Peace for the Soul2024-03-28T20:27:27ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahihttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2535684336?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/forum/topic/listForContributor?groupUrl=india-in-my-soul&user=13wp1lz2txukn&feed=yes&xn_auth=noShubo Navaratritag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2022-09-27:5143044:Topic:4083072022-09-27T02:08:42.191ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahi
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10828410886?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10828410886?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="610"></img></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Artist: Avinab Mukherjee</span></p>
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<p>Courtesy of Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati ;</p>
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<p>Shubo Navaratri</p>
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<p>देव्युवाच<br></br> एकैवाहं जगत्यत्र द्वितीया का ममापरा</p>
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<p>devyuvāca<br></br> ekaivāhaṁ jagatyatra dvitīyā kā mamāparā</p>
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<p>The Goddess…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10828410886?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10828410886?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="610"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Artist: Avinab Mukherjee</span></p>
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<p>Courtesy of Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati ;</p>
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<p>Shubo Navaratri</p>
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<p>देव्युवाच<br/> एकैवाहं जगत्यत्र द्वितीया का ममापरा</p>
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<p>devyuvāca<br/> ekaivāhaṁ jagatyatra dvitīyā kā mamāparā</p>
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<p>The Goddess said: <br/> "I am alone here in the world. Who else is there besides Me. "</p>
<p>~ Devi Mahatmya ( Ch. 10, verse 4 & first half of 5)</p>
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<p>"Everything comes into existence in time and disappears in time. Kali, the Mother of the Universe is the Mother of all. It is She alone that has begotten both good and evil. Everything has come out of Her womb."</p>
<p>~ Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi</p>
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<p>"God has crated the world in play, as it were. This is called Mahamaya, the Great Illusion. Therefore one must take refuge in the Divine Mother, the Cosmic Power Itself. It is She who has bound us with the shackles of illusion. The realization of God is possible only when those shackles are severed. One must propitiate the Divine Mother, the Primal Energy, in order to obtain God’s grace. God Herself is Mahamaya, who deludes the world with Her illusion and conjures up the magic of creation, preservation, and destruction. She has spread this veil of ignorance before our eyes. We can go into the inner chamber only when She lets us pass through the door. Living outside, we see only outer objects, but not that Eternal Being, Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute. Therefore it is stated in the Puranas that deities like Brahma praised Mahamaya for destruction of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. Shakti alone is the root of the universe. That Primal Energy has two aspects: vidya and avidya. Avidya deludes. Avidya conjures up “lust and greed”. Which cast the spell. Vidya begets devotion, kindness, wisdom, and love, which lead one to God. This avidya must be propitiated, and that is the purpose of the rites of Shakti worship. The worship of Shakti is extremely difficult. It is no joke. I passed two years as the handmaid and companion of the Divine Mother. But my natural attitude has always been that of a child toward its mother. I regard the breasts of any woman as those of my own mother. Women are, all of them, the veritable images of Shakti."</p>
<p>~ Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.<br/> (Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, pg.116)</p>
<p></p> Bayeria by Marwar Melodies Asin Khan Langa & Sattar Khan Langa, Barnawa Jageer, Barmertag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2021-01-16:5143044:Topic:3593862021-01-16T20:26:57.916ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahi
<p>The young duo of Asin Khan and Sattar Khan makes one of the most formidable Langa duo. While Asin expresses himself through the tunes of Sarangi and soulful voice, Sattar captures audience with his melodious and energetic expressions. The artists are from the village of Barnawa Jageer in Barmer. The duo presents traditional Langa music and sufi music with Sindhi Sarangi, the identical string instrument of Langa communities. Both the artists have performed in various national and…</p>
<p>The young duo of Asin Khan and Sattar Khan makes one of the most formidable Langa duo. While Asin expresses himself through the tunes of Sarangi and soulful voice, Sattar captures audience with his melodious and energetic expressions. The artists are from the village of Barnawa Jageer in Barmer. The duo presents traditional Langa music and sufi music with Sindhi Sarangi, the identical string instrument of Langa communities. Both the artists have performed in various national and international festivals. Their music is a soothing treat of the soul.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M_vwM-5TBG4?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</p> Happy Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan or Maghitag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2021-01-15:5143044:Topic:3588032021-01-15T20:06:52.836ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahi
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8427278463?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8427278463?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="570"></img></a></p>
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<p>Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan or Maghi is a festival day in the Hindu Calendar dedicated to the Hindu deity, Surya. It is celebrated when the Sun passes from one Zodiac to the next. It's an important festival of the Hindus and celebrated everywhere in the country in different cultural forms and different names with people welcoming the…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8427278463?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8427278463?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="570"/></a></p>
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<p>Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan or Maghi is a festival day in the Hindu Calendar dedicated to the Hindu deity, Surya. It is celebrated when the Sun passes from one Zodiac to the next. It's an important festival of the Hindus and celebrated everywhere in the country in different cultural forms and different names with people welcoming the new season of harvest in their own cultural way. Like Lohri, Bihu, Pongal, Maghi, Makaravilakku. People of Punjab and Haryana celebrate it as the festival Lohri. They gather around the bonfire and throw puffed rice, popcorns in the flares of a huge fire and sing and dance. Prayers are made for health, growth and prosperity. Various preparations are made from til or sesame seeds, rice and jaggery are common on Makar Sankranti.</p>
