How To Reduce One's Age?

The sage was fully involved in his penance, day after day. The only thing on his mind was the Lord and his infinite qualities. He did not even bother to think of what was happening around him. When he got up in the morning each day, he found all items ready for proceeding to the nearby river for carrying out his ablution and start his deep penance. After returning from the river, he would start his penance. Sometime around midday he would open his eyes. There would be a neat plantain leaf containing some items to eat fitting with his austere eating habits and in line with his line of living. There would be a small pot of water next to the well served leaf. He would consume the items dispassionately, drink the water and get back to penance again. When he broke the penance late in the night, a simple bed would be ready for him to rest for the few hours. There was absolutely no need for him to worry about anything. The routine will continue on the next day.

After a hundred years, the sage completed his long penance and felt he had achieved the goals he had set for himself. Feeling satisfied, he looked around. He saw an old woman standing near his seat. 

"Who are You? What are you doing here? Why are you waiting?" he asked her. "Today is my lucky day. My Lord has found time to observe my presence. I am your wife and came to this hermitage immediately after our marriage functions were over. You got into penance immediately after that. It is now a hundred years! I was a young and pretty girl when I got married. Now I am a pretty old woman!", she said. Now it dawned on the sage that he went into his tapas immediately after his marriage without even thinking of her. He felt sad for ignoring her comforts in his pursuits. "You have selflessly served me for all these years. Your contribution for my achieving success in penance is quite big. What can i do for you?', he asked her.

She gave a weak smile. "I have changed over the years while living with you. I don't need anything now. I have approached ripe old age. Since you are asking me specifically, I have to say this. During our wedding ceremony you had promised me that you would grant me many children. I am unable to conquer that desire", she said.

The sage looked at her. Then he looked at himself, Both were old and frail now. To fulfil her wish he had to reduce her age as well as his, since they were both past the age of begetting children!

How to reduce their age?

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The elderly couple were sitting before the bank executive in the branch maintaining their accounts. They were very old customers of the branch. They had opened those accounts in the first week of the branch opening. They were both young and energetic when they opened those accounts. Both were bank managers themselves, but opened these accounts in a new generation bank since their own bank did not offer d-mat and trading facilities in those days. 

As the years passed by, their accounts grew old, they grew old and their children moved to their youth. The children decided to move out elsewhere where they felt challenging opportunities were available to them. Unwilling to leave the parents fending for themselves in old age, they persuaded the parents to move to their country of residence now. 

Having become Non-Residents, they were required to inform their changed residency status to the bank by law. There is a big ghost called "KYC" (Know Your customer") that haunts all bank customers. Banks are required to renew KYC every few years to keep the account running. Banks have now adopted computerisation in all fields. Any work in the banks can be got done only if computer permits. Executives have become slaves of the system and they have absolutely no discretion. Or so they say. Passport is valid for 10 years. PAN card is for life. Aadhar Card is for life. Yet, they want the customer to produce all these documents every two years! If not done, they simply block your accounts!

The first thing a NRI is advised while visiting India is to get KYC done, so that they need not worry for two years. The elderly couple remembered this and asked for renewal of their KYC, all the cards and documents neatly arranged on the table. (He had also carried a post card written by his father to him sixty years ago, just in case bank asked for a post card as well.)

The executive looked at them as if looking at some aliens. "We cannot renew your KYC as it is not yet due. Please come after 4 months" she thundered. "We will be here for only two months. Hence we want to get it done now" they appealed pathetically. "I cannot help it. The system does not allow me to do it", she said. By showing some RBI circulars on the mobile, KYC was somehow got done.

First hurdle jumped, the lady made a request for internet banking. The executive went through the motions and ensured that the mobile linked to Aadhar was available in her hand. Now the computer system did not allow it because it provides internet banking through this route only for customers under the age of seventy. Computer had decided that customers above seventy years cannot be trusted with internet banking! The elderly couple were stunned wondering what to do? They had to reduce their age to get internet banking now.

How to reduce their age? 

*****

Lord Brahma was born in the navel-lotus of Lord Mahavishnu. He was assigned the task of creating the world and multiplying the beings in them. He created two humans at first, a man and a woman. (You may recall Adam and Eve). They were named Swayambhu Manu and Shataroopa. Brahma created other Prajapatis as well. Kardama was one of those prajapatis. (You may recall that Kardama's name can be seen Srisooktam). Kardama was also required to create more human beings on earth. 

Kardama did. long penance and got an audience with Lord Mahavishnu. Mahavishnu told Kardama that in two days time, Swayambhu Manu and his wife Shataroopa will come to him and offer their daughter Devahuti in marriage. Kardama should accept the offer. The newly wed couple will be blessed with nine daughters and one son. The nine daughters will in due course find their match in nine great sages. Lord Mahavishnu will himself be born as their tenth son thereafter. 

Swayambhu Manu and Shataroopa Devi came with their daughter Devahooti and offered Devahooti in marriage to sage Kardama. The ceremonies were completed and the newly wed couple moved to the hermitage of sage Kardama on the banks of river Saraswati.

As soon as they reached the hermitage, Kardama embarked on the hundred year penance. Now the couple were looking at each other and wondering how they will have all those ten children!

