. Continued from Part 1 Thidhi – How to track anniversaries? Leaving aside technical calculations, we can understand generally that the 14 days between every Amavasya and Pournami, and vice-versa, are divided into 14 thidhis. They are as follows: Pradamai (First day after Amavasya/Pournami) Dvithiai (Second day after Amavasya/Pournami) Trithiai (Third day after Amavasya/Pournami) Chaturthi Continue reading

April 24, 2012 Tuesday About 6:45 PM Near AOC, Secunderbad . “Nimal! What do you want to become after you grow up? How about a solider like these people? Join military and become an Officer?” Silence “Something like Airforce? Do you want to become a pilot? Fighter pilot? Then you can fly planes. What do Continue reading

All of my 35 years, I never understood the Tamil Calendar. And I never cared to understand it, too. It always seemed confusing. It meant people peering over the almanac and discussing terms that I found very difficult to remember and repeat. For most part, it used to get mixed up with astrology and superstition Continue reading

Dear Son, You are turning 5 today. You are growing up fast. It seems like it was only yesterday that we celebrated your 4th birthday, which was of course, a very silent affair. Just the 5 of us at home. You cut a cake for your satisfaction and then we all went back to our Continue reading

Beginning of the New Year, and I am as nervous as a novice opening batsman, taking guard on the first session of an important series, against a pair of fast bowling legends, under perfect bowling conditions. And no, it has got nothing to do with whether or not the world will come to an end Continue reading

2011 has come to an end. So, how good was it? The year was filled with many memorable moments. Lot of marriages and happy family gatherings. Got more closer to the few who mattered, and more distanced from the rest. Plans and experiments falling in place. And giving rise to newer ideas and focus items. Continue reading

Dear Son, Here is a list of 10 virtues that I wish you would cultivate. Leave alone mastering them, I cannot even claim to possess them. Yet, I wish you would strive to make them a part of you. It is my belief, based on my experience in life, that these things will help you Continue reading

He found the wait agonizing. The river sitting beside, however, hardly seemed to care.  “So, what brings you here?” he attempted to strike a conversation.  “Same as you”, the river replied. “My journey is over, and I am before Him to be adjudged.”  “I never knew that even rivers have this ordeal”, he chuckled. “So, Continue reading

Here is my recollection of an unforgettable fable ‘The Genie and The Brahmin’, of Swami Chinmayananda: During difficult times, a poor brahmin with a large family sought the help of sage and begged for his blessings. The sage enlightened the poor brahmin with a mantra, upon reciting which, a powerful genie would appear to carry Continue reading

“It is a secret that only angels and dead souls know”, the angel spoke. “And now that you are dead, I will reveal it to you.” “After death, one’s soul must abandon one’s body and present itself before the Lord and be accountable for all the sins and positive deeds committed by it during its Continue reading