Heeramandi could have been from an era gone by. But we have Heeramandi characters in real life these days. The way the faithful, the trustworthy, the loyal and honest people are ridiculed is shocking. Our value system gets underplayed. Every vice seems to be justified: from mothers boozing in the day to middle aged women having phone sex with celebs behind their husbands’ backs (or may be with husband’s blessings). Uppermiddle class is that. Its those who live with dignity and honour who look like fools. We are branded the pessimists, the negatives and the miserables. The Heeramandi gang is so upbeat! Found this gem:
Heera Mandi characters reminded me of 4 girls in the zumba gang I left! Hifi I mean! No wonder all of us are jealous of these Aishwarya Rais (they think they are!) aren’t we! But none of us family women can become like them, can we? There is simply no contest between soliciting girls from Heeramandi and family women. I would rather commit suicide than do what the zumba girl did/does. Good riddance. I walked out the day I found out about them. Anyway, absolutely NO REGRETS. Not all of us forge friendships or relationships looking at one’s car and bungalow. People fall for fakes. Thinking glass beads are precious crystals. If you like superficiality, God will send only an avalanche of shameless shallowness by your way. Some of us live by the Dharma. Nobody cares what is your social status or how successful you are in life. If you have everything other than strength of character and integrity, then what is the use. We all love our own lives too much. We never beat our chests and trumpet about self-love. WE ARE THE VERY PERSONIFICATION OF SELFLOVE for the simple reason, we never sold our soul, we never traded our dignity or family honour. More than self-love, we have this immense SELF RESPECT. Too proud and defiant with our heads held high. Couldn’t resist this post! Quality of life is about having the decency of the soul and it has nothing to do with your upper middle class lifestyle or attitude.
It is Laaptha ladies that is CLASS. Not Heeramandi.
Laaptha Ladies is so natural and makes more sense. I can identify with these kind of characters – so strong yet naive, principled, innocent, carry themselves with dignity even in poverty and in trying situations. Gold remains gold even when you melt it in highest degrees.
Laaptha ladies wins hands down because, even if both Heeramandi and Laaptha ladies are women-centric, Laaptha ladies makes it effortless. Women can be portrayed in better ways with honour even in our pictures. Equality lies even in this. There are better stories to tell. If the script is good, your setting could be even just an Uttarpradesh village, dusty, with a single passenger train passing in the middle of mustard flower blooming agricultural fields where farmers are busy working. You don’t need the shiny fake opulence of Heeramandi at all. Finally see how the celebrity patrons who step into Heeramandi return to their wives never according a place of honour or respect to the tawaifs. These men also replace their tawaifs too quickly, always with a roving eye for a new tawaif arriving at the scene. They don’t think twice about changing favours. And please don’t glamorize the tawaifs. They use up the tawaifs and trash them later like a soiled toilet tissue. This is the reality check for women selling their honour for cheap thrills online. Unless abducted and forced into prostitution, the lifestyle of a tawaif need not be glorified. Otherwise its a good entertainment for housewives like me, nothing more. Content-wise, Laaptha ladies is superior. Puspa and Phoolkumari are ethereal beauties over the made-up Heeramandi gang to me.
