Kaivalya

Notes on Plato's "The Republic"- Part 1

2011-08-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

Book-I:
In Book I Socrates has the dialectic discussion with Thrasymachus, on the subject of Justice. While Socrates keeps to his notions that Justice is beneficial and Injustice will eventually be damaging, Thrasymachus on the other hand argues that at the end, the Unjust wins and the Just loses.

Examining some of the important ones from the dialogue:

*Thrasymachus (Thr): "First of all, in private contracts: wherever the unjust is the partner of the just you will find that, when the partnership is dissolved, the unjust man has always more and the just less. Secondly, in their dealings with the State: when there is an income-tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same."

--Note 1: Although Socrates with all his ideals and morality proves perhaps in the later parts of the argument that Unjust will eventually lose and the Just wins, this arguing statement above from Thrasymachus holds a lot of truth to it, atleast in imperfect societies. And most of the contemporary events in India, and elsewhere in the world seem to prove Thrasymachus' point of view above. Consider the case of scandals surrounding the 2G, Commonwealth Games etc and how there is scapegoating
done, often hiding some of the high profile culprits who are in safe havens of power. Also, throughout his argument Thrasymachus notes that the unjust are usually more powerful and superior because they can cheat, and claim that they are just. It does have a ring of truth to it in the non-Socratic real world for sure.

*Thr: "..But when a man besides taking away the money of the citizens has made slaves of them, then, instead of these names of reproach, he is termed happy and blessed, not only by the citizens but by all who hear of his having achieved the consummation of injustice"

--Note 2: It is not too transparent, but we have seen in our times, that often people considered to be of great stature and highly influential have been found out to be fraudulent and cheating people. For example, the recent closure of the News of the World run by Rupert Murdoch is a well-known event, for years the number 1 news agency in the world had had its share of praise and earned wealth by cheating the people. As the dialogue continues, Thrasymachus further mentions that "mankind censures injustice for fear of being victimized, not because they shrink from committing it". In deed, the people of integrity, honesty and values is a limited lot.

In a rather incomplete discussion, Socrates does make Thrasymachus agree that his argument is ill-begotten and unproved.
However, making it a continuation to Book-II this is how he concludes the discussion:

Soc: "For I know not what justice is, and therefore I am not likey to know whether it is or is not a virtue, nor can I say whether the just man is happy or unhappy."

This note is a precursor to further dialogues in the succeeding Books and paves way to building an imaginary State, "the Republic" which will eventually define the justice system along with other aspects like administration, education, military etc.

So, until the notes from next Book, adios!

Reference: The Republic by Plato translated by Benjamin Jowett

?????

2011-07-31T12:36:00.000-07:00

Narrow confines all around,
Suffocation in every breath.
Freedom is only in thoughts
Or perhaps remained as a dream:
A dream that was unfulfilled.

I look into my own vision
In hope of the glimpses of those images;
I hear myself crying aloud
Those voices that I cannot listen;
I search for that perfect spot
To settle down and call it home!

My travels in thought and deed,
Seem incomplete,
Unfinished;
Yet I return to the same place
Over and Over
And Over again!

Sums up I am
Winning the battles I did not fight
But I am
Losing the war I wanted to win!

--May 24, 2011.

Gems of Tyagaraja- 2

2009-11-08T18:07:00.000-08:00

హెచ్చరికగా రారా హే రామచంద్ర
హెచ్చరికగా రారా హే సుగుణ సాంద్ర

పచ్చ విల్తునికన్న1 పాలిత సురేంద్ర (హెచ్చరిక)

1. కనక మయమౌ మకుట కాంతి మెరయగను
ఘనమైన 2కుండల యుగంబులు కదలగను
ఘనమైన నూపుర యుగంబు ఘల్లనను
సనకాదులెల్ల కని సంతసిల్లగను (హెచ్చరిక)

2. ఆణి ముత్యాల సరులల్లలాడగను
వాణి పతీంద్రులిరు వరుస పొగడగను
మాణిక్య సోపానమందు మెల్లగను
వీణ పల్కుల వినుచు వేడ్క చెల్లగను (హెచ్చరిక)

3. నిను జూడ వచ్చు భగిని కరంబు చిలుక
మనసు రంజిల్ల నీ మహిమలను పలుక
మిను వాసులెల్ల విరులను చాల జిలుక
ఘన త్యాగరాజు కనుగొన ముద్దు గులుక (హెచ్చరిక)

Translation (Courtesy: http://sahityam.net/wiki/Heccharikaga_Rara)

O Lord Ramachandra! Deign to come cautiously; O Lord brimming with virtues! Deign to come cautiously.
O Father of Cupid! O Protector of Lord of celestials!
1. As the splendour of the golden diadem is radiated, as the pair of beautiful ear-rings sway, as the pair of beautiful anklets jingle, and as the sages Sanaka and all others exult beholding You, O Lord Ramachandra! Deign to come cautiously.
2. As the rows of necklaces of perfect shaped pearls sway (on Your chest), as Brahma – the Consort of Sarasvati – and Indra extol You on both sides, O Lord Ramachandra! Deign to come cautiously and slowly on the steps of precious stones, as the spectacle goes on, hearing the notes of music on lute.
3. As the parrot in the hand of Parvathi – Your sister - who comes to see You – speaks of Your mights to the exultation of the minds of the devotees, as all the celestials – dwelling in heaven - shower plenty of flowers, O Lord Ramachandra! Deign to come cautiously so that this blessed Thyagaraja may behold You as Your charm oozes.

The below is my own verse, inspired by the song and the devotion of Sri Tyagaraja:

How long shall I live in vain?
How long this torturing pain?
While I wait for Thou my Lord,
How long till I see Thou again?

Come now, let me not fall,
Come now, please heed my call,
Do not Thou love me, my Lord?
Come now, please crush this wall.

I fear that in blindness I cannot see,
I fear I will lose my vision of Thee,
Shower on me Thy blessings my Lord,
I fear this world will transform me!

Before its too late for me to realize,
Before I cannot handle any surprise,
Warn me, as Thou arrive, my Lord,
Before my each virtue turns into a vice!

Warn me, as Thou arrive my Lord,
Warn me, as Thy descent begins,
Warn me, when Thine will is to hold me,
Warn me, as Thou arrive my Lord.

For I cannot miss this chance,
To end my ever-longing penance,
And shed my tears and wash your feet,
When my wish-fulfills when we two meet!

-Siddartha Pamulaparty
Nov 08, 2009.

Science, Religion and Philosophy-- An Essay

2009-08-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

Religion is not accepted by the science. But not all religions accept the science. Science is but Knowledge. A knowledge that is proven by experiment. However, there are various aspects of science that have empirical proof or abstract theorems. The question then, is what is the relationship between the science and religion, if there is any historically or contemporarily?

There is one common thread, though: the birth of ideas in the minds of human beings. In science, there are several theories and axioms which took birth in the minds of the noble or ignoble humans and either they were proved in later experimentation or were accepted by commonsensical deduction. Modern physics especially, the branches of quantum theories or string theories are but ideas waiting to be proven or accepted. Religion also had its roots in human mind. Dogmas and doctrines, practices are all born out of human intellect: ideas mundane or of great intellect.

Religion thrives and survives on one basic principle: faith. In fact, we often see the faith as a synonym of religion. Faith is a feeling, similar to a belief. What concrete foundation it has is a different matter. Faith is in fact a manifestation of human ideas. If humans were not able to think and form opinions, there would neither be religion, nor science.

Talking of faith, when the faith forms in the obvious in the nature, it becomes the least sensitive part of the religion. For instance, importance of the natural elements like earth, air, water and fire are almost common in most religions. The most sensitive issues that differ between the religions of the world are mostly the convictions which are not natural; not so obvious; the unknown and the unseen and hard to comprehend.

Blind faith is what makes the religions non-scientific. If there was a custom or tradition in a religion that has a proper reasoning or rational behind it, it cannot be considered as a blind faith.
Here also comes the aspect of logic.

With logic, we have one more product of human intellect: the philosophy.

Most of the Western world considers Aristotle as THE Philosopher. However, historically this is not true. Philosophy existed ever since the first of the human species evolved, with a psyche that could make the species "think". There were innumerous civilizations across the world, some of which have lost their stories in eternity and very few have still sustained. There were philosophers in the Greece before Aristotle, even before Socrates or should we say even in the times of Homer or before? India, the country that was the center of interest during the ancient and medieval times for its rich tradition of heritage, has a unique history of philosophy too.

What is the basis of philosophy? Like faith is to the religion, the belief is the crux of philosophy. Philosophy is but a conviction of things and processes around a person. Like religion and science, philosophy also has the natural course of "actions" being performed based on the belief one has.

While there are behavioral traits that draw a line of difference between religion and philosophy, there is also a binding force: the transformation of faith into belief, with reason or without.

Philosophy, religion and science, have all made so much of progress, that the fundamental thoughts have transformed from Individual level to collective level. Hence, today we see many communities- of religious, philosophical and even scientific nature.

The complexity of human thoughts and ideas has influenced, if not originated, the amalgamation of these three different products of intellect. Today, there may be scientific communities with an inclination to a religion and more frequently a philosophy. There are philosophical communities that have some part of their ideas derived on established scientific facts and more frequently, of ideas derived from historical religions.

However, religion embracing scientific facts and/or philosophical propositions that have not existed long before is not witnessed. Perhaps, because religion is the oldest of the these three.

Well, there may be some newly born religions which are based on philosophies and very rarely also on some aspect of science. This yet again proves that religion has its birth in human mind.

What is divinity? Does an entity called God exist? These questions are more of philosophical nature. Religion is formed based on these questions already answered and opinionated. Science does not care to dig into these. And in trying to find an answer for this, innumerate philosophies
have been born. Most of which could be bent over to one or more religions.

So, in a way, philosophy is some where between the two extremes of religion and science.

Human race is not only responsible for the existence of these ideas, but also the sufferers of the consequences of the ideas, as and when they have advanced.

As the faith in the religion has grown so strong that common sense or reasoning has no impact or even consideration, there have been many ill-effects on the human lives. From times immemorial, each religion had its own misgivings. But again, it has to be remembered that the ideas were human, the thoughts were human, the actions were also human, towards or against the human lives.

Advancement in science has its own consequences of human terror. Wars, often aided with military science, have always done damage than good. There are good examples too, like in the fields of medicine, or civilian engineering which has provided almost every aspect of this century's living ways and comforts are products of science. However, there are bad examples, and weapons of mass destruction is just one of them.

Philosophy, although appears not too extreme, depending on the will of the individuals who apply these philosophical thoughts into action, there have been casualties before. Dictators across the world, and supreme leaders, have often with their philosophies have destroyed human lives.

The business of the world today survives more based on what is different than what is common between the peoples. Different people have different needs and different capabilities. If there is absolutely no difference between individuals or countries, nothing would be exchanged.
As long as this exists, the difference, the flow of the activities in the world would be natural.

But, if we wake up in a world, where the populations and individuals have all common interests, all common needs, all common capabilities, imagine if there would be any productivity? No. The key to the world we live in today, is based on the variation of human thoughts, ideas and their subsequent needs.

If there were no religion nor philosophy, but only science, lives of people would be totally mechanical. Men and women would turn into robots.

Religion and philosophy are in a way inseparable. Hence, it is not only difficult but also silly to imagine a world with either one of them without the other.
The relationship between the two lies in the basic fundamental synonymous relationship between faith and conviction.

Ideas, thoughts will still remain the common ground of these three interesting aspects of the human civilizations.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty
August 29,2009.

Lost Letters - III

2009-08-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

To: My teacher, Prof. M. Ravinder Rao on January 4, 2005!

Dear Sir,

Firstly, I wish you would find a very happy new year in 2005. I am quite delighted to have received a mail from you.
I remember on an occasion (of Teachers' day festival) you told us that a Teacher will be happy when the student first Understands, then Believes and finally Acts accordingly of what the Teacher has taught him.(forgive me if i missed out something).
I think of that very often.
Well, sir, I haven't been in touch with my Teachers at our KITS college,during the past year when i graduated. i take the whole blame on myself for not doing so. Each and every thing I learnt and experienced during my B.Tech, I shall cherish all my life.

At the beginning of this new year, let me make a resolution that I shall not just keep my memories of the beautiful past and my own experiences with the world as I see it to myself....
I shall share them with my Teachers and fellow-students of my college.

Kindly convey my Warmest Wishes to all my Teachers.
(Please forgive, although I would like to personally meet everyone, the time doesn't permit so).

Thank You and Regards,
Siddartha P.
(Roll No 99301, BTech Mech Engg 1999-2003, KITS Wgl).

Lost Letters - II

2009-08-10T20:30:00.001-07:00

To: Education@Walden.Org, 09 July, 2004.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am an ardent admirer of Thoreau and am an avid reader of his influential essays. I cannot tell in words the kind of motivation I derive from studying Thoreau. I have a few collections of Thoreau's essays, including Walden, Civil Disobedience and Life Without Principle.
I seem to have natural ideas similar to what Thoreau seemed to elucidate in his writings. I am to admit that he is the most influential factor in my life.
I would like to do a comprehensive study on life, thoughts, philosophy and literary contributions by Thoreau.
So, I write to you to know of any way of getting this done. I know of the fact that to undestand Thoreau, the best way is to read his own works.
I am reading Thoreau, but I consider that I have only limited access to his profound collection of thoughts.
Kindly advice me, how to begin a comprehensive study of Thoreau as a philosopher rather than a naturalist. My primary interest in Thoreau is of his philosophical musings.

Thanking You In Anticipation,
Pamulaparty Siddartha
Warangal-506002
A.P., India.
Email:Siddhu_pamu@yahoo.com

Lost Letters - I

2009-08-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

Dear XXXXXXXX,
Without knowing what's in your mind, I am attempting to communicate to you my feelings, suddenly without having to take into consideration what you might feel.
I must admit that I do not know how to act. I consider myself the biggest fool on earth.
So, I have like others, different states of mind at different points of time. I feel that my status of mind wobbles a lot, more often than what could keep me sane. That is why, I always doubt my sanity.
Don't go into details or jump to conclusions without thinking for yourself.
I know I sound stupid. But I am stupid.
Now, my state of mind is close to being crazy. I have made some terrible mistakes and regret about them. Deeply regret them. So, as Thoreau said: "to deeply regret is to live afresh'. so i am trying to live afresh.
I have many friends but still I am a man of solitude. I love solitude. Of late, for the sake of my love of solitude, I have been hiding too many of my thoughts inside my head, which got into my subconscious.
Now that I am a little retrospective, that subconscious thoughts are troubling me a lot.
So, I thought for a change, I 'll modify my attitude to feel better.
Our system or atleast that system which I know, has taught us to dream but forget. Dream only to that extent in which you have no part to play. Reality is very different, they say.
But many times, there were many sources of inspiration which told that you have to follow your dreams and that is the way to fulfill your destiny. It is, here, apt to refer to "The Alchemist" by Paulo Cohelo, which you ought to read. Yes, it is an important book for everyone to read. In case you can't find the book, I will for the time being give you the sentence which forms the basic theme of the book: "When you desire something, all of the Universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." This, I find close to what I think is the only law on which the Universe and all its constituents operate, indefinitely.
Also Thoreau said: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live what you have imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the Universe become simpler". I believe in all that Thoreau had said. Is'nt it after all what we want: simplification?
Many people think they know what they are supposed to seek in life. I wonder.
I used to believe, everything will turn up the way it should and gave no importance to the efforts I personally exercised. I am disappointed as many learned people still say that you are not going to change the world.
I also had believed in some point of time in the past that my destiny is predecided and I am just going to blindly play the game.
Most part of my life, almost always, maybe even now, I thought and with a slight doubt believed that I am special. I am not like others. May be every next person feels the same. So eventually, I end up being a normal ordinary usual person.
So, even if I think I am unique, psychologically I end up being the same other person.
I have read many books, and I had many theories going on in my mind. I accepted all that I thought was wise in each of them. You realize or not, every thing and every being is associated with some kind of philosophy or the other.
I, at many times thought, I was about to discover some fundamental, basic fact, which was so obvious as to be neglected. I thought I am just about to find the most intimate secretly kept Truth about the Universe. But I always stopped at some point and never carried the same thought again.
I still, however, think that my core purpose in life is to discover that Truth. Am sure I will discover it. Not only me, you and all others will discover it. The difference among all, however, will be, whether you accept and love it or fear and avoid it.

I will choose to accept it. and that too, in all good humour.

Good bye forever.
Siddartha.

(Written: September 09, 2004, Never Delivered!)

Peace of Mind

2009-08-09T17:43:00.000-07:00

A little something I wrote about 6 years back on a little piece of paper, which I stumbled upon searching for something else:

Once upon a time, there was a young boy called Sreekumar. Sreekumar got a doubt one day that the reason for his happiness might be lack of "Peace of Mind". So, he went to the market place and asked the shop-keepers for a little "Peace of Mind". But the shop-keepers sadly said "We are already out of stock and we have no suppliers now!". Not willing to let it go, he went to his teacher and asked for the same. The teacher felt really sorry for the boy and tried to console him. But, even the teacher failed to give him what he wanted.

Then, Sreekumar asked his parents, friends, neighbors, but in vain. He became so restless that he began pestering even the strangers for some Peace of Mind, each one of them said: " I myself, do not have it! How can I give you?"

Sreekumar began to travel to far-away places, impatiently, in search of it. He went to strange cities, fiery forests, dangerous landscapes, crossed many miles, swaw many seas, climbed many mountains: yet no fruitful results.

One day, in a village, he met a fine young woman and was attracted to her. He asked her if she knew where he could find the Peace of Mind. The young lady teasingly said she knew it, but wouldn't tell him. He began begging her and arguing with her. Finally she said, Peace of Mind is not a thing to "ask for", but to "Give to others", annoyed with him. She also said asked him to leave her alone, and go meditate in solitude, perhaps in contemplation he may stumble upon it.

Taking the advice, he went on to river-side, and sat beneath a tree, still anxious of the thing he was in search for. He felt tired and began feeling sleepy. He slowly fell asleep. In his dreams, he heard the voice of the young lady again: "You are losing all that you have gained so far, by worrying about lacking peace of mind. Stay calm, and feel the freedom, be happy, do not worry, then you will realize that there is eternal peace in your own head." Sreekumar then realized that he was the only one who could answer his own quest. He never asked about peace of mind again after that day.

He said to himself often:
"It is not the actual "Suffering" which is the cause of unhappiness; it is the "willingness to suffer" that causes unhappiness. The laws of nature and the Universe are so simple and straight: they say "you want it, you got it!".
"Anything that CAUSES FEAR is not worth CARING for; Anything that DEMANDS CARE is not worth LOVING; Anything that EXPECTS LOVE, is not worth LIVING for.
"One who realizes this and lives accordingly is the Ideal Happy Man. Ideal does not mean that never is possible, it only means that Rarely is seen."

For a person to attain PEACE OF MIND, the only possible way is to DECIDE TO BE HAPPY . That essentially means, STOP WILLING TO SUFFER.

Wisdom of Thoreau again....

2009-07-25T10:34:00.000-07:00

I read an essay "Slavery in Massachusetts", which was in fact an address Thoreau delivered at the Anti-Slavery Convention at Framingham, MA, on July 4, 1854. It was also printed in the LIBERATOR for July 21, 1854.

This is another example of the great man Thoreau, who during the times human slaves in America was not against the law, yet, had advocated on the true spirit of humankind on liberty and freedom.

Here a few wise quotes and remarks from this address I wanted to record here in my blog, most of which are still very relevant today, here in America, so also in India and wherever there is injustice in one form or the other towards any individual :

1. Nowadays, men wear a fool's-cap, and call it a liberty-cap.

2. I wish my countrymen to consider, that whatever the human law may be, neither an individual nor a nation can ever commit the least act of injustice against the obscurest individual without having to pay the penalty for it. A government which deliberately enacts injustice, and persists in it, will at length even become the laughing-stock of the world.

3. I would much rather trust to the sentiment of the people. In their vote you would get something of value, at least, however small; but in the other case*, only the trammeled judgement of an individual, of no significance, be it which way it might.

[* This is in the context of a case where a Judge (I guess jury system was not formed by that time, which needs to be cross-checked), on deciding a charge on an individual case on Slavery].

4. The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free. They are the lovers of law and order who observe the law when the government breaks it.

5. I am more and more convinced that, with reference to any public question, it is more important to know what the country* thinks of it than what the city thinks. The city does not think much.

[Country, here, as in villages. This is yet another example, how Thoreau influenced Gandhi, to quote the Gram Swarajya. In that way, Thoreau had influenced to my own country, India, to be free today to some extent.]

6. Let us, the inhabitants of the country, cultivate self-respect. Let us not send to the city for aught more essential than our broadcloths and groceries; or, if we read the opinions of the city, let us entertain opinions of our own.

7. The editor is a preacher whom you voluntarily support. *
[* This comes in the context when Thoreau criticizes the large-scale print media, almost every criticism holds very good to the present day media].

8. No matter how valuable law may be to protect your property, even to keep soul and body together, if it do not keep you and humanity together.

9. Will mankind never learn that policy is not morality; - that it never secures any moral right, but considers merely what is expedient?

10. What is wanted is men, not of policy, but of probity, - who recognize a higher law than the Constitution, or the decision of the majority.

11. The fate of the country does not depend on how you vote at the polls, - the worst man is as strong as the best at that game; it does not depend on what kind of paper you drop into the ballot-box once a year, but on what kind of man you drop from your chamber to the street every morning.

12. Justice is sweet and musical; but injustice is harsh and discordant. The judge still sits grinding at his organ, but it yields no music, and we hear only the sound of the handle. He believes that all the music resides in the handle, and the crowd toss him their coppers the same as before.

