Meena Kumari - A phenomena

Long live Meena Kumari ji, even though her real name was Mahjabeen, but that doesn't matter for viewers. For us she was Meena Kumari ji. Nothing else matter earlier i had posted few picture of her 

          

Only the word Meena Kumari was enough to remind of what she was. She got first award for Best Actress of Indian cinema. While acting in any film, She was not meena kumari but the character she played. 
Bahu Begum, Parineeta, Sahibjaan, Choti Bahu, etc. All those characters came to life in those films, the actress and characters became synonymous to each other. Unlike few actors who are remembered for their style and not the characters they played. Few actors of past are known for their particular style/ mannerism. 

I don’t remember when for the first time I saw her film. We did not own a TV till 1982. That time I was in class XI. We used to travel for one kilometre just to watch Doordarshan, from Type one to Type two situated near IIT Kanpur gate. In those days, I was lucky enough to watch many of her films on black & white TV. 
One family at Type  I owned a black & white TV. That was out of bound for me most of the time. still I was fortunate enough to watch films while hanging to their window. Most often it was like watching an audio film since a group of boys will be hanging from window all together, thus i had to push in between. 
I became fan of her films. When she used to cry I used to cry with her. When she used to rush in happiness I felt the same. When she felt pain on hearing the cries of that little boy who was being beaten by Lalita Pawar, I also felt pain for that boy. When she felt shy in front of a man –the hero- I felt the same. That was the embodiment of her in me.

But foremost important thing was that I danced with her in all films. The “Thade Rahio Baanke yaar re”  ठाढ़े रहियो ओ बाँके यार रे was my favorite. Initially I used to dance on इन्ही लोगों ने “Inhin logon ne” of Pakeezah, I was considered OUTCASTE in my school (by everybody-classmates /schoolmates /neighbours). To them I was just a toy, a mean of amusement. Even girls also felt the same towards me. As soon as I started learning the first steps of Kathak, I started liking the "Thade Rahio" song. I tried to match each and every beat of the song. I took this as challenge and after few months I started dancing on the song matching each beat. 
As I grew older, the pause-gaps, the nuisances, the moods of those gaps of sound and different stress on beats of tabla, strings of sarangi-all open up more challenges to me. I tried to portray them and grasp each beat with different meanings. 
As Pt Birju Maharaj ji says that this is pure Bhakti, सम is भगवान the SAM is the Lord Krishna and these beats and sur(swaras) are RAHDA/gopis, these all try to search for the Lord-the SAM. 
This Thumri song of film Pakeezah has various meanings and moods which are to be enacted, called as Bhaav Batana. I heard from elders that in past there were ladies who were invited only for singing. They only sang but never danced. Those songs, as my grandmother referred to as TUMAIN. The word in the local slang means the song sung while seated. I heard names of Gunni, or ginni and Nooran often from my grandmother. She categorically told me that they never danced. The dancing girls were different class.

So Thumri is song sung while seated. But through singing the mood is portrayed to audience. Often, while singing those girls enacted few moods of like Radha or Krishna, or bewitching lovelorn mate etc. various moods of Nayika!

I try to follow what Birju Maharaj ji said (he is a like a God to me). I try to match the beats and follow the SAM(first beat of every cycle of taal or music). 
In song Gopika says that lord wait let me have the “proper shringar” (decoration) first so that when you come, I greet in a well attired appearance full with Kaajal in eyes, flowers in VENI and well knotted, and with all of SIXTEEN decorations. 16 Shringaras?

Another aspect is that since Lord Krishna is Naughty & play full. She says Lord please wait don’t come near. (she wish to protect her pot which is full of Butter or curd. fearing that lord will throw stone and pot of milk, butter or curd will be broken.

Despite of being a super star of her times Respected Meena Kumari ji remained loner in the end and I have always been so in the path of my life.

Meena Kumari JI- a phenomena

मीनाकुमारी जी की जन्म तिथि पर and On BirthDay of most respected Meena Kumari ji. the most awarded actor. Most talented actor of Hindi films.
To understand this phenomena- a Super Star of Hindi Films one has to feel in heart.

i had collected 3 you tube videos on her click here
https://swayamkath.blogspot.in/2017/01/virasat-meena-kumari-part-12-new-edition.html

The day i saw Pakeezah, i started to dance. The Music, the editing, the dialogues, the settings, rushes of frames, Picturization all were superb and un-matched. As if, each frame was painted by a Painter with great care. The Character played by Meena Kumari ji came to life with her inborn talent to show emotion on SCREEN. When She cried i cried, When she smiled i smiled that was the connection with her& Her screen presence.   When she lowers her eyelids and looks at hero through the corner of eyes i felt as if i am doing the same....

