ಜಯಾ, ಮಾಯಾ, ಕೃತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಶಾಂತಿ

ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದಕ್ಕೂ ಒಂದೊಂದು ಕಾಲ ಇರುತ್ತೆ.  ಆ ಕಾಲ ಬರುತ್ತೆ. ಹೌದು. ಆದರೆ ಕೆಲವಕ್ಕೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಾಲವೂ ಸರಿಹೊಂದಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತೆ. ಇದೂ ಹೌದು!

ಇದು ಮಾವಿನ ಹಣ್ಣಿನ ಕಾಲ. ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಿದರೂ ಮಾವಿನ ಹಣ್ಣು. ಮುಂದೆ ಸೇಬಿನ ಕಾಲ ಬರುತ್ತೆ. ನಂತರ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಹಣ್ಣಿನ ಕಾಲ. ಹೀಗೆ ಕೆಲವು ಹಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಒಂದೊಂದು ಕಾಲ. (ಈಗ ಕೋಲ್ಡ್ ಸ್ಟೋರೇಜುಗಳ ಕಾಲವಾದ್ದರಿಂದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲೂ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸಿಗಬಹುದು). ಹಿಂದೆ ಕಲ್ಲಂಗಡಿ, ಕರಬೂಜಕ್ಕೆ ಬೇಸಿಗೆ ಕಾಲವಿತ್ತು. ಈಗ ಹಾಗೆ ಹೇಳುವಂತಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಬಾಳೆ ಹಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಾಲವೂ ಸಕಾಲ. ವರುಷದ ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ತಿಂಗಳೂ ಅದರ ಕಾಲವೇ. 

ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ರಂಗವನ್ನೇ ನೋಡೋಣ. ಪ್ರಾರಂಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೌರಾಣಿಕ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಕಾಲ. ನಂತರ ಜಾನಪದ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಕಾಲ. ಅದರನಂತರ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಕಾಲ. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಸಮಯ. ಅದಾದ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೊಸ ಅಲೆಯ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಕಾಲ. ತದನಂತರ ಸಾಹಸಮಯ, ಜೇಮ್ಸ್ ಬಾಂಡ್ ರೀತಿಯ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಕಾಲ. ಇವಾದಮೇಲೆ ಹಿಂಸಾಪ್ರಧಾನ (ಕೊಲೆ-ರಕ್ತಪಾತ) ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಕಾಲ. ಒಂದು ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಷ್ಟು ಹೆಣಗಳು ಬಿದ್ದವು ಅಥವಾ ಎಷ್ಟು ಲೀಟರು ರಕ್ತ ಸುರಿಯಿತು ಎನ್ನುವುದರ ಮೇಲೆ ಚಿತ್ರ ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯೋ ಅಲ್ಲವೋ ಎಂದು ತೀರ್ಮಾನಿಸುವ ಕಾಲ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಈಗಂತೂ ಇವು ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳೇ ಎಂದು ಅನುಮಾನಿಸುವ ಕಾಲ! ಈ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ "ಕನ್ನಡ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ?" ಎಂದು ಹುಡುಕುವ ಕಾಲ. ಎಲ್ಲಕ್ಕೂ ಒಂದೊಂದು ಕಾಲ! 

ರವಿಕೆಗಳಿಗೂ ಹೀಗೆಯೇ ಇತ್ತು. ಯಾರೋ ಒಬ್ಬರು ದರ್ಜಿಯೊಬ್ಬನಿಗೆ ರವಿಕೆ ಹೊಲೆಯಲು ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಬಟ್ಟೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಎರಡು ರವಿಕೆ ಹೊಲೆಯಲು ಕಡಿಮೆ. ಒಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ. ಸರಿ, ಏನು ಮಾಡುವುದು? ಮುಂಗೈಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬರುವಷ್ಟು ಉದ್ದ ತೋಳಿಟ್ಟು ರವಿಕೆ ಹೊಲೆದ. ಒಂದು ತಿಂಗಳಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲರ ರವಿಕೆಯೂ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಆಯಿತು. ಬರಬರುತ್ತ ತೋಳು (ರವಿಕೆಯದು) ಮೇಲೆ ಹೋಗಲು ಶುರುವಾಯಿತು. ಕಡೆಗೆ ರವಿಕೈ "ರವಿ" ಆಯಿತು. {ತೋಳೇ ಇಲ್ಲದ, ಕೈ ಇಲ್ಲದ, ಸ್ಲೀವ್ ಲೆಸ್ ರವಿಕೆ). ಈಗ ಡ್ರೆಸ್ಸುಗಳು ಬಂದು ಇದು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಆಗಿರಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ ನಿರಾಸೆ ಪಡಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ. ಡ್ರೆಸ್ಸುಗಳ ತೋಳೂ ಹೀಗೆಯೇ ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ-ಅಮಾವಾಸ್ಯೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿವೆ. 

