The Wanderer at Home

Father's Day Special
I consider this  story  a gift from a friend I spoke to after ages.  We go back to the late 1980s when we did our graduation at Allahabad University. This story comes from her childhood collection of Russian books which she and her brother received as a gift from their parents when she was in the fifth grade in Ranchi. It carries memories of happy childhood days when her parents used to read the siblings so many stories.  This book is a particular favourite as it is sprinkled with memories of  so much laughter and fun.
Alexander Raskin's 'When Daddy Was A Little Boy', translated from Russian by Fainna Glagoleva, is a bagful of stories about his own childhood which the author narrates to his little daughter. I found the author's note for his little readers so hard to skip that I am sharing it here with you all.
A Happy Father's Day to All the Superdads Out There!

Alexander Raskin's 'When Daddy Was A Little Boy', translated from Russian by Fainna Glagoleva, is a bagful of stories about his own childhood which the author narrates to his little daughter. 
Daddy was a kid once too! So what did he want to do when he grew  up?
Let's listen!

In the last episode today, we see Uddhava going  to Gokul for the second and last time.  He has been chosen by Krishna  to inform Radha that he has dropped his physical form.  Shri Dinkar Joshi has beautifully painted Radha as the essence of devotion and surrender. This remains my favourite chapter in the novel.   

Today, we read about Draupadi.  Both Arjun and Draupadi, along with the other Pandavas, have decided to set out together on the last journey of their life on earth. In this conversation with Arjun, Draupadi is inconsolable at not having been able to seek Krishna's forgiveness for so many things that she had done. It's a Draupadi we have never seen before.

In today's podcast, we read about Uddhav. While returning from Dwarka, with all the yadu women and old folk to Hastinapur, Arjun is waylaid and defeated by common robbers. He could not even lift his famous gaandiv (bow) as the  thieves are able to defeat him and even snatch away some of the women.
It is at this point that the scene opens when the remaining yadu women and old folk are camping on the banks of the Bhagirathi river on their way to Hastinapur.

The word Krishna evokes myriad emotions. It is very difficult to define what he means to his lovers. What each one shares is a very personal, sacred space... just like his dance with the gopis. The love is so special, the experience so precious.
And yet, those who lived in his times, who received the warmth of his presence, the comfort of his guidance and love, are looked upon as truly blessed. Indeed, their stories have been celebrated through songs, music, dance, poems, stories, plays and paintings through the ages.
There is one such story  that I read a long time back which which left an indelible impression on me.  It was a novel by Gujarati Sahitya Akademi winner Dinkar Joshi, which was carried in a serialised form by a Hindi weekly magazine, Dharmyug, more than 25 years ago. 'Shyam, Phir Ek Baar Tum Mil Jaate' (Shyam Ekvar Avaone Angane in Gujarati) is a heart-rending rendition of the pain of each one of the characters, so dear to Krishna, when they come to know that their beloved, is no more.
Over the next four days, I will read from the chapters introducing you to the characters who resonated with me the most -- Arjun, Uddhav, Draupadi and Radha.
In today's podcast, we read about how a distraught Arjun, who is being taken to Dwarka by Krishna's charioteer,  Daruka,  battles with the crushing thought of returning to a Dwarka bereft of Krishna.

Ma Siddhidayini, or Siddhidatri, is the ninth form of the Mother Goddess. In this form, the goddess removes ignorance and blesses the devotee with knowledge to realise the Absolute Truth.  Ma Siddhidhatri is worshipped as the creator of the entire universe and the siddhi that she offers is the realisation that only She exists. 

Mahagauri is known by many other names such as Shwetambardhara (one who is dressed in white clothes), Vrisharudha (one who rides the bull), Chaturbhuji (one who has four hands) and Shambhavi (one who bestows bliss and happiness). 

The seventh form of the goddess is he fiercest and most violent amongst all forms. According to one legend, Parvati removed her golden skin in this avatar to slay the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. The meaning of 'kaal' is time and death, and Kalaratri is the one who is the death of Kaal. Ma Kalaratri puts an end to ignorance, bringing light into the dark.

Ma Katyayani is the sixth form of the Goddess Durga.  There are several stories about Ma Katyayani.  One of them is from the Karveer Mahatmya ( a collection of legends about  Karvir,  now known as Kolhapur in the state of Maharashtra in India.  According to the Mahatmya, Goddess Mahalaxmi went with her army to Karvir to fight against the demon Kolhasur.  Raktabeej, an ally of Kolhasur, had a boon that whenever a drop of his blood fell on the ground, another  Raktabeej would be born at that spot (rakta means blood while beej means seed). In the battle that ensued between the goddesses and demons, Goddess Katyayani swallowed all of Raktabeej’s blood to prevent it from falling on earth.
There is a temple Kolhapur which celebrates the victory of Goddess Katyayani, along with Bhairav, over Kolhasur.