Salangai Pooja

Salangai Pooja programme in Melaka on 23th November, 2008 at MTCI auditorium at 8.00pm was an excellent event that was witnessed by more than 4oo people. The hall was fully packed. My sister's daughter, Vaishnavi was one of the 7 students took part in their ``beginning'' as a bharathanatyam students. I was quite surprised that this event turned to be like an arangetram itself. These young girls had captivated everyone with their near polished dance.

The youngest is 7 years old. The whole credit should go to their master, a well know Bharatha Natyam master of K.M Nataraja Paallii. They're accompanied by professional classical musicians. Malaysia's foremost Bharatha Natya exponent, Mr Mohana attended and gave a wonderful speech on the significance of this ancient dance form.

``Facebook'' Badge

Healing Diabetes

I came across mail from a friend on healing diabetes. No harm in trying....

Morning Melody

Morning Melody

The happy morning sun reaches a low peak at a distant horizon, amazingly crimson in light wavelength. I couldn’t let my sleazy eye set away from suria’s fine magical morning smile. It catches my imagination beyond description as I hold my hands on car steering wheel, cruising North-South PLUS highway towards workplace.

My mind went for mental jogging while I thrust the accelerator pedal to 100km per hour when I realized the time was almost seven fifteen (am). Jasthiswaram and Swarajathis instantly propped up in front of my mind screen. A quick replay of what Yoges teacher has taught me in last week’s lesson is in auto mode.

I hummed to a low-pitch voice, the entire Geetham song, Janakasuka in Saveri raga synchronizing with the wind sound hissing out of the car window pane with a small gap for fresh air, to fill up the slightly tangy atmosphere. My upper-lip muscles couldn’t resist raising the baseline for a skewed smile, in approving my mind’s ability to finally able to memorize the entire line, at last.

Now, reaching Pasir Gudang highway exit point on the left just after Kempas toll plaza, braked slowly, reducing the speed to just sixty kilometers per hour, memory plane resurfaced again. Analekara geetham song set in sudha saveri raga popped up, but this time hands are holding veena instead.

I delicately moved my fingers on the string along the pitch frets, strongly visualizing on the technical part of sliding along the fine cord string as how Yoges teacher plays.

I woke-up from my mind fender when a loud horning sound pierced my ear drum from a lorry speedily passing way. At least, my morning phase went through for a fine jog and in that I could well be prepared for my class later in the evening pre-seasoned, ready and alert, after a refreshing morning melody I serenade to myself.

A Tribute to my
Uncle and Auntie

This is a dedication page to an outstanding member of my family, maternal uncle and auntie, Mr & Mrs. Krishnan who had largely contributed to my well being; played a significant key role in molding me to be a good citizen and fine individual.

They had imbued in me the importance of education; right from the beginning, cajoling, emphasizing, underlining, even to the point strongly stressing that I must succeed by becoming a learned person.

Early extra education at home.

I began my tuition classes at the age of nine till twelve with auntie. Thence, onwards I studied with uncle, from the age of thirteen to fifteen years old.

Learning from my auntie is a joy and a wonderful experience. As a patient tutor, she taught English and Mathematics in simple and easy methods.

Uncle had a different way of delivering his teachings. Yes, he was an imposing figure. The mention of uncle’s name in itself will send shivers to our spine!

Noted for his excellent teaching skills and strict rule of discipline, he was one of the much sought teachers in the district of Segamat.

Tuition classes starts at 7.30pm and ends at 9.00pm, from Monday till Friday. I and my elder brother would walk in slow pace to uncle’s home which was about 100 meters across the road.

About fifteen students occupy front hall and dinning corner, while few in the kitchen.(A comfortable place)

Uncle is though somewhat seemingly had a fearsome personality, but a soft and kind hearted in person. He helps many poor families’ children of all races by giving free tuition and a helping hand wherever possible.

A perfect role model

A perfect couple, they are indeed made for each other. I can’t find any other better role model than them. They’re indeed my inspiration, benchmark of a disciplined family institution and mentor.

I owed them so much for my present success and on my habit of keep improving on education level. Their early emphasis on education on me pays off greatly, to which, I am doing the same, helping in educating the many needy children in our society, as how they’d done to me.

Gratitude and Appreciation

I for one thing, in a good position now, though may not be a highly successful person in life, but for sure, a good human with positive characters and qualities, as how the mold is cast from the die. To this, my appreciation and gratitude from bottom of my heart to my beloved Uncle and Auntie, for they are my ``Maker’’.

