Aaji's 90th Birthday

  

आजी म्हणजे संगीत
आजी म्हणजे सूर ताल
आजी म्हणजे अन्नपूर्णा सुगरण
आजी म्हणजे मोदकातले गोड सारण

आजी म्हणजे थंड सुगंधाचा शिडकावा करणारी गुलाबदाणी
आजी म्हणजे घट्ट बासुंदी वरची केशर मलाई
आजी म्हणजे नातवांची लाडकी बाहुली
आजी म्हणजे वटवृक्षाची आल्हाददायक साउली

आजी म्हणजे गोड आंबट मुरंबा
आजी म्हणजे तिन्ही सांजेला लावलेला दिवा
आजी म्हणजे शुभंकरोती सोबत आधुनिक जगाचा वारसा
पुरणपोळी सोबतच शिकलेला व्हाईट सॉस पास्ता

आजी म्हणजे नातवांना मिळालेले 'अभय ' दान
आजी म्हणजे 'शिशिर' ऋतूतले 'नील' 'आकाश '
आजी म्हणजे 'अमेय' 'स्नेह'
आजी आमची 'अमृता' ची साठवण

 हेमा म्हणजे झळाळते सुवर्ण
 हेमा आजी म्हणजे एक उत्साही खेळकर सदस्य
 हेमा आजी म्हणजे सहज प्रसन्न सुहास्य
संगीत आणि उत्साह हेच आजीच्या  चिरतरुण जीवनाचे रहस्य

मुक्ता सुमित गद्रे_

Jan 3, 2025

I remember a time when I did not eat sugar for 14 or 15 months. Nothing sweet. But I did not lose any weight at all. 

I now understand that my weight gain is not because of my eating habits. Sometimes I do eat more. But my weight gain is mostly because of lack of movement. That would be my root cause. Not food  or sweets. I have been a vegetarian all my life. No eggs. But my relation with food is not healthy. I feel guilt while eating. Eating less is not an option. 

Once, I had only one meal in 24 hours for a month. I lose 8 kgs. But it affected my skin and hair fall increased a lot. It plays with hormones and micronutrients are not consumed in one meal. So it was not a good idea.  Plus all the weight came back when I started eating twice. In fact I gained 12 kgs instead of 8. 

4 kgs more!

So, I need to move. Movement is the key.

Mukta

Jan 2, 2025

 I took a brisk walk today. Felt fresh. I don't want to complicate things all of a sudden. But I do want to start small and simple lifestyle changes. 

I am in no rush to lose weight. I want it to be a side effect of a balanced routine life.

I did not eat sugar for almost 16 months. But I did not lose any weight. Clearly my weight is not because of my eating habits alone. Movement is important. 

What I did today for my weight loss? I walked a bit. I want to start really small. Hope to maintain consistency. 

Mukta

Dec 24, 2024

8 years ago I was in labour pain this time. My daughter was born at 2.45 am on 24th December.

Can't believe it's been 8 years. 

These days I feel excited about 2025. I have never felt this way about new year. May be some transformation is taking place I my mind. I feel a void. A vacuum. And I kind of like this lonely space. It allows you to BE. Just BE. 

Mukta

Dec 21, 2024

It's all lack of sleep 

1. The way we handle our emotions 

2. The way we project our feelings

3. Basically emotional intelligence is at a major loss the very next day when you don't sleep properly. 

I wonder how do we overcome this as new moms... 

"sleep when your baby sleeps" doesn't work really... 

Mukta

Dec 13, 2024

We should believe in miracles. Sometimes only miracles can save you. 

Guruji say_ the energy which is governing this vast existence with extreme precision,  can certainly take care of your problems. 

Waiting for a miracle is a real problem though. Our energies are sometimes not alligned to recieve blessings. So waiting brings even more anxiety. I believe, the daily chores help you in such times. The mundane normal tasks can keep you going in such times. 

Messy kitchen, laundry,  simple recipes and fruits, salads and yes your headphones are life saviors. 

Mukta

Dec 12, 2024

 Recently the Mahabharata series completed 10 years. (Saurabh Raj Jain as Shri krishna) 

What amazing work they have done..

They have a dialogue in one of the episodes..

