The Unparallel Prayer

Among the various questions frequently asked, I am absorbed by a question
“what could be the best prayer” After wandering through scholarly works
on this subject, I found an answer in the Tamil masterpiece “Thiruvasagam”
of saint Manikkavasagar. Translation of any form from any language does not
carry the exact message of the original text and the above book is no exception
to this thumb rule. The best form of prayer is clearly defined and portrayed by
the author in the manner, possibly untraceable elsewhere.
1.You (God) know our wishes. (Vendathakkadhu arivoy nee)
Being omnipresent, the Almighty knows the desires of His followers.
In other words, we need not tell Him about it as if He is not aware of it.
I am reminded of the name of the deity at Kuttalam(known as Thiruthuruthi
in Thevaram hymns) as Sonnavaru arivar which means He knows what we
intend to pray. All that is important is that the wish should be genuine.
A selfless prayer is normally answered quickly.
2. You (God) grant our wishes entirely.(Venda Muzhudum Tharuvoy Nee)
A vallal is one who grants everything that is aspired. God is above him as
He grants more than what is asked for and goes further and inspires the devotee to
ask more. Hence He is known as Vadhanyeswara in Mayiladuthurai(Mayuram)
3 You are untraceable to Brahma & Vishnu who thought it to be possible.
(Vendum Ayan Marku ariyoy Nee)
4. It is Your desire to make me as your devotee. (Vendi Ennai Pani Kondaai)
It is God’s wish that one becomes His devotee. Here lies the essence of Saiva
Sidhantha that is underlined by Manikkavasagar as “avan arulale avan thal vanangi”
Lord Shiva Himself came all the way to Thirupperundurai(AvudayarKoil) to bless
Manikkavasakar in the form of a guru.
5 What did You grant as a result of my prayer? (Vendi Nee Yadhu arul seidhai?)
It clearly means that was no need to ask for anything as He used to grant everything
in full prior to his request.
6 It is exactly the same I aspired for.(Yanum adhuve vendin allal)
I really wonder how exactly your grant matches my wish without even asked for
7 If at all I wish to pray you for a grant to be made (Vendum Parisu Onru undu enil)
8 It is Your wish to grant that.(Adhuvum Undhan Viruppandre)

It is this prayer that will bring harmony and eternal bliss to the world especially when the human race faces tough times ahead.

No Place for Discipline?

Sometimes we become pretty wild when we see someone violating the ways of life. These guys assume that they can do all sorts of rubbish and seldom bother about others.They even abuse you when you start pointing out their mistakes.When I objected those who used the vacant ground just opposite to my residence as open toilet, they arrogantly replied saying that they were not doing the act right in front of my gate.My attempt to explain that it was causing bad smell over the area fell in deaf ears.They walked away after starring at me.
On the other day when I walked inside the pedestrian subway wherein the pathway was divided in the centre and most of the users were keeping to their left for easy movement. Alas! there were others who did not bother about it and using both sides thereby causing hardship for rule abiding people.A man in his forties who came in the wrong lane from opposite direction clashed with me.I told him to use the other side where he is supposed to go.He replied that there was no such formality.I shot back saying that it was not a formality but discipline.Without waiting for my reaction he continued to move in the same way.I wondered whether the world was leading to a shameful destination. Are we going to show a world sans discipline to the next generation? Do people need to be trained by force? Are we living in a world where there is no room for discipline?Who will take the pain to educate these guys who refuse to comply to any rule of the land?Should it not be moulded right from school days? Is there any solution in sight to set things right?

Help before you depart

On seeing a calamity,people rise to the occasion and extend all possible help.How many of us help others once we come across the needy?Millions of dollars are being spent for satisfying the self rather than caring the less privileged section of people. It is a fact that lot of charity work are carried out at different parts of the world but then the involvement in these activities is left to those organisations. Can't we think of helping a poor student to pay his school fees in time? Is it that expensive if we lend help to him to purchase his school uniforms or study material?The sad part of the story is that those who help others want publicity in order to gain advantage over the situation. At the same time we should not encourage beggars who refuse to look elsewhere other than making money by the shortest route available.
There could be many ways - some may be innovative in helping others. Help does not really mean giving money always. When someone attends a sick person and attend to his needs it matters more than anything for him. A seriously wounded person on the road badly requires help from others. The onlookers can not simply close their eyes and wait for the police and ambulance to arrive.
Helping the society also includes protecting the culture that derived through generations. It is our prime duty to strive for it as much as we can and hand it over to the next generation. Any cultural violation will lead to total chaos and it will reflect in the behaviour that lead to indisciplined way of living. Eventhough it is impossible to take the message to everyone, it should be possible to tell the family members and friends first to make a beginning. More importantly children must be moulded in the right way or else it will be too late to amend their behaviour. It is to be realized that everyone must leave something good to the world before they depart.

Poor Bosses ?

