Mother - A Person whom we cant live without...

Although a toddler she took care of her siblings
Skipped school too to meet family's rued ailings
When she excelled in class she hurt boys feelings
In adolescence guys jabbed her heart as their flings

Going to work & growing there was her herculean task

At home too some cultures hid her under a mask

Never was she free to enjoy the worldly sun & in it bask
Nor was she served with things that she did rarely ask

Despite the hardships she scathed through in style

Step by step she progressed with her husband in a file
Held her kids hands till they crossed the educational mile
Supported all at home clearing their problems pile

Those money's she gave when our father did spurn

Cared for our life when frustrated we experienced heartburn
She became our friend our sister & with her it was always fun
When we felt lonely, it was only her we found when behind we turn

She was our Saraswati, Lakshmi & Kali in our life's school

Annapurna was she on whose food for health we'd all drool
As Sarvamangala our apirations she fulfilled unperturbed & cool
A living goddess is she who ensured we don't end up a fool

Very late do we realise there's none in comparison to her

Unique is she in every way who made our lives worthier
She's given her time & poured her life into us & none other
Lets surprise her today, & celebrate to say "You're the greatest mother"


Happy Mother's Day to the one who made things happen to me & transforming me from being worthless to being worthier. Happy Mother's Day to all those mother's too

Abhinandan - To Dr. Venugopal - Vice Chancellor Bangalore University

As part of the Book Abhinandan this poem was written by me towards felicitation to Mr. Venugopal The Vice Chancellor of Bangalore University.  
   
In an era where technology is ruling over knowledge
There indeed was a need to transform the old college
It was to give students & faculty a useful learning edge
Was what Vice Chancellor Venugopal's novel pledge.

With the Bangalore University poised to split into three
New courses too were to become part of this learning tree
Saving careers & students lives due to Covid's spree
Venugopal & his team put all in place creating History

From his bundled achievements he did rise to a gracious fame
Battled unfavourable situations & those who tried to stain his name
With patience & passion, strife & clear vision he won each game
As an individual he entered & a wonderful personality he became.

These lines I've written to you with a deep sense of gratitude
As you've played a role in building us & our attitude
Help students to inculcate good values of greater magnitude
Perform our tasks educating students with humble servitude.


With a heartfelt thanks to you Venugopal Sir for your valued contribution in transforming Bangalore University & putting in on the futuristic pathway. Wishing you a great life ahead.
by:- Dr. Avinash Salgar,

On Raama Navami

 2 Yugas ago on Chaitra Shukla Navami
Was born a pious one among so many
With a voice so polite & sweet as honey
He enchanted all with his form so tiny

With child's toggle when he would walk
In a cutest way he would gurgle & talk
as he grew behind asuras he'd stalk
Protected all refuged behind his back

When 16 he slayed asuras in dozens
Stood guard to Rishis & forest citizens
Was a god of death to all the demons
Revered for his feats by all the heavens

Breaking Shiva's bow he married the divine beauty
Received a grand welcome & blessings in bounty 
Embraced forest life unquestioningly as his duty
Though a prince he lived with resource so scanty

His wife's abduction made him teary
The search for her made him weary
Redeemed the cursed ate tasted berry 
With a large army to Lanka he did ferry

The war with his wife's abductor's army he had started
Midway his fatally injured brother lay of life depleated
With divine herb his brother & all lives got repleated
With a new vigor the perpetrators army he defeated

After 14years of exile to his kingdom when he returned
The people of khosala to receive him  they stormed
Amidst celebration on the throne as King he adorned
11000 years of a golden age he gave people & governed

Not once he has faltered in all aspects of living by Darma
Never missing on performing his nitya & rajya karma
Practical real life truths he lived & not a fictional drama 
Unmatched he only is Puroshottama Raghu Raama

On this day of his birth let us pause our lives & reflect on his qualities, acts, deeds & achievements and see how much we can inculcate those in us to atleast emulate living the pious & worthy life that is Dharmic & Karmic in nature. 

*!! Jai Shri Raam !!

written today on the Rama Navami Day of 2022

Ugaadi - The most awaited Hindu New Year

Here arrives a day that's so dear
awaited by kids adults & the seer
It marks the beginning of a new year
celebrated by all from far & near.

It is a day when Lord Brahma was well seated
On this very day this beautiful world he created
Embedded resources to never get depleated
& take care of it to Lord Vishnu he solicited.

It is from here tithi, vaasara, paksha & maasa mathematically emerged
Combining with the stellar positions in a Yuga they all submerged
For humans to adapt & live in harmony in each of seasons it urged
Unknown fear, inadequacy, sorrow, sickness & all negativity it purged.