Someone says that Arjuna is scared of war.

Draupadi replies "the finest warrior is always the most scared of war." 

What a deep statement.. 👏 what observation.. this series redefines Excellence...

Another favorite line ...

"छल का आशय यदि धर्म हो,  तो छल भी धर्म है "

Mukta

Dec 12, 2024

 I really feel nostalgic these days. Childhood was really simpler. We had simpler lives, simpler fights, simpler food, simpler movies, simpler music and really safe environment. 

Nowadays everything is so complicated and there is no beauty in life even after you have got everything materialistic in abundance. 

Gone are those days. I pity today's children's lives. Wrong is wrong.. even if everyone is doing it. Right is right ..even when not a single person is doing it...

Mukta

Dec 7, 2024

A private life is so precious. 

Mukta

Day 4, (Dec 4, 2024)

Best lines by Jakir khan (stand up comedian)

 Tere jaane ke baad mai jo rahunga,

Wo mujhse to nahi sambhlega

Pathhar bana liya hai khud ko

Ab kabhi kahi nahi pighlega

Kaam 19 chalega,  insaan 20 hona chahiye..

And needless to mention his poem

 'मैं शून्य पर सवार hu...."

Amazing he is!

Mukta

Day 3

It's Very late tonight.  But baby sleeps like a baby and a mom stays up like a mom.

They say_ sleep when the baby sleeps. Does not work. You have other tasks too.

Anyway these moments are precious for a mom.

Today, I realized that you actually have to let go of the past to move on to the future. Otherwise universe will keep putting you in the same situation again and again. Because you are not learning that one lesson. And it's not a one time task. From one moment to the next moment , you have to keep doing it...

Trying to practice this. You like really have to actually live it. Then only you graduate to the next level. Hopefullt , new type of experiences will come your way.. to indicate that you have graduated...

Tough school.. but fun...isn't it..

Mukta

Day 2

Emotions and feelings are such a big driving force. Your karma is highly influenced by these two. Nobody teaches anything about it to children or adults.. isn't it surprising.. and moreover we do teach to suppress them.. Modern!! 

Do you know a boy should not sit in one place in toddler phase to learn anything whatsoever.. whereas girls can be tought multiple things as they can sit normally in one place in same age group. Boys need to run, and jump and all that masti. Their (boys) hormones will act in such wrong way if they keep sitting in one place in toddler phase. 

What did I do today...

I underwent a CT scan recently. I got some kind of allergic reaction on my skin. I was unaware of it. I did not tell anyone. It subdued all by itself. Later my husband told me that some people develop irritation in skin due to those injections

Then I told him I too had such reaction. I was thinking it's winter and I did not drink enough water. He laughed. 

I was not well for 2 3 days.. Today I felt a lot better. I managed my tasks without mom yelling at me. The little one occupies most of my day. 

Listened to my favorite songs today...

Mukta

Dec 1, 2024

 I am here after a long time. We got the sweet news of pregnancy in February 2024 and our little one arrived on 26 Sept 2024.

I don't know how but my daughter always knew it will be 26 sept. The estimated date was 10 Oct. But from day one, she kept saying baby will come on 26 Sept. We tried for the best date as we have very talented astrologer in the house. I personally wanted 28. But it came exactly on 26 Sept. 

As they say, child gets to chose his or her parents. He arrived on 26 Sept 2024. 

People born in September live a royal life. They are talented and they know how to enjoy life.

I will write my blog everyday now. Today was day 1. 

Mukta

My Daily Blog Feb 12, 2024

 We women have a bad habit. We always feel that we have not done enough. So we want do more and more. This is how love works. But you should know when to stop. It is very important to put a full stop in each and every case. 

Stop seeking more and more. Start blossoming.

 

Jai Gurudev,

Mukta

My Daily Blog Feb 11, 2024

 I said I will write about Ashtavakra Geeta and I did not write about it. It is a beautiful discourse by Sri Sri Ravishankar. It was given to King Janaka by Ashtavakra in a palace. Very high level yet simplified knowledge sessions.

Its pure gold!! I wish to listen to those sessions again and again. Narada Bhakti Sutra also. Its too good! I would prefer videos than reading this book. One who has actually lived that knowledge, listen from him only.