ಪ್ಯಾಂಟುಗಳ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯೂ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ. ಹಿಂದೆಲ್ಲ  ಪ್ಯಾಂಟಿನ ಕೆಳಗಡೆ ಮಡಿಕೆ ಇರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ನಂತರ ಆನೆ ಬುಡದ (ಎಲಿಫೆಂಟ್ ಬಾಟಮ್) ಮಡಿಕೆಯ ಪ್ಯಾಂಟುಗಳು ಬಂದವು. ಟೈಟ್ ಪ್ಯಾಂಟಿಗೂ ಒಂದು ಕಾಲ ಇತ್ತು. ಅವನನ್ನು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ಹೊಲೆದುದೋ ಎನ್ನುವಷ್ಟು ಟೈಟು. ಚರ್ಮಕ್ಕೂ ಬಟ್ಟೆಗೂ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ನಿರ್ವಾತ ಪ್ರದೇಶ. ಈಗಂತೂ ಹರಕು ಬಟ್ಟೆಯ ಹೊಸ ಪ್ಯಾಂಟುಗಳು. ಹೊಸ ಪ್ಯಾಂಟು ಹರಿಯಲಿ ಎಂದು ಕಾಯಲೇಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ. "ನಾವು ಹರಕು ಜನ" ಎಂದು ಬಾಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳದೇ ಬೇರೆಯವರಿಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುವುದು. ಹೀಗೆ ಕಾಲದಿಂದ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ. 

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ಹೀಗೆ ಕಾಲದಿಂದ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ ಚಾಲ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿರುವುದು ಬದಲಾಗುವ ಪದ್ದತಿಗೆ ಹಾಡುಗಳೂ ಹೊರತಲ್ಲ. ಯಾರೋ ಒಬ್ಬರು ಪ್ರಭಾವಿಗಳು ಅಥವಾ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧರು ಹಾಡಿದರೆ ಸಾಕು. ಕೆಲವುಕಾಲ ಆ ಹಾಡಿಗೆ ಶುಕ್ರ ದೆಸೆ. ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಅದರ ಜಾಗ ಆಕ್ರಮಿಸುವವರೆಗೆ. ಯೂಟ್ಯೂಬ್ ಮತ್ತು ವಾಟ್ಸಾಪ್ ಬಂದಮೇಲಂತೂ ಕೇಳುವುದೇ ಬೇಡ. ಕೆಲವು ಕಾಲ "ತೊರೆದು ಜೀವಿಸಬಹುದೇ ಹರಿ ನಿನ್ನ ಚರಣಗಳ" ನಡೆಯಿತು. ಅದು ಮುಗಿದನಂತರ "ರಘುವೀರ ಗದ್ಯ" ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದಿನ. ಅದಾದಮೇಲೆ "ಎಂಥ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತನಂತಾನೋ" ಓಡಿತು. ನಂತರ "ಯಾರೂ ಸಂಗಡ ಬಹೋರಿಲ್ಲ". ಈಗ "ಮರಳು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ಮಾಯಾದೇವಿಯೇ" ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಮುಂದೆ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಕಾಯುತ್ತಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೀಗೆ. 

ಈ ಮಾಯಾದೇವಿ ಯಾರು? ಆ ಹೆಸರು ಹೇಗೆ ಬಂತು? ಅದರ ವಿಶೇಷವೇನು? ಹೀಗೆಂದು ಮಿತ್ರರೊಬ್ಬರು ಕೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ. "ಪ್ರಳಯ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲದೆಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಲಗಿದಾಗ ಹಲವು ಆಭರಣಗಳು, ಜಲವು ಆಗಿ ಜಾಣತನದಿ" ಅನ್ನುವುದು ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ದೇವಿಯನ್ನೇ ಸೂಚಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. "ಎಡಕೆ ಭೂಮಿ, ಬಲಕೆ ಶ್ರೀಯು, ಎದುರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ದುರ್ಗಾದೇವಿ" ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಅವಳದೇ ಆದ ಶ್ರೀ, ಭೂ, ಮತ್ತು ದುರ್ಗಾ ರೂಪಗಳನ್ನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತವೆ. "ಛತ್ರ, ಚಾಮರ, ವ್ಯಜನ, ಪರ್ಯಂಕ, ಪಾತ್ರರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಹರಿಯ ನಿತ್ಯ ಸೇವೆ ಮಾಡುವಂಥ" ಎಂದು ವರ್ಣಿಸುವ "ಏನು ಧನ್ಯಳೋ, ಲಕುಮಿ ಎಂಥ ಮಾನ್ಯಳೋ" ಎನ್ನುವುದನ್ನು ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ರೀತಿ ಹೇಳುವುದು ಇದು. ಆದರೆ "ಮಾಯಾದೇವಿ" ಎಂದು ಏಕೆ ಸಂಬೋಧಿಸಿದರು ದಾಸರು? ಪರಮ ಮಾಯಾವಿಗೇ ಮಾಯ-ಮಾಟ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾಳೆ ಎಂದೇ? 

