The Secret to Self-Healing

Are you aware that we all are endowed with the innate power to heal our own ailments? It does not mean that doctors are not needed but they can only assist if they act in harmony with the Laws of Nature.

Our mind and body systems are so designed by the Almighty that they are equipped to HANDLE AND HEAL ailments. For example, you cut yourself with a blade while shaving. The wound caused by the blade heals itself over time. The affected skin grows new pigments and becomes normal soon if there is no further damage by external obstacles like dust and abrasion by other objects. You really do not need help from others. As a kid, I have hurt myself so many times and most of the times, never went to a doctor. At best, I have cleaned the wound with plain cold water. Similar healing processes take place in other systems of the body. If one has a headache, chances are that it is often caused by mental stress, inadequate rest, or hunger. Nature provides its own warning signals like fever, aches and pains. If you do not heed to it and take corrective action, it leads to sickness or disease.

The human body can take some abuse for sometime but not from all sorts on a continuous basis. In my humble opinion, most illnesses are caused by lack of hygiene, poor discipline on diet and drinks, irresponsible lifestyle, and inadequate understanding of oneself. Pain and suffering are just signals to our conscious mind that we have to CHANGE our ways of living, eating and resting patterns and basic attitudes. Those in the rat race to attain top positions in the corporate world are more vulnerable to diseases.

Is it not simpler to just take some drugs prescribed by doctors? Remember, most drugs contain chemicals that often cause side effects. To counter side effects, more medicines are required. The problem with most drugs is that once you start taking them, you tend to become habituated and it becomes difficult to just abruptly stop taking those drugs.

On the other hand, try self-healing ailments by allowing some time to regulate your life-style with clean food (avoid smoking, drinking, eating in low-class restaurants and junk food) and habits. I have personally experienced that my headache just vanishes if I rest or sleep for a while.

Believe in self-healing processes. The God-given mind-body system has almost unlimited self-repair capabilities, but most of people shut the doors to natural healing and deny themselves any access to them. Build your self-confidence by constantly thinking that you are doing fine and driving out negative thoughts. If you do not believe in inherent powers self-healing, your chances of success are minimal.

The secret to self-healing is: Keep an open mind, adopt clean regular habits, and rest adequately.

Pray and Let Mother Nature take care of you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving Day. Most stories on the history of Thanksgiving talk about the feasting celebration of the Pilgrims and the Native Americans that took place in the year 1621. The feast was not called "Thanksgiving." It was more of a traditional harvest festival like 'Pongal' in India. The feast, like Pongal, is believed to be an expression of thanks to God for the bountiful harvest.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. I am not sure why Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. However, over the years, the feasting tradition of giving thanks to God seems to have transformed itself into a holiday revelry. On Thanksgiving Day, families and friends usually gather for a large meal. Most schools and colleges declare a week-long vacation, as many students return home to unite with family members. Gifts are also exchanged as Thanksgiving is considered as a time to show love and appreciation for closest friends and family.

It is also a time to reflect upon many of life's blessings that we take for granted. While I can think of abundant small things to be thankful for (starting from the hot cup of brewed coffee that I relish every morning), I can list at least ten important things that I enjoy.

1. A cosy warm bed to sleep in without the nuisance of mosquitos and bed bugs.

2. Hot shower, dry towels and clothes to provide the comfortable feeling in me.

3. The most beautiful smile of my little grandson Vivek and the happy time I spend with him.

4. The opportunity and inclination to pray everyday morning and perform my daily rituals.

5. The pleasure of listening to my charming granddaughter and escorting her to school.

6. The choice of delicious vegetarian food items and God-given appetite & digestive power to consume them.

7. A computer that works faithfully on a reliable intenet connection.

8. An acceptable report from the doctor on my general health.

9. My growing interest in ancient scriptures that I once thought were beyond my understanding.

10. The love and deep concern of all family members to my well-being.

I am thankful to the Almighty for providing me all those little things that contribute to contentment in my life. Taking this opportunity, I like to quote the following mantra in Sanskrit with its meaning:


Sarve bhavantu sukhinah: May every one be happy
Sarve santu niramayah: May every one be free from all diseases
Sarve bhadrani pashyantu: May every one see goodness in every thing
Ma kaschit duhkha bhaag bhaveet: May none be unhappy or distressed
Om shanti, shanti, shantih: Om peace, peace, peace!

May all be happy, may all be free from sickness, may all see things good, and may none have misery. Om peace, peace, peace!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Who am I?

Who am I? Sounds like a serious philosophical question? Hard to understand? Sure it is. I am not trying to scare you with some heavy religious stuff. Let me try to explain this in an 'easy-to-understand' manner.