13. Art is as long as ever, but life is more interrupted and less available for a man's proper pursuits.

With the last quote on Art vs Life, I end this post here.

The bully state MA

2009-03-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

I was always in awe of the state MA, right from my college days. The MIT, Harvard, Boston, the Spirit of America...huh! The Sun rises right here in the US!

Indeed, it is great! And so are the expenses here! Last time in Chicago, I was not so inclined in the "savings" thing. But, in the end, I could save okay. This time I came with an aim to save, but alas, I have already spent and going to spending much more.
First thing, I got an apartment to rent on my name. Luckily my credit score must have been good, I got a better deal. Eventually I would be spending over a thousand bucks for the rent. That is, if I stay all alone.

And then, it was time to get a car, as I needed it desperately. You call it whatever, but I ended up paying for a used car more than I ever thought I would spend. It cost me over eight grand. I hope to get back a significant amount when I sell it back though, which I can't and don't want to imagine right now.

And the thing that caused me a major disappointment is the auto-insurance. Man! It is difficult for people like me to even drive a car here! I heard that there is annual tax for the car, and even the Gas!! Wow!!

So far, in the 3 weeks, it gave me startling surprises on the amount of money I spent already.

Hope things will get better and there would not be any further surprises.

Note: This post is written after going thru a lot of strainful thoughts in the past few days. May be I will experience better things and write some inspiring stuff in my next posts.

First Few Days...

2009-03-02T06:19:00.000-08:00

Finally, today, I got the kind of time I wanted to seriously spend on writing a post here. In the past few weeks, life made a U-turn. I deliberately traveled back to India to do some things in my mind and even before I was half-way thru, I was compelled to travel back to the States in mid-February. And leaving from the airport, with all my cousins, aunts, and parents seeing-me off, it was a crazy feeling. I was feeling like shit, why the hell do I have to agree to go to the US? Momentarily it may appear to be a valid thought, that I could have made a choice, by being blatantly adamant about staying back in the home land. However, looking at the circumstances, perhaps I did not have much choice and that this was for good.

And when I started speaking to friends once I landed here, every one asked me just one question: "How did you come to US, while everyone is heading back to India?" Obviously because of the recession and its effect on the employment. Well, then, I believe the reason I am here is also because of the economic recession and one of its different consequences: the cost-cutting achieved on out-sourcing.

My first weekend here, I went to the Circuit City, the experience was horrifying. This I already wrote in my previous post, because I could not resist not writing it.

Anyways, 2 weeks later we moved from a town called Randolph to another, Norwood. The apartment is a single-bed, and currently there are 4 of us for a few weeks. Later on, I am expecting 3 will leave and an another colleague will join in. So that'll equal the equation.

By the way, I forgot to mention, I started to hate the Boston area, as my old US home in Chicago area was much more decent. I mean the town, the roads, the facilities and the ease of living. Here, I am scared about one thing: "Parallel Parking", which I have never done before, and never had a reason to do while in the Illinois town of Schaumburg. And the interstate traffic, as I was told by some locals, sucks during the rush-hour.

One good thing though is that the apartment I stay in, has its own T-station. If I catch a train, right at my home, I will reach Boston South Station in 40 mins. And, as I was told, if I catch a bus to New York from South Station, will be in the Big Apple in 4 hours. Isn't that pseud?

Well now, I got a place to stay, got a phone in the first 2 weeks, that leaves me with buying a car as the only thing left to be able to lead the regular American living, rather, an Indian (east) living tailored to American system!! :-)

Work place is around 10 miles and I still need to get used to the route. I figured, the only way I will remember is once I start driving again.

Hope there would be more leisure time this time around to contemplate and suffer, and then turn into a post here in my good ole blogspace.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

02-Mar-2009

Recession It Is

2009-02-18T16:59:00.000-08:00

All the time back in India when I was reading news about US companies laying-off employees, some filing bankruptcy, government bailing-out some, I was sad, but it was not so disheartening. Looking at things from a distance, you just feel sorry and then get on with it.

The first day here in US, I happened to go the Circuit City. The store had a "Store Closing Sale" board hanging outside. When I went it, I suddenly felt sick, my heart went so low, literally this was a shock!! I felt really pathetic about it!

I intend to write again when I find time, how life seems to be changing in the US, and how sad I really felt about things I have seen or heard so far.

Untitled Poem

2009-01-28T09:28:00.000-08:00

Fresh breeze of autumn fills my lungs today:

As if I woke up in yonder woods,

As if my dream was now so true,

As if I realized my solemn wish,

It felt like I could spread my wings

And fly away, freely, liberated!!

Life seemed not so burdensome

Looking at the year gone by;

All those moments that have been spent

Seemed to come back in my memories again!!

Everything around me glowed in bright spirits,

Good times have made their way from eternal oblivion;

But then, will it last? The pessimist in me woke up again!

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Oct 21, 2008.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter Two: Notes

2009-01-25T22:50:00.000-08:00

The Bhagawan begins His discourse in II:2.
II:6 Arjuna in a fix between what's right and what's wrong. He is a cloud, suspended between the sky and the sea.
II:7 Arjuna does the best; Surrenders himself to Bhagawan.
The Great Lecture starts in II:11. II:12 is a great sloka:

na tv evaham jatu nasam
na tvam neme janadhipah
na caiva na bhavisyamah
sarve vayam atah param

First mention of the 'soul' in II:13.

dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
Important Note: The soul is mentioned as 'that', not called as 'aatma' so far.

II:14, some important concepts: Sense Perception ( माथ्रास्पर्शाह ) , Tolerance (तितिक्शः )
II:15 speaks about 'Eligibility for Liberation' (अमृतत्वाय)
II: 16 Word to Word Meaning: Never of the non-existent there is endurance; Nchanging quality there is of the eternal; Of the two, verily observed conclusion in deed of them, of the truth, by the seers.

nasato vidyate bhavo

nabhavo vidyate satah

ubhayor api drsto 'ntas

tv anayos tattva-darsibhih

II:17 to II:39, Bhagawan defines the 'soul' and describes its characteristics briefly.
He speaks about 'duty' and its importance. The soul is indirectly mentioned as एवं , अयं etc which means 'this''. II:38 says: "Fight for the sake of fighting, without considering happiness or distress; loss or gain; victory or defeat; and by so doing you shall never incur sin".
II:13 to II:39 also has explanation by 'Analytical' study, i.e. सांख्ये (saankhye), which literally means 'that which describes things in detail'.
Definition of Yoga after II:39: Yoga means working without fruitire results; it means freedom from bondage of work!
II:41 defines the word व्यवसायात्मिका , the 'resolute faith that will elevate one to the highest perfection of life'. In simple words, fixed in determination.
Another word that means 'determined' is from II: 37 कृता
In II:42, Bhagawan mentions the Vedas. The context is a little sarcastic about the bling followers of rituals with wrong goals.
In II:44, He mentions the samaadhi (समाधि) , which means "fixed mind" i।e। fixed on understanding the self।
II:45 mentions about 3 modes (guna's) : "sattva", "rajas" and "tamas". But above these three is nithyasattvasthaha (नित्यसत्त्वस्तः) meaning "a pure state of spiritual existence".
II:46 gives an analogy: of Vedas as Wells, and Gita as the Great Reservoir of Water. It says about "knowing the purpose behind the Vedas".
II:47, my favorite and one of the most popular slokas: " karmanyevaadhikaarasthe ...". It speaks about "rights" ( अधिकारस्ते) and "cause" ( हेतुः) and "attachment" (संगः)
II:48 defines the state of mind in Yoga as "being equipoised in success and failure and becoming equanimous"
II:49 defines Conscious Surrender (बुद्धौ शरणम)
II: 52 mentions Delusion (मोह)
II:54 Arjuna's question, one of the ideal questions. Some important words here are स्थितप्रज्ञः (fixed consciousness) , समाधिस्थस्य (of the one situated in trance) and स्थितधी: (one fixed in consciousness of Bhagawan)
II:55, Bhagawan defines the state of pure, transcendental consciousness (i.e. स्थितप्रज्ञः ) . (It becomes clear that "mind" is to be used to realize this state. Purification of the mind is required, however).
II:56 defines how a Muni (मुनि) must be: (i) No agitation (विग्न) during दुखः (ii) No interest (स्पृहः) during सुखः (iii) free from attachment (राग) , fear (भय) and anger (क्रोध) (iv) steady mind ( स्थितधी:)
II:57 and II:58 defines the word Prajnaa प्रज्ञा which means Perfect Knowledge.
II:60 warns about the dangerous senses. (This could be the reason why I am not able to feel what I ought to, in my spiritual endeavors).
II:61 Offers what is ideal i.e., control and restrain the senses.
II:62 Beautiful Verse:

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंस: संगस्तेषुपजायते ।
संगात्संजायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ॥

Meaning:

"While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them,

and from such attachment lust (desire) develops and from desire arises anger."

II: 63 Continued from the earlier verse:

क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोह: सम्मोहात्स्मृतिभ्रमः।
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ॥

Meaning:

"From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderement of memory.

When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost and when intelligence is lost one falls

down again into the material pool."

Siddartha Pamulaparty

(Based on notes made in 2003/2004)

Oscar Wilde - A Tribute

2009-01-25T10:06:00.000-08:00

"Oscar Wilde once told Andre Gide that he had put his genius into his life, and only his talent into his art. " - So goes the first line in the Introduction in the book "The Works of Oscar Wilde" published in The Wordsworth Poetry Library Series, published in 1994 by Wordsworth Editions Ltd., Hertfordshire, England, printed in Denmark by Norhaven.

I bought the book in New Delhi on 07th June, 2004. Long back, I think about 15 years ago atleast, I accidentally came across a book titled "The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde" at my grandfather's bunglaw room in Warangal. I read the La Belle Donna Della Mia Mente in the book, and I could now, looking back all these years, say without doubt, that this was what influenced me and brought me into the world of English Poetry. Later on, I came across the book once again in 2000 in my college library. Every line in this poem is my favorite and amazes me everytime I read it. For example, here are a few lines that show the "genius" of Wilde, although he would not admit it, and say it is merely his talent from the poem La Belle Donna Della Mia Mente:

1) My limbs are wasted with a flame,
My feet are sore with traveling,
For, calling on my Lady's name,
My lips have now forgot to sing.
2) She is too fair for any man....
...Fairer than Queen or courtesan
Or moonlit water in the night.
3) Her little lips, more made to kiss
Than to cry bitterly for pain,
Are tremulous as brook-water is,
Or roses after evening rain.
4) O twining hands! O delicate
White body made for love and pain
O House of Love! O desolate
Pale flower beaten by the rain.

Perhaps it is just talent for the witty Irishman, but for mortals like me, this is genius.
This poem will always remain my most favorite.

However, there are more that I came across later and I would like to put a few of them here in this post.

a) Thou knowest all; I cannot see.
I trust I shall not live in vain,
I know that we shall meet again
In some divine eternity. -- -- (The True Knowledge)

b) ... Yet, though my lips shall praise her without cease
Even to kiss her feet I am not bold,...... -- -- (Madonna Miad)

And then there is this master piece, "The Ballad of Reading Gaol", where we see a new, much more matured poet in Wilde. Here are some very very very inspiring lines from the poem:

1) "...And though I was a soul in pain,
My pain I could not feel"
2) "...The man had killed the thing he loved,
And so he had to die."
3) "...Who watch him lest himself should rob
The prison of its prey."
4) "...He only looked upon the sun,
And drank the morning air."
5) "The loftiest place is that seat of grace
For which all worldlings try;.."
6) It is sweet to dance to violins
When Love and Life are fair:
To dance to flutes, to dance to lutes
Is delicate and rare:
But it is not sweet with nimble feet
To dance upon the air.

Ultimately he says in this Ballad:

And all men kill the thing they love,
By all let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword!

Inspired by Wilde, I might have written many lines in my own stupid poems so far.
However here are a few I would like to capture, for my own reference, as I wrote in the blank pages of the Wilde book:

* As the wild flower gets wilted in the fangs of time,
So is the lover punished and love is called a crime.

* Dream, you are with me right now
As I lie down weared in my bed.

Just a snapshot, a tribute to the one who gave me a life in the world of poetry, although it is an ant's life.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty
Dt: 25-Jan-2009.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter One: Notes

2009-01-24T03:18:00.000-08:00

Below are some of my notes I found recently, which I wrote down some years back, attempting to study the Geeta.

Here are the notes for Chapter One:

Observation of the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

Kurukshetra is described as a piligrimage. They call it the Dharmakshetra, the place where the Dharma will prevail.
Diplomacy of Duryodhana has been lauded.
First sloka to name the Bhagawan Krishna is 14th. (I:14). The name used here is "Madhava".
Mention of Hanuman in I:20. Importance of Hanuman is signified rightly, i.e., Hanuman is a symbol of victory, as Rama was served by him during the crisis in Ramayana (as told by Valmiki).
Arjuna's Plight explained in I:29 and I:30
Arjuna's doubt about the 'purpose of war', is similar to my doubt about the 'purpose of my life', which seems like a war, a battle every day. (I:33, 34, 35)
I:36 speaks about Fear of acquiring 'sin'. Very appropriate to everyone now.
I:37 shows Ignorance. Question "Why?"
From I:38 to I:42 explains why certain traditions are important.
I:45 is about 'Giving up' and the associated blues.
A brief summary: The total names of the Bhagawan Krishna are 8. They are: (i) Madhava (ii) Hrishikesha (iii) Achyutha (iv) Krishna (v) Keshava (vi) Govinda (vii) Madhusudhana and (viii) Janardhana.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

(Sometime in 2003/2004)

A Disappointing Trip - Chennai

2009-01-15T06:24:00.000-08:00

Unlike the last time when I went for my H1-B stamping, this time around, going for H1-X stamping was via a train journey. I was glad that it was not in a plane, where even though the time it takes is much much less, the trouble in commuting to and from the airports, sitting with legs twisted in the economy class of the planes, I reckon I could avoid in a train journey, happily sleeping in the night while on the move. The other advantage was not to spend a forlorn night in a hotel, which I always hated. Satisfied with this and also the fact that a lot of cost to the company could be saved, I embarked on this trip.

Catching the Chennai Express on the 06th January, I was looking forward to a special sojourn in Chennai the next day, once I complete the formal interview at the US Consulate. Earlier in the day, I heard from a senior colleague about a Lord Jagannath temple in the outskirts of Chennai, which was a miniature model of the original temple in Orissa's Puri. I resolved that I will at any cost visit this shrine and since it was an auspicious day, the Vaikunta Ekadasi, a darshan of the Lord of the Universe would be an ideal way to spend my time in Chennai. Presently, on board the train, I gave a call to Madras Cabs to arrange for a personal cab on an hourly basis for me. It was set and done. I then immersed myself into the book "Hotel" by Arthur Hailey, which I have been reading for almost a fortnight now. Mine was a side-lower berth in the two-tier AC compartment. As time flew by, an elderly lady from the adjacent seat requested me if I could swap her Upper Berth with my lower berth. Owing to the fact that she could not climb up, I readily agreed to her request. Soon I set my stuff up on the berth and started for an early nap, as I was totally tired and my eyes were burning.

It was around 06:10 am when the train finally entered the platform 5 of the Chennai Central station. I was kind of glad to look at the familiar station after a pretty long time- almost 4 years now. I quickly rushed past the crowd and took a left turn and bought a cigarette at a road-side vendor and lit it. The sky was overcast with clouds and it seemed it would rain. I was not sure if it's going to be good or bad, if it rains, I mean. After a couple of puffs of the Goldflake Kings', I thought I could not use it anymore and then moved on walking towards North on the street in search of the hotel Bhima's Inn, suggested by my father. I found it on the right side of the street after passing a half-a-dozen blocks. The reception clerk suggested there was only AC rooms and charge was around 450 INR. I took the room and ordered a cup of tea.

By the time I completed my bathing, did my morning Sandhya Vandanam and was ready, it was around 8:00 AM. There was still time for the cab to come and pick me up. I cross-checked my Green BEP file and all the documents were in order. I tried to switch on the Television, but nothing was on the screen, except a blue background. I quit. Just went on thinking about the trip later this afternoon to Kannathur, on the East Coast Road. I prayed to Sri Vishnu, to see that things went in order so that I could make the trip possible. I received by SMS the cab number and the driver's name and phone number details from Madras Cabs at around 08:30 AM. I was thinking, if I should leave my bag in the hotel, come back after the interview and thence start to the temple or rather check-out and leave the bag with Saravanan- the driver, in the cab. By around 09:00 AM, I decided on the latter. I gave a call to Saravanan and informed him to pick me up at Bhima's Inn instead of the Chennai Central. He said he would reach here by 10:00 AM.

By 09:30 AM I packed up and checked-out of the hotel. I waited in the lobby till it was 10 o'clock and gave a call to Saravanan. He said he could not find the hotel. I suggested he wait in the Central parking lot and started walking briskly, fearing it would ruin my dress-up for the interview, if it rained. Luckily it didn't and I found Saravanan, ready with his Indica in the parking lot. Boarding up the rear seat, I asked if he understood any Telugu or how good his English is. He said, he understood a little bit of English, but no Telugu. I had to manage in a mix of English and bits and pieces of Tamil that I managed to remember.
I explained to him in this mixed language, about the plan: first drop me at the consulate, my appointment time being 11:30 AM, I said I should be out by 12:30 or worst case by 01:00 PM. I suggested him to have lunch while I was in.

Saravanan then cruised the Indica across the parking lot, taking it out in the slow-moving traffic from the railway station and then along the main road. I realised they have blocked the space between the road dividers just opposite to the station, near the Medical College, and he hence he drove further East-ward and finally managed to take a U-turn. The familiar roads were nice to watch, as he crossed past the bridge opposite the Central, and there it was finally, the Thousand Lights. He said he would park the car in the lane adjacent to the Oxford Press and I went on to join the ever-long queue at the consulate building. I realized it was just about 10:40 AM when I enquired the time from a Wipro employee from Cochin here with a similar BEP file as mine. In the due course of time, finally it was the time to enter into the building.

Once inside the first building, had to wait for what seemed to be an hour to get my files and documents verified. The gentleman at the counter threw out all the degree certificates original petition papers and stapled the application forms and arranged them in the green file signalling that the other documents would not be needed. He took all my fingers' impressions on the electronic machine and suggested I proceed to the inner building for the interview. I moved straight to the inner chambers, as it was very familiar by now, this being my third trip into the consulate.

I was asked to go straight ahead and join a small queue where the interviews were being done. I was glad it was not at all like the last time, when there were a lot of people in the same area where now, almost only 10% of people stood. While standing in the queue, I looked at the TV screen which was showing the CNN-IBN channel. The breaking news, as the channel dubbed it, was "Satyam--India's Enron". Curious I followed to read the marquee in the news below and got the story. I thought this was worse than what anyone expected. I, for myself, thought earlier that the Satyam stuff would be over by the end of a couple of quarters. This was too early and too damned shocking in the way that it happened. Before I could totally digest it, it was my time for the interview. This time around it was a lady officer, who appeared very friendly and noble. First thing she asked me how things were at my company, I just said, things were great, and added a "so far" after a pause. Both of us smiled after a moment later to this response. She asked some very simple questions for the formal process' sake and said everything was set and I could proceed. Thanking her, I left the consulate in search of Saravanan.

Saravanan was asleep in the car when I found him about a couple of hundred metres walk from the main road into the lane. I gently woke him up and got to know that he did not go for lunch. I suggested he have it, since we were going to be pretty late when we end up the day's trip, with he finally dropping me at Chennai Central. He said he'll have it somewhere on the ECR. I excused myself for a moment and lit up one more cigarette and like earlier in the day did not feel like finishing it off. And I thought it was time to the trip I was looking forward to. I gave him instructions on the destination and he once again cruised the car into the traffic desert.

It was around 01:30 PM when we reached the Lord Jagannath Temple at Kannathur. To reach here, you need to take a left turn, almost immediately after crossing the ECR Toll Gate. It could be roughly around a half kilometre. The watchman, who also spoke only Tamil gladly welcomed and with a sorry note on his face, somehow communicated that the temple was closed and would open at 03:00 PM again. All the fervour with which I came all the way drained out. I thought I would wait till the temple opened in the afternoon and asked Saravanan to go ahead for his lunch. I was anyways fasting today.

I then washed my feet and strolled around the sanctum sanctorum, after seeking permission from the watchman. It was a very pleasant temple and everything looked excellent. After spending a few moments here, I asked the watchman the way to the beach. I was told that in this area, the Sea Water was sweet, just in the area that was close to this temple. I asked the watchman about this and he did not seem to acknowledge it. Anyways, I walked through the sand towards the beach and as I did, the sound of the ocean water hitting the sand, the hissing sound when the tide swept back, the melodies when tide upon tide rushed through the Bay into the land grew louder and louder.

I could see a lot of fishermen's boats, their motors dismantled from them and kept aside from a distance. As I came nearer, there was a flock of crows that were pecking a dead fish which probably landed on the shore, thrown by the water. I walked across the beach a little further and went into the water. The tides were mild and seemed to grow nastier as time went by. I thought it might not be a good idea to taste the water to check if it was sweet, as it looked mighty dirty. After a few moments of encounter with the great water body, I returned back to the sand and sat over a fisherman's boat. It was a very pleasant afternoon indeed, the sky overcast, the water with a lot of mystic sounds and the cool breezes swirling around. Seemed perfect. I was for a moment wondering if Vishnu could show up from the water in his earliest of the avatars as the Matsya and bless me on this auspicious day. However, in vain, I started back toward the temple. By the time I reached Saravanan was back. The watchman said the temple would not open till 04:00 PM. I then thought probably the Bhagawan did not want to see me, after all. May be He thought I was not deserving for His divine darshanam yet, and probably He is signaling that I am not yet prepared to seek what I always wanted from Him...liberation.

