Songs of My Soul

Somewhere deep within you is a song that plays softly, always… Music has always been  constant in my life. I’m not sure since when I’m listening to Music and became an addict. 

Music is the most powerful element that can drive you from moods and situations. But with Music, older I grew and feel younger. Music heals my soul and has all my life. It encourages me, motivates me and it pours energy in me.  I listen to music all the time, especially when I can't sleep. I just upload songs on my mobile and turn on my mobile player  and lay on my bed and let the music lure me to sleep. When I get very angry, sad or anxious....I find that the music can manage to calm me down and bring me back to core. . I am often surprised at how a simple tune or a few lines of words have the amazing ability to reach me emotionally, Music is my stress killer, heals my pain, takes away my boredom and keeps me happy .

I have listened to the songs of Noted artists of Carnatic Music like Balamuralikrishna, Maharajapuram Santhanam, Bombay Sisters, Priya Sisters, Unnikrishnan, TN Seshagopalan, KJ Yesudas, N Ramani, Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, Sanjay Subrahmanyan, Balaji Shankar, TM Krishna, Bombay Jayashri, Aruna Sairam. The nectar of carnatic lies in melting the hearts with beautifully composed lyrics blended with emotions, due to the raga and the feel donated by the singer. It concentrates on the meaning and thus the created emotion.

I love music of any kind of songs. Vocal /Instrumental/Bhajans absolutely anything classical (both western and Indian ) ,film songs and Ghazals. I Dont know much about Hindustani but I would love to hear them all..It’s great to hear a nice melody and harmony blend that soothes the soul and warms the heart.!!

Over the years, influences from around the world have traversed through the musical routes and developed something called the light classical music. Light classical or semi-classical music. Fusion music has a charm and beauty all its own.. Nowadays I started liking Fusion-songs.Experimenting with classical art forms is not wrong as the long as its sanctity and dignity is not violated

When I like a song, I try and listen to  many different people singing it as possible. Every singer has their own style, and I thoroughly enjoy individual interpretations of the same song. In carnatic music, it is more common for different singers to sing the same song, than in film music.

Some songs are in my heart and the melody within my soul, the song that holds me in the dark, It warms me when am cold, really touches my soul every time I listen to it. I am carnatic music illiterate; I don't know telugu too..! But  that "bhaavam"  overflowing throughout the entire song,  dilute the hard souls. Among so many krithi's, one song is My favourite carnatic krithi, that is "Nagumomu Ganaleni" (Ragam: Abheri) composed by Saint Thyagaraja. I was literally stuck to this song. I am listening (enjoying) this song almost daily

The fusion style composition of"Nagumomu is amazing.Athirai Dhanabalan;She sang brilliantly, did not contaminate the original style and Love the way mridangam and the drums don't interfere with eachother.  Taaye yeshoda’ from the movie ‘Morning Raaga’ is one of the best A spectacular classical fusion song that I have heard till now. The first fusion song I heard was ‘Krishna Nee Begane’ by Colonial Cousins. That was a brilliant fusion of western and classical. I seem to love music with a classical touch in them

My favorite Famous bands such as Agam is a Bangalore-based contemporary Carnatic progressive rock band who recently fused Tyagaraja’s Bantureethi Kolu in Hamsanadam with Rock music form.But I likeSinger Karthiks version.

Avial interestingly the band is named after the popular South Indian dish Avial. that reflects the one of a kind heritage of Kerala life. Folk song with alternative rock flavour . I Came to know through my son. we both enjoyed this band. Another favorite band ShrutiBox by Shankar Tucker , an American clarinetist and music composer. The ShrutiBox are a fusion of Indian classical music and jazz. Maatibaani is a World Music band combining elements of Hindustani Classical with various styles of Folk music. Bawariya  They simply create the sound that we love to hear with our different styles of music. . Chandrachooda song incredible composition.I absolutely loved this fusion, wished I could hear this more in completion.

So, if more fusion songs like the above are made, probably a lot of people could enjoy and carry forward the versatile musical tradition that we have developed and nurtured over centuries. But of late, I seem to love music with a classical touch in them – which makes me wonder if age/circumstances influence our musical tastes.

Apart from fusion I would like to explore Abaang, Ashtapathi, bhajan& composition of Thyagaraja, Purandaradasa, Annamachariya, Muthuswamy Deekshathar..,..endless list..

As Sergei Rachmaninov said “Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music”.

Couplets of Kabir!

Recently I read Kabir's Amrita vani couplets of kabir- (Kabir dohas). In just two lines, There is profound wisdom hidden in each couplet and they reflect Love, Philosophy, Mysticism and his unbending love for the Supreme. His doha's are gem. His teachings are matchless It deals with human psychology. I Liked The Kabir's way of expressing the most profound thoughts in the simplest words.
Iam inspired by few dohas;

  kasturi kundali basai, mrig dhundhe ban mahi;
aise ghati ghati ram hi, duniya dekhai nahi.

