venomous all over...

वृश्चिकस्य विषं पुच्छे मक्षिकायाः विषं शिरः

तक्षकस्य विषं दन्तं सर्वाङ्गं दुर्जनस्य च॥

नीतिसारे॥

समयोचित पद्यमालिकायां च 

vṛścikasya viṣam pucche makṣikāyāḥ viṣam śiraḥ

takṣakasya viṣam dantam sarvāṅgam durjanasya ca ||

nītisāre||

The poison of a scorpion is located in its tail..

The head of a bee is the source of poison in a bee..

The snake has poison in its teeth or fangs..

But a nasty fellow oozes poison fro every limb..

When compared to a nasty fellow, the poisonous scorpion or bee or even a snake are angels.. 

Their poison are localized.. 

Moreover, the insects and reptiles give out or inject their poison on others only when we come in their way for some reason. 

But a nasty human being who is venomous all over would harm us even if we avoid him consciously..

वृश्चिकस्य विषं पुच्छे एव वर्तते     The poison of a scorpion is seen in its sting located in its tail 

मक्षिकायाः विषंशिरः एव वर्तते          The bee has its poison it its head alone 

तक्षकस्य विषं दन्तं एव        Takshaka the king of snake (or for that matter any snake) has its venom located in his teeth or fangs 

अपि च दुर्जनस्य सर्वाङ्गं विषं दृश्यते       But an evil minded person has poison in all his limbs

This is a pithy reminder from Neetisaaram.
 Also found in Samayochita Padyamalika 

ഒരു തേളിന്റെ വിഷം അതിന്റെ വാലില്‍ മാത്രമായിരിക്കും 

തേനീച്ചയുടെ വിഷം അതിന്റെ മുള്ളില്‍ മാത്രം കാണും 

സര്‍പ്പത്തിന്റെ (തക്ഷകന്റെ) വിഷം അതിന്റെ വിഷപ്പല്ലില്‍ ഒതുങ്ങും 

പക്ഷെ ദുഷ്ടന്റെ വിഷം അയാളുടെ ശരീരം മുഴുവനും ഉണ്ട് 

ഒരു ദുഷ്ടനുമായി താരതമ്യം ചെയ്യുമ്പോള്‍  ഒരു തെളോ പാമ്പോ തേനീച്ചയോ ഒക്കെ  മാലാഖമാരാണ്‌  അവയുടെ വിഷം ചില ശരീരഭാഗങ്ങളില്‍ ഒതുങ്ങുന്നു. മാത്രമല്ല  ഈ ജീവികള്‍ നാം അവരുടെ  വഴിക്ക് പോയി അലോസരം സൃഷ്ടിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ മാത്രമായിരിക്കും വിഷം വമിക്കുക..  പക്ഷെ  ഒരു ദുഷ്ടാത്മാവിനു  വിഷം തുപ്പുവാന്‍ പ്രത്യേക കാരണം ഒന്നും വേണ്ട

Pranams to the Seven Mothers.. Saptamatrukas.

In Devimahatmyam of Markandeya Puranam ,Brahmanda Puranam, and elsewhere too we can see the Fight of Divine mother Mahatripurasundari .. Lalithaambika with the Fierce Demons Shumbha and Nishumbha..

The powers or Shakthis of various gods taking the shapes of Devis too fought in the battle..

The seven major Shaktis or mothers representing the seven great deities are called the sapta mataas or the seven mothers..

They are Brahmaani.. from Brahma ,

Maheshvari from Shiva,

Kaumari from Lord Skanda,

Vaishnavi From Vishnu,

Vaaraahee from Varaha, the Boar avatar of Vishnu,

Naarasimhee the power of Narasimha avatar of Vishnu,

Aindree the power of Indra 

and 

Chaamundaa..

The following hymn is by way of prayer to these seven mothers for protection..