My family had close connect with both Shirdi Sai Baba mandir in Mylapore and Sri Ramakrishna Mission Mutt in RK Mutt road. My grandfather spent hours everyday in both places. In fact when Sai Baba mandir was in thatched hut or being built, my mom who was a little girl and my chithi used to be daily visitors there. They could have indeed been the foremost worshipers/devotees of Shirdi Baba in the temple then. The founder Sri Narasimha ji who finds mention in Shri Sai Satcharitra written by Shri Hematpanth used to bless both the sisters I believe. My mother was indeed a special child of god. Which is why She took her away too soon. My grandfather distributed idli vada parcel every thursday evening to those seeking alms in front of Baba mandir in Mylapore for decades – when not much devotees used to throng its precincts. In fact until I married, the Mandir used to be empty mostly except for some sparse crowds on thursdays. Now Baba;s shrine sees 24 hour Annadhanam all 365 days an year and is extremely crowded every single day of the week, but my thatha did it when nobody else was doing it. Baba is always special to me therefore. Baba lived onto his 80s and like a true sanyasi, he begged for food door to door until he could no more because of age. Sri Ramakrishna mission mutt is where my grandfather made most donations (selling away his family property that included godowns, 2 storey houses etc), especially to the free dispensary there, for the boys’ orphanage near Vivekananda college in Mylapore and to even towards construction of the present day mandir that stands in the old spot that we were very familiar with. Frankly, I have never stepped into the current building. I remember only the old Ramakrishna mutt that I used to visit on and off until I married. It was where my grandfather used to go for meditation and sometimes my mother would join. My thatha’s friends were monks! My grandfather flew to Singapore may be in 1980 or 81 or even 79 I am not sure with the monks of the mutt. Very lately I understood it was for establishing the mission there. My thatha was too well known in the mutt. So with him sometimes I went there. Meditation then was not my cup of tea! I loved the garden there. I couldn’t believe even then that such a heaven existed in the hustle-bustle of Mylapore quietly tucked away from all that chaos. I became a member of their library in my school days. One more thatha in my family also was a member there. This thatha led an exemplary ascetic life within the family. His daily visits saw him go to temples by walk, to kutcheris (Carnatic) in temples and sabhas and to libraries such as RK mission mutt library and Ranade library in Luz. Attachment in detachment: he lived exactly that life of non interference devoid of emotion but he cared. I read for free magazines like Illustrated weekly, Wisdom, Readers digest etc., in the mutt library. It contrasted to my picks from Rajeshwari lending library where I found my fictions. I think we were even allowed to take one or two books back home from RKM: i don’t remember this part clearly. No talking, not even whispers. No noise. Strict pindrop silence there. Mostly I was surrounded by oldies! I never thought I did not belong there! I think at least at that time i was the only teenage girl to read mags and papers with retired people. It was a true godsend for retired people of Mylapore. Yearly subscription was 5 rupees and before that it was totally free. May be now the scene is changed and there are women going to RKM library! At that time I used to see young monks also walking in the garden back and fro their living quarters to the mandir etc. My visits to the library got rarer with my college and my job. Totally stopped with my marriage. I think the Ramakrishna mutt building we have now in Mylapore was being built then. Even now it’s vimana (tower) can be seen from the house I grew up in. Rare/rear view. I knew a poor girl in Mylapore who worked as a housemaid who got free treatment from their dispensary for a very serious skin ailment of hers. She got cured only there of something that troubled her for years. This was in 1980s. The dispensary benefited a lot of lower middleclass folks in Mylapore. I hear its still going good. As for my grandpa who donated all his family wealth to temples and institutions, he passed away on a Krithika day. He was also a great devotee of Lord Skanda and he used to ride in his scooter to Tiruporur every krithika nakshatram day till he took terminally ill. That is our mother’s side Kuladeivam. Tiruporur Murugan (Subrahmanya). Rain or shine, he went there riding through that old and rugged OMR when it was NOT the IT corridor. It was not even a road then, just a dust lane that buses alone plied. Never missed a single Krithika star. The archaka would be waiting for him. How Lord Muruga took him into his bosom right on Krithika nakshatram day still amazes me. After years now I am reconnecting with Ramakrishna Mission. In the intervening years I totally forgot. I wish I had paid more attention to my thatha. In my younger age, I found whatever he said to be boring! Luz Navashakthi Pillayar also – matters to us since the temple’s inception. My mother conceived me after going around this temple. Navashakthi Vinayaka was my mother’s ishta deivam. She also introduced me to Mookambika my ishta deivam. My family used to be steeped in so much of piety. My mother especially was such a devout person. After my parents, my chithi and chithappa also used to be very pious and religious. They made me climb up the 7 hills on foot for a darshan of Lord Balaji at