Beginning the day with an oil bath makes skin healthy not greasy
Stay in the sun get vitamin D & licking tamarind is best & so easy
Tangy mango pachadi balances your heart to not go risky
Protect from diseases eating mixture of neem flowers, ghee, salt & jaggery

How would the year be get revealed as you read the almanac
How good, bad, problem or without is the year bright or dark
Gifts you ways & wisdom to overcome, stay or change the track
However it ushers in to say UGAADI - meaning a new age is back.

The first day is very auspicious to start anything anew
Enjoy delicacies & chit chat with elders that was long due
With prayers & blessings next year end you'll find fortunes grew
With health, happiness, peace & all may it be your life's radiant hue.

Wishing you and your family a happy & prosperous new year. May this year bring great cheer, without a tear, absolute no fear, a vision clear, make people dear, good news to hear, a healthy winner, problems don't leer, progress on the steer, blessings of your seer & with god being near. 
*"Happy Ugaadi"* 


Ugaadi - The First Day a New Year as per Hindu Almanac

 Here arrives a day that's so dear
awaited by kids adults & the seer
It marks the beginning of a new year
celebrated by all from far & near.

It is a day when Lord Brahma was well seated
On this very day this beautiful world he created
Embedded resources to never get depleted
& take care of it to Lord Vishnu he solicited.

It is from here tithi, vaasara, paksha & maasa mathematically emerged
Combining with the stellar positions in a Yuga they all submerged
For humans to adapt & live in harmony in each of seasons it urged
Unknown fear, inadequacy, sorrow, sickness & all negativity it purged.

Beginning the day with an oil bath makes skin healthy not greasy
Stay in the sun get vitamin D & licking tamarind is best & so easy
Tangy mango pachadi balances your heart to not go risky
Protect from diseases eating mixture of neem flowers, ghee, salt & jaggery

How would the year be get revealed as you read the almanac
How good, bad, problem or without is the year bright or dark
Gifts you ways & wisdom to overcome, stay or change the track
However it ushers in to say UGAADI - meaning a new age is back.

The first day is very auspicious to start anything anew
Enjoy delicacies & chit chat with elders that was long due
With prayers & blessings next year end you'll find fortunes grew
With health, happiness, peace & all may it be your life's radiant hue.

Wishing you and your family a happy & prosperous new year. 
May this year bring great cheer, without a tear, absolute no fear, a vision clear, make people dear, good news to hear, a healthy winner, problems don't leer, progress on the steer, blessings of your seer & with god being near. 
*"Happy Ugaadi"* 

HIJAB - The Issue that needs a Re-Look from Different View Points !!

The recent spate of agitation over the Hijab or Burkha as a religio-cultural essential garment to be worn by girls and women following the dictums of Islam, has gripped the country by storm. It has become a point for discussions and debate on the television media; an opportunity to political leaders to maneuver through the elections; a set of trolls on Social Media voicing their anguish/ their rights/ their discomfort etc etc – infact it certainly is a war of words that I witness in everywhere be it in while travelling in a metro, or on train, or at the workplace, or at tea stalls at the end of the street. Each person has his own views that are floating on lines of Right to religion or on the lines of appeasement a particular community is getting or on lines of the voice of majority not being heard etc etc. But everybody is waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision. What started as a candle flame has now turned into a wild forest fire, disrupting the very peace in the minds of people.
 
While I pondered over the entire situation looking into the events that unfurled from a simple town of Udupi (known for its brahminical ways of living, Udupi Hotels known for delivering quality vegetarian food that has the taste of home, the place where Krishna showed his presence to Kanakadaasa with absolute no discrimination what so ever … the list pertaining to its history – spiritual, religious, cultural, educational etc is awesomely endless) and the agitation spreading across the whole country and beyond. Much so that other countries (leaders or commoners) are expressing their solidarity to the agitators and offering advice to our countrymen on how to deal with this situation. Well, I am not here to do a post mortem of the entire issue, but I am here to share a view to the entire world from the perspective of a common man, a working corporate person and an educationist which perhaps allows all to look at blind side that has evaded the students & all others involved in it till now.
 
When we look through the eye piece of a COMMON MAN, it should be understood that he is looking at a fully safe and secure environs for him to lead his life. He also needs to have a peaceful possession and rightful use of his property (in-case he leases it out to anyone or lives there himself). He is also concerned on the unidentifiable and unscrupulous people vandalizing his property or causing grievous harm to the life and livelihood of him and his family too. There are many elderly whose children stay in a different place or a different country – the children are constantly concerned on how his elderly parents are – their safety, their health, their well-being and their day to day activities to ensure this they set up CCTV cameras or equipment within and outside their house to monitor all alleviate their fears and concerns regarding their parents. Some also go to the extent of involving a beat police to have rounds to ensure that their parents are safe, alive and peacefully living. In-fact as per Article 21 of the Indian Constitution Right to Life - Protection of Life and Personal Liberty is a Fundamental Right that is most essential and of paramount importance to any person so that that person is capable of enjoying the other fundamental rights – in simple terms The RIGHT TO LIFE means the person has the right to live his life without fear, injury and without any external danger. Even the individual himself does not possess the right to take away his own life. It is hear that I wish to bring to the sane thinking of the agitators –

1.       Will you feel secure when any person knocks your door or enters your property completely covered– head, face to toes are covered and wishes to enter into your house on any pretext?