ब्रह्माणी कमलेन्दु सौम्य वदना माहेश्वरी लीलया

कौमारी रिपु दर्प नाशनकरी चक्रायुधा वैष्णवी।

वाराही घन घोर घर्घरमुखी दंष्ट्री च वज्रायुधा

चामुण्डा गणनाथ रुद्रसहिता रक्षन्तु माम् मातरः॥

श्री महादेव्यै नमः

श्री राजराजेश्वर्यै नमः

brahmāṇī kamalendu saumya vadanā māheśvarī līlayā

kaumārī ripu darpa nāśanakarī cakrāyudhā vaiṣṇavī |

vārāhī ghana ghora ghargharamukhī daṁṣṭrī ca vajrāyudhā

cāmuṇḍā gaṇanātha rudrasahitā rakṣantu mām mātaraḥ ||

śrī mahādevyai namaḥ

brahmANI kamalendu saumya vadanA mAheshvarI lIlayA

kaumArI ripu darpa naashanakarI chakrAyudhaa vaiSNavii .

vArAhI ghana ghora ghargharamukhI daMSTrI cha vajrAyudhA

chAmuNDaa gaNanAtha rudrasahitA rakSantu mAm mAtaraH ..

shrI mahAdevyai namaH

shrI rAjarAjeshvaryai namaH

May mother Brahmaanee who is having a calm face like a lotus or full moon protect us

May mother Maaheshvari, by her frolicsome presence, protect us.

May mother Kaumaari, who is capable of shattering the arrogance of the enemies, protect us.

May mother Vaaraahi of terrible and dark complexion of thundercloud, protect us.

May mother Naarasimhee of huge curved teeth protect us..

May Aindree, who wields the Vajraayudha or thunderbolt protect us.

May Chamundee who has Lord Ganesha and the Rudras for company protect us..

Pranams to the mother..

Pranams to Her Royal Glory, the queen or all the queens.. Rajarajeshwari,,

This prayer is offered to the Mothers during Bhagavat Seva.. the special pooja we offer during this month..

when the chips are down

गते हि दुर्दशां लोके क्षुद्रोप्यहितमाचरेत्।

पङ्के निमग्ने करिणि भेको भवति मूर्द्धगः॥

कवितामृतकूप

gate hi durdaśāṁ loke kṣudropyahitamācaret|

paṅke nimagne kariṇi bheko bhavati mūrddhagaḥ||

kavitāmṛtakūpa 

=======================

Meaning

when a person is experiencing bad times, even the silly and worthless fellows would do things that are againt his wishes and would irritate him.

When an elephant is stuck in a muddy pool, even a frog would jump on him and perch on his head victoriously..

=========================

ഗതേ ഹി ദുര്ദശാം ലോകേ ക്ഷുദ്രോപി അഹിതം ആചരേത്‍

പങ്കേ നിമഗ്നേ കരിണി ഭേകോ ഭവതി മൂര്‍ദ്ധഗ:

(കവിതാമൃതകൂപം ) 

ഒരാള്‍ക്ക്‌ കഷ്ടകാലം വന്നുപെട്ടാല്‍ ഒന്നിനും കൊള്ളാത്തവനും അയാളെ ഉപദ്രവിക്കും.. പരിഹസിക്കും

ചെളിയില്‍ ആണ്ടുപോയ ആനയുടെ തലയില്‍ ചാടിക്കയറി ഇരിക്കും തവള ‍

It is best to remember that bad times would visit anyone, however big and powerful he is.. And when he is rendered helpless by circumstances, no one would care about his past importance.. Some may ever try to kick him all the more perhaps out of vicarious pleasure or to retaliate in revenge for some past insult..

Treachery at its worst ...

