Friday, June 12, 2009

Coup On Literature – 10 [Literacy and ideology]

Similar to other languages in India, in world, my mother tongue Telugu had risen up to high peaks in terms of quality and quantity as well as in terms of script and ideas. It is flourished with the beauty of both literacy and ideology. There were thrillful and magical talents in narrations, in description, in story making and in forming of prose & poetry with grammar. There was literal glamour. With prosody also there was melody. So large poems like Vikata Kavi i.e. words which are similar from A to Z and Z to A. there were so many symmetry and variety in our literature like అనురాగం అనురాగం నేనాలపిస్తా that means I’ll sing a tune of love. Here first ‘Anuragam’ means love, next Anuragam means tune. Like that so many countless lyrics.

On this background in certain 70’s & 80’s movies of Telugu had shown that the scarcity of literature and talents. I give you two examples.

In one movie Kokilamma, hero sang as

“వినిపించనా వినిపించనా నీకో సంగీతం
నీకోసం గీతం”

Means shall I sing, for you a melody

For you a song.

Neko Sangetham means for you a melody i.e. music

Nekosam Geetham means for you a song.

It is good presentation okay. But for this much bit, the director presented non-stop clapping for more than 1 minute of 2 minutes song is not okay. That shows the poverty of feelings i.e. deficiency of talents.

Another movie ‘Swathi Kiranam’, There the actress shown ecstasy when the hero and other roles were singing where as nobody in the theatre could experience such quality in those songs. That was the fact. Those songs not got popularity even among public. Such was the strategy to kill the quality of talents gradually. The directors and artists might deceive like that. It was a coup, especially spying coup in India. By killing the talents, discouraging the artists, it is easy to destroy a Nation. In such coup, how many souls got suffered, we can’t determine now. It is helpless to count it.

*******************END*************************

Coup On Literature – 9 [Pothana Vs Sri Nadha]

Here I give a fact demo from our history of Telugu literature. In Telugu there were two great poets, one was Sri Bammera Pothana and the other was Sri Nadha. The former was devotional poet and followed idealism. The later was commercial poet and followed materialism. I compare their life styles, life goals and their achievements to establish you the truth. First I’ll explain about Potana.

After having certain experience by writing Bhogini and giving it as dedication to some king, Potana realized the real meaning of the life. He dedicated his life, his writings to God Sri Rama and done agriculture for life food. No king could get dedicated of his writing i.e. Bhagavatham in spite of their popularity among people. Some kings had harassed him and he experienced poverty to some extent. But he was determinant about his decision. He was firm follower of Sri Bhagavad Geeta and Bhuddi Yoga i.e. doing work by leaving result to God. Hundreds of his poems were on the lips of people including literate and illiterate. People who didn’t know to write or read, they knew about Potana and his poetry. They were able to reproduce his poems. This situation is still in continuity up to my generation and present child generation also. One of his poems,

“పలికెడిది భాగవతమట
పలికించెడి విభుండు రామభద్రుండట
నేపలికిన భవహరమగునట
పలికెద వేరొండు గాధపలకగనేలా!”

Meaning of the above is

What I speak is called as Bhagawatham
Who made me to speak is called as Sri Rama Bhadra
If I speak, may I get Mukthi.
In such case, I speak Bhagawatham only, why
Should I speak other?

In the context of Prahlada charitam, Bhakta Prahlada said with his father Hiranya Kasyapa, regarding the existence of God, Potana wrote a beautiful poem,

“ఇందుగల దందు లేడని
సందేహమ వలదు చక్రి సర్వోపగుతుం
డెందెందు వెదకి చూచిన
అందందే కలదు దాన వాగ్రణి వింటే ”

Meaning

Oh! King of danavas, do you hear, God is here or not there, don’t doubt like this. God is every where wherever you search for him, he is there.



When Hiranya Kasyapa forced Prahlada, his son to forget about God and praise himself i.e. to forget idealism and to follow materialism, Prahlada say a beautiful clarification through the pen of potanna, such as

“మందార మకరంద మాధుర్యమున దేలు
మధువంబు వోవునే మదనములకు
నిర్మల మందాకినీ వీచీకల దూగు
రాయంచ చనునే తరంగిణులకు
లలిత రసాల పల్లవ ఖాదియై చొక్కు
కోయిల సేరునే కుటజములకు
బూర్ణేందు చంద్రికా స్ఫురిత చకోరక
మరుగునే సాంద్ర నీహారములకు
అంబు జోదర దివ్య పాదారవింద
చింతనామృతపాన విశేషమత్త
చిత్తమేరీతి ని తరంబు జేరనేర్చు
వినుత గుణశీల! మాటలు వేయునేల?”

Meaning of this is

How can a honey bee go to grass flowers by leaving the sweet nector in hibiscus? How can a Royal Swan go to salt water lake by leaving the holy lake of Manasa Sarovar i.e. River Ganga’s birth place? How can a cuckoo go to other trees by leaving the fresh leaves of mango tree? How can a bird i.e. Chakoram which live by taking the moon light as food go to dark deserts by leaving full moon light? Here I’m not going to discuss whether such birds like Chakorams, which can live by taking moon light as food, are exist, is the nature or not, I’m accepting such imagination to describe the feeling of leaving a quality thing for a un quality thing. Like honey bee, Royal Swan, Cuckoo and Chakoram how can a human mind, which enjoy the divine drink of God’s love, God’s thought, go to other things? To explain this feeling, there is no need of thousand words.

This feeling can be understand by people as doctors enjoy after giving life to suffering patients, as teachers enjoy after making the students to learn knowledge, as nurses enjoy the tears in patients eyes after serving them, as social workers enjoy the satisfaction after helping the poor, such joy and satisfaction can be known by experience only, but not by explaining with words. No body can make a person, who is utterly unknown to the existence of ghee and who never see it, taste it, smell it, with explanation to know color, taste and smell of ghee. Anybody can know it by seeing, tasting, smelling, the ghee i.e. by experiencing its existence with sense organs by himself or herself only.

In recent Telugu cinema, Manmadhudu there was a jovial incident in between hero and heroine, when heroine offered coffee hero said, “I don’t like coffee.” Then heroine said “After taking coffee, then only you can say whether you like it or not.” Such that after experiencing the both, the joy of idealism i.e. joy of divine and the joy with materialistic views, we can say which is more welcomable.

With such experience, with self confidence, I’m telling you that we need both joys of idealistic and materialistic views in proper proportion in our life to make our life as fruitful and successful one. As the day and night composses one day, our life must consists both the joys of materialistic and idealistic approach to achieve Dharma, Ardha, Kama, and Mokshams in life. Dharmardha Kama Mokshams in life means follow the righteous way to earn money, with such wealth fulfill of our righteous desires and finally acquire Moksham. About Moksham I’ll explain under the caption of Bhagavad Geetha.

On the other hand, in the context of Gajendara Moksham, Potana had given sweet poems to Telugu people along with the thousands of such poems in the Bhagavatham. One from Gajendra Moksham in the context of prayer of Gajendra to God Vishnu as the elephant was tired, frightend and prayed like this.

“లా వొక్కింతయులేదు ధైర్యము విలోలంబయ్యె
ప్రాణంబులన్ ఠావుల్ దప్పెను మూర్ఛవచ్చె
తనువున్ డస్సెన్ శ్రమం బయ్యెడిన్
నీవే తప్ప నితఃపరం బెరగ మన్నింపందగున్
దీనునిన్ రావే ఈశ్వర కావవే వరద!
సంరక్షింపు భద్రాత్మకా!”