2.       In-case an untoward incident happens with you or the inmates of your house by some hooded or fully covered miscreants hoodwinking the security cameras due to the attire worn (can’t identify the people due to their masks worn on their face or their face & body covered that can also hide and not show the weapons being carried within the dress). Will it aid in the investigation of identifying the perpetrators to the crime or committing the vandalizing acts?
 
Perpetrators are always HOODED !!

3.       What would happen when untoward incidents such as kidnapping, chain snatching, robbery or attacks on the life were to happen to you on the roads or at any places by fully covered & hooded perpetrators – would you be able to know or identify or recognize the people who have committed such acts on you? Would you now feel safe to even travel or even go on your morning walks on the roads?
 
4.       There are at times when some hate driven minds or criminal minds stealthily have placed explosives in public places unknown to the shoppers or people and then it has claimed lives of large numbers. These criminals to hoodwink the security system can wear face covers and hooded clothing so as to go scot free and untraced. I expect people to imagine if such an act of terrorism were to happen to you or your near dear ones who innocently were there shopping or enjoying the day, what pain would you experience and believe me the pain will be even more should the perpetrators escape due to them being unidentifiable? What would you do in such a case what would be your state of mind?

  
The PULWAMA issue !!

Should the agitating youngsters attempt to answer the questions keeping their parents, their near dear ones or themselves on the pedestal, they will certainly realize what they need. Despite this if they still tread on the lines of agitation then I wish to quote an old proverb “as you sow, so shall you reap” – where todays boon (that you think is) should not unfurl into a curse tomorrow (when you are old). It is therefore imperative for each one of you to sow the right seeds that strengthen your future safety & security rather than put your entire survival, livelihood and life in jeopardy or at risk at a later stage.
 
Viewing from the CORPORATE PROFESSIONAL’S perspective, it becomes all the more important to recognize that the corporates are economic drivers to the nation. They not only produce products and provide services to the wide public but are also the places where they provide opportunities of work to those who qualify and deserve. At all times the leaders of the companies are evaluating options to reduce the cost of production and reach a stage of nil wastage or zero scrap. A lot of thinking and efforts go into working towards lowering their costs such that the profit margins can improve. The profits are then shared with the employees in the form of salary hikes or perks etc. This is the inside story of the corporates, but off late companies, organizations, shops/ showrooms and establishments etc have witnessed an increase in losses due to theft and pilferage. The security guards have had a harrowing time in nabbing the thieves who under the garb of a customer steal or loot the products from the establishments. The CCTV footages have also confirmed that these thieves or looters or robbers are fully masked and covered from head to toe at the time of the crime. This is not a religious dress that they wear but a combination of flexible clothing that can help them in their getaway. Some also use comfortable clothing to hide the stolen articles and conveniently getaway hoodwinking the guards (but sometimes they are not able to cheat the cameras that have revealed the crime).
 
If one were to assess the losses incurred by an establishment such as shops/ showrooms/ Malls/ other establishments research has revealed that “every month a store lose between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 Lakh per month to retail theft “and “India tops the list of the highest number of retail thefts in the world” where it is also mentioned that “woman outnumber men in this regard”.

Attack on Shop Keeper !!

 
How much can the HOOD ACCOMMODATE !!

How much can fit under the VEIL!!

Unidentifiable Robbers & Vandals

1.       Now look at the number of retail stores in our city or state or country can you comprehend the losses that would amount every year. It will perhaps go in thousands of crores of rupees which can possibly fund the education of a million unaffordable children. If you were to be a store owner or an entrepreneur would you absorb the losses of your store running to such large amounts?

LOSSES BY RETAIL THEFT: INDIA TOPS 

 
2.       In the event of an explosion that would have ripped through your constructed place can you comprehend the losses – be it lives of people, be it damage to property, be it the products & goods destroyed – it would be a multitude of losses that is perhaps hard to comprehend. Now if you were to be the owner of such an establishment, can you visualize your helplessness, the pain at the losses staring before you, the legalities that innocently you will have to face and look at the state of your mind – that pain, the anguish, the unforgettable memories? How long will you take to recover?

Smart Smuggling !!