अविस्मृतोपकारः स्यान्न कुर्वीत कृतघ्नताम्।
हत्वोपकारिणं विप्रो नाडीजङ्घमधश्च्युतः॥ २४
क्षेमेन्द्रकविप्रणीते चारुचर्यायाम्॥
avismṛtopakāraḥ syānna kurvīta kṛtaghnatām|
hatvopakāriṇaṁ vipro nāḍījaṅghamadhaścyutaḥ|| 24
kṣemendrakavipraṇīte cārucaryāyām||
--------------------
Another valuable anecdote from Kshemendra's Charucharya.
==================
One should never forget the favours and help rendered to him by some benefactor. One should never act in a way that would destroy the interests of the person who helped him
The brahmin ( Gautama) fell to abysmal depths of sin by assassinating Naadeejangha (the eagle) who had helped him ( in earning a lot of gold)
==================
The story of Gautama the brahmin, and the eagle Nadijnaga is described in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharatam.

Gautama was born to brahmin parents in the kingdom Madhyadesha..
From childhood on the boy did not have interest in the brahmin ways..
So he ran away to a jungle inhabited by hunters.. The hunters too accepted him to their fold..
There he married a girl from the hunter community and lived on following the lifestyle of hunters, killing animals and birds and eating their flesh..
Once a young brahmin visited the hunters colony during a travel, and he was searching for some brahmin house to spend the night..
The best he could find was the house of Gautama, who was born a brahmin but had become hunter by profession.

The young brahmin watched Gautama reaching home carrying the bodies of the animals and birds killed by him and with his body smeared with a lot of blood.

The young brahmin spent the night with Gautama but refused to take any food from his house. While departing the young man requested Gautama to remember that he was born a brahmin and his lifestyle was unbecoming of a brahmin.
Gautama was filled with temporary remorse and he decided to give up the ways of the hunter and joined a group of people who were travelling to the nearby town, where he proposed to start a new life…

But as fate would have it , a wild elephant accosted the travellers, and they ran helter skelter..

Gautama after a long sprint for life, finally landed up under a banyan tree at a safe distance..
He was tired and bruised..
He just lied down under the tree and slept.
A big eagle, Naadijanga by name was having this tree as his abode..
As it was his regular practice, the bird had gone to the place of Brahma to worship the deity, and on return he saw the hunter-brahmin lying underneath the tree all tired and bruised..
When the brahmin woke up the bird talked to him sweetly and welcomed him as a honoured guest..
However, when Gautama saw the bird, his idea was to catch the bird kill it and eat it.. Anyway, the bird kept a safe distance, but, as becoming of a benevolent host, offered food to the Brahmin and fluttered his huge wings as if they were fans that would cool and provide comfort for the tired Gautama..
They stuck up a conversation, and the brahmin confessed that he was pennyless and that he was on a journey in search of some wealth so that he could eke out his livelihood..
The eagle, in his generosity stated that the brahmin could get a lot of gold as gift if he went to the bird’s friend Viroopaksha, the king of demons..
The eagle also provided necessary introductions..

The bramin went to Viroopaksha and was received as an honoured friend, as he had the recommendation of Naadijanga..
The demon king presented the brahmin with a huge sack of gold..
The brahmin carried the gold on his head and returned to the banyan tree..

When he reached the banyan tree, the eagle Naadijanga rushed to him and sat near him and asked whether he received the necessary wealth..
The brahmin was a voracious and gluttunous meat eater and he could not resist the temptation to eat the flesh of the eagle..
So with a swift movement he caught the eagle and broke its neck and killed it..
He impaled its flesh and kept it is his bundle along with the gold.. He left the bones and feathers of the bird under the tree itself and left.

Viroopaksha and Naadeejanga the eagle were in the habit of meeting each other every day..
When the demon king waited for the bird and did not find him even after a couple of days, he became very worried, and sent his son on a search and rescue opertaion..
The young demon could not find his fathers friend uncle Naadijanga, atop the tree and he found the feather and bones underneath..
The youngster guessed what had happened, and chased and captured Gautama, bound him hands and feet and took him as a captive to his father Viroopaksha.

When Viroopaksha came to know of the cold blooded and treacherous murder of his friend, he became wild..
He cut the body of the brahmin into many pieces, and threw the pieces around to be eaten by crows..
BUT CROWS REFUSED TO EAT THIS EVIL FELLOW’S FLESH.

