Fr. G. Stephen becomes a memory...

Fr. G. Stephen, 84, fondly known as Pushpanayakom left us on Friday, 27th August evening at the Jubilee Memorial Hospital. On the following day his body was taken to Vettucaud, Vizhinjam and Puthiyathura on its way to his home village, Thoothoor where was the funeral conducted by the Archbishop accompanied by more than 50 priests, though it was a Sunday.

He was a soft spoken poet who has penned more than some 150 religious songs and some of them were so popular. He also authored the 'Christuraja Padapooja' for the pilgrim centre at Vettucaud.

He was ordained at 33 and was appointed at Muthiyavila, followed by Poovar (Karumkulam and Kochuthura), Poothura, Vizhinjam, Vettucaud, Valiathura, Vallavila, Anchuthengu, Puthiyathura and finally as Rector at the IVD Seminary at Azhakulam. He spent his last two years or so at the Priests' Home at Kumarapuram.

He was survived by 5 brothers and 2 sisters.

A good and simple priest loved by almost all the priests and people.

May his good soul rest in peace!

வெள்ளிவிழா தம்பதியற்கு...

இருபத்தைந்தாண்டு இல்லறம்
இனிதே நடத்தி, இசைபட வாழ்ந்து
இருபெரும் மக்களை உலகுக்களித்து
இறைவன் அருளை என்றும் பெற்று
இன்னும் சிறக்க வேண்டுகிறேன்.

திருவாங்கூர் தலைநகராம்
திருவனந்தபுரம்தன்னை
அணிசெய்ய அழகு செய்ய
தைக்காடு வந்த தமிழ் தட்டார்
நாடு விட்டனர், வீடு விட்டனர்
விசுவாசம் மட்டும் விடவில்லை.

'கோயிலில்லா ஊரில்
குடியிருக்க வேண்டாம்' என்று
கோயில் செய்து அன்னைக்கு அர்ப்பணித்து
அவள் மகனாம் இயேசுவழி வாழ்கின்றனர்.

கோயில்காக்கும் தர்மகர்த்தா
வழித்தோன்றிய தம்பி டொமினிக்
உறவுமுறையான ராஜி அக்காவை
வாழ்க்கை துணையாக்கி
வாழ்வாங்கு வாழ்ந்து
வெள்ளிவிழ கொண்டாடும் வேளை
பொன்விழா காணும் வரை
பொலிவுடன் வாழவேண்டும்
பார்பவர்கள் போற்றவேண்டும்.

பொற்கொல்லர் பரம்பரை என்றாலும்
கலையெல்லாம் கைவசமே
இசைக்கலைகூட கைவந்த கலையே.
நரம்பு வாத்திய வித்தகர்
தம்பி டொமினிக்
வாழ்விலும் இசைமீட்டி
இசைபட வாழ வாழ்த்துகிறேன்
இறைவனை வேண்டுகிறேன்.

நட்புடன்


பங்கிராஸ்
௨௧.௮.௨0௧0

The National Anthem...

Full & Short Versions
The composition consisting of the words and music of the first stanza of the late poet Rabindra Nath Tagore's song known as "Jana Gana Mana" is the National Anthem of India. It reads as follows:
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga.
Tava shubha name jage,
Tava shubha asisa mange,
Gahe tava jaya gatha,
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
Download National Anthem (817 KB, 0:52 Sec.)

The above is the full version of the Anthem and its playing time is approximately 52 seconds.
A short version consisting of the first and last lines of the National Anthem is also played on certain occasions. It reads as follows:
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka,
jaya heBharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
Playing time of the short version is about 20 seconds. The following is Tagore's English rendering of the anthem:
Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,Dispenser of India's destiny.Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind,Gujarat and Maratha,Of the Dravida and Orissa and Bengal;It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,mingles in the music of Jamuna and Ganges and ischanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.The saving of all people waits in thy hand,Thou dispenser of India's destiny.Victory, victory, victory to thee.

A Prayer... Who destined these flowers to dry up...

I asked for Strength......... And God gave me Difficulties to make me Strong.

I asked for Wisdom.......... And God gave me Problems to Solve.

I asked for Prosperity...... And God gave me Brain and Brawn to Work.

I asked for Courage.......... And God gave me Danger to Overcome.
I asked for Love................. And God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for Favor............... And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted....

I received everythig I needed!

God and Me...

GOD: Hello. Did you call me ?

ME: Called you ? No... Who is this ?

GOD: This is GOD. I heard your prayers. So I thought I will chat.

ME: I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually busy now. I am in the midst of something.

GOD: What are you busy at ?

ME: Don't know. But I can't find free time. Life has become hectic. It's rush hour all the time.

GOD: Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

ME: I understand. But I still can't figure out. By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on instant messaging chat.

GOD: Well I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.

ME: Tell me, why has life become complicated now ?

GOD: Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

ME: Why are we then constantly unhappy ?

GOD: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. That's why you are not happy.

ME: But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty ?

GOD: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

ME: But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty.

GOD: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

ME: If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer ?

GOD: Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don't suffer.With that experience their life become better not bitter.

Me: You mean to say such experience is useful ?

GOD: Yes. In every terms, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

ME: But still, why should we go through such tests? Why can't we be free from problems ?