 Whether you are an entrepreneur or the owner of the establishment/ or stores – corporates seldom allow the thief to getaway but should a thief get away in any case, the losses due to the theft are recovered from the wages and salaries of the staff because the stores cannot afford such large losses to be written-off. Sometimes they get relief from the insurance companies but that again is relative to the mishap. So the actual sufferer is the employee of the store/ establishment. The videos herein enclosed could perhaps open your eye of humaneness such that our country can proudly say “it is a country of honest customers”.
 
Life is never complete without education. Education is not just a fundamental right but it is discipline that helps people evolve into better human beings. We all send children to schools with a firm belief that it’s a temple of learning. But are we aware of the efforts invested by the teacher and the team to make our child a better human being and a worthy individual to the society. To understand this better it is essential to look from the eyes of the EDUCATIONIST. The educationists have the most difficult task of making students understand what is being taught, assess his retention, evaluate how much of what he learnt dues the student apply and how positively beneficial is the student to the society or the corporate world. However a lot happens in the classroom that is highly physically and mentally stressful to the educationist. It is important that the agitating students look into these, such that they respect the ways adopted by the educationists to overcome the difficulties in meeting their responsibilities.
 
School Issues !!

1.       Face is the index of the mind – The facial expressions, gestures and body language of the students are the only sources that communicate whether the student has understood the topic or the subject. It also communicates the emotional status of the student which is indicative of the willingness to learn or whether disturbed or distracted or in doubt or under fatigue which are disablers to learning – the facial gestures enable the educationist to adopt and change ways in his methodology or re-teach or explain it in a way understandable to the student. This maneuverability and flexibility in instantly adopting a teaching methodology based on the student’s state of mind to receive, accept and understand is not possible in the event of the student completely covering his face. It would be appropriate to the agitating youngsters to look at whether they want a teacher to explain the topics to them or be like information en-screened by Google? By disabling the teacher in adopting different means to better explain the topic, would it help in your learning or enhance in your understanding? Due to the corona pandemic when online classes were in vogue, many parents and students have complained to the schools to get rid of the online classes as their children are not understanding as much as they when they were learning in school – this is evidential for all that is mentioned above as to what was the main disabler. Don’t you people think that it is the right of the teacher to ensure his students understand the topic or the subject better and one should not disable him in his duty or responsibility in this regard?
 
2.       Dealing with Proxy – Each day the security personnel at the school gates have a harrowing time in allowing the right students of the school to get into the campus. To this security guard the face of the Student should match with that on the identity card so as to enable him to permit the student inside the campus. It also ascertains whether the student has entered the campus or not or whether the student has gone out or to find the student (when needed) in the vast campus. Now to the agitating youngsters –

Identity Issues - How do you understand Gender & Deal with Proxy ???

a)      Is there any identity other than the FACE OF THE INDIVIDUAL that can help the security guard to effectively attend to this duty with ease?.... 

b)      With a completely covered face and body, should an outsider enter the campus and create mischief (by causing breakages or theft or molest someone) and get away. Would it be possible to identify the mischief monger in such cases? Who would get penalized for it? Don’t you think that the security guard’s job is at stake in the occurrence of such an incident?

c)       In the event of examinations where students from many colleges come to the school examination centre, the same issue gets compounded as identity match is critical to overcome students coming in as proxy or imposters. Can you imagine how difficult it is to the invigilators to ensure that the right student is writing the exam? If you are the invigilator in such a centre would you allow a student who comes completely covered to write the exam when he refuses to remove his face cover to prove his identity on the Identity card?

d)      In the classroom too some students are so loyal to their friends that they give proxy attendance to the student who is absent. What can the teacher in such an event do when a section of the students are covered up? Would it be possible to identify the gender of the student sitting in the class dressed in completely covered attire that hides his face?
 
3.       Any educational institution is a place for people from all religion, caste, creed and economic status to come under one roof and get educated without any discrimination. It becomes all the more mandatory for every student to accept and respect each other from whatever the socio-religious- economic-cultural status other classmates come from. This means that students who may be Sanatanis, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Parsees etc share the same platform by respecting each other’s beliefs, their practices, their following etc without any regret or remorse. It is therefore pertinent here for the agitating students seeking to look into this aspect very carefully before
a)      If allowed to wear HIJAB permitted by the educational institution implementing the rule as per law or as an implementer of secular institution then the institution should equally respect and accept another student who is from another religion following the principles of Digambara Jainism – will you comfortably without any opposition accept them to be attending and sitting in your class and respect their belief, culture and right to adhere and follow the dictums of their religion?
b)      There are children coming from other tribal areas who have their own customary attire to wear – As an educational institution head would you permit them in their attire to be seated in the same class of a multitude tribes who vehemently stress on their Right to freedom of religion that allows them to practice and propagate what they believe in & follow OR will you specify on uniformity where you will stand by equality?
 