In utter disappointment, yet with a hope to come back some other time, I started back with Saravanan driving me back to the Central. It was around 4:00 PM when I was inside the station. After surveying here and there for a little bit, I came towards my favorite shop, the Ramakrishna Math store and bought the CD of Bhakta Ramadasu Keetanas sung by Dr. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna and another CD of the original speeches of Swamy Vivekananda at the Chicago event in 1969. I then bought a couple of sweet boxes from Anand Bhavan store and again got immersed into the novel "Hotel". Soon it was time for the Charminar Express to start and there I was back on my seat, getting on the berth for an early sleep again.

Overall, despite the Visa thing, the trip left me disappointed, looking at how unfortunate I really am, unable to have the darshanam of Jagannatha and that too on the auspicious day of Vaikunta Ekadasi!! What a waste this life of mine is, in deed!!

Longing

2009-01-15T06:21:00.000-08:00

Early in the morning,
When a new day is born,
I wake up in your memories
I feel you in my heart….

And that’s when it starts aching:
I’ve been longing
For belonging
To you and I keep
Singing this Song…

I spend the day at work
As if lost in day-dreaming
I got a lot of friends there
Who tease me that I’m crazy…..

And that’s when it all makes sense:
I’ve been longing
For belonging
To you and I keep
Singing this Song…

It soon grows dark in the sky,
Dawn it is, time to get some sleep,
But I lay awake- deep in your thoughts
When I close my eyes, it’s you in my dreams again….

And that’s how it goes each day of my life:
I’ve been longing
For belonging
To you and I keep
Singing this Song…

- Siddartha Pamulaparty
(Dt: Jan 13, 2008)

Gems of Tyagaraja- 1

2008-12-24T19:44:00.000-08:00

Saint Tyagaraja is very well known to all Carnatic Music Lovers.Telugu enthusiasts especially and to some extent some of Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada folks are acquinted with the beautiful Telugu compositions of this prodigal music composer of the 17th Century.
And when it is rendered by Smt M S Subbalakshmi, there is an extra bit of magic associated with the songs.

I bought a 3-CD set of MS amma rendered Tyagaraja compositions called the "Gems of Tyagaraja".I have bought the entire set for one song, "Nagumomu Kanaleni", a divine composition in the Abheri raga. It is astounding and I kept playing the song in my car from office to home and back, which was about 5 mins in duration.
Recently I started listening to others as well, since back in India, travel time increased manifold (from 5 mins in US to about 90 mins here!!).
I discovered some even more amazingly divine songs, two of which are:
1) Ninnu Vina Naa Madendu (in Navarasa Kanada raga) and
2) Venu Gana Loluni Kana Veyyi Kanulu Kaavalene ( in Kedara Gowla raga).
I just get mesmerized whenever I listen to these and feel like getting transported to Vaikuntha through this medium.Hats off to MS amma and many many salutes to the one and only Tyagaraja.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dec, 2008.

Bheeshma Sthuthi

2008-12-24T19:38:00.000-08:00

సీ. కుప్పించి యెగసిన కుండలంబుల కాంతి, గగన భాగం బెల్లఁ గప్పికొనఁగ
నుఱికిన నోర్వక యుదరంబులో నున్న, జగముల వ్రేఁగున జగతి గదలఁ
జక్రంబుఁ జేపట్టి చనుదెంచు రయమునఁ , బై నున్న పచ్చని పటము జాఱ
నమ్మితి నా లావు నగుబాటు సేయక, మన్నింపుమని కిరీటి మఱలఁ దిగువఁ

తే.గీ.గరికి లంఘించు సింహంబు కరణి మెఱసి, నేఁడు భీష్మునిఁ జంపుదు నిన్నుఁ గాఁతు
విడువు మర్జున ! యంచు మద్విశిఖ వృష్టిఁ , దెరలి చనుదెంచు దేవుండు దిక్కు నాకు. (2-221)

The above is a part of the Bhagavatam written by Bammera Pothana in Telugu. This has become a favorite of mine since the time I first heard it, from a 1962 Telugu Movie called "Bheeshma", sung by Ghantasala.Context: This comes with a backdrop of On-Going war between Kauravas and Pandavas in Mahabharatha. While Bheeshma is compelled to take sides with Kauravas, the Bhagawan (Krishna) supports Pandavas. And since His might could not be compared with anyone in the battlefield, Krishna promises to only participate as the charioteer for Arjuna, and by Himself would not touch a weapon! However, Bheeshma starts pouring arrows from his bow on Arjuna's chariot and Arjuna could not handle it. And when the Bhagawan can take it no longer of this domination on Bheeshma, He resorts to bring up His Sudarshana and decides to slay Bheeshma with His own hands. Looking at this, Arjuna tries to stop Krishna, but Bheeshma prays to the Bhagawan to kill Him, so that he could be blessed with moksha.Meaning:With the crouching followed by the giant leap(of Bhagawan), the sky filled with the radiance of His armour; As the Bhagawan came running down, the entire cosmos and the world within His belly got shaken! When the Bhagawan held the Sudarshana (the chakra, His weapon), and deluged onward, the green loin across His shoulders slipped down! While all this happened, Arjuna followed the Bhagawan and pleaded Krishna, 'Pray, Do not insult my valour!!'.The Bhagawan then roared like a lion and shouted "Arjuna! Leave me! I am going to kill Bheeshma today and save you!", irritated by the continous rain of my (Bheeshma's) arrows! Indeed, He is my only saviour now!!Of course, I have no where justified the great description in the Telugu by one of the greatest scholars of India, Pothana, on his use of alankaras and figure of speech and poetic exuberance. This is just a post for my own self, as this poem remains my favorite forever!

Gandhi-The Philosophical Anarchist:

2008-11-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

On my last post, regarding the lecture on Marx, Gandhi and Social Transformation by Prof. J.V.R. Rao, a friend had asked to deliberate on the point observed on Gandhi being a "philosophical anarchist". Although the Professor did go about explaining related to this, I thought I would rather do my own research and present in this post my learnings on this topic.
To begin with, let us look at some back-ground of the concept of "Philosophical Anarchy". Let's try to understand what exactly anarchy stands for: most of us have the opinion that "anarchy" is a state of lawlessness, absence of government and political disorder. It is quite true and generally accepted. However, the political movement of "anarchism" does not see this as a pejorative term. According to the Oxford dictionary (as per the Wikipedia), there is yet another definition of anarchy: "A theoretical social state in which there is no governing person or body of persons, but each individual has absolute liberty (without the implication of disorder)".
Now having seen the two perspectives, one which propagates the idea of "disorder" and the other on "individual liberty", we'll go straight to the rise of "anarchism" as a political movement, skipping other details.
Again according to my notes from Wiki, the rise of anarchism as a political movement occured in the mid-19th century. The ideology was based on the conception of a possibility of "FREEDOM" based on political and economic "self-rule". It may be of interest to note that at the same time this began to rise, there was also a rise of the concept of "nation-state" and the subsequent large scale industrial capitalism and corresponding "corruption". Perhaps ideological and perceptional differences between these two extremes could have fueled the movement on a grand scale.
I think it's a worthwhile exercise to give this article in Wiki a good read, for further research as well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchy#Anarchism
Coming back to the Philosophical Anarchism, again, based on the information available in the Wikipedia, here are some salient points:
* The "State" lacks moral legitimacy, according to this school of thought. * It does not advocate "revolution" to eliminate the State * Those who believe in these ideas, strongly believe that there is no obligation or duty to obey the state i.e. the State has not RIGHT to command.
Philosophical Anarchism is a component of Individualist Anarchism. Some of prominent people who were philosophical anarchists were: William Godwin (the founder of this system), Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (the first ever person to call himself an "anarchist" ), Benjamin Tucker (who actually coined the term "philosophical anarchism"). And of course, Henry David Thoreau also one of the foremost to practice this ideology.
In the essay "Civil Disobedience", Thoreau shows his clear intentions of being a philosophical anarchist when he goes on to say that " That government is the best which governs the least; Or, that government in the best which does not govern at all". The idea of freedom of the individual is quite evident from his protest not to pay the taxes, for which he had to spend a night in prison. There's another related quote from Thoreau in his Walden, "The only obligation I have a right to assume is to do at any time, what I think is right".
There have been numerous instances noted by several people, including Gandhi himself, that Gandhi was highly influenced by this Yankee from the West, the transcendentalist Thoreau. Perhaps because of his influence, Gandhi was also a philosophical anarchist. According to Mr. Edgar Snow, in his own words: "Like Marx, Gandhi hated the State and wished to eliminate it, and he told me he considered himself a philosophical anarchist". (http://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/snow.htm).

Another important note from the same essay cited above by Mr. Snow is, based on his conversation with the Mahatma, Gandhi said: "Strictly speaking, all amassing or hoarding of wealth above and beyond one's legitimate requirements is theft. There would be no occasion for theft and therefore no thieves, if there were wise regulations of wealth and absolute social justice".

Marx, Gandhi and Social Transformation: Excellent Lecture at KU

2008-10-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

Today, at the Kakatiya University, there was an Endowment Lecture , a tribute to my late grandfather Sri Pamulaparthy Sadasiva Rao garu. The guest presiding over this year (this being the 3rd yr) of the occasion was Prof. J V Raghavendra Rao (Prof of Sociology), Professor Emeritus of Osmania University.

The speech consisted of 3 sections, 1) On Marx as a revolutionary social transformer, 2) On Gandhi as a reformatory social transformer and 3) A critical analysis of today's relevance of Gandhi(ians) and (ism).

Speaking on relevance of Marx's theory in present day, Prof Rao quoted examples of Cuba (where there is no unemployement and illiteracy!!!) and Venezuela (improved employment and reduction in poverty in last 2 years) as s0me examples where there has been remarkable application of the "humanistic" principles of the anti-burgeose (read anti-capitalist).

On Gandhi, while speaking at it, an interesting and a new point was noted by Prof. Rao on the concept of Satyagraha. Besides the basic components like Fast, Hartal (Strike), Non-cooperation, and Civil Disobedience, the Prof emphasized an additional component of "Constructive" programme. While at it, he claimed that Gandhi was the first to start "Indian Universities" in British India and was inspiration to the likes of Malviya and others who started the Benares Hindu University. Henry David Thoreau's influence on Gandhi's thought was quoted by the Professor a couple of times and he expressed the opinion that like Thoreau, Gandhi felt Government should not interfere too much into the people's lives.

On the appraisal of Gandhi's present day stance, Prof Rao, had deliberated a concluding section with more debate like questions, perhaps to leave the audience to keep thinking about. However, he made clear remarks and quite intriguing too, that Gandhi was a philosophical anarchist and Gandhi's conception of the state was incorrect.

On the whole in his concluding remarks, the Professor had profusely and sincerely stated that Gandhi's "means-and-ends" relationship causing moral and spiritual elevation of man and that Gandhi is relevant now more than ever before.

The rhetoric was astounding and the Professor seemed to be very Objective in the analysis of both the immortal figures. The references and examples cited in the speech were extremely well chosen and ranged from historical books to recent newspaper articles, showing how much scientific he was in his approach. It was a total delight to get to hear someone with a charisma like that of the Professor, by being in the front row of the audience.

Here are a few pics of the Prof being felicitated on this occasion:

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: 24/October/2008.

Walk Alone- Lyrics

2008-09-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

I walk alone
In the streets of loneliness;
My mind is empty now,
Except the memories of you, my love!

I wonder if you're happy now,
Without me standing in your way!
Would you rather care,
If we meet across the road one day!!

I don't even know what you call,
That, what happened between us!
Could not have been the same,
Which, would be common among friends!!

I walk alone
In the darkest hour of night;
Thinking of you often,
Seeing a lone star fall from the sky!!

In the days of brighter sunshines,
In the middle of a hot desert,
I die and become born again,
I suffer the pain, and feel the constant hurt!!

On evenings of twisted moonlights
My tortured soul turns so restless!
I sit by the lake and stare at the ripples,
And I smile at my own foolishness!!

I walk alone
In the jungle no one's walked before;
Searching for the most precious thing I lost,
Which I could not hold in my hands!!

Sometimes I thought you were a dream,
Sometimes I fought with my own self!
But I know that you were real
And you let me put my love on a shelf!!

I didn't believe in miracles till now,
Today I feel like I need one so much!
If time could change its course,
So, I again feel your gentle touch!!

I walk alone,
Dreaming in the broad day lights,
Dreaming of you, my Dream,
And waking up in your lovely arms!

I walk alone, I walk alone
In the streets of loneliness!
I walk alone, I walk alone,
In the darkest hour of night!
I walk alone,
I walk alone!!!

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

06-Sep-08

శ్రీ కృష్ణ జన్మాష్టమి

2008-08-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

నీవు -
జగములనేలే పరమాత్ముడవు

జన్మనెత్తిన పురుషోత్తముడవు

గోవుల గాచిన గోవిందుడవు

గోపిక వలచిన గోపాలుడవు

శాంత రూపుడవు నారాయాణుడవు

ఉగ్ర రూపుడవు నారసింహుడవు

గీతనుపలికిన శ్రీ కృష్ణుడవు;

నిన్నే నమ్మిన ధ్రువుడను నేను

పసివాడను నే ప్రహ్లాదుడను

కుచేలుడి వంటి బీద వాడను

నీకై వేచే శభరి ని నేను!

నీ నామములు నే విని పులకిస్తూ,

నీ దివ్య రూపములు నే తిలకిస్తూ,

నా మది నిండుగ నిన్నే నింపిన

నా తలిదండ్రుల, గురువుల తలుస్తూ ;

నా భవహరమును కావగ నాకై

భాగవత కావ్యంబు రచించిన

కవిగురు పరమ భక్త పోతనకు

నిత్యం నివాళులు అర్పణచేస్తూ:

భాద్రపద బహుల అష్టమి దినమున

ధర్మపాలన చేయగ దివిపై

అవతరించిన అచ్యుత నీకిదే

నా హృది పలికిన మంగళహారతి!

-సిధ్ధార్థా పాములపర్తి
janmaashtami, 2008

ఓరుగల్లు నగారా

2008-08-18T11:39:00.001-07:00

గణపతి దేవుడి పట్టపుటేనుగు
మదమెక్కి కదనరంగమున కదంతొక్కింది
రాణి రుద్రమ వీరఖడ్గము
ధగధగ మెరిసి భగభగ మండింది
బమ్మెర పోతన భాగవతంబు
అభ్యుదయంతో ఏకీభవించింది
భధ్రకాలీ,పద్మాక్షమ్మా,గోవిందరాజులు
కొండంత ధైర్యము గుండెలనిండా నింపిరి!

కోటలు నిలిపిన సంగ్రామాలకు
కాంతులు జల్లిన సాహిత్యాలకు
కానుపు పోసిన కన్నతల్లి
కాకతీయుల కంటి వెలుగు,
నా ఓరుగల్లు నగారా మోగింది!

విప్లవాలకు, ఉద్యమాలకు
ఊపిరి పోసిన ఊరు ఇదేలే!
సాంఘిక, పౌరాణిక చరిత్ర ల
సాక్షిగ నిలిచిన గడ్డ ఇదేలే!
జానపదాలను జ్ఞానపదానికి
నిండుగ చేర్చిన నగరమిదేలే!
విద్యారణ్యుని విజ్ఞాన ధనాన్ని
విప్రుల కొసగిన వేదికిదేలే!

బతుకమ్మ, బోనాల పండుగల,
సమ్మక్క సారక్క జాతరల,
ప్రజల ప్రభంజన ప్రచండముగ
ప్రపంచమంతా వినిపిస్తుండగ
నా ఓరుగల్లు నగారా మోగింది!

-సిధ్ధార్థా పాములపర్తి

ఆగష్టు ౧౮, ౨౦౦౮.

To Bhaarath.. On 61st year of Independence

2008-08-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

I wake up from my deep slumber

With your memories in my dreams;

I bathe myself in the holy Ganga

Where it flows through your heart.

I saunter through dark wilderness,

Carrying the torch of your wisdom;

I sing to the World nay, to Universe

Of your great pride and fortitude!

I speak the noble, humble tongue

That from your womb was begot

I pass my life through days and nights

And seasons from Winter through Fall-

Every moment, inside my heart,

It is your name that I always call;

Like the peaks of Himalayas that stand

High on the ground and touch the sky,

With overwhelming and boundless joy

For your mighty grand honor, I cry:

Mother Nation, Bhaarath, to you today

To millions of my brothers too

With all my love I proudly say

Happy Independence to you!

Happy Independence to you!!

Jai Hind! Vande Mataram!!

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

August 15th, 2008

Some more sketches

2008-08-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

Some Sketches

2008-08-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

All Sketches drawn by me on 08 and 09 August 2008.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Hymns in the making...

2008-08-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

BLINDNESS

Neither time nor eternity
Can heal these pains I suffer today;
Nor can the pious winds take away
These fears deep inside myself!
Pouring rains or flooding rivers
Cannot put off this burning fire-
In my lone heart , broken to shards
By constant torture of evil thoughts.

VISION

My brow is smeared with holy dust
My arms hold my offerings to you
My eyes, fixed on your smiling lips
My heart chanting your thousand names.
Awakening in my deepest thoughts,
Is your vision over the horizon:
Like million suns rising up at once
From far across the deep oceans.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Aug 06, 2008.

A part of Life at 26

2008-08-06T00:18:00.000-07:00

God knows I tried my best to learn the ways of this world, even had
inklings we could be glorious; but after all that's happened, the
inkles ain't easy anymore. I mean - what kind of fucken life is this?

The above lines are from the first page of the book "Vernon God Little" by DBC Pierre (real name Peter Fineley). The book won the Man Booker Prize for the year 2003. The "DBC" in Mr Fineley's pen-name stands for DIRTY BUT CLEAN.
Well, I read it about 4 years ago, then why am I posting this now? Well, definitely not a review of the book. Just that I got the same feeling which I got several times before, looking at the life "at-work".
You can say it is a kind of frustration and possibly because of stress. Not physical. I would prefer to call it psychological stress rather than "mental" stress, if only there is a difference between the two words, the way I perceive it. Mental stress, is common in almost every walk of human life. This particular category which I fantastically term as psychological might be a version of the mental stress, I intend to use it here, to depict the specific scenario where the "Shit Happens". (Well that's from the book I mentioned, first section of it is called "Shit Happened"!).
The funny part of the kind of stress I am talking about is that the reason and cause of this stress cannot be attributed to any one particular event. In fact I guess this a cumulative feeling of all shitty things that happen to you and that happen around you!!

Indeed in the past 26 years of my life, I have tried like Vernon, to "know the ways of the world". And to some extent I must say I succeed.

While in early teen years, on the roof-top of my home in Warangal, I was gazing at the Stars in the sky and sometimes saw some of them falling and in a stupid way, I believed, what I ever ask at that moment will come true. And of course I asked for stupid things to happen.
Also, I used to think about life and death and was just asking questions to myself on the purpose of my life. I could not entirely answer the question then, but somehow remained content with some of possible answers and was capable in behaving normally.

Then, in graduation, I guess, I learnt some stuff from the profs and my friends about the societal world although I was still weak in some details of observing and understanding complexities of people. I did waste my "brain" with stupid thoughts which might have been a little too early and illogical set of trains. Overall, four years of learning to prepare for life and to get close to answering the questions of life, philosophy and logic, but not quite there yet.

First step in the outer world, when I traveled to Chennai, welcomed with a dirty look. I almost questioned everything I believed firmly so far and was greatly depressed. Several times in the beginning there, I had experiences of deja vu. You know what? I attributed them to my FATE and told my friend that I think I am on the path of my destiny and somewhere close to it, hence I should be content and just go with the flow. I had I think spent the best time with myself during the one and half-year here. I read quite a few remarkable books during this time, the important one's being: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, Walden by Henry David Thoreau, "A text book of Western Philosophy" by (forgot the author name), Brhadaranyaka Upanisad, few dialogues of Plato, and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Amidst my contemplations, I thought I discovered the complete path to Self-Realization (and hence liberation) in the most logical way. I also was able to coin several aphorisms, which I used to stick on the walls for me to think more about them in depth when I looked at them. However, during the last few months there, I kept everything aside and believed firmly in what I read in Alchemist, "when you desire something, the entire universe conspires in a way that you achieve it." (Note: I am currently debating on this statement within myself).

Later, life moved on, I stepped into another realm of the Universe. Work. First two years of the job, I had experienced apprehension, unrest, excitement, complacence, enthusiasm, frustration amongst many other odd feelings. For a period of time, for an year or so the "stupid" in me woke up again, only this time the stupid thoughts seemed so logical than before. I do not argue now about this, because these "thoughts" and "feelings" were much more matured and natural than the earlier phases of my life and for the first time, I felt they made sense. But there was conflict, like in everything else. Somehow that period is over, with mild..hmm no rather very strong reminiscences, even now. There are things I learnt of course, while moving my accommodations, meeting new people and making friends and also, developing strongly some convictions, which I was rather too shy to consider accepting before.

Now, after almost 4 years into earning phase, and 26 years of my presence on some part of the world at all times, I do think that I know enough about how the world works in general. I guess I learnt a lot in last 4 years than what I learnt in the past 22 years. Of course, this new level of knowledge has definite foundation in various conscious or subconscious thoughts in my earlier life.
I believe it is now time, to really and finally do what I Love to do and re-set my priorites in the most rational and sensible way possible. It is also time to pay back to the world for what it had offered me so far. But this is not something which is going to happen in an instance or overnight. I merely initiate the process now...it might take a few years or a couple of decades to complete.
I am certainly sure, I will atleast live long enough to see it complete, or at least to that extent where my contributions and my work is done, before I die.