1. The Situation: Every person yearns to be happy. No question about it. But the world in which we live today revolves around the dollar (or Rupees, whatever), and the other ingredient called power. There are the disturbing evils of corruption, cheating, fraud, extortion, sickness and so on. An average person is not happy in such a challenging situation. Even those privileged people who have the best of health, wealth and power seem to be outwardly happy but they too have their personal issues. The rich may buy the most expensive luxury beds in the world but they still cannot guarantee getting sound sleep and joy. If you explore further, many people are torn apart searching for a true sense of themselves and real happiness.

2. The Truth: Before we explore the self, we should be aware of some fundamental truths. Realize that the happiness that we get from external objects is temporary. Experience has proved that something that exists now is gone in the next moment. Take the examples of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunami, and heavy rains. We have very little control over such events. See what happened to those pillars of power in several countries such as Egypt, Italy, Libya, Iraq and others. We also see that wealth is not stationery as the rich become poor and the poor become rich. As our ancient scriptures tell us, the perceived world seems to be an illusion or "Maaya"in which nothing seems to be permanent.

3. The Universe: We all are part of that dynamic universe created by the Almighty. The universe is ever-changing. New things get discovered, old beliefs get shattered, communications improve, and innovations grow. Try as we might, we cannot understand why some things happen. The least we can do is to play our role as good human beings and pursue the real happiness. To do so, we must first understand ourselves - our qualities, our desires and our potential.

4. Self-introspection: It, therefore, makes perfect sense to ask the question: Who am I? It helps to seek a deeper sense of self and to be aware of our thoughts, feelings, hopes and fears. This self-introspection is not to become tense and pass any judgments on yourself but to feel light and provide you a sense of direction. It will provide a key to the pursuit of real happiness. To some, it may lead them on to the path of meditation, prayers and religion. To others it could be through music, service, or even nurturing plants. Essentially, you will avoid hurt to others.

Finally, do not worry too much trying to assess yourself. Relax! Just try and focus on what would make you feel 'a better you,' no matter how distressing the external environment is. There awaits for you a new road to self-discovery!

Remembering My Father

This year, Mahalayapaksha (also called Pitrupaksha) began on September 13. It will end on September 27 on the day of Mahalaya Amavasai. It is a fortnight dedicated to dead ancestors. During this period, Pitrus are specially honored through Tarpanams (offerings). It is believed that the Pitrus in the form of manes come down to earth during this time and bless their descendants. This may be the best time of the year to remember my father, Narayanswamy Sundaresan, who was known as Ambi (short for Ambalavanan) in his younger days and Athi in his later days to his relatives.

My father was born in the year 1912 in a small village called Kotoor in Tamil Nadu. If he had been alive, he would be 99 years old now. Unfortunately, he died when he was 82. He was the only son to my grandparents, Dr. Narayanswamy and Yogambal. He studied in Kuttalam High School and later graduated in Chemistry at the Annamalai University.

Starting his first job as a news reporter for ‘Indian Express’ in Madras, he launched his long career in the chemical engineering field at the Government-owned Cordite Factory in Aravankadu, Nilgiris. Later, he moved to the High Explosives factory at Kirkee, near Pune where he worked until retirement. For almost thirty years, he worked in managing 24/7 chemical processes that produced explosives and harsh polluting chemicals such as nitric and sulphuric acids. Rain or shine, his only means of transportation was a ‘Rudge’ bicycle that served him faithfully all his life. He had always kept his bicycle in immaculate condition by regularly oiling it, ensuring everyday that the tyres and tubes are good, and the dynamo light worked. His other personal belonging that he kept all his life in excellent working condition was a “sowar prima” swiss-made wrist watch.

His work ethics were unmatched by anyone that I know of. He was so passionate about his work and so punctual that not once was he late to work in his entire three-decades career! He strived so hard at work from day to day; working in round-the-clock shifts almost his entire career in the most polluted environment suffering from leaking acid burns, losing his fine set of teeth and a nice bunch of jet black hair on his head; And never once complained about his tough work or the hazardous work environment though he lost some of his best friends in the explosions at the factory. No wonder, his coworkers held him in awe and high respect. Some of them have conveyed their great admiration of my father to me and my brother Babu.

He had a bunch of enviable qualities. He loved children – from babies to teenagers. For my brother Babu and me, he was the hero and role model. His handwriting was so beautiful that it was almost like a piece of art. I imitated it. My brother tried too –though unsuccessfully! Everybody who read his writing appreciated it. I have heard that he once wrote a job application for my uncle that was so impressive that my uncle got the job. My uncle’s boss was probably disappointed later on seeing an entirely different handwriting!

Blessed with a terrific sense of humour and a sharp memory, he instantly made an agreeable companion to young and old alike. Watching my father tell a joke in his own inimitable way was itself a pleasurable experience –it reflected his instinctive genial nature. He had a collection of jokes on almost every topic. On hearing his wit, delighted listeners will invariably burst with laughter and forget petty issues. He was equally good in writing and used to contribute small anecdotes to many Tamil magazines.

