Wishes & Hopes!

Hi All, 

Welcome to Kshetradana @ Blogspot. In Sanskrit, any field, any area, or a tract of land is referred to as a kshetra. Over the years, the term is used to denote holy places of pilrimage, with lofty temples, pristine water-bodies, and the constant presence of devotees. Kshetradana is the joyous process of travelling to such kshetras to revel in the glory of all that they have to offer - from interesting tid-bits of history to forgotten legends, from marvellous lessons on architecture to mouth-watering delicacies that have ben offered to the Gods. It involves taking in the heady scents of jasmines, roses, incense and camphor, the vivid flashes of kaanchipuram silks and pristine white dhoties, the ringing of humungous bells and the sounds of murmurred prayers, and struggling to process them all together! It is ecstasy! 

Being a travel buff and a spiritual enthusiast, with a penchant for beautiful sculptures and unique cuisine, kshetradana has always excited me. However, after relocating to a corner of the world where the air-conditioned halls of the Aurora temple, and the Puliyodharai at Pittsburgh Devasthanam compete for the spot of 'the most-spiritual-experience of the year', I have resigned myself to a different type of kshetradana - one that takes me through several books, photographs, web-pages, brief phone conversations, and youtube travel experiences. I must agree that it has been a very pleasant experience indeed.   

Bhaarat (or India to most) happens to abound with a magic, divine and soul stirring, woven into beautiful stories, myths and legends, invoking a feeling of the god-within, irrespective of whether you are in America or Aminjikkarai. Amply supported by temples dotting the entire subcontinent, each with its dedicated deity and prescribed rituals, these stories form the very basis of a civilization that is one of the most ancient and learned in the world. Over the past 6 years of my stay in the USA, I have scoured through several websites, books (in Tamizh, English and Hindi) in search of more and more stories, searching deeper and deeper, tying them together and separating them apart. While many of these stories are familiar to me from the times spent with grandma in my early childhood, returning to them after 20 years does seem to impart a whole new perspective.

Now, seeking a more organized way to store my memories, I turn to the blogs, for they would not only help me in keeping them organised but would also aid in sharing this rich treasure-house of culture with others of similar interests. (This happens to be my second trip down the same path. My previous blog is facing publishing problems, and I have to start over again - but hey that is a part of the journey right?)

Within these digital pages, you may stumble across Sthala Puranas, exotic rituals, interesting tit-bits, and intriguing articles on historical, mysterious and legendary happenings in the temples that are strewn across the length-and-breadth of Bhaarat. A word or two on our timeless culture, the many festivals, various slokas, and possibly, even some mouthwatering recipes, may find their way into these archives. It is my very hope and belief that these articles kindle your interest and help us all in keeping the fire of our culture stoked and burning.

अन्यथा शरणं नास्ति त्वमेव शरणं मम | 

 तस्मात्कारुण्यभावेन रक्षरक्ष परमेश्वर ||

"I have no refuge but your lotus feet my lord, 

I seek your compassion alone. Protect me, Oh Maheshwara" 

Love and Prayers,
Deepak Saagar