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ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಮಗು ಬರುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಭಾವಿ ತಾಯಿ-ತಂದೆಯರಿಗೆ ಚಿಂತೆಗಳ ಸರಮಾಲೆ ಶುರು. ಬೇರೆ ಅನೇಕ ಚಿಂತೆಗಳಿಗಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಕಾಡುವುದು "ಏನು ಹೆಸರಿಡಬೇಕು?" ಎನ್ನುವುದು. ಹಿಂದೆಲ್ಲಾ ಇದು ಅಂತಹ ಯೋಚಿಸುವ ವಿಷಯವಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಯಾವುದೋ ಒಂದು ದೇವರ ಹೆಸರು ಇಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಮನೆಯ ಹಿರಿಯರು ಯಾರಾದರೂ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದಿನದ ಹಿಂದೆ ನಿಧನರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಅವರ ಹೆಸರು. ಇಲ್ಲವಾದರೆ ಮನೆದೇವರ ಅನೇಕ ಹೆಸರುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದಾದರೂ ಒಂದು. ಈಗ ಹಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಯಾರೂ ಇಡದ ಅಪರೂಪದ ಹೆಸರು ಬೇಕು ಎನ್ನುವ ತವಕ. ಅದರ ಅರ್ಥ ಏನು ಎಂದು ಯಾರಿಗೂ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗದಿದ್ದರೂ ಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಯಾರಿಗೂ ಅದು ಅರ್ಥವಾಗದಿದ್ದರೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದು. ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷಿನಲ್ಲಿ "ಏ" ಇಂದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗುವ ಹೆಸರಾದರೆ ಬಹಳ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದು. ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಶಾಲೆಯ ಹಾಜರಿ ರಿಜಿಸ್ಟರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊದಲನೆಯ ಹೆಸರಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ರೀತಿ. 

ಸಮಾರಂಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಮುದ್ದಾದ ಮಗು ಕಂಡಿತು. "ಮಗು ಬಹಳ ಮುದ್ದಾಗಿದೆ" ಅಂದರು ನೋಡಿದವರೊಬ್ಬರು. ತಾಯಿಗೆ ನ್ಯಾಯವಾಗಿಯೇ ಬಲು ಸಂತೋಷವಾಯಿತು. ಮುಖ ಅಗಲಿಸಿದಳು. "ಏನು ಹೆಸರು?" ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದರು. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಒದ್ದಾಡಿದರೂ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಸತ್ಯ ಹೇಳಿದಳು. "ಅಪರೂಪದ ಹೆಸರು ಇಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ತಕ್ಷಣ ನೆನಪಿಗೆ ಬರುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಮರೆತುಹೋಗಿದೆ. ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ" ಅಂದಳು. ಇದು ಕಟ್ಟು ಕಥೆಯಲ್ಲ.  ನಿಜವಾಗಿ ನಡೆದದ್ದು. 

ಹೆಣ್ಣುಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಗಂಗಾ, ಯಮುನಾ, ಗೋದಾವರಿ, ನರ್ಮದಾ, ಕಾವೇರಿ, ಹೀಗೆ ನದಿಗಳ ಹೆಸರು ಇಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಹಿಂದಿ ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವಂತೆ ಚಂಪಾ, ಚಮೇಲಿ, ಗುಲಾಬಿ, ಮಾಲಾ, ಸುರಭಿ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ. ಈ ರೀತಿಯ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯ ಹೆಸರುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಜಯ, ಮಾಯಾ ಮತ್ತು ಶಾಂತಿ ಸಹ ಸೇರಿವೆ. ಜಯಾ ಅಂತೂ ಅನೇಕ ರೂಪಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಉಂಟು. ಜಯ, ವಿಜಯ, ಜಯಶ್ರೀ, ವಿಜಯಶ್ರೀ, ಜಯಮಾಲಾ, ಜಯಲಲಿತಾ, ವಿಜಯಲಲಿತಾ, ಜಯಗೌರಿ, ಹೀಗೆ ಅನೇಕ ಪ್ರಭೇದಗಳು. ಮಾಯಾ ಎಂದೂ ಹೆಸರಿಡುವುದು ಉಂಟು. ಶಾಂತಿ ಅನ್ನುವುದು ಒಂದು ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿಯೇ ಇತ್ತು. ಗಂಡ-ಹೆಂಡಿರು ಜಗಳಕಾದರೆ ಅತ್ತೆ-ಮಾವ ಅಥವಾ ತಾಯಿ-ತಂದೆ ಕದನವಿರಾಮಕ್ಕೆ "ಶಾಂತೀ" ಎಂದು ಮೊಮ್ಮಗಳನ್ನು ಕರೆಯಬಹುದಿತ್ತು. ಕೃತಿ ಎಂದು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಹೆಸರಿಡುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. "ಪ್ರಕೃತಿ" ಅನ್ನುವುದು ಐವತ್ತು ವರುಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಒಂದು ಹೊಸ ಮಾದರಿ ಹೆಸರಾಗಿತ್ತು. 