<p></p> Truth has no path, and that is the beauty of truth...tag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2020-12-11:5143044:Topic:3357442020-12-11T15:15:18.760ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahi
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8274815275?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8274815275?profile=RESIZE_710x"></img></a></p>
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<p>"Truth has no path, and that is the beauty of truth, It is living. When you can see this fact, that truth is something living, moving, which has no resting place, which is in no temple, mosque, or church, which no religion, no teacher, no philosopher, Nobody can lead you to--then you will also see that this living thing is what you…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8274815275?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8274815275?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>"Truth has no path, and that is the beauty of truth, It is living. When you can see this fact, that truth is something living, moving, which has no resting place, which is in no temple, mosque, or church, which no religion, no teacher, no philosopher, Nobody can lead you to--then you will also see that this living thing is what you are--your anger, your brutality, your violence, your despair, the agony and sorrow you live in. In the understanding of all this is the truth, and you can understand it only if you know how to look at those things in your life. And you cannot look through and ideology, through a screen of words, Through hopes and fears."</p>
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<p>~ Jiddu Krishnamurti</p>
<p>Art by Catrin Welz-Stein, "Velvet Sky".</p> A Lost Village in the Himalayastag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2020-03-22:5143044:Topic:2828142020-03-22T22:52:13.198ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahi
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cibToTAcrYU?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cibToTAcrYU?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe> Tibetan Woman's lifetag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2020-03-22:5143044:Topic:2828122020-03-22T22:49:42.163ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahi
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6-xzYGWUnYg?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6-xzYGWUnYg?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe> The film changing lives in the Indian Himalayastag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2020-03-22:5143044:Topic:2824932020-03-22T22:46:34.270ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahi
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sUDSiVMkNaU?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sUDSiVMkNaU?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe> Spirit ∙ short documentarytag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2020-03-22:5143044:Topic:2824872020-03-22T14:31:09.167ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahi
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WckJybFcT5A?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WckJybFcT5A?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe> GAIA ( Green Goddess of Mother Earth ) - NYX FACE AWARDS INDIA 2017 - Entrytag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2020-03-22:5143044:Topic:2825962020-03-22T14:23:13.867ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahi
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gfwEHNhbNuA?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gfwEHNhbNuA?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe> Gaia: The Ashram in the Cloudstag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2020-03-22:5143044:Topic:2824852020-03-22T14:20:38.753ZRavi Pratap Shahihttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/RaviPratapShahi
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4190808749?profile=original" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4190808749?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450"></img></a> Gaia: The Ashram in the Clouds</p>
<p>THE PEPSI HR CONSULTANT WHO GAVE IT ALL UP TO LIVE ON A MOUNTAIN<br></br> Tucked away above the quiet terraced town of Kookal, Tamil Nadu (South India), one finds a true sanctuary; an area so beautiful and pristine that one is quickly forgiven for having thought such places existed only within the pages of fantasy. (Given, of course, that…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4190808749?profile=original" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4190808749?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="450"/></a>Gaia: The Ashram in the Clouds</p>
<p>THE PEPSI HR CONSULTANT WHO GAVE IT ALL UP TO LIVE ON A MOUNTAIN<br/> Tucked away above the quiet terraced town of Kookal, Tamil Nadu (South India), one finds a true sanctuary; an area so beautiful and pristine that one is quickly forgiven for having thought such places existed only within the pages of fantasy. (Given, of course, that you chance upon the right muddied track.)</p>
<p>Snaking its way around the hillside, the path rises and falls over rocky outcrops before opening upon a luscious green staircase of disused rice paddies. And there, against a background of deep green trees and the white-grey dermis of the mountain stands Gaia, the ashram in the clouds.</p>
<p>Gaia is also the name given to the life-giving force of nature, that which some may call Mother Nature.</p>
<p>The main building is mud-walled and built by locals. There is a kitchen with an additional larger room where the occupants eat, sleep and chatter excitedly, and a bathroom nestled between two enormous boulders below the house.</p>
<p>All electricity is supplied from four solar panels, and the water is retrieved from a river gulley where two shoulders of the mountain rub together. Dotted around the property are several tents, providing the option to sleep outside.</p>
<p>The richness and moisture of the land and vegetation seep so freely into the environment that you feel as if you are being constantly and delightfully embraced by the Earth. Walking around barefooted, the soil hugs your soles; the air: so heavy and rich that it is rather like being consumed by the world; suspended in a breath.</p>
<p>Throughout the day, while the trees and plant life respire, a full-bodied mist slowly bands together to blanket the entire vista; and later, as the air reaches for the stratosphere — the impeccably clear ceiling — the mist coalesces to form fantastic blue clouds, before thundering down heavily against the corrugated roof.<br/> <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4190815085?profile=original" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4190815085?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center"/></a><br/> Vishnu, one of the permanent members of the Gaia community (and the hilariously informal resident guru) tells me that the water contains 20ppm (parts per million) of pollutants. In other parts of India, this figure reaches as high as 500ppm. “Up here,” he keeps telling me, “you are literally inside the water cycle.”</p>
<p>DSCN1679 - Edited-01.jpeg<br/> A photo of a local man took against the background of mist</p>
<p>Everything is brilliantly fresh and vibrant: living, growing, thriving. Here, for me, the unassertive perfection of nature has never been so easy to hear. Gaia is an exhibition, a showroom for the artistry of life. A thin coating of crystal droplets covers all fauna, like a market stall, where the vendor routinely sprays their apples, bananas, and oranges.</p>
<p>It feels like you could almost kick-off — and swim in the aliveness of it all.</p>