Sage Kardama used his mystic powers and created a Vimaana (Flying Machine or Aeroplane). Using the same powers he reduced the age of himself and Devahooti to the day of their wedding!. Now they were again that newly wed couple. The couple traveled in all nine directions in that Vimaana (Eight directions and one high above earth) on their honeymoon. They got one daughter each in each direction. They were named Kala, Anasuya, Shradda, Havirbhu, Gati, Kriya, Khyati, Arundhati and Shanti. In due course they were married to the nine great Rishis Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vasishta, and Atharva, 

Sage Kardama and Devahuti returned to their hermitage on the banks of Saraswati river. As promised to Kardama, Lord Mahavishnu was now born as their son Kapila. Kardama left Devahuti under the care of Kapila and went away for solitary penance.

*****

The elderly NRI couple do not have the mystic powers of the sage Kardama. They do not know how to reduce their age to get internet banking and are still waiting for it. It is reliably learnt that they are planning to embark on a hundred years penance to reduce their age so that they can meet computer standards. Of course, they are hoping that the computer standards will remain the same even after hundred years.

*****

Kapila Maharshi is the pioneer of "Sankhya Shasta" or the science of Numerology. His discourse to his mother Devahuti about how to obtain salvation is explained in Srimad Bhagavatam. 

To know more about Kapila and his teachings to his mother Devahuti, please click on the link given below:

https://roundtheclockstories.blogspot.com/2017/02/i-salute-you-dear-mother.html

Keshava to Krishna

Students of Mathematics are taught about "Permutations and Combinations" during the course of their study on numbers. They are also taught about the difference between permutations and combinations. 

In the case of permutations, order in which the numbers is placed is important. In the case of combinations order in which the numbers appears does not matter. 

Permutations are specific selections of elements within a set where the order in which the elements are arranged is considered. If the arrangement is made without considering order of elements, it becomes combinations of the given elements.

Students of Mathematics also know that the maximum permutation arrangements with four given elements is 24. The picture given above clearly demonstrates that the number of arrangements that can be made with the four given objects is a maximum of 24 arrangements.

*****

The supreme Lord is visualised to be in unimaginable and infinite (Ananta) form. He is bigger than anything that was ever created or exists. Yet, there must be some way of him to be thought of by the mortals, be it for the purpose of worshipping or concentrating during meditation. For this purpose, religious texts provide that his form for meditation or worship should of a ever smiling four handed figure. The pictures of Lord Narayana or Mahavishnu that we see in idols or paintings are based on such "Dhyana Shlokas" or verses that describing as such. 

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Dashama Skanda (Canto 10), Chapter 3, Verses 9 and 10, the appearance of the Lord before Vasudeva, just before child Krishna was born, is described. In summary, the Lord appeared having four hands and holding weapons like Conch, Disc, Mace etc. and other details of his appearance. This is in line with descriptions of the Lord in other texts as well. In such form, he holds a Conch (Panchajanya Shankha), A Disc (Sudarshana Chakra), a Mace (Kowmodaki Gada) and a Lotus (Padma) in the four hands.

He has four hands and holds four objects in his hands. As seen above, the various permutations of holding these objects in the four hands gives rise to 24 forms of the Lord. These are called the Chaturvimshati (Twenty four in Sanskrit) Roopas (forms). This gives rise to 24 names of the supreme Lord, each one identifying a particular permutation of the four objects. 

The holding of the objects is identified from the top right hand and in a clockwise direction.

For example: 

When he holds Shankha in the top right hand, Chakra in the top left hand, mace in the bottom left hand and padma in the right bottom hand, this roopa is known as KESHAVA Roopa. the order is Shanka-Chakra-Gada-Padma.

When he holds Padma-Gada-Shankha-Chakra, it is NARAYANA Roopa.

If it is Chakra-Shankha-Padma-Gada, it is MADHAVA Roopa.

Thus we have 24 roopas with names as 

01. Keshava

02. Narayana

03. Madhava

o4. Govinda

05. Vishnu

06. Madhusoodana

07. Trivikrama

08. Vamana

09. Sridhara

10. Hrushikesha

11. Padmanabha

12. Damodara

13. Sankarshana

14. Vasudeva

15. Pradyumana

16. Aniruddha

17. Purushottama

18. Adhokshaja

19. Narasimha

20. Achyuta

21. Janardana

22. Upendra

23. Hari 

24. Krishana

These are the 24 names that are regularly used by the shraddalu people in various rituals like Archana, Sandhya vandanam etc. They are regularly chanted and in some rituals many times as well. 

The expectation is that one remembers the form of the Lord with the appropriate combination while chanting each of the 24 names. This comes by regualar practice for a considerable length of time.

Though these names are chanted many times and quite regularly, many people are not aware of this distinction and significance.

*****

In order to better explain these forms instead of through mere words, I am giving a link to Youtube video, that contains all the 24 forms with appropriate text in the Sri Purandaradasa's Keshavanama. The accomponying text is both in Kannada and English. The Roopa of the Lord is highlighted as the video moves on.