Filled with remorse at the death of his friend Nadijanga, Viroopaksha prepared a pyre, brought the bones and feathers from underneath the banyan tree, and took the flesh from the bundle of Gautama, and placed all these in the pyre and lighted the pyre will all honours..
Even the Gods were fond of the eagle for his nobility..
So they were all watching the last rites of the bird from the sky..
Surabhi the Kamadhenu the divine Cow from heaven came that way and rained her milk over the pyre..
Then Nadijanga the eagle was revived to life in all his strength.
When Nadijanga heard of what happened to Gautama, he was filled with remorse..
He pleaded with the Gods and managed to revive to life the ungrateful and vile brahmin.

Of course, as usual with temporary remorse, the brahmin embraced the bird, and left with the bundle of gold, which he carried as head-load.
Gautama set up another family after he got married to another fallen woman, and produced more wayward children..
The story goes on to say that these children too grew up into ungrateful ruffians and met tragic end as retribution from gods.

We have to learn a lot from this story.

Even if we show kindness to evil fellows, what we can get in return is only treachery.
Even birds like crow abhor the physical remains of cold blooded and treacherous fellows
Usually people who have their lifestyle derailed, even if they return to the path of orderliness for sometime, would revert to their evil ways and find their nemesis..

just a reminder...

चित्ते भ्रान्तिर्जायते मद्यपानात् भ्रान्ते चित्ते पापचर्यामुपैति। 

पापं कृत्वा दुर्गतिं यान्ति मूढाः तस्मात् मद्यं नैव पेयं न पेयं॥ 

॥सुभाषितम्॥ 

citte bhrāntirjāyate madyapānāt bhrānte citte pāpacaryāmupaiti| 

pāpaṁ kṛtvā durgatiṁ yānti mūḍhāḥ tasmāt madyam naiva peyaṁ na peyaṁ|| 

||subhāṣitam|| 

If one consumes intoxicating drinks, his mind gets muddled or even mad.. 

When the mind has lost its control one gets prompted to commit great sins. 

By committing sins, the thoughtless fellows fall into wretchedness in this life and the life hereafter too. 

Therefore no one should never, never, consume intoxicating drinks 

( Just a plain translation...everyone knows this.. but laughs at everyone saying this..) 

ചിത്തേ ഭ്രാന്തിര്‍ജായതെ മദ്യപാനാത് 

ഭ്രാന്തെ  ചിത്തേ പാപചര്യാമുപൈതി

പാപം കൃത്വാ   ദുര്‍ഗതിം യാന്തി  മൂഢാഃ

തസ്മാത്   മദ്യം  നൈവ പേയം  ന പേയം 

കള്ള് കുടിച്ചാല്‍  മനസ്സിന് ഭ്രാന്തു   പിടിക്കും 

കുഴഞ്ഞുമറിഞ്ഞ മനസ്സില്‍ പാപങ്ങള്‍ ജനിക്കും 

പാപങ്ങള്‍ ചെയ്തു മനുഷ്യന്‍ ദുരിതത്തില്‍ മുങ്ങിപ്പോകും 

അതുകൊണ്ട് ഒരിക്കലും കള്ള് കുടിക്കരുത്  ഒരിക്കലും 

the naked truth....

अत्यन्तबालं अतसीकुसुमप्रकाशं दिग्वाससं कनकभूषण भुषिताङ्गम्।
विस्रस्तकेशं अरुणाधरं आयताक्षं कृष्णं नमामि मनसा वसुदेवसूनुम्॥
श्रीकृष्णकर्णामृते॥
atyantabālaṁ atasīkusumaprakāśaṁ digvāsasaṁ kanakabhūṣaṇa bhuṣitāṅgam|
visrastakeśaṁ aruṇādharaṁ āyatākṣaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ namāmi manasā vasudevasūnum||
śrīkṛṣṇakarṇāmṛte||
A graphic description of Krishna the Child.
 perhaps as he was seen by Vasudeva when the naughty imp was born.
Would almost be like the Krishna of Udupi
or our own Guruvayurappan when He is decorated as a child
( But Guruvayurappan wears a red pattu konakam..)

