My Birdie!

Mid March: I happened to spend a fortnight at a dear friend's place in Chicago, IL – a city whose name invariably echoes as “Windy City”, and certainly should! It is said that the fierce velocity of wind here could have a car be “Gone with the wind”! The volume of the gust is so bewildering that one could easily mistake it for a trumpet of an elephant; for the whistle of a train; or to the creepy noise of the unknown! Gushhhhhh….!

A gala time it was, performing every literal ritual that’s supposed to comprise a vacation… {Fast Forward} Right from waking up at sharp 12 noon - to - watching Will Smith’s mind blowing performance in “Pursuit of Happyness” - to - dinners and binges - to - gulping down shots of vodka until reaching the “I’m not think as you drunk I am!” mode - to - driving all the way to Wisconsin State in the mid of the night to play Bingo & Poker in a Casino! - back to - waking up sharp at 12 noon! Phew! {/Fast Forward}

Amidst all the high energy activities, I loved taking retreat in the balcony of the cozy 1^st Floor Apartment. In front of it was this bare & bald tree at 2 arms distance, which housed a tiny nest that belonged to a tinier bird… a Dove, who I fondly refer to as “My Birdie” :-)

(a pic I found on the net, that resembled my birdie)

My Birdie had 2 little-ones-to-be that she lovingly protected, persistently giving them the luxury of her warmth. She unfailingly couched on the nest, refusing to move even during bitter subzero temperatures, or at the command of the intimidating Chicago wind! The weather once tested her perseverance through a snow storm; her nest filled with snow to bury her neck. Her eyes showed pain and feathers seemed to shrink in the cold; but her motherly instincts never gave in. She fought every odd of fate, ignoring her own self, as if the purpose of her existence was to safeguard her kids. In no time I began to feel concerned about her; I’d often check if she was doing well and would include her in my prayers.

My birdie had brought me to recollect the myriad sacred moments with my mother. Her tender love when I needed, her selfless giving even if it required sacrificing her own desires, her passionate protection and caring; ego not withstanding…!! It would send a chill down my spine when I also recollected that I had disregarded her or was indifferent to her at times… Wonder if everyone does that, but still doesn’t call for such nonchalance from me. I soon began making frequent calls to my mother, and fervently thinking about ways to keep her safe and happy. Affectionately, I sent her a Mother’s Day card hoping that it would instill faith in her that I am thinking about her well being. No matter what!

I wish my birdie could understand human language so I could tell her “Thank you and Happy Mothers Day!” This is the best I could do to immortalize my sweet li’l Birdie - the selfless and caring; yet inconspicuous soul that she is!

This is the least I could do to epitomize the unconditional love of a mother - the quintessential and magnanimous; yet so inadequately appreciated ‘wonder drug’ that it is!

Aadhyaatma

The transcendental part of me recently found a new endeavor in the ‘pursuit of happyness’ :-) - reading verses from the Vishnu Sahasranama (1000 titles of Lord Vishnu) and trying to decipher the Taatparya (meanings and significance) of each verse. It’s easy for anyone who has heard the Vishnu Sahasranama, to guess the source for the name of my blogspot “me-uvacha” – uvacha in Sanskrit means Speaks or Says, therefore: Me-Speaks!

Though insignificant, I wish to pass the acquired knowledge on for the acquaintance and appraisal by many. I begin with the foremost of Shlokas which is used to invoke the Lord:

“Shuklambaradharam Vishnum
Shashi Varnam Chatur Bhujam
Prasanna Vadanam Dhyayet
Sarva Vighnopashaantaye”

Shukla = White; ambara = Sky; dhara = Wearing; Vishnu = Lord Vishnu;Shashi = Moon; Varna = Color; Chatur = Four; Bhuja = Arms;
Prasanna = Pleasant; Vadana = Face; Dhyayet = Meditate / pray;
Sarva = All; Vighna = Obstacle; Uashaantaye = Clear / Remove;

In value, it glorifies the Lord by saying...

“Dear Vishnu – One clad in White, the all-pervading
One whose complexion is that of the Moon, One who has four arms
One who wears a pleasant smile on his face;
I Pray to thee, kindly clear all obstacles!”

The Vishnu Sahasranama was introduced to mankind during the Mahabharata.. At a time when Yudhishtira was deeply hurt by the proceedings of the war, he pleaded Bheeshma Pitamaha to guide him to peace of mind. Grandsire Bheeshma imparted the sacred Vishnu Sahasranama - originally scripted by Sri Veda Vyasa Rishi (an incarnation of Vishnu himself) – to Yudhishtira as a means of gaining inner peace and strength.