Sankranti Pondering

 

January 14th Sankranti Day is marked by the transition of the sun into the constellation of Capricornus. It is an auspicious landmark, a chance for a new beginning, an opportunity for a positive change.

Most of us have within us honest intentions to change for good. Yet year after year our resolutions get stalled because old habits are hard to die. Some of the hardest things to overcome are attachments. 

There is a very humorous abhanga by Saint Tukaram that paints an accurate picture of how attachments come in the way of things.

There is this elderly woman who is set to leave on a pilgrimage. She is at the gate when she turns back to give last minute instructions to her daughter in law.

Don’t waste money on milk and curds. 

Be thrifty with other food as well.

You yourself also don’t indulge in too much food.

The pickles and other dried items I have stored in jars with my hands, leave them untouched till I am back.

Even my old clothes save them. 

My heart is in things like the stone grinder, mortar pestle etc.

If a beggar comes to the home do not give away any of these things. Tell him I’m out of town on pilgrimage and will be coming back in a few months and will need them.

After listening to this endless list of what not to do, the daughter in law says to the MIL: please don’t worry about anything here. I will take the utmost care of everything. You can trust it to me . You carry on and enjoy your pilgrimage. 

Upon hearing this the mother in law thinks to herself, this woman is conniving. I can smell a conspiracy here. She wants me to leave so she can run the place like she wants. Why should I leave ? What am I going to do anyways on the pilgrimage? I better stay put here.

Such is the nature of attachments !!

Happy Sankranti to all !

A cotton silk tissue Maheshwari in black and gold for the occasion. 

A resolution to buy fewer sarees from this Sankranti to next started off with a vendor contacting me this morning to say that a saree I had asked for last year is finally ready 😁. 

Parisey gey sooneybaai 

nako vechu doodh dahi 

Aawaa chaalili Pandharpuraa 

vesipaasuni aali gharaa 

Ekey goshti saadar baaley 

Kari jatan phutakey paaley 

Maaze haatinchaa kalavadu 

Majavaanchuni nako phodu 

Valvat kshiriche limpan 

Nako phodu maja vaachun 

Ukhal musal jaatey 

Maazey mana guntaley tethey

Bhikshuk aalyaa gharaa 

Saang geli Pandharpuraa

Bhakshi parimita aahaaru 

Nako phaarsi varo saaru 

Soona mhaney bahut nikey 

Tumhi yaatresi jaavey sukhey

Saasubaai swahita jodaa

Sarva maagila aashaa sodaa 

Soonamukhichey vachana kaani 

Aikoni saasu vivanchi mani 

Savatichey chaaley khotey

Myaa jaavesey ilaa vaatey 

Aataa kaasayaa yaatrey jaau 

Kaay jaavuni tethey paahu 

Muley lekarey ghara daara 

Maazey yethechi Pandharpur 

Tuka mhane aisey jana 

Goviyeley maaye karun