It is time that the students from the agitating or non-agitating groups to seriously look at each of the situations mentioned above and ponder over the answers to the questions posed. This is because at some point of your life you will be playing the three roles and will come across such situations where you will have to look not only at is right for you but also what is right to others too. It is high time that each student realizes that RIGHT TO RELIGION is to ensure that you elevate spiritually and RIGHT TO EDUCATION is to ensure that you earn a good livelihood. When one uses both these rights in a manner it should then he will definitely become an ENLIGHTENED HUMAN-BEING.
 
Looking at another view point, HEALTH is seldom looked at by people these days and these youngsters too are not serious about it. In-fact vitamins are critical to good health and their deficiency can cause a lot of health issues some of which may not be reversible. Among all those vitamins there is one which helps in regulating the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the body. This vitamin is extremely essential to keep the bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Its deficiency can be very disastrous to the body which can result in bone loss or cancer or depression or cardiovascular disease or multiple sclerosis or type 2 diabetes or a combination of all these. This nutrient is VITAMIN D which is absorbed by the body from to exposure to sunlight. This is the safest way and the least expensive way of obtaining Vitamin D – research has inferred that many around the world are deficient in Vitamin D due to non-exposure of the body to the sun which is least expensively available. They are indeed required to take Vitamin D supplement that is expensive and pinches the pocket. This is another reason that completely covered bodies can make your body deficient of this vitamin that can hamper your growth and health as well.
 
By bringing the entire system to a standstill and also bring the country on its knees is not a great achievement it only points at the lacunae in looking at the big picture and flawed thinking in looking at universal good. Bharat has always given enough space and comfort for each religion of foreign origin; followers of different cultures & tradition; and people from all walks of life to thrive and lead a worthy life. Bharat understands the need for tolerance and has since time immemorial stood living & breathing with tolerance. It also says that vested interests emerge from insecurity in their minds and these vested interests are never universal in bringing good and happiness to others. It is high time that the educators should learn to reason out with students to avoid the candle sized flame into becoming a forest fire. Just by posing their difficulties as educators, corporates and common man could have diffused the young minds from such agitation and through press releases the educators could have prevented the hijack of the young minds by some groups who are uncomfortable with peaceful coexistence. Well, I guess that is what the responsibility of the educators is – educate all towards universal good.
 
It is time that the leaders irrespective of any regional or national political parties, to start looking beyond boundaries of their personal gain & myopic growth/ myopic benefit; but focus on bigger achievements that lay a firm foundation for universal betterment. As leaders representing the people you have a greater responsibility to look and study from the eyes of the common man, the corporates, the students or customers and from the health perspectives too. It would be wise for the leadership at all levels to refrain from poisoning young minds with motives that can be impediment to the growth of the youngsters and the future of the nation – because you need to understand todays youngsters will be benefactors tomorrow of what we create today or what we sow today – AS YOU SOW SO SHALL YOU REAP. So let’s sow the right seeds and groom visionaries to make us proud.
 
 NOTE:
** The videos have been from the collection received via the social media
** Courtesy Pictures have been taken without any ulterior motive but to bring clarity to the points :- 
Delmarvanow.com (masked gunman tie up bank staff);; fbi.gov; 6abc.com;  Istockphoto.com (256 Bank robbers mask); wtol.com (Toledo); shutterstock.com (bank robbers putting their masks on) timesnownews.com (Mirror Now News Tamilnadu); horrorhomeroom.com; 

CHATRAPATHI SHIVAJI - Ek Samraat Mahaan

 On the eve of  Shivaji's Maharaj's 392nd Birth Anniversary (19th Feb 2022), It occurred to me to depict his greatness in words as a work of dedication to enliven and relive those moments of history of achievements that this undefeatable king achieved. What this youngest hero achieved by the time he was 19 is an unsurmountable fact that has been kept under covers of Indian history for ages. He was one of the greatest protectors of our Hindu People and the Sanatana Culture which still runs in the veins of true Marathas & Sanatani's even to this day. This poem is an effort to wake up the young Shivaji's latent in the various parts of the country as it is the need of the hour to again have someone to uphold Hinduism.  

Hopefully my this small effort will pay off .....


वक्त ऐसा था हिंदुओं को काफिर कहकर मार दिया करते थे
हिंदुस्तान की छाती को घोंप उनका हरा झंडा लहराया करते थे
अनेकों बेवा बहु और बेटियों को हवस का शिकार बनाते थे
इसे देख हर रास्ता, गलि, चौबारे पर मंदिर में भगवान रोते थे

लाखों के बहते आंसुओं का कोई मोल नहीं था उस वक्त
क्योंकि आदम खोर बैठ गया था छीन कर भारत का तख्त
विधर्मियों ने धर्म के नाम पर नित्य जुल्म ढाए अती सख्त
त्राहि त्राहि कर रहे थे पूछते भगवान इस से करो हमे मुक्त