ಈ ಜಯಾ, ಮಾಯಾ, ಶಾಂತಿ, ಇವರಿಗಿರುವ ಸಂಬಂಧವೇನು? ಇವರ ಜೊತೆ ಕೃತಿ ಏಕೆ ಸೇರಿದಳು? ಇದನ್ನು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ವಿಚಾರ ಮಾಡೋಣ.

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ಕಂಪನಿ ನಾಟಕಗಳು ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿದ್ದ ಕಾಲ ಒಂದಿತ್ತು. ಆ ನಾಟಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ, ಸಂಗೀತ, ನಟನ ಕಲೆಗಳ ಮಿಶ್ರಣವಿರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಅನೇಕ ನಟ-ನಟಿಯರು, ಮೇಕಪ್ ಕಲಾವಿದರು, ವಾದ್ಯಗಾರರು ಮುಂತಾದವರು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ  ಇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ತಂಡ ಊರಿಂದ ಊರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಸಿ ನಾಟಕಗಳನ್ನು ಆಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು. ಮುಖ್ಯ ಪಾತ್ರ ಮಾಡುವ ಗಂಡು ಮತ್ತು ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಕಲಾವಿದರಿರುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. (ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಪಾತ್ರಗಳನ್ನೂ ಗಂಡಸರೇ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕಾಲ ಕಳೆದ ಮೇಲೆ). ಮುಖ್ಯ ಪುರುಷ ಪಾತ್ರ ಮಾಡುವವನನ್ನು "ರಾಜಾ ಪಾರ್ಟ್" ಎಂದೂ, ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಪಾತ್ರ ಮಾಡುವವರನ್ನು "ರಾಣಿ ಪಾರ್ಟ್" ಎಂದೂ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಇವನು ರಾಜ ಆದರೆ ಅವಳು ರಾಣಿ. ಇವನು ರಾಮನಾದರೆ ಅವಳು ಸೀತೆ. ಇವನು ರೋಮಿಯೋ ಆದರೆ ಅವಳು ಜ್ಯುಲಿಯೆಟ್. ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಅದೇ ನಾಟಕವಾದರೆ ರಾಮವರ್ಮ-ಲೀಲಾವತಿ. ಇವನು ಶಿವ ಆದರೆ ಅವಳು ಪಾರ್ವತಿ. ಇವನು ಹರಿಶ್ಚಂದ್ರ ಆದರೆ ಅವಳು ಚಂದ್ರಮತಿ. ಹೀಗೆ ಜೋಡಿ. 

"ಅಮ್ಮ" ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರಿನ "ಪದ್ಮಿನಿ ಪಿಕ್ಚರ್ಸ್" ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಬಹಳ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಓಡಿತು. ಅದರ ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕ-ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಬಿ. ಆರ್. ಪಂತುಲು "ಹುಲ್ಲಳ್ಳಿ ರಾಮರಾಯ" ರಾಜಾ ಪಾರ್ಟುಗಳು. ಫಂಡರಿಬಾಯಿ "ಕಮಲಮ್ಮ" ರಾಣಿ ಪಾರ್ಟುಗಳು. ದುಷ್ಯಂತ-ಶಕುಂತಲೆಯಿಂದ ಚಿತ್ರ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭ. "ನಾಗವೇಣಿ, ನಗರಿಗೆ ನಾ ಪೋಗಿ ಬರುವೆನೇ" ಎಂಬ ಕಂದ ಪದ್ಯದಿಂದ ಚಿತ್ರ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭ. ತಂದೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ವಿರಸಗೊಂಡ ಮೇಲೆ ರಾಜಕುಮಾರ್ ರಾಜಾ ಪಾರ್ಟ್ ಆದರೆ ಭಾರತಿ ರಾಣಿ ಪಾರ್ಟ್. ಹೀಗೆ ಚಿತ್ರ ಮುಂದುವರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ರಾಜಾ-ರಾಣಿ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಇದು ಒಂದು  ಉದಾಹರಣೆ. ಅಷ್ಟೇ. ಚಿತ್ರ ಯಟ್ಯೂಬಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಲಭ್ಯವಿದೆ. ಬೇಕಿದ್ದವರು ನೋಡಬಹುದು. 

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ನಾಟಕ ಮತ್ತು ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳಲ್ಲೇ ಹೀಗಾದರೆ ಜಗತ್ತು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದವರ ಕಥೆ ಹೇಗೆ? ಅದನ್ನೇ ತಾನೇ ನಾವು ಕಾಪಿ ಮಾಡುವುದು. ಶ್ರೀಹರಿಯ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ರೂಪಗಳಿಗೂ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಂದುವ ಒಂದು ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷಿಯ ರೂಪವುಂಟು. ಅವನನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಅವಳಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಅವನಿಲ್ಲ. ಎದೆಯ ಗೂಡಿನಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಒಂದು ಅಂತಃಪುರ ಮಾಡಿ ಕೂಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಸನ್ಯಾಸಿಯಾದಾಗಲೂ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲ. (ಈಗಲೂ ಕೆಲವು ಸನ್ಯಾಸಿಗಳು ಸಾಂಸಾರಿಕರಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ ಅವರನ್ನು ಇದೇ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಅಕ್ಷೆಸುಪಿಸುವಂತಿಲ್ಲ). 

