Whisper

The tree asked the breeze
Do you ever miss me -
Leaving a million sights aside
Why caress my leaves?

I wait for you
through broad daylight
And through countless moments
of sleepless nights.

But you never come
Never tell me why
Never wipe my tears
Never sit by my side.

The breeze heavily heaved,
A sigh of relief.
Many come to you for respite -
From their overwhelming grief.

Under your shelter
They rest lazily.
And in your shadow, go
Into slumbers deep.

I look upon you
from faraway skies
Hoping against hope
You'd call for me!

That you'd look my way
That you'd see my longing.
But I see you happy
Amidst your circle of being.

So, I seldom come.
When I do, I tread softly.
For I know if I wake you -
I won't be able to leave!

Anchor

I wept myself 

to sleep tonight.

I have the whole world,

By my side

But no one to talk to - 

I'm so broken inside. 

I wept myself 

to sleep tonight. 

Nights pass on 

and days just fly. 

Faces tell me

I'm their sunshine.

Their names I seldom recall

The bonds much less

I lose myself more, 

as nights keep passing on. 

It's an unforgiving world. 

It's the wrong time. 

This will all change. 

Be patient for a while.

It'll break their hearts 

and bring my world apart. 

Forgive me, for now
Let's blame it on wrong times.

I remember

I remain 

Spectators frown 

in sheer disdain. 

I hope I'd make it 

To the end of this trip 

To see, to believe 

It was worth the applause, indeed! 

Hope

Into my empty harbor

A lonely ship drifts in

It anchors, testing waters

For in the storms, it has been. 

Into unknown corners

It lingers and loiters 

But when the rains subside

Into the horizon, it disappears.

Transience

The sands asked the sea
Do you ever miss me?
The sea smiled and sighed,
I come by every night -

Swallowing my pride
Promising it would be the last time
I'd stealthily watch you sleep
Under the warm twilight.

I try to confess
I long to be by your side.
Yet cautiously touch your feet
Only to slowly retreat.

I know I'll be back again
Another moonlit night
Until then let me bid goodbye
And try live, without you, for a while.

Swami Saranam

I wish I could be as excited as my 72 year old mother about the #Sabarimala verdict. She's been going to the temple for few years now. She is so happy that she can go with me now. 

I have been there when I was a child. I still remember the energy from the Sanctum Sanctorum and the possibility to see beautiful Lord Ayappa again, is like a long time dream come true.

I'd been vehemently opposing the entry of women into the temple stating there is a reason why we have certain traditions and rituals and should abide by them. And have also proudly stated that I'll wait across multiple arguments, both online and offline. 

My timeline currently is filled with my relatives' rants on how they will die to withhold the sanctity and purity of the temple.

Now, I feel I was wrong. How can a woman's entry into any place make it impure? As an educated, unbiased human, isn't this the right thing? Leave aside what Islam allows or Christianity allows. This is not a matter of faith. This is a matter of bias. Chauvinism. Sexism. 

Women were not allowed to cover their breasts, are still not allowed to lit the funeral pyre, talk about sexual assault - where does this end?

I believe most rituals in Hinduism had some scientific base to it. 

Centuries ago, when the travel to the temple was through forests filled with wild animals, a menstruating woman only meant trouble. The smell of blood would naturally attract the beasts. Also the journey to the temple was both tedious and took days to complete. This is amongst the most sane reasons I've come across so far, for keeping women away.

As a woman of faith, even now, I stay away from temples for those '7 days'. I don't know why I still follow it. I simply do.

I wish I had guts, like my mother. Who says it's high time we relook at all rituals and malpractices from an unbiased, empathetic, humane, lawful and intelligent manner. I wish I could have the courage to sit with her happily and without fear, when she's squinting at the planner to book our tickets to visit Lord Ayappa.

497

He promised he'd leave the world behind -
But said don't come in, when she knocked his door that night.

She said he was her destination.
But made time for many short vacations.

He whispered he loved her.
While hugging her, with no one in sight.

She cried, if he'd leave her, she'd die
As he left, she turned to his friend, 'be mine!'

Lust, he said. She said, it's love divine.
Now with her gone, to get her out of his mind, he strived.

He claimed her as his -
But gave all her calls to meet, a miss.

She tucked him in and kissed his cheek, tight
He reveled, not knowing it was going to be the last time.

He called her his beautiful queen,
Little did she know, in his kingdom, many more crowns reigned.

Her

It reminded her of herself ~
the sea.
Its turmoils, its peace.
How the waves rushed to claim what was theirs
But at the shores, just crashed instead -
As if in an after thought
Or simply giving up in distraught!
Only to recoil and reconcile -
To gain more strength, for another try.

The sea was crazy -
Some days calm,
some days upbeat.
Sometimes embracing those
who came in respite,
Guarding their secrets
in her profound mind.
Yet at times betraying men
and claiming their lives.

It was shades of herself she saw,
When she looked into the sea -
Turbid, yet clear
Poignant, with cheer.
Emotions, a myriad
Saw, those who sought.
It never dawned on these
When a mirror
they look into, deep
It was their reflections
they'd see -
And not her indeed.

She sat by the blue waves
Who beat their heads in disgrace.
She smiled at their misery
Which was, but momentary.
As they kissed her feet
Before their hasty retreat.
Deadly, yet fending
Dark, yet forgiving
She loved the sea,
for it was she.