दिल्ली से चली ये आंधी दक्षिण भारत के द्वार खटखटाने को
तब उठी एक माँ की आत्मिक पुकार अपने भगवान को उठाने को
गर्भ सिखावत तीव्र साधना कर रही थी पराक्रमी पुत्र पाने को
नौ मास बाद पहुंची प्रजा जीजा पुत्र पर आशीर्वाद न्योछावरने को

मुख पर तेज आंखों में कांति शोभित वर्ण लोभित मुस्कान
स्वर्ण बाजूबंद व पैंजनी अलंकृत असाधारण शिशु है बलवान
प्रजा के सभी मातृ गण ने माँं व शिशु का किया सम्मान
माँ बोली रक्षक बनकर मेरा ये पुत्र करेगा हिंदुओं का कल्याण

माँ सुनाती नित्य शिशु को लोरी नही वीर गाताओं का गान
उसमे था धैर्य पराक्रम राम जी का कृष्णामृत गीता का ज्ञान
शिव की शक्ति गणेश की भक्ति और अम्बा मां का कार्य महान
शिशु निखर कर बना शिवाजी मराठाओं का श्रेष्ठ संतान

राजनीती का पाठ सीखा शाहजी और मां जीजा से
शस्त्र विद्या, रणनीति निपुणता पाई दादा कोंडदेव से
धर्म शास्त्र का ज्ञान ग्रहण किया गुरु समर्थ रामदास से
अपराजित खड्ग प्राप्त की माता तुलजा भवानी से

सोलह वर्ष के बालक थे शिवाजी जब बीजापुर से तोरण किला हथियाई थी
दो साल में चाकण, कोंधना, सुपा, बारामती, इंदापुर, पुरंधर पर जीत पाई थी
अनेकोनेक छोटे किले कोंकण कल्याण को भी अपने शरण में लेली थी
तोरण के खजाने से अपना खुद का सशक्त महफूज रायगढ़ किला बनवाई थी

पच्चीस साल की आयु तक दक्षिण भारत पर केसरी ध्वज को शान से लहराया
इसे सहन न कर आदिलशाही बेगम ने अफजल खान को है भिजवाया
निर्दोषियों पर अत्याचार करते तुलजा विट्टोबा मंदिर अफजल रोंदते आया
उसकी छल-जकड़ काम न आई शिवाजी के बाघ नाकून से वो मारा गया

तत्क्षण अफजल की सेना को खदेड़ दिया प्रतापगढ़ के किले से
पन्हळा पर विजय प्राप्त की रुस्तम जमान और फज्ल खान को हराने से
तीन सौ मराठे घोड खिंड में भीड़ गई सिद्धि जौहर की हजारों सैनिकों से
डटे रहे वो जब तक शिवाजी विशालगढ़ पहुंचकर बताये तोप की गूंज से

आदिलशाही बेगम बिलबिला उठी मांगी औरंगजेब से भेजो शाइस्ता खान को
डेढ़ लाख सैनिक लेकर पुणे फतेह कर शाइस्ता ने झिंझोड़ दिया शिवाजी को
उसी रात को तीन सौ मराठे तितर बितर कर दिए विशाल मुघलों की सेना को
शिवाजी ने इस अचानक प्रहार से भागते शाइस्ता की काटी उंगलियों को

इस शिकस्त से औरंगजेब को बड़ी शर्मिंदगी उठानी पड़ी
जय सिंह व अनेक राजपूतों को समर आज्ञा दी उसी घड़ी
शिवाजी ने उस से संधि की क्योंकि मराठों पर थी संकट बड़ी
और अनेक जीते हुए किलों को औरंगजेब को उन्होंने लौटा दी

आगरा बुलाकर औरंगजेब ने शिवाजी को छल से गिरफ्तार किया
न भाग सके कारागार से उनपर कड़क निगरानी रखवा दिया
एक दिन जब बाप बेटे ने सुरक्षित निकल जाने का मौका पाया
फल मिठाई टोकरी से दोनो औरंगजेब के गिरफ्त से निकल गया

फिर से पाए शिवाजी ने सभी किले तलवारों की नोक पर
फिर विश्राम ली उन्होंने एक विशाल साम्राज्य को बनाकर
उनके राज्य में सुख समृद्धि थी शांति और किसीको  नही था डर
हिंदू भी अब स्वाभिमान से रेहते और कभी न झुकाए अपना सर

हर प्रांत के नागरिक तो उन्हे शिव जी का अवतार लगे मान ने
धर्मोधारक नाम कमाये विशाल राज्य के छत्रपति महाराज बने
सशक्त मराठा सेना से अब पड़ोसी राज्य रक्षा को लगे पुकारने
थर थर कांपते थे विधर्मी जब आए शिवाजी सेना के सामने