The link is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKMsrFOqCiw

"ಮುಕುಂದಮಾಲಾ" ಎಂಬ "ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಸರ"

ಅದೊಂದು ಸೊಗಸಾದ ಸರ. ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಕಾಣುವಂತೆಯೇ ಇದೆ. ಆ ಸರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಹಿ ಸಿಹಿಯಾದ ನಲವತ್ತು ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಮಣಿಗಳಿವೆ. ಒಂದೊಂದು ಮಣಿಯೂ ಒಂದೊಂದು ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಘನವಾದ ಉಂಡೆ. ಅನೇಕರಿಗೆ ಎದುರಿಗೆ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಆ ಸರವೇ ಕಾಣಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ಸರ ಕಂಡರೂ ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಣಿಗಳಿವೆ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ಉಂಡೆಗಳಿವೆ ಎಂದು ಗೊತ್ತಾದರೂ ಅವು ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯವು ಎಂದು ಅರ್ಥವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಎಲ್ಲೋ ಬೆರಳೆಣಿಕೆಯಷ್ಟು ಮಂದಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಇವು ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಉಂಡೆಗಳು ಎಂದು ಜ್ಞಾತವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. 

ಆಯಿತು. ಕೆಲವೇ ಮಂದಿಗೆ ಇವು ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಉಂಡೆಗಳಿಂದ ಮಾಡಿದ ಸರ ಎಂದು ಅರ್ಥವಾಯಿತು. ಅವರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಕೆಲವರು ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೇ ಬಿಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮಂದಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಆ ಸವಿಯಾದ ಉಂಡೆಗಳ ಸಿಹಿಯನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸುವ ಆಸೆ ಆಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಸಣ್ಣ ಪ್ರಮಾಣದ ಗುಂಪಿನಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಮೂರು ಭೇದಗಳು. ಮೊದಲನೆಯದು ಒಂದೊಂದು ಉಂಡೆಯನ್ನೂ ಬಾಯಿಗೆ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡು ಕಹಿ ಗುಳಿಗೆ ನುಂಗಿದಂತೆ ನುಂಗುವವರದು. ಸಕ್ಕರೆ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯ ಒಳಗೆ ಹೋದಿದ್ದಷ್ಟೇ ಭಾಗ್ಯ. ಬಾಯಿಗೆ, ನಾಲಿಗೆಗೆ ಸಿಹಿಯ ಅನುಭವೇ ಆಗಲಿಲ್ಲ! ಎರಡನೆಯ ಗುಂಪು ಅಷ್ಟು ಆತುರ ತೋರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಬಾಯಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸವಿ ಅನುಭವಿಸಿ ನುಂಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅಷ್ಟೋ ಇಷ್ಟೋ ಸಿಹಿಯ ಅನುಭವವಾಗಿ ಸಂತೋಷ ಪಡೆದರು. ಮೂರನೆಯ ಗುಂಪು ಆತುರದ ಗುಂಪಲ್ಲ. ಸಾವಕಾಶವಾಗಿ ಒಂದೊಂದು ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಉಂಡೆಯನ್ನೂ ಬಾಯಲ್ಲಿ ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡು ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಚೀಪುತ್ತಾ ಅದರ ಸವಿಯನ್ನು ಬಹಳ ಕಾಲ ಅನುಭವಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಇವರಿಗೆ ಆ ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಹಾರದ ಸಿಹಿ ಸಿಹಿ ಮಣಿಗಳ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಪ್ರಯೋಜನ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿತು!

ಅನೇಕರಿಗೆ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಸ್ನಾನಾದಿಗಳ ನಂತರ ಯಾವುದಾದರೂ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರ ಪಾರಾಯಣ ಮಾಡುವ ಪದ್ಧತಿ ಇದೆ. ಪುಣ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರಗಳ ಕೊರತೆ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಕೇವಲ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಪದ್ಯಗಳಿಂದ ಹಿಡಿದು ಸಹಸ್ರನಾಮದವರೆಗೆ ಉಂಟು. ಇನ್ನೂ ಮಾಡಬೇಕೆಂದರೆ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಸ್ತೋತ್ರ. ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಉಂಟು. ಇಲ್ಲದಿರುವುದು ಸಮಯಾವಕಾಶ ಒಂದೇ. 

ಅನೇಕವೇಳೆ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭ ಮಾಡುವುದರ ಮೂಲ ಉದ್ದೇಶ ಅದನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿ ಮುಗಿಸುವುದೇ ಆಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಮುಗಿದ ತಕ್ಷಣ "ಸದ್ಯ, ಮುಗಿಯಿತಲ್ಲ!" ಎಂಬ ಧನ್ಯತಾ ಭಾವ. "ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಎದ್ದು ಏನೋ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಬೇಗ ಕಾಫಿ ಕೊಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಸ್ನಾನ ಆಗುವ ವೇಳೆಗೆ ಒಂಭತ್ತೂವರೆ ಘಂಟೆ ಆಯಿತು. ಹತ್ತು ಘಂಟೆಗೆ ಕ್ರಿಕೆಟ್ ಪಂದ್ಯ ಇದೆ. ಮೊದಲ ಚೆಂಡು ಅಂಗಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಪುಟಿದೇಳುವ ಮೊದಲು ಸ್ತೋತ್ರ ಮುಗಿದರೆ ಸಾಕು." ಹೀಗೆನ್ನುವ ಮನಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಅನೇಕ ವೇಳೆ. ಇದು ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಉಂಡೆಯನ್ನು ಕಹಿ ಗುಳಿಗೆ ನುಂಗಿದಂತೆ ಹೇಳುವ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರ. 

