The Rainbow

It's been so long since i wrote for You, my Lord.

It's been so long since i did anything significant for You.

Needless to say, i find myself in a very insignificant place

Today, on my usual, everyday bus route, i found myself staring out of the window.

The weather outside reflected the state of my mind.

Even as torrents of rain poured outside, traitor tears lined my eyes.

i could not help it, i was thinking about how much i missed You!

Add to this the beautiful clouds aping Your colour, and i felt more miserable with myself than ever.

At that time, the girl sitting next to me tapped my hand. She woke me out of my reverie, and pointed out the window.

Sure enough, a beautiful bow now adorned the sky.

Soon, everyone was turning their heads in the direction of nature's ornament.

For those few moments, every single person-from the oldest professor to the haughtiest girl-became a child.

And just as a child jumps in joy, our eyes rejoiced the simple beauty of nature.

How Mother Earth could turn us into kids in Her lap once again, by exhibiting the littlest of Her wonders!

And, at that time, i realised that YOU are the RAINBOW of my life!

To see Your handsome face, i will even shed torrents of tears, if that is what you demand.

To listen in rapt attention even as Your beautiful red lips framed pearls of poetry, i wouldn't mind many thunderstorms.

To stroke Your toes with my finger-tips, to revel in Your presence, to see my insides knotting themselves, to but be in Your presence-Oh! what wouldn't i give!

To see Your beautiful eyes dancing about like the lightning among the clouds-my poor eyes will suffer the insufferable drought with anticipation of that moment.

O my Dear Lover, YOU ARE MY RAINBOW!

My mind secretly yearns for You even when i do not acknowledge it.

And, when it catches but one glance of You, my eyes dance about wildly, and my heart prances, reaches a crazy stupor and surrenders itself unto You.

Happy Birthday Govinda!

Dear Lord,
Today, i find myself incapable of poetry even.
So, here's wishing You a very Happy Birthday!
Many many happy returns of the day!!

Virtually away from your party, i submit these virtual wishes at Your feet, in the hope that You will accept them!

Will Krishna Wipe my Tears?

Who but the gardener

To caress the flowers lest they wither?

Who but You, Parthasarathy, my Lord

Who but You have i got?

Who but the lover

To guide the heart that does falter

Whose help but Yours do i seek-

Even as tears run down my cheek?

What is the meaning of Your smile

If talking to the wind is all the respite i find?

What was the purpourt of Your beautiful glances-

When now, my mind, in this circus dances?

Whose shoulder do i lean on-

Whom do i have to trust?

When the Lord the world trusts

Seems to have abandoned me like a lone fawn!

When my mind thus laments in anxiety

Do u enjoy in invisible proximity?

Why is my heart like a mirror shattered?

O Krishna! Despite being by Your Lotus Feet sheltered??

O Lord Who became a charioteer

All to bring to a friend great cheer:

Will You not this slave steer

Away from seperation that she fears?

O Lord who lifted the Govardhan Hill,

Why do You my dreams kill?

If not for You, this heart will go still:

Come, with Your essence, this lowly life fill!!

O Great Speaker of the Bhagavad Gita!

When again will You tempt me with Your thrilling words?

When again will Your love leave me searching for words?

When again will You bestow Your association for which i long?

When again will You entertain this saddened heart with Your Love Song?

Test me not in testing waters,

Throw me not into waning litters!

Stay with me O Janardhana!

Keep me Yours forever O Krishna!

When You refuse to see this slave,

Why should she this lowly life save?

Leave me not of Your love bereft

Kill me with Your beautiful arms lest!

Whatever direction this life may take-

O Parthasarathy! This heart beats for Your sake!

Abandon not a surrendered slave:

Whatever be Your anger, forgo it for my sake!

Dear Narasimha,

Your eyes burn the sinners to flames:

A bond of love is ignited Your devotees heart by the same!

Your ferocious fingers digged into Hiranyakashipu's insides:

Yet, they, with love and compassion, Your devotees invite!

 You kill the enemy with Your anger!

But, for your devotees, unleash a smiling dagger!

