Kaleidoscopic life

Last week, a conversation with my friend/colleague/mentor, my guiding light in both life and the office labyrinth, took an unexpected turn. We were dissecting a tricky situation at work, one that demanded a decision: escalate or forgive?   Where to draw  the line between letting someone off the hook and standing up for what’s right? As usual, I turned to the wisdom of Hindu mythology, hoping for a crystal-clear answer. But forget a straight shot! It was more like getting lost in a funhouse mirror maze. Divine GPS, I thought. Instead, I ended up lost in the forest with no signal, completely confused about which turn to take as every path seemed to lead somewhere new. Talk about confusing! Lord Rama, the epitome of righteousness, ultimate good guy,  embraced Vibhishana, the righteous brother of the demon king Ravana, with open arms. Yet, Vali (brother of Sugriva), another seemingly wronged party, faced Rama's wrath. Sri Krishna, the embodiment of compassion, the ultima...

My sweetest Sunday routine memories as a child include those mandatory morning head baths with soapnut (yes, complete with a few fights and stinging eyes!), followed by watching Mahabharata on Doordarshan. My grandmom loved the show, but she didn't know Hindi. That's where I came in – her self-proclaimed little translator, armed with a limited Hindi vocabulary and boundless enthusiasm. I'll never forget Bhishma Pitamah, his long white beard flowing, voice booming with a seriousness that seemed etched on his face. My translations might not have been perfect, but they were enough to bridge the gap, creating a special connection between my grandmom, the ancient stories, and me. In the Indian epic Mahabharata, Bhishma/Devavrata, known as "Bhishma Pitamah" (Grandfather Bhishma), is a legendary figure. His life is a testament to unwavering duty, the struggle between personal desires and obligation, and the timeless pursuit of righteousness that often demands agonizing c...

I have a passionate emotional side, which I naturally prefer to keep private. But I overthink things, spending sleepless nights on even the smallest disagreements. Every word of discord stings, no matter where it comes from. Ironically, navigating professional disagreements feels easier than personal disagreements. Perhaps it's because expectations are clearer in professional settings. At home, with my husband, I become this open floodgate, pouring out every thought, worry, every twist and turn of mental maze. He, being a calm soul, often encourages me to embrace differences and reminds me of the story of Srikalahasthi. Sri Kala hasthi is temple town near Tirupathi in Indian State of AndhraPradesh.  The Srikalahasti’s Temple name is derived from a popular story. The story says that a Sri (spider), a Kala (snake), and an Hasti (elephant) used to worship Lord Shiva in this particular town to attain Moksha (Peace.) Appeased with their unflinching devotion, Lord Shiva gave them a boon ...

Last week, during a scene in the movie Bezos, the character's statement 'Because you never asked for it' resonated deeply with me. I explored references in Hindu epics and examined my own personal and professional experiences. As a child, I rarely voiced my desires. Partly wanting to be good, mostly finding my mom surpassing my wishes, I felt either delighted or slightly off, yearning for something unknown. This pattern of silence continued in many areas of my adult life. Whether choosing a restaurant or expressing food preferences, I often hold back my opinions and simply say “I am fine with anything”, though I am not actually.  This silence stems from two main desires: one, to be perceived as a "good girl" who avoids being demanding, and two, to prioritize the comfort and enjoyment of others. I cared more about fitting in and being easygoing than I did about speaking my mind or saying what I wanted. My professional life isn't immune to this pattern either. S...

  As a kid, I loved playing Vaikuntapali (పరమపదసోపాన పటము or snakes and ladders) with my grandma using seashells. My mom, the resident rule enforcer, would constantly scold us for wasting our time. Fast forward to adulthood, and I've morphed into an anti-board game person. Their slow pace and long hours of sitting was a cruel test for my patience, a virtue I lack in abundance. With social media’s endless scroll of mind-numbing content, the irresistible lure of Netflix marathons, the dopamine rush of online shopping sprees, why would I bother wasting my time by rolling seashells (or dice) and moving wooden pieces. Why would any one select Feature phone over smart phone ? But then I stumbled upon a YouTube video about Vaikuntapali, and it sparked my dormant interest all over again. I started looking at the original game board (Thanks to Google's commitment to preserve the past) and I delved into a deep analysis, uncovering its profound symbolism and life lessons. It's like di...

The Ramayana is considered to be one of the greatest works of Hindu literature and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful stories ever told. Rama and Sita are the main protagonists of this beautiful story, directed originally by Sage Valmiki, and the same story has been rewritten into many different versions, interpretations, and languages over the centuries because it is one of the most influential and symbolic epics. It has been an inspiration to many poets, lyricists, directors, and musicians. Be it Valmiki Ramanyanam or Ramanand Sagar’s television series Ramayan, or Bapu’s Sampoorna Ramayanam, Be it Molla Ramayanam or Tulsa Das Ramacharith Manas, Be it Viswanatha Satyanarayana’s Ramayana Kalpavriksham or Ranganayakamma’s Ramayana Vishavruksham, Be it Tyagaraja Kriti or Ramadasa Keerthana or some folk song (now, many songs are running through my mind, situationally). What is running through your mind now? All of these versions of the Ramayana have something in common, and t...

Nature is our greatest, wisest and noblest teacher. A tree, flower, leaf, sun, pets, wild animals and everything around will teach us something. Only thing we should have to look into and be ready to learn. “Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.” – William Wordsworth Path to success is not straight forward. There will be many twists and turns. Be adaptable, be flexible and be tolerant to win the face of difficult odds.      Tolerance is as simple as trying to accept the fact the we live in the world of different opinions or behaviors that we don't necessarily agree with. Very often, we feel unsafe or threatened  because some one else express a opinion that is very different from ours. We need to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable in order to grow.  In many cases  tolerance results in increased understanding, better relationships and improved behavior. [Note : Tolerance should not be confused with toleration ]...