What is making you insecure?

I live in a flat, and each morning when I pull open my window curtain, I notice the lights in the house opposite are still switched on.

The first thought that flashes through my mind is: What a waste of electricity! (The whole residential society has tight security)

Someone must have left it on while going away on vacation, hoping it would keep thieves away.

People’s insecurity can be such a big problem. Also, our society's failure for someone to feel insecure. In the land of Shani Shingnapur, where houses have no doors, where faith in the supreme is very strong, shows how strong faith in the divine can erase insecurities.

Whenever someone shouts at me or shows anger, I realize it’s usually because they feel insecure within themselves.

It seems hard for people to sit in silence, and often it’s because they are uneasy with themselves.

So much of the violence we see in the world stems from this same insecurity.

If we could learn to be our own best friend, insecurity would fade away, and the world would have far fewer problems.

So please, spend time with yourself. Love yourself.

If you do not spend time with yourself, you are missing meeting an important person

 - Swami Vivekananda.

Love yourself and be secure

- Ramani Kasturi

Sukh Karta Dukh Harta

Ganesha!
He will be the topic of my very first blog.
Writing after such a long, long time… I just hope I find the flow of expression again.
Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, please clear away all the unnecessary thoughts from Ramani’s mind and grant her wisdom. And yes, please do show yourself to me!

I’ve always felt a special connection with Ganesha.

1. He reminds me of my little sister, Sivi.
   His form takes me back to those days when Sivi and I would visit the Ganesha pandals in Pune—both in our colony and the nearby ones.

2. He reminds me of Daddy too.
   I have a beautiful orange Ganesha from him, which I treasure dearly. Daddy also taught me the shloka Mudakaratha Modakam, and every Ganesh Chaturthi, we make sure to sit together and sing it. Daddy, I love him for all the initiatives and efforts he painstakingly took to guide us and continue guiding us. (He honestly deserves a separate blog on the lessons I’ve learned from him.)
   I’ve seen people focusing more on the prasad offered to Ganesha rather than the prayers themselves. And each time, I silently thank Dad and mom, for teaching us the importance of prayer and self-control and correct perspective towards each festival.

   This same shloka I chanted in a Sanskrit recitation competition when I was in 5th grade and won first prize. The prize itself didn’t matter much. What’s still vivid in my memory is one of the strictest teachers in our school, Jaya Madam, giving me a warm, affectionate hug after I finished chanting.

3. Ganesha reminds me of my mom's large-heartedness
   I remember joining my classmates for a night-long walk across Pune, visiting pandals during Ganesh Chaturthi. Mom, she made tea for all of us… around 20 people… late at night, without even knowing in advance that I’d be bringing such a big group home! She welcomed everyone without a word of complaint. Many times, I strongly feel, it’s her simplicity, her unselfish love that still protects me to this day.

4. He also reminds me of my classmate Surekha Tilekar and the teaching of our class teacher
   Once, Surekha brought a beautiful Ganesha idol to our class. We were in 8th grade. Teacher made all of us clean the class, and educated us to maintain the sanctity of Ganesha; no shoes in the class allowed and performing aarti.

5. Sai Baba once appeared to me in a dream as Ganesha’s pujari.

6. Living in Pune and not admiring Ganesha is impossible.
   Every year, a week before Ganesh Chaturthi, newspapers would publish creative advertisements and articles showcasing unique representations of the Lord. I used to be in awe! I still remember being a little schoolgirl, cutting out those creative images and making a file of them.

7. And finally, a memory that always makes me smile:
   One of our lab peons once brought a Ganesha idol into the lab, invited all the students and faculty, and sang the aarti as “Sukh Harta and Dukh Karta.” I just couldn’t control my laughter. (Oh, that used to be one of my biggest problems—uncontrollable laughter at the wrong moments! Thankfully, it’s getting better with age.)

“Sukh Karta Dukh Harta.”

"Darshan maatre manna kaamana poorthi". Yes!

Ramani