Meaning of the above poem is

“Oh God! I have no strength. I lost dareness. Life is getting tired and ready to leave the body. I am getting unconsciousness. My body was so tired. It is very tedious to me to fight with this crocodile. I pray to you only, not to anyone else. Please forgive me. I’m eligible to your excuse. Please come God. Please save me. Please protect me!”

Every body of us, in our terrible dangers we used to pray God like this only. How much depth and wet of the feeling is there in that poem?

With such continuous prayer, when God didn’t respond to the elephant, Gajendra sensed the doubt regarding the existence of God. In this context, Potana wrote the following poem.

“కలడందరు దీనుల యెడ
కలడందరు పరమ యోగి గణముల పాలన్
కలడందు రన్నిదిశలన్
కలడు కలం డనెడు వాడు కలడో లేడో!”

Meaning is

People say that God is with poor, with helpless and with calm-going persons and with hermits. People say that God is in every direction. But, the God, about whom people say that he is everywhere, really is he exists or not?

Each and every human being feels this doubt now and then in life.

In the context of God Vishnu saving the elephant from crocodile, Potana wrote like this

“సిరికిం జెప్పడు శంఖ చక్రయుగమున్
చేదోయి సంధింపడు
ఏ పరివారంబును జీరడు
అభ్రగపతిన్ బన్నింపడు
ఆకర్ణికాంతర ధమ్మిల్లము చక్కనొత్తడు
వివాద ప్రోత్థిత శ్రీకుచోపరిచేలాంచలమైన
వీడడు, గజ ప్రాణావనోత్సాహియై”

Meaning of it is,

In the urgency of saving of elephant from crocodile, God Vishnu didn’t inform Sri Lakshmi Devi, his wife, didn’t wore weapon’s, didn’t take his travelling vehicle i.e. Garuthmantha, even didn’t leave the pallu i.e. Veil of Sri Lakshmi Devi. Immediately, after hearing the prayer of Gaja Raja, he ran to save the elephant.

This poem shows us how much affectionate the God towards us.

In this context, I read a story about Potana and Sri Nadha. Sri Nadha was brother-in-law to Potana. One day, before the dinner, both the poets had a discussion on Gajendra Moksham in Bhagavatham.


Sri Nadha criticized the above poem as what he could do, Bhagawan Vishnu, when he comes to protect the elephant without weapons and all. Potana kept calm. After a while they were taking dinner.

At that time, Potana’s son was drawing water from the well with a rope and pot. It was dark. The well was behind the house. Suddenly there was a big sound as if some heavy body dropped in water. The shout of Potanna’s son followed as “Father! Uncle! Come immediately. Uncle’s son had fallen into the well. Come fast!”

A terrible disturbance, at a time the Ladies in the house frightened and started to cry. Potana and Sri Nadha and all immediately ran towards the well. Sri Nadha with spittle hand approached the well. He was calling out his son’s name and running around the well as in the part of the effort to save his son.

Then Potana’s son exposed himself to Sri Nadha, and said “Uncle! With the affection on your own son, you forgotten to bring the rope and anchors etc. tools to save your son from well. When ever you heard about the danger of your son, immediately you approached the well as you at that moment. You didn’t call any one, you didn’t wear any weapon. You have that much love on you child. Then why doesn’t God has that much love on us?”

These were the personal characteristics of both the poets. Sri Nadha had written so many writings as Shrungara Nishadham, Palnati Veera Charihra, Hara Vilasam etc. Bammera Potana took idealistic life style; where as Sri Nadha took materialistic life style. He tried to motivate Potana to follow the materialistic way on behalf of some kings to enable the dedication of Potana’s writings from him.

Sri Nadha’s life was filled maximum level of luxuries. He visited so many places in order to please various kings, to make them enjoy by his talent, by his writings, by his intellectuality, by this wisdom, so that to get awards and rewards from the kings. He got so many felicitations, respects and wealth. He got royal treatment from the king of Vijaya Nagara etc. when he had gone to Chennai he wrote such poems.

తొలుతనే వడ్డింత్రు దొడ్డ మిర్యపు చారు

As the Tamilians, serve the hot soup of pepper. When he visited Palanedu, he wrote.

“రసికుడు పోవెడెస గంగ పల్నాడు
ఇట రంభయైన ఏకులు వడుకున్”

No man who was connoisseur would go to Palnadu. Here, every lady how beautiful she was, would do hard physical work. In the same context, he described the food habit of people there, as ‘కలి యంబలి కలి చంగటి’ i.e. Javari food of all. This shows his particularity about physical needs. He spent a lavish and luxurious life. But at the ending of his life, Vaddera race kings took the succession of Reddy race kings. They didn’t consider his talent, and demanded for taxes. To earn for his needs, he took the fields of a village, Boddu pally on rent. He tried to do agriculture where as he criticized the agriculture of Potanna in his past life. But he lost his investment in agriculture and took punishment from the king. We can imagine the humiliation of Sri Nadha, at that time.

“పక్షులు దినిపోయే తిలలు పెసలు
బొడ్డుపల్లె యని మొస పోయితి
గొడ్డుపల్లెని దెల్వక”

Such that he cried about the birds attack on the harvested crop. He wrote so many poems, at that time, those writings and him self were praised by people. But now who was alive, Potana or Sri Nadha? Through his poems on illeterated tongues, Potana was alive. That’s all! If any body argue that why not Sri Nadha still alive? His writings are also famous now, people remember his name as a poet, otherwise you could not refer his name, so why not he is alive- we can say to them as follows. You please compare the life styles of the both of the poets; and their peacefulness, the context of their motivation on public towards the righteous way. How many people got how much inspiration from Potana to lead peaceful, faithful and righteous life in devotional and truthful way? Is it not great than leading our own life in luxurious way.

If we facilitate our own life by our efforts, it is okay. If we facilitate our people lives by our efforts, is it not double okay?

Poets, singers artists whoever praised the kings for the sake of luxuries had passed away along with the kings. But one Thyagayya, one Thukaram, one Annamayya, one Meera bai, one Tulasi Das are living for ever in the hearts of people.

I’m not saying that it is enough if we get fame in life that means living our famousness after our death. I’m saying that doing good, living for values, living for truth is enough meaning of life.

Coup On Literature – 8 [Myself, yourself, and of himself]

I show you the magic what our mind does in things regarding first, second and third persons, that means myself, yourself, and of himself or her self.

Let us enjoy the concept-as-if I feel about some thing I put some positive caption, if you feel the same I put semi positive caption for curtsey sake and if some other person feels the same I put negative caption to it. For example:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---MY SELF----------------- -- YOUR SELF------------- HIM SELF

I enjoy the taste of food.---- You are forol of food.--- He is utterly glutton.

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

In the context of fear

----I -----------------------You ------------- He

I take care in prier to--- you are fearing --- He is a coward.

anything.

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

In the context of dismissal of a decision

-------I --------------------------- you--------------------- He

I rethought about it.--- You changed your mind.--- He is an idiot. He won't stand

------------------------------------------------------ on his word.

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

In the context of slow doing of work

---------I ---------------------------- you ---------------- He

I'm doing work with special--- you are a slow worker.--- He is a lazy fellow.

care

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

In context of none speaking

-----------I ---------------------- you ---------------------- He

I don't like to speak. It is--- You have no talent of ---- He is a useless fellow. He

better to show working --- speaking ------------ doesn't Know how to speak.

than speaking.

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

In the context of work ability:

-------------I--------------------- you ------------------- ---- He

I done well but circum--- you didn't effort the work.--- He is in capacitive.

-stances are not supportive.