I will perhaps write about, what I consider, this most important part/phase of my life, somewhere in the future whence I can see the things in clear light.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty.
Aug 6, 2008.

పౌర్ణమి

2008-07-19T22:32:00.000-07:00

నిండు వెన్నెల కుండపోతగా
కురిపిస్తాడు మురిపిస్తాడు
తామర పూవుల రెక్కలనన్ని
తెరిపిస్తాడు మెరిపిస్తాడు
నిషాచరులను శశీకిరణముల
తడిపిస్తాడు నడిపిస్తాడు
కైలాసంలో కాన్తులనెన్నో
ఛల్లిస్తాడు ఝల్లిస్తాడు
ప్రభాకరుని ప్రతిబింబంబై
వెలుగిస్తాడు గెలుపిస్తాడు
అవనిఘర్భమున అన్యాయాల
పనిచూస్తాడు అణిచేస్తాడు
చుక్కలనన్ని చక్కగచేర్చి
లాలిస్తాడు పాలిస్తాడు
ఆదిశక్తియే ఆతని అమ్మగ
తిలకిస్తాడు పులకిస్తాడు...
చిన్నపిల్లలకు చందమామయై,
యువతకు తమ తమ ప్రేయసిప్రియుడై,
గృహిణిగృహులకు అనుకూల గ్రహంబై...
అన్నీ యెరిగిన పెద్దవారలకు
అద్వైతము తానై వేదాంతసారముల
వెలుగిస్తాడు పలుకిస్తాడు...

సిధ్ధార్థా పాములపర్తి

జూలై ౧౯, ౨౦౦౮

అమావాస్య

2008-07-11T22:45:00.001-07:00

అలిగిన జాబిల్లి నేడు
ఆకసంలో కానరాడు
కర్పూరం కరిగినట్లు
కడకు మాయమైనాడు....
సదాశివుని శిఖములోన
చిక్కి బంధీ ఐనాడో?
కలువపూల కౌగిలిలో
బిగిసి శ్వాస విడిచినాడో?
మబ్బుల రథములుయెక్కి
మరి దారి తప్పిపోయినాడో?
లేక మధుపానీయంబు తాగి
మత్తులలో మునిగినాడో?
ఆ రవి ఆరని మంటల
కాహుతేమో ఐనాడో?
ఈ భువిపై అక్రమాలకోర్వక
ముఖముతిప్పి మాడ్చినాడో?
తారకలెన్నొ ఉన్నా
తాను మాత్రమొంటరియై
తల్లి లేని పిల్లవాడినని
తలచి బెంగపడ్డాడో?

అలిగిన జాబిల్లి నేడు
ఆకసంలో కానరాడు
కర్పూరం కరిగినట్లు
కడకు మాయమైనాడు......

సిద్దార్థా పాములపర్తి

జూలై ౧౧, ౨౦౦౮

Bob Dylan- A Tribute

2008-07-04T23:32:00.000-07:00

Some inspiring and interesting lyrics from various songs of Bob Dylan:

Bob dylan's lines:
1) You don't understand it - my feelings for you

Well, you'd be honest with me if only you knew

(Honest with me)
2) But if you got to go,

It's all right.

But if you got to go, go now,

Or else you gotta stay all night.
3) I'll remember you

When I've forgotten all the rest,

You to me were true,

You to me were the best.

When there is no more,

You cut to the core

Quicker than anyone I knew.

When I'm all alone

In the great unknown,

I'll remember you.
I'll remember you

At the end of the trail,

I had so much left to do,

I had so little time to fail.

There's some people that

You don't forget,

Even though you've only seen'm

One time or two.

When the roses fade

And I'm in the shade,

I'll remember you.

Didn't I, didn't I try to love you?

Didn't I, didn't I try to care?

Didn't I sleep, didn't I weep beside you

With the rain blowing in your hair?

I'll remember you

When the wind blows through the piney wood.

It was you who came right through,

It was you who understood.

Though I'd never say

That I done it the way

That you'd have liked me to.

In the end,

My dear sweet friend,

I'll remember you.

4) How does it feel

How does it feel

To be on your own

With no direction home

Like a complete unknown

Like a rolling stone?

5) You know I love her

Yeah I love her

I'm in love with the Ugliest Girl in the World

Seshappa Kavi "Sri Narasimha Shatakamu"

2008-06-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

I was skimming through a Telugu book on the "Sri Narasimha Shatakam", orginally claimed to be written by Sri Seshappa Kavi with commentary by Vidwan, Kasireddy Venkatapathi Reddy. (First published in 2001 December by Sri Paavani Seva Samithi, Hyderabad).

In the Preface, I found something very interesting and thought of just posting it to my blog, with needful translation of Mr.Reddy's original words in Telugu.

Here it goes:

"nrusimhaa raamakrishneShu Shaadgunyam paripooritham", this Sanskrit phase means that: Narasimha avatara (the lion-faced incarnation of Vishnu) has the quality of "opulence" (aishwaryamu), Rama has the quality of opulence plus "pleasantness" (maadhuryamu) and Krishna combines the qualities of opulence, pleasantness along with "vigor or prowess" (veeryamu). Thus these qualities have become a completeness through these three avataras. In Telugu, there were 3 "shataka"s (a collection of hundred poems) dedicated to each of these avataras, namely:

1) Sri Narasimha Shatakam

2) Dhaasharadhi Shatakam (Rama)

3) Sri Krishna Shatakam

Of the 23 incarnations of Sri Maha Vishnu, according to all puranas, except for the three stated above, none are associated with the pre-fixed title "Sri". These three incarnations have the nature of Vishnu deep-rooted within them.

"Sri Raama Raama Raamethi, Rame Raame Manorame, Sahasranaama tat tulyam Raama naama varaanane": according to this famous sloka, chanting the name of Rama once is equivalent to chanting the thousand names of Vishnu (Vishnu Sahasranamasttotram). That is the reason why the name of Rama, earned the "Sri" title.

Narasimha swamy always has Lakshmi in His proximity. Hence a 'Sri' for Him.

And "Krishnasthu bhagawaan swayam", roughly, Krishna is the God Himself, hence He is always Sri Krishna.

Similarly another extract, on the influence of Bammera Pothana on Seshappa Kavi:

Every poem of the Sri Narasimha Shatakam, clearly proves that Seshappa Kavi has mastered the Pothana's literary magnum opus "SrimadhaandhramahaaBhaagavatam" and had studied it in depth. For instance in the 74th poem, where he questions on the subject saying "why should caste or creed become a criteria to be blessed by Sri Hari?", quoting examples of Vyaasa, Viduraa, Vaalmiki, he also quotes :"Sri Suka", which is noteworthy. The first time "Suka" was called "Sri Suka" was by Bammera Potana and the only other who used the same is again our Seshappa.

It is important to note something here: the three words Hamsa--Parama Hamsa--Sri Parama Hamsa, have different annotations and meanings. The one who meditates on Brahman is Hamsa (check out the word "So Ham"), the deity who shines with the attributes of motionless and life (compare stillness,as in death and movement, as in life) is Parama Hamsa and that who is free of stillness (irrationality) and is full of life (Spirit and sensation) is Sri Parama Hamsa. Seers and philosophers have called "Sri Suka" as "Sri Parama Hamsa". Our beloved Seshappa clearly knows that "Suka" is not an ordinary "Suka", but "Sri Suka".

About Seshappa Kavi (very very brief):

Seshappa Kavi, according to the book, could have approximately during 1800 AD. He belonged to Dharmapuri, a holy place on the banks of Godavari River in the Telangana region. He was a poet who dedicated his life to Sri Narasimha Swamy.

He wrote two Shatakams. The first centennial is called "Sri NRukEsaree" shatakam. The second is the Sri Narasimha Shatakam. He claimed his "linguistic" skills are plain ordinary. Along with his skills with the language, he was a highly devout person and this shows in most of his poems.

Also, it seems from many of his poems that he lived in dire poverty and sometimes had to plead and take help of scoundrels to survive, for basic needs of food.

I will try to put in more details about him as I read through the book in future posts.

- Siddartha Pamulaparty
27 June 2008.

Rani Rudrama Devi--the great Warrior-Ruler of the Kakatiyas

2008-06-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

There would not be a single Telugu who has not read about or atleast heard about the great King of the Kakatiyas..Rudrama Devi (intentionally called a King).

She ruled the Kingdom of the Kakatiyas, basing Warangal as the capital between 1261 AD to 1289 AD.

Here are some interesting pieces from the Kakatiya History:

1) Ganapathi Deva Maharaju (1199-1261 AD), one of the most key Kakatiya rulers, gave a masculine name to his daughter Rudrama Devi, calling her "Rudra Deva", owing to her impeccable administrative abilities in performing royal duty.

She was a revolutionary ruler. She wore her attire in a manner that resembled a man and sat on the throne during her rule. She encourgaed foreign visitors and messengers to visit the kingdom. (And this is when Marco Polo had visited this part of the country, on his way to China from Venice).

In times of need, she took up the sword and fought in the battle-fields.

2) When Ganapathi Deva anticipated his last days, his heir was none other than Rudra Deva. As an Emperor Ganapathi Deva had captured many lands and tribes. Some of these local administrators who were but sub-ordinates of the great emperor to local regions, tried to revolt and declare their independence, underestimating the powress of the female heir.

Rudrama Devi punished all those who planned to take undue advantage and soon established herself as a real emperor.

3) Although there were Pandyas and Kalingas who were a constant threat to the Kakatiyas, the major problems came from the Devagiri Yadavas, who were hell-bent on invading the kingdom.

Understanding that a woman was ruling the Warangal Throne, the King of Devagiri became over-ambitious of winning over the Kakatiya kingdom.

The Sevana soldiers (the Devagiri's) entered into the capital city and tried to surround the citadel in Warangal. The valorous queen, with the help of her noble soldiers fought with the army for 15 continous days, defeating them to near-death. The Kakatiya soldiers chased them to the Devagiri, crossing the Godavari and a new threat came upon the Devagiri country.

In order to compensate, the king of Devagiri had to pay a huge ransom to let him and his country alone. All the amount that was recovered from him, rightfully, as per that times, belongs to the victorious kingdom. However, an exemplary adminitrator that Rani Rudrama is, she distributed all of that wealth among her soldiers!!

4) Another major battle was because of the Amba Deva, who was trying to declare his independence from Kakatiyas and tried in many ways to attack the kingdom from various sides.

However, with the help of able men, and as a calculated measure, Rudrama Devi managed to keep him off and guarded the dominion of Kakatiyas until her last breath.

She might have been dead in the year 1289, however, the outer world believed she was still ruling the Kingdom till 1295, when the grandson of the great queen, Pratapa Rudra, assumed the throne.

Coming to the way the people led lives under her rule: it seems the country was rich and had many resources and it bloomed with activities. Culture and tradition and the language of the Telugu had developed a great deal during her period, in continuation from the times of Ganapathi Devi and ultimately to blossom in the time of the last Kakatiya: the great Pratapa Rudra.

Here is an interesting story about the diamonds that were naturally available in this region at that time from none other than Ser Marco Polo himself. In fact I am including the entire chapter here. Of course some details may not be correct in his book, like mentioning Rudrama Devi as Ganapathi Deva's widow. These kinds of things have been proven wrong and the established truth now is that Rudramadevi is Ganapathi Deva's daughter whose husband was Veerabhadra of the Chalukya family.

The book is available for free download on books.google.com.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: 23-June-2008

Wandering Soul

2008-06-22T14:18:00.001-07:00

Wanders my soul, wanders alone..
Wanders inside those woods of darkness:
Musing about the candid songs-
Of the mysterious birds with long tails;
Dancing to the tunes of sweet melodies-
Of the flute played by the lazy shepherd
Who lay beneath the graceful fig tree..
Wanders my soul, dancing again.

Wanders my soul, wanders again..
In the fragrant orchid, infinitely stretched
With blossomed roses, colored crimson red;
(As if a dream were suddenly realized,
While my body still rests in the daisy-decor)
Expanding thoroughly in all dimensions of space
And time, as often, no limit from now.
Wanders my soul, expanding again...

Wanders my soul, wanders, being sane..
Away from the realms of this material globe,
Aloof of this flowing en masse of insolent attitudes;
Flying in the sky-lines of tranquil beatitudes,
Among the stars and the huge heavenly spheres,
Suspended in the vast universe of unknown birth;
Searching the Ultimate Source of Cosmic rays-
Wanders my soul! Here goes it, being sane!

Wanders my soul in this relentless rain,
Drops of which are frozen to depth;
Delving the secrets beneath this pigmentless white,
There again, on the top of the highest of cliffs,
Down to the green plain, to where, avalanche breaks;
So also, at nights of dreary nightmares,
Roaming everywhere incessantly with no aim:
Wanders my soul, bedraggled in rain.

Wanders my soul, insensitive to pain:
Through up-hills and downtowns of joys and merries;
Too, along the lighthouses, windmilles and prairies;
Walking on pavements used by the populations,
Yet to their feelings showing no sensation;
Listening to the cries of the more unfortunate,
Gently and swiftly glancing, not cursing their fate,
Wanders my soul, not wanting their pain!

Wanders my soul, wanders again,
Musing again, dancing again,
Dreaming again, expanding again,
Flying again, searching again,
Falling again, rising again,
Drenching in the monsoon rain,
Fearing again, daring again;
Wanders my soul, to nowhere again!!

(Perhaps with influences of Keats, William Blake, or as I recollect, the quote from Thoreau "In what concerns you the most, know that you are alone").

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: 18/07/2002.

A Song

2008-06-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

My friend Karun, in college, asked me once to write a song so that he can sing it in the Church.

I wrote one, but somehow he didn't sing it though.

Incidentally I wrote the song on his birthday 13 April.

Here it goes:

Watch the birds in the sky flying freely,

Look at the fish, swimming happily,

The black clouds before raining heavily,

They all ask us questions frequently...

Why do you have to bear the pains?

Are you all tied up with iron chains?

Why do you have to pray for the rains?

Can't you wipe off your blood filled stains?

Is there no love in your world of humans?

Is not compassion one of your feelings?

Don't you get the joy from the beautiful seasons?

Can't you live without asking for reasons?

Learn from us and try to practice,

Love is compassion and Love is the peace,

Love is the question and Love is the answer,

Let Love grow in you, not the dreadful cancer.

Love is all seasons and Love needs no reasons,

Love is a feeling, which does the healing,

Love is the force that'll break all your chains

Love is the joy that'll vanish your pains.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: 13/Apr/2001

G H Hardy on Ramanujan

2008-06-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

G H Hardy

Srinivasa Ramanujan

I came across this anecdote from G H Hardy, the great English Mathematician, from the book: "Pi in the Sky: Counting, Thinking and Being", a book on the history of Mathematics by John D Barrow, a Professor at Univ of Sussex:

"I remember once going to see him when he was lying ill at Putney. I had ridden in a taxi-cab No. 1729, and remarked that the number seemed to me a dull one, and that I hoped it was not an unfavourable omen. 'No,' he replied, 'it is a very interesting number; it is the smallest number expressible as a sum of two cubes in two different ways." - G. H. Hardy on Ramanujan.

Here is a full blown article on the number 1729 which came to be known as the Hardy-Ramanujan number on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1729_(number)

God that's amazing!!

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

June 14, 2008

Uncle Walt

2008-06-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

I was reading through some of the poems at random from the "Leaves of Grass" and wanted to capture them again , for getting inspired everytime I come back to my friend, my blog!!

LIFE AND DEATH:
The two old, simple problems ever intertwined,
Close home, elusive, present, baffled, grappled.
By each successive age insoluble, pass'd on,
To ours to-day- and we pass on the same.

THANKS IN OLD AGE:
Thanks, in old age- thanks ere I go,
For health, the midday sun, the impalpable air- for life, mere life,
For precious ever-lingering memories, (of you my mother dear- you, father- you, brothers, sisters, friends,)
For all my days- not those of peace alone- the days of war the same,
For gentle words, caresses, gifts from foreign lands,
For shelter, wine and meat- for sweet appreciation,
(You distant, dim unknown- or young or old-countless, unspecified readers belov'd,
We never met, and ne'er shall meet- and yet our souls embrace, long, close and loving;)
For beings, groups, love, deeds, words, books- for colors, forms,
For all the braver, stronger, more devoted men- (a special laurel ere I go, to life's war's chosen ones,
The cannoneers of song and thought- the great artillerists- the foremost leaders, captains of the soul:)
As soldier from an ended war return'd- As traveler out of myriads, to the long procession retrospective,
Thanks- joyful thanks!- a soldier's, traveler's thanks.

And of course, I read this for the first time yesterday, Walt wrote for Abe, the one quoted in the Dead Poet's Society:

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells,
Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths- for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

June 06, '08.

మా ఊరు ఓరుగల్లు (My town-Warangal)

2008-06-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao needs no introduction to any of the Telugus born or brought up in the state of Andhra Pradesh. His contributions to the literature and cultural departments of the Telugus on the whole and the Telangana as well, is immeasurable.

There was a non-detail book in Telugu in the APSSC syllabus during the 9th class or 10th class: "gurudevudu raveendrudu" on the life and works of Rabindranath Tagore, written by Ramanuja Rao.

I was just browing through the internet and found a book called: "Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao: Oka Rekha Chitram" (Roughly: A life-line of Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao (A brief sketch)) written by Sri T. Sri Ranga Swamy published around in 1991.

In this book I found a poem, which is an extract from Ramanuja Rao's essay "మా ఊరు ఓరుగల్లు" , from the book he wrote called "పచ్చ తోరణం" in which he wrote about the glory of the once capital of the Kakatiya's the city of Warangal.

Warangal has more to its historical significance than what it is actually credited with. No body cares about the great Fort and the dilapidating 1000 pillar temples, which are but some of most unique and heritage sites. The Kakatiya Dynasty is the first Telugu speaking rulers and their contributions to the language, its culture and traditions is highly laudable.

Anyways, coming back to the poem: here is how it goes:

కాబోలు నియ్యది కాకతీయులొకప్డు

కరకు నెత్తుట కత్తికడుగు చోటు
కాబోలు నీద్వార కల్యాణ వేదిక
అలికి ముగ్గులు పెట్టె తెలుగు పడుచు
కాబోలు నీజీర్ణకమనీయ సౌధాన
సుకుమార శిల్పముల్ సొంపులొలికె
కాబోలు నీవీధికాపురంబొనరించె
పైడి మేడలలోన భాగ్యలక్ష్మి
ఇచటనే నిల్చి కాబోలు నిందుముఖులు
ఆయుధంబులు పూజించియరుగుదెంచు
ఆంధ్రసేనకు కపురంపుటారతులను
ఇచ్చి వారల శౌర్యంబు మెచ్చినారు

Roughly:

"In deed:

This is the place, where the great Kakatiya's once used to wash the blood off their valorous swords!

This is the place, where before the door of the house, the traditional Telugu lady adorns the ground with designs with lines and diagrams using flour! (traditional way to decorate Hindu homes, especially in Telugu houses, as a symbol of goodness and prosperity).

This is the place, in the heart of which are the palaces (forts/temples) rich of the beautiful and delicate sculptures!

This is the place, in which in every street, in the houses made of gold, the goddess Lakshmi resided!!

This is the place, where the women stood and welcomed the brave soldiers from the war, by giving them a "camphor" haarathi, as the men have fought valorously in the battles!!"

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: 06/06/2008.

Shakuntala Patralekhana

2008-05-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the painting called: "Shakuntala Patralekhana" by Raja Ravi Varma (image above), at the Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore in 2002, this is what I wrote with my pen on a PostCard of the same painting:

Even the heart of a lion would think twice-

to dare to snatch away the dreams from those eyes!

How tender the words that drop from the pen held by your delicate hands would be;

I wish I was the one addressed to in those words, even if it were in a language unknown to me!!

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Jan 15, 2002

Happy Memories

2008-05-29T21:45:00.000-07:00

This is a poem I wrote after the Industrial Tour-2002. It speaks for itself of the great bonds we formed with our friends during the 5-6 days we were on the tour.

The month of January, two thousand two,
This marvelous it would be- I never knew;
With the awake of new joy in our hearts that are young,
Our lips are filled with a new cheer and have begun to sing.
Those evanescent turmoils and those blisses forever,
All kinds of emotions, in our memories, are together!

The month of January, two thousand two,
This splendid it would be- I never knew;
Strangers became friends and friends became life,
Those golden moments, for us, had all the world's time
A part of our dreams have now become true,
The rest of them, for our future, are in due!!

Immortal are the bonds that we've woven with affection,
We'll pray that our relations progress to more perfection.
With the benediction from the Divine Abode above in the sky,
Let us continue to be a family as the endless time passes by!

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

January 15-16, 2002.

Bryan Adams' "11"

2008-05-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday (May 17), I drove out in a jiffy to the Walmart on the Algonquin Rd. I parked the car and rushed into the store. Went straight to the Audio CDs section. Browsed through the wrong corner in the Rock section. Suddenly realized the new releases could be on the other side.

There I found it, the CD I wanted 4 days ago when it got released (May 13) but could not due to other obligations.

Bryan Adams has released his new album after 4 years. And this one, called "11", like the last one "Room Service" has been recorded during the time of his concerts, backstage and in hotels.

Usually as a big Bryan Adams fan, here are the top 3 best things I like about his songs:

3. acoustic and electric solo guitars (both BA and Keith Scott's)

2. vocals of BA...divine.

1. lyrics.

Well, there is a specific pattern in the lyrics of all BA songs, they are so meaningful. I have always found the BA songs so close to heart, simple, easy, and in some way magical.

When "Room Service" was released, all the songs were just typically BA songs, I liked all of them!!

