Moore Market, Madras

My day out at the famous Moore Market in Madras looking for some old books from the British period did not bring me much but these were a good introduction for what I was looking for.

The book on Churchill was a surprise as it had a dedication by a daughter to her father on his birthday in 1966.

The Cambridge grammar book was a delight as it is my favourite and makes a good gift for those students who need help with the language.

It is quite embarrassing to realise that I do not know much about the country of my tourists whom I take around south India. I do hope the other few books will help me know more about Great Britain.

Muchilottu Devi

Perinchellore was an old town famous for its scholarly Brahmans who were very good in the knowledge of Vedas, grammar, literature, astrology, medicine etc.. Scholars from all over came to Perinchellore to debate with the Brahmans there to test their own erudition. One such family in Perinchellore was Rayaramangalam. It so happened with them that the latest generation had no male heirs to continue their family lineage. They prayed to their family goddess by offering special Puja. Soon they got a daughter but not a son. Sensing a divine intervention the parents accepted her gratefully and named DeviKanya. They brought her up giving her the best they had including education. 

The girl grew up to be a scholar, naturally,  and her erudition spread among the scholarly circle of  the area in spite of being a girl. It was the custom at that time for the Brahman girls to be married off at the age of 12. Devi's parents proposed her the marriage and she agreed but on one condition. She will marry the man who will defeat her in a scholarly debate. Her parents had to agree and the marriage day was fixed. 

Many scholars came from far and wide both young and old. For two days nobody could defeat Devi. This was a blow to the Scholars of Perinchellore to be defeated and that too by a girl. For her parents she was a divine child but for others she was a mere girl who has to be shown her place in the world. So on the third day they deliberately guided the debate to the topic of Rasas which are the human feelings. They asked her which is the most significant of the Rasas to which Devi correctly replied as Sringara or erotic love. Then the scholars asked which is the most painful of the Rasas. Devi had no hesitation in saying it is the pain of child birth experienced by women. 

The Brahman scholars were enraged. They asked how can a virgin know all these feelings without experiencing it. They felt she is not a kanya (Virgin) and proclaimed the punishment due to such a woman for the innocent Devi. She was outclassed and expelled from the community. 

Though heartbroken, her parents could not do anything against the decision of the community. Devi walked away from her house, her village and went straight to the temple at EachiKulangara and entered into a deep meditative prayer of forty days. At the end of it she woke up with the realization that she had to leave her body to prove her innocence. At the Brahma Muhurtham, that is thirty six minutes before sun rise she prayed her final prayer and went to a place called Karivellore and made herself  a pyre and jumped into the fire after taking off one of her anklet and leaving it near the pyre. 

Alas! The fire was not enough to burn her body completely as it lost its flame midway. After a while a coconut tree climber from the lower caste was passing by carrying some dry fronds and Devi called out to him asking him to put the dry palm leaves into her fire. The man was frightened by the terrific site, he ran away without looking back. 

Next came that way a man from the Muchilottu community. Another lower caste community who deal in oil which was more important than electricity in those days. Devi asked him to pour the oil  that he was carrying in a pot into her pyre. Though terrified the man sensed a certain divinity in the stoic Devi and poured oil into the fire hoping it would put off the fire. Instead the fire was set ablaze again and the Devi disappeared into it after blessing him. From then on the Devi has been deified as the Goddess of the Muchillottu community and celebrated as Theyyam every year to this day.

Kundalini Power

What is kundalini Shakti?
Kundalini shakti, which is considered the invincible power, lies at the base of one's spine. It is a Sanskrit term meaning "coiled power" and refers to the "sleeping serpent," which upon awakening, results in self-awareness and spiritual growth.
Kundalini shakti may also be referred to as "divine energy" in Western understanding.
Kundalini shakti is present in every human being but is dormant in most. Also referred to as the "supreme power" and "basic force," the shakti finds mention in many sacred texts of Hinduism.
Kundalini shakti is the feminine power that lies coiled at the base of the spine. On awakening, it travels up the spine to the sahasrara to unite with Lord Shiva, the masculine power. Though it is mentioned as such in the sacred texts of Hinduism, kundalini is not just associated with a particular religion.
Mentioned by various beliefs in different names and using different symbols, it is the supreme power that guides one on his/her chosen path.
*The additional benefits of kundalini power awakening include:
●Boosts performance of chakras and balances them.
●Connects with universal Consciousness.
●Increases sense of perception.
●Promotes psychic abilities.
●Enhances spiritual experiences.
●Improves intelligence.
●Promotes sense of calm.
●Boosts cardiovascular and respiratory function.
*Kundalini shakti may be awakened by the following methods:
●Practicing asanas.
●Regular practice of pranayama
Performing mudras.
●A guru's grace.
In Hinduism, kundalini is personified as the Divine Mother: Bhairavi, Shakti Maa, Kali Maa, or other goddesses. She is the feminine power at the base of the spine, which travels up the spine to unite with the masculine power, her consort, Lord Shiva (Shakta), in the seventh chakra, sahasrara. This union of opposites is a powerful symbol depicted in all cultures.
In the ancient scriptures, kundalini is described in three different manifestations. The first is unmanifest cosmic energy: Para-kundalini. The second is vital energy of the created universe: Prana-kundalini. The third is consciousness: Shakti-kundalini, the intermediary between the other two.
Shakti-kundalini is the link to higher awareness, the revealer of all mantras, and the eternal source of bliss flowing from sahasrara (crown chakra). Through her shristi krama (process of creation), she creates by descending from sahasrara through all the chakras. She sustains by abiding in the muladhara chakra. Through her laya karma (process of absorption), she destroys or dissolves by ascending and returning to sahasrara.
When Shakti descends to the lower chakras, she is known as jagan mohini (world bewilder) and causes maya: delusion, limitation, ignorance, and ensnarement in material life. As she descends, she becomes grosser and loses her power and subtlety.
As kundalini shakti ascends through the chakras, she becomes subtler. On her pathway upward, she reabsorbs all the creative principles that originally descended from sahasrara. This is called laya-absorption. During this homeward journey, Shakti removes the veils of maya (illusion), which evaporate like a mirage.
As kundalini ascends through the chakras, mental limitations are gradually removed so consciousness can shine in its pristine glory. Mental fluctuations settle down and the mind becomes serene. Awareness flows smoothly and the mind becomes a vehicle for bliss and happiness.
At sahasrara chakra kundalini merges with Shiva, who is identified with her. In her formless state she is consciousness. In her creative form she is Shakti, the power of manifestation.
Therefore, kundalini's descent creates increasing ignorance, bondage, and delusion. The same kundalini energy, as it ascends, causes spiritual awakening, freedom, and wisdom.🙏​


compiled from external source