And he makes you laugh so much. Best comedian ever!

You have to listen to those videos in a group only. You feel so content after listening to these sessions. If you are a seeker, and sincere enough, you must listen to these sessions. A soothing calming Solace!

Jai Gurudev

Mukta

My Daily Blog Feb 10, 2024

I always wonder why Lord Hanuman ji is so down to earth?

I mean even god loves praise.. That is why the tradition of singing aarti (Songs praising the deity..) everyday. Then why is he so far away from any recognition?

I mean he is favorite deity of so many people. The highest played video on Youtube even today is his prayer- Hanuman Chalisa. It is the most viewed video/song all over the world.

I think I found the answer after almost 2 weeks of thinking. Every now and then, I was thinking about his qualities.

I think praise brings Kartaa Bhaav which means you feel that you are the 'Doer'.

But in his case, he feels that only Ram is doing everything. He is only the medium.

When you are away from that feeling of 'Doership', you progress a lot spiritually. 

The only divine energy who is governing the entire universe-multiverse is the actual doer. Everybody else is just a witness or a medium. 

This feeling brings a lot of energy and at the same time a lot of solace. That is why he must be so down to earth. And hence so powerful.

It also pulls you away from that simple loving space called 'Ram'. Praise will bring 'I, me, mine' in between. That peace is gone immediately.

What about me? Hmm.. lets not go there..

Jai gurudev

Mukta

My daily Blog Feb 9,2024

 There is a hell lot of difference in 'Family' and 'A bunch of Relatives'.. 

There is a Hell lot of difference in 'known familiar faces' and 'friends'

Jai Gurudev,

Mukta

My daily Blog Feb 8, 2024

I could not post anything on my blog yesterday. But I will finish my 365 blog posts this year without a doubt. So ignore the dates. I think i should keep some backup drafts ready to publish. 

8 Feb 2024. My guru Sri Sri RaviShankar visited Pune. Our very own Markal Ashram. It was a divine day. I felt a lot of noise in my mind vanished as soon as he came to Pune. 

He said the lights could be of different colors and shapes but the electricity flowing through it is the same. Same way we all look different but the divinity inside us is the same.

He also mentioned about the D3 and B12 vitamins. I am testing them tomorrow. They make you feel lazy he said. Also the overeating makes you lazy. 

A lot of tears of gratitude were seen yesterday. Mine included. Mine was of love. I feel gratitude creates a distance. I felt solace and I also noticed that people of art of living are truly like your family. You will feel the connection even with the unknown people here. 

Guruji also said - Good and bad , right and wrong everything is a part of same divinity. So dissolve!!

I remember the Ashtavakra geeta sessions by him. I will write about that tomorrow! 

Also, probably guruji's blessings that the number of views on my blog spiked yesterday. suddenly a 500% increase in views...!! I wonder how??

 

Jai Gurudev

Mukta

My Daily Blog Feb 7, 2024

We all value the IIT/IIM people. But why?

That's because they have done a lot of hard work. Getting into IIT is a challenge and getting out of it is even a bigger challenge.

They are basically trained to 'Show up'

It could be their 27th breakup but they showed up in their lectures and those classrooms.

It must be really stressful but yet they do it. The thing is nobody can teach you this. You yourself have to do this.Since you are basically an average of 10 people around you, and IITians are surrounded by people who are extremely competitive. So they are trained to keep aside everything personal and show up every single day to stay in the race. Plus there is no place for laziness.

Same must be true with the UPSC people. They also show up no matter what.

Personally it is very difficult for me to start doing something that I don't like.

But most of successful people are able to overcome this.

Jai gurudev

Mukta

My Daily Blog, Feb 5, 2024

Whenever I want to distract myself my 'go to' movies n TV series are _ ( not in a sequence)

1. Wake up sid 

2. Big Bang theory ANY EPISODE

3. Sarabhai vs sarabhai season 1

4. TITANIC

5. KI N KAA

6. KHOSLA KA GHOSLA 

7. SHARK TANK INDIA

8. CURLY TALES SUNDAY BRUNCH

9. Incredibles

10. 12th Fail.

11. Kung fu panda

12. ABP MAZA katta interviews

Jai Gurudev

Mukta