However in "11", I am a little disappointed with the lyrics. The stories in the songs are also not so really Bryan Adamish....that "mysticism" is missing!! The vocals, of course, he is at his usual best.

There are some beautiful lines though:

"I thought I'd seen everything" : he croons "its just the way you are- that makes me feel so much"

"I ain't losin' the fight":

"how come the best ones are always taken

what i see when i see ya- is love in the makin'

something about timin', something about fate

gotta go with the feeling- not a moment to waste"

And again:

"cuz opposites attract this way

if day is night and night is day

if loving you is wrong then babe- wrong is right

and i ain't losin' the fight"

" We found what we were looking for" :

"we found our wings and now we fly above the wind..."

"Broken Wings":

"now i feel i can believe in anything

you taught me how to fly on broken wings"

" Mysterious Ways":

"the world is full of mysteries

full of magic and of wonder

there's so much more than what we see

can't explain the spell i'm under

everytime i look upon your face

i'm constantly amazed

and love moves through my days

in mysterious ways"

"She's got a way":

"she's got a way- of taming the wild in me

with patience and serenity

i'm drowning in her revery

and i can't run away she's got a way to make me stay"

The entire song of "Walk on by" has good lines in it.

Of course, none of the songs, in entirety are up to the standards of the usual Bryan Adams.

Hope to hear more from him in the next few years, in fact songs even with more deeper meaning like the "Open Road" or "Inside Out" or the all-time biggest hit single "Everything I do".

Siddartha Pamulaparty

May 19, 2008

పోతన భాగవత మకరందములు - 3

2008-05-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

శా. అమ్మా! మన్ను దినంగ నే శిశువునో యా కొంటినో వెఱ్రినో

నమ్మంజూడకు వీరిమాటలు మదిన్ నన్నీవు కొట్టంగ వీ

రిమ్మార్గమ్ము ఘటించి చెప్పెదరు కాదేనిన్ మదీయాస్యగం

ధమ్మఘ్రాణము సేసి నావచనముల్ దప్పైన దండింపవే.

క. ఆలలితాంగి కనుంగొనె బాలునిముఖమందు జలధిపర్వతవనభూ

గోళశిఖితరణిశశిదిక్పాలాదికరండమైన బ్రహ్మాండంబున్.

మ. కలయో వైష్ణవమాయయో యితరసంకల్పార్ధమో సత్యమో

తలపన్ నేరక యున్నదాననొ యశొదాదేవిఁగానో పర

స్థలమో బాలకుఁడెంత యీతనిముఖస్థంబై యజాండంబు ప్ర

జ్వలమై యుండుట కేమిహేతువొ మహాశ్చర్యంబు చింతింపఁగన్.

The context here is another "leela" of the beloved Krishna, the most favorite of the 10 avatarams in the Bhagavatham, that He shows His foster mother Yashodha Devi, the entire Cosmic Universe within His mouth, thus providing her the "gyana" about the Universe!!

Now, here are three different types of Telugu padyams by grammar and metre (chandassu) and how lovely they are!!

In the first one, a "Shaardoola vikreeditham", young Krishna is speaking to Yashoda Devi thus:

"Mother! How could I eat mud being a young boy? I am neither hungry, nor am I crazy! Do not believe the words of these people, who purposefully are diluting your mind so that you should punish me by beating! Please trust my words and check my mouth for yourself , before you decide to punish me!"

In the second one, a "Kanda padyam", the poet describes what the mother discovers:

" Yashoda Devi, then witnessed in the mouth of Krishna, the Oceans, the Mountains, the Forests, the Earth (the whole globe), the Fire, the Sun, the Eight Directional heads and the entire Universe, as it were, packed into a small box!"

And in the third one, a "Mathebha", the poet further describes this wondrous experience of Yashoda Devi:

"Yashoda Devi spoke to herself : Is this a dream? Or is this Vaishnava Maaya (Vishnu's Maya/ Magic)? Or is this some other kind of higher purpose of meaning?

I am unable to comprehend, if this is Truth!! Am I in a strange place, elsewhere? What could cause such a young kid, to have His face filled with bright shining Universe!! I wonder in awe!!"

The "leela" as such might be that Krishna, as part of His debts to mother Yashoda, was helping her realize the Universe and cosmic knowledge, enabling her to seek liberation from the karmic world.

As for the beautiful Telugu verses, once again, Pothana as usual, did wonders.

For instance in a two-line Kanda padyam, he tried to show the entire Universe!! Now that's something!! It is probably things like this, which developed Telugu as a very popular and well-liked language! (According to Wikipedia, presently "Telugu is one of the top fifteen most widely spoken languages in the world ...")

I know that my attempt here to translate these to English is in vain, and unworthy, as I could not justify the beauty of grammar, metre and meaning of these padyas.

Note: Here is a link to the grammatical nuances of Telugu padya's :

http://surasa.net/music/telugu-kavita/chandassu101.html

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: 17 May 2008.

పోతన భాగవత మకరందాలు - 2

2008-05-15T22:55:00.000-07:00

శ్రీ కృష్ణుడు గోవర్ధన పర్వతమును ఎత్తుట:

క. కిరియై ధర యెత్తినహరి కరి సరసిజముకుళ మెత్తుగతి( ద్రిభువనశం
కరకరు ( డై గోవర్ధన గిరి యెత్తెం జక్కనొక్కకేలన్ లీలన్.

వెనకటికి వరాహావతరంలో ధరిత్రి ని ఎత్తి పట్టుకున్న ఆ హరి, ఒక ఏనుగు తామరపువ్వు ను ఎత్తినంత సునాయాసముగా, ముల్లోకాలకు పరమేశ్వరుడై, ఆ గోవర్ధన పర్వతమును చక్కగా ఒక్క చేతీతో లేవనేత్తినాడు !!

This is a poem from Pothana's Bhagavatham again: In this, the context is Lord Krishna, lifting the Govardhana Mountain, during a big storm in the town. He protects all the people and cattle in the village by creating an umbrella with a huge mountain!!

The meaning of this is:

"The Lord Hari (one of the names of Krishna), who in His previous avatara as the Hog, (Varahavatara, 3rd in the Dasavatara's), carried the Earth, (presently also), with an equal ease of an Elephant lifting up a lotus bud, in the form of the Master and Lord of the three worlds, lifted up the Govardhana Mountain, easily and skillfully with a single hand! "

Lovely poem. Pothana is the greatest devotional poet, ever!!!

-Pamulaparty Siddartha.

May 16, 2008.

Dead Poets Society

2008-05-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

I recently got the movie I wanted to see for a long time now: "Dead Poets Society".
The movie stars Robin Williams as the English teacher John Keating in a high school, of which he was also a student once.
While the essence of the movie is "Carpe Diem!!" a Latin phrase for "Sieze the day", and as the teacher Keating further says.."Make your lives extra-ordinary", the movie gives you more than that. Message to young, do only that what you LOVE the most. Message on the pedagogy, FREEDOM (as in THINKING for one's self) is more important than DISCIPLINE (as in being dogmatic) while educating the "growing minds". Message to the parents, don't DEMAND your children to DREAM your DREAMS. But don't you worry, it is not that a serious movie, there's a lot of fun there too. I bet you'll remember your high-school or college days too!!
The other characters of the students are also very interesting and all the actors have done very impressive drama.
I loved the movie and my favorite character was of "Charles Dalton", apart from John Keating of course.
Anyway this is not a review of the movie, go watch it yourself, if you come across it or if you don't forget that there was a Drama wonderfully made for English movie-watchers. My point of writing this blog is to capture some inspiring moments of my otherwise wasteful life.

This is how I got to know about this movie: first, it started when I read a "quotation" in a news paper : "Seize the day, make your lives extra-ordinary", like about a decade ago. After a while I
researched some on Internet and found that "Dead Poets Society" is a movie and in that the actual members of this society, students in a school, used to have clandestine meetings, (as adventurous as Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer's) and their every meeting used to start with a quote from Henry David Thoreau. The one they show in the movie is:
"I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life... to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. "
This quote is read atleast three times on the screenplay and was absolutely perfectly dramatized with such a grace.
So it became my favorite even long before I saw the movie, because of HDT!!

Here are some interesting dialogue from the movie at IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/quotes

Also, in the movie, John Keating reads most of the poetic dialogue from Walt Whitman, whom once he also calls affectionately as "Uncle Walt".
I had, as evident from my previous poems including some posts on this blog, derived my inspiration from Walt Whitman, quite a few instances earlier.
I was reading his Leaves of Grass an year ago, when I first came to US. However due to time constraints I could not regularly read it. Recently I brought the book again from the library and started randomly reading the poems.

I found this one poem very very passionate and moving: it's called " Whoever You are, Holding Me now in Hand". You can find the full poem Online over here: http://www.bartleby.com/142/37.html

Here are a few lines I want to note here, before I again get busy and return the book to library and forget about how inspired I was:

Beginning from the beginning:

"WHOEVER you are, holding me now in hand,
Without one thing, all will be useless,
I give you fair warning, before you attempt me further,
I am not what you supposed, but far different. "

And then again:

"The way is suspicious—the result uncertain, perhaps
destructive; You would have to give up all else—I alone would expect
to be your God, sole and exclusive..."

"...possibly with you sailing at sea, or on the beach of
the sea, or some quiet island, Here to put your lips upon mine I permit you,..."

"Even while you should think you had unquestionably
caught me, behold! Already you see I have escaped from you. " ( this is the one I dwelled and swelled the most, with compassion to the poet, and feeling emotionally elated at the same time).

And lastly the concluding verses:

"Nor will my poems do good only—they will do just as much
evil, perhaps more; For all is useless without that which you may guess at
many times and not hit—that which I hinted at; Therefore release me, and depart on your way."

There it goes, I am glad I could capture these beautiful literary "joys" before they got lost in my more sublime trains of thoughts.

I am sure I have lost many such earlier, and who knows will lose many more in the future. But as long as possible, I will try to atleast capture them in my blog right here, which may perchance, look rich in retrospective.

I will end this post here with a little bit of my own, althought its INCOMPLETE, still dedicated to Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, the movie Dead Poets Society, and to all those real-life societies similar to the one in the movie, and to many of the dead poets, Keats, Wilde, Poe...and the list goes on:
"all dead poets have twisted souls
and in their graves they live forever
the dreams in their eyes will never
cease to turn into great works of art
or inspire the minds of the young at heart................"

--Siddartha Pamulaparty

Date: May 15, 2008.

పోతన భాగవత మకరందాలు

2008-04-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

శా. కారే రాజులు రాజ్యముల్ గలుగవే గర్వోన్నతిం బొందరే
వారేరీ సిరి మూటగట్టుకొని పోవంజాలిరే భూమిపైఁ
బేరైనం గలదే శిబిప్రముఖులుం బ్రీతిన్ యశఃకాములై
యీరే కోర్కులు వారలన్ మఱచిరే యిక్కాలమున్ భార్గవా!

shA. kArE rAjulu rAjyamul galugavE garvOnnathiM boMdharE
vArEree siri mootagattukoni pOvaMjAlirE bhoomipaiAO
bErainM galadhE shibipramukhuluM breethin yashaHkAmulai
yeerE kOrkulu vAralan maRachirE yikkAlamun bhArgavA!

Context:
This is a poem in the “ashtama skandam” of the Pothana’s Bhagavatham, where in the story of the Maha Vishnu in His “Vamana” avatara is told. Vamana goes to the great demon king Bali and asks him for three feet of space, as Bali is doing a great penance and is giving alms/charity to those who seek. Then, the intelligent guru of Bali, Shukracharya, warns Bali not to promise anything to this young Brahmin Vamana, as “He is none other than the great Vishnu, and He will destroy you if you give Him whatever He asks”. In reply, Bali, who is known for his great charitable nature, says to his Guru, the following words, making his intentions clear that he will give alms to Vamana, no matter what.

Meaning:
“Acharya!! There were innumerable Kings, and innumerable Empires before. There were innumerable Great Emperors, who were proud of being themselves and their wealth! So, also, there will be many more rulers, with their kingdoms and their pride of being the powerful and wealthy!! But do they take all their wealth with them, when they leave this corporeal world? Are all of them remembered after they are gone, like the great emperor Shibhi (and the likes) are remembered? Certainly not. Whilst Shibhi and the like are still alive in wearing the "glorious fame" as their bodies (known for keeping up to their promises), the others who were always selfish about their kingdoms and their progeny are now dead long back and no one remembers them now!”

This shows the magnanimous nature of Bali and his sanskara of keeping up to his words, no matter what! And through Pothana’s poem, the Chakravarthi Bali is immortal again!!
Look at the Shardoolam, with the beautiful shabdhalankarams!!!
When you sing this in the poetic rhythm and metre, it mesmerizes the audience!!
Perhaps words like are testimonial when the language “Telugu” was compared to “Honey”, by the early Westerners, even though they do not understand the complex grammar we have!!!

Pamulaparty Siddartha

Apr 2, 2008.

Vibhuthiyoga: (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10) Part-1

2008-04-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

Harihi Om!!

In the 10th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita, Krishna speaks to Arjuna about how He, as various forms in various beings or objects is spread everywhere and is the origin of every being living or non-living.
As I understand, the nature of Vishnu, being all-pervasive and the basic essence of everything, is being explained with extensive examples in this chapter.
(I refer to the copy of SriBhagavadgita, (Sanskrit/Telugu) published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur for most of the meaning of the Sanskrit slokas in Telugu)

This seems to be in line with my notes I wrote based on my understanding of Chapter 7 on this blog. (http://freedomformind.blogspot.com/2007/12/notes-from-bhagavad-gita-chapter-7.html)

The 10th Chapter is also termed the “Vibuthiyoga”. Vibuthi may mean the “superhuman powers or faculties”. Sometimes in context of the Vibuthi powers, according to the yogic literature, are eight fold powers: Anima (ability to become small “minute”), Mahima (ability to grow huge, like the Virat Purusha, occupying the entire Universe), Laghima (ability to make one’s self weight-less), Garima (ability to make one’s self very heavy) , Prapti(ability to touch the sky with hands, while still standing on Earth and a achieve multiple super-human capabilities), Prakamya (ability to live under-water and become invisible), Vasitvam (ability to bring into control any being: human or beast) and Ishitvam (to have Divine powers).1

Krishna in the first few slokas, begins with explaining Arjuna, that He is the One with no birth, He is eternal and He is the cause of the birth of everything. It seems to me a very fundamental philosophical point is being made here in a very subtle way, in terms of the cosmological concepts of Universe creation etc.

Firstly the basic meaning of the early verses in the chapter (10:2 to 10:11):
“Even the Devatas and Maharshis do not know how I was born. That is because, they are born out of Me!
“Of humans, he is the Gyani (the one with perfect knowledge), who knows Me as the One who is the Eternal and the Great Lord of the entire Universe. He shall be free from all kinds of evil.
“Determination, Exact Knowledge (gained from practical experience), Freedom from Infatuation, Patience, Truth, Control of Senses, Control of Mind, Happiness and Sorrow, Creation and Destruction, Fear and Courage, Peace, Equality, Joy, Penance, Charity, Fame and Ill-fame : these are the qualities/attributes of (human) life. I am the Cause for all of these!!
“The Saptarshis (according to Krishna Yajurveda are Bhrigu, Angirasa, Athri, Kasyapa, Vashishta, Gautama, Kutsa) 2, their ancestors, the four Mahamunis (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, Sanat Kumara) 3, the fourteen Manus (Svayambhuva, Svarocisha, Uttama, Tamasa, Raivatha, Chakshusha, Vaivasvatha, Savarni, Daksha-Savarni, Brahma-Savarni, Dharma-Savarni, Rudra-Savarni, Deva-Savarni, Indra-Savarni) 4 are all My devotees and they all adore Me. They were all born because of My volition. The remaining life forms in the entire Universe are descendents of these (rishis, munis and manus).
“Whoever knows, (a) Me as the One with unimaginable super-powers and (b) the basic nature of the Divine yoga (union of non-divine and Divine), will undoubtedly become a great devotee (and will be blessed).
“ I am the root-cause of the creation of the Universe. I am the basis on which the entire Universe is sustained. Those who know (are certain of) this to be true, are knowledgeable (gyanis) devotees and always serve Me.
“My devotees are always dedicating their lives, (pious) deeds to Me and they always exchange conversations about My greatness and they always keep thinking about Me.
“For such devotees as said above, I bless them with the buddhiyoga (or the tattvagyanayoga: the eternal knowledge), through which they ultimately will reach Me.
“Arjuna!! I remain inside them and throw away the darkness called ignorance by Enlightening them (from within).”

(to be continued)

References:
1) http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Siddhis/id/23722
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saptarshi#Saptarshis_given_in_major_Hindu_texts
3) http://www.dharmakshetra.com/sages/Kumaras.htm
4) http://www.stephen-knapp.com/avataras_of_god.htm

-Pamulaparty Siddartha

02 Apr, 2008.

Dreams We See

2008-01-14T15:02:00.000-08:00

I once had seen a wondrous place in Paradise, not on this rough earth.
There were mountains wide and valleys green over which blew the splendid winds.
There were streams of waters, short and long,that shined like silver under the blazing sun.
There were deers and rabbits and peacocks which jumped and hopped and danced in joy.
There were fields of corn and cotton stretching into infinite lands.
There were golden sands along the shores and the golden beaches.
There were miles and miles of coral reefs on the edges of the wild blue seas.
There were herds of cows with healthy mammary glands, grazing on green grasses.
There were galloping horses, so strong and valorous like the Mermidons.

I once had been into deep woods, deeper than the dark blackholes
There were millions of species of flora and fauna surrounding me
Even those thought to be extinct for long, in front of my eyes, I could see
There were handsome men and beautiful women, with their charming offsprings
Living along the springs and the rivers that spawn life to the infinite,
In harmony, in peace, with all tranquility and complacency.

I once had a vision of a bright new world, brighter than the sun,
There were people who loved and cared for one another,
The oxygen that they breathed in, they called it freedom,
The water that quenched their thirst, they called it self-respect,
The bread they ate, though made of wheat, they called it the dignity.
Well, all in all, that world I saw, I felt in truth could never be
Indeed, indeed, tomorrow's world is but what we in our dreams, now see.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dec-2006 to Jan-2008.

Notes from Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7

2007-12-15T10:56:00.000-08:00

I was just reading through the Chapter 7 of Bhagavad Gita , on Gyana Vigyana Yoga (published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur in Telugu).

These are a few notes and observations I made based on my attempts to understand it.

In slokas 4 and 5, Lord Krishna describes Arjuna about various natures and attributes of Himself.
"My nature is of the eight forms: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Sky, Mind (manas), Intellect (buddhi), Ego (ahankAra). This eight-formed nature of Mine is called "aparA" or "jadA". Besides this, I have another nature, encompassing and pervading the entire Universe, called "parA" or "chethanA", which is My personification in living form. "

Continuing in sloka 6:
"O Arjuna! All living beings of the this world, are evolved from these natures of Mine. I am the cause for the birth of this Universe and its annihilation. That is to say, I am the origin and primary cause of the existence of the entire Universe."

I found it very interesting in sloka 8 and have added something to what I understood from the sloka:
Lord Vishnu continues:
"Arjuna! I am the fluidity in water, I am the light in the Sun and Moon. I am the primitive syllable "Aum" in all of the Vedas, I am the sound in the space, and I am the Pourusha (Power or Strength) in the man."
My interpretation of this sloka is two-fold:
1) Krishna is trying to explain that He is the essence of every object, living or non-living. The basic nature of water is that it flows, and hence fluidity is one of its primary attributes, we see the Sun and Moon attribute them as the source of light in the days and nights respectively. Aum is the basic and most commonly used syllable in the Vedas, most often employed as the first syllable before the mantras or slokas. Pourusha is a characteristic of a masculine nature.
2) Krishna is the Energy inside/of everything. Water has this internal energy and the surface tension and the capillary properties, this energy is Krishna. Light is a form of energy. Aum is considered to have a very powerful affect when chanted, increasing one's energy levels and open the mind to receive cosmic waves. Sound, the vibration, which as they say will never die in the space, is a form of energy. And the Pourusha could mean the strength or power (in a man) which is a form of energy. So, Krishna is the ever-existing energy, which can neither be created nor be destroyed!!! Or should we say, the one who does not have a birth or death!!

In sloka 10, Krishna says to Arjuna "Know me to be the eternal and primeval seed of the all the elements in the world. I am the "intelligence" of the intelligent and I am the "lustre" of the brilliant."

In sloka 16, the Bhagavan describes the four kinds of people who are attracted to Him, in other words, the four kinds of His devotees:
"(a) those who perform their duties and work for fruitful results and prosperity and wealth, with good deeds (arthArtho)
(b) those who are physically or mentally depressed and are in agony (ArtHaha)
(c) those who are disinterested in worldy objects and desire to inquire into the nature and seek the knowledge of the paramAtma, the God (jigyAsuhu) and
(d) those who are blessed with divine knowledge and enlightened (gyAni)".

He goes onto say in the next sloka that, "of the above 4 devotees, the gyAni is the best. The gyAni likes me the best, as He seeks to know (or knows about) My Being. Even I like him the best over the other three."

The rest of the chapter also explains how one can attain the Lord Himself with examples of worshipping multiple dieities (polytheism), the duality of happiness and sorrow due to likes and dislikes of human beings, and the ultimate freedom from the cycle of births and deaths.

In the slokas 29-30, the God assures Arjuna that: "those who are seeking a liberation from the endless cycle of births and deaths, will attain the ultimate knowledge of the parabrahma (God), entire dynamics of the relation between the Supreme Spirit and the individual soul (spiritual knowledge) and everything about the Karma. Those who, with their diligent efforts and determined mind, know Me, the one who is the prime among all the elements, deities and sacred rituals, will eventually reach Me."

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dec 15, 2007.

