Guru Dakshina - A pound of flesh

 In the epic Mahabharata , Dronacharya is a Guru of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Soon Arjuna becomes his favorite student because of his hard work and dedication. Dronocharya believes that Arjuna has the potential to be the best archer of the times. In the meantime Eklavya who belonged to a tribal caste did not have the privilege to be trained in the art of archery. Nevertheless determined he makes a clay replica of Dronacharya and worships him and becomes an expert in archery.

Learning of his skills ,Dronacharya is so determined that nobody can come in the way of Arjuna's success he asks Eklavya for his Guru Dakshina. His Guru Dakshina is Eklavya's right thumb. Since Eklavya respects and thinks of Dronacharya as his guru, he cuts off his right thumb and offers it to his guru. Now even though Dronacharya had never taught Eklavya he still makes a demand of Eklavya's "pound of flesh".    

I remember as a child as I listened and enjoyed the great stories from the Mahabharata , but this particular story left an impression on my mind. Even as a child I thought it was so unfair that the Guru who should have known better shows favoritism and discriminates as to who should be worthy of his training and who should never even dream of being an expert . At the same time it shows Eklavya's unconditional love and respect towards his Guru who just offers his thumb and ends his dream of being the best archer ever.

Guru Dakshina

Eklavya asked his mom in despair,
"Why can't I learn from the great Man itself ?"

His parents tried to reason with him but in vain,
"We cannot match up with the heirs of this land"

Dronocharya can impart his great knowledge to them,
but you my poor child will just have to wait.

Eklavya is still determined and sadly exclaims,
"I will still learn from the great master, no matter what it takes !"

He goes to the forest and sculpts a statue of clay. 
He worships the statue and respectfully says,
"You are my Guru Dronacharya itself".
I'm ready to learn and there's no time to play.

His love for archery sees no night or day.
He practices and practices no matter what people say.

Dronocharya is so happy with his shishya Arjuna
and thinks nobody can surpass the skills that he has.

Unless one day he's amazed by a perfect display, 
 A wild dog who was disturbing the peace and quiet ,
his mouth was sealed by arrows so perfect. 

Who could the great archer be, is his query
It's me my dear Guru and its your knowledge that I just displayed.

Dronocharya thinks quick,
In this great land , there can only be One great archer,
That title belongs to his favorite one.
How dare this tribal prince shatter my dreams,
He must pay a price for his great misdeed.

Dear Eklavya, since I'm your Guru
How about my Guru Dakshina for the skills you just learned ?.

Ask me anything since I regard you as my Guru
How about your right thumb, that's what I desire.

Eklavya bows down to his Guru,
Cuts off his right thumb and offers his Guru Dakshina.

This is my entry to " The fifty-2 weeks of 2013 Project". This week's theme is " A pound of flesh".

New Year Resolution - Empty your cup !!!

I most certainly belong to the group of people who do not believe in making new year resolutions. I used to though make them once upon a time. Then as time progressed and got so busy and tied down by the demands of a busy household of 4 us two and our 2 kids. A job, a blog, baker on the side and being devoted to be a good mother, a good wife, a good daughter, a good sister, a good daughter in law ,a  good friend and  a good citizen of this world..Phew !!!  (I'm sure if not all, most of us home makers, stay at home moms, and working moms feel what I feel)  You see where this is going, right..yes No time to make any resolutions as such..for fear of not being able to be committed enough and see the heartache of breaking them one by one..and feel the guilt and pain  that follows. Who has the time and stamina for that.  

But one fine day after a very tiring and hectic day, as I was lazily scrolling through my FB posts, I came upon this wonderful and exciting project - The fifty-2 weeks of 2013. You can read about it here. The very first theme for the 1st week of this project is "New Year Resolutions"...I am such a procrastinator..I'm doing it the very last day. The new theme will be announced tomorrow. So If anyone of you are still interested I highly recommend doing this exercise for yourself..It feels good. If nothing it makes one think and wonder. Wow..what do I really want to do this year. A little bit of soul searching and you will be amazed as what you will come up with. 

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!" 

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?" ...Courtesy of Wikipedia

•  My resolution this year is to be able to empty my filled up and over flowing cup(life) with things that are not important to my growth and well being of my family and loved ones. Fill it up with new possibilities , new beliefs (and let go of the old and redundant beliefs), new passions(read hobbies), new energy. Be receptive to change and embrace new ideas. Be able to let go of fear, anger, frustration , to be able to step outside my comfort zone from time to time , to challenge myself.  
• Fill this empty cup with one random act of kindness a day. I'm very curious and so excited  to see how this cup fills up with my random acts of kindness by the end of this year.  

