Chapter of Chapters

 It is `that' day of the month yet again. It is the twenty-sixth. Exactly 

              three horrid months ago

              dastardly death duped life, O!

              Time flies like a cheap thief

              steals days, treasured love it can't seize

is my deep feel. The only option open now would be to understand Aai and Papa through memories. 

In her mid-sixties, Aai started her systematic course-structured studies of the religious texts. The very first one she studies was the Bhagwad Geeta.  She used to read the original text repeatedly, look up related reference material, check study material, and so on to understand the ideas and concepts in depth.

Thus she started admiring the eleventh chapter of the Bhagwad Geeta. There were so many shlokas in the eleventh chapter that she literally knew by heart. The chapter is indeed unique. In it, we look at the Krishna-Arjuna relationship from multiple perspectives. They are not only mere God-devotee. They are good friends, too, almost like brothers wherein the elder one fondly accepts and accedes every request of the younger one. You would agree with me if you remember Arjuna's fond insistence on the "Vishwarup Darshan" and later towards the end of the chapter, his urgent and timid appeal for the regular known avataar of Krishna. Like a fond elder brother or parent, Krishan accedes both these pleas.

In addition to this emotive aspect of the chapter, it is one of the best comments on the spiritual travel from the known to the unknown, and vice versa. It elaborates brilliantly the "aham Bramhasmi" or "Soham" feel central to our tradition, It reflects brilliantly the "adwait" underlying the multiple "dwaitas" that divide the wor(l)d(s) of the knower and the to be known in the spiritual journey. Aai admired all these layers of meanings. But equally she loved the intense intimate bond between the God and the devotee wherein the Lord would not be a threatening masterful presence, but a warm, tender companion connecting the uninitiated with the larger whole via a fellow feeling. No wonder, it was the chapter of chapters for her. 

pratima@ to her own self was she thus true!