Lost in your thoughts---Lyrics

2007-12-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

it's a shame
i didn't know you earlier
it's your name
that my heart beats for, can't you hear?
i sing to myself,
i tell to myself
as it were,
lost in your thoughts.....lost in your thoughts......

now i see, how it was meant to be
now i feel, it's better gotta be real
this time goes on like the wily wind
carries me into that eternity--
where the stars still shine in the day,
where the nights are sure bright by the bay;
and i stay alone to myself
talking of love to myself,
as it were,
lost in your thoughts.....lost in your thoughts......

glad that it went so easily
there was no room for being sorry;
thankfulness, for this kind bliss
parting ways without a gentle kiss:
it could have been even more worse
words would have sounded like a curse.
a dream within myself,
filled with a memory of myself...
as it were,
lost in your thoughts.........lost in your thoughts.......

lost in your thoughts, i am still alive
lost in your thoughts, i have survived
lost in your thoughts, i am breathing
lost in your thoughts, i am still alive

lost in your thoughts, i am dying
lost in your thoughts, i'm defeated
lost in your thoughts, i am losing
lost in your thoughts, i am dying

as it were...
lost in your thoughts........lost in your thoughts!!

siddartha pamulaparty

04 Dec, 2007

Some Day

2007-12-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

Some day the clouds will condense
Some day it will definitely rain
Some day your heart will surrender
Some day you’ll know my pain

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

(2002)

Sarvam Vishnoham

2007-11-13T18:10:00.001-08:00

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Nov 13 2007.

The theme behind my blog name: Pothana's Prayer

2007-11-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

Context:

The medieval Telugu poets had this tradition of starting their poetic works with an “indicator poem” in which the author prays to his favorite God and also try to indicate the subject of the book, an ancient kind of “Preface”. They considered having this poem in the beginning is auspicious and the completion of the book will not have any interruptions. So, Pothana in continuation of the tradition, wrote this as the preface for the epic Bhagavatam. He prays to the beloved deity Krishna in this poem.

Meaning:
“I shall contemplate on attaining the Kaivalya Pada, the ultimate abode free from bondage (Vaikunta). I offer my prayers to the Protector and Harnesser of the World, the Enthusiast of the art of Devotion, the One who controls and mitigates the anger garnered by the evil, the One who with whose playful pastime had caused the creation of many Universes, which He holds in His abdomen and protects like a clay pot that holds the water and keeps it pure, the sweet blessed child of Yashoda Devi and Nanda Deva, the beloved Sri Krishna. "

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Nov 10, 2007.

Gajendra Moksham - Part-2

2007-11-04T19:35:00.000-08:00

This is another poem from the epic of “Gajendramoksham”. When I was a kid, I couldn’t get the emotions behind this poem, but later on when I started thinking on my own, my eyes filled with tears whenever I read or heard this padyam. Of course I admit I am very emotional but I believe this poem will cause everyone a tinge of sorrow in their hearts at the plight of the elephant king and at the same filled with utmost devotion to the Ultimate Liberator, Sri Maha Vishnu.

Context:
The whole story of Gajendra Moksham is how the Elephant King gets “moksham”, the Telugu/Sanskrit word, the closest equivalent in English I can think of is absolute Liberation. The scene starts with the Elephant King leading his herd and moving across the thick forest towards the river for quenching their thirst. It is described very graciously that, as the herd moved, the Elephant King glowed with pride, and all the animals in the jungle get scared, as if the Earth shook during Pralaya, destruction of Universe. This is to show that the Elephant King was no mean guy, very strong, majestic, in his prime and proud too. When they start having water from the river, a crocodile gets a hold of the leg of the Gajendra. Even after a rough battle with it, Gajendra starts succumbing to the strong crocodile. Then he prays to Vishnu who saves him ultimately.
What Pothana (and Veda Vyasa) have depicted in this allegory, as far as my little mind could think of, is even such an individual, who lived with pride and did not care anyone, in times of distress, if prays to the God Vishnu, just by taking any of His thousand names, He will come to the rescue without a second thought. It is very well known according to many accounts, that Vishnu is a devotee lover. Only thing that can “affect” Vishnu who is generally calm and unperturbed is the pure devotion. As they say, surrender to Vishnu and He will surrender to you.

My Translation:
“There is not an ounce of strength remaining in my muscles. All the courage I vested has drained off. Living tissues across my limbs, arms, are all dying. I am about to faint. My body is tired. It is demanding me to put excessive efforts to sustain further. There is no one for me; You are the only One I have! I surrender totally unto You! Please have mercy on this weakling of me! O Vishnu, the Savior of distressed! Is it not time yet for You to come? Will not You save me, my Lord? O Protector of all beings, kindly come and rescue me with Your Divine grace!! ”

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Nov 4, 2007

Prahlada's beautiful answer to his father

2007-11-04T18:06:00.000-08:00

Encouraged by my pal Pradeep's comment, here I go attempting a couple of more translations of Pothana's poems. These poems were being sung to us at our home, my father especially I remember taught us to recite these padyams. Very fortunate of being born in my family, I am, in deed!!

From the story of Prahlada in the Bhagavatam, this is yet another beautiful piece of work from Pothana.
Context: Hiranyakashipa is a powerful Demon King who is a staunch enemy of Vishnu. His son Prahlada is the quite opposite of him and since his childhood is a great devotee of Vishnu. In this scene, Hiranyakashipa overcome with rage asks Prahlada “Where can I find Hari (Vishnu)?”. This poem is the answer of Prahlada to his father’s inquiry.
My Translation:
He (Vishnu) is inside the deep abyss, He is in the omnipresent atmosphere, over the sky, in the core of the Earth. He is also present in the fire, He is in days and nights. He is in the embodiments of the life-giving Sun, the pleasing Moon. He is in the sacred word AUM (the origin of sound), in the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. He is in women, men, eunuchs and in every person. He is everywhere, dear father! You do not need to put your efforts in determining whether He is here or there!! "

Further to this:

“Listen O the prime among the Demons (Rakshasas/Danavas)!! Do not doubt whether The One who has the Sudharshana Chakra as his weapon, Sree Hari (Vishnu) is here and not there and so on. He is present in every place. He is the One whose grace all can seek. It is the inability of those who do not search for Him, that He is not found. Wherever you search Him, He will be there!”

I referred to the E-Book "Potana Kavita Sudha: Commentary by Dr. P. Yashodha Reddy " the first paperback copy of which was printed by Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy in 1983 for the grammatical correctness of the padyams.

Click on the title of the post to watch a video from Bhaktha Prahlada with Sri S.V.Ranga Rao as the Hiranyakasapa. I believe Smt. P. Susheela has rendered the padyams for young Prahalada, played by Rojaramani.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Nov 4, 2007.

Mediocre But Arrogant--- A review

2007-11-04T12:01:00.000-08:00

I bought a couple of books before I started my journey to US. One of them is Mediocre But Arrogant by Abhijit Bhaduri. I read it completely in a couple of days.

The book is about a guy Abbey who joins a B-school and the way his life transforms in the years he spends in the school is the essense of the book. The best thing I liked about it is the style of narration. Everytime I read a work of fiction, I tend to imagine myself in the shoes of one of the central characters. And more so if it is a first person narration. Earlier books like "And now Miguel" by Krumgold, which I read when I was very young cast a deep impression on me and somehow I love the first person narration. Very few books give me a feeling that the author is narrating "my imaginary story" with "me" narrating the story. MBA is one such book and I would have lost count of the number of instances in the story when I actually felt it is me narrating it in the form of Abbey. What all I am saying is that I could readily identify with the character in the book, with absolute ease and no heavy imagination required.

The friends of Abbey, his lovers and the characters of Prof.'s like Hathi (Hathaway) were all very familiar. Anyone who went to a professional college not necessarily a B-school could easily identify the typical characters around. But let me warn you, this doesn't make the characters stereotyped. In fact, there is some kind of freshness in the entire plot.

It is very important to mention the character of Abbey's friend Rascal Rusty. This character provides a unique yet curiously nostalgic flavour of someone who you look up to. The mystery and riddles associated with Rusty was very well presented. Adding another feather to the crown to Abbey's story.

On the whole, it is a book you must read,
(1) if you had enjoyed the college days spending more time with friends than books and assignments, hanging out, getting caught etc.
(2) if you were too busy with acads and often wonder what you missed in college, and if given a chance to live it through again, what would you do?

Well, now you know, which category I belong to (with my emphasis on the point (2) above).

All in all a great entertainer, full of fun, vivid incidents and a decent story telling.

Now, there's a sequel due from Abhijit, which he calls "Married But Available". I am just too curious when the book will hit the shelf!!

I recommended this MBA to all my friends who are into books and hopefully one day, as the talk is if a movie is made out of it, I shall recommend all my friends to see it!!!
So, if you get a chance grab it, relax on an afternoon in the weekend and dream away to a life full of dreams and miseries (depending on which character you suit!!) , and get a good laugh!!!

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Nov 4, 2007.

An excerpt from Sri Pamulaparthi Sadasiva Rao's Gyana Siddhantham

2007-11-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

This is a humble attempt to transliterate an excerpt from the Gyana Siddhantam, a treatise on The Theory of Knowledge, my grandfather Sri Pamulaparthi Sadasiva Rao had written (published by Visalandhra Publications). The Gyana Siddhantam was in turn a translation of Francis M. Cornford's "Plato's Theory of Knowledge: The Theaetetus and The Sophist". I must admit that the following translation is not to compare the literary and philosophical scholarship of either Mr. Cornford or my grandfather but a devout dedication to my beloved grandfather.

The principle (theory) of knowledge (Epistemology) should describe the transformation of human thought (intellect). It becomes obvious to scrutinize the human thought process through ages, the fundamental basis of these thoughts and the process of relating (reflecting) these thoughts onto the actual facts. Tatva Philosophy is the specialized branch of epistemology that deals with the thoughts, contemplations and the definition or determination of these phenomenon. However, often it is observed in philosophic discussions a question "Whether this thought (theory) is greater than the other thought (theory)?" and the subsequent arguments. This is inevitable, because the individuals (who author the certain thoughts/theories) are almost always associated as "thinking-machines" (think-tanks) similar to the context of defining the objects in the physical world. Evidently, merely considering "thoughts" as objects and the above mentioned point of view does not solve the problem of discerning the evolution of thought process.

Moreover, for the same reason, artificial and baseless inquiries like "Is the pen mightier or the sword?" or "Does the seed come first or the tree?" have come into existence. The practical use or applicability of these kind of inquiries is an absolute nought. Despite this fact, innocent inquiries like these fill up most of the papers and publications today. With no involvement of the actual material objects like the pen or the sword, to compare them whimsically or without any implication of the materially existing seeds and trees, to investigate which came first, is not the way to approach the problems. On the contrary it is nothing different from "day-dreaming."

In the similar fashion, in philosophy, several doctrines and arguments revolve around the God and the Soul. Owing to this nature of discussions in wide circulation, the common class of people have formed an opinion that philosophy is for those who have nothing better to do, and hence do not heed to this branch of science.

(A) To avoid the above mentioned confusion, it is extremely important to be cautious and employ tools like "materialism". The materialistic principles define a systematic examination of factual nature of thoughts and the subsequent actions associated with these thoughts.

(B) However, the materialistic approach alone cannot determine the evolution of thought process. To determine it, instead of just the peripheral material nature of the thought, a wholistic approach, examining the roots of the thought, various stages and directions it had traversed through, in a factual manner is needed. To do so, a "historical perspective" is required.

(C) A historical perspective encompasses the study of the evolution of the socio-economic establishments and the level of sophistication of knowledge in these establishments associated with the thought.

The "theory of knowledge" combines these two approaches (namely "materialism" and "historical perspective") in determination of the evolution of thought. Following these approaches, this science has detailed out the evolution of the state of mind/existence (the thought), beginning from the "reflex actions" (of instinct) to a totally liberated, conscious collective thought of the entire human race.

Note: There could be mistakes due to my limited knowledge in understanding the actual Telugu version. Kindly bear with them. Also, this is not a doctrine and the readers are not tempted to hold this to conviction.

- Siddartha Pamulaparty

Nov 4, 2007/

Translation of Lord Vishnu's own words

2007-11-03T23:20:00.000-07:00

Today, I went to the Hindu Temple of Lake County Illinois, for a little peace of mind. The statue of Rama had attracted me a lot. The smile on His face was amazing.

Anyways, I am a great admirer of Pothana of Bammera, who translated the Veda Vyasa's Srimadh Bhagavatam into Telugu. His poetry is endowed with great gift of using the metaphors (alankaras). I do not think any of the Adi Kavi's of Telugu can match the poetic exuberance of Pothana. Here is an interesting note from Pothana's life I heard so many times from various sources. He wrote the whole Bhagavatam with a great devotion. While writing the famous "Gajendramoksham" portion of the God's Story, there was a scene in which the author, Pothana had to describe the interior of Vaikunta, the paradise of Vishnu. Pothana suffered an immense pain, as he could not find the right words to describe the abode of the great Vishnu. In modern times, you could say he faced a writer's block. He could not visualize something people only dream of seeing, the ultimate destiny for liberation, the Vaikunta. He left the book there and he went for a stroll to attend to his agricultural duties, as farming was his livelihood. When he returned, he saw that the poem that describes the interior of Vaikunta to his bewilderment!! When he enquired his daughter on who wrote that in his absence, she mentioned that he (Pothana) himself came and finished those lines and went back. Pothana then realized that the great Vishnu Bhagavan, Himself came to his rescue and completed the poem. That is probably the reason, Pothana says: palikinchedi vadu Ramabhadrudata (i.e. the one who is speaking on my behalf of this Bhagavatha is Rama Himself!!) and dedicated the epic to Bhagavan Rama.

Here is the original poem in Telugu. I had dared to attempt to translate it to English, after trying to identify the most appropriate words in English for the beautiful verse in Telugu, which like Pothana, I believe the God wrote Himself:

అల వైకుంఠపురంబులో నగరిలో నామూలసౌధంబు దా
పల మందారవనాంతరామృత సరః ప్రాంతేందుకాంతోప లో
త్పలపర్యంక రమావినోది యగునాపన్నప్రసన్నుండు వి
హ్వలనా గేంద్రము పాహి పాహి యనఁగుయ్యాలించి సంరంభియై.

Yonder in the great city of Vaikunta, further within the interior of chief quarters of the august palace, to the left side, inside the dense woods of the fragrant Crown flower trees, on the shores of the ambrosial (lactescent) lake called the Amrutha Sarovaram, reclined over the couch adorned by the consorts of the Moon- the blue lotuses, the unperturbed, the pleased and the gracious Vishnu, rejoicing with Lakshmi, swung to His feet in haste, when He heard the cry, “Save! O Save”, of the distressed and shaken Elephant King !!

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Nov 04, 2007.

At Walden- Part 2

2007-08-06T16:44:00.001-07:00

"Walden" was first published in 1854, a 2000 copies print by Ticknor and Fields. It mostly comprises of Thoreau's life in the woods between July 4, 1845 to September 6, 1857. It is considered by some wise men as one of the most influential works in American literature.

To me, "Walden" is a paradise of wisdom, an epitome of Truth in the simplest verses. Well, then let us sojourn again into the wilderness.

ECONOMY

In most books, the I, or first person is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main difference.

(This shows his characteristic of the importance of self, and the individualistic spirit of being).

In the rest of the chapter Thoreau details out the financial account details of all the experiments that failed and that finally succeeded, and of course the wonderful philosophy about life. In front of the Thoreau's cabin replica at the Walden Pond Conservative in concord is an excerpt from this chapter. The below is a photograph of the same.

WHERE I LIVED, AND WHAT I LIVED FOR

This perhaps is the zenith of the masterpiece. All the underlined philosophy of Thoreau's experiments and the wise learnings must have been put under this chapter alone. Excerpts follow.

The chapter begins with a basic fact, which I myself have personally experienced during my travels through my own country as well as in the far-off soils.

At a certain season of our life we are accustomed to consider every spot as the possible site of a house.

Then it reminds of Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" when Thoreau states:

I have frequently seen a poet withdraw, having enjoyed the most valuable part of a farm, while the crusty farmer supposed that he had got a few wild apples only. Why, the owner does not know it for many years when a poet has put his farm in rhyme, the most admirable kind of invisible fence, has fairly impounded it, milked it, skimmed it, and got all the cream, and left the farmer only the skimmed milk.

More aphorisms follow:

I have no doubt that time discriminates between the good and the bad; and when at last I shall plant, I shall be less likely to be disappointed.
As long as possible live free and uncommitted. (Again, the foremost of the three principles of my own life, derived from Thoreau).
The morning wind forever blows, the poem of creation is uninterrupted; but few are the ears that hear it. Olympus is but the outside of the earth every where.

And then there are references to the Hindu texts (Hindoo as Thoreau would spell it), which being a born Hindu, I have had to shamelessly learn from Thoreau, who lived about 8000 miles from my land.

The Harivansa says, " An abode without birds is like a meat without seasoning".

"There are none happy in the world but beings who enjoy freely a vast horizon" - said Damodara, when his herds required new and larger pastures.

The Vedas say, "All intelligences awake with the morining."

I have read in a Hindoo book, that "There was a king's son, who, being expelled in infancy from his native city, was brought up by a forester, and growing up to the maturity in that state, imagined himself to belong to the barbarous race with which he lived. One of his father's ministers having discovered him, revealed to him what he was, and the misconception of his character was removed, and he knew himself to be a prince. So soul", continues the Hindoo philosopher, "from the circumstances in which it is placed, mistakes its own character, until the truth is revealed to it by some holy teacher, and then it knows itself to be Brahme".

There are several such references to Hindoo texts, the Vedas and other scriptures from the breadth of the book.

I, myself, am not a morning person, yet in some occasions, when I have the glimpse of the morning sky even before the sun begins to rise, the following lines do truly explain the exhilerating feeling I get:

The morning, which is the most memorable season of the day, is the awakening hour.

To sum up, his basic point of living at Walden:

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

One more personal favorite and every time I see that fad on T-Shirts that says "I was born intelligent. Education ruined me", I am tempted to quote to the person wearing that, Thoreau said:

I have always been regretting that I was not as wise as the day I was born. The intellect is a cleaver; it discerns and rifts its way into the secret of things.

READING

A written word is the choicest of relics.

The symbol of an ancient man's thought becomes a modern man's speech.

It is not all books that are as dull as their readers.

It is time that villages were universities, and their elder inhabitants the fellows of universities, with leisure- if they are indeed so well off- to pursue liberal studies the rest of their lives.

If it is necessary, omit one bridge over the river, go round a little there, and throw one arch at least over the darker gulf of ignorance which surrounds us.

Well here again, I believe there is so much of thought involved and like me, I believe the readers would really appreciate, what I offer to them now and in the next part of this series... SOLITUDE.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty.

August 06, 2007.

At Walden Part-1

2007-08-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

It could perhaps fit for this account to be called "On Walden" too, however, since I want to emphasize the joy I derived, when my dream came true, when I visited Walden in the New England spring this year (2007), which had prompted me to call it "At Walden". As people who know me, hopefully do agree that I am usually a modest person, I do admit here that this essay of mine, is not to exercise efforts to evaluate the genius of Thoreau, nor to defend against many accomplished gentlemen and women of great minds who did not accept Thoreau in the first place. It is my humble attempt to offer to my readers, the influence and inspiration of Thoreau in my life, which is of late been of the sorts of "quite desperation", while I struggle to learn what it has to offer.

Ever since I first read the account of Henry David Thoreau's life in my High School English Course, I felt fascinated about the Walden Pond and the 19th Century New England. What attracted most is the idea of living independently in woods, in a cabin built by your own hands!! It is more like an adventure, like the Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss or the classic Treasure Island by Stevenson or more recently like Tom Hanks' motion picture (based on a true story, I heard) 'Castaway'. And I always had this dream of living in solitude with lots of books in my wooden cabin.

After a long time, I bought the "Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau" published by the Bantam Classics series (March 1981 edition, Edited by Joseph Wood Krutch) on the 27th day of September, 2003 in a bookstore in Spencer's Plaza, Chennai. I started reading the random chapters Walden and the other essays.

The essay on "Life Without Principle", was one of the first I completed from the book. I am quoting some of the beautiful lines from this essay that I had underlined in my copy of the book for readers of my blog might enjoy them the same way I did and have been since these four odd years. Where I could, I will try and put my thoughts and feelings relevant to these influential words of Thoreau.

LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE

I think that there is nothing, not even crime, more opposed to poetry, to philosophy, ay, to life itself, than this incessant business.

My interpretation of this lines may differ from those who might be surprised at the statement and find it too hard to accept, that the importance of the businesses of people which ought to have the involvement of the art, wisdom and compassion that the poetry, phiolosophy and life offer to us in that order, are being neglected. And moreover the next statement explains that things such as business, politics and the daily routine will never be of higher significance, if not equal to the finer aspects of life.

Those things which now most engage the attention of men, as politics and the daily routine, are, it is true, vital functions of human society, but should be unconsciously performed, like the corresponding functions of the physical body.

Perhaps, the transcendatalistic nature of Thoreau is quite evident with the statement above, that he separates the mind, may be more appropriately the soul, from the physical body.

I would like to quickly go on to that part of the book, where Mr. Krutch and his team had compiled excerpts from Thoreau's Journal which was originally published in Emerson's The Dial.

That aim in the life is highest which requires the highest and finest discipline. How much, what infinite leisure it requires, as of a life-time, to appreciate a single phenomenon!

The profoundness of this one is obvious. It is not that Thoreau did not give us the humour side of him. For instance:

There are some things which God may afford to smile at; man cannot.

Indeed, it is equally profound as the earlier, but I like this better, because it brings a smile onto your lips, at least for the instance, no matter what kind of situation you are in.