ಸ್ತೋತ್ರದ ಅರ್ಥ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಗೊತ್ತು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಹಂಬಲವೂ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವಂತೂ ಮೊದಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಅತಿ ಆತುರವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಹೇಳುವುದು. ಇದು ಎರಡನೇ ಗುಂಪು. 

ಸ್ತೋತ್ರದ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆ ತಿಳಿದು, ಅದರ ಅರ್ಥವನ್ನು ಅರಿತು, ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಪದ-ಪದವನ್ನೂ ಅನುಭವಿಸಿ ಮಾಡುವ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರ ಆ ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಉಂಡೆಯ ಪದರ-ಪದರವನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸಿ ಆನಂದಿಸುವ ಪಾರಾಯಣ. ಮುಕುಂದಮಾಲಾ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರದ ನಲವತ್ತು ಮಣಿಗಳ ಸವಿ ಈ ರೀತಿ ಅನುಭವಿಸಿದವರಿಗೇ ಗೊತ್ತು. 

*****

ಮುಕುಂದಮಾಲಾ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರದ ಮೊದಲನೇ ಪದ್ಯವನ್ನೇ ನೋಡೋಣ:

ಶ್ರೀವಲ್ಲಭೇತಿ ವರದೇತಿ ದಯಾಪರೇತಿ 

ಭಕ್ತಪ್ರಿಯೇತಿ ಭವಲುಂಠನ ಕೋವಿದೇತಿ 

ನಾಥೇತಿ ನಾಗಶಯನೇತಿ ಜಗನ್ನಿವಾಸೇತಿ 

ಆಲಾಪಿನಂ ಪ್ರತಿದಿನಂ ಕುರುಮಾಂ ಮುಕುಂದ!

ಏನಿದರ ಅರ್ಥ? ಮೇಲುನೋಟಕ್ಕೆ ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. "ಹೇ ಮುಕುಂದ! ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಪತಿ, ವರದ. ದಯಾಳು, ಭಕ್ತಪ್ರಿಯ, ಭವವನ್ನು ದಾಟಿಸುವವ, ಒಡೆಯ, (ಶೇಷನಮೇಲೆ ಮಲಗಿದ) ಶೇಷಶಾಯಿ, ಜಗನ್ನಾಥ, ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಪದಗಳಿಂದ ಪ್ರತಿದಿನ ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಕರೆಯುವಂತೆ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಮಾಡು" ಎಂದು ಇದರ ಅರ್ಥ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂರು ಮುಖ್ಯ ವಿಷಯಗಳು ಇವೆ. ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನ ಅನೇಕ ಹೆಸರುಗಳು ಇರುವಾಗ ಮುಕುಂದ ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರಿನಿಂದಲೇ ಏಕೆ ಕರೆದರು? ಮುಕುಂದನಿಗೆ ನೀಡಿರುವ ಈ ವಿಶೇಷಣ ರೂಪಕ ಹೆಸರುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಏನಾದರೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನದು ಇದೆಯೇ? ಮುಕುಂದನನ್ನು ಕೂಗಬೇಕಾದರೆ ನಾವೇ ಕೂಗಬಹುದು. ಕರೆಯುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡು ಎಂದು ಅವನನ್ನು ಏಕೆ ಕೇಳಬೇಕು?

ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನ ಲೆಕ್ಕವಿಲ್ಲದ ರೂಪಗಳನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸುವ ಅನಂತ ಹೆಸರುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅವನನ್ನು ಯಾವ ಹೆಸರಿನಿಂದಾದರೂ ಕರೆಯಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ ಈ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರದ ಮೂಲ ಉದ್ದೇಶ್ಯ ಏನು? ಯಾವುದೋ ಒಂದು ವರವನ್ನು ಬೇಡುವುದಕ್ಕಲ್ಲ. "ಜನನ-ಮರಣ ಚಕ್ರದಿಂದ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಪರಮ ಪದವನ್ನು ಕೊಡು; ಮತ್ತೆ ಹುಟ್ಟದಂತೆ ಮಾಡು" ಎಂದು ವಿನಂತಿಸುವುದೇ ಏಕಮೇವ ಗುರಿ.  ಈ ಭವಚಕ್ರದಿಂದ ಪಾರುಮಾಡುವವರು ಯಾರು? ಸರ್ವಶಕ್ತನಾದ ಅವನಿಗೆ ಯಾವ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಾದರೂ ಈ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯನ್ನು ಕೊಡುವ ಶಕ್ತಿಯೇನೋ ಉಂಟು. ಆದರೆ ಅನೇಕ ರೂಪಗಳಿದ್ದರೂ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಕೊಡುವ ರೂಪ ಮುಕುಂದ ಎನ್ನುವ ರೂಪ ಎಂಬುದು ಬಲವಾದ ನಂಬಿಕೆ. "ಭವಲುಂಠನ ಕೋವಿದೇತಿ" ಎನ್ನುವ ವಿಶೇಷಣವೂ ಇದನ್ನೇ ಸೂಚಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಮನವಿ ಆ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಕೊಡುವ ಮುಕುಂದನಿಗೆ. ಕೇವಲ ಇದು ಒಂದು ಶ್ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ. ಇಡಿಯ ಕೃತಿಯ ಪರಮ ಗುರಿ ಸಂಸಾರದಿಂದ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಪಡೆಯುವುದೇ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಮುಕುಂದನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ. ಇದೇ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಕೃತಿಗೆ "ಮುಕುಂದಮಾಲಾ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರ" ಎಂದು ಹೆಸರು. 