पेशावर से तंजावुर तक और अहमदाबाद से कटक तक शिवाजी का राज्य फैला था
अपनी भविष्यवाणी पूरा हुआ देख माँ जीजा का मन संतुष्ट और तृप्त हुआ था
जब तक मिलने आते शिवाजी माँ जी का आत्म स्वर्ग को प्रस्थान कर चुका था
दुखी अनारोगी बने महाराज जी क्योंकि माँ से बिछड़ने का गम उन्हे सताता

22 Mar 1680 का वो दिन था शिव बा निःशक्त दिखाई दिए
तीव्र ज्वार और दस्त ने उन्हे बारह दिन से जैसे जकड़ लिए
फिर आई वो मनहूस दिन 3 April 1680 जब शिव बा दवाई की गूंट पिए
अनारोग्य से नही पर मन के दुख तो शिव बा अपने चेहरे से न निकाल पाए

दिन चढ़ते चढ़ते बारह बज गए तब दुनियां आंखों से ओझल होने लगी
ऐसा लगता था की शिव बा की आत्मा मां तुलजा को पुकारने लगी
शायद मां का स्पर्श पाकर शिव बा के प्राण इस लोक से परलोक भागी
मृत शरीर पर सूरज तारे चंद्रमा और रायगढ़ प्रजा के आंसू के धार बहने लगी

शूर वीर पराक्रमी धैर्य और साहस के प्रतीक थे
मन से दृढ़ वाच में मृदु मानवता के रत्न थे
माँ स्त्री व गुरु प्रति आदर हिंदू धर्म के रक्षक थे
मराठों में न भूतो न भविष्यति ऐसा सम्राट जन्मे थे

आज यही अपेक्षा है मेरी की देश का हर बालक शिवजी बने 
माता पिता गुरु का हाथ थामे बढे वो हिंदुत्व को सवारने   
कोई भी विधर्मी आतंकी से सदा भारत देश को बचाने  
और माँ भारती का सपूत बनकर खड़े वो सीना ताने 


शिवाजी महाराज की जय !!
मां तुलजा भवानी की जय !!
विट्टोबा महाराज की जय !!

February 14th - The Unforgettable PULWAMA Massacre - Blood stained Valentine's Day

February 14th, called Valentine's day is a day no youngster ever forgets. It is that day of the year that people in love celebrate to express their love for those whom they love.  The boys & girls in love shower gifts, chocolates and heart balloons as an expression of their love. A lot of messages floating on the Social media a week prior to this day surprised me as to how culturally we had changed. The youngsters these days sway in the cultural breeze of the west little realizing that there can be serious meaning and purpose to celebrating this day. 

I was at the training center this day, this morning to spend the day with a few immortal souls of the Indian Army..... 10:30 they all came & I didn't know how the feeling was going to be.... Already my heart was weeping as they are all soldiers who have lost their limbs etc working towards protecting us at all times.... This is what I felt during the day & I wrote it at the beginning & end of the day.....

                   ....... A Day to Remember For Bharat......

As I wait for the day to start words fail me & my throat feels parched

Can't say how I'm going to be when I see them in uniforms starched

My body & soul too seem to feel a burning like they've been torched

Wondering how on impossible terrain these souls bravely marched

With tears in my eyes, a weeping heart & brow sweating out

I salute the great sentry boy who is just standing out

Coz even when injured they truly are the most reliable scout

I sleep peacefully inside coz my brother is a guard standing out.

 

With the convoy slaughtered, bodies strewn of our slain brothers

The valentine's red has got its colour from the blood of our soldiers

The boys coffins too got soaked red with tears of blood of mothers

The tears she shed was to wash the mockery made by leaders & others.

 

I wish I had another son to could go to Pulwama came mothers whips

What have we done was the only words that somehow escaped my lips

Shaken I was on a war cry salute of a Major with no legs below the hips

Each one there had his own personal sorrow braving all emotional dips

 

With pomp & cheer everyone felt that it was a day well spent

With emotions treasured I truly understood what Valentine's Day meant

Impressing your love with roses, gifts & love-tidings may be your happy event

But take a moment & offer a wreath to soldiers who to heavens happily went

 

It is not that one should not give gifts to the love of their life but, all I expect that there can be a much better purpose in that can be far more worthier - that of remembering and celebrating the day with those for whom our lives, our safety and our happiness matters the most.... Just think about it....



Raghavendra Guruve - A Bhaktigeet dedicate to Guru Shri Raghavendra Swamy

I offer this Bhaktigeet at the holy feet of Shri Guru Saarvabhouma Shri Raghavendra Swamy of Mantralaya, seeking his blessings always for a worthy life. 