Then there comes may be the world's most influential literature of the times that followed Thoreau, the CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. The great Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr, leaders who have led millions of people, have been deeply influenced by this single essay from the wisdom of Thoreau. Here go a few underlined phrases from this essay, which I do not think I have enough courage or wisdom to provide my own comments. This is not a dogma, that my faith in Thoreau's words are like that of a religion, but it is easy to comprehend that the simplicity of these words shout the most shrilling echo of Truth in my ears.

That government is best which governs least; That governement is best which governs not at all.

The only oblligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right. (This infact is one of the principles of my life I embraced from Thoreau)

There are numerous such moments when I journeyed through these pages of the book, where filled with deep contemplation I have sensed inside myself, something beyond which was otherwise the obvious.

I have completed reading the following chapters of Walden:

'Complimental Verses', 'Where I lived, and what I lived for', 'Reading', 'Solitude', 'Higher Laws'.

Most of the time I keep re-reading the same chapters and the condition of my book, wear-and-tear shows how much I used it.

Before I get into the details of my actual trip to the Walden at Concord, MA, I would like to pause here, like what I usually do during when I read books, to ensure my thoughts consume the depth of what I gained so far. In the next part, I will try and explain more of my experience of being at Walden, the Pond and at the same time like today, quote the wonderful phrases from Walden the book.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

August, 6 2007.

Ammamma--my granny

2007-08-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

I have always shared a warm and loving relationship with my grandmother. In fact, I think she had made me feel special and liked me more than her other grandchildren.Perhaps, this is because I am the only boy among all her grandchildren, in her proximity. She used to stay very often with us in Hyderabad earlier and also in Warangal after we moved there. Although I have many experiences with her during my childhood I would like to put some things I am really fond of. During my 2nd grade and 3rd grades in school, I used to make excuses like stomach-ache or head-ache in order to avoid going to school. And when I succeeded in convincing my mom, I used to stay home along with my granny. After an hour after lunch each day, I used to adjust the clock's pointers so that the time showed 3.00pm which was our tea-time. I used to wake her up and ask her to make tea as it was our tea time. She used to get up and make the tea and later on when she came to know that I was playing with the clock, she used to laugh away. She was so patient and was never angry with me.I love to eat when she cooks food. In fact, my most favorite dish of all time is the "Shanigapindi Billala Kura and Billala Antupulusu" that she cooks so well. My mom and aunts also cook it, but they don't match the standards that she has set. I had and still have a really great relationship with her. Only now that I don't get enough time to spend with her.I love her folk songs, her anecdotes, her own childhood stories of encountering ghosts in Bollikunta. Everything that she used to narrate was really fascinating. I had never been to a village all my life but, when I recollect her experiences that she shared with me, I feel a part of me grew up in the country-side too. My personal experiences and observations with my grandmother say that, she is a caring, loving granny to me and a shrewd, strong, venerable and dignified woman to the world she lived in.I will always cherish the moments I had spent with her during my childhood even as I continue to see and listen more of her now.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

2006.

[i] pourquoi amour maux [/i]

2007-07-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

If she's alone, let her know I am waiting
For, ever since we had parted, I never slept
As I was afraid that I will forget
The sweet dreams I saw of her for the last time.
My eyes have swelled into oceans of tears
The pieces of my broken heart are still beating
And every sound made by the blowing wind
Reminds me of melodies of her unheard songs.
The smile that she had, perhaps was the culprit
That transformed myself into a lover
I remember still those first words that I wrote
And kept writing the same forever and ever.

If she's alone and there is no other
To shower her with the flowers of love
To hold her warmly and shield her from cold
To weep and wash the dust from her feet-
Let me be the one, first to know
Since she shall no more deny the Truth
That my admiration is acknowledged
That my feelings have a nobler meaning.
Not all memories are just as sweet
Not all journies with their destinies meet
She knows as well as I understand
That things too precious can never be held
Nor can they be let go and lost.

If she's alone, pray, sing to her
Those words I kept humming to myself
Like the shy devotee, standing at the altar
Of the temple of love, praising the Goddess.
Times have never been the same always
Nor seasons, nature nor nights nor days
But there are things that never change:
As the Sun rises always on the east
As the thunder- clouds will cause the rains
So also my sufferings of the pains
Shall endure all the false pleasures.
My love for her shall never cease to be
Since she is still the most beautiful to me.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

July 14-16, 2007

The Lost Photograph

2007-07-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

That evening was no ordinary
For you were sitting by my side
Close to each other, were you and me
Yet I was still trying to hide
The hunger of a burning fire
To open secrets of my little heart
At your feet and then with heed start
To let it out: this strong desire
In the form of words I often spoke;
You heard those before in the past
You knew that memories wouldn't last
If this silence was never broke
With a whisper or better a gesture
Like exchanging notes with our eyes
And understand, what's true, what's lies;
"Could we have, of us, taken a picture?"
It was you, who asked to my surprise
Interrupting my struggle all this while
To ask you the same, and then smile
For I was sure that I will win my prize.
Friends and cameras did their work
And trapped us for eternity
Or so I thought,I could not see
That somethings die just in the dark.
The photograph was lost in space
There was no chance since we parted ways
But I swear, that best were those days
When I used to see your lovely face
Now I brood in my loneliness
For there is not a single day
That your image was erased away
From my thoughts that swell in grace.
I regret that I could not hold
I could not forgive my weak strength
In that whole time of four months length
To kiss your lips, I was never bold.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty
Dt: 07 July 2007

The Birth

2007-07-07T16:47:00.001-07:00

Not always does my pen go on
Not everyday I write
But at times, when I'm alone
And with myself begin to fight
I stray into the oblivion
And see an unseen light.
I hear strange voices
Spoken in unknown tongues
I feel the world around me
Has transformed overnight.
Every object I then sense
Inspires me with great delight
And thoughts start pouring
Deep from within my mind.
I then struggle day and night
To scribble those ideas bright.

(That is pretty much how
Some of my poems have born.)

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

April, 2007.

Ignore the Roses

2007-06-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

ignore the roses, for their fate is to wilt
how long will the bloom and the fragrance endure?
born amidst cruel thorns full of sorrow and guilt
grown into cruel petals and profoundly impure;

with all false pride and in the mirthless joy
they swell in the bounty of their bloody hue
and smirk at the gentle lotuses that buoy
over the noble ponds of holy waters blue.

ignore the roses, for they're no immortal souls
losing virginity while climbing up the bowers
vain attempt to reach the heavens, what unreal goals
!ever so inappropriate, these damned poor flowers!

Siddartha Pamulaparty

June 20.2007

another song

2007-06-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

somebody said she was a schoolboy's dream
someone confessed, hell, she's hot like steam
some people fought to just stand by her side
the idiots they were, could never really hide
the passion that this girl had started in their hearts
this looks of her were shooting love-stained darts.......

she was just a girl and i was her guy
untill i kissed her and said goodbye
well, if it wasn't for that goddamn night
my arms would still be hugging her tight

it wasn't me, it was all her fault
she should've known it right from the start
i loved her deeply from the bottom of my heart
she played fun with it, and tore it apart

she hid her mind, I thought she's afraid
"I love you, lady", it was true what I said
she was so gentle and polite alright
but hell what she did in the last was not right!

o baby! i am so very sorry for your plight
there's still time, it's not yet end of the night.

Destination Heaven

2007-06-05T21:32:00.000-07:00

The following is a prose-style poetry I attempted inspired by the style of Rabindranath Tagore.
I was not as mature as I am today when I wrote it about 5 years back.

The southern winds while on their pilgrimage to the North, touch me delicately, when I am deep in my thoughts. They prompt me to stay awake- lest I miss the event that I eagerly await: the moment of glory, when you- with your gentle stride, cross through the path of my dreams…….

Ever since the sun broke into the azure sky early in the day, I have been suffering from the animosities of folks, whom I thought were my kith and kin. The very thought of being with them is now crippling my heart- leaving no ground for me to stand upon.

After a day-long struggle to still be alive, here I am, at your feet dieing to live, like an unfortunate sailor full of thirst, who survived a miserable wreckage. I lost all my consciousness and fainted out of distress, with failing efforts to regain my strength.

I know not what happened between the time that I fainted and that when I opened my eyes to see your cherubic face, iridescent with colors of hope, love, surprise, truth, affection, care and support……

And before I could utter the first word of praise, you stroked my hair with elixir-pouring fingers of yours that rejuvenated and invigorated my pain-struck anatomy. With your smooth palm resting on my forehead, I felt like I am in a safe haven, free from the dirt of the world I belonged to……

The hot sun, which hurt me since the early day, has now no more boldness to stay in the sky. With you near me, the hard day has now transformed into an Elysian eve. The melodious songs of the little love-birds in the woods have suddenly come to a halt, when you spoke the sweetest tongue that I have ever heard:

“Be laid O sailor! Don’t try to rise; the harsh winds are over and now the gentle breezes are in. You will be safe in my arms and I shall protect you from the pain…

“Tell me O sailor! Slowly, while you still rest in my hands, of what storms and rains have you been through the day? What sins have you done to be punished in this way?”

The words that you said were let straight into my heart through my ears, and a strange fluid began to run, which finally deluged from my eyes in the form of tears.

And as you were about to wet your warm hands by touching my tears, I held them away fearing that they get hurt.

“O my lady! To you, I shall say, all the words of love I know. This world of hatred and bawdiness has made me lonely and aloof.

“O my lady! The day that I went through was as horrible as my death would be. Venomous snakes all around me were hissing the sounds that have shaken me.

“O my lady! I felt as though my life has come towards its end. I knew not what I was waiting for, until I came into you.

“I had no friends to help me to live. I thought I must die before it was dawn. But now, I feel I am in the Paradise.”

Saying these words I glanced into your eyes-full of dreams. Those innocent eyes with an unknown truth in them were eagerly speaking out to mine. Our eyes then communed in the languages- not yet deciphered by the great human civilization.

Even before it thundered up there in the Heavens, you helped me to stand on my own. And as we gradually began walking amidst the effulgent flower-bearing vegetation of the woods, the clouds touched each other as if a passionate kiss and caused the rain to pour.

“This way, my sailor! Let me take you to the place, where you will forget all your grief and find solace. To you, I promise, you will live again.”

You held my arm with yours and led me diligently into the deeper woods. I felt that I won the battle of my life when, together, we crossed the graceful bridge which ran over the aggressive wild-waters. The care that you had for me was acting like an anodyne for my ever-aching heart.

Just as it grew darker, we were at last at the door of your beautiful shelter: a spiritual cottage, which must have been woven with love and truth. We went inside it and the night was darker than ever. You left me on a couch that was so comfortable and then lit a candle that gloomed like the Divine light. In that bright luminosity, your face, as I saw, looked like the full-moon, only without those dark spots.

“Tell me O sailor! How do you feel now? What shall I do for you to make you forget your hunger?”

“O my lady! What feelings are you talking about? Where is the hunger? I have no hunger since I have seen you… My life has now changed with your advent into it. The rain has never been so pleasant. The night has never been so silent……

“O my love! I have forgotten the miserable screams of the suffered and the hissings of the lethal reptiles. I am free from the cruel intentions of the tyrannical world……

“O my Angel! The monsters have broken my heart and you saved my life. Your love is what I have always been craving for. For you, I survived the fatal war between me and the world.”

“O my sailor! O my lover! Do not say a single word more than that… I know what you have been through all the day; I too, was waiting for you all through the way. Let me give you Love that will soothe your pains. Let me shade your wretched body from the heavy rains.”… The words of love never seemed to cease gushing out of your lips……

And when the time came for me to leave to the Divine Abode, you kissed on my dreary and dead eyes. “Finally”, I thought, “Salvation has separated me from you.

“O what pity! The moments of glory are always ephemeral. The gracious evening was so evanescent while the suffering day was much infinite.”

My soul, for the last time, allowed my heart to love your white body, which was trembling due to the cold of the night. “Let our souls be joined together on the way to reach the All-Pervading. Come out, leave that trembling body and be my soul-mate on my upward journey.”

That was the call of my soul to yours and the last words of love that were ever spoken on this planet.

Far away, a couple of birds started to fly mysteriously to nowhere in the enormous sky.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

29/March/2002.

Another Birthday Song

2007-05-29T17:21:00.000-07:00

From Deep Within My Heart, Another Song For You!
Though 'tis late, and time's gone, the memories will never die.

Days seemed lost in the year gone by
Yet I still remember that blissful day
When my love was born, the sun was up in the sky
And never since went down into the wanting bay;
The tender buds transformed into eternal blossoms
And by the name of roses forever did stay;
When shone upon my basking soul
On this morn, yet another bright new ray
I woke up in the woods of thoughts
To wish my Dream a beautiful birthday!

Siddartha Pamulaparty

May 26 2007

Dear _ __

2007-04-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

An experiment with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word

I was lost in my old sweet days
Though still in truth I held my ways
To make love to the one I saw
In dreams that you did start to draw
In my plain mind with your white hands
With bright new hues of all great lands
Yet like the great bard of my art
Am filled with awe for my lone heart

Siddartha Pamulaparty
April 23, 2007.

మృత్యువు- ఒక ప్రార్ధన

2007-02-21T18:38:00.000-08:00

జాజిమల్లివై
కల్పవల్లివై
నా తల్లివై
నీతో తీసుకుపోవా?

అనురక్తివై
శ్రీహరిభక్తివై
జీవనముక్తివై
నీలో ఏకం చేసుకోవా?

సిద్ధార్థా పాములపర్తి

22 Feb 2007

నా మోదటి తెలుగు కవిత

2007-02-21T14:59:00.000-08:00

ఏ దిశలో చుచిన
నాకాశలు అగుపించక
ప్రతి నిశమున నేనే
ఋషినై సత్యాన్వేషణలో.....

నా ఎదలో ఏదో రాగం
వినిపిన్చిన ప్రతిస్పన్దనలో
నా అదరములు పలికిన
పదముల ప్రతిద్వనిలో....

ఏ మార్గము ఎచ్చటికో
అని ఆలొచించిన
అదె నిముశములో
నాకై నేనే ఈ పాటను
ఆలపిన్చికుంటునాను!

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Feb 20, 2007.

Happy Birthday Poe

2007-02-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

You are too old now, you know?
And have been dead since long ago!
Guess everyone in times does grow
Become senile or diseased or go
Into the graves and sleep low.
You are not one of them, oh no!
Like me there are many who owe
Our souls of art to your grove
Planted with seeds, you did sow!!
On this day and many times after now
Let me admit in front of your Divine glow
Often you cause a deep frown on my brow
Shoot me with arrows off your witty bow.
Happy Birthday, my dear Poe,
The great bard Edgar Allan Poe.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Poe's Bday (Jan 19), 2007.

A Fool I am

2007-02-17T16:05:00.000-08:00

If life is not
as simple as
The morning skies
or the evening rains!
If living was not
as easy as
Walking in the
graceful woods!
If death was not
just a temporary stop
Like the halting at
a railroad crossing!
Then all my thoughts are
a wasteful lot!
And all my works
a futile effort!

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Feb 17 2007.

Laugh, laugh and laugh

2007-02-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

That burning of the red hot fire
Could it ever equal that of my desire?
Those innumerous waves at the ocean front
Are they more endless than my trains of thought?
The nocturnal noises of the beasts in dark wilderness
Are they more defeaning than my silence?
The sweetest melodies of the singing larks
Are they any match to my bitter inner voice?
The perennial streams of the mighty rivers
What would they be compared to my tears?

I laugh to myself, at my own stand
The foolishness I could not understand!
Who cares to listen to these futile words?
Who has time to console my feelings?
Ha Ha Ha Ha, I laugh aloud again
Who can stop me from enjoying my great pains?

(I know not one would sing my songs
As they are as insignificant as myself.)

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: Feb 17, 2007.

Random Thoughts

2007-02-16T22:26:00.000-08:00

Hello. I just wanted to write down what's running through my mind presently.
I have been living life, always trying to figure out some kind of puzzle: the meaning of my life and the reason for my existence.
I had believed and still believe that the one single cause, purpose and reason of my life is my mother. Without her, I wouldn't have been born, wouldn't have done any good thing, in essence, I wouldn't have a life without her.
I do respect my father and love him with all my heart. I think I grew wise enough to understand my relationships. To me, the one person I would be prepared to die, even if you ask me at the next minute after you read my essay, it would be my mother. She is the single most important person in my life.

But then, beyond the emotional and sentimental values, there must be something reasonable for other parts of my life. I have depended, shamelessly like a parasite on my friendships to live away, especially the past few years. If I had no friends in these times, I do not know what would I have done to myself, given the pessimistic approach I have of the world and life.

Now, before finally getting back to what exactly is happening in my head, I have a few more words to share. I want to define a couple of words that might have same sense when looked at superficially, but have tremendous difference when you look in detail. The words are: "loneliness" and "solitude".

Solitude is something I adore and have always wanted in my life. I always fantacised of getting wrecked on a ship I was sailing and marooned on an island. The only things left to me being a huge set of books. I love solitude, being all alone for myself, contemplating on my real being. It doesn't mean I cannot be in solitude when I am living amongst people, I don't need to be isolated per se. All I need is to be myself and be with myself for some time.

On the other hand: loneliness. This is a feeling when you start missing something in life. You may be amidst with many people, living with them, spending most of the time with them. But when you try and get some sleep at the night and ask yourself, what's missing, you have an answer: "everything that has meaning to me".

So I am currently in a state somewhere between being solitary and lonely.

I am a spiritual person and I believe in god. I have my love for philosophy and the finer things in life like poetry and music. But there is something I am missing. Some feeling deep inside me, screams and shouts aloud, defeaning my ears that this is not what I wanted or dreamed of.

May be I should quit my job and go back to my home and then possibly I will know the meaning of life. I could probably sense at every minute the need of my existence, the importance of my being, the reason of my passing time each minute.

As I read in a cartoon book today: "Every now and then I feel justified for the reason of my existence." And when the frequency of this feeling is too often then I can sense my true worth and value myself, by body, mind and soul.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

Feb 16, 2007.

Valentine---Blast from the Past

2007-02-14T17:04:00.000-08:00

The evening roses have blossomed again
Cool sea breezes remind me of the rain
Fluttering their wings, the flamingoes fly high
The sun has set letting the stars shine in the sky.
The love songs played from the radio station
Fill my heart with the same old sensation
How I used to believe my love was so true!!
I won't mind telling I'm still enamored with you.
What happened to us that we stopped so suddenly?
Was it some conspiracy of the jealous heavenly?
Set against the time and this world is our story-
I wait for our Dreamland to regain its glory.
The dreams that we shared and the love that we won:
I was being blamed for what I have not done!
But the triumphing truth will never die,
Searching you everywhere my eyes now cry!
Please forget what happened- wrong or right,
I want you to be my Valentine tonight.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

(??/??/????)

Birthday Song to Abraham Lincoln

2007-02-12T18:16:00.000-08:00

old abe, here i sing thee a song
for it has been really so long
that someone had spoken words strong
and distinguished right from the wrong

old abe, i dedicate thee one day
of my wasteful life- filled with dismay,
by thinking high, and for a while stay
in the divine silence of my solitude and pray

old abe, i plead thee to throw
light into my world and benignly show
the path of truth which men should know
to walk and find their bright destinies glow.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: Lincoln's birthday, 2007.

To the Lesbian

2007-01-20T23:59:00.000-08:00

Alas, I'm lost again in my own verse:
"Nihilistic world I live in my days
And in my nights my eyes see blinding rays"
Over me perhaps was this long spelt curse.
But, yet since I discovered the Tenth Muse,
Read her broken lines of tenderly love:
In winds of poesy she flew like a dove
For Fires of passion her art was the fuse:

I sang an elegy to my own past
And learnt new techniques of a new device;
Sappho, the one who has gracefully cast
Entwining with her li'l fingers this dice
Called "lyrical poesy" that grew up to last
And has on this Earth no equal in price.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Jan 21 2007.

My Past Lover

2007-01-18T21:52:00.000-08:00

I have no shame in confessing to the world of a certain love of mine, which failed through conscious effort of my mind. This love started way back in the summer of last year.

Although I met her a couple of times before and came close to converse, it was not until the day I knew it was my last week in London that I really got close to her. She gave me a warm welcome and I courted well with her. In fact, better than anyone close to me would have expected me to fair in these kinds of affairs.

All my friends came to know of this new phase in my life slowly and some friends far off are still oblivious of this. I made no attempts to conceal the fact, but neither did I boast of the novel pleasures I found each day and each night.

It might sound funny, but each time we met, I took her into me. I used to wet her with my saliva sometimes, as I voraciously enjoyed every moment of our union.

She was hot like a fire...a fire that burnt her. I tend to exagerrate, but I could see fumes coming out of her and vanishing into the atmosphere.

I think I must have had her ranging from 4 to 10 times a day!!! Hell, I am a Man!!!

She helped me, understood my needs and provided me what I need, whenever I sought her.
She came to me in different varieties too...but deep inside, she's always made of the same substance.

And after about six months of courtship, flirting, romance and what not, I gave her up, one fine day.

Almost everybody warned me not to have her in the first place. I could see what they meant. But as was the case with everyone in this affairs, so was mine. I could not resist the temptation.

My fingers, her butt and my usual greed in sucking her every bit into my lungs....may sound gross, but that's the way it is....and it is called magic.

I knew I was not the only one who had her. Yet we had a very good relationship. Never did I had felt of her as a nagging pain and never did she show jealousy when I looked at beautiful girls passing us by.

Many of my friends had her....in fact many in my family had her......
She had possibly the most longest lasting affair with my grandfather who spent almost 80% of his life on bed with her.....