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

In the context of chatting:

-----------I-------------------- ----- you ---------------------- He

I'm spending time to develop---- you are wasting time.--- He is a useless &

public relations----------------------------------------- talkative man.

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

In the context of tension:

-------I------------------------- you----------------------- He

I'm performing the work--- you are getting agitation.--- He is under tension.

with speed

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

In the context of misbehave with others:

---------I-------------------- you ----------------------He

I argued with them.--- You scolded them. --- He used nasty tongue on them.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any thing, any subject with which feeling we watch them, they appear us like that only. You observe water hand pump sound. If you feel its sound as “I’ll beat you”. You hear it like that only. If you feel ‘I’ll hear you’ you can hear its sound like that. The entire universe appears to us with respective our selves.

This is a satire I read somewhere.

Such that the satires, jokes which are the part of literature guide us just as torch lights in hand to behave in righteous manner.

The garden of literature consists so many flowering and fruit plants such as poets, Devotional singers. Alwars, Theerdhankaras, devotes are Avatharas of God in the opinion of public. The life history of such great personalities is like the great epic equivalent.
There are Vipranarayana, BilwaMangala, Thulasidas, Meerabai, Thukaram, Chaitanya Prabhu, Annamayya, Thyagayya and so many such great personalities. Not only their writings, poetry songs, their life histories also the sources of inspirations. Like hand light, they show us way of knowledge. Their writings as well as their lives motivate us to receive truth, to watch truth, and know the truth. Even the sexual thoughts also, they had given the divine touch to it. The sex among our parents describes as the Yagnam of creation. In such a spiritual and philosophical way Baktha JayaDeva, Annamayya and other such poets had described the sex feelings with respective God. By the way people can receive sex as a sacred one with moral values as one man to one woman and one woman to one man. So that they can drive out vulgar feelings. If some people criticize this depth feelings by dragging into paradox such as why not it is vulgar, if the sex appeal is applied to God and why it is vulgar if the sex appeal is applied to normal human beings, the answer is very clear as the above. Any feelings, any art, any wealth of human beings, if it is dedicated to God, the human being can overcome ego and acquire maturity so that humanity. This is idealism irrespective of name of God i.e. religion. Any feeling, any art and any talent of human beings if it is dedicated to rich men or kings, the human beings can overcome poverty and acquire wealth so that ego. This is materialism irrespective of area and country.

Though physically died, Annamayya, the devotional poet who had written romantic songs on Swamy Sri Venkateswara in Telugu and Bhakta Jaya Deva who had written beautiful romantic songs on Sree Krishna and Radha Devi in Sanskrit, they are alive permanently in the heart of people, readers, singers and listeners. But so many poets from Kavi Choudappa to now-a-days cine poets who ever described sexuality in songs and literature, though led comfortable life or rich life, what they done to society, what they got in terms of satisfaction they might know, their souls might know and God definitely know.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Coup On Literature – 7 [Paradox]

I refer another story for you. It is a funny story.

అనగా అనగా ………..

Once upon a time, there was a king. He had a pet animal orangutan. He was treating it as if his friend. The courtiers and his people also accept that animal as king’s friend. Wherever he goes, the orangutan must follow him.

Once day the king went to shire into Royal Garden. The gardener had given the king a beautiful and fragmentize flower garland. The king liked it. He wore it on neck to enjoy its sweet smell. There was cool breeze. The weather was so pleasant on that day. After having a little walk, he felt drowsy. He wanted to take a little doz. He lay on a granite bench under the shade of a tree there. Before sleeping, he ordered his friend orangutan to take care of him while sleeping. Because the Orangutan was trained some of war arts, it was holding a Sword and making pahara i.e. around that bench to safe guard the king.

At that moment a bee was attracted by the color and smell of the flowers of the garland, flown towards king. The bee was flying in circles around the king. The Orangutan tried to drive it out, but again and again the bee was reaching the garland. Some minutes passed. The Orangutan was losing patience and getting angry. By that moment, the bee sat on the garland at the neck of the king to enjoy the nectar of the flowers. With limit less angry, the Orangutan used its sword to kill the bee. But the bee flew away, the head of the king cut away.

That’s the entire story.

The moral of this story is, it is dangerous to make friendship with a fool.

Such lakhs of stories are there in our literature. These small stories are like drops in the river of literature. That river consist of beautiful waves of Poetry, Novels, Dramas, Songs, Autobiographies and so many other writings, If our mind or heart is a vessel, we can take the sweet water of coconut like water from that river of literature and satisfy our thirsty of knowledge and esthetic sense. If our vessel is a tumbler in volume, we enjoy limited and if our vessel is like a big pot we can enjoy much, and we can learn much.

Such great literature of Telugu and other Indian languages got spoiled terribly in
between 1970-1992 with great speed. We must feel happy that it is getting improvement in quality as well as other art form since these 16 years. It is so welcomable. It is really happy thing. Now slowly Neethi Sathakam, Slokamas etc. all are attracting the children and youth. We must feel happy about this.

In this context, I want to explain you an interesting topic, I read this in Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa Bhodhamrutham.

One day Sri Krishna and Arjuna had gone to shire on foot. They were watching the nature and enjoying its beauty. At that moment Sri Krishna had seen some birds flying in V shape in the sky with low altitude. He said “Look Arjuna. There are pigeons. How beautiful they are?”

Arjuna also had watched the pigeons and said “Yes brother-in-law. They are pigeons. Really they are beautiful.”

But Sri Krishna deeply watched them and said “No Arjuna. They are not pigeons. They are some other birds.”

Arjuna also had observed them as not pigeons. He said “Yes brother-in-law. They are not pigeons.”

Here Arjuna was able to watch pigeons when Sri Krishna remarked the birds as pigeons; as well, Arjuna was able to watch them other than pigeons when Sri Krishna remarked them as not pigeons. Here Arjuna strongly believed whatever Sri Krishna said. That was his follower-ship to Sri Krishna.

Now-a-days we are watching some boss-subordinates in such a way-as-when boss says some thing is in black color, though the subordinate recognize it as in white color, he say with loyal and shroud voice “Yes boss. It is in black color.” This is Kaka i.e. pleasing the boss, by saying yes to whatever he says, though it is a lie.

If any body compares the above-two issues as similar, who can solve such paradox? No body can prove a lie, of feeling one thing in mind and saying, quite opposite to it with tongue. Everybody has to justify himself or herself, whether they are telling truth or not, in case of feelings otherwise who can enter into the brain of others and tell whether what they said is truth or not?

Monday, June 8, 2009

Coup On Literature – 6 [Vyadha Geetha]

Indian believes in rebirth. In Indian believes whatever we do good or evil, we deserve the result of advantage or disadvantage in the present life or in next life. Along with this, people believe that whatever we do good or evil, our children will be liable to it. God do such. If we do holy or faithful activities, our children will be protected; our children will be peaceful and happy in their future, though we live up to that time or not. If we do evil activities, our children will be cursed to get evil in their life. These believe prevent the people from sin and provokes the people to do righteous.

In this context, I explain you a story from ‘Kadha Sarithsagaram, what I remember.

అనగా అనగా ………..

Before taking birth of Bodhi Satwa, he had taken so many lives. Among them in one turn he had taken birth as a dog. He lived in a house of a Brahmin in Waranasi. He dedicated to serve to his master in watching the house. One day when his Mistress was taking milk from the udder of a cow. The dog was watching that beautiful scene. While calf was sucking milk from its mother cow’s udder, some cream of milk had raised in air from the mouth of the calf and flown in air. The dog jumped into air and caught it. With such holy lead of life, in next birth, he got a life of cow in same Kasi city. As a cow he served his master and led a hermit life. With such holy life, he had taken a birth of king to the kasi city. As a human being, that to as a king, he became egoistic and lead sinful life. As a result, he had taken a pig life next.

