Petals!

If you read in detail about the life of great spiritual masters, you will notice that they are very particular about the type of food they eat and the source of food. While reading the book 'Mejda' about Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, his older brother talks about how their father would not allow them to eat from any unknown household or outside eating place as it was considered 'impure' and he used to say that if we want to stay healthy, we must eat from our own homes where the food we eat is prepared with the love of the mother. There are similar stories about the Buddha too in this regard because He was very careful about the food He accepted from the followers. Three types of Purity while Preparing Food  According to the Vedic Hindu tradition, Bhagawan Baba told His earliest devotees that three types of purity or 'shuddhi' should be observed while preparing food. Paathrashuddhi: The vessels in which the food is prepared and served should be clean....

Indians grow up hearing, "Don't waste food, food is God." In the same vein, for most Indian women, stepping into the kitchen without first having a bath is unthinkable. The preparation of food is viewed as much as a spiritual process as it is a material, sensory experience.  The fusion of two realms - one that is of subtle spiritual energy and that of blending in ingredients that bring about a delightful experience to the five senses - this constitutes a perfectly wholesome experience in the process of preparing food for the family and the loved ones. Different families have different beliefs about this. In a South Indian Brahmin family that I personally know of, no one uses shoes inside the kitchen because it is considered as dirty and full of germs. So, it is not used where food is prepared for the family.  Beliefs are not just spiritual but they are also logical in view of the family's own dietary preferences and traditions. In my parent...

" A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path. " - Agatha Christie It's not funny how aggressive a mother can be when she feels that her child is threatened in the remotest way. What do you think? I'd love to know your thoughts, observations and interesting experiences on this.

For every parent out there who is juggling busy schedules with family life, especially managing kids who are going to college, this book opens up their inner worries with deep insights. As parents, we justify our busy schedules to ourselves in various names like 'deadlines' or 'appraisal time' etc. But ultimately, the choices that we as parents make go a long way in the growth and happiness of our kids. There is no point of hiding behind excuses. Parents have to own up and take responsibility for the choices they made for their kids and how that has impacted the kids. To come to the book, Sam Hayes 'Someone Else's Son' is a gripping thriller which asks every parent one simple, life-changing question: Do we really know our children? We think we do but we really don't.  The opening chapter itself is gripping. It reads like this: "Before she knew what was happening, the knife was in and out of his body...It cut through the air, mesmerising th...

Wondering what is pregnancy related back ache all about? Simply put, when expecting a baby, about 80% of women suffer from a back ache that seems to get worse as the pregnancy progresses. This happens because the ligaments, muscles and joints tend to become strained. Sometimes you may have suffered from backache even before pregnancy and the condition is worsened during the period of pregnancy. It also depends a lot on your posture, whether you have had any injuries and so on.  One of the first things that my doctor told me in the first trimester is, "Stop wearing high heeled footwear. It can damage your posture and the body's balance. Excess weight gets pushed on towards the spinal cord. This also has bearing on the baby's weight."  Now, I am one of those girls who always wore high heeled shoes & sandals because I always wanted to be tall and to some extent, high heels gives you the notion of being 'tall'. Even if there was a lot of discomfort and ki...

I have to confess that I had no plans to write articles on care about pregnancy before or after delivery. But I saw Vidya Balan's brilliant performance in Kahaani and one thing that struck me throughout the movie is that she is not being careful with her pregnancy. So, on a whim, I went and got some new issues of Practical Parenting & Pregnancy magazine that had medical and nursing experts discuss proper care about pregnancy and voila, here's my post on some essential tips to care about pregnancy after delivery. Care About Pregnancy: How to cope with colic  Most moms find it difficult and distressing when babies are constantly crying due to colic. Doctors say that the best way is to walk up and down while holding your baby upright and keep singing to the baby as that will have a soothing effect. Care about Pregnancy: Do 'voice' bonding with your baby Some moms have also stated that pregnant moms should sing to babies while they are expecting and the same song...