Musk is in the navel of the musk deer, but the deer searches for its fragrance everywhere in the forest. It meant, that a deer keeps looking for a fragrance in the forest. Searching everywhere, and yet not able to locate it. The fragrance comes from himself, his naval.
In the same way, God dwells in every heart, but people Searching him everywhere, and do not find Him because of ignorance, people do not know it, and they search for bliss in worldly things. Instead of bliss, they get disappointment.
I have come to this point, "Realize that true happiness lies within us. We should not Waste time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the outside world.Where there is happiness lies within us. God will dwell in their heart!

Prem gali ati sankari, tamein dou na samai
Jab mein tha tab hari nahi, ab hari hai mein naahi
The street of love is very narrow, two can’t pass through it at the same time
When I was, there was no God(hari), now there is God but I am not
To attain true love, one has to give up his ego. When the ego disappears, God appears. So the devotee must give up his ego to realize God.

Jab Tun Aaya Jagat Mein, Log Hanse Tu Roye

Aise Karni Na Kari, Pache Hanse Sab Koye

When you were born in this world ,Everyone laughed while you cried; Don’t do such work, That they laugh when you are gone. I like this doha

 
Ek shabd dukhraas hai, ek shabd sukhraas.
Ek shabd bandhan kaTe, ek shabd galphaans.
One word can be the source of the pain and suffering and yet another word can be the source of joy and happiness. One word can cut all your chains and bondage, yet words are which can make you more bound and chained. . The audible words have the power to cause pain and misery or happiness.
Speak such words, words that mind relieve!

Scenic Road Trip ( From Tenkasi to Trivandrum )

Last week we had road trip from Tenkasi to Trivandram  to attend Family function via Thenmala.  I Personally feel the road trip is lot more enjoyable . We often prefer this route because  from my native Tenkasi to Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) driving the distance of 108 kilometers, It will take at least 2 hours 31 minutes by road and Beautiful weather for sightseeing . Tenkasi via Thenmala route has a lot of scenic beauties and is a visual treat to the eyes. The weird beauty of this place is indeed mesmerizing. From Tenkasi until Shenkottai are plain lands, and Shenkottai is the gateway to the hill being a ghat section, you are assured of breathtaking landscapes, naturalistic greenness contributing a stunning experience.

 

On the way to Tenmala, there is a falls "Palaruvi", surrounded be dense tropical forest and mist clad mountains. The road that leads to Palaruvi is cut through the dense forest, and the foresters warn about wild animals on this track. Thenmala (the hills that flow with honey) is situated about 72 km from Thiruvananthapuram and 30 km from Shenkottai on the Shenkottai- Punalur Road. 

 Thenmala Dam

Thenmala Dam also known as Kallada Dam or Parappara Dam located in Thenmala village is built across Kalla River. It is situated very close to Kollam - Tenkasi road. The dam is located amidst picturesque location with beautiful surroundings at the foothills of the Western Ghats. All 3 shutters of the Dam are in closed condition. Only the leaking water under it is to coming out. 

 Railway Bridge:

 Somewhere around 3 Kms to Thenmala, we came across a railway bridge, an age old one constructed during the British period.. A rail bridge we see it in most of the movies, this is a kollam - shenkottai rail bridge, It was so captivating that we stopped  for a beautiful snap  to stare at this and enjoying this engineering marvel.

 

The bridge, sandwiched by the Kollam - Senkottai National Highway at one side and the River Kazhuthurutti on the other, offers a visual fete at a length of 102.72 meters and 5.18 metres height. The bridge was built on 13 arches. This Bridge holds one of India's oldest mountain rails enroots to Thenmala - Aryankavu. This was once used as the major trade route between Quilon (Kollam) and Chennai.

The Kollam-Sengottai Metre gauge line was conceived and implemented by Great Maharajah Balarama Varma I (Uthradam Tirunal) of Travancore. The inaugural run was on 1 July 1904, with a 21 gun salute. Station Master Ramiah waved the green flag as multitudes of frightened inquisitive crowd gathered around the demon in front of them, to have a close look. Even after 100 years of its construction, the bridge shows no signs of deterioration. - What history says

"Information Courtesy-Google"

Kulathupuzha Sri Dharma Sastha Temple:

 

Kulathupuzha, a small village in the reserve forest area falls in the Kollam Shengottai road is famous for its Sastha Temple. The deity in this temple is Balasastha, who is referred as Manikanda.Had Nice Dharshan Of Sastha. 

 

One of the major offering in this temple is ‘Meenutt’ or feeding the fishes in the nearby Kulathupuzha. The river flowing in front of the temple with crystal clear water is one of the tributary of Kallada River.