ಮುಕುಂದನ ಅನೇಕ ಗುಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವನ್ನು ಹೇಳುವ ಮೇಲಿನ ಸಂಬೋಧನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದೊಂದರಲ್ಲೂ ಅನೇಕ ಅರ್ಥಗಳು ಅಡಗಿವೆ. ಒಂದು ಸಣ್ಣ ಉದಾಹರಣೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳೋಣ. ವರದೇತಿ ಎನ್ನುವ ಸಣ್ಣ ಪದ. ವರದ ಎಂದರೆ ಏನು? ವರವನ್ನು ಕೊಡುವವನು ಎಂದು. ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಗೊತ್ತಿರುವ ಅರ್ಥ ಇದು. ಹಾಗಾದರೆ ಮುಕುಂದ ಒಬ್ಬನೇ ವರವನ್ನು ಕೊಡುವವನೇ? ಬೇರೆಯವರು ಯಾರೂ ಇಲ್ಲವೇ? ವರ ಕೊಡುವ ಅನೇಕ ದೇವತೆಗಳು ಇದ್ದಾರಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ಅವರೆಲ್ಲರನ್ನೂ ಪೂಜಿಸುತ್ತೇವಲ್ಲ. ಹೌದು. ವರ ಕೊಡುವವರು ಬೇರೆಯವರಿದ್ದರೂ ಅವರೆಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಪ್ರೇರಕನಾಗಿ ಅಂತಃಶಕ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ವರ ಕೊಡುವವನು ಅವನೇ! ಅಷ್ಟು ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ. ಅವನು ವರದ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಅವನು ವರದರಾಜ. ವರಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊಡುವವರಿಗೆಲ್ಲ ಅವನು ಚಕ್ರವರ್ತಿ. ಅವನಿಗಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕೊಡುವರು ಯಾರೂ ಇಲ್ಲ. 

ಈ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ೨೮ನೆಯ ಶ್ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಇನ್ನೂ ವಿವರವಾಗಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನಮಗೆ ಏನಾದರೂ ಬೇಕಿದ್ದರೆ ಯಾರನ್ನು ಬೇಡಬೇಕು? ಹಣ್ಣಿನ ಅಂಗಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೂವು ಸಿಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಎಣ್ಣೆಯಂಗಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಟ್ಟೆ ಸಿಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಬೇರೆ ದೇವತೆಗಳ ಬಳಿ ಯಾವುದಾದರೂ ಒಂದು ರೀತಿಯ ವರ ಸಿಗಬಹುದು. ಎಲ್ಲ ರೀತಿಯ ಪದಾರ್ಥಗಳೂ ಒಂದೇ ಕಡೆ ಸಿಗಬೇಕು ಎಂದರೆ ಸೂಪರ್ ಮಾರ್ಕೆಟ್ ಎನ್ನುವ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸ್ಥಳಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕು. ಎಲ್ಲ ರೀತಿಯ ವರಗಳೂ ಸಿಗುವ ಸೂಪರ್ ಮಾರ್ಕೆಟ್ ಆ ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನೇ. ಯಾರು ಕೊಟ್ಟರೂ ತಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿರುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಭಾಗವನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ಕೊಡಬಲ್ಲರು. ತಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿರುವುದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕೊಡಲು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಆ ಪರಮಪುರುಷ ಹಾಗಲ್ಲ. ಅವನು ಏನನ್ನಾದರೂ ಕೊಡಬಲ್ಲ. ಬೇರೆಯವರು ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಕಾಲಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಳಾಗಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ ಅವನ ಬಳಿ ಹಾಗಲ್ಲ. ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಅನಂತ ಕಾಲದವರೆಗೂ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೆಚ್ಚೇನು ಹೇಳುವುದು? "ಸ್ವಸ್ಯ ಪದಸ್ಯ  ದಾತರಿ ಸುರೇ ನಾರಾಯಣೇ ತಿಷ್ಠತಿ" ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಕೇಳಿದರೆ ತನ್ನ ಸ್ಥಾನವನ್ನೇ ಕೊಡಲು ಹಿಂದೂ ಮುಂದೆ ನೋಡದವ ಅವನು. ಯೋಗ್ಯ ಭಕ್ತ ಅದನ್ನು ಕೇಳುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಬೇರೆ ಮಾತು. ಯಾರ ಮನೆಗಾದರೂ ಹೋಗಿ "ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯನ್ನು ನನಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟುಬಿಡಿ. ನೀವು ಹೊರಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ" ಎಂದರೆ ಮುಂದೆ ಮಾತನಾಡದಂತೆ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಆ ಕ್ಷಣ ಹೊರಗೆ ಹಾಕುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವನಾದರೋ ತನ್ನ ಸ್ಥಾನವನ್ನೇ ಬಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಡಲು ತಯಾರು. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅವನು ವರದ. ವರದ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ವರದರಾಜ. 

