Genpact.

I finally broke off the emotional bond with my ex-fiance on a final phone call in a much inspired Jab-we-met movie fashion - "Flush karde life se"

February

As time progress I wait impatiently for my release, making short trips to DLFH Genpact office, and applying for other offers. HP, Infosys, EDS, CTS, BoA, CFC, HSBC where in fray but due to year beginning paradigm no confirmations. Rough times for me this month. Had vivid thoughts of going back to old time and undoing all that went off.

March

Got confirmations from CTS and EDS and was contemplating on what to join while I was chilling on time. Marriage talks harden back home, I was in a storm as I didn't want to risk another turn-down and have a hear break. My state of mind was not to be associated with any other girl and if any chance patch up for proven older relation.

April

I finally got relieved from Genpact in 1st week of April. This was after 2 years I decided to move on, I was shifting to Pune to join CTS. BoA was delaying its decesion to close in on hiring till the last date, while HP offered their role after I joined CTS. Infy and Wipro followed HP too late for all. Later on in May EDS was acquired by HP, both where offering me roles at that time. EDS role was attractive with onsite posting and frequent travel, but apparent lack of focus from the EDS team proved deterrimental in joining the team.

I packed and shifted to Pune in a haze without much hulla. Earlier I started my prayers and got my astrological redone to get some deeper insights. I started using two more stones Cat's eye and pearl to improve my present situation. Felt more nostalgic about my previous Gal though she was not in forgiving mood, try to make it up for my sinful acts of letting go.

My parents shortlisted a girl and my mom was wildly escastic about the girl she looked at that she ordered me to fly-back the very weekend I joined the company and confirm the girl as they will run into inauspicious times. Half-heartedly I come and agree to the wishes of the family. I was totally unprepared for all this

May / June / July

Joined a Life Sciences team at CTS, as a Quality Reviewer for the delivery team. Started learning, understanding, adapting, accomodating, adjusting to the new environment and people. Moved into a bachelors house, started a life of Bachelor after a long long time. I started using public and company transport more often. Travelling has become a Passe of life now. Music decorated through my headphones and books and magzines in my hand where a signature look I had. I slowly started finding peace in the role and with myself.

I used to travel back home every fortnight and really used to make out a hell lot of time. Started to read books. Got introduced to self help books like The Secret and Paulo's books by accident and found a new found love in reading. Blogging continued to gain momentum during this time. With access to pirated Telugu movie DVD's I used to frequently watch the new flicks more often than earier.

I hesitantently started preparing for an eventuality called marriage which was to happen in August, buying clothes etc. My communication with the fiance and her family was highly restricted and contained, nor I encouraged the same. I was still very undecided on the marriage all the time. But my parents interest kept a hold on everything.

August

The month proved to be the roughest of all times I ever had. I reached by to my earlier relation to patch-up and make up for the lost ground. I didn't want to risk another relation and make unjustice to my first love on grounds of me getting married. Involved lots of people from my parents, relatives, friends and well-wishers to my fiance relatives. After a period of nervous weeks I fell to the inevitable for what looked neither good or bad. I got married on 21st Aug in Hyderabad to Vijaya. Whats install for us in the future needs to be looked into as times goes by. Had the toughest, roughest, and the most emotional of times this month as I went into the marriage bandwagon. So much was my pain due to uncertainity that I had low BP for weeks and I could hardly talk and express myself. I love the innocense in my Wifes face. I love the eyes and her tender looks used to offer me the much required solace.

Made my trip to Machilipatnam tracing back to my roots and to seek blessings of my Grandparents and Janma Bhoomi after over a decade. My new innings as a husband, and a son-in-law starts off.

September

After the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities at home I set back to Pune after nearly a 20 day stay in Hyderabad. I started to look out for house for us, while Vijaya continued to work in Hyderabad. Rough weather, lack of housing supplies, high brokerage only increased the agony of zeroing in on house for us Pune. Towards the last week paying a 13k brokerage I decided on moving into a decent 1BHK house in a very calm and homely locality. Bought a Honda Aviator solely meant for commuting for a family life (:)). This purcahase would be my second vehicle purchase after my TVS Victor bike in Sep 2003.