That’s the entire story.

This I read in ‘Chandamama’ means Moon, the children Magazine in my childhood. I don’t likes to debate on the reality of rebirths or life after death. I’m not capable to prove it experimentally or scientifically.

But I want to discuss about the inspiration of such believes.

This type of stories motivates the people to lead life in sacred way or in truthful way.

I refer a famous story of three fish from ‘Pancha Thanthram’ in which beautiful ethics were discussed in the form of stories.

అనగా అనగా ………..

Once in a lake, there were three fish living together called Deergha Darshi, Prapthakalagnudu and Deergha suthrudu. Deergha Darshi means the person who is able to look far into future i.e. best fore caster. Praptha Kalagnudu means the person who is able to under stand suitable knowledge according to the particular time i.e. timely knowledgeous. Deargha suthrudu means the person who always postpones the work to do. These names represent their nature.

Some days passed. The summer was approaching. Deergha Darshi called it’s both friends i.e. Praptha Kalegnudu and Deergha Suthrudu and said “Look friends! The summer is approaching. Our lake will dry up slowly. When the lake gets up dry, we can’t go anywhere. That’s why, now let us go opposite to the flow of water into this lake and reach some other big water source.”

Praptha Kalagnudu paid little interest on it and said “Friend, Deergha Darshi. Who can say about the future? No parameter as this lake will get dry up. So the intellectuals will think about the present problems. In future if problems arise, let us solve at that time itself. Why should we feel tense & worry unnecessary about the problem of future. At present this lake is like sea. It won’t get dry up. If it happens, them we can think about the solution. Why should worry now?”

By saying like this the second fish Praptha Kalagnudu was enjoying in swimming. However, the third fish, Deergha Suthrudu did not pay any attention on this conversation and was so careless.

By watching all this, Deergha Darshi thought that it was better to prevent the problem than to find out timely solution. So it left that lake, and reached into another big water sources.

Some days passed. Summer approached. The water in the lake evaporated and it got dry up. One day some fisher men came with nets, needle sticks, fish-hooks and other threads. They fished in the lake. Prapthakalagnudu felt tense for some time. Then thought for tricks to escape from the death. The fisher men were catching the fish and pricking them into a thin rope. Praptha Kalagnudu had held the rope with mouth as if it was dead and pricked to the thin rope among the middle of other dead fish. The fishermen didn’t notice it. But the Deergha Suthrudu without having prior, precaution or timely solution, was caught hold by fisher-men and died.

The fishermen finished their fishing and they washed their bodies as well as the fish hunted by them in water. At that moment, Prathakalagnudu gently slipped into the water and escaped.

That’s the entire story.

This story preaches us as prevention is better than cure. It is better to prevent problems by taking precautions than taking timely solutions. Some times timely solutions may not work out or some times may not flash in mind, that to we have to experience tense at that time. It is worst to be experience tense at that time. It is worst to be careless towards the problems like the third fish Deergha Suthrudu.

Is it not a great truth of life?

Such stories having ethics and truths of life from Yusuf stories, Moulwi Naseruddin and Tol stoy guide us to behave in proper way.

The stories of Thief-Mother i.e. Leaf-Vegetable and Shepherded boy i.e. Father-Tiger came, preaches us in childhood it self to learn sincerity and to tell truth.

In this context I refer a story from Sri Maha Bharatam, Aranya Parvam. Markandeya Maharishi told this story.

అనగా అనగా ………..

Once, near a village, there was a forest. In that forest a small peaceful place. A small river was flowing through that place. On the bank of that river, there was a big tree whose shade was cool and pleasant. Under that tree there was a Saint named Kaushik living in meditation. He used to go to fetch food by begging in the nearby village.

Among those days, one day, when he was getting up from meditation to go to fetch food, a crane excreted on him by sitting on the branch of the tree. The Saint got angry and looked at it with red eyes. By that moment, the crane burnt out into ash.

First he felt wonder, later little bit proud by his power. He had gone to village, stood in front of a house, and demanded for food as “Bhavathi! Bhiksham Dehi!” means “Oh host! I urge for food.”

The host was ready to donate food to him. But by that time, her husband returned home after long journey. Immediately she attended her husband. She arranged bath for him, served lunch to him made bed for him and served him to sleep with hand fan. Her husband relaxed and slept. Then she came to give food to the Saint.

By watching all this, the Saint was angrily waiting for her. By offering food to him, she said “Swami! To burn out into ash by your anger, I’m not a crane. Being house wife it is my first duty to serve my husband. Later only I perform my remaining duties. Please take this food.”

He got shocked by it. His ego and proud regarding the power of holy life was disappeared. He had fallen on her feet and requested her as “Mother! How could you know about my story happened in the forest? Please teach me knowledge!”


She said “Oh, Saint! There is a town called Midhila Nagaram, at a little distance from here. There is a man, called Tharma Vyadha. If you approach him, he will guide you properly.”

By saying thanks to her, he started about Midhila Nagaram. By enquiring about Tharma vyadha, he reached a place in that town. It was a butcher’s shop. Dharma Vyadha was a meet vender. There was meet quantities of several animals. By watching such scene, the Saint was surprised and stand at a certain distance from that shop. By watching the Saint, the butcher, Dharma Vyadha approached him, greeted him and said “Welcome Saint! Is the house wife who sent you here happy and safe?”

The Saint got severe shock with surprise. He thought “How that house wife could know the burning down of crane in forest because of my anger and how this butcher is able to enquire about her? How the both get such miraculary powers? In spite of meditation, by leaving family life, I could not achieve such power. How these two common people, who are leading their family life but not Saint Life, could acquire such miraculary powers of knowing things, happened for away with mind?”

By observing him, Dharma Vyadha said “Swami! You please wait for few minutes. You can’t bear this smell of meet. I’ll finish my work and come. You are thinking that how I got the power of knowing things which are not visible to naked eye. I’ll explain you after going my home. Please wait.”

By saying this, Dharma Vyadha quickly finished his work and closed the shop. He asked the saint to follow him to his house. When they reached home, Dharma Vyadha’s wife attended them and served him as guest. Dharma Vyadha attended his parents, done physical service to them; he attended the needs of his family members.


While the Saint was taking rest, after having dinner, Dharma Vyadha said “Swami! I do this type of meditation only. Whatever the devotional programs we attend, or devotional activities we perform, they are not greater than the service to our parents. By carrying us in her womb, by bearing pains and giving us birth, by taking care to protect us in childhood, how much sacrifice and effort that our mother had done for us?
How can we show our great fullness to her? How much service we should do for her? For our future, for our protection, for our education, for our life build up, how much hard work that our father had done for us. By respecting them, by doing physical service to them in their late age, we can make them to feel happy, and satisfactory. This is my way of living to achieve ‘Mukti’ i.e. Freedom of soul. I’m leading life by serving parents, protecting wife and children, respecting others, treating poor and guests with kind. Because of this life style only, I’m able to lead peaceful life.

You may have a doubt in your mind. I am a butcher and I’m selling the animal’s meat. Is it not violence and sin? But here, I have to tell a natural secret or Dharma to you. In this world, all the living beings depend upon other living beings for food. Only flying birds, animals are not living beings. All the trees, plants, seeds, fruits, vegetables, all are living beings. Because they are not showing movement from place to place, we should not think that there is no life in them. To live, to grow for one life, another life is base. This is Nature law.