From Sreekrishna karnaamrutam.  of Lilashuka 
---------------------------
Meaning
===========
I offer my humble pranams to Krishna through meditation
to ..
Krishna who is just a child, a newborn one, the infant
Krishna who shines in the dark blue hue of Atasee flower (Atasi is Cheruchana in Malayalam...some say this colour is that of Kaayaampoo)
Krishna who is lying stark naked (puppy shame) having the sky and air and the cardinal directions only covering him as if they are his clothes
Krishna the child whose body is decorated all over with various beautiful gold ornaments
Krishna whose hair is just flying free.. being gently blown by the cool breeze (from river Yamuna)
Krishna who looks at the world with wide eyes ( what is there for Him to see? He made all that is seen and all that is unseen)
Krishna who has dark red pouting lips ( who will not fall in love with those lips.. who can resist the urge to kiss those full red lips?)
Krishna the darling child of Vasudeva ( can there be a father who is luckier?)
===============-
word analysis
------------------
अत्यन्तबालं very very young boy, infant, newborn boy
अतसीकुसुम प्रकाशं having the shine of the dark blue atasee or flax flower ( the plant is called cheruchana in Malayalam)
दिग्वाससं who is having only the sky or all the cardinal directions as his cloth.. naked, wearing no clothes
कनकभूषण भुषिताङ्गं Krishna whose whole body is decorated with gold ornaments
विस्रस्त केशं Krishna with free flowing hair
अरुणाधरं Krishna with dark red lips
आयताक्षं Krishna with wide eyes
वसुदेवसूनुं Krishna who is the son of Vasudeva
अहं कृष्णं मनसा नमामि   I am offering my pranams to Krishna through meditation.

The naughty Krishna

वत्सान् मुञ्चन् क्वचिदसमये क्रोशसञ्जातहासः 

स्तेयं स्वाद्वत्त्यथ दधि पयः कल्पितैः स्तेययोगैः।

मर्कान् भोक्ष्यन् विभजति स चेन्नात्ति भाण्डं भिन्नत्ति 

द्रव्यालाभे स गृहकुपितो यात्युपक्रोश्य तोकान्॥ २९॥ 

श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणे दशमस्कन्धे पूर्वभागे अध्यायः ८ 

vatsān muñcan kvacidasamaye krośasañjātahāsaḥ 

steyaṁ svādvattyatha dadhi payaḥ kalpitaiḥ steyayogaiḥ | 

markān bhokṣyan vibhajati sa cennātti bhāṇḍaṁ bhinnatti 

dravyālābhe sa gṛhakupito yātyupakrośya tokān || 29|| 

śrīmadbhāgavatamahāpurāṇe daśamaskandhe pūrvabhāge adhyāyaḥ 8 

The recluse and jnani Sage Shuka himself tends to feel light when he attempts to report the pranks of Krishna as a child in Gokulam.. 

Yes, when the Master of the world plays his jokes, who can remain serious? It is time to laugh.. it is time to rejoice 

The ladies of the Gokulam, led to desperation because of the naughty pranks of Krishna the naughty imp are assembled in the house of Nandagopa and are giving a running commentary of what that mischievous creature is doing by way of damage to the whole community.. 

The activities as reported by Gopis .. is described in the above verse found in the eighth chapter of the tenth Skandham of Srimad Bhagavata Puranam.. 

============= 

He just releases the calves before their mothers are milched and they rush to drink the whole milk.. 

The boy, if chided, would laugh mockingly at the mothers of Gokulam. 

He is ever ready with newer and fresher tricks that would outwit the Gopis who try their level best to prevent the boy from creeping into their household and steal milk, butter and curd. 