Ravichandran Ceyon, Krishnan
12th November, 2008

Felt so poetic today...

wrote this in 2006

Winds of Change

Winds of Change

The eastern wind gently blew the bamboo poles to a serenading sweet music and put me to sleep.
Then it glides gently along the mountain ranges and blankets the forest to a cool rest,
As it passes the beauty terrain that reign majestically with much like cotton mist,
Brushing along the green leaves and year old tress resting viewing the bluish sky,
Gaily ruffles as it strokes the feather of dove that flies across clear water lake,
Water lilies carpet the icy cold fresh water I could take a nap on its gentle petals.

The western wind bends and swirls to a perfect curl raising melodious sound of music so melancholic,
Braces against birds and bees with breeze and ease like stroke of paint brush on a gigantic canvas,
Nature swells to a dancing dwell when this wind stops to dance with green populace with such grace,
As the western wind graces the eastern, a solar wind brews up to a magical fountain spring,
Displays arrays of light sparks bursting to thousands watts charge vivid mass,
And rest applauds thunderous of appease and please with the change of wind or wind of change!

Ravichandran Ceyon
5.34 pm/ 19th December 2006

Friendship Day Wish

A special mail to my friends who'd wished me Valentine Day early this year. I just simplify that day as ``Anbar Thinam''(Tamil word) or Friendship Day!

Anbar Thinam Valthu' (Friendship Day Wish)

Valentine is not dime in my small mind.
Never met him and had not braced any kind of rhyme he mimed in the 4 corner, guarded barbed wall!

But the spirit of that saint of yore just meshed at every wall of current people's memory hall without a knowing of exact nature call of reason of this special day remembrance scroll scripted for centuries old.

Never mind of this Saint, but the times of rhyme of love chime my heart all the time without change second millennium thyme.
So, the roses of prose riddled by a thousand pose a mirror of mind a beautiful sign captured within my delicate `four chamber petal’,
Coloring a exquisite red from the original soothing white..

For this `Anbar thinam’, I send you my sweet mind of snow soft kind word line that represent fragrant -`manam’ that only be sensed from an inner cranium not external brain stratum how I value the treasure less `cord binds’ I can’t describe in other words but just a `whispering silence’ as long my soul clings to the outer body case in this living phase!

`Anbar Thinam Valthu’

Added with a pond as background

A Poem I wrote in 2007

Happy Morning By The Pond Side

The beauty that serenades the eyes,
Cools the heart and catch a thousand butterflies,
In the mist of refreshing pond by the side that
reflects a mirror image of `self’ looking the `self’,
Gazing the high sky above for a moment of happiness,
That beseeches every view sight back to a naught!

Lush green bush exacts the painted canvass with a lush brush,
Extends a warm welcome and saying good morning by the pond side,
It’s a mystical pride down a spongy light craving a filling heart,
Amazing side that I would like a thousand days not away from sight,
Humming birds and chirping magpies taints the blue sky.

Looking down the water pond I slowly bewitched when a tiny lass
Of a distant grass graces the surface with distinct smile and tantalizing eyes,
Oscillates the surface to waves and fades as morning dew dances on grass blades
And once again blowing a soothing greeting `Happy Morning By The Pond Side’

‘Ravichandran Ceyon
20th March, 2007

Belated Happy Diwali

Deepavali – shining light

As the battle ensues between Krishna and the mighty ``Narakasura’’ in which the latter’s elimination; just before his demise requested Krishna let the commoners rejoice in his death by lighting light in their homes and everywhere. That was the story I knew since young, told to me by parent. However, I was told of another important lesson from that ``puranic’’ stories of yore. Though the essence of the story is victory of goodness over evil (dharma conquering adharma), parent failed to narrate the actual meaning of celebrating Deepavali or simply know as Diwali.

I do well remember when I was in secondary two, my Malay teacher asked us, the Indian Hindus, in the class what is the meaning of Deepavali? Grinning with shyness and without deep knowledge, we would sheepishly look down at our desk indicating we were not sure. She would then explain to the class her reading understanding the significance of Deepavali celebration. Yes of course, it was not as accurate as she just explained per the ``Civic’’ text book - part of the curriculum book elaboration without depth or real substance. It took me even many years or so since then (20 years) to actually understand deeply the significance of the celebration.

As to why we celebrate the festival is not as important than having real fun plying crackers, donning new clothes, shoes and receiving `money’ from elders. The open house concept of celebration further adds to the colorful event where friends from different communities (Malay and Chinese) would join our `open house’ – rumah terbuka! The idea of making `others’ happy and promoting good neighbourhood with different races was the main focus and inspiration. Thus, commonly foods that we feasted too our guests reflect that taking care of thy neighbor’s heart was an obligation and treating them as extension of god. That was my basic lesson during childhood - Guest is god.

