Divakara Rao Dasari

Welcome to my blog.

It is a collection of my life stories, thoughts, and observations penned down as poetry and prose.

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

Let the light be unto you.

Thank you,

The mangoes, melons and fragrant jasmine tickle our senses in summer

But if you have big and ripe mango trees in your backyard;

You be wary of the kids on way back from school with backpacks,

Loaded with mangoes disappearing from your own home garden.

As you let your friends know how you tendered the trees all year;

Tight with high walls and wire fence to put others out of bounds

And how cleverly the kids hoodwinked the safety measures

To put at a loss of your fruits, your friends let off nostalgic smiles.

In sweltering summer, you enjoy the comfort of air conditioning in a closed room:

The power failure at once wakes you up to the frailties of life

The On and Off dance of current supply dulls the charm of living;

As you climb down to survival, smile for having roof on your head.

With soaring temperature,the heat wave squeezes body liquids;

To keep us in condition, we thirst for cool drinks and places;

Yet,those who live from hand to mouth toil in the Sun for survival

If you want to make a mark in this world of stiff competition,you need

To know yourself and your talents and how to use then to suit to your goals,

A strong determination and courage are needed to match the aspirations:

You should not be obsessed with traditional ideas and allow new ideas,

If Destiny is the root of everything and we play our roles in the world,

Where is our free will to craft our life in tune with our needs and dreams?

People all over are divided and fragmented by wealth, race, religion and so on,

Some say what we are now is determined by what we had done in the past,

They advance theories like Karma and rebirth to support their viewpoints,

These ideas stem from the belief that causes control the effects as per law,

However a preconceived mind with past knowledge can not see real facts,

The law of cause and effect is a thought; there is “no cause”; every event is independent.

It is wiser to face any crisis in time than to spend time probing into causes

Actually,causes and effects are not stationary at all,they change with time,

Death, which means ending of everything known, erases even the memories,

Do not cling to views and teachings of others: they are just suggestions for good life,

Now is the moment of right action and at present the past and Future do not exist

This page is dedicated to my late wife, Uma Bala.

She was my support system and perfect partner.

For over eight hundred years, the revered name of Akka MahaDevi has been a household name in Karnataka state in the South India. She was a renowned Mystic and one of the chief exponents of the Virasaiva movement which flourished in the Twelfth Century under the guidance of social reformers like Basavanagudi and poet seers like Allama Prabhu. They sought to redeem people suffering under oppression of centuries of ignorance and misery. They started communities based on social equality, unity, harmonious living and spiritual affinity with fellow beings. Among them were many Women seers in the forefront who took prominent part in the movement. One outstanding personality among them was Akka Mahadevi.

Her birth took place in Udutadi ,not far from Shimoga in Karnataka around the year 1130 to Sumsthy and Nirmalshetty, who were ardent devotees of Siva. The girl child was so lovely, endearing and Divine in appearance that the parents believed that she was the incarnation of Sri Siva’s consort Mata Parvathy was born in their humble cottage and named her MAHADEVI. The girl kept all of from other girls. and befriended with flowers, pebbles, birds and animals as playmates and companions. She was initiated to the worship of Channamallikharjuna, white as jasmine. She grew up and in her prime youth, she appeared as a damsel of exquisite beauty and a paragon of virtue. One chance look at her beauty, the local king Kaushika fell in love and wanted to marry her where as Akka wanted no less than Srisailamallikharjuna whom she calls Channamallikharjuna, white as Jasmine for her bridegroom. Kaushika, the Jain king tried to coerce her parents and so she agreed for the marriage on her own terms and if the king violated the terms and touched her, she would go away once for all.

The marriage was just nominal. She says about the king,” They offered me in marriage to a husband who was as myself.” She spent most of the time in the palace for worship of her Lord, debates, discussions on spiritual matters and prayers. The king touched her one night violating the terms of the marriage and the young woman walked out of the palace leaving all her possessions including her clothes. She covered her body with her long, black flowing luxuriant hair and left all the soft life for hard and arduous life to merge with her Lord. She described her life thus:

“ To satisfy hunger, there is the village rice in the begging bowl,

To quench thirst, there are tanks and streams and wells,

To rest and sleep, temple ruins do well.”

