Of Stones and Shells

Partha Desikan

Shri Matsya Narayana

Partha Desikan

Gururgurutamo dhaama satyah satyaparaakramah |
Nimisho (a)nimishah sragvee vaachaspatir udaaradheeh ||
Agraneer graamaneeh shreemaan nyaayo netaa sameeranah |

The above three lines constitute the full shloka 23 and the first half of shloka 24 of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama from the Anushaasanika parva of Maharishi Vedavyasa’s ancient epic. The fifteen names numbering 211 to 225 of the Lord are covered by these lines.

1. The first name consists of two words, Guruh and Gurutamah. Together it means the greatest of Gurus.

Having to do with Jayanth Kaikini's Ondu Jilebi

Partha Desikan

An inspiring contemporary young Kannada poet has recently published a collection of his poems and there was a formal release in Bangalore.

Sri Ashoka reviewed the book for The Hindu offering sincere tribute in sober terms, referring to the poet's humanism as well as his involvement with the here, now and the immediate.

The review has been reproduced below.

Humanism, in the lyrical mode

Ondu Jilebi by Jayanth Kaikini

Rama meets Sharad in the Woods

Partha Desikan

Yesterday was a special day. Throughout the world, followers of the Sikh path celebrated the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. It was Ashwin purnima if you computed your months according to the solar calendar and Kartik Purnima for the lunar month observers. Either way, it qualified as Sharad Purnima. Delhi and its neighbourhood had no rains for weeks, and the full moon on a reasonably clear sky would have met the expectations of visitors to Agra and the Taj Mahal or the pilgrims to Amritsar and the golden temple.

Take a handful of soil. Ask yourself, ‘Is it alive?’. Unless you are a poet the answer is anyone’s guess. You might remember your science teacher telling you about the various living organisms ranging from bacteria and virus to earth worms and caterpillar.