October

Spent quality time at home in Hyderabad for the Dusheera. I was supporting office from Hyderabad which drew a bit of flank from my supervisor. I had completed my bout of Pooja and Havan's for the year. Post the festivites I set back to my new home in Pune accompanied by my wife and my maradhi (bro-in-law). The whole month witnessed one of the frenziest shopping by me ever as we slowly set to settle down in the home. We made it back home to celebrate diwali braving all the odds of hardships of travel by train in this Diwali journey.

Novemeber

Things slowly setteled down with regular friction between the newly weds. Work pressure and volume began mounting, while we still continued to shop and celebrate our life. Trips to Hyderabad continued, though nothing significant happend. My gal was searching for Jobs, with most of them not in her fit.

Decemeber

This was a month of Vacation to be. We had been on our holiday trip to the Andaman's. Had a blast on the trip though we would have done better with slightly longer trip. Post this my Gal had to stay back at Hyd for 15 days for her exams and I took her along not before the Cristmas celebrations at home.

Andaman's Trip

Video from our recent Andaman's Visit. The clip is a trailer of the full version of the Video. The full compilation has been included in my personal DVD.

My Exploits in making my Marriage DVD cover

Yeah marriage's done, and got the DVD of the entire marriage ceremony, courtesy the videographer who happily editted added special video graphic editorial effects and delivered. As for a person who believes in making professional looking DVDs and for a person who prides on his DVD collection, its all but sub-standard not to have a professionally done DVD of the most important event of my life. So the process of Do-it-yourself started for me. "The DVD project" as I liked to call started out with simple search on google for ready DVD cover titles. Then searched for DVD art, DVD covers for wedding ceremony. Hardly found any. Then a few samples and research on how to design my on DVD decided to design everything from scratch.

Started with a sample wedding card, and used Photo Shop 7 for the entire design. I also used NERO Cover design and Ashampoo, soon realised that Photoshop 7 is worth a try given the options and features especially that of layers, rendering and shadows. Apart from background rendering and stuff. Though I wasn't using Photoshop for the first time my earlier usage of PS was for purpose of copy pasting photos to a larger A3 size canvas for purpose of printing and nothing more. So I did go through a few hours of help from online material and tutorials helped me ease some.

Before starting some bit of effort also went into editing, indexing the entire set of Photographs which where in different internal dates. Used PICASSA, MS Office's Picture Editor, MS Paint to edit, crop, improve and recrop the pictures. While I used EXIF Date changer to change the time of imprinted digital camera data on the photographs.
I used Nero Cover Designer, Ashampoo Cover Studio, and photo shop 7 for cover design. While Nero was used for layout actual design was done in PS. Ashampoo was useful in making a quick desgin in a rapid time. But for designing the entire cover it took me 3 weeks in all incorporating various fonts, font sizes, patterns, photographs, messages etc. Its only but getting into a very detail that the professional look would come for the dvd.

Then for compressing the DVD I used DVD2one and DVD shrink. I extensively used Nero Vision for making the slideshow and I believe it was various easy and convenient too though it had a ap of 100 snaps one could add more just by adding 2 or 3 more session sets to include all. For making DVD menus I tried DVD Lab pro, it has great features but when it came to final composition it failed so had to switch back to Nero Vision and found it quiet fast and convinent compared to DVD Lab pro.

I am still to solve the compilation/burning a DVD player compliant DVD. I found Nero burnt DVDs hardly played on most of non-divx enabled DVD-players. Tried Cheetah burner, Roxio but to no use.








Above is the final cover and CD for the marriage DVD, In all more than a month of effort over the evening and night time, lots of trial and error combined with tons of googling for patterns and relevant mp3 songs. Am proud of this cover for the effort and interest I put into. I released over a dozen of the prints which had DVD-Video and DVD-Photo 2-in-1 copies to our relatives and friends during the 2nd week of Novemeber though origianlly I intended to do it in the 1st week of October. I guess the wait made the DVD watching expereince a worth while....