ಶ್ರೀಹರಿಯ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾದ "ಪಂಚ ರೂಪಗಳು" ಮತ್ತು ಅವಕ್ಕೆ  ಜೊತೆಯಾದ (ರಾಜ-ರಾಣಿ ಪಾರ್ಟುಗಳಂತೆ ) ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ರೂಪಗಳು ಹೀಗಿವೆ:

ಸಂಕರ್ಷಣ - ಜಯಾ  

ವಾಸುದೇವ - ಮಾಯಾ  

ಪ್ರದ್ಯುಮ್ನ - ಕೃತಿ 

ಅನಿರುದ್ಧ - ಶಾಂತಿ 

ನಾರಾಯಣ - ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ 

ಲಕ್ಸ್ಮಿ-ನಾರಾಯಣ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಚಿರಪರಿಚಿತ. ಮಿಕ್ಕವು ಅಷ್ಟಾಗಿ ಪರಿಚಿತವಲ್ಲ. ಮಾಯಾ ಅನ್ನುವುದು ವಾಸುದೇವ ರೂಪಿ ಶ್ರೀಹರಿಯ ಜೊತೆಯಿರುವ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ. ಒಂದಲ್ಲಾ ಒಂದು ಕಾರಣದಿಂದ ಯಾವಾಗಲೂ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಶ್ರೀಹರಿಯು ಯಾವ ರೂಪ ತಳೆದರೂ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಜೊತೆಯಾಗಿ ರೂಪ ತಳೆವ ಲಕ್ಶ್ಮಿಯನ್ನು, ಅರೆ-ಹಾಸ್ಯ ಮಿಶ್ರಿತ ಸಂಬೋಧನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಮಾಯಗಾರನಿಗೇ ಮಾಯಮಾಡಿರುವವಳು ಎಂದು ಸೂಚಿಸಲು "ಮಾಯಾದೇವಿ" ಎಂದು ದಾಸರು ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.  ಮಗನು ಅಮ್ಮನಿಗೆ ಸಲುಗೆಯಿಂದ "ನೀನೇನೂ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯಳಲ್ಲ. ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಟೋಪಿ ಹಾಕುವ ನಮ್ಮ ಅಪ್ಪನಿಗೇ ಟೋಪಿ ಹಾಕಿದವಳು!" ಎಂದು ಹೇಳುವಂತೆ. 

ಜಯಾ, ಮಾಯಾ, ಮತ್ತು ಶಾಂತಿ ಎನ್ನುವ ಹೆಸರು ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಇಡುವ ಮೂಲ ಕಾರಣ ಇದು. ಇವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿಯ ರೂಪಗಳ ಹೆಸರುಗಳೇ. 

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ಈ ಪಂಚ ರೂಪಗಳಿಗೂ ನಾವು ನೀರು, ಆಹಾರ ಸೇವಿಸುವುದು, ಅರಗಿಸುವುದು, ಅದರ ರಸಗಳು ದೇಹದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಅಂಗಾಂಗಗಳಿಗೆ ತಲುಪುವುದು, ಇವೆಲ್ಲಕ್ಕೂ ನೇರವಾದ ಸಂಬಂಧವಿದೆ. ತೈತ್ತರೀಯ ಉಪನಿಷತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಪಂಚರೂಪಗಳ ವಿಸ್ತಾರವಾದ ವಿವರಣೆಯಿದೆ. ಅದನ್ನು ಇನ್ನೊಮ್ಮೆ ನೋಡೋಣ. 

The 1000th FULL Moon

After crossing the "First and Second Milestones" (Click here to read), the next journey in life is towards the third milestone, the one of sighting of the 1000th Full Moon.  After crossing this "Sahasra Chandra Darshana" it is time to celebrate the occasion by performing the "Sahasra Chandra Darshana Shanti".  The first milestone at 60 years is crossed by many and they celebrate "Ugra Ratha Shanti", but only some of them remain on the path of life to cross the next stage of 70 years to celebrate "Bhima Ratha Shanti".  The more fortunate ones with good health and a proper environment to lead an active life reach the next milestone of sighting the 1000th full moon.