Everyone must have been surprised when they read a news item in one of the leading dailies that sweepers & drivers of a Govt company were drawing more salary than their bosses.The more astonishing fact is that these guys have not even done their school level fully.Some of them are found to be drop outs.Many eyebrows were raised on the correctness of this report.But one can say that the report is based on some facts ,leave alone the accuracy part of it.The fat salary they get may be more than those who sweat to draw after going through business schools. The dream salary of some one has thus become a reality for those without big qualification. In this context we may be questioned as to why some businessmen without any educational qualification mint money while others toil to achieve in their entire lifetime. Some may call this as inequality.
How do we justify people without any educational background becoming a poltician,an actor and make huge money? Yet it is different from people of the same organisation receiving compensation packages as above.Gone are the days when such finer aspects were taken into account at the time of offering payhike to the employees. Now the question is whether the yardstick is determined by the H.R.dept or the employees or some bosses who take the stick in their hands and favour the guys of their choice. It is due to unfair favouritism the issues arise. It is because of the callous attitude sincere people lose faith in the organisation& switch over to a new green pasture. Time has come to put an end to the haphazard ways and set new standards.H.R.of each organisation should take their time off and form good precedents.

Materialism vs Mindset

It is not uncommon to see people who rate themselves among others. They are not content to remain satisfied regardless of the comforts bestowed on them. The extent to which the greedy behaviour is dragged makes them more materialistic than they should be.Today I came to know about a person who made good business for decades calling it off saying enough money has been made and there is no need for him to continue it despite no possibility of losing anything.According to him, life is not meant for making money alone. Materialism should stop at one stage and focus should be given to those areas where attention has been missing all along. Though it may look philosophical, a calm thought will certainly reveal the true spirit with which many things have to be carried out in one's life.
Many people continue to look for jobs/consultancy even after retirement in order to spend time along with the ambition of making money.Their outlook is to remain independent as along as they can. Strictly speaking,one need not have apprehensions like this for the money earned should be sufficient throughout the remaining part of their lives.Spending time is also not so tough these days as it was few decades ago. Technology comes to our rescue wherever you settle down after retirement.All that is required is changing the mindset slightly.
Many people find it tough to change their mindset for the simple reason that it is almost impossible especially after the forties. Management gurus may not accept it because they can not sell thier theories so easily as of now.But the fact remains that changing the mindset is undoubtably a hard won battle.To prepare for the battle itself is a marathon task and people stop at this stage out of frustration. Very few people succeed by their repeated attempts. Once the mindset is changed,liberating materialism can become little easier. It is needless to say how important it is to get moulded at our younger age.
Yes,I fondly remember my friend who bid farewell to materialism and started thinking about the rest of his life.

Kindness,Thy name is God

People are literally shattered after the recent Tsunami,Katrina and the horrible earthquakes of high magnitude that had taken away thousands of lives and left millions homeless. Hearts bleed on seeing the pictures that portray the sorrow.On the other side,aid from all over the world pourin which shows the depth of kindness that arise from the hearts of those who realise that these calamities can happen anywhere to anybody.Hence the donors consider themselves as survivors and thank God.
One may wonder why people do not realize about people being killed on account of war before they start pouncing on their enemy.
Bombs are thrown even on civilian areas mercilessly and prisoners
of war are treated so shabbily and ruthlessly.
Where has the kindness gone at this stage when they rely on violence,vengence and take weapons.
Yet there are people who talk length and breadth about diversity
but fail to impress the Govts indulged in war.
Both these acts clearly show the amount of selfishness imbedded within,pour venom and dominate over the good quality.
Finally the much deserved quality in human life,namely Kindness takes a back seat.
Our ancestors have clearly explained the way to conquer the demon by praying to God for others .They have not distinguished between God and kindness. According to them,God is otherwise known as kindness.
As kindness is born out of Truth,which is the form of formless God,
he/she who realises Truth will realise God and naturally extend all help to his/her brethern without expecting any reward whatsoever.

His Great Functions

English language has rightly named the Almighty as Creator.Philosophers call Him as omnipresent,omnipotent and so on. Yet no one can define the acts of God.It always remains as a puzzle to even His believers. There is no thumb rule that a person should be blessed / punished in a certain way. His unlimited kindness not only to human beings but also to other species is simply unparellel. His verdicts should always be respected and obeyed for the simple reason that He knows when to do what. As this truth is not easily understood even to God believers one can imagine the stand of non believers.Religious texts all over the world have tried to throw some light on this subject but we should admit that not all texts are accepted by the entire world. We can still call this as an act of God for it hides Him away from the entire race.
Having gone little deep into His Great Functions, the last but not the least fuction is destruction which is also witnessed throughout the world.In fact the Nature is blamed as a destroyer many times. Hurricanes,psunami,Water scarcity and killer diseases have played thier part in these decades. It is said that the God resumes His Creation once the world comes to a grinding halt. Great thinkers are of the view that destruction is an exceptional; act of God to show His kindness towards all creatures as they take a long rest under His feet and relieved of rebirth temporarily. Only those elevated souls get rid of rebirth and remain blissfully and eternally.