 

Aryankavu Shastha Temple

Aryankavu is famous for its Ayyappan temple.The Ayyappa Temple at Aryankavu in Kollam District is one among the five most important temples dedicated to Lord Ayyappa in Kerala. Surrounded by forests, the temple is located on the Trivandrum – Tenkasi National Highway. Just like in Sabarimala, women from the age 10 to 50 are not allowed inside the Aryankavu Ayyappa Temple.So we didn't visit this Temple.

Overall a breathtaking divinely experience with nature along with roads!

A Temple Tour3- Agumbe Ghats,Udupi,Malpe Beach,Kukke Subramanya

Agumbe Ghats

After darshan in sringeri we proceed to Udupi. Enroute, watch the amazing beauty of Agumbe Ghats..

Agumbe is one of the most scenic places on the Western Ghats of the Southern  India. Added to the lush green view all around, the attractions for the visitors is the spectacular sunset and vast opportunities   it offers to the trekkers. Within 9 kilometers we can gothrough  more than 15breathtaking hairpin and horseshoe curves.And it isone of the most breathtaking scenic routes of Karnataka

It is lying in the Thirthahalli taluk and the Malnad region and surrounded by dense lush green forests, small streams and ghats

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Agumbe is famous for spectacular sunset and many visitors come here to watch it. The sunset here gets reflected from the Arabian Sea onto the horizon. The best season for viewing sunset of Agumbe is from November to January.

Agumbe is also known Cherrapunji of South India because this place receives highest rainfall in Karnataka state

Udupi Sri Krishna Temple:

Udupi is a divine shrine in the coastal region of Western Ghats. Situated about 60 kms from Mangalore, it is a fairly large and upcoming town that was sanctum of Madhvacharya, the great Sanskrit Philosopher. The famous temple here, has a fascinating idol of Lord Krishna that is richly adorned with jewels. It is the center for education, social and religious activities in the district of South Canara. It is known for the famous Sri Krishna temple. The reasons for its fame are the statue of Sri Krishna installed by the great saint Sri Madhvacharya and the penance and influence of Sri Vaadiraja yathivarenya. 

Another attraction of this temple is the 'Kanakana Kindi' -a small window through which Krishna is believed to have given darshan to his ardent devotee, Kanakadasa. He is  an ardent believer of  Lord Krishna. He come to see God to udupi;But as he was from a lower caste,he was not permitted to enter the temple.He worship Krishna from back side of the wall.Sri Krishna, pleased by the worship of Kanakadasa created a small hole in the back wall of the temple and turned to face the hole so that Kanakadasa could see him.This window is known as Kanakana Kindi.

Madvasarorava ( Madhava Pushkarani)

Adjacent to the main corridor through which the pilgrims enter the Krishna temple, there is the holy tank called Madvasarorava ( Madhava Pushkarani). The tank was originally known as Anantha Theertha, but after the Ganga descended into this tank for the sake of Madhvacharya, it came to be designated as Madhvasarovara The tank has stone steps all round and a mandapam in the centre.

 It is believed that Ganges water flows in to this tank once in 12 years. For daily abhisheka of Sri Krishna water from this tank is used. The Swamijis have to bathe in this tank before they commence the worship at the shrine.

Ratha orchariot being made out of wooden logs one of the main attraction of this temple

Malpe Beach:

A natural port located just 6 km from Udupi, Karnataka; the Malpe beach is known for its charming and attractive golden brown sand and turquoise blue waters. 

It is lined with palm trees and the blue skies above add to the scene, where you can fully enjoy the rest and peace that you require together with nature and relish every single moment.

Kukke Subramanya:

After having lunch at udupi we, proceed to Kukke Subramanya, a popular religious destination which is surrounded by lush green forest along with hills. It is situated on the banks of the Kumaradhara River. The main temple located in Kukke is of Subrahmanya that is dedicated to the Snake God Vasuki and Lord Subramanya.

The temple is famous for religious rituals pertaining to snake god. The epics relate that the divine serpent Vasuki and other serpents found safety under Lord Subrahmanya when apprehended by Garuda.The devotees enter the courtyard from the back side and walk around to go before the idol. There is Garuda pillar covered with silver between the sanctuary and the portico entrance. It is believed that the pillar was charmed and planted there to shield the devotees from the poison flames streaming from the breath of Vasuki who resides inside. Devotees circle the pillar. Beyond the pillar is the outer hall and then the inner hall and after that the sanctuary of Sri Subrahmanya. In the center of sanctuary is a pedestal. On the upper dais stands the idol of Sri Subrahmanya and then the idol of Vasuki and somewhat lower the idol of Shesha. Devotions to these deities take place daily. After having darshan, Then proceed to Bangalore. Trip ends