If you say ‘No. this is violence only’, my reply is – if I leave this profession and close my shop, all the non-vegetarians will change into vegetarians? That’s why you leave your doubt. To keep life in our body, i.e. for the sake of food, what we do is not violence. That to, some body kills these animals and brings to me. As per my duty I sell it and earn life food. In business I won’t cheat people. I won’t leave my duty and I won’t do other’s duty. I give food to hungered people. I take care of all my people who depended on me. I share my neighbor’s problem, and help them. One more important issue-you see, human mind is very unstable. We have to keep it in balance. We should over power the Arishadwargams and emotions with peaceful, strong and stable mind. We have to devote God in our work. We have to work with Trikarana Shuddi i.e. with mind, with word and with body. We have to work by leaving the tense of result and result to god. I do this much only. How much we useful to others, helpful to others, that much is our sacred life.”

By taking these words into mind, the Saint got peace and pleasure. With pleasant smile he took leave from Dharma Vyadha and left to his place.

That’s the entire story.

This story leads us that nature i.e. quality or character is important rather than the cast, religion and profession. We have to accept the truth and good from wherever it exists. We have to do our own work with sincerity.

This is the extract of Bhagavad Geetha, Bhagavatham, Maha bharatham, Ramayanam and most part of our Vedas and Upanishads.

Won’t the above story i.e. Vyadha Geetha lead us to perform our work with commitment and sincerity? Is it not the ultimate goal of story or literature?

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Coup On Literature – 5 [Perform any duty with mind, speech, and work]

Here I refer a fact of present days to you. In Telugu, a good writer Mrs. Chakkilam VijayaLakshmi is there. I read some of her stories like Kagitham Padava i.e. paper boat. In that story she narrated the mistake of parents while bringing up of their children, care taken on them in a reasonable manner. She described the nature in nice manner. She compared the rain behind the window of room, as thin thread hang from sky to earth and as long beeds which had given a sweet touch with heart.

Such a writer when she wrote a non-sensical and vulgar story, consisting ugly relation ship among brother and sister of aged 13 to 11 years with the encouragement of an editor, Mr. Sikaraju of Andhra Bhoomi in 80’s of last century. I myself, like her other readers felt so bad. That serial was stopped in the middle. That writer Smt. Chakkilam Vijaya Lakshmi dropped her pen and was silent for long time in the field of literature. Later we could know the dirty role of some editors of weeklies to destroy the values in literature such as Mr. C. Kankambar Raju. He had written “America Yao America” in which he praised America like anything and he tried to make India to feel inferior. Whatever he succeeds or not, the time had proved it. Now-a-days, other country people are coming to India for study and for medical treatments.

Such that, the Telugu literature had lost one of good writers. But now we are enjoying her writings in spiritual essays with philosophical touch and high maturity. Some are frequently seen on ‘Antharyami’ in Enadu. Every pain will turn a soul to climb a step in spirituality according to our elder’s statements. This got proved with her. Being readers, myself, along with others like me, we are enjoying this. By that, can’t we say that ‘what ever happens in life is for the sake of our good only?’

Another story ‘అనగా అనగా ………..’

Long long ago, there were two neighbors in a village. They were quite competitive and jealousies with each other. Whatever one purchase, the other purchases it immediately. Whatever one do, the other does it immediately. Every body in that village knew about them and tried to counsel them to drop their competition and jealousy, but in vain. Because of such competition, jealousy and imitation, their life became impeacefull.

One day one man had gone to forest to make penance for God. He was known that the other would follow him. As per his estimation, the other also approached the forest and started meditation about God. After some days, God had appeared in front of one man. God asked him to express his desire to fulfill. He asked the God whether he had given any boon i.e. fulfilled any desire of his neighbor. God said “No.” Then he prayed God to fulfill the desire of his neighbor and then come to him. God asked him “My dear devotee! Why are you asking me to fulfill the desire of your neighbor before your self?”

He said “Swami. I want double to my neighbor.”

God said “My child. It is not good. Think about your desire. Why you feel such competition and jealousy with your neighbor?”

But he again requested God to fulfill his neighbor’s desire prier to him.

God said “Well”. And he appeared in front of the other man and asked him to express his desire. He asked “Swami! What my neighbor asked you.”


God smiled at him. “My child. Why are you enquiring about him? Think about your self.”

But he refused, and repeated the same question. God told him about his neighbor desire.

This man thought for a moment; and asked God “Swami! Make my left eye blind.”

God pitied on both and rewarded them. As a result, one man loss one eye and become partial blind and the other man become complete blind by losing both eyes.

Both of the men got appearance of God who could give them wealth, health or any thing they want. But because of their jealousy and competitiveness, they got self harm.

This story prevents us from thinking negative to others, feels jealousy, competitive to others and imitates others.

By losing touch on such literature, stories, we are sinking in the ocean of competition now. If we think about our life for a single second, what we find? At least now we have to rethink about the limits of the competition and jealousy in our lives. With such competition, we are losing utterly human values, human feelings and totally humanity.

I refer two more stories from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Bhodhamrutham.

The first one is---- అనగా అనగా ………..

Once, there were two friends in a village by names Ramanna ans Somanna. Both were good friends. One evening both the friends met on the road. Ramanna said “Friend Somanna! There is Hari Kadha [Epic story entertainment] in temple. Let us go.” But Somanna refused it and said “No friend Ramanna! There is a dance program in the Sani Vada i.e. prostitute area. Let us go there and enjoy it.” But Ramanna refused it.

Then Ramanna went to temple to hear and enjoy Hari Kadha. But his mind was with Somanna at Sani Wada. He was thinking about the joy which Somanna was experiencing at Sani Wada. He didn’t hear single word of epic story.

On the other hand, Somanna went to Sani Wada i.e. Sex workers place to enjoy the dance program. But his mind was with Ramanna at temple. He was thinking about the virtuous deed of Ramanna. He didn’t watch single movement of the dance.

Days passed like this. After some years both the friends died on one day coincidently. The angels came to take the soul of Somanna to heaven. The Yama Doothas i.e. soldiers of God Yama came to take the soul of Ramanna to hell. Then Ramanna’s soul asked the yama doothas why they were taking him to hell while Somanna was going to heaven.

They clarified his doubt as “Look Ramanna! You had gone to temple every day but your mind was at Sani Wada only, Such that you done sin and deserve the hell. Somanna had gone to Sani Wada every day but his mind was at temple only, Such that he done virtuous deed and deserve the heaven. What we do with our body is not important than what we feel with our mind.”

That’s the entire story.

In Indian believes, work, any work should be perform with Trikarana shuddi i.e. Manasa, Vacha, Karmana. That means we have to perform any duty with mind, with speaking and with working. What we think, the same we have to speak and the same we have to do.

The above story indicate the same to us. The second story gives much more clarity over this concept.

అనగా అనగా ………..

Once upon a time, there was a holy man i.e. Saint. He was nomad. One day he reached a village. There was a sex worker in that village. She was very beautiful and talented dancer. This Saint stayed under a tree opposite to her building. Every day some gallants used to go to her residence to enjoy her company. The Saint used to watch all this. Gradually he had forgotten his meditation, devotion and totally his Saint life, and used to keep stones one another in a line as the symbol of number of gallants gone to her house.

On the other hand, the sex worker i.e. prostitute lady used to think about her sinful life and used to watch the saint under the tree apposite to her house. She desired to live such holy life, but physically she continued her earnings.

Days passed. Both of they died on same day. The angels came to take the soul of prostitute to heaven. The Yama Dootas i.e. soldiers to God Yama came to take the soul of saint to hell. The saint argued with Yama Kinkara as ‘Oh! Soldiers of God Yama! This lady had done sin though out her life as prostitution. I was a saint. How she was eligible to go to heaven and why I’m eligible to go to hell?”