He never took insults and ignorance lightly. One instance comes to my mind – My father was instrumental to get one of our relatives married to the daughter of a well-known person in Pune. When he went to attend the wedding, the host completely ignored my father. Weeks later, when the host visited our home with the bride and the groom, my father expressed his disappointment at not even being recognized at the wedding. The host defended himself by saying that my father should have introduced himself. Much to the amusement of everybody in the room, my father told the host: “Yes – I agree with you. Next time, when I attend a wedding in your family, I will come wearing a big board around my neck introducing myself as Sundaresan.” The host hung his head!

He had clean habits. He never ever smoked, drank, gambled, chewed paan, or explored non-vegetarian food. He preferred cooking his own food rather than go to a restaurant. Much to the dislike of many, he was known to be very punctual. He helped many in distress who came to him seeking his assistance. He was very active all his life and shunned lethargy.

His interests were varied – ranging from Carnatic music, Hindi music of Sehgal, Pankaj Mallick and the like of those days, to gardening, cooking, shopping, cycling, and fixing all kinds of devices at home. He was not exactly religious but spiritually inclined. He exemplified the adage"sradhaya deyathe yasmath sraddam” (that which is performed with faith) by faithfully performing every year ‘Sraddam’ for his parents and grandparents. Before the ‘sraddam,’ he will make elaborate preparations in advance such as buying the most appropriate groceries, vegetables, fruits, and confirming the date and time with the priest and the Brahmin guests (Neither we nor the priest/guest had telephone those days –so, communication had to be done personally!).

He was not only my loving dad but also my best friend. Whenever I got frustrated at work, he will always cheer me up. I can never forget his sayings - “What one fool can do, the other can,” “ Don’t be chicken-hearted ,” “What is sauce to the goose is not sauce to the gander” and many others. He taught me the value of time and honesty.

What impressed me most was his attitude to life. He was the most contented person that I have ever met. Radiating bliss on his face, he once told me that given another chance to start life all over again, he would like to lead life in exactly the same way as he had done all along. Does it not reflect how happy and contented he was with himself?

He breathed his last when I least expected him to die. When and where will I get such a dear father?

Appa, I love you, I miss you very much. You will always live in my heart! Bless me, my brothers and our families, please.

In praise of the unsung heroines

In Shakespeare’s famous play of Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony proclaims, “The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” This quote is so true even to this day - not just with men but also with women. I know of so many women who sacrificed their entire life doing good things with least concern to their own health or happiness but their deeds were never recognized. One of such great women was my own maternal grand mother - my mother's mom - whose real name was Janaki but was known as Pudukottai Amma. I never understood P.Amma in my younger days. Looking back now after almost 40 years, I feel that all the good she did seems to have been interred with her bones. Nobody praised her or appreciated her work - not even her own family members for what all she did for them.

P.Amma was born in Madras as the daughter of a leading lawyer known as Patnam Subramania Iyer. She was married young to Sankaran, the eldest son of a wealthy mirasdar (landlord) living in a small village called Soolamangalam (near Thanjavur). As the eldest daughter-in-law of the household, she took more responsibility at home. Her husband was short-tempered and most difficult to deal with. She bore him eight children. One of her sons was unfortunately retarded from childhood. Toiling day and night, she raised her children with fortitude in a small village in the most conservative surroundings. By a stroke of bad luck, Sankaran lost heavily in his business that got his brothers worried about their shrinking shares in the family property. The brothers joined hands and filed a suit against Sankaran lodging claims over the properties. Sankaran lost the case and became bankrupt. Eventually, he died young at the age of 41 leaving his old father, his wife and children in deep distress. His eldest son N who was just about 15 at that time was forced to discontinue his studies and take up a clerical job at a bank in Pudukottai town to support the family.

Having lost her husband and all the riches, P.Amma moved from the village to her son's rented house in Pudukottai to begin yet another arduous phase of her life. Though she had no income, she never lost her guts and self-confidence. Her son N was intelligent and affectionate but was ill-tempered like his father and had an instinct for gambling in horse races. Her daughter-in-law was hard of hearing and could never understand the serious issues that confronted the family. Because of this handicap, the daughter-in-law was often the victim of her husband's uncontrolled wrath and physical abuse. P.Amma always kept cool and very tactfully dealt with both her son and daughter-in-law. I have never seen P.Amma lose her temper even in the most difficult situations!

