GarbhaGriham

The inner sanctum,
Holding the
Sacred darkness
Likened to the womb
Embodying a form
Holding myriad promises
Twinkling lights betraying a
world within
enticing tantalizingly belying,
beckoning us to an Awakening
and living the Truth.

Thodi

Listening to the lilting
Gamakas
And notes of Hanumathodi
Rising from the mellifluous
Nadaswaram
Gandharam the life note,
In all its multiple myriad
Shades
Simultaneously majestic
And sonorous in the
Mandira sthayee
Like the elephant’s gait
Weighty, purposeful, heavy
Synonymous
With the Guru.
Tara sthayeegandharam
Guiding us
And seeking to open our eyes to its nomenclature

Of netra
Urging us to grasp the
Intrinsic, innate beauty
Whilst listening to the
Ganam and Geetham.

Rasikas

Nostalgic
Seeking the
Old world
Genteel,
Civilized ways
Soaking in
Enjoying the strains
Of
A concert,
With total leisure,
Of raga delineation

Alapanas where
The notes are
Elongated
Meandering
And stretched
To sublimation
Soaking with bhava
Invisible micronotes
Poised to create a rich
Tapestry
Replete and
Interwoven
Dexterously
Reaching to
Tug at the
Soul,
Profoundly
Inspiring
Acting as
An anchor
In
One’s being
Evoking
True joy
Abundantly
Bounding through the
Taniavarthanam
Keeping to the cycle beat
Through the various korvais
Of the Gati and
Nadai
Form of the tala
Soaking in the silences
And deliberate pauses
Accentuating
The explicit
Beauty
Of the rhythm
Rasika in perfect unison
With the artiste
And the art.

Sauce

Rind of the orange
Stretched
Unfurled
Cut into thin strips
Saut́́eed
In
Hot oil
Spluttering
Along with
Mustard

Green chillies
Curry leaves
In a heady
Mixture of a
Thick tamarind extract
Almost cloying
Much like
Smothered love

And
Sambar powder
Providing the theatrics
And
Chilli powder
The necessary
Sting

Boiling
Thickening gravy with
Salt
Common sense
Making of a piquant
Quaint
Sauce

Finally a dash of jaggery
Completing
The exotic
Heady emotions of a life
Spicy
Sour
Bitter
Salty
Astringent
Sweet