Tirupathi and even do ‘angapradhakshan’ to the deity – circumambulating the deity in the temple rolling your body around the prahara – before the Suprabhat darshan after a dip in December chill in the Pushkarini temple tank of Tirupathi. Even last week before leaving Chennai, I was visiting my 80 year chithi. The door was ajar. I walked in silently. I heard my chithi chanting Vishnu sahasranama in low tone in her room. I listened to her for a few minutes before slowly announcing myself to her softly without startling her suddenly. Old people. My chithi initiated Diya puja for me in 2001 that I continue until today. Blessed to have been born in this family. So many memories get kindled. I would want to visit Sri Ramakrishna mutt in Mylapore someday. After years I will be setting my foot in. I had a mental block with the places frequented by my mother. I stayed away from Navashakthi Vinayaka temple for decades. I went back to my mother’s school too after decades – finally two years back. Broke down in front of the headmistress. One staff member is still there who worked with my mother. She was a young joinee at that time. Went back to Tiruporur temple where my parents got married. There is no trace of my grandfather at all anywhere. Not that he did anything for his name. I have to give it my chithi, my mother and my chithappa and my own appa who never asked my grandfather a penny and signed on dotted line agreeing to give away ancestral properties. Will go back to Ramakrishna mutt too. Its mentally tough going back to these places. One by one at this age I am doing it finally. RK mission mutt will the one final stop I have to complete. I remember the big big black and white framed pic of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi there even now. I remember only the old mutt with two side staircases (wooden and winding if I am correct?) we used to climb to reach the upper floor mutt. I used to hang on quietly but I never gave attention to what my thatha was conversing with the monks. He was on first name basis with them. He was not a monk really but almost! He was closest to them, that much I can say. I also remember asking him why the monks wanted to fly to Singapore!!! My thatha was vegetarian from birth but he smoked his entire life and was a chain smoker. Its one of the reasons I could not digest his association with the RK mutt!! My thatha patti went on Yatra to Kedharnath, Badrinath, Kashi, Vaishnodevi, Kali temple Calcutta even Kashmir and Punjab etc when there were no comfortable travel facilities. Only as I age, I understand what a supreme sacrifice was that of my grandfather and even of his daughtes to have given up so much in life without a claim. They could have lived like queens. But they grew up with lower middle class status. Never owned even a phone (until 2000 in case of my chithi). He lived in 2 dhotis only. His only luxury was his scooter. And of course, cigarette!
மகன்தந்தைக்கு ஆற்றும் உதவி இவன்தந்தை
என்நோற்றான் கொல்எனும் சொல் (௭௰ – 70)
This is from Thirukkural, penned in the 3rd century CE. The composer of the couplets some 1330 of which have only been found, Thiruvallur lived in Mylapore – my birth place which is the oldest part of my hometown Chennai. Just to show how advanced our Hindu culture and civilization were before the birth of Christ.
On this one:
Makandhandhaikku Aatrum Udhavi IvandhandhaiEnnotraan
Kol Enum Sol
— (Transliteration)
The son’s duty to his father is to make world ask, ‘By what austerities did he merit such a son!
Credits go to a private blogger. This translation is not mine but I am capable of doing this! So although the couplet mentions the father, today being Mothers Day, I think I can substitute ‘father’ with ‘mother.’ A mother’s duty is done when the world exclaims she got a good son!
Let me clarify on this: Academic brilliance, career accomplishments, social status, economic freedom these alone do not define a good son. I come across sons who hold bedpans to their sick and aged parents. Who make living gentler and easier for the father and mother in their senile years. Who become eyes and ears to parents. We parents in the modern age do not have this kind of expectations. There are paid services for everything and everywhere. We will never put out children in that spot, hopefully. Its enough our children live with dignity and shame and strength of character and honesty and integrity. This is all I pray for, for my kids and grandkid. If the basics are taken care of, the rest shall work out by itself. Never damage anyone. Never be the parasite feeding on energy of the vulnerable. Have a clear conscience. Be kind, compassionate, empathetic, gallant and generous. This generation has more ethics: against Walmart kind of business, against working for arms manufacturers or in defence industry, against this, against that. What a conscious choice they make. Against polluting corporations. Against multinationals that have anti-labour policies. Against MNCs with political affiliations. Against those that deplete nature and exploit communities. At this rate I even wondered whether our kids could find a job at all! But I know world can do with this kind of rational thinking. Unfortunately in my generation we could not afford the luxury of taking a pick like my son’s generation does. May our children remember, they can afford these ethics and morals because we traded ours to give them a decent living. Anyway, our children are our pride. Hopefully they make this world a better place to live in. They are all nature and wildlife lovers. They are all for equality and social justice.