With very little income flowing from a single wage-earner, the pot had to be kept boiling at home to feed over a dozen hungry mouths. Besides the eldest son and his wife & kids, there were always other members of the Sankaran family who stayed at home. There was the grown-up but retarded son who had to be handled with lot of patience and fed. Almost on a regular basis, P.Amma had to take care of one or more of her daughters who came for delivery at their mother's home and stayed for several months. In addition, some of her daughters left their children for education in Pudukottai. I too was one among those children. With so many members living at home, you can imagine the demands made on P.Amma in managing the household. She faced it all without a frown on her face.

Despite facing numerous stressful situations, I have never heard P.Amma complain about her misfortunes, fate or about her own personal discomforts. Her needs were very few. She ate very little and her clothings were just a few white sarees. Her bed used to be a long wooden plank of a swing; she always slept last in the night and was the first one to rise in early in the morning to wake up the other family members - specially the young ones. She shouldered much of the responsibility to manage the family and raise her grand children. The never-ending activities at home demanded P.Amma's best personal attention at all times. She had to often consult her son on family matters which she did usually late in the night after most members went to sleep.

Though she suffered from high blood pressure, P.Amma worked and worked, day after day, all for the sake of her family, never ever expecting anything in return. She rarely went out and enjoyed no vacation or rest for decades. She listened to people and helped many to resolve their personal problems. She made marriages happen! Her pastime included carnatic music, solving Tamil cross-words, and telling stories to children. Some of the best qualities that I observed in her were: unshakeable faith in the Almighty; enthusiasm at all times; patience; perseverance; truthfulness; self-introspection; ability to stay calm in a crisis; and love for all including those who hated her.

Today, we talk and praise those who achieve excellence in arts, education, medicine, politics, science or sports. We recognize such achievers with awards and give them a wide publicity. Do we recognize the sacrifices made by the countless number of women, including those who juggle in present days a competitive career and a demanding home, all for the welfare of their dear families? Who praises those unsung heroines like P.Amma? Well, I do! I salute P.Amma with all my sincerity for all the good she did to others and the most precious lessons that I learnt from her. With all my heart, I praise those unsung heroines, both past and present!

Maharajapuram Revisited - July 2011

I love visiting my ancestral village and offering worship at the VishnuDurga temple there! Believe me - it charges my spiritual batteries and kickstarts my interest in life. This year, the added attraction to me was the new Southern Pandharpur shrine that has come up at nearby Govindapuram.

As usual, my wife and I stayed at the Peria Pannai house in Bhaskararajapuram. We are indeed blessed to have such a hospitable host in Krishnaswamy who is following the great tradition set by his father Sri. Ramachandra Iyer.

Post lunch, we visited the VishnuDurga temple. After the Kumbhabhishekam in April this year, the entire temple has taken a new look. It is very beautiful. On entering the prakaram, I noticed that a new wall has come up on the right side. All the old paintings on the walls and ceilings look brand new.

Baskara Gurukkal with his broad smile was waiting for us to begin the rituals. After an elaborate abhishekam, the almighty VishnuDurga Ambal was draped with the nine-yard saree that we had bought and adorned with shiny jewelry. Aho Bhagyam! Aho Bhagyam!! to have such a wonderful darshan. We felt on top of the world! The pleasure we got was priceless! Share my pleasure -take a look at the adorned deity's picture in this blog.

A word about this temple - I have no idea how old the temple is and who built it.
According to an inscription at this temple, Sage Durvasa had worshipped VishnuDurga at this temple (see the picture above). Durvasa was an ancient sage born to Atri and Anasuya. Going by the inscription, it seems that the temple is really ancient.

About VishnuDurga, also known as Narayani, is one among the numerous forms of Goddess Durga. VishnuDurga is regarded as the sister of Lord Krishna, born immediately before him.VishnuDurga shares many characteristics of Lord Vishnu including the dark complexion. She is four-armed and carries the conch and chakra in her upper hands just like Lord Vishnu. Her lower right hand is in ‘abhaya posture’ coneying blessings while the lower left hand is placed on her thigh - again very similar to what you see in Lord Vishnu. It is believed that the Chola kings including the Great Rajaraja Chola were staunch devotees of Durga Devi.

The best thing about this temple is it's size and serenity. My wife and I enjoy praying here because:

• We were never ever jostled by crowds nor shown the exit quickly as it happens in most well-known big temples.
• We could sit silently, pray as much and as long we wish and none will ever disturb us.
• We never had to stand in line to buy archana tickets.
• Our ancestors worshipped here; so there is a deep sentimental attachment.
• Above all, the VishnuDurga deity seems to have simply captured our hearts.

Where else can we enjoy such heavenly bliss?

What are you waiting for? You too can receive VishnuDurga's blessings in abundance. Go ahead and make a trip to Maharajapuram and pray sincerely at the VishnuDurga temple. You will find a remarkable change in your life.

You can reach Sri. R. Krishnaswamy, trustee of the temple at 04364-232342 for more information.