He drinks the tasty sweet milk and curds and butter too to his hearts content.. and distributes them to his friends too 

He does not stop there even.. 

He feeds the monkeys hovering around too with the same milk, curd and butter. 

When the monkeys too get satisfied and stop eating, the urchin lifts the pots of butter milk and curd and smashes them on the ground enjoying the mild explosion they cause. 

If by chance, he could not find any milk or curd or butter to eat as he visits a house, he gets angry.. and he gives vent his anger on the children of that house ( by pinching or hitting them and waking them from their sleep and leaving them to howl and howl) 

=============== 

The master of the world.. the embodiment of mercy for all living beings that he created.. is playing mean and funny.. 

When Krishna plays like that we have to just enjoy.. 

And generation after generation of his devotees and admires on this earth enjoy His pranks and the report on that too as if he is playing tha before their eyes. 

All over this Holy land of Bharath.. on every festive occasion.. we reconstruct the action of naughty Krishna breaking the butter pot .. 

Krishna I love you

my father

Fathers day thoughts make me too nostalgic and emotional..
I have a father whose whole world and dreams revolved around me.. the son right from the day I was born.. I could realize that much later.. He would go to any extent to justify and highlight whatever I tried to do well. He has never found fault with me for anything I did, any time when I blundered and cause hurt for many.. And such episodes were too many..
But he cheated me almost thirty years ago.. He just died. left his body.. and departed.. and that was when I was away from home..on a training.. and could rush back to say goodbye to him after only 24 hours.. Maybe he could not have left that way had I been with him at that time.. But that was the only thing he ever did to hurt me..

He was not a scholar or philosopher and perhaps not  a significant person in any way that the society conceived..
But he was a staunch devotee of Muruga.. the Pazhani Andavar..
He would not refer to the Lord by His many names.
Pazhani Andavar according to him was always Namma Swamy.. our own God..
And he would always repeat, when things were not at all rosy.. Namma Swamy .. our God will solve our problems anyway... He may put us to test , but would never give us up..
But he had some real spiritual wealth with him..
He had come by certain mantrams and certain special ways of worship during his long bachelor life..
He married at 40 and I was born one year later..
And he was planning to teach me all those mantrams..
But I could get only a small percentage of it..
I have to confess that I did not approve much of his spiritual ways and blind faith in Namma Swamy when he was alive..
And I know he was waiting for the time when I would turn around with full faith.
But then death intervened..
Of course I did turn around much later.
Now my faith is absolute and unequivocal.

And he was very particular about one point..
Whatever may be the situation, the poojas and the mantrams should not be appled after taking any Dakshina or other benefits.

He was named as Vaidyanthan but because of his craze for Ganapathy Homam, he got a second name Ganapathy.. and this name stuck so much that most of the people knew him only as Ganapathy..
Only the records of the Government where he served would show his original name..

People used to call him to perform Ganapathy Homam at their homes.. usually he would decline but has performed that in some houses of very close friends..
But then he would not take any dakshina..
I learnt Ganapathy Homam from him..
He used to perform ganapathy homam at home every friday, all days during Karkitakam, all days in navaratri and on every birthday of any family member..

We had often felt skeptic about his craze for that ritual..
He believed that when the fire was in full vigour, and when the God was invoked, and when the Homa dravyam.. essentially a sweet mixture of coconut pieces, jaggery, ghee, and any other permitted edible material was r3ady and if the God is called sincerely with the moola mantram. he believed that Ganapathy appeared on fire with his trunk held up and mouth fully open to received the sweet material..
I remember him, working up his devotion with many chants of moola mantram. and offering the homa dravyam to fire believing in simplicity that Ganapathy was eating..
I really do not know whether his belief is rational or correct, but his faith was beyond any limits..

Yes, I can think of my father only for his blind love for me and for his blind love for our Swamy, and Ganapathy..

And within a year of his departure, I became a father of a Son.. my only possession in this world..