In those who rule by fear, you ignite fear:

And yet, those who surrender at Your feet lose all fear!

You behold a face so ferocious:

But for the devotee: features so gorgeous!

You tore down a pillar to inspire in the feared fear:

And to the same handsome torso, hold a devotee near!

O Lord Who protected Prahlad's tongue:

To sing your praises too meak is this slave's tongue!

Yet, no other pleasure this girl has,

Than to sing the praises of the Lord with His hands on His lap!

Your fingers killed an evil demon so terrible

For a son whom You invited with the same fingers so lovable!

Will you please let me decorate (with mehendi) those nails so long?

Will You not bestow upon me that pleasure for which i long?

Your Holy Feet with long, curved nails at the helm:

Protect the person who takes refuge at them.

Will you please let me decorate (with mehendi)  those nails so long?

Will You please bestow upon me that pleasure for which i long?

-Dedicated to Azhagiya Singar of Thiruvallikeni

My Father-Daughter Song

What is "magic"?

The word is a trick in itself.

Is it an exhibition of the impossible by using little props?

Or, is it that which leaves your heart yearning for more?

Can it be defined by the little tricks the street magician performs to earn his bread?

Or, is it everything that is inexplicably wonderful?

Magic is, in my humble opinion, what we cannot explain.

It is what our five senses fail to comprehend.

And, it is only when our senses fail that we look deep inside our hearts.

Sorry for the long lecture. I am never good at them.

Anyways, since you were kind and patient enough to read my little philosophy, i am going to cut the intro short and jump to the matter.

Parents are atop the list of those whom we take for granted.

When we are kids, they spray baby cereal on their prized shirts to feed us.

When we are adoloscents, they listen patiently to all our tantrums.

i am not aware of what happens next, (as both my physical and mental capabilities are that of a barely-so-adult), but the most important thing is they dedicate their lives unto you.

So, how much ever you  fight with them, whatever be your differences, you are still bound by a invisible, intangible (magical?) bond.

My father always sings for me.

He has sung for me ever since God brought me to Earth, and he continues to do so.

And, in Radio Dad, the Listener's Choice from my side has been this Tamil song called "Kanne Kalaimaane" from the movie "Moondraam Pirai".

It is this beautiful melody, which always brings a yawn on my mouth.

How much ever i try, i can never disprove my dad that this song is my own magical sleeping pill.

i am snoring before the song is over!

It's a beautiful love song, the second stanza of which  i have roughly translated:

(Context of the actual song: the protagonist falls in love with a mentally retarded girl. He falls hook, line and sinker for her, and cannot help it himself.)

kannae kalaimaanae kanni mayilenak
kandaen unai naanae

In these lines, the protagonist praises his beloved. "Kanne" means eyes, but also it is a sweet form of calling one's beloved. "Kalaimaane" is a kind of deer and "Mayil: refers to a peacock.

andhip pagal unai naan paarkkiraen
I see you day and night
aandavanai idhaiththaan kaetkiraen
I ask of God nothing else!
raariraaroa oaraariroa
raariraaroa oaraariroa


(kannae)

------------

kaadhal kondaen
My heart began to love you
kanavinai valarththaen
It flourished incessantly in my dreams!
kanmani unai naan karuththinnil niraiththaen
O The Apple of My Eyes! i filled my thoughts with You!
unakkae uyiraanaen
My life is now yours!
ennaalum enai nee maravaadhae
Please, never ever forget me!
neeyillaamal edhu nimmadhi
Without you, there is no peace!
needhaanae en sannidhi
You are my sannidhi! (sannidhi refers to the holy sanctum sanctorum)

While most songs that i hear DO get dedicated to my Lord Krishna, this particular song never occured in that list.

It's always been my Dad's song.

But, today, as my dad sung for me in his soothing voice, the words in the second stanza dedicated themselves to His feet.

So, to conclude, what IS magical in this world is "LOVE".

How, we are bound to each other by that Universal Affection.

How, our relationship with Parthasarathy is also defined by that very word.

What is indeed magical is how the Ruler of the Universe sways to little expressions of Love!