GOD: Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner Strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

ME: Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don't know where we are heading...

GOD: If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.

ME: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do ?

GOD: Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead. You work with the compass.Let others work with the clock.

ME: In tough times, how do you stay motivated ?

GOD: Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you aremissing.

ME: What surprises you about people ?

GOD: when they suffer they ask, "why me ?" When they prosper, they never ask "Why me" Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth.

ME: Sometimes I ask, who am I ? Why am I here? I can't get the answer.

GOD: Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be.Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.

ME: How can I get the best out of life ?

GOD: Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

ME: One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

GOD: There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.

ME: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I am so happy to start the New Day with a new sense of inspiration.

GOD: Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don't believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.
We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.

கருமை-வெண்மையிலும் அழகு...

என்னே அழகு, என்னே அமைதி!
'உள்ளத்தின் கதவுகள் கண்களடா' என்று
சும்மாவா சொன்னான் கவிஞன்?
நிறைவு, நிம்மதி, நிதானம்...
கண்களில் காணும் ஒளி
கன்னத்தில் மிளிரும் கனவு
வதனத்தில் விரியும் நகை,
புன்னகை...
வரவேற்க வேறென்ன வேண்டும்?
வருக... வணக்கம்...
வாழ்க... வளர்க...

வறுமையிலும் தாய்மையின் நிறைவு...

sms...

'Sent a letter thr DTDC read, realise & d... it. Thanks!'

'ulakam irunduvidumo illaiy'o, oru natchathiram kurainthuvittathu. (thodarum...) 7/8
I don't make claims of my love... When u say that i have humiliated u, u seem not to have realized the meanness of the words u use still! U still seem to doubt! Love & trust r not to be preached, but lived. (thodarum...) 7/8
Love to be childlike, when u ask why childish!Never ever wish to be a burden to anyone, the least to u. Be blessed! 7/8

Too busy to have personal, private time and space!

These days are that busy that no time was available to be alone and not much space to relax! The day begins with getting ready for the Mass at the parish at Thycaud, followed by skipping through the dailies for some time. By the time there will be people to see me for one reason or other! Even lunch could not be in time. Again in the office till 5 p.m. by then i must be running to the college where they give assignments and seminars besides the test paper and the university semester exams. Reaching back, i would be tired that it won't be possible to read or do any serious work. That is how i am running out rather! I must relax and rest to replenish and refresh. Must find time to read and reflect.

These days, i experience strong impulses of faith negating thoughts and tendencies. I don't think i will be fitting in the ecclesial structure! Should i not opt for some free air at least at my age of crossing the middle age! The seemingly unharmful people don't seem to be just and truthful, but seem to have their interests to safegaurd! Where does Jesus' vulnerability be seen among any of them!

The poor still suffer! The rich are always in the company of the church hierarchy and both are at ease with one another and are in connivence to exploit them in one way or other.

Everyone is security conscious and the church provides it so well to the otherwise insecure priests and they are comfortably subservient to the authorities who throw away crumps or bones to them! And they are kept inactive for quite some time!

These people don't ever like rights to be demanded; but are happy when others beg for charity! They can't think of the freedom of the children of God! They can't tolerate equality, can't digest Jesus calling his disciples friends! They will never ever understand the mystery of incarnation, God becoming man and God exhorting everyone to be holy as his heavenly father is holy.

When Jesus himself let go for the passion and death, the church will never let it go and die as a grain of wheat so as to give a hundred fold, fifty or even thirty! The prefer to remain a idol and idols they love and like and ultimately become one so!

Evey one is selfish enough and the only difference is Jesus who gave up his life for his friends,nay even his 'enemies!' And we are asked to follow him upto Calvary and thereafter to the glory of resurrection.

Jesus who was never a priest was made high priest by the lone epistle, Hebrews! The memory he commended to his disciples was adulterated to such an extent it has no similiarity whatsoever with his! And that has become a source of livelihood to the so called priests and they have conveniently made it high and low besides solemn and ordinary! It was clad with royal paraphernalias when Jesus died on the cross almost bare, even at the Last supper he had not that much of dress other than what he wore! When it has to be a spontaneous outpouring of love, why should it be made into a recital of 'prayers' seemingly written by heartless, soulless people of anitquity! The language, the theology all are obsolete and outdated. It has no relevance to the people for whom it is claimed to have been offered.

Only the twelve matters and the seventy are conveniently forgotten, and especially the women disciples like the one of the stature of Mary Magdelene! When there was only one Peter/ Pope, why should there be so many bishops and each one as powerful as the one in top?

The collegiality is a farce, a devise to cheat and fool people. Infalliblity is what even the last in the ladder, the priest in any of the small village even claims! They always go for the undeserved, and the theology behind is that God always called the unworthy!

Power,positions and possessions were the hall mark of the clergy! They claim poverty and live luxury, claim celibacy and discard it at all possible instances, obedience is only to their ego and ignorance!

They easily the forget the root they come from and behave in such a way that they do not even recognize their own! Responsibility and accountability is not their cup!

Let us hope that Jesus and his teaching in its purity will privail over one day and that is going to the clarion call of the Kingdom. Let all who earn this be ready for the greatest of price which is what the master himself paid. And that is what is going to be the Cost of the Discipleship, the Cross.