All my classmates addressed me "Thare Rahio". All through my schooldays and even in college days i was laughed at by all my classmates. WHY? Because I danced on all songs of Meana Kumari ji and other songs also. But i was subjected to unnecessary taunts, comments. Even one uncle said that "your father will have problem for marrying you??"   This was the Most unexpected comment from most respected uncle who was my neighbour. We used to give keys of my house daily when all of us leave for school and my parents for office. When i danced at a dance competeition held at AND college, Harsh Nagar in Kanpur, as soon as i came out of the college gate, i heard a voice "Thare Rahiyo" it was voice of girl, who were coming out of gate. AND is the girls college. So it is not that boys always pass comments at girls. But Girls also pass comments??? is it true? But i think Girls got confidence due to the prevalanet thinking in society that dancing is a bad thing and that too a boy was dancing on stage, thus it was a collective endevour of a group of girl students of AND Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Kanpur.  I am higlghting the perception of society towards the art of Dancing !!! 

All my school mates knew and recognize me by the song "Thare Rahio" and नज़र लागी  राजा तोरे बंगले पर  "Nazar Laagi raja tore bangle par" also few remember me for "Inhi logo ne" इन्ही लोगों ने छीना दुपट्टा मेरा

But then this Saheb Bibi Gulam Happened. And we all were star struck by her acting skills. in the role of छोटी बहु  Choti Bahu. Her acting was superb. The greatest histrionics played ever by any actor on screen of Hindi Films. my respect goes to Shri GURU DUTT saheb also. He casted her in this role? But all her frames in films were unparalleled till today.

To this great soul of India- A bharat Ratna. i offer my pranam

worship of Nature-essence of Indian tradition

Why is it that whenever any festival or religious ceremony or any special day is celebrated in India, the Nature worship Prakriti pooja, always has prominence? More over these religious “thiti”-dates  or special days are being celebrated in India since centuries; many are Pre-Vedic or Vedic era? We all know how old our Veda are? 
,lk D;ksa gS fd Hkkjr esa tc Hkh dksb frfFk iwtk ;k vU; dksb /kkfeZd vk;kstu gksrk gS mlesa izd`fr iwtk izeq[k ,oa vfuok;Z gksrh gS\ ,sls lHkh ioZ “kfn;ksa ls Hkkjr esa euk, tk  jgs gSaA irk ugha dc ls\ dqN iwoZ oSfnd vkSj dqN oSfnd dky ls euk, tkrs gSA     

o`{kiwtk Hkwfeiwtk i`Foh vUu i“kq if{k Qy vkdk“k ty ok;q o’kkZ ufn leqnz ioZr rkykc iks[kj ouLifr lw;Z pUnzek xzg vkfn lc iwts tkrs gSaA D;ksafd budk ekuo thou esa egRo gSA bl egRo dks /;ku es j[krs gq;s gh gekjs iwoZtksa us izd`fr dh iwtk dk fo/kku j[kk Fkk\ 
Tree, Earth, Mother Nature, Animals, Birds, fruits, even Sky, water, Air, River, Sea, Mountain, Pond, Lake, Vegetation all are worhisped. Sun, Moon, Planets are also worshiped. Does it not sounds strange? Yes but it has been there for centuries, it has been done since centuries.  All are revered. 


In Savitri Vat सावित्री वट पूजा pooja main deity is this Banyan Tree वट वृक्ष . This tree as it seems live forever. It never seems to Die. Thus due to this magical power it is regarded as a immortal deity who can give boon 'to live long life". Therefore on this day which often falls in months of May or June every year Married women pray for long life of their husbands & Sons. Themselves they observe Fast, they do not drink even water without performing pooja (worship) of the Banyan Tree . In disguise I understand that they seek blessings from this tree to bless them so that they can die being a married women? they must die being a Suhagan lnklqgkxu? it is may be, due to gender discrimination or inequality? i had written a blog in this Burgad Pooja (click to read).