All physical items are measured using different yardsticks for the purpose of comparison and accurately dealing with them.  In fact, the word "yardstick" used so frequently is itself a measure of length or distance.  In the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London,  metal pieces measuring a yard (3 feet), 2 feet, one foot and six inches are displayed on the wall.  One yard is equal to 0.9144 meters.  Similar measures are used for measuring weight, volume etc.  Such a unit of measurement is also required to measure another important dimension, the "time".  The best resource available to man for measuring time is the movement of the Earth, Sun and Moon.  Time between one Sunrise to the next Sunrise is considered a "day".  Movement of the moon provides another important source to measure time.  Unlike Sun, the shape and size of Moon which changes each day and is clearly visible to a man on the earth provides an excellent measure to define a month.  A full moon night to a new moon night is a fortnight and a new moon night to another full moon night is another fortnight.   In other words, a full moon night to another full moon night, which is easily visible to the naked eye from the earth,  is a Lunar month.  A Lunar month has 29.53 days and a 12 month Lunar year thus has 354 days.  In comparison a Solar year, which is the time covered by sun to complete a cycle of 12 houses of the Zodiac, has 365 days.  In order to reconcile the difference between the 354-day Lunar year and 365-day Solar year, an extra month is added to the Lunar calender once in 33 months.  This is similar to the leap year when February has 29 days.  The difference of 11 days is thus covered by the "Leap Month" called "Adhika Maasa"or "Mala Maasa".  This is also called as Mala Maasa, mala meaning impurity or sin, as this month is believed to be excellent for doing good deeds to wash off all impurities and sins.  "Purushottama" is considered as the "Maasaniyamaka" for this month.  It is believed that any daana (offerings) made or good deed done during this month gives additional (adhika) punya and hence the saying "Adhikasya Adhikam Phalam".  As there is no "Sankramana" in this leap month, it is not considered for other auspicious functions like marriage etc.  Sankramana is the time during which Sun moves from one house in the Zodiac to another house.  The entire leap lunar month falls between two sankramanas or when the Sun stays in one house.  With the concept of leap month in place, a Lunar calender synchronizes completely with the Solar calender once in sixty years.

When a person reaches 80 years of age, he would have seen 960 (80x12) plus 29 full moons due to leap months, thus making an aggregate of 989 full moons.  The 1000th Full Moon would have been sighted in the 81st year.  A leap month actually arrives sometimes in 29 months and sometimes gets extended up to 35 months.  In order to provide for such contingency, this milestone is deemed to have been crossed after completion of 81 years.  As per the saying, to err on the right side.  In all Panchaangas (Lunar calenders especially) on the padya or bidige (first or second day of the fortnight cycle after new moon day) of shukla paksha, notation of "Chandra Darshanam" will be made to indicate sighting of the moon after the preceding new moon day.  Whether the person has actually seen the full moons or not, he has lived the time span covering 1000 full moons when he crosses 81 years. Hence "Sahasra Chandra Darshana Shanti" is conducted  one or two months after the completion of 81 years.  After the milestones of 60 years and 70 years, the next natural and logical milestone ought to have been 80 years.  But sighting of 1000th Full Moon is so close to 80 years and also a much better occasion to celebrate and hence has received wide acceptance.

All other aspects of this celebration are the same as being done when crossing the first and second milestones.  Invitations are made out in the name of the sons or daughters of the person crossing the milestone.  The concept and details of the functions and the shanti karmas are the same.  Mrutyunjaya and other deities are invoked in the kalashas and worshiped in the same manner.  Holy water from the kalashas is sprinkled on the person crossing the milestone and his immediate family members.  Sieve is again used to protect the gold items from being washed away or misplaced and also to ensure proper and longer sprinkling of holy water.  The usual sumptuous feast brings the climax.  Cultural programmes are arranged in the afternoon sessions to enable friends and relatives to enjoy the occasion for a longer duration of time.  To seek the blessings of a person crossing such a milestone is considered as a rare privilege for younger members of the family and community.  A person is said to have become "Vruddha" or "" Elder" on two counts; one by age and another by the level of  knowledge or wisdom.  "Vayo vruddha" for being elder by age and "Jnana vruddha" for being elder by knowledge or wisdom.  A person reaching this level is naturally Vayovruddha and he is expected to be a Jnanavruddha also.  Such functions have now become rare as arranging such functions in the family requires dedication and commitment from the younger generation.  Those who have participated in such functions know the dignity of the occasion as well as the pleasure derived by participating in them.  Sighting 1000 moons is no mean achievement and it requires good health, a sound mind and contribution of many from the family and society.


There can be the usual question about the celebration for women when they reach this stage.  There should be no bar and the logic of celebrating for men should be equally applicable for women.  If both partners among the elderly couple are alive, they sit together for the rituals.  Otherwise one of the other available couple in the family perform the rituals.  Maarjana or sprinkling is done with the persons crossing the milestone in the center and other members of the family around him. 

There are two more milestones to be covered.  The fourth one is "Prapoutra (Great grand son) Darshana" and then finally, the "Centenary".  These stages also have some finer aspects and special significance.  They are to be covered in the next two steps.