I am a proud father, a very proud father,, because of my Son.
.For me he is the best in this world.. Because of him, it is a very happy fathers day for me..
Pranams to the hallowed memory of my father, who, though left his physical body three decades ago lives with me and lives in me always..
And sweet thoughts for my Son, my only son, who just has the same name as my father.

And when I talk of Krishna I have not doubt that that Krishna is just Our swamy and Ganapthy too..

musings 55

God as Swayambhu ( self born.. self willed) is present everywhere,

and through rituals, and through faith and vedic and tantric chants we try to concentrate the presence of God in some particular area.. some particular object.. some symbol or idol. 

That maybe an icon, lamp or area covered by panchabhootas ( the earth, water, fire, air and ether) or even emptiness.. 

That attempt is called Pratishta( consecration.. superimposition).. 

Even in a pratishta God is swayambhoo.. because you can only invoke on invite God to a particular area.. it is for Him to present Himself there or anywhere else.. 

We can never force Him..

When we trust in God as a Pantheistic being, and consider Him as present everywhere, rituals lose their importance.. Even religion is of little avail

But once we invoke God through a system of worship, we have to follow the rules of that system... 

That is very important.. 

Of course one can create his own religion, his own methods of worship and all.. but for that he has to be an extraordinary person.. 

Most of us are, I think, very ordinary persons.. 

And the test as to whether something is extraordinary should necessarily be validated not by the person himself autocratically..But by people and things present around that person 

Though we may love to talk aloud about our own methods and our own convictions, frankly there is no room for such autocracy in any organised religion.. 

If a person claims that he is above law, the state will deal with him properly and adequately.. 

Similarly if he is within the framework of some scripture or organised faith and he is trying to become too unorthodox, society, religion or perhaps God Himself will deal with him on merits 

Let us try to be frank.. and realistic.. 

And usually tall talks about having own paths in faith just evaporate into nothingness when a really tough challenge in life arises.. 

Of course there is a choice.. to raise above all religions and have a very objective relation with the Maker.. 

It is almost as good as atheism and agnosticism.. 

And to take such a stand takes too much of vigil, hard work and character.. which are all seen very rarely . Such state of mind and attitude are far beyond the normal capacity of simple mortals like us. 

The other choice is to follow the normal religious practices.. and one can try to persuade the society and perhaps even the God to adapt to the changing environments,.. but that is only an attempt..God knows who will succeed.. 

Faith is a sweet, mild, soothing thing.. Not a revolution. 

Faith is something which grows in us so naturally.. and not a declaration..

the priest....

thola kavi said.

शान्तिद्विजः प्रकुरुते बहुदीप शान्तिं
तत्रत्य बालवनिता मदनार्ति शान्तिं
पक्वाजय पायस गुलैः जठराग्नि शान्तिं
कालक्रमेण परमेश्वर शक्ति शान्तिं.


shaantidvijaH prakurute bahudeepa shaantim
tatratya baalvanitaa madanaarthi shaantim
pakvaajya paayas gulaiH jaTaraagni shaantim
kaalakramena parameshvara shakti shaantim

The brahmin who is engaged for pooja in a temple is called Shanti..Shanti also means satisfaction, or finishing off too

So the Vikatakavi of Kerala, Tholan, Himself a Namboodiri says so

The young brahmin engaged for Shanti in a temple perform the following Shantis..
He extinguishes or does Shanti for all the oil lamps in the temple.. because he can take home the oil saved
He gives satisfaction or Shanti to the amorous desires of all local girls.
He satiates or give Shanti to the fire of hunger arising in his stomach by drinking the ghee, eating the fruits and gulping the Payasam made as naivedyam for the deity.. eating to his hearts content.. and even more.
And finally, by his lack of interest and avariciousness, the poojas are not done properly, and the power of the deity faces a shanti.. or depletion..

How many shanti kriyaas.. ?
This slokas comes in some Chakyar Koothus and Koodiyattams.. Written perhaps five to six centuries ago..
But the Shanti Dvijas appear to be of the same quality today too.