10/03/2010 01:16:22 PTI

New Delhi: Ramayana has been transcending generations and geographical boundaries
and now people in the US and Singapore have a chance to know more about the epic
popular for its allegorical and engaging storyline.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is organising the "Epic India: Scenes
from the Ramayana" exhibition from March 31 till September 19 which will showcase a
selection of paintings, sculptures and some textiles depicting scenes from the epic.

According to Naomi Takafuchi, communications officer at The Metropolitan Museum of

Art, mythology addresses the moral dilemmas faced in modern life and in this light the
Ramayana is particularly effective because of its allegorical and engaging story-line.

"Further, the epic provides insight into the cultural values and rituals of ancient Indian
tradition and by extension of the modern period as well.

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Why do we say shaanti thrice?
09/03/2010 09:37:30

Shaanti, meaning "peace", is a natural state of being. Disturbances are created either by
others or us. For example, peace already exists in a place until someone makes noise.
Therefore, peace underlies all our agitations. When agitations end, peace is naturally
experienced since it was already there. Where there is peace, there is happiness.
Therefore, every one without exception desires peace in his/her life.
However, peace within or without seems very hard to attain because it is covered by our
own agitations. A rare few manage to remain peaceful within even in the midst of
external agitation and troubles. To invoke peace, we chant prayers. By chanting prayers,
troubles end and peace is experienced internally, irrespective of the external disturbances.
All such prayers end by chanting shaanti thrice.
It is believed that trivaram satyam - that which is said thrice comes true. For emphasizing
a point we repeat a thing thrice. In the court of law also, one who takes the witness stands
says, "I shall speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth".
We chant shaanti thrice to emphasise our intense desire for peace. All obstacles,
problems and sorrows originate from three sources.
Aadhidaivika : The unseen divine forces over which we have little or no control like
earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions etc.
Aadhibhautika: The known factors around us like accidents, human contacts, pollution,
crime etc.
Aadhyaatmika : We sincerely pray to the Lord that at least while we undertake special
tasks or even in our daily lives, there are no problems or that, problems are minimised
from the three sources written about above.
May peace alone prevail. Hence shaanti is chanted thrice.
It is chanted aloud the first time, addressing the unseen forces. It is chanted softer the
second time, directed to our immediate surroundings and those around, and softest the
last time as it is addressed to oneself..
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MFH- From Canvas to Vanvas
09/03/2010 10:32:28 Remesh Gopi

MFH has now earned what he toiled so hard for in all his life. His life is a saga of canvas
to vanvas. He can now experiment "freedom of expression" in an Islamic country with
trying to dare to draw prophet in the nude with his many wives, tightening a chastity belt,
or setting fire to a goats tail and call it creativity.

Where was Vir Sangvi and his rusted intellectually filthy ilk when Dutch cartoonist drew
the cartoons of Mohammad? Where was his free-thinking when a picture of Jesus
appeared just last month holding cigarette and whiskey and the subsequent protests?

Hindu gods may have been shown in nude in ancient carvings or paintings, but that era
was different, the purpose was different, the intention was different. The nude paintings
in khajurao is intended to tell those who visit the temple that the world is full of
temptations, but only those who insulate from these temptations shall find god who has
been seated above these carvings much side structure in the sanctum sanctorum.

For idiots like Vir Sangvi the nude paintings/sculptors are things of curiosity and pleasure
to be picturized in his digital cams for later use and then write columns on the decadance
or immorality.

Today, the strong undercurrents of communal divide touch every aspect of life in India
and it is no business of even a Hindu, forget a Muslim, to draw Hindu gods in nude.

The flow of secular babus and journalists from India and Qatari sheiks (for whom art is
Greek) for photo sessions to your protected mansion will end soon. There is a limit to
which Qatar museum of art can stack your paintings. Qataris will know what a liability
you are once you are given the "freedom of expression." What is the significance of art
in Qatar anyway?

Good for you MFH, good for the desert ants.

Get out of my country anyway!!!