She walked and reached Kalyan known for Anubhavamantapa, where regular meetings of scholars, seers and social reformers and intellectual take place. All Saranas of the Mantapa respected Mahadevi whose speeches on various subjects exhibited her deep understanding, insight and depth of knowledge and they honored her calling,” A K K A”, elder sister, Basavanagudi called her mother. After spending some time in the mantapa, she bade an impassioned goodbye and left for Srisailam, where great munis like Agastya, Vashisth, and Adi Shankara meditated for considerable time to attain her life’s goal She decided to make arduous journey to the holy place, Srisailam. Akka walked naked skyclad fearlessly and reached Srisailam singing the praises of her Lord. She chose caves for her intense Sadhana and these Akka Mahadevi caves became tourist spot. Akka’s spiritual journey ended in Kadalivanam in the thick forests of Srisailam, where Akkamahadevi is believed to have merged in her Lord Channmallikharjuna, white as jasmine.

Jai, Jai, Jai Mahadevi Akka, Namoo Namaha.

April 1, 2022

1. Devotion (Bhakti)

Surrender is giving oneself up to the original source of one’s being. The Self(Atma ) exists where there is no ‘ I ‘ thought. Siva is the Self. To know the truth of one’s Self, one should merge and become one with the Self. Only then the Self Realisation happens. As Akka Mahadevi prays to her Lord Channamallikharjuna: “Join me to you by your grace.” The ultimate goal of Virasaiva philosophy is to attain “Siva saayuiya” ( Oneness with Siva ).

The genesis of surrender is Bhakti. The Bhakti movement was started in Tamilnadu by the Alwar saints of Srivaishnavite tradition and the Periyar saints of Saivite tradition of the Hindu Dharma in 6th century. In the neighboring state of Karnataka, Kalyan became the limelight for the Saranas of the Virasaiva movement in 12 th century. As in Tamilnadu, Karnataka used the regional language, Kannada as the medium of expression and worship instead of Sanskrit. They also regarded love as supreme in human relations:”Anbe Daivam”(God is Love) and rejected caste system and social prejudices. They extended equal respect and importance to women and men in all matters.This led to emergence of women in arts and literature and social activities. They used mother tongue for literary pursuits with simplicity, clarity and profoundity. Godadevi Andal in Tamil and Akka Mahadevi in Kannada are the literary luminaries of outstanding merit and everlasting charisma.

2.Bhakti and initiation: At the age of 9, Mahadevi was initiated into the worship of Channamallikarjuna (Siva Mahadeva). Her guru gave her ‘Prana Linga’. Like her parents, the girl was devoted to Siva. She often enquires herself “He is in me, yet I did not know myself.” She feels great joy when offering worship to Siva. As a young girl she was pure and innocent but with growing years she had to face ‘Malays’ (impurities) like desire, greed, anger etc., which took various forms as Maya and camouflaged the real nature of things. These diverted her attention from her contemplation. Yet with her sword of devotion, she cut them asunder all such obstacles.

3.Transformation to woman ascetic: At the age of 16 when Kaushik the local Jain king whom she married for name sake violated her conditions of marriage agreement, she left him, his palace, and her possessions and wandered lonely as naked woman saint with no piece of fabric on her person. However she used her long lustrous black hair to her body. Men like Nagasaints and yogis and Jain digambaras had no problem being naked. But a beautiful girl in her prime youth had to face some problems. She dealt with such people tactfully and came out unhurt. She had total trust in God that He would safeguard her at all times. Even here she queries: “What good is there being skyclad? The mind should be naked, free of thoughts.”

4. Her Vachanas: Her deep devotion to Siva and radical views on life and the Virasaiva philosophy were enshrined in her Vachanas, a brand-new literary form in Kannada. Her lyrical Vachanas are known for simplicity, appropriateness and clarity and beauty of expression. At Anubhava mantapa in Kalyan, the renowned Saranas like Basavanagudi and Alana Prabhu, who were greatly impressed by her versatility and intellectual brilliance and awareness and search for Siva, her Soulmate affectionately called her, “Akka,” elder sister. Her stay at Anubhava Mantapa showed her the path for attaining the transcendental-bliss for the Ultimate union with Channamallikarjuna.