The Yama Kinkara’s replied him “Look Son! She had done sin physically but she thought to lead holy life with mind. That’s why her soul is going to heaven where as her body is getting terrible treatment on the earth. Every body in the village is scolding her and throwing stones at her dead body. No cremation is taking place properly. The eagles and vultures are eating her body, as a punishment of her daily sin. In your case, you were a Saint physically but you left holy thoughts and devotional thoughts. Always you thought about her sin, her gallant’s counts and about her jolly life. That’s why your soul deserves to go to hell. But your body is getting grand treatment on the earth. Every body in the village is praising you and throwing flowers at your dead body. Grand procession and rich cremation is taking place there. A granite tomb is constructing for your corpse. This scene you can watch on the earth from here, if you want.”

That’s the entire story.

This story gives us more clarity about our Trikarana shuddi. That means perform any duty with mind, speech, and work.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Coup On Literature – 4 [Think positively]

Here I refer one more story to you.

అనగా అనగా ………..

Once upon a time, there was a milk vender in a village. Every day he used to collect milk from villages and sell in the near by town. He used to mix water for the sake of more profit in the milk. He used to get money for milk monthly once in the town.

Like that, one day he got money from people to whom he sold milk in the town and returning to home. It was evening. He was so tired. On the way, he laid down to take rest on the bank of a river, under the shade of a big tree. Slowly he had fallen into deep sleep. He kept his money bag under his head.

Then a monkey came there. It had pulled the money bag and climbed up the tree. The milk vender had awoken and shouted at the monkey. It had a glance on him and opened his moneybag. With great anger, the milk vender was throwing stones onto the monkey. But without getting disturbance, the money had taken money into its hand and throwing one coin on to the bank of river and one coin into the water. The milk vendor was crying and shouting at the monkey but it didn’t stopped dropping coins in water and on floor one in each: until the last coin in the bag. After completing the money distribution, the monkey left that place.

At that time, some of his villagers were passing that way. They enquired him why he was crying. He explained all. They laughed at him and said “Look man! You had done immoral business. You mixed water in milk and sold for unreasonable rate. So Anjaneya Swami [In Indian belief, Monkey is the form of God Hanuman in Ramayanam] had given appropriate profit to you. He had given you money for milk and given money to the river for water. That’s all. At least, from now it self do business with sincerity. You are purchasing milk in the village for lesser price. The profit is reasonable to your service. Satisfy with it. Other wise, in which easy manner you gather money, in same easy manner it will go from you. God had told you this. Be happy for it.”

After that he realized his mistake and done business in proper way.

That’s the entire story.


This story indicates us to develop such an attitude to learn truth from each and every incident of our life. So that we can hear to the voice of God. To watch all the creatures in world as the form of God is the greatest philosophical attitude of Indians.

Sri Bhagavad Geetha teaches us to observe God in all other living beings. Though so many critics were made on this attitude such as, Indians used to devote stones, trees, snakes and animals etc. etc. still such attitude is in live on this ‘Punya Bhoomi’ i.e. sacred land which is most essential in environmental protection and eco-equilibrium.

How much broad the Indian heart and mind to watch God in all living beings and treat them as equivalent to human beings. How great must be such civilization!

I’m not supporting the ugly extremities of Indians believes. Any advantage if it continues beyond the limits, it turns as disadvantage and vice versa. So that in each and every aspect Bhagvad Geetha preaches us about the limits.

“యుక్తాహార విహారస్య యుక్తచేష్టస్య కర్మసు
యుక్త స్వప్నావబోధస్య యోగో భవతి దుఃఖహా”

Food, rest and work all must be in appropriate limits. If we refer the above story, whatever we do as action, God will do the appropriate as reaction. If we observe the surroundings, we can observe that people, who earn easy money, will loss in that much easy ways.

They may pay to liquors to purchase illness, to corporate foods to purchase obecity, the corporate colleges and schools to purchase ego but not education, corporate hospitals to purchase body check-ups etc. if some body earns money with corruption at one place he has to pay corruption in ten places.

Imagine that, some people were standing in a circle. One person had beaten slop on the check of the other. He had done same to the next. The next done same to his next, after some time, the total persons in that circle were beating others, eating beats from others. No one could stop this violence. If one person stopped to beat, he could become a terrible victim of such violence. Only way is all of the persons had to stop it.

Imagine that some people in circle. If they smile to other, transfer such love and faith to other, how sweet life will be?

If we refer the above story once again, it instructs us, that whatever we do, we think others may not know, but definitely God can watch our each and every activity and thought. It provokes us to behave with faith.

I’ll tell you another story, which relates to our famous Hindu pilgrim place in Andhra Pradesh, Sri KalaHasthi. There is a river Swarna mukhi. This story tells us why that river got such name.

అనగా అనగా....

At that time of temple construction, people, devotes and labor who ever interested to participate in the temple construction, were doing physical industry. By the evening, all of they used to wash themselves in the water of the river which was beside the temple place.

At that time, into their palms, they used to get appropriate gold coins to their physical industry as daily wages through the water of the river. If some one done much work, he used to get much gold coins and some one done less work, he got less coins.

So that the river got its name as ‘Suvarna Mukhi’ means ‘Golden face.’

These stories are like beautiful flowers of the garden of literature. And that literature garden is so beautiful, wide with sweet fruits, pleasant shades, fragments, cool breeze and lakes of healthy water. It indicates us, instruct us and induce good thoughts in us to lead peaceful, faithful life.

I refer some of such flowers along with their moral indication to us.

’ అనగా అనగా ………..

Long long ago; there was a king. He was good and kind man. But he had short temper. He had a wise man as his minister.

One day, while practicing the war Arts, he lost his last finger [చిటికెన వ్రేలు] on left hand. Royal Doctors treated him and dressed his hand. He was sorrow for losing the finger. His minister was optimistic and spiritual thinking man. When the king was with grievance, to make him cheerful, the minister said, “Maharaja! Don’t feel sorry for what happened. Every thing in our life is in God’s hands. That’s why think that everything happens in our life is only for the sake of our faith.”

The king felt angry. He thought what was the good and faith in losing finger on hand. He ordered his army chief to keep the Minister in prison and said to the Minister “Feel this as for sake of your faith.” Minister replied with sweet smile, “Why not my Lord! Definitely God is doing this for the sake of my faith.”

Some days passed away. The minister was in prison. The injure on the hand of the king were cured. One day the king had gone to forest to hunt the wild animals along with some solders. In those days, forest were thick, so that villagers would suffered from animals, so that there was a custom of hunting of animals by kings.

While hunting, the king rode the horse with great speed, so that he got departure from soldiers. He lost way in the forest. He got tired and thirsty. At that moment, he was captured by some tribal group. Those tribal had caught him with ropes and took him to their deity’s temple i.e. cave. The leader of those tribal has wanted him to offer as a sacrifice to their deity i.e. God.

They made him to bath, decorated him with a garland of forest flowers, and got ready to sacrifice him. They placed him on the altar. By the moment they wanted to cut his head in front of their deity’s idol, the tribal leader had observed his hand, shouted, “Leave him. He is a handicap. He has no five fingers on left hand. Leave him.” The king felt wonder to get a choice to live. He didn’t imagine that he could escape from death. He could recall his memory of his Minister who told him that all was for the sake of our faith.

The tribal group left him in the forest. By that time, his solders found him in the part of their search for him. At last they return palace.

Immediately after reaching the palace, the king approached the prison, released the Minister. He said apology to the Minister and narrated what happened.

