Sunday, March 6, 2016
Lord Shiva has many names and "Shankara/Shamkara" is one of the most favorite. The word "Shankara" is the combination of two words "Shan" and "kara". "Shan" means good and "kara" means doer and therefore "shankara" means doer of good deeds or giver of boons (shan karothi shankara). "Shamkara" also means the creator of harmonious or melodious sounds. Indeed, Lord Shiva is verily the source of all sounds and musical notes as symbolised by the dhamaru he holds in his hands. Origin of dance is also associated with Lord Shiva. "Shankarabharanam" is a famous raga in Carnatic music and the name meaning is "ornaments of Shankara" which also represents the seven notes of Carnatic music ie. Sa - Sarpam(serpent), Ri - Rudraksham, Ga - Ganga, Ma - Man(deer), Pa - Pushpam (flower), Dha - Dhamaru (a musical instrument), Ni - Nishakara (Moon). Shankaraabharanam although has some vague semblance to Hindusthani Raag Bilaval and western major scale do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti, is much more replete with gamaka possibilities and a technically disciplined raaga with an ancient tradition. Bilaval hardly matches the magic well defined bhaavam of Carnatic Sankaraabharanam with its remarkable serpentine grace and rich gamaka-s. Shankaraabharanam(Dheera-Sankaraabharanam) is the twenty ninth Melakarta Raaga of Carnatic music.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
On 9th March 2016 there is a Solar eclipse. As the eclipse ends at 6.45 a.m. and the Sunrise in Kerala(Thiruvananthapuram) is at 6.40 a.m. it may not be visible in Kerala. The map below shows the places where it is clearly / partially visible. Incidentally, Nandi recollects what he heard in his child hood - "Solar eclipse happens when Rahu swallows the Sun". There is a fact hidden in it, In Kerala, solar eclipse is visible only if the eclipse occurs due to the conjunction of Sun and Rahu. If it is the result of Sun and Ketu conjunction, mostly it is not visible and this time that's the case.