ಇನ್ನು ಮೂರನೆಯ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ. "ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಕೂಗುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡು, ಮುಕುಂದ" ಎಂದು ಅವನನ್ನು ಏಕೆ ಕೇಳಬೇಕು? ನಾವೇ ಕೂಗಿದರೆ ಆಗದೇ ಎನ್ನುವ ಸಮಾಚಾರ. ಒಬ್ಬನಿಗೆ ಏನೋ ಒಂದು ಪದಾರ್ಥ ಅಥವಾ ತಿಂಡಿ-ತಿನಿಸು ಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಎನಿಸಿತು. ತಯಾರು ಮಾಡಿಟ್ಟ. ತಯಾರು ಮಾಡಿಟ್ಟ ನಂತರ ಹಾಗೇ ಕುಳಿತಿದ್ದ. ಏಕೆ ತಿನ್ನಲಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬರು ಕೇಳಿದರು. ಈಗ ತಿನ್ನುವ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದ. ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ತಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪದಾರ್ಥ ಇದೆ. ಆದರೆ ತಿನ್ನಲು ಆಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಕೈ ಬಾಯಿಯವರೆಗೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ನಿನ್ನೆಯವರೆಗೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಇಂದು ಏಕೋ ಕೈ ಹಿಡಿದುಕೊಂಡಿದೆ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಬಾಯಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಗೋ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡ ಮೇಲೆ ನುಂಗಲು ಆಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದೇನು ವಿಚಿತ್ರ? ಯಾವುದೂ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಲ್ಲವಲ್ಲ? 

ಚಿಕ್ಕ ವಯಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಸಮ ಯಾರಿಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುವ ಅಹಂಕಾರ ಮನೆ ಮಾಡಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಕಾಲ ಕಳೆದಂತೆ, ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಗಿದಂತೆ, ರಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಕಡಿಮೆಯಾದಂತೆ "ನಮ್ಮ ಕೈಲಿ ಏನೂ ಇಲ್ಲ" ಎನ್ನುವ ಜ್ನ್ಯಾನ ಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಏನಾದರೂ ಮಾಡುವ ಮೊದಲು ಆ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಮಾಡಲು ಅವನು ಮನಸ್ಸು ಕೊಡಬೇಕು. ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ನಂತರ ಆ ಕಡೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವಂತೆ ಪ್ರೇರಣೆ ಕೊಡಬೇಕು. ಆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಲು ಶಕ್ತಿ ಕೊಡಬೇಕು. ಕಡೆಗೆ ಆ ಕೆಲಸದ ಫಲವನ್ನೂ ಅವನೇ ಕೊಡಬೇಕು. ಅಂದರೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಮಾಡಲು ಪ್ರೇರಣೆಯಿಂದ ಅದರ ಫಲ ಕೊಡುವವರೆಗೂ ಅವನನ್ನೇ ಕೇಳಬೇಕು. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಪ್ರತಿದಿನ ಹೀಗೆ ಕೂಗಿ ಕರೆಯುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡು ಎಂದು ಅವನನ್ನೇ ಕೇಳುವುದು. 

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ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬ ಆಳು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ನಾವು ಹೇಳಿದಂತೆ ಅವನು ಕೇಳಬೇಕು. ಕರೆದಾಗ ಬರಬೇಕು. ಹೋಗು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದಾಗ ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕು. ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಕರೆದಾಗ ಆ ಆಳೂ ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವನಿಗೆ ಕೇಳಿಸದೇ ಇರಬಹುದು. ಅಥವಾ ಬೇರೆ ಕೆಲಸದ ಮೇಲೆ ಇನ್ನೆಲ್ಲೋ ಹೋಗಿರಬಹುದು. ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಉಪೇಕ್ಷೆಯಿಂದ ಬಾರದೆಯೂ ಇರಬಹುದು. ನಾವು ನೇಮಕ ಮಾಡಿ, ಸಂಬಳ ಕೊಟ್ಟು, ಊಳಿಗಕ್ಕಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡ ಆಳು ಹೀಗೆ ಮಾಡುವಾಗ ನಾವು ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಒಂದು ಸಾರಿ ಕರೆದರೆ ಆ ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ ಏಕೆ ಬಂದಾನು? 

ಮಗು ಆಡುತ್ತಿದೆ. ತಾಯಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಸುತ್ತಮುತ್ತ ಓಡಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾಳೆ. ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಮಗುವಿನ ಬಳಿ ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಮಗುವಿಗೆ ಅಮ್ಮ ಬೇಕು. ಮಾತು ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಳುತ್ತದೆ. ಮಗು ಅಳುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ತಾಯಿಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತು. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಅತ್ತು ಸುಮ್ಮನಾಗಬಹುದು ಎಂದು ನೋಡುತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಮಗು ಸುಮ್ಮನಾದರೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮುಗಿಯಿತು. ಇಲ್ಲ, ಮಗು ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಅಳುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಳಲಿ ಎಂದು ತಾಯಿ ಸುಮ್ಮನಿರುತ್ತದೆ. "ಬಾಲಾನಾಂ ರೋದನಂ ಬಲಂ" ಎಂದು ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತು. ಅಷ್ಟು ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಮಗುವಿಗೆ ಅಳುವೇ ವ್ಯಾಯಾಮ. ಮಗು ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಅತ್ತು ರಚ್ಚೆ ಹಿಡಿಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಆಗ ಅಮ್ಮ ಬಂದು ಮಗುವನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾಳೆ. 

ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನೂ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಕರೆದರೆ ಅವನು ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಕರೆದರೂ ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಭಕ್ತ ರಚ್ಚೆ ಹಿಡಿಯಬೇಕು. ಚಂಡಿ ಹಿಡಿಯಬೇಕು. ಉತ್ತರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳುವುದಾದರೆ "ಒಂದೇ ಸಮನೆ ಹೊಯ್ಕೊಳಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ಯಾನೆ" ಎನ್ನುವ ಮಟ್ಟದವರೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕು. ಇದು ಒಂದು ದಿನದ ಕಥೆಯಲ್ಲ. ದಿನಂಪ್ರತಿ ನಡೆಯಬೇಕು. ಹಾಗೆ ಭಕ್ತ ಚಂಡಿ ಹಿಡಿದಾಗ ಎಂದೋ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ ಬರುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕೇ "ಆಲಾಪಿನಂ ಪ್ರತಿದಿನಂ ಕುರು ಮೇ ಮುಕುಂದ" ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ. 

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ಕುಲಶೇಖರರು ಮಹಾನುಭಾವರು. ಕೇರಳದ ಚೇರ ವಂಶದ ರಾಜರಾಗಿದ್ದವರು. ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ತಕ್ಕಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸುಖ-ಸಾಧನಗಳು ಇದ್ದವರೇ ಲೌಕಿಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೈಮರೆತು ಸುಖ-ಭೋಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಿ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ಕುಲಶೇಖರ ಅಲ್ವಾರ್ ಅಂತಹ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಭಕ್ತಿಯ ಪರಾಕಾಷ್ಠತೆ ಮುಟ್ಟಿದ ದೈವ ಭಕ್ತರು. "ಘುಷ್ಯತೇ ಯಸ್ಯ ನಗರೇ ರಂಗಯಾತ್ರಾ ದಿನೇ ದಿನೇ, ತಮಹಂ ಶಿರಸಾ ವಂದೇ ರಾಜಾನಂ ಕುಲಶೇಕರಮ್" ಎಂದು ಮೊದಲು ಅವರ ಸ್ಮರಣೆ ಮಾಡಿಯೇ ಮುಕುಂದಮಾಲಾ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರವನ್ನು ಪಾರಾಯಣ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. 

ಅಂತಹ ಪಕ್ವ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಆಲ್ವಾರರ ಕೃತಿಯ ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯನ್ನು ನಾವೇನು ಬಲ್ಲೆವು? ಕುಲಶೇಖರರು ಈ ಕಲ್ಲುಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಹಾರ ತಯಾರಿಸಿದವರು. ಅದರಲ್ಲೇ ಲೀನವಾದವರು. ಅವರ ಅನುಭವದ ಆಳ-ಅಗಲ ಎಷ್ಟಿರಬೇಡ?

ಶ್ರೀವೈಷ್ಣವ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತವನ್ನು ಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ ಅಭ್ಯಾಸ ಮಾಡಿದ, ಶರಣಾಗತಿಯ ಪರಮ ರಹಸ್ಯವನ್ನು ಬಲ್ಲವರಿಗೆ ಈ ಕಲ್ಲು ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಸರದ ನಿಜವಾದ ಪರಿಚಯ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಆದೀತು. "ಪಂಡಿತರಾಜ" ಎಂದು ಕರೆಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಏನ್. ಟಿ. ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಐಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ್ಯರು ಅಥವಾ ನಮ್ಮ ಊರಿನವರು (ಕನಕಪುರದವರು) ಎಂದು ನಾವು ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ ಪಡುವ ಕೆ. ಎಸ್ . ನಾರಾಯಣಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ಮುಂತಾದ ವಿದ್ವನ್ಮಣಿಗಳು ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ನಮಗೆ ಅಲ್ಪ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಪರಿಚಯ. ಐವತ್ತು-ಅರವತ್ತು ವರುಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಅವರು ನಡೆಸಿದ ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸಗಳು ಈಗಲೂ ಚಿತ್ತದಲ್ಲಿ ಗುಯ್ಗುಡುತ್ತವೆ. 

ಈ ಹಾದಿಯ ಪರಿಚಯವಿದ್ದವರಿಗೆ ಕಲ್ಲು ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯನ್ನು ಪದರ-ಪದರವಾಗಿ ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಸವಿಯುವ ಅವಕಾಶ! 

No Turbulence, Please!

Some two decades ago, I was on a flight from Nagpur to Mumbai. I was assigned a seat in the first row and the seat next to me was vacant. Just when the flight was taxiing and about to take off, a young smiling man came and occupied the seat. From his demeanour and respect shown by the cabin crew, one could say that he was a airline staffer and ranking higher in the hierarchy. It was a short flight of about one and half hours. As soon as the flight took off and gained the altitude he went into sleep. 

