மார்கழி மாசம்

மார்க்கசீர்ஷம் என்பது தான் தமிழில் திரிந்து மார்கழி என்று அழைக்கப்படுகிறது. இந்த மாசத்திற்கு தநுர்மாசம் என்றும் மார்கழி மாசம் என்று இரண்டு பெயர் உண்டு. இரண்டு பெயர் ஏன் என்றால், வருஷத்தை கணக்கு பண்ணுவதில் இரண்டு விதங்கள் இருக்கின்றன. அவை சௌரமானம் மற்றும் சாந்த்ரமானம், முறையே சூரியனை வைத்தும் சந்திரனை வைத்தும் பண்ணினது.

சௌரமானத்தில் தனுர்மாசம் என்றும் சாந்த்ரமானத்தில் மார்கழி என்றும் இந்த மாதத்திற்கு பெயர். தமிழில் மாதத்திற்கு திங்கள் என்றே பெயர் இருப்பதால், தமிழ் வருட கணக்கு சாந்த்ரமானத்தில் அமைந்தது என்பதை அறியலாம்.  

அப்ஜ
"அப்ஜ" என்றால் தாமரை. "அப்" என்றால் ஜலம், ஜலத்தில் ஜனிப்பது "அப்ஜம்". "ஜலஜம்" என்பது தாமரைக்கு இன்னொரு பெயர். அம்புஜம் என்றாலும் தாமரைதான். "அம்பு" என்றாலும் ஜலம் தான். ஜலாசயமான சரஸ் என்கிற குளத்தில் பிறப்பதால் ஸரசிஜம், ஸரோஜம் என்று பெயர். வனஜா என்பதும் தாமரையின் பெயரில் இருந்து உண்டானது தான். வனம் என்பதற்கும் ஜலம் என்று ஒரு அர்த்தம் உண்டு. ஜலத்துக்கு "கம்" என்று இன்னொரு பெயர். கம்மில் பிறப்பதாலேயே தாமரையை "கம்ஜம்" என்பது. கஞ்ச லோசனே, கஞ்ஜதளாயதாக்ஷி என்றெல்லாம் பாட்டுக்களில் வருகிறது. நீரமும் ஜலம் தான். நீரம் தான் நீர். தாமரையை நீரஜம் என்று சொல்கிறோம். 

ஜலம் - ஜனிப்பது - ஜலத்தில் ஜனிப்பது - தாமரை 

நீரம் - ஜ - நீரஜ - நீரஜம் 

அம்பு - ஜ - அம்புஜ - அம்புஜம் 

அப் - ஜ - அப்ஜ - அப்ஜம் 

கம் - ஜ - கம்ஜ - கம்ஜம் 

வாரி - ஜ - வாரிஜ - வாரிஜம் 

மநஸிஜன்
மநஸிஜன் என்பது மன்மதன் பெயர். மனஸிலிருந்து ஜனித்தவன் மநஸிஜன். விஷ்ணுவின் மநஸிலிருந்தே உண்டானவன். மன்மதனுக்கு மாரன் என்றும் ஒரு பெயர் உண்டு.   

visit to sankars house sep6

At times, to clearly define what you know and what you do not know, can make the difference between gasping for breath and feeling comfortable. Yes, one such funny situation presented itself in front of my watery eyes, when I ventured a a dozen meters into lake Neuchâtel. Venturing into an open air swimming pool the previous day, I was successful in not reaching the bottom, unable to ...

Alps sojourn Part 1 : Aletsch Glacier



Aletsch glacier is surrounded by an impressive background of mountain peaks Eggishorn and Bettermerhorn on one side and other impressive but smaller mountain peaks on the other side. The longest glacier in the Alps running to around 25 km, Aletsch glacier has its mouth close to Riederalp.

Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, the longest stream of ice in the Alps presents itself to some of the most spectacular view points. One such view point is right on a hanging bridge over the deep gorge overseeing the melt waters from the glacier. Murky or milky, whatever I like to call it, does not actually fully describe the color of water that gushes with such haste only to be blocked by a man-made dam.

Melt water from the glacier at this point of time (summer 2010) and at this altitude would not have been seen by any of those early explorers in 1860. Just 20 years ago, the very place where there is flowing water now, would have just been flowing ice covered by a carpet of landslide material from the overlooking mountains. Does it not make it so special that I am witnessing this glacier in transition, retreating on an average by 50 meters per year.

Austria Trip 2010

Letter to Mr. Chidambaram, our central home minister. Posted on IBN live chat.

Dear Mr. Chidambaram,

First, after the Mumbai attacks, when Narendra Modi raised and some others raised the issue to investigate "local help" to terrorists involved, it was out and right denied as non-existent. Now there seems to be some investigations in India about Rana and Headly being involved in conspiracy and if they received any help here. Why was it not investigated thoroughly earlier about some inside help to such well planned attacks, before denying it outright?

Second, I believe that terrorists need a lot logistic support, a place to stay in a city for reconnaissance (Rajiv Gandhi assassins for example), the help of a hawala channel to pay for the logistics and etc. etc. Some people who for greed and financial gains (knowingly or unknowingly of terrorist links) abet terrorist acts. If fear of a tough jail sentence is shown as example, out of fear of punishment they might hesitate to provide help to someone suspicious. This can at least make the task of terrorists very hard to implement any of their plans easily and give time for the law enforcement agencies to act. Does the present Government think such a that such measures as necessary or not?

To quote an example, half an year ago there was a news about a Delhi business man (last name Sharma, but I am not sure) selling medical supplies was accused of illegally selling loads of medical supplies to Jharkhand meant to be diverted (delivered) to Maoists. A very strong action against such a crime would have sent a very strong message to passive supporters of terrorism to think twice. There was no follow up news of any action on it. Will the government at the center impress upon the states to go tough on such acts?

Third, in the build-up to the Mumbai attacks, several series of attacks took place but they were all pushed immediately to the back burner after Mumbai attacks. (For example, ATS chief Mr. Karkare was investigating the role of Hindu fundamental groups involvement in terrorist activity until he died and with him the news died) What is the progress in all those investigations on blasts prior to Mumbai blasts? Was anyone accused or are the conspirators still roaming free?

I have very high regards for Mr. Chidambaram as a strong Home minister who can send a tough message. I wish him all success.

Anxiety and Pain

If only two words have to be used to describe in whatever length that I would like to express the state of my mind, then anxiety and pain would be just enough for it. But, why do these two words, (or feelings) best describe my mind at presnt? Why is that my mind even prevents me from enjoying the music played in front of a huge saturday evening crowd at a wine festival? The effect of such an intense feeling can only be overcome with the help of some deeper understanding about what causes them. Where is it, what is it and how is it that one can look for the true understanding? Does not understanding, by itslef mean something which is experienced with the help of our sensory receptors? The seonsory perception? Now what does that mean to someone other than a Psychologist? But still, we all live to experience so many different feelings that criss cross in our minds with velocities even fater than that of light. Now after so much of delibration, it is all the more obvious that there is utter confusion about even what the problem is about? The problem is just about the upcoming medical examination to decide the future course of action about the huge metallic presence inside my body? Steel like resolve, metallic voice etc., are commonly used to describe certain person's skills but by going a step further, if I have to describe my arm, I should call it the titanium arm. Funny, is it not? Stop, the fun ends there and the anxiety about what will happen next with these plates, screws and wires is a puzzle only the fortune teller, or in this case a doctor who specialises in shoulders, can answer. The result of this examination might relieve me of the two dreaded feelings that continue to control me, or may be that it only adds to further additional feelings. Time alone can answer this question but the proper realisation what causes these emotions can actually lead to the deletion of the question itself rather than provide answers to it.