First and Second Milestones

In the blog "Five Milestones in Life" (Click here to read) I had made a mention of the five milestones that are widely recognized and celebrated in our part of the world.  All these five celebrations are performed and viewed in  three dimensions; religious, social and cultural event.   The normal practice in a family is that functions are arranged by the elders in the family and invitations are sent out to the guests in the name of the eldest members of the family.  An important feature of all these five Shanti Karmas is that the function is arranged by the children and grandchildren of the persons crossing the milestones.  Invitations are prepared and printed in the names of the children and distributed among the invitees.  Thus the onus for arranging such functions basically rests with the younger generation.  It is they who actually celebrate the occasion and display their pleasure in having such elders with them in the family.

The first milestone mentioned was "Ugra Ratha Shanti" and the second was "Bhima Ratha Shanti".  Both these celebrations are similar.  The first is the most commonly celebrated event and is well known in the area.  The second one is not that well known as its celebration is also rarely done.

The first milestone "Ugra Ratha Shanti" is popularly known as "Shashtabdha Poorti".  Sixty has a special significance as the Lunar cycle of computation of time has a cycle of sixty years.  The cycle starts with the year named "Prabhava" and ends with "Akshaya".  After the year "Akshaya", the cycle repeats with  the year "Prabhava".  Thus anyone born in a particular lunar calender year will complete the cycle after 60 years and starts the second cycle in the sixty-first year carrying the same name.  Thus the second innings truly starts now.  The celebration is usually done in the same month of the year on the day with the birth star or another auspicious day thereafter.  A person living for sixty years is indebted to the various elements that have supported his or her life over all these years.  The air we breathe, the water we drink, the earth which supports our life and the Sun from whom we derive the energy deserve a  "Thank you"  for the support given over the years.  Their support is required during the future years as well.  When a person completes a cycle and enters the next one, it is fair and just to thank all those who supported the past life and also seek their support during the life in the next cycle.  All the elements like Earth, Water, Air, Space and Power are believed to be controlled by "Abhimani Devatas".  There is also a debt to be repaid to the society in which we have lived and other members of the family and community who have supported us over the years.  Prayers are also held simultaneously for grant of a boon of an extended long life and prevention of untimely death.  Death is an absolute truth of life and cannot be wished away.  But death should come after living a full and fruitful life and life span should not be cut short by accidental causes, called "Apamruthyu", an untimely death.  All these "Shanti Karmas" are basically performed with this goal in mind, the one of thanking for the past favors and seeking continued support in future.

The main deity for these Shanti Karmas is "Mrutyunjaya", the name itself meaning one who has conquered death and one who helps us to overcome threats of untimely death, by his blessings. The name of Mrutyunjaya presiding over the sixty year celebration is with the name Ugra and hence the name "Ugra Ratha Shanti".  The pooja part mainly comprises of many "kalashas" in which the various abhimani devatas are invoked and worshiped.  Ganapathy Homa, Navagraha Homa and Ayushya Homa are generally part of these rituals.  At the end of the pooja, holy water from all the kalashas are sprinkled, usually using a sieve, on the main performers and their family members.    Either flowers made of gold or gold coins which were used in the pooja are placed in the sieve and hence this is also called Kanakabhisheka.  The purpose of using a sieve appears to be basically to ensure proper dispersal of the holy water to add to the festivities.  Another reason for using the sieve appears to be for protecting the valuable gold items from being washed away or misplaced.  Actually this kanakabhisheka part is common in all these five milestone rituals.  A grand feast brings up the climax of the festivities.   some cultural programmes are arranged in the evening as all family members and friends have gathered in one place.

An enjoyable and popular part of the "Ugra Ratha Shanti" is "Mangalyadharana" for the second time by the husband to the wife.  When the Mangalyadharana was done the first time in the marriage of the couple, many of the relatives, notably children and grand children were not born.  When everyone concerned is thanked for completion of the sixty year cycle, the spouse who was an integral part of the life should also be thanked!  Another "Maangalya" is tied by the husband on the wife telling her that he requests her support in the next cycle also.  This practice appears to have developed over the years.  Whatever be the logic or reason, this part is eagerly looked forward to by the participants as well as the couple.  Those who have participated in such functions know the height of celebration during this part of the function.

"Bhima Ratha Shanti" is very similar toUgra Ratha shanti and the rituals are the same.  The presiding deity in this function is Mrutyunjaya by name Bhima and hence the name Bhima Ratha Shanti.  The maangalya part is not prevalent in this function.  Very few people actually celebrate this milestone.

Two pertinent questions may arise on these celebrations.  The first is whether this is to be performed only for men or it should be done for women also.  In practice it is restricted to men when they cross sixty years or seventy years.  There is no ban to celebrate for women also.  We had conducted a similar function for our mother also when she crossed the sixty year cycle.  The second  question can be as to what should be done now if somebody has missed celebration earlier.  As the basic purpose is to celebrate the event in the company of family and friends with thanks giving for the past and prayer for for future, there appears to be no bar to celebrate the event belatedly and can be done even now.  Some couples do not like to celebrate these event for their own reasons and their discretion is to be respected.

The other three milestones are to be covered in the next lap of the journey.

