Friday, August 31, 2012

Elephants... everywhere!

This week is Happy Onam.

Onam (Malayalamഓണം) is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of KeralaThe festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It is the state festival ofKerala and falls during the month of Chingam (August–September) and lasts for ten days. The festival is marked by various festivities, including intricate flower carpets, elaborate banquet lunches, snake boat races, Onappottan, Kaazhchakkula in Guruvayoor, Puli Kali, Kaikottikkali etc.



Everywhere some celebrations with Ganesha, elephants being fed by Amma, in the main hall of the ashram, quite amazing feeling, very powerful!

 Onam is an ancient festival which still survives in modern times. Kerala's rice harvest festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers, which fall on the Malayalam month of Chingam, celebrates the Asura King Mahabali's annual visit from Patala (theunderworld). Onam is unique since Mahabali has been revered by the people of Kerala since prehistory.



Ganesha (Sanskritगणेश) also spelled Ganesa, also known as GanapatiVinayaka and Pillaiyar (Tamilபிள்ளையார்), is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India andNepal.Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India.
Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him particularly easy to identify. Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha), Vighneshvarapatron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. He is honoured at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions.


 
According to the legend, Kerala witnessed its golden era during the reign of King Mahabali. The Brahma-Vaivarta Puranamexplains that Lord Vishnu wanted to curb the pride of Indra; and therefore positioned Mahabali in great power.

Paper statues thrown into the sea...
Beautiful, magical, very powerful ....how Ganesha cleans and removes obstacles this week for me!!!

Aum!

Friday, August 17, 2012

Engaging...

into life...

I thought before... that it meant... taking off on a big wave without thinking... almost closing my eyes and praying I was gonna make it!

Well, it now probably takes a lot deeper spiritual meaning for me: engaging in my projects, in my prayers with faith but with my eyes wide open, knowing the part I have to play, the work I have to do, the bins I have to carry, to clean... the articles I have to read to make mine soundfull, impactful... and make a difference... inspire!

As well as now deciding... to take off on a big wave, and not turning back at the last moment... going for it to the fullest!

Trusting that I am doing all I can to make it... and that, that faith is the most important thing, not the result, not making it or ... not!

No wipe out has ever killed me... so why not try!

I now truly engage my board, my heart, the qualities God has placed in me... into waves... of life!

No expectations, just a real exigence on life, on myself for a noble heart, courageous, humble too, importantly... and accepting my fragilities, muting them into sensitivities, creative assets...

Creating, designing a ring with 9 planets, auspicious gems in the old indian tradition...following ayurveda astrology!

Getting engaged! and... blessed... by Amma, Divine Mother :-)

Just committing in front of a Mahatma: this is the woman I love, please give me the strength, nobility, humility to love her everyday, to choose her every day, here and now, without expectations, being simply blessed by growing together, looking in the same direction!