The shoot head buds are swallowed by women so that they can have a SON? who in turn will carry forward the family and provide support to their mothers?  Later in time a story of Savitri is added to this day. She was a brave lady. Once satyavan, her husband was dying. The god of death came to take him away to Yam lok. Savitri moved behind the god of death, wherever he took her husband she kept following them. in many attempts God of death tried to dissuade her from following, but he failed in all his attempts. He then told her to ask for 3 boons in return. But in all her three boons she outwitted the god of death. She asked him to bless her with brave child. Yam, or the god of death sanctioned her the boon to have children, then she told to Yam to keep his promised boon. How come she can bear child without her husband, who is being taken away by death? realizing her wit, he surrendered to her and returned life of her husband. Since then Savitri is revered for her loyalty towards her husband, thus she became to the stature of a goddess. (Gender issue??)
Then there is this plant called Tulsi, तुलसी the Holy Basil. It is considered as the most sacred of all plants. It is considered so pure that if leaves are kept in any food items that item becomes pure. During the time of Eclipse Sun or moon, leaves of Tulsi are kept on the food items. 

But Besides medicinal properties why it is considered a symbol of purity, loyalty? 

There was a pious lady named as Vrinda वृंदा many centuries ago. She was educated learned lady and worshiper of lord Vishnu. 


She was married to a demon king Jallandhar जालंधर. He fought wars with Gods devatas. His strength was said to be due to the piousness of his wife Vrinda. during the course of war it was dawned on gods that they cannot fight and win over with this demon king. Thus Vishnu was asked to do help them out. Vishnu in disguise entered the living quarters of queen Vrinda. She some how could not see through the strategy. Her piousness was disturbed/torn by Vishnu who was with her disguised as her husband. She noticed that the garland given by her to her husband and asked him to keep always around his neck was not on this man who is in front of her. She became cautious but it was too late. By the time she was outraged, during that moment the demon, her husband was killed in war. She came to know about this heinous plan of devtas or Vishnu. 

She cursed Vishnu to become a stone- Shaligram शालिग्राम। Later he was married to Vrinda who is in form of Tulsi. Thus since then this Tulsi marriage with Vishnu is celebrated on Ekadasi, एकादशी the eleventh date of lunar cycle during Kartik कार्तिक month. But why she only was given punishment? Why she had to give sacrifice? This is a gender issue. But since then she had been given a high status recognized by society. Sos much so that now every house must have a pot with Tulsi. Mostly in central part or in courtyard of house anywhere. All the women of house have to worship her-the Tulsi who is now considered a Mother goddess.

It so happens that most of the plants we have been told to worship have many medicinal properties. But since due to influence of western ideas we tend ot forget all our rich heritage.



Peepal, Burgad, Tulsi, Durva grass, Turmeric and all other such herbs have special place in our method/ritual of worship. all have some or the other benefits.

worship  of Mountain
https://swayamkatha.wordpress.com/2015/11/12/govardhan-pooja-or-govansh-vardhan-pooja/

Trees, earth, foodgrains, animals, birds, fruits, sky, water, air, rain, river, Mountain, SEA, ponds, vegetation, Sun, Moon, Planets, Universe all are worshiped in our religious ceremonies. 
Without this no religious ceremony is considered complete. All these have significant importance in Human life. Considering this importance our ancestors kept worship of nature essential in every ceremony. It is another story as to how and why most of us have forgotten teachings of our ancestors and blindly following the Western ideology?? Is it strategy of few vested interests and those who never wanted our people to flourish and live in total harmony with Mother Nature?

Savitri-Vat pooja, also known as Burgad(Banyan tree) pooja, Tulsi-Vivah(Marriage), Peepal, Neem, Banana plant, coconut, beetal leaves, arecanut, mango leaves,

worship of Nature-essence of Indian tradition

Why is it that whenever any festival or religious ceremony or any special day is celebrated in India, the Nature worship Prakriti pooja, always has prominence? More over these religious dates are being celebrated in India since centuries; many are Pre-Vedic or Vedic era? We all know how old our Veda are? 
,lk D;ksa gS fd Hkkjr esa tc Hkh dksb frfFk iwtk ;k vU; dksb /kkfeZd vk;kstu gksrk gS mlesa izd`fr iwtk izeq[k ,oa vfuok;Z gksrh gS\ ,sls lHkh ioZ “kfn;ksa ls Hkkjr esa euk, tk  jgs gSaA irk ugha dc ls\ dqN iwoZ oSfnd vkSj dqN oSfnd dky ls euk, tkrs gSA     

o`{kiwtk Hkwfeiwtk i`Foh vUu i“kq if{k Qy vkdk“k ty ok;q o’kkZ ufn leqnz ioZr rkykc iks[kj ouLifr lw;Z pUnzek xzg vkfn lc iwts tkrs gSaA D;ksafd budk ekuo thou esa egRo gSA bl egRo dks /;ku es j[krs gq;s gh gekjs iwoZtksa us izd`fr dh iwtk dk fo/kku j[kk Fkk\ 
Tree, Earth, Mother Nature, Animals, Birds, fruits, even Sky, water, Air, River, Sea, Mountain, Pond, Lake, Vegetation all are worhisped. Sun, Moon, Planets are also worshiped. Does it not sounds strange? Yes but it has been there for centuries, it has been done since centuries.  All are revered. 