Five Milestones in LIFE

We often talk of reaching or crossing "Milestones" in one's life.  Someone crossing a milestone is applauded and congratulated by the near and dear ones.  Such events are often celebrated and many times in large scale by arranging a function and inviting extended family members and friends.  Gifts are given and received at such functions.  Such celebrations are sometimes accompanied with prayers and religious ceremonies.

What are these milestones?  "Life is a journey from the cradle to the grave", says a proverb.  The true milestones start with the birth of the child and ends with the last breath.  There may be stones after death also.  Tombstone for an example.  There may be busts, statues and monumental stones for some personalities.  Or even one stone for many as we see in "War Memorials" or for those killed in natural calamities.  Memorials are also there for those killed in man made events like "Jalianwala bagh massacre" or "Hiroshima atom bomb victims".  There may be a stone statue in every town and village for some, generally lying uncared for and being home for birds and worms.  Or remembered twice in a year, on birthday and death anniversary, by the so called followers of these great personalities.  Followers who mercilessly kill their principles and philosophy throughout the year but never forget to swear by their names.  "Let not a stone tell where I lie", said Alexander Pope in his "Ode to solitude", not desiring a tombstone.  Thomas Grey in his famous 1750-51 poem "Elegy written in a Country Churchyard" for the poet Richard West, stretching to as many as 128 lines, has left a memorial in words remembered even today.  But all such stones, in any form, are to be excluded for this discussion on "Milestones in Life", because there is no contribution by the concerned persons for these stones.

There could be arguments that a child's movement or kicking a mother's womb when taking shape there before birth is also a milestone, being an earliest sign of life.  It is indeed a significant stage and a milestone, not for the child but for the mother.  Not to be considered a milestone for the unborn child because it has no existence of its own then and it is still an integral part of the mother.  The first cry of the child immediately after being born is indeed the first milestone.  The child has entered the playground of life and taken its guard.  Celebrations now are in order as this is not only the first milestone, but also the bed rock of its life.  One can count on many milestones now on.  The child's first smile, first time turning on its back, first voluntary movement forward, crossing the threshold of the door as well.  In some families coconuts are broken on the threshold and sweets are prepared using it to celebrate this occasion.  The child's first time standing on its own and the first step; its first word and so on...  There are parents who record each such step in their camera or videos for future reference.  This is possible in the present era when parents have mostly one child or some exceptions with two.  Five or six decades ago these were not observed with such importance because families had as many as six, eight or even more than a dozen children.  In fact there were days in such families where several milestones were crossed on the same day, the youngest one being born, penultimate one standing up for the first time, one more going to the school for the first time and probably the eldest one getting her first degree after some years in college!

While all these stages are indeed milestones, many of them are normally expected of any human being, save for rare exceptions of unfortunate ones born with some deficiency.  Many of them are stages of the natural process of growing up and there is no real achievement in reaching those stages.  There can be other milestones like securing the first job, earning the first promotion, buying the first cycle, scooter or car, housewarming of the first house or flat, birth of the first or only child, birth of the second and last child and so on.   First medal for a sportsman, first poem or book for a writer and first elected post for someone in public life.  There can be the milestone of clearing the first mortgage as well.  I am told that there is a practice in some countries to have a big bash for celebrating such an event and the documents of mortgage or a photocopy thereof is burnt down to signify clearing a debt.  As one advances in life there can be events like marriage of the first child, arrival of the first grand child and distinctions secured by one's children and grand children.  Some of these milestones are crossed not by one's own efforts, but as a collective effort or contributory effort of other members of the family or the society.

Human life span is expected to be 100 years.  Vedic blessings always say "Shatamaanam bhavati...".  Prayers say "Pashyeema Sharadah shatam,  Jeevema sharadah shatam...". (Let us see 100 Autumns (Fall seasons), let us live to see 100 autumns  etc).  Living  a useful life for 100 years is the expectation.  Useful life for oneself as well as for the society.  Not the life of a vegetable or in coma, but an active and healthy life.  Though the expectation is the same for all humans born, a very small number actually reach the goal of 100 years.  Some may lead a long life but one of illness and suffering.  Most of the people do not cross 70 or 80 years.  Governments and organisations believe that 60 years is the active period and pack off employees around that age on retirement.  We wish you well, but we had enough of you!  It is the time for eyesight to fail, hearing level going down and reflexes becoming slow.  There are many who lead an extremely fruitful and active life even after these years but their number is low.

In the background of all these discussions one has to ponder over as to what are the acknowledged milestones in our life.  In our part of the world, five milestones are generally accepted as the milestones that call for a full celebration:

1. Crossing 60 years in the Life's cycle - Shashtabdha or Ugraratha Shanti
2. Crossing 70 years in the life's cycle - Bhimaratha Shanti
3. Sighting of 1000 full moons - Sahasrachandra darshana Shanti
4. Birth of great grand son - Prapoutra darshana Shanti
5. Full 100 years of life - Shatamana Shanti

What is the significance of these milestones and why they are celebrated?  That is for another day.