Maybe it takes a lifetime for a person to achieve a Zen like state, but every step towards it will be a path to be a Better Me and that's what I'm aiming for. 

Sending my entry to this awesome The fifty-two weeks of 2013 Project. Would love to hear from you all and maybe you could share your new new resolutions with me as well.

My recipe on my YouTube Channel ...

Made another recipe video and its on my channel. Tune into Curryandbeyond's Channel on YouTube.

My first Youtube Video- How to make Falafels.

Many of you might know that I am an author of another blog http://curryandbeyond.blogspot.com/ as well. Recently made my very first youtube video. Its my 1st attempt and I still have ways to go. Just  wanted to share with you all and Wishing all of you a happy 2012.

I would appreciate your feedback. For the detailed recipe follow the link:
http://curryandbeyond.blogspot.com/2012/01/falafel-deep-fried-chickpea.html

My Son

I saw this book at the library and the moment I set eyes on the title  I had to get it. Its from the Chicken Soup  for the Soul Series - "Chicken Soup for the Mother and Son Soul". I always came across books and beautiful stories about mother and daughters, hoping some day I would find something about mother and sons. I would say this is a great mother's day gift or a gift  for your mother's birthday. I'm simply going to assume guys are reading this post too!!!

It has  great collection of short stories which celebrate the journey of raising a son. There's one particular poem  "My Son" by Betty King  which I would love to share with you all. I hope you like it as much as I did.

                                                         My Son

As a lad you held my hand

You walked with me

You sat upon my knee

I sang to you

You came to me

I wiped your tears

You needed me, I needed you.

Then my son, you grew

You dropped my hand

You chose friends to walk beside you

My knee became too small

You had not the time

For a rock or a song

Your tears subsided

You needed them, they needed you.

Then my son, you grew

There were other hands to hold

You took long walks

But not with me

You held others upon your knee

Rocked and sang love songs

You wiped away their tears

You needed them, they needed you.

Then my son, you grew

You took her hand in yours

You walked the aisle with her

Built with your hands

Your own rocking chair 

She sang love songs to you

You wiped each other's tears

You pledged your love

You needed her, she needed you.

Then my son, you grew

A little one held your hand

You walked with her

She sat upon your knee

You sang lullabies

You wiped her tears

She called you, "Dad"

She needed you, you needed her.

Then my son, you grew

You became wise

You held my hand

You walked with me

We sat together

We talked of days gone by

You wiped my tears

I needed you, you needed me.

                                                                                                   Betty King

What a blogger needs...

Its soon going to be close to a year that I have ventured into this new world of blogging. I started with my food blog and when I was not so much in a food and recipe sharing mood I started this blog merely for my outbursts and day to day happenings and musings.

I am happy to know so many blog pals and some of them I have started to know so much about them and feel like I know them personally.

Now today's post is just what I feel or think a blogger's basic desire is and I guess its to be appreciated. I know its a humbling feeling for me when I see responses and feedback to my posts. But I guess like everything it comes with its own price. Many a times I feel so guilty and sad if I'm not able to regularly visit them and leave my feedback. I don't want them to feel like I don't care. It happens when you get so tied up with so many things that many a times you could not please everyone. But there are many who are patient and understand and are there for you.

So blogging has been a learning experience for me. I have to be so grateful to many who worry about you and really concerned about your well being. I was so touched by many of you and you all know who you are. There are a few who just abandon you thinking oh my goodness can't waste my precious time giving my feedback to her ..let me shop around for another prospective blogger who can visit me regularly and do a mutual exchange of comments...I'm not trying to be cynical here but I'm just as amazed at how this blogging world works.

I do believe in looking at a glass and see it being half full...and not worry about it being half empty. But we are all humans and have feelings and this was what my take was based on my experience alone.

Ending this post with a song from the movie, Pyaasa- Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye to Kya hain...

Princess Cake

Baked this Princess cake for a friend's daughter's 5th Birthday. I'm gald I could help. It was worth the time and effort when I saw the look on her face and the joy it brought her...That was priceless!!!

"My business is making people , especially children happy" - Walt Disney