Alright I know its becoming more disgusting...but I am talking about her, who people call as "cigarette". ;-)

Well here goes the timeline of my affair with the cigarette:

(2006)
May 23: First Kiss
May 26: Completed one full box of Marlboro Lites 20 Pack in London in a period of 12 hrs.
June-July: Used up all of the Bensons and Hedges I brought from UK,
July-October: Started with the Goldflake Kings and remained loyal to it
September: Thought of leaving it first time, but failed. Remained staunch for 3 days and then came back.
November-December: Smoked Marlboro Lites, Mediums and the No.27.
December 26, 2006: Quit smoking.

I wish I will never again touch her, and hope not to be weakened by her temptations and seductions.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

January 18, 2007.

Girl Next Door

2007-01-18T20:10:00.000-08:00

my love, what can I speak about
while in your arms on the bed last night
i felt i like i found my angel
beside you i found my heaven.....

remember the time we first met
my eyes were on yours for a long time
while my heart beats sang you a song
girl, i wish if it was that way forever......

together each minute we spent
could i ever forget, through all that we went?
sometimes being happy and gay and in joy
sometimes a little angry and little sad, oh boy!!

no matter what i loved you before you
and you left me before i even realized
what happened in the year that had past
memories of which will with me forever last.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

December, 2006-January , 2007.

Ajamila

2007-01-16T19:01:00.000-08:00

My mind is as sinuous as a python coiled on a tree
I did forsake my virtues and set my evil ego free
My heart is full of wickedness and infinite desires
Seeking which I insulted the holy sacrificial fires
My trembling body is smeared with poison all over it
I lost all my bearings,and am enslaved by my cruel wit
My scorching eyes are devoid of moisture and mirth
I malignated and perverted my decent noble birth
My burning belly is ever hungry for more lustful crimes
I think I have over-lived my mortal age by many times

And even when the obedient angels of death have come
To take me with them to the Hell, maybe my true home
In all of my selfishness I called on my son's name
Which by a sheer chance or some kind of Divine Game
Happened to be same as one of the thousand names of Him
The slayer of my dirty sin and destroyer of my whim
In the event of my present mortal moment, dear my Lord
Just bespeaking the most significant and august word
I have been forgiven of my most crooked deeds of lust
I have been chosen by the One to whom offer my life I must.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

January 16, 2007.

Judgement

2007-01-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

in the holy nakedness of my body

i plunder through the woods of terror

running in the fields, blazing with a fire

i take with me the storms and thunder

spreading panic on each face i gaze at

with my fearsome eyes glowing with splendor.

in the wily cunningness of my mind

i slaughter the heads of the intelligent

creating havoc across the continents

i stir the ocean waters like a coiled serpent

hissing poison into the omnipresent winds

with my cancered lungs- tumored and vent.

in the crazy cruelness of my soul

i torture the beasts that can speak

hollowing them of their inhibitions

i tonsure their heads and pluck out their beaks

burning with rage and screaming like hell

with my strained tongue, far from being meek.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

January 15, 2007.

Perfect Loss

2007-01-11T17:54:00.000-08:00

I was reading Rabindranath Tagore's novel "The Home and The World", in which I read a line that captured my thoughts for quite sometime:
"Perfect gain is the best of all; but if it is impossible to achieve, then perfect loss is the next best thing."

I have seen life in the brightest lights
I have been through many wakeful nights
I have traveled across here and there
Like the aimless wind that blows everywhere
I have known what one's feeling is
To discover the world of Atlantis
And just when I was about to call
My friends I lost, I began to fall
To steepest valleys, darkest woods
Into the arms of the devil that broods
About love and lust and lovely death
And how it feels when one stops to breath.
I have known as many before me did
That perfect gain always is splendid
But when things go wrong and vile and gross
I seek, the next which is best, the perfect loss.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

January 11, 2007

Aghanashini

2007-01-10T22:05:00.000-08:00

sea is just a destiny that stays outside our land
but the body of water that flows from its heart
and fills all the homes with treasures of food grains
and with it takes every shard, every broken part
of the profane, pitiless and pervert human brains!
that again which floods the dirtiest streets
and cleans up every dark corner covered with cob-webs
bringing life to every object that it meets
culminating its crests and troughs into decent ebbs:
i speak of the river that seeps through the sand.

not because of its vigour nor for its glory
not at all because it has a name so pure
(Aghanashini, it is that seems to have a story
whatever it may be, i am not too sure)
not because near Sirsi it has two origins
not for its name meaning "destroyer of sins"
no, not for any other reason that i sing of it
but because i have a history that seems fit
to sing for Aghanashini, and its majestic falls:
for while its journey this river makes calls
on to a hamlet, up there at the north of the state
where there must be a home i have never seen
which belonged to some one who grew to hate
me and my fantasies, and that a fool i have been.

if only this river could ablute myself
and make me pure and restore me back
my own dignity and by virtue of itself
transform my woes into a bountiful stack.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty

January 10-11, 2007.

A Poet's Passing By

2007-01-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

When the summers come
When the winters go
And the world is home
Of sunshine and glow

When a cool breeze sweeps
The fallen leaves on the roads away
When a crazy cloud weeps
Drops of rain all day

When you hear a thunder
And begin to wonder
If a hero in the battle field
Is roaring with his sword and shield!

And again when you begin to feel
Nature is not as gentle as it seems
That something appears to be real
Believing what you see in your dreams

When there is a sudden earthquake
Producing a quiver and a massive shake
Causing a tremble and shudder to the beasts
And afear alike the warriors and the priests

Or when there's a deafening silence
The sky is lit with blinding Twilight,
When the cattle graze on the mountain's fence
Oblivious to the coming darkness of the night

When the Gods in the heavens above
Shower the blessings as they fly
When the entire Universe is brimmed with Love
Know that it is then that: a poet's passing by.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Jan 10 2007.

To Pallas Athena

2007-01-05T16:58:00.000-08:00

Some fairy had trodden into my lawn

Methought when saw I a grey-eyed damsel

Who seemed to cast on me a powerful spell

That kept me awake untill it was dawn.

She wore a helmet and held in her hand

Firmly, but gently her weapon-a spear

Which had a sharp edge as if meant to tear

Dark clouds of ignorance spread on my land.

I ran in vain toward her like a child

In haste I bent down and kissed her white feet

My heart then wreath'd with this desire so wild

To wet with my mouth her lips honey sweet

And when blow the cool breezes fresh and mild

By body, mind and soul, she and I meet.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: January 5, 2007.

Poesy...The Beginning of an Epic

2006-12-29T18:16:00.001-08:00

Poesy, my deepest and truest love
My ardent passion that I place above
Every thing else of my mortal life!!
Wish I could probably make you my wife
If you were a lady, I would love and wed.
Decorate on every night my cozy bed
With flowers and light candles around it
To cause your white body's every bit
Shine with more lustre than that Sun.
"If ever, by God, I truly loved someone
'Tis no other woman, nymph, belle or dame",
Thus I would swear by the holiest name
Of Apollo the nurturer of the Muses nine,
"It is but you, for me the most divine."

Siddartha Pamulaparty

December 29, 2006.

Atlantis

2006-12-29T17:47:00.000-08:00

in awe i sing of that great kingdom
where the mighty Atlas had reigned
the home of mighty peaks and hills
the home of placid lakes and noisy rivulets.
perhaps the island of that older times
where temples, gods and heroes lived
is the best example of true love
that the august Poseidon garnered
for the mere mortal lady Cleito
and in that love was born the harmony
of the whole humankind of today's world.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

December 29, 2006.

Dream Lover

2006-12-29T17:32:00.000-08:00

http://www.minibite.com/oldies/dreamlover.htm

dreams of my lover
i dream in every dream
and like a sunflower
i wake to the solar beam
the sun is just as bright
as is my lover's radiance
perhaps a little less in light
than her solemn lustrous glance

dreams of my lover
i dream in every dream
in shame my face i cover
(very strange as it may seem)
when some one knowing her or not
call out her sweetest name
and hence i become caught
in the midst of a feeling of shame

dreams of my lover
i dream in every dream
and crazily i tend to hover
in her thoughts, a perennial stream
i perhaps cannot ever come back
to my natural disposition
and wonder what does my own love lack
that my lover has become an apparition.

dreams of my lover
i will always dream
and sing of her forever
and her sweet names i scream
dreams of my lover
forever i will dream
though she did never
of me had seen a dream.

Siddartha Pamulaparty
December 29, 2006.

Why Still?

2006-12-29T15:08:00.000-08:00

why still my heart keeps beating for you?
why still my restless eyes search for you?
why, again, I think of you inside myself
and wonder who wrote this plot so cruel?
aren't there better works for me to do
than to contemplate upon my crazy past?
had i wanted to cry, i could not do so
had i screamed as i wanted very desperately to
no matter what i do or think of doing
its the same image of yours becoming
the sole object of my concern every day
and every night, though i tried hard as i may
to accept the fact that you do not love me
but, think and feel, to my own self I say
that as much true that you do not love me
does equally hold true, my own love for you
which does not die by the ending days or the nights
not even by the ever changing seasons of the Sun
and in despair, i cry out that for whom i care:
you were, you are and you will be the one.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

December 29, 2006.

Poe's Puzzle

2006-12-21T19:41:00.000-08:00

I had read about Poe earlier that he used to write many things in puzzles. He was a great cryptographer I think. I stumbled across one of his "puzzling" poem. And based on the same puzzle, I wrote my own poem. Of course I could not reproduce the genius of Poe here.
Here is the original link of Poe's "The Valentine". http://www.eapoe.org/works/poems/valentnd.htm

And here is mine.

So thought I that we will be together;
Have done I what pray ask me not
Captive in golden cage of your love
I can not tell now what went further
(Even against my own self I fought).

I felt vulnerable like the petals of a rose:
Did not again, I tell you oh dear one
That forsaken I, my own pride for you?
Did I not say while we walked on the road,
Strange language I spoke about love (was it sweet to hear?)
As your eyes twinkled like the Sirius in the sky that night.

May be I could perhaps dream of you forever
Thus reasoned aptly I, when we had parted.
Yet each time I, enamored with your memories,
Sing this tunes idolizing your very being.
And if you think this song, is without any rhymes
In this puzzle, I bet that you can instead, find all your names.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dec 21 2006.

Art, Philosophy and Life- Part 1 Art

2006-12-19T16:59:00.001-08:00

The three things that are extremely difficult to define yet so obvious. I believe not many really know the meaning of any of these. I, myself, am not sure either... But if one observes with some pondering and a little contemplation, one will know that these are everywhere around us, and we come across them almost at every moment. While a profound thinker might give some complex definitions of them, a true analysis will show how simple these may seem to be. Let me scribble here what I feel about each of these and try to collate the basic essence of these three things and investigate the connections amongst them.
Art:
Many people have defined art in many different ways. The term "artist" has itself been defined in many funny ways. According to the ancient wisdom of my country, there are 64 kinds of arts. In general circulation of the civilization, the perception of art is that of a medium of expression, imagination and creation. In an earlier essay of mine, I wrote about what Socrates says about art and how he speaks about it being a "whole" in itself. I am tempted to concur with him (seldom did I contradict him though). The entire process of producing something out of a deep inspiring tale, a consequence of an enchanting experience or merely a simple thought, is in itself a completeness, a destination. The product being a piece of art and the process being the art. Perhaps to the humankind, the greatest gift God had given was the capability to observe, think, comprehend and act. The greater the effort to perform these, the more affective it is. And when things come to a finer level, takes birth the art. Any fineness that could be depicted in any form is art. Every man who does a conscious attempt to make the world around him appear finer, better and more than what it seems at first glance is an artist. It could be a carpenter who shapes the wood to fine furniture. It could be a sweeper, who cleans the floor. But, before I dilute the concept of art into diurnal activities and tend to reflect the thought that art is a cliche, let me check my premises by being a little more clearer of my undestanding by introducing the "degree of fineness". The degree of fineness draws about a line between the obvious things people do and what an artist does. Without appreciating this degree of fineness it is not possible to know the difference between a Sonnet and a rubbish piece of write up. Apart from this degree of fineness, the perfection of art and the artist also depends on the solemn passion that in itself manifests in the form of the product of the art. For instance, a passion to describe an object in words, dictates the beauty and the profound elegance of a poem.
I myself have written for over 80 poems, of them, some lines are so inspired and possessed by the objects, and this I gladly attribute to the passion behind them when I wrote them. There are some really stupid and banal lines, obviously lacking the vivid ardour, and were written uninspired and unpossessed.

Once in an artist's life, there comes a moment, when he is extremely inspired, when his soul in unison with the Nature and the creator, when the whole universe for him is a minute particle smaller than a quark, then with all the divinity enchanting him, he profusely produces the best of his life, that which is called the MAGNUM OPUS. And for every artist, in his line of art, there will be one and only one Magnum Opus, only one greatest product. We have seen many who have tried to simulate and re-attain the feat after their best works, and seemed to have failed, with a bitter sense in the minds of even the greatest admirers of their works.

To me, by my own observation of self and a little study of people I have appreciated since long, there is something beyond the usual capabilities of an artist, the human, which he employs in his diurnal activities, which causes the metamorphosis, of the transformation of artist-the human to artist-the Divine, when all energies in the world converge in the tips of his fist and make him manufacture the invaluable treasure of his own world.

And I trust every art is associated with a certain philosophy or a multitude of philosophies that the artist is naturally inclined to. I shall continue the essay in the next part, the Philosophy.

a different stroke

2006-12-09T23:14:00.000-08:00

i will wait here for a little longer
till this feeling grows more stronger

till these meadows filled up with snow
wear back their garments much so greener
till these dry trees, strained in the cold winter
clad again the graceful flowers in their bosoms
till the golden rays of the valorous Sun
reach every corner of this murky world
till the autumn no more fells the woods
till the spring brings back everything to life
whence the cascades of pure water flow
into the rivers and finally consummate
in the mighty ocean which reflects peace.

i will wait here for a little longer
till this feeling grows more stronger

till the world before me is no more scarce
of happiness and love and truth
till the brothers in the neighborhood
have mirth and heed for their fellow youths
till the men and women i see around me
progress toward the enlightenment
seeking no greedy wealth or evil sins
instead walking for causes noble
of spreading love and brotherhood amongst us
no matter what's the color of our skin
no matter what's the tongue we speak.

i will wait here for a little longer
till this feeling grows more stronger

till my every nerve drains of blood
till all my organs are strong and bold
when i can see a total different world
than what my fathers have been seeing since
the time the first of battles were fought
filling the soil with carnage and flesh
rather a place where in the air that we breath
we can sense how beautiful life can be
i will wait, no matter what it takes
to see another dawning of a twilight
to hear another singing of the linnets.

i will wait here for a little longer
till this feeling grows more stronger.

i will wait, i will wait.

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt 14 Dec 2006.

the After song

2006-12-08T19:36:00.000-08:00

there's a pain
inside my heart
i think again
what was wrong on my part

there's an ache
inside my chest
i need a break
i am tired, always giving my best

time and time the tides have come
to shake my faith and take my home
time and time the tides have come
to shake my faith and take my home
no matter how real hard they try
i am a man, and i don't cry.....
i am a man, and i don't cry.....

there's a cut
inside my flesh
i am fainting but,
in my mind those memories are still fresh

there's a hurt
inside my nerves
finding it so curt
the way my life is on the downward curves

time and time the tides have come
to shake my faith and take my home
time and time the tides have come
to shake my faith and take my home
no matter how real hard they try
i am a man, and i don't cry....
i am a man, and i don't cry.....

i don't cry, i don't cry
even if i lost my lover
i don't cry, i don't cry
though i know i am a wilted flower
i don't cry, i don't cry
if you lied or hated or cheated me
i don't cry, i don't cry
if you're afraid that you would love me
i don't cry, i don't cry
if i'm understood or misunderstood
when i wake up from the sleep feeling choked
when my love was shown the door
when my pride was thrown on the floor
pain or ache or cut or a hurt
a golden life or a death in the dirt
i don't cry.............

no matter how real hard i try
i can't cry, i can't cry...
'cos
i am a man and i don't cry!!!!
i am a man and i don't cry!!!!

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: December 8th 2006.

Chicago Streets

2006-11-24T18:02:00.000-08:00

As I walk past the Michigan Avenue
I still can't stop thinking of you
Here and there a pretty face I see
But I know that thing is not for me
I hear some Blues when I cross the road
A different tune, while I am feeling bored
When I start to believe there's so much to explore here
A breaking voice inside me begins to interfere:

Chicago streets, I sing while I walk, girl
Chicago streets, where my eyes search for you........................

The great sky-scrapers touching the Heavens
The busy folks talking into their cell phones
The lady staring me past the glass door of the Fish Bar
Amidst the stranded traffic, the loud honking of the car.....
When I start to believe there's so much to excite me
A cracking sound croons like the waves in a sea:

Chicago streets, I sing while I walk, girl
Chicago streets, where my eyes search for you........................

woman in kullu cap

2006-11-22T23:38:00.000-08:00

throw not that smirk of indolence
on my poverty, o Princess
give me a crescent smile instead
whence I can see a dream fulfilled

Siddartha Pamulaparty.

Nov 24, 2006.

.....I.....

2006-11-21T18:47:00.000-08:00

what am i but a fallen leaf

lone petal of a wilted rose

blown away by the streams of breeze-

my life is like a yellow sheaf.
dry and worn out in summer's heat!

44˚ 30΄N 18˚ 60΄E

Сапна

England 18 Two Halves

DH 08468082: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/current/current_10.htm

Song...Too Bad

2006-11-20T17:27:00.000-08:00

'Tis a very bad song I know, but I felt like writing it and wrote it!!!

here you go, this is my favourite song
come with me and won't you sing along
everybody knows it there's nothing wrong

i'm glad, i'm sad, i'm crazy and mad
i was a nice guy then, now i am really bad
i have ditched all the friends i ever had

and its all because i fell in love
i was on cloud nine in the sky above

if she'll ever...think of me.....
never know what it might about be....
what's in her mind
i will never find
my eyes can't see, i'm blind
more than life, i trust now death is more kind!!!!!!!!
if she'll ever...think of me................
if she'll ever think...of me..............
if she'll ever think of me................

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Nov 19 2006

A Word about Words

2006-11-20T15:04:00.000-08:00

Words seem to play their way into colorful feelings of people around us. But the essence of each and every word that is spoken is not perceived in the level at which it must be. They say, speech is silver and silence is gold. I don’t believe it. Silence can be more agonizing than harsh words, at times. So possibly, ‘euphemistic speech is far greater than caustic silence.’ If not speech, at least distinct words have the magic.So, words have a very significant role in conveying the truth in one’s cogitating zone to another’s. Words can be powerful tools in empathizing, soothing, placating a torn-individual. Words can be highly contemptuous in representing dislike, hatred. But the most important advantage of words is their power in expressing love, affection, trust and more importantly the Truth. Words of love don’t come as easily, when there is no honesty in the very process of producing them. On the other hand, when love is entrusted with confidence and reliability, then words keep pouring like fine drops of monsoon rains. And if the meaning of these words is appreciated by perceiving each of them at a deeper level, then the amour will reach eternity in time and space. And perhaps, the world will then be Eden and the people, Angels themselves.

-Siddartha Pamulaparty.

Long Ago in 2002/03.

Kaivalya

Notes on Plato's "The Republic"- Part 1

?????

Gems of Tyagaraja- 2

Science, Religion and Philosophy-- An Essay

Lost Letters - III

Lost Letters - II

Lost Letters - I

Peace of Mind

Wisdom of Thoreau again....

The bully state MA

First Few Days...

Recession It Is

Untitled Poem

Bhagavad Gita Chapter Two: Notes

Oscar Wilde - A Tribute

Bhagavad Gita Chapter One: Notes

A Disappointing Trip - Chennai

Longing

Gems of Tyagaraja- 1

Bheeshma Sthuthi

Gandhi-The Philosophical Anarchist:

Marx, Gandhi and Social Transformation: Excellent Lecture at KU

Walk Alone- Lyrics

శ్రీ కృష్ణ జన్మాష్టమి

ఓరుగల్లు నగారా

To Bhaarath.. On 61st year of Independence

Some more sketches

Some Sketches

Hymns in the making...

A part of Life at 26

పౌర్ణమి

అమావాస్య

Bob Dylan- A Tribute

Seshappa Kavi "Sri Narasimha Shatakamu"

Rani Rudrama Devi--the great Warrior-Ruler of the Kakatiyas

Wandering Soul

A Song

G H Hardy on Ramanujan

Uncle Walt

మా ఊరు ఓరుగల్లు (My town-Warangal)

Shakuntala Patralekhana

Happy Memories

Bryan Adams' "11"

పోతన భాగవత మకరందములు - 3

పోతన భాగవత మకరందాలు - 2

Dead Poets Society

పోతన భాగవత మకరందాలు

Vibhuthiyoga: (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10) Part-1

Dreams We See

Notes from Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7

Lost in your thoughts---Lyrics

Some Day

Sarvam Vishnoham

The theme behind my blog name: Pothana's Prayer

Gajendra Moksham - Part-2

Prahlada's beautiful answer to his father

Mediocre But Arrogant--- A review

An excerpt from Sri Pamulaparthi Sadasiva Rao's Gyana Siddhantham

Translation of Lord Vishnu's own words

At Walden- Part 2

At Walden Part-1

Ammamma--my granny

[i] pourquoi amour maux [/i]

The Lost Photograph

The Birth

Ignore the Roses

another song

Destination Heaven

Another Birthday Song

Dear _____ ______

మృత్యువు- ఒక ప్రార్ధన

నా మోదటి తెలుగు కవిత

Happy Birthday Poe

A Fool I am

Laugh, laugh and laugh

Random Thoughts

Valentine---Blast from the Past

Birthday Song to Abraham Lincoln

To the Lesbian

Dear _ __