Deepavali eve was another joyous occasion to be celebrated. I remembered that during every Deepavali eve mother would prepare meals and beverages as part of ancestral (grandparents) prayers. Chicken curry, assortments of their inner body parts, mutton, prawns, fried curried crabs, and also a bottle of `alcohol beverage’ near grandparents’ pictures appeasing their `soul’ or ``atma shanti’’. When asked the reasons with them, I was told of how dead people liked to be offered these offerings as they had that craving when they’re alive. Innocent as ever at that point of childhood and teenage years, I would not much dwell in depth. As long we enjoy in the mist of the lights all over, that will do!!

Somehow my attitude has significantly changed when I went to college. I had more intellectual grasp after asking for e answers to the many Hindu beliefs and practices. I started to read, listen and a little exposed to Hinduism knowledge as well reasoning of most of the rituals done or connected to Hindu prayers. One day, I dreamed mother was placing non-vegetarian meals (meat) on prayer alter and I said no (prohibited) to her. I woke in the morning and called her to ask if she had placed any meat on prayer alter. She said she did but not place directly on alter but just a picture of a demigod and offered meat as part of ritual obligation asked to be performed to her by a wandering ``shaman’’. I explained to mother why we shouldn't place meat as offering on the alter and significance of being vegetarian as well. Meaning of ``Hindu'' – practitioners of religious belief that placed ahimsa (non injury/killing) towards all living being as foremost sacred duty. She agreed and that was the starting point where on every Deepavali, no meat is being served for prayers at all and for ancestral prayers as well.

As my intellectual understanding and awareness started to deepen, I began abstaining meat as well couldn't’t have a heart to digest another living creature just as to please my selfish taste bud. Thirukkural advice pertaining to abstinence of consuming meat did had a real impact as well the fact that my early experience of `slaughtering’ a chicken at age of seven where half way through the action, had a fright and let go off the chicken causing severe blood loss on the chicken and seeing a gory effect - dangling neck with unfinished cut. That was my first and last attempt to slaughter a living creature!! Shivering and frightened to core of my inner soul, reacted firmly and told mother not to ask me to perform such `cruel’ act in future. Indeed had a deep impact of how painful feeling could inflicted to another living creature. It took me months to come back from heavy guilty consciousness.

My spiritual understanding journey about Deepavali took a new turning point for good. I became a vegetarian at the age of 18.Mother too became one and no practice of meat offering on alter during the eve or on Deepavali day were practiced. However, the core practice of appeasing the guests by serving them sumptuous non-vegetarian meals still was a standard practice then. In my family, I stopped being one. I asked mother to serve only vegetarian meals to my friends who came for ``Deepavali open house’’. Understandably all liked the vegetarian dishes and had no qualms eating. Setting a different pattern of positive action requires courage and patience. Say no to over indulgence with alcohol consumption or serving guest with polite gesture. Replace that with good healthy food and wellness beverages.

The real meaning of victory of righteousness over evil in the real sense, I understood as a significant transformation of good habit from the bad ones, performing dharma than adharma, serving the needy as well uplift religion and community from darkness to light. See god everywhere and in everyone. Love every living creatures and being compassionate towards them (including animal kingdom). The joy of celebrating Deepavali is more of family togetherness, being humble, building strong bonds between family members, relatives and friends. Also time to look back and review actions that had hurt others. Taking vows not to repeat that action in future. Seek forgiveness where possible. ``Killing/slaying’’ the little demons that reside in our heart – anger, jealousy, hatred, hurtfulness and asuric tendencies within.

Darkness that enshrouds our outer mind soon will be gone, revealing the pure white light. That is the real victory in celebrating Deepavali. The ``self’’ conquers the ``self’’’. Elevate higher in awareness and pure consciousness. Gain pure mind thoughts and exemplary personal conducts. Improve personal positive traits. Steady small upward movement of meaningful positive self-transformation as light (deepam) shines over dark pockets of mind guiding us towards the straight path (Sanathana dharma).

Belated Happy Deepavali (Diwali) to all and have a wonderful and joyous day!!!

A piece of letter to a friend of mine last year!

Dear friend,

The most easiest way to lay out your confusion and find your missing piece is go back to your heart base and touch from deep down and ask `what I want in life and how I wanted it to end, you will soon realize where the missing piece is’.

The answer in not in constant searching but is in the stop. Stop searching and find them right within..’ otherwise it’s a never ending incomplete circle looking for it’s missing piece..

Ravichandran Ceyon
2nd April, 2007