As mothers its time for us to bask in this kind of success: in creating this very humane generation who have consideration for the marginalized and for those that live in the fringes. Theirs is a much more inclusive society than ours. Although my generation can never swear by their values, from a distance I respect and adore whatever my children do.
Respect is reserved for the worthy.
Respect is a two way street. Not the cul-de-sac you suppose it to be.
You don’t just extend respect to someone. When that someone is offended or shown disrespect in front of you, YOU ACTING DUMB is equally disrespectful. If you are on my side I expect you to REACT. Counter. Attack on my behalf. Join forces with me. I need my friends defending me – both to my face and behind my back. I need that solidarity. Or cut it out. I don’t need you. I am better off without cowards. If you are okay with me abused in front of you, be ready to get abused in return. Friends with everyone but I never forget to take my sword wherever I go. நானா சண்டைக்கு போகமாட்டேன். வந்த சண்டையை விடவே மாட்டேன். Proudly bitchy!
What I play in you tube is for MY HAPPINESS, MY RELAXATION. Every bloody narcissist out there need not have to fancy himself that he is the object of my desire. Whether at 55, we women need this! I also come across old maidens, divorcees especially who are out for dating in this grand old age over 50. Whether ravenwolf or whoever I don’t care. My hands are full. My life is mine and I don’t yearn for anything more. No woman needs to overrate herself into believing that I am in any contest with her. Karmam. You can keep your sh*t. Over 50 or even 48 if you have to look out for a man, that is bad enough. In this age, mothering, grandmothering must be a woman’s way of life. Not every woman is like you. I can’t believe in this grand old age, these people are talking of casual sex, love and other things. I outgrew that phase since long. In my age, its normal for long married couples to become like brother-sister themselves. Our culture is that. I am still old school. I cannot understand the dynamics of online relationships of these modern times. 2 minute noodle stories all.
Online survival is getting very difficult for women like me these days. Nobody wants to give you your space. Or your sacred privacy. You are hacked, tracked 24 hours. You have to fight it out, scratch, rebuff, counter attack and make your way. Housewives like me use the web for timepass and quality entertainment. This most certainly is NOT fishing grounds for us to hook up for cheap thrills. Neither shall we swallow the bail reeled out (no pun intended) by some hopeful narcissists. We are too strong and battle-hardened for that. Go looking for brainless bimbos who in their 40s and 50s actually fancy themselves to be in their teens and twenties. This is such a fake! Nowadays I am nervous about switching on tv, leaving my phone open etc. Even playing my favourite music seems to invite attention. Every SRK solo, Kamal Rajni duet or whatever brings out the shameless side of the narcissists. Many times I have published this disclaimer. MY MUSIC IS MY CHOICE. PLAYED FOR MY EXCLUSIVE PLEASURE. Mirroring is a very cunning strategy adopted by narcissists to preempt a woman’s sense of fulfillment and simple joys of life. Its like taking over our identity, denying us our identity. Its like negating our very existence. Hijacking whatever we spent years in building. Mirroring gets on my nerves. But that won’t make me shy of tuning into my favourite piece of music. IN SHORT, EVERYTHING I DO IS NOT FOR YOU. Karmam. Idhennada pudhu thalaivali.
Well, as a woman, wife, mother and grandmother, I never thought I would get embroiled in this kind of meaningless skirmishes with unknown strangers online. My world is pretty closed. My circle is SMALL. I come from a very conservative background. But where we have to be bold, we women are bold. I don’t want any more friends or new relationships. Happy with what I have. You can contact me if you want to embrace Shakthi worship. I can guide you about how to go about it. I have successfully convinced friends to take puja seriously and devote their bhakthi to Mother goddess with unwavering focus. My mission in life is this now: not to reform but to redirect, in case you need assistance, in case your soul is troubled. Cut the crap and come with a clear conscience. We all have families. Loyalty and gratitude define one’s character. Without the strength of character and integrity, you are nothing. Practise these virtues in real life and you will never engage yourselves in this kind of bloody nonsense.
