𝑨𝒎𝒎𝒖'𝒔 𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔!

My mother was the pillar of my life, my source of strength, wisdom, and unconditional love. She was an extraordinary woman, full of grace, resilience, and quiet courage. Every value I hold, every strength I have, and every good part of who I am today is a reflection of her guidance and love. To honor her memory and the beautiful life she lived, I created this photo story. This is a tribute to a remarkable woman whose legacy continues to live on in my heart and in all the lives she touched. My mother (9 years) sitting extreme left with her family   My mother was born on January 12, 1930, in Kozhikode, Kerala, to Parappil Rukmini Amma and Ullattil Karunakara Menon. Her father, a progressive and principled man, served as an officer under the British government and believed deeply in the value of education, especially for his daughters, which was uncommon for the time. She grew up in a loving household with two sisters and a brother, who would later become one of the earliest me...

Every home in India from time immemorial has a tradition of lighting an oil lamp at dawn and at dusk known as Deepaaradhana. At homes some people burned lamps in front of God, while others lit lamps in front of Tulasi plant, in front of great rivers like River ganges and in some homes, individuals light the lamps either at dawn or at dusk. The majority of people view performing Deepaaradhana as an everyday routine that is passed through generations, yet like with everything else in Sanatana Dharma, there is a strong reason behind it. The most significant celebration that takes place in every temple is also the Deeparadhana.   Before the idol, modest lamps with a single flame to pyramidal towers with seven levels are waved, followed by the waving of camphor. Conches are blown and all of the bells sound when the deepam is presented to the idol, drawing everyone's attention to it. One light is typically lit in the sanctum sanctorum during the day, making it completely dark. How...

𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐢 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐦 On Karkidaka Vavu Bali Day yesterday, we performed the Bali tarpanam ritual for all of our ancestors. It's been an annual tradition for more than 10 years. 'Tarpanam' is a traditional yearly ritual where oblations are offered to departed ancestors. It's usually a sad day as you reflect on your entire life, starting when you were a tiny infant. Each time you are asked to honor a deceased relative during the ceremony, memories of them and your interactions with them come to mind. Most of the time good, yet occasionally bad. I've learned how to use it as a lesson. Every time a relative comes to mind, I consider both their positive and negative traits, asking myself what I can take away from it to become a better person? As a result, even paying respect to my ancestors serves as a constant spiritual reminder. This is the wonderful part of Sanatana dharma, which holds that everything you do has a lesson to teach you if you are seeking one. The m...

  The most ancient percussion instrument in India is a Mizhavu. 𝐀 𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐡𝐚𝐯 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐮 (Malayalam: മിഴാവ് ) is a big copper drum played as an accompanying percussion instrument by hand. Since it is used in temples or Koothambalams, mizhavu is considered sacred. It is perhaps the oldest musical instrument still used today in the Indian subcontinent. It was initially constructed of mud and was the simplest instrument to make by placing wet calf leather over a mud pot. However, it eventually changed into pure copper. According to ancient mythology, Mizhavu was the musical instrument used when Lord Shiva danced (Shiva Thandava), and Nandikeswaran played the Mizhavu. Tradition says playing a mizhavu creates a spiritual bond between the hand and the skin. Your hand's skin and the skin of the mizhavu. The Mizhavu is referred to as Muzhavu in the ancient literature Silappadikaram, an epic poem written in Tamil Nadu between the fifth and sixth centuries AD by Prince Ilang...

Recently, a dentist remarked to me, "Your daughter has such good teeth, no cavities even though she's in her twenties. What's the formula? You must have done something when she was a baby for her teeth to be that perfect even now! That made me wonder: Did I do anything? Yes, until they were around 4, I didn't give them any candy, cake, or fruit juice.  And yes, they never ever had any illnesses, ear infections, or trips to the emergency room. B ut other than that? Then I remembered my mother exclaiming "It is excellent for teeth! If you drink this, the baby will have healthy bones and teeth. Don't you want that?” She was talking about the extremely bitter beverage that she used to give me while I was pregnant, which was made from Kadukka or Haritaki-infused water. She ritualistically fed my children a tiny bit of a concoction every day soon after bathing them since the twenty-eight day following their birth. She would bathe them with such care after giving th...