With gentle smile the Minister said “Yes my Lord! Every event in our life is for the sake of our faith only. Though it seems too bad at that moment, definitely it might be good in long time. God do such only. That’s why we praise God. His love on us is that much. If I was with you, definitely I could fallow you. The tribal definitely sacrifice me to their deity because I have perfect body. God had saved me, done faith to me by keeping me in prison by you. That’s all.”

The king realized the truth. They lived happily for long time with positive thinking.

That’s the entire story.

This story motivates the readers and listeners to think positively, to expect things in optimistic way, to face the fate with dare. It leads us to control our anger when something harm happens due to the mistake of others.

If children grow with such feelings and attitude, won’t they become intellectuals and faithful personalities? Then won’t they lead peaceful and happy life?

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Coup On Literature – 3 [Gossips about the personal lives]

In Bhagavad Geetha, God Krishna tells us: - just like tortoise, in which manner it pulls its four legs and head in side, we should pull or control our Panchendriyams i.e. Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue and Skin. Being matured living being, being civilized human being, is it not necessary to behave with balance?

Here an old fable, I explain to you.

అనగా అనగా ………..

Long long ago; there was a king. One day he was in his evening walk over the terrace of his palace. His chief minister approached him and informed him about a Sevier political problem. To inform such was his duty. There was nothing wrong in his performance. But king was helpless to find a solution to that problem. Due to his incapacity or disability to solve the problem, he got anger. On whom he had to express? On himself or on Minister, Other wise he should control his temper. If he could control his temper, he might find any solution. But he didn’t balance his temper, so that he had given a forceful slop on cheek of the Chief Minister. Being subordinate to king, the Minister kept silence, bared it, and left the place. The Army Chief met him on the way. Without giving any proper reason, by talking non-sense, he had given some more forceful slop on the cheek of Army chief. Some case with him. He done the same on the soldier and the soldier delivered it on a poor former who was going on the road. The farmer had beaten his goat with a stick.

That’s all!

The temper of king successfully travelled up to the innocent animal. If he could control it, how many lives could avoid violence? Same story we can apply to Boss, subordinate, his wife, his children etc. etc. How much easy to pollute the society, by making people to forget self-awareness such as self-control and self-decency?

Now-a-days, while compare with T.V. watching in common man’s life, readability had minimized like anything. In those T.V. serials, all most in all languages, stories are based up on, among coups & spying on the family members or among the business companies. Some characters scold the other characters in their obsense. No sense of control of tongue.

Actually, God had given us two eyes, two ears, two hands and two legs but only one mouth and only one tongue to see more, to hear more, to do more but to eat less and to talk less. This symbolic thought I read somewhere.

But now we are observing loose tongue in the most of the people.

In this context, I want to narrate you a beautiful story of Raja Vikramarka, which consist 365 stories. These stories provocateur the imagination power, logical sense and common sense in us. In that long story, one context is Raja Vikramadithya and Bhethala. To overpower Bhetala, the boss of Bhootha Ganas, who has superstiticial powers there was one condition. Bhethala was in the form of a corpse and hung from a banyan tree. When Raja Vikram lifted it, by keeping it on his shoulder and walking towards the burial ground to fulfill his promise to a saint, Bhethala in that corpse would tell a story to the King i.e. Raja Vikramadithya. Through out the story listening, the king should maintain silence. At the end of the story narration, Bethala would ask the king a connecting question to answer. If the king knew the answer, but not replying to keep his silence, the head of the king would break into thousand pieces. If the king talks i.e. giving reply, the silence could break, immediately Bhethala would disappear from his shoulder and reappear on the banyan tree. Again, he has to effort to overpower Bhethala. Again, the story, again replies. Again disappear. So that the king had only one alternative as he should not know the answer of that question. But king Vikramadithya was great scholar, talented and intelligent. He was known so many things so that he could answer Bhethala’s question. You see, knowledge is the disadvantage here. Any why let us enter into the story which was told by Bhethala to king Vikram.

అనగా అనగా ………..

Long long ago; there was a village. One day a young Brahmin approached a house and urged for food. The house wife had given him food in a bamboo basket. He took it and reached village tank. As per his custom, he wanted to have a bath before taking food. He kept his food basket under the shade of a big banyan tree, on a bank of the tank and he was taking bath in the water. At that moment, an eagle came on to the branch of that banyan tree. If caught hold of a poisonous snake in its paws. By sitting on the branch, it started to kill the snake to eat it. Under that branch only, our young man kept his food basket. When the eagle was tearing the snake, with death pain, the snake vomited poison. That poison had fallen on the food. After taking, both the young Brahmin ate that food, because he didn’t know what happened. Immediately he died. After telling this story Bhethala asked the king “Oh! King! Who is the cause of the death of the Brahmin young man? Who is responsible to the sin of assassination of the young man? The housewife, the eagle, the snake or Brahmin boy himself? If you break silence, I’ll disappear from here. If you don’t give reply by knowing the answer, your head break into thousand pieces.” Oh reader! Can you tell the answer? Please wait! Before you say the reply, I narrate the king’s answer to you.

The king replied “oh! Bhethal, when a hungry person ask for food, being host, by giving food to him, there was faith, but nothing sin with house wife. So she would not liable to that Brahmin hatya Patakam [In Indian believes, Brahma hatya patakam means killing of a ‘Sadhu’ i.e. Brahmin person i.e. not by birth but by nature, is greatest sin] for the eagle, snake was its food given by nature or by God. So eating a snake on the branch of the tree was not sin. So eagle was not liable to sin. Being killed by eagle, while experiencing the pain of death, spraying of poison by snake was natural phenomena. So snake was not liable to the sin. Being Brahmin, with good habits, before taking food, taking bath was good. With hunger also, the young man didn’t forget his good habit. Without knowing the poison mixing in food, he ate it. So he was not liable to the sin. It was only fate. But after hearing this story, if any listener say that some body like house wife or eagle or snake or young man himself is liable to this sin, without thinking properly such listener is liable to this sin.”

Because the answer was correct, Bethal disappeared from the shoulder of the king and appeared as corpse on the banyan tree.

That’s the entire story!

This type of stories instructs readers or listener to use tongue in proper way.

In such case, imagine about the pens of the journalists and inks of print. Media, which is propagating, gossips about the personal lives of cinema stars, crickets and other famous persons without thinking about the hurting of those persons.

If it is business or way to get popularity, people i.e. normal citizens can’t get lead to propagate gossips about their surrounding people? If so, human life is not filled with violence or tarchour? Then where is the address of peace?

Monday, June 1, 2009

Coup On Literature – 2 [The pillars to the sky]

There is a sequence of action and reactions, causes to these actions and reactions in that story. A logical relation among the action and its cause is getting introduced in the very childhood it self. Being kids, the sequence, the relation among cause and action, we used to say “Woon!” as our response to our mother or father or elder who ever told the story of the king-seven sons.

There starts the literature touch in our life. I narrate another story of my childhood which I read in ‘Chanda mama’ the children’s magazine. I’m sorry to say that I have forgotten the name of the writer of this story because I read it in my childhood. I narrate it for you to share my sweet memory and feelings with you. ’

అనగా అనగా ………..

Long long ago, in a village there was an innocent young man named Ranganna. He was an orphan. One day, after dinner, he lay on small cot in the open air. That was full moon day. He was watching the beauty of stars, moon and clouds. Suddenly he got an idea as the sky was a big pandal or tent. But nowhere its pillars were seen. Then why could not it fall down? Such that, innocent Ranganna doubted about the existence of sky. He felt fear that the sky fall on the earth by any moment.

