Smile of Wisdom

Vishu

is the astrological new year of Kerala, where the sun transits into Aries (Mesha Sankramana) when sun is exactly on the equator and the duration of day and night will be almost same.This describes the origin of the word "Vishu" which in Sanskrit means "equal". Also, on the day of vishu, Malayalis start the farm activities for the year. TheTrikodithanam Shasanam by Bhaskara Ravivarman who ruled Kerala between AD 962 and 1021 mentions Chithira Vishu. It is believed that Lord Sree Krishna killed the demon Narakasura on the Vishu day.

Kanikkonna

The golden yellow flowers of Kanikkonna (Cassia fistula) or Indian Labrunum is the state flower of Kerala due to it's significance in vishu festival. This enchanting yellow blooms signals the arrival of Vishu , became the symbol of vishu festival. 

'ഏതു ധൂസരസങ്കല്‍പ്പത്തില്‍ വളര്‍ന്നാലും, 

ഏതു യന്ത്രവത്കൃത ലോകത്തില്‍ പുലര്‍ന്നാലും, 

മനസ്സിലുണ്ടാകട്ടെ ഗ്രാമത്തിന്‍ വെളിച്ചവും

 മണവും മമതയും ഇത്തിരി കൊന്നപ്പൂവും' 

- വൈലോപ്പിള്ളി (കയ്പവല്ലരി) 

Vishukkani

'Kani' means that which is seen first at the start of the day. The night before Vishu, konna flowers (Cassia fistula) nellu/unnakallari(rice/paddy), kodi vastram (new clothes), golden cucumber, betel leaves, coins, gold ornaments and a holy text preferably 'Ramayanam' in a 'uruli' (shallow panchloham vessel) etc are arranged infront of Lord Krishna's idol with a mirror behind. This is the Kani for the Vishu - Vishukkani -auspicious beginning of the new year as it is believed that a good kani will bring luck and prosperity through out the year. Since, only the 'one' female member of the family knows what is in the Kani, it adds a tint of mystery to the viewers in the morning. Families wake up early in the morning to view the kani and then burst crackers in joy. After wearing new clothes (Vishu kodi) they  together eat the festive lunch (Vishu sadya) the traditional Kerala meal on bananaleaves. 

Village

പ്രപഞ്ചമേ, നീ പല ദുഃഖജാലം
നിറഞ്ഞതാണെങ്കിലുമിത്രമാത്രം
ചേതോഹരക്കാഴ്ചകള്‍ നിങ്കലുള്ള
കാലത്തു നിന്‍ പേരിലെവന്‍ വെറുക്കും?
-- വള്ളത്തോള്

Indian Village

Zigeunerjunge

Zigeunerjunge

Ich war noch ein Kind da kamen Zigeuner Zigeuner in unsere Stadt

kamen in unsere Stadt
die Wagen so bunt die Pferdchen so zottig sie zogen die Wagen so schwer
und ich lief hinterher immer nur hinterher
Dann kam der Abend es wurde ein Feuer entfacht la la la
und die Zigeuner sie haben getanzt und gelacht la la la
Ein Zigeunerjunge Zigeunerjunge er spielte am Feuer Gitarre
und ich sah sein Gesicht aber er sah mich nicht
Zigeunerjunge Zigeunerjunge er spielte am Feuer Gitarre
dann war das Feuer aus und ich lief schnell nach Haus
Am anderen Tag konnt ich nicht erwarten die fremden Zigeuner zu sehn
aber ich durfte nicht gehen
die Wagen so bunt die Pferdchen so zottig es zog mich zurück an den Ort
und ich lief heimlich fort und ich lief heimlich fort
Dann kam der Abend ich fand die Zigeuner nicht mehr la la la
wo sie noch gestern gesungen da war alles leer la la la
Zigeunerjunge Zigeunerjunge wo bist du wo sind eure Wagen
doch es blieb alles leer und mein Herz wurde schwer
Zigeunerjunge Zigeunerjunge wo bist du wer kann es mir sagen
doch es blieb alles leer und ich weinte so sehr
Doch es blieb alles leer und ich weinte so sehr

Zigeunerjunge -- Alexandra (1967) 

Women

“every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself.” 

Oscar Wilde

portrait

“When you lose reasoning you forget humanity,When you forget laughter you lose Divinity. Munindra Misra” 

Devi

And now I see with eye serene, The very pulse of the machine; A being breathing thoughtful breath, A traveller between life and death: The reason firm, the temperate will, Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill; A perfect Woman, nobly plann'd To warn, to comfort, and command; And yet a Spirit still, and brightWith something of an angel light. 

-- William Wordsworth 

Krishna

Your body is my prison, Krishna,
I cannot see beyond it.
Your darkness blinds me,
Your love words shut out the wise world's din.

Kamala Das - Only The Soul Knows How To Sing 

Flower seller

"At first thy little being came:If nothing once, you nothing lose, For when you die you are the same;The space between, is but an hour, The frail duration of a flower" -- Philip Freneau 

Flower seller

"Women with flower" -- Naomi Long Madgett

I wouldn't coax the plant if I were you. Such watchful nurturing may do it harm. Let the soil rest from so much digging And wait until it's dry before you water it. The leaf's inclined to find its own direction; Give it a chance to seek the sunlight for itself.Much growth is stunted by too careful  prodding,Too eager tenderness. The things we love we have to learn to leave alone.

Lotus

The National flower of India, is the symbol of beauty, prosperity and fertility. Virtually every Gods and Godesses of  Hinduismare typically shown sitting on the lotus or holding a lotus flower in their hand. 

For indians, the lotus is more than a flower, it represents beauty and non attachment - although it grows in mud, it smells of myrrh.

“Just as water cannot wet the lotus leaf, so work cannot bind the unselfish man by giving rise to attachment to results.” -- Swami Vivekananda 

“One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results onto the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.”-- Bhagavat Gita 

A lotus emerged from the navel of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma originated from it to create the world. Hence lotus symbolises the link between the creator and the supreme cause.

Lotus

Lotus is also seen in pre-historic murals and cave paintings in India. The most noted is the painting, Padmapani of Cave 1 of Ajanta in Maharashtra state. In Sanskrit, Padmapani literally means the bearer of lotus.The flower also decorate great place in Indian literature. "Face as beautiful as blooming lotus" - Mukha pankajam ; or " eye shaped like lotus petals" - Nalinakshi, Pankajakshi ; names  like Nalini, Padmini;  are common in Indian literature. 

मुखसरोजरुचं मदपाटलामनुचकार चकोरदृशां यतः।

धृतनवातपमुत्सुकतामतो न कमलं कमलम्भयदम्भसि॥

शिशुपालवधम् - माघ 

A Lotus

Apart from India, Lotus is also the national flower of Vietnam. In Egypt the Lotus Flowers are considered to auspicious because they are regarded as the symbol of Sun God. Lotus seeds are medicinal in nature and are used for the treatment of kidney, spleen, and heart ailments. They are also considered beneficial in the treatment of Leucorrhea, palpitation and insomnia. The seeds, leaves and tubers of the Lotus Flower are edible.