In Savitri Vat सावित्री वट पूजा pooja main deity is this Banyan Tree वट वृक्ष . This tree as it seems live forever. It never seems to Die. Thus due to this magical power it is regarded as a immortal deity who can give boon 'to live long life". Therefore on this day which often falls in months of May or June every year Married women pray for long life of their husbands & Sons. Themselves they observe Fast, they do not drink even water without performing pooja (worship) of the Banyan Tree . In disguise I understand that they seek blessings from this tree to bless them so that they can die being a married women? they must die being a Suhagan lnklqgkxu? it is may be, due to gender discrimination or inequality? i had written a blog in this Burgad Pooja (click to read).

The shoot head buds are swallowed by women so that they can have a SON? who in turn will carry forward the family and provide support to their mothers?  Later in time a story of Savitri is added to this day. She was a brave lady. Once satyavan, her husband was dying. The god of death came to take him away to Yam lok. Savitri moved behind the god of death, wherever he took her husband she kept following them. in many attempts God of death tried to dissuade her from following, but he failed in all his attempts. He then told her to ask for 3 boons in return. But in all her three boons she outwitted the god of death. She asked him to bless her with brave child. Yam, or the god of death sanctioned her the boon to have children, then she told to Yam to keep his promised boon. How come she can bear child without her husband, who is being taken away by death? realizing her wit, he surrendered to her and returned life of her husband. Since then Savitri is revered for her loyalty towards her husband, thus she became to the stature of a goddess. (Gender issue??)
Then there is this plant called Tulsi, तुलसी the Holy Basil. It is considered as the most sacred of all plants. It is considered so pure that if leaves are kept in any food items that item becomes pure. During the time of Eclipse Sun or moon, leaves of Tulsi are kept on the food items. 

But Besides medicinal properties why it is considered a symbol of purity, loyalty? 

There was a pious lady named as Vrinda वृंदा many centuries ago. She was educated learned lady and worshiper of lord Vishnu. 


She was married to a demon king Jallandhar जालंधर. He fought wars with Gods devatas. His strength was said to be due to the piousness of his wife Vrinda. during the course of war it was dawned on gods that they cannot fight and win over with this demon king. Thus Vishnu was asked to do help them out. Vishnu in disguise entered the living quarters of queen Vrinda. She some how could not see through the strategy. Her piousness was disturbed/torn by Vishnu who was with her disguised as her husband. She noticed that the garland given by her to her husband and asked him to keep always around his neck was not on this man who is in front of her. She became cautious but it was too late. By the time she was outraged, during that moment the demon, her husband was killed in war. She came to know about this heinous plan of devtas or Vishnu. 

She cursed Vishnu to become a stone- Shaligram शालिग्राम। Later he was married to Vrinda who is in form of Tulsi. Thus since then this Tulsi marriage with Vishnu is celebrated on Ekadasi, एकादशी the eleventh date of lunar cycle during Kartik कार्तिक month. 


But why she only was given punishment? Why she had to give sacrifice? This is a gender issue. But since then she had been given a high status recognized by society. So much so that now every house must have a pot with Tulsi. Mostly in central part or in courtyard of house anywhere. All women of house worship her-the Tulsi, who is now considered a Mother goddess.
It so happens that most of the plants we have been told to worship have many medicinal properties. But since due to influence of western ideas we tend to forget all our rich heritage.





Peepal, Burgad, Tulsi, Durva grass, Turmeric and all other such herbs have special place in our method/ritual of worship. all have some or the other benefits.

We have even a day where a mountain is worshiped or remembered. Govardhan was a mountain. It is worshiped on the second day of Diwali.

Diwali is impure form of word Deepawali. Deepak or Deep means the earthen pot lit with the light. I don't know what is the correct word of Deepak in English? what they (British) used for lightning their houses before electricity was invented? was it lantern? 

As we have numerous societies communities cultures in India, we tend to share many legends, often borrowed within our society. Govardhan is remembered with Krishna. In ancient times people worshiped, Indra as the god of rains, rivers, flood, storms. however Indra was the lord of gods (devta).