Then he started running by shouting, “People all you run away! The sky is going to fall down on to the earth. Save your self. Run! Run!”

By shouting like this he ran through the streets of the village and reached the end of the village. Nobody cared about his shouting’s and himself because villagers know about his innocence. He didn’t stop running. He departure the village and entered into the forest. Where ever he gone, when he looked up he could see sky over his head. By that he increased his speed and ran in that night. By running like that, finally he reached a hut i.e. Ashram of a Saint who was in ‘Dhyanam.’

Ranganna fallen on the feet of the Saint, with grasping voice he said “Swamiji! The sky is falling down, onto the earth. Run from here. Save your life.”

With kind voice, the Saint asked him “My dear boy! Why are you feeling like that?”

Ranganna replied “why not Swamiji! Won’t you see that the sky is like pandal; but having no pillars? At any moment, it can fall onto the earth.”

With pleasing voice the Saint said “No my child! There are pillars on the earth to bear sky and to prevent it from falling onto the earth.”

Ranganna immediately with wonder asked “Where?” The Saint replied him “I’ll show you. Now you sleep in my Ashram. In the morning I’ll show you the pillars of the sky.”

With peaceful mind, Ranganna slept there. In the morning, the Saint told him as “Look my boy! Go to nearby village and fetch food by begging. But while begging, you scold the host with harsh language. After your return, I’ll show you the pillars of the sky.”

Obediently Ranganna agreed for it. He had gone to nearby village and started begging. But whatever the door he touched to beg food, he scolded the host or house wife. Every body got angry on him and tried to beat him and driven him out of their houses premieres. He didn’t get food any where till evening. He was tired and hungry. But he didn’t stop scolding the host while begging food because the Saint told him to do so.

At last, when he was begging food at one door with scolding, the house wife came out of the house with a plateful of food and said to him. ‘Take this food my child! How much hunger you are to scold the host with anger like this. Eat food and satisfy your hunger.”

By saying like this, the housewife i.e. host had given food to him. Ranganna got tears in his eyes that moment. By taking food in hand he approached the Saint in the forest and explained what happened.

The Saint asked him to eat food. He ate it. After relaxed, the Saint clarified his doubt as “Look my dear young boy! You had seen so many people who tried to beat you when you scold them while begging. But among such so many people, there is one lady i.e. one mother who has so much of patience & peace to satisfy your hunger, she didn’t get anger. Such people one among lakhs and crores, who get rid of anger, are the pillars to the sky. God had provided like that. So don’t bother about the sky falling onto the earth. No need to you to fear about it, understand!”

Ranganna the poor innocent guy, happily return to his place.

That’s the entire story.

This story gives the indications to the children that getting rid of anger is good quality. To behave with patience, peacefulness: and without temper is great quality.

So many other lyrics support this ideology.

Our great devotional poet and musicians i.e. ‘Vaggeyakarulu’ Sri Thyaga Raja Swamy had written a song as ‘శాంతము లేకా సౌఖ్యము లేదు.’

That means ‘without patience, we can’t be happy.’

Our another great poet, Baddena had written as

“తన కోపము తన శత్రువు
తన శాంతము తనకు రక్ష దయ చుట్టంబౌ
తన సౌఖ్యము స్వర్గము తన దుఃఖము
నరక మండ్రు మహిలో సుమతి”

That means,

Our anger is our enemy.

Our peacefulness is our protection.

Our kindness is our relative.

Our happiness is our heaven and our sorrow is our own hell in this world.

With this type of literature guide us to live peacefully, truthfully and happily.

Now-a-days the electronic media & T.V. had turned as only alternative to all of arts and literature. On that T.V. one company had given an advertisement like this-A young boy about the age of 20 years was with his friends. He had the bandage on his fore hand. When his friends enquired about it, he recalled his memory as flash back. While he was travelling in a flight, an old lady of aged about 70 years sat beside his seat. She was opening a ‘brand’ biscuit packet. When she started to eat the biscuit from it, this boy tried to take one biscuit from that packet which was in her hands. Immediately she reacted wildly and bitten his fore hand with teeth. But her teeth was artificial dental set, so that it was stuck on his fore hand and he injured by it. Hence, result was the bandage. Though the director of this advertisement want to project a jovial or funny ‘Ad’, but what indication it will give to the kids, who are the main target of that ‘Ad’? First of all, without courtesy and decency, trying to take others object or snatching the biscuit from co-traveler was bad. Second thing is, by that age of 70 years, she didn’t spare another boy for the sake of biscuit, however the taste of biscuit. She was not particular about her behavior, and she was very particular about the joy of eating. If she was not co-traveler to that boy, if she was own relative to that boy, so that he had intimacy to take the biscuit from her, so that there was not the matter of decency, then how that old lady could bite her own relative, that to, very young to her?

If any corporate supporter argue on this as “That Ad. Is only silly, just to attract or just to draw the attention towards the business only, such ‘Ads’ are produced” - is it justiceful? By whatever the silly Ad, if the product get popularity, if the corporate company get business, is it enough? What such Ads provocation in the children and people, is not nessecery? Why the kids don’t think that such behavior of biting others for food like dogs is not wrong, as their grand ma’s aged women are behaving in such manner? Why don’t they think that their grand parents and other elders also behaving like that but only saying morals to us? Who is responsible for such influence on the public thoughts and attitude?

Another is the Ad. Of the Axe, body odor. In that Ad, a young man used such body odor. Immediately five, six young girls hugging him and kissing him, with proud expression he gave a phose. That’s all!

By watching such Ads, if any 14 to 15 years teenaged boy used Axe and with excitement if he waits or if he expects huggings and kissing from surrounding girls, how should not get surprise on it. Such situations, we are reading on newspaper. When such thrill is not received, if any immature boy gets perversion such as inferiority or agony about girls or in satisfaction in life or paranoid psychology or some psychological complexes, the life of young boy will spoil like anything. Can we say such are impossible?

On the other hand, by keeping perverted personality or psychopaths or serial killers as heroes, so many novels and cinemas are poured on the public. Who have to save this human life?

In fact, society is not a dustbin to dump all our ‘Arishadwargams’ onto it. Arishad wargams are six feelings which are desire, anger, miser, craze, proud and jealousy. These are sister like. When we get one feeling, automatically all the other will occupy our brain. The mother to these six sisters is ego. That’s why, Indian philosophy always teaches us to drive out the ego from our mind. All over the world, great philosophers and great persons accepted that ego should not be in us.

After all, in our street, we should not pour garbage of our house on the street, instead of Municipality dustbin. In such case, how some writers and some directors all over the world produced their novels and cinemas as projecting psychopaths or perverted psychology in a sympathetic way, they should know. If anybody argues that “Such psychopaths are there in society, just we are exposing them. That’s all. We are not creating”. Is it correct? Is it necessary to expose the drainage, mud under the pleasant water of the river because of its existence? By doing such, by projecting such with nominal moral in the end, is it not creating or supporting such paranoid or perverted psychologies? ‘Sorry! Just in anger I scold you. Leave it off.’ ‘Sorry! Just in tension. I said such. For get it.’

To say like this are we African lions? In Anglia films, in discovery channel, most of us had seen the documentary on the life of African lions. When the team of lions killed a wild buffalo, while eating it, the lions bite their co-lion. After eating food, the lion, which had bitten the other lion, express its sorry by licking and petting its body.

But we are not lions. We are not animals. We crossed such beast life and approached the so-called civilization. In extreme situations, very often, if one person lost patience and shown temper on others, it is okay. But without affording to control the temper or anger, after doing imbalance behavior and just saying sorry, is it civilization?