Pasupatinath II

These are pictures taken on the same day. And as its Sarawati Puja tomorrow, this picture looks just perfect for the occasion.

शुक्लाम् ब्रम्हविचारसार परमाद्याम् जगतव्यापीनिम्।
वीणापुस्तक धारिणीम् अभयदाम् जाड्यान्धकारापहाम्।।
हस्तेस्फाटिकमालिकाम् विद्यधतिम् पद्यमाशने संस्थिताम्।
वन्देताम् परमेश्वरीम् भगवतीम् बुद्धिप्रदाम् शारदाम्।।

This can be explained as: Wearer of the white clothes, giver of the power to reflect the essence of Brahma, supreme power, holder of veena (Lyre), book, beaded rosary, the benevolent Goddess is seated on a lotus. We respectfully pray the Goddess who gives us knowledge.

Source

This is one of the many things I learnt back in school. And if my Nepali teacher who taught us this Sloka is to be believed, you’ll never ‘flunk’ any test if you know this. You’ll have to recite it correctly though…But of course one shouldn’t forget ‘God only helps those who help themselves first’

More pictures below

Pasupatinath

I was in Pashupati with my sister just after the ‘Pujari Controversy’ was over. And here are some glimpses of what was going on around the place.

The Distance

I like the thought of being in your city.

The simple thought that the city which houses millions is a home to you makes me smile.

Source

Bangalore, Balram Halwai and the Nepali Identity

Late December last year we were staying at a hotel in J.P. Nagar,Bangalore. We were three in number including one man and two women. So, on this particular evening before the day we were to leave for Delhi she wanted to have paan after dinner. There was a small ‘Paan Pasal’ just in-front of the hotel and when the shopkeeper handed her the ‘Paan’, she looked at it and said “Yesma ta kei chaina” (It doesn’t have anything). Then a person emerged from the other side of the stall told something to the Paan Pasale in a different language. The Pasale started adding ingredients in it, handed the pan back and she exclaimed “Oho feri kati dherai haldeko!” (He’s put too much of everything!) . The person emerging from the other side of the stall introduced himself as a Nepali. He was from Baitadi. It had only been 3 months in Bangalore and he was working at the hotel as a guard during the nights. ‘He’s also a Nepali’ he said pointing at another guard. “Maile chineko manche vanera dherai halde jasto cha!” he said explaining the extra ingredients in the Paan. And they talked for a while during which she said ‘She was from Baitadi’ too. It was such an interesting situation for me. Two people from both from Baitadi, a relatively underdeveloped district in the Far-West of Nepal, both in the same hotel, same place, beside the same Paan Pasal yet leading lives as different as Black and White. It could be the most simplistic explanation Nepal’s Gini Coeffient as well.

पुतलीको देह

नामकरण गर्ने शक्ति प्रायः पुरुषकै भएको हुँदा स्त्रीलाई ‘देवी’ वा ‘सहिद’ जस्ता विशेषणहरूले सोभित गर्नुपर्ने आवश्यकता परेको हुँदो हो

तर बुझ्नुपर्ने कुरो अर्काे पनि छ- दुईवटा अवस्थामा मात्र नारी ती पुरुषप्रदत्त शाब्दिक आभूषणहरूको लक्ष्य बन्छे । पहिलो, जब उसले पितृसत्तात्मक सोचको आन्तरीकरण गरेर पुरुषकै भाषामा बोल्न थाल्छे । उसकै अपेक्ष्ााअनुसार आफ्नो शरीरलाई मोटो-पातलो गराउँछे । आफ्नो विचारलाई ढाल्दै लान्छे । उसको इच्छाबाट चल्ने पुतली बन्छे । दोस्रो, जब पुरुषप्रधान समाजलाई उसको ‘विद्राेही’ स्वभावबाट कुनै खतरा हुँदैन ।

This is the excerpt from an article by Sanjeev Upreti titled ‘Putaliko Deha’ published in the Kantipur National Daily ( Jan 24, 2009) which compares the existence of women to that of Dolls and explains it by taking the example of the slain journalist Uma Singh. Read the complete article below.

Unleashing my thoughts

Entirely personal. Read it at your own risk!

मध्यान्न

मान्छे दुइ प्रकारका हुन्छन्। एकप्रकारका प्रतिनिधि पात्र चाँहि उनी हुन् भने अर्कोको चाँहि म।

उनका प्रकार गफी हुन्छन्। प्रत्येक वाक्यमा कुनै कथा सम्झन्छन्। प्लेटमा आलु फ्राइ लिएर उनी सामुन्ने पर्नु ,उनी ‘एउटा साथी थियो’ भनेर सुरु भइहाल्छन्। त्यही साथीकै कुरा सिध्याउँ। साथी थियो रे , उनकै शब्दमा भन्नुपर्दा ‘बडो चाटुस’। आलु डिप फ्राइ गरेको भन्यो भने , ‘ए इनारमै पकाको?’ भनिहाल्ने। लघु कथाको अन्त्य र श्रोता माझ हाँसोको माहोल।

‘क्या चाटुस!’ एउटा सहमति जनाउँछ।

‘पूर्वकै थियो कि क्या हो !’ अर्को बाठो टोपलिन्छ।

गफीलाई कत्रो प्रोत्साहन! अनि त लघु कथाको सिरिज नै चल्छ।

अब मेरो प्रकारको कुरा गरो । म चाहिँ हरेक मध्यान्न यी गफी र उनका श्रोता माझ बस्छु, खाना खान्छु र हिँड्छु। बुझे हाँस्छु र नबुझे चाहिँ पुरुषका ठ्टटा होला भनेर चुप लागेर बस्छु। र धेरै छिटो खाएको बेला चाहिँ गफीका कुरा बारे ब्लग गरेर नबोलिकनै गफ हाँक्छु! हा हा हा

Inscrutable.

Source: Internet