Written by

Gartikere Raganna

 

ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
ನಮಿಸುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
ಯೋಗಿವರ್ಯ ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ ಶಿಖಾಮಣಿ
ನಮಿಸುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
 

ಘೋರ ದುರಿತ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಕೃಪಾಕರ

ಮಾರಜನಕ ಪದ ಸೇವಾ ದುರಂದರ 
ಕಾರುಣ್ಯಾಂಬುಧಿ ಭಕ್ತೋಧ್ಧಾರ
ತೋರು ಮುಕ್ತಿ ತುಂಗಾ ತಟವಾಸ//    

 

Completed & Written by

Dr. Avinash Salgar

 

ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
ನಮಿಸುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
ಯೋಗಿವರ್ಯ ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ ಶಿಖಾಮಣಿ
ಗುಣ ಪೂರ್ಣ ನಿಧಿಯೆ

 

ವೇದ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ ತತ್ವ ಜ್ಞಾನ ದಿವಾಕರ
ಯಂತ್ರ ತಂತ್ರ ಮಂತ್ರಾದಿ ಸುಧಾಕರ್ 
ಸಂಗೀತ ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಗ ಸುರೇಶ್ವರ
ನೀಡು ಸಿದ್ಧಿ ಮಂತ್ರಾಲಯ ವಾಸ//
 

ಕೃಷ್ಣರಸಿಂಹ ಹಯ ಸಪ್ತಗಿರೀಶ್ವರ 
ಮೂಲ-ರಾಮ ಪ್ರತಿ ಸೇವಾ ನಿರಂತರ
ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿ ನೀ ಪತಿತೋತ್ಧಾರ 
ನೀಡು ಅಭಯ ಬೃಂದಾವನ ವಾಸ್//


HISTORY OF THIS BHAKTIGEET - It was years ago that my revered singing maestro - popularly known as Gartikere Raganna (- the one who taught me, coached me and blessed me to appreciate the beauty of music, the divine soulful exploration through Bhaktigeet) had begun to write a bhaktigeet in the praise of Guru Shri Raghavendra Swamy. He had just completed writing the first verse after which he just stopped, it was as if something within him prevailed where he couldn't write any further.  Decades went by and he could not write further and complete the Bhaktigeet. In the 2021 Guru Shri Raghavendra Swamy's Aaradhana time on the Madhya Aaradhana day he sang the single verse as part of the Ashtavadhaana Seva. He was emotional when I asked him how come this song has only one verse - he told me what happened to him and said I don't know what vidhi (fate) had for him and this bhaktigeet. At this point of time I felt an intense desire to complete this bhaktigeet in the same tempo that befitted the Raaga that it was tuned in. 

Finally I wrote the next two verses, modified the repeat verse (mukhda) with an addition and on 5th February 2022 sent it to Gartikere Raganna as a surprise. The greatness of this maestro was that he reworked on the notes and sang the whole bhaktigeet and sent it to me in his recorded voice in the most befitting raaga. This completion of the incomplete song is a my deep gratitude to the great maestro for all that i learnt from him in the field of music and the grace of wonderful raaga's.      

THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BHAKTIGEET
  
ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
ನಮಿಸುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
ಯೋಗಿವರ್ಯ ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ ಶಿಖಾಮಣಿ
ಗುಣ ಪೂರ್ಣ ನಿಧಿಯೆ
                                  -------- ಪ್ರಭುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
                                  ನಮಿಸುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ //

ವೇದ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ ತತ್ವ ಜ್ಞಾನ ದಿವಾಕರ
ಯಂತ್ರ ತಂತ್ರ ಮಂತ್ರಾದಿ ಸುಧಾಕರ್ 
ಸಂಗೀತ ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಗ ಸುರೇಶ್ವರ
ನೀಡು ಸಿದ್ಧಿ ಮಂತ್ರಾಲಯ ವಾಸ//
                                      -------- ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
                                  ನಮಿಸುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ //

ಕೃಷ್ಣರಸಿಂಹ ಹಯ ಸಪ್ತಗಿರೀಶ್ವರ 
ಮೂಲ-ರಾಮ ಪ್ರತಿ ಸೇವಾ ನಿರಂತರ
ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿ ನೀ ಪತಿತೋತ್ಧಾರ 
ನೀಡು ಅಭಯ ಬೃಂದಾವನ ವಾಸ್//
                                      -------- ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
                                   ನಮಿಸುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ //

ಘೋರ ದುರಿತ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಕೃಪಾಕರ
ಮಾರಜನಕ ಪದ ಸೇವಾ ದುರಂದರ 
ಕಾರುಣ್ಯಾಂಬುಧಿ ಭಕ್ತೋಧ್ಧಾರ
ತೋರು ಮುಕ್ತಿ ತುಂಗಾ ತಟವಾಸ//    
                                      -------- ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ 
                                   ನಮಿಸುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಗುರುವೇ //

The Verse of Gartikere Raganna has been placed in as the last paragraph due to the phrase TORU MUKTI mentioned in the verse.