5. “Siva saayujya “From Kalyan, Akkamahadevi went on foot to the holy Srisailam mountains in Andhra state braving several hazards. Yet she continued worshipping Siva in every form of His creation. In the Nallambakkam forests in Srisailam skhetram, she chose Kandali vanam where in her deep meditation she attained “Siva saayuiya ” or Oneness with Channamallikarjuna who is none other than Siva Mahadeva or Srisailamallikarjuna.

Jai, Jai Jai Mahadevi Akka! Hridaya purvaka Vandanamulu.

April 16, 2022

I had a short stay in Varanasi near the Ganga at an ashram

Not far from sound of bells, chants and drums for M.A exam

AT the dawn a dip in the holy river,what ever be the test;

At the dusk,a visit to the Temple of Viswanath was a must.

The two daily events gave me a calm mind that helped prep’n

I had no guru or guide,I relied on me to win goal of aspiration

At home I had safe job, a fine family of four kids ,precious

Love for literature and change in life brought me to Banaras

As I stepped into Ganga I was like a child in my mother’s arms

The water was so pure and clear that I could see in it my toe nails

The water tasted like nectar;”Ganga teri pani Amrit hai.”Yes it is:

In the river,I prayed to Shiva who bears Ganga in His matted hair.

That was half a century ago, my first obeisance to Ganga and Shiva

In some recent visits, I did not taste its raw water or step into the river

I came back with awe and sadness, awe for the timeless faith ‘n devotion

Sadness for river for growth in industry, population & sewage pouring in

The Ganges makes parched & overpopulated plain fertile & productive

Growth and Decay are the two sides of the same coin_ a vicious circle

She has been lifeline for countless millions for material & spiritual lives

Longing for something more in life beyond the ambit of man’s existence Something that ensures lasting peace and happiness in man’s eternal quest For the world he lives in is ridden with miseries, problems, wars and strife And the life he leads is obsessed with several desires triggered by mind and senses He also feels he is lacking in something that is needed for his happiness So each one of us seek peace and happiness as a source to take refuge in crisis

He wants these continuously to enjoy here and also in the succeeding lives, Besides he wants to know if there is something everlasting, immeasurable & timeless: He watched the vastness of space, stars shining in the dark, winds and rivers He observed life cycles of living beings, movements of sun,moon and seasons He mused that everything is interconnected & managed well by Supreme Power The search for the Supreme Power or Divinity led to the advent of religions.

The religions that came in the wake gave rise to contradictory philosophies, They exercised tremendous influence on civilizations, cultures and belief systems Our mind, result of millions of years, had evolved through various civilizations Religions are rooted in human psyche & despite defects, keep people in grip, Even now vast majority of people follow religion from birth to death & beyond Some thought different religions are different paths to realize One Divinity.

The Divinity is seen as universal, infinite source of everything in the Universe, Man is a spark of Divinity but is covered by greed, jealousy & selfishness, If man can free himself from these, there will be dawning of Love & Reality He finds his life transformed and trusts his Inner Vision to see oneness in totality This is one way to wake up to true potential as a species to learn from within, Keenness of attention opens a door of secrets by listening to the Inner Voice.

Whenever I am free & lonely, some pleasant memories come to my mind; I close my eyes,for they are not seen but felt in heart’s deepest treasures We hardly know the true value of the moment until it becomes a memory; Moments come & go; some stay a lifetime; & beat like a second heart; And lift me up and land me in Never Never land rich with reminiscence, And bring back everything we two hand in hand had pleasant experience

The life of comfort & joy we enjoy now is the gift of past generations, Memories open a window to good times from past to keep us in happiness, All celebrations of births,marriages & rituals are follow up of memories, Memories are indispensable:we can neither recover or relive the moment, Memories manifest as memorials,monuments, mausoleums & museums Some memories like the Pyramids and Taj Mahal have great staying power.