Another half an hour into the flight, there was a sudden big jolt and everyone was shaken. Some spilled the cups of coffee and juice they were holding. There was no indication of any turbulence or the usual announcement about getting back to seats and tying one's seat belts etc. The young man sitting next to me woke up due to the jerk and spoke to the air hostess. Then he told to himself that the pilot also was perhaps surprised and did not foresee the occurrence. I asked him whether he was an airline employee and well versed with these situations. He said he was a pilot himself and had just completed his work schedule and was proceeding to Mumbai to join his family. Further talk with him gave much insights into the life of a pilot and allied matters.

Modren aircrafts are so well advanced technically that when things are fine and there are no expected troubles the aircrafts are put on "Autopilot" and pilots can have a relaxed flight. However, at all times they keep a watchful eye on the happenings and take the aircraft under manual controls at the first sign of any trouble. 

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Decades ago we had the practice of air-hostesses showing the safety instructions starting from buckling the seat belts up to emergency evacuation systems. Nowadays this is replaced by videos of safety instructions. However, there are many instances on a flight when the pilot switches on seat belt signs when confronted with turbulence in mid-flight. This is followed by an announcement on the PA system of the aircraft requesting all passengers to go back to their seats and tie seat belts. This happens several times on many international flights and especially on transatlantic flights. Seasoned air travellers take such things in their stride but it can be a dreadful experience to new travellers. 

There have been some rare instances of serious injury to passengers during severe turbulence as well. In the month of May this year, some three months ago, turbulence hit a Singapore airlines flight from London to Singapore in which one passenger died and 71 others were injured, sone of them seriously. Not fastening seat belt can be very disastrous in such events and passengers may even be thrown up from their seats as happened on this flight. Seat belt signs came on in this case and within a minutes time aircraft faced severe jolts and all hell broke lose. 

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Development in aerospace technology has made air travel much safer and comfortable over the years. Modren aircrafts are lighter compared their earlier versions and much more fuel efficient. Addition of safety features from time to time have resulted in enabling the aircrafts flying farther and faster. Journey from India to Continental America had to be with a stop over in some destination or other two decades ago. It could be either London or Paris or Frankfurt or Amsterdam or somewhere else. New generation aircrafts are now capable of flying up to longer than 18 hours at a time. This has enabled flying from India directly to USA, Canada and destinations in South America without stopovers. This increases passenger comfort due to avoiding change of aircraft midway and attendant hassles like additional security check, waiting in the intermediate station, getting in and getting out of aircraft etc., besides saving in journey time. Passengers also get better fares as overhead expenses of airline companies gets reduced due to saving in landing and take off charges and incidental expenses. This has enabled direct flights to destinations like New York, Washington DC and San Francisco from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Airbus 380-800 is the latest version of the giant aircraft from the airbus family and used by airlines for flying long distances as well as ferrying large number of passengers on heavy traffic routes. Its double decker cabin carries first class and business class passengers on the upper deck and economy passengers on the lower deck. Emirates airlines owns one of the largest fleets of this aircraft. Boeing 747, popularly known as Jumbo Jet, was also a double decker one but not full length. Airbus A 380 can carry over 500 passengers in three class configuration and can accomodate over 800 passengers if configured to carry economy class passengers alone. 

Though extremely successful as a large capacity aircraft, Airbus found A 380 to be commercially unviable due to demands of direct or point to point service as against hub and spoke model for which this aircraft was being built. Unfortunately, Airbus has discontinued production of this aircraft now.

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The flight from Los Angeles to Dubai in the magnificent Airbus A 380-800 is of little over 16 hours. The Emirates flight took off last fortnight as per schedule and covered the distance in 16 hours. The seat belt sign went off as soon as the aircraft gained a height of 10,000 feet. Everyone including cabin crew and passengers went about their routine as usual. There was movement of passengers within the cabin. The slides on the flight information scren encouraged the guests to move around the cabin to keep the circulation going on in the legs. Within a few minutes the aircraft was flying at over 35,000 feet. After about an hour into the air, the flight was between 39000 feet to 42,000 feet. The feeling was as if you are sitting in your own drawing room. The flight landed in Dubai after 16 hours. There was not even one instance of the seat belt sign going on during the entire flight! 

While flying at around 40,000 feet altitude, the average movement of the aircraft was only about 20 feet, which indicated how steady it was while moving at a speed of 580 miles or 928 KM per hour. A car moving in Bangalore roads probably moves at least five feet up and down!

When asked about this unusual happening just before arrival in Dubai, one of the cabin attendants mentioned that the airlines and pilots have mastered the art of finding paths that have little or no turbulence. Advanced weather forecasts and warning systems coupled with superior technology on the aircrafts have brought down the turbulence disturbances to the minimum and to even Nil as experienced on this flight.

The next flight from Dubai to Bangalore was of only 4 hours and that too did not have a single seat belt fastening situation. 

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The days of direct flights from India to Continental America (as also many other destinations) are here. So also flights for this length of journey without any experience of turbulence. Happy flying!

Airbus A380 may stop flying in the skies in a few years. Given a chance, it is advisable to have the experience before its services are withdrawn by the airlines.