It was he who is considered to bring rains. We know, How much importance Rains have in life of Farming community? Rains are essential to Agriculture. Ganga Jamuna plains are the most fertile lands. As per the legend Krishna in his childhood told villagers not to worship Indra. He adviced them to worship Mountain Govardhan instead of Indra. It is the mountain that brings rains and not the Indra. How true he was? people often laugh at our Indian civilization, but see how then Krishna himself teaching people not to follow blindly everything. He initiates reasoning, Logical thinking & debate on the practices taking place blindly in society. Thus villagers agreed with Krishna and performed worship ritual of mountain. Angered and hurt Lord Indra broke all bounds and ordered his fellow powers- Wind, Water to storm the village, so as to teach them lesson. meanwhile Krishna is said to lift whole mountain on his little finger and saved life of villagers alongside their livestock. Later Indra accepted his mistake and asked forgiveness from Krishna, since then for agriculture community Govardhan mountain is the most respected thing for them. Moral of story is that Nature must be respected. Read my blog worship  of Mountain    https://swayamkatha.wordpress.com/2015/11/12/govardhan-pooja-or-govansh-vardhan-pooja/

Mountain represents Nature and Cow represents the earth, community economy based on the Cow and Animal husbandry.

Trees, earth, foodgrains, animals, birds, fruits, sky, water, air, rain, river, Mountain, SEA, ponds, vegetation, Sun, Moon, Planets, Universe all are worshiped in our religious ceremonies. 
Without this no religious ceremony is considered complete. All these have significant importance in Human life. 
Considering this importance our ancestors kept worship of nature essential in every ceremony. 
It is another story as to how and why most of us have forgotten teachings of our ancestors and blindly following the Western ideology?? Is it strategy of few vested interests and those who never wanted our people to flourish and live in total harmony with Mother Nature?

Devi Kaatyayani

ÅWa dkR;k;uh nsO;S ue%

Today is the fifth day of Navraatri, the nine days of Devi. This day is dedicated to the Devi Kaatyayani. She was born in the house of Sage Kaatyayan. That’s why the name was accorded to her. My Kul Gotra dqy xks= is Katyayan dkR;k;u and Devi Katyani is the Kul Devi dqy nsoh.

The devi is said to be vf/k’Bk=h aadhisdhatri devi of brijmandal. The devi is associated with the two planets-Jupitor and Venus. The Gopis or Gopikas wishing to have Krishna, first have to please and seek blessings of Devi Katyayani. Those who wish to marry have to seek blessings of Devi Katyayani. Since she is associated with Brihaspati(Jupitor), the planet of knowledge\wisdom, thus those who wish to have bright career or those who seek knowledge always seek blessings of Devi Katyayani.

Yellow is the colour associated with Devi Katyayani. Thus yellow cloths to be adorned and to be gifted, yellow flowers are to be offered to her. The best Prasad is of Honey-that is said to have magical powers.  

The nine devi names are -

“kSyiq+=h Shailputri, czg~epkfj.kh Brahmcharini, pUnz?k.Vk ChandraGhanta, dw’ek.Mk Kushmanda, Ldnaekrk Skandmata, dkR;k;uh Katyayani, dkyjk=h KaalRaatri, egkxkSjh MahaGauri, fln~/khnk=h Siddhidatri.

Few names we can understand. Shailputri means the daughter of “shail” here this word is used for either for stone or the mountain (since it is considered made up of stones) and it is used for “Himalaya” the mountain.  These names I found in the devi kavach in the book called ShriDurga Saptshati. Sapt means 7 and shati 100 i.e. it has 700 shlokas- rhymes.

Such knowledge about our own Indian scriptures now days, is not passed on to younger generation. Therefore many things which were known to earlier generation by default, is being lost day by day. The ritualistic things are fading away. I mean rituals in the households which were carried out earlier are not being performed anymore. Therefore new generation do not know anything about these things. There were many. When ladies of household woke up in morning they did perform few rituals. Later when head of household wakes up and starts his rituals, that include pooja, singing of bhajan, aarti, shlokas etc. If all rituals are performed by the householders then the youngsters get to see and if they are told the actual meaning of such rituals then they will try to understand its value in our society. Many things which are still relevant today were found written in Indian scriptures many centuries back.

These scriptures were written in Sanskrit. That is the saddest part, as new generation do not want to read Sanskrit. I think in past few years some kind of deliberated attempts were made to make our Indian think bad about our rich old literature- that was all written in Sanskrit. In school also we see that not many students want to study Sanskrit seriously. It is most unfortunate for our nation that we citizens do not think or respect our old literature. But I am optimistic, as few universities in Europe (Germany Belgium) or US have taken the studies in Sanskrit all through 70-90 years. Now few people are taking Sanskrit seriously. Still there is need to rekindle the interest in Sanskrit.