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EVerytime you hack/track/menace a woman – it IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT without a doubt, which is not only immoral and unethical but also ILLEGAL.
Today in Puja my eyes misted. Suddenly I thought: Who will take care of my Rajarajeshwari the way I do, after me? Who will keep flowers for my Lalithambika after my time? Who will groom my Mookambika when I am no more? Who will tend to my Bhuvaneshwari when I am gone. Of late this is becoming my obsession. Who will look after my Kamakshi and Varahi and Annapurna and Kanaka Durga? Who will be attending to my Mahalakshmi? Who will be fussing over my Kuladeivam and the Ellai deivams? Even if I think a little about this, my heart feels like breaking. Its leaving my Mother goddess alone someday that worries me more over leaving even my family. Hopefully my Mother finds another equally adoring home where She will be shown all the respect and love and care. Where She will as much celebrated as in my home. As much revered. I as such feel guilty about shutting my Puja doors when I fly out of town every other month. But for that I apologize sincerely to my Mother even if I may be opening another Puja in another part of the world where I may invoke Her. We are all in this age bracket now where we can rule out no possibility. 32 years of chatting up my Rajarajeshwari – that is the only thing I ever wanted from my In-laws. Loved Her from the first day. She is the reigning queen of my PUja. 32 years of chanting Lalitha Sahasranama. 23 years of Diya puja. So long as I have the strength in my body and mind I shall go on. She became the mother I lost early in life. MOther and daughter – we are quite a pair! One can practise detachment with so many things but how to detach myself from my Mother goddess. ‘En sei alla thaai nee’ – Bala mma. But for once, I become the Mother who is already pained by the thought of leaving Her daughter alone in this world to fend for Herself someday. Who will feed my daughter. Who will show her aarthi. There may be a 1000 temples, 1000 pujas but mine is still mine – my puja is still the special place which is the palace I have built for my mother. A humble palace but a palace indeed decked up with fragrant flowers and filled with the incense of my intense bhakthi. There is nothing materially rich about this abode. There is only shanthi. Leaving you someday is what kills me my daughter. En thaai alla sei neeeeee. Azhagiya kanne, uravugal neeye…. HOw can I ever abandon you… unless otherwise you take me as a flower under your Padmapaadham Amma.
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From selected readings on Amba today:
உனது பாத பூஜையானது சபல புத்தி உடையவர்களுக்கு கிடைக்காது.
அம்பிகையின் பதிவ்ரதா தர்மம் அவளை யாரும் தவறான கண் கொண்டு பார்க்கக் கூடாது என்பது. மனக் கட்டுப் பாடு இல்லாதவர்கள் அதனால் அவளது தரிசனத்திற்கு ஆசைப் படக் கூடாது என்பது கருத்து.
The subtle conveyance is that they are not allowed to worship Lalitāmbikā and even if they worship Her, She will not even take notice of their worship and their worship become futile. Sage Patañjali says in his Yoga Sūtra (IV.1) clearly explains this. He says, “Success in samādhi or success in liberation or attainment is due to birth, food, mantra and self-control.
Kaṭha Upaniṣad (II.i.2) also explains this. “Immature people run after external objects and they invariably get caught in the widespread net of death. Wise people, however, know where true immortality is. That is why they reject everything in this world, knowing that these things are short lived.” She is very difficult to attain for those who are not able to look within. Mind is the prime factor to look within. Unless senses are controlled, it is difficult to control the mind. This nāma says that She cannot be attained only by external means.
Life Gives the Best Powers to Those Who Don’t Want It
n short to have Bhakti itself,
the Divine mother’s grace is a ‘must’. There is no other way.
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Take a daily dose of Mother Goddess for self purification and good thoughts, good vibes and goodness in life.