She sings in praise of her Lord she deeply loves, With a clear voice, sweet and charming that sways The hearts of the listeners with such melody that Stuns them into silence to stand still on the spot Like people glued under a strange magic spell Wondering who could be the singing angel.

In her natural beauty & youth she looks Divinely She seldom speaks though she is highly evolved, She is super sensible as she did Sadhana for years on end, Just a sound of her Lord’s name sends her into trance Monthly on third Friday she holds Kirtan singing at her home, Rural folks in heaps gather to listen to her words & join the Kirtan.

She sees her Lord in everyone with her loving eyes, She shares her message in local jargon with joy, This Friday she began her Kirtan with her music team, “Sri Govardhanagiridhari, Radharani ka pyari,  Radhakrishna, Radhakrishna, Krishna, Krishna, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe Shyam, Radhe Shyam, Shyam, Shyam Radhe, Radhe.”

I saw a boatman at dawn presenting a bouquet to a lady at our houseboat, When we are in Dal lake he comes rowing with merchandise to our shikara Though unwilling we can’t help buying because of his flair and manners; The Kashmiri’s are fine artists in communication, pleasant & friendly, The picturesque land of Kashmir was known as the “Heaven on Earth”; The sound of water gushing, aroma of pine & fruit trees define its beauty.

Kashmir’s stunning landscape surprises us with changing weather patterns, The Green chinar leaves turning scarlet, golden& amber herald Autumn, The season reveals the riddle of life: Anything that blooms is bound to die, In winter the valley looks a fairyland with snowfall on bare trees & meadows The rejuvenating summers take tourism & Commercial activities to higher. Rice is staple food with dhum aloo and meat dishes & waswan on feasts.

Experience is always based on the past. The knowledge with which we function is derived from the past. It helps us to carry on with our current life.

Once it so happened that I had to go to Ghorakhal in the Nainital district of the present Uttarakhand for organising an N C C camp with my other colleagues of Sainik School, Korukonda (Andhra Pradesh).During the camp period, I had to go to to New Delhi to attend an important interview for which I had taken no objection certificate from the competent authority.Just before the journey I packed up all my certificates in my suite case.I got into the Nainital —- NewDelhi bus and settled in a window seat I wondered why the bus was empty.But at the next stop a marriage party of about 30 people with all paraphernalia of marriage requirements filled the bus completely.The head of the party, a big lady with neck and face full of dazzling ornaments and a beautiful perfume demanded of me curtly to vacate the bus and get down.It was then I realised that the conductor while issuing the ticket muttered something in his dialect using one single English word “ adjust” which only I understood.I pleaded in my broken Hindi to help me reach New Delhi for I had to attend an interview the very next morning. A gentleman listening to me told the lady to allow me and he gracefully directed me to sit at the far end of the back seat next to his servants.I complied with his instructions for I had no alternative.

As the journey proceeded I recollected the words of my friend; in the Business world, there were only two categories of people, people who are equal to them in status and they be accorded same treatment as they themselves expect and people who are lower in status to them and they need no better treatment than their servants. I had a hearty laugh at the award of the new category.

As I climbed the mountain with no goal or planning, A friendly wind suddenly hugged me tight, heartily welcoming; I enjoyed the blissfulness of racy wind blowing and pushing : I paced up as in dance in rhythmical steps, hopping & jumping, At once the overcast sky opened up and rain began pouring, Overwhelmed by wind and rain, l rushed to a grove running.

As the clouds cleared some space for the sun, Nature revealed its glory, The mountain terrain shone with grandeur and majesty Up above, the Sun and clouds were playing hide and seek: From the distance the thunder and lightning were lending music, Just close by, I see the trees rich with flowers and fruits swinging With branches heavy with leaves with rain drops like pearls shining .

As the nature has come alive, I watched the magnificence of the Shivalik The gurgling waters rolling down the slopes were grand and gorgeous, I moved up and up, enjoying the beauty the sunset and settling on a rock, Overlooking a stately lake holding up a mirror to the starry sky, I felt I was in a spell until I was awakened by the symphony of the stars, In a flash, I felt oneness with the nature in its essence and loveliness.

Hyderabad