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Arunthathi has rightly pointed out the spirit of my article. The changing times do influence the value and meaning of not only Vedic rituals but also the value and meaning of the philosophy behind the rituals. Vedic concepts were interpreted in different ways at different times. The reputed thinker Swamy Cinmayananda writes in the introduction to his books on Bhagavad-Gita as follows: “Philosophy in action is religion. From time to time an ancient philosophy needs an intelligent re-interpretation in the context of the new times by men of wisdom, prophets and seers, to guide the common man on how to apply effectively the ancient laws in his present life”. He gives this comment to support Lord Krishna’s interpretations of Vedic principles. Though I do not qualify to compare my simple self to Lord Krishna, as a common man I had tried to interpret some Vedic rituals from a non-vedanthic perspective, without slipping into the trap of making value judgments or proposing recommendations.

I appreciate Mr. Ashok Gajria’s respect to ‘the fragile looking three threads’, which perhaps symbolizes one’s taking part in the sacred ‘Yagna’. But in today’s world I find that the Yagyopavith ceremony becomes an excuse for exhibiting pomp and glory of one’s economic status by using sacred thread made of gold strands and silver strands also, throwing rich parties and exchanging costly gifts to friends and relatives.

MKV

Thanks for your coment. I am just laughing seeing your comment. This novel is going to be a thrill, I bet you. Read all parts continuously.You will have a good time. :)

Thanks
Ramesh

Suffices to say she belongs to the India hating leftist risa gang.

Fountain-head was lying in dust at my home all the while when I was merrily growing up....it was my dad's.....and I didn't even look at it then.....my first year in college.....I picked up my first Ayn-Rand(Fountain-head).....and I was 'shocked'........no, really…..this was the way I felt……I cudn't believe that someone else thought exactly the way I do on so many things……..some of the notions in her book were so close to my heart that I felt that it was me talking to my own conscience while reading the book…… it was like a complete healing experience………the end (of Fountainhead ofcourse!) was a bit too detailed, but I really didn’t mind reading it at all….

then came the ‘tome’ Atlas Shrugged……it was here that I shrugged off a li’l……maybe it was because of the sheer length in which she went to explain the why’s and the how’s and the but’s …which put me off, or maybe something else, I still don’t know ……..so although I liked reading the first parts of Atlas Shrugged…..I just cudn’t complete it…..I remember having left it in the middle….and picking it up a year later to finally finish it!!!

Then I read 'Anthem'…..honestly didn’t like it much…..I think it was more than the fiction level which I cud relate to …..…..so barring a few lines in the book(or a few para’s maybe), I can safely say I didn’t enjoy it …..

…then came 'We the Living'…..I think this was Ayn Rand’s first book…..but I read it the last….and somehow thoroughly enjoyed it…….the reason: she put everything she wanted to quite simply and in lesser words – the honesty, with which she said most of the things she wanted to convey and their sheer lenghth(shorter this time!!) did the trick for me !

All in all, it was a complete learning experience……I remember a few years ago I talked to my dad, as a grown up adult this time and happened to tell him that I liked Fountain Head – and guess wot….he didn’t approve it ….said u shdn’t be reading that author......I never really followed pa’s advice on this one :)

cheerio!
enig

First of all, your Shakespearean sonnets followed the standard rhyming pattern of three quartets and one doublet but none of them is proper sonnet because Shakepearean sonnet must follow iambic-pentameter(however some sonnets are written in hexameter too) i.e. each line must have exactly 10 syllables with alternate unstressed and stressed syllables which is something that is severely violated here... one quartet has two line with no. of syllables as diverse as 5 and 14 and no attention is paid to rhythm.....

rhythm and theme development are very crucial in sonnets.....generally tension should be built gradually in first three quartets then should be resolved in last couplet which is also not taken care of, may be except in first poem where you changed from yourself to you daughter in last couplet....

nice efforts in composing abbaabba xyzxyz rhyming pattern in petrarch sonnet but again it had to follow either iambic-pentameter or sexameter....

your haiku has problem too.. instead of following standard syllable pattern of 5-7-5 its 5-7-4(Pul-mon-ary Loss(4))....

Sometimes rule is broken in sonnets but only for special reason and when it happens its apperent that rule is broken intentionally......

Nice effort in writing and they express honest feelings but sonnets are very complex to compose so care must be taken.......

keep writing.... good luck

-vinod

-vinod

have read this somewhere else before.......and really liked it....I think itz true!

enig!