Saturday, December 29, 2012

Artistic Destruction - Blast Photography!

Can you believe!
Destruction can be artistic!
If only you have the eye to see it!
Here is an example.


(Click on the image and text to see them bigger)

Sunday, December 23, 2012

K V Krishnan - Hemavathi

Collecting old music cassettes and converting into digital formats is an interesting work.
At times it throws some interesting bits at you.
At the end of one radio concert, I found this incomplete recording.
Sri K V Krishnan sings an excellent swaraprastaram after a Hemavati item.
There is also a Tiruppugazh that follows.
In view of the fact that not many recordings of this great singer are available, here I present this piece to you!




Even such pieces are interesting.
Sometimes more than the full items or concerts!

Monday, December 17, 2012

Masnavi - Stories that make you think!

Here is story!
Or is it?

Read and meditate on it!
You will understand!


THE STORY OF THE PARROT AND THE SHOPKEEPER

A certain shopkeeper kept a parrot as a pet. The parrot was green in color and had a very melodious voice. The shopkeeper had a great love for the parrot. The parrot used to speak a lot and entertain the clients in the shop. One day the shopkeeper had gone out. It so happened that a cat was trying to catch a mouse. The parrot got the impression that the cat was trying to attack him and thus fled to one side, to avoid being caught. As it did so, a bottle of almond oil which was placed there fell down and the oil spilled over. When the shopkeeper came back, he noticed the oiliness of the floor mat and immediately realized that the almond oil had been spilled. He became so angry that he struck the parrot on its head a number of times. This action of his caused the parrot's head to become bald. The parrot became so displeased with the shopkeeper that from that day onward it stopped talking.

The parrot's silence caused the shopkeeper great anguish. He was very sorry and
wondered what to do in order to make the parrot speak again, as its speech had provided him with great pleasure up to then. For many days he tried to please the parrot through flattery, but the parrot remained silent. He fed the parrot with various kinds of fruit in order to make him happy, but still the parrot would not speak. Even the clients who came to the shop, were surprised at the parrot's silence and were sorry at this state of affairs.

One day a beggar, covered in a blanket and having a bald head went past the shop. On
seeing the bald headed beggar the parrot spoke in a loud voice: "O bald-headed one, how did you become bald? You must have also caused a bottle of oil to spill over".

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Think - A Cartoon!

I don't think, I think!

I don't think!

Why think?



Think!

Vemana on tools


మాటలాడవచ్చు మనసు నిల్పగలేడు
తెలుపవచ్చు దన్ను తెలియలేడు
సురియ బట్టవచ్చు శూరుడు కాలేడు
విశ్వదాభిరామ వినురవేమ.


mATalADaga vaccu manasu nilpagalEDu

telupavaccu dannu teliyalEDu

suriya baTTavaccu SUruDu kAlEDu

viSwadAbhirAma vinura vEma


mATalADaga vaccu = May be able to speak
manasu nilpagalEDu = cannot hold the mind
telupavaccu = may be able to inform, explain
dannu teliyalEDu = cannot fathom the self
suriya baTTavaccu = may hold a weapon
SUruDu kAlEDu = cannot be a valiant one

Vemana talks about the two faces of human nature.
One may be eloquent and fluent with words. The same person cannot contain own mind. In that case all the verbal skills would only be useless. It is not enough if one is capable of speaking. One must speak with balance.

Similarly one can be a teacher and giver of wisdom.
But, if such person has not realized own strengths and weaknesses his teachings would turn empty words. Only when knows himself and the others, can be a good teacher. One should know what the others know, and know more than what the others know. Then only one can make the others know!

Vemana always gives a principle and makes one understand it with a simple example.
To illustrate the capabilities and their relation to the application, here he takes the example of one holding a weapon and being a courageous person. Mere presence of a weapon in hands cannot make one brave. One must know about own capabilities and about the tools available. Then there would be chance for right application of the tools.

Words, wisdom or a weapon are only tools. Their application for best results depends on the individual’s capabilities. 

Monday, December 10, 2012

Chembai - Nadamadi

Here is another version of the song "Nadamadi"

Sri Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar - A Vintage recording



For the V V Sadagopan version check the recent posts in the blog.

Kerry Darlington - Paintings

Here is a contemporary artist with a fresh outlook.
Her works are amazing.

(Open the pictures in another widow to see them bigger) 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Hot days ahead!

We all say that the summers are becoming hotter every year!
Scientists are telling that the world is growing hotter!
What exactly is happening?
Do you know that precipitation means rain?
I wish everyone understands this matter!
Read on and you will realise how true all this is!

(Click on the image to see it bigger and read)

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Is it a joke?

I read this in an international magazine.
I thought I shall share it here.



Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Semmangudi - Aravindapadamalar

Here is a composition of Smt Ambujam Krishna



Semmangudi sings Aravainda Padamalar - Kapi


Enjoy!