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Story behind this photo: 105 (KOLAM) In this photo you can see, Mrs. M.S. Subbalakshmi, an ardent devotee of Bhagavan Baba, designing a Kolam in front of their home. What is this kolam?? This is a familiar sight in front of any house in the southern parts of India. Various designs are drawn up daily on the floor early morning, using primarily the fine rice-flours (Rice pulverized in very fine grade). The kolams will be of many geometrical designs, connecting up innumerable tiny dots, or circling them. During one of the intimate talks, Swami had mentioned about ‘kolams’. In old days, people used to wake up in the morning and it was their habit to feed various insects, birds and animals, before they themselves had any food. Swami used to mention about “ASHTA PUSHPAM” (Eight types of flowers) as offering to God. Not the ones, which we pluck from the trees and plants and which fade away the next day. Ashta Pushpam, comprises of eight divine qualities, which we should offer to Lord. One particular Pushpam, which Swami mentions, is “Sarva Bhootha Daya Pushpam”. (Daya or compassion towards all living creatures). The best way to show compassion is to feed them sumptuously. Those days, people, as they woke up in the morning, used to throw handful of rice or rice flours in front of their homes so that tiny ants and other insects could eat them. Gradually the rice flour was carefully placed in front of the houses, and this practice slowly developed into certain designs. These designs are known as kolams. Kolams also indicate, mark of auspiciousness in a family. In case of any death in a family, this kolam is not displayed for one full year thereafter. So if we find kolams in front of any house, we can assume that all is well in that family. With Love & Regards, Mumbai Srinivasan -- --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "saimsg" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
