Sunday, March 30, 2014

Navaratri and the worship of the Goddess

                                  Navaratri and worship of Goddess

We have a rich legacy of spiritual tradition. Festivals also a form of preserving that tradition. They are in-built systems envisaged by the sages of ancient times from the point of maintaining a man's physical, mental and spiritual health as well as his social well-being. So in society, there was no case for depression or social malaise. One more striking feature of them is that they are celebrated in different seasons glorifying the Nature and honouring the natural grains obtained by harvest during that period by offering them as prasad to different gods as a token of gratitude and partaking along with others in the worship. This spirit of gratitude to nature is the key- note of all festivals.
The festivals have different aspects like vrata, tithi or parva and utsava. Vrata ' religious vow' indicates a set of rules and discipline with which one voluntarily binds oneself over a particular period of time, during which period he undertakes to maintain physical and mental purity by taking bath, wearing clean pure clothes, worshipping the deity and taking pure and simple food. This vrata is meant for the physical and mental purity , development of strong will power, cultivation of faith and love towards the god, purity of the environment and development of high and positive thinking.
Parva refers to particular date when there is conjunction of particular planets and stars and comes at a fixed time in every year of the Hindu calendar. Parva means knot or joint seen on the sugarcane. As the joints are seen at a certain equidistance on the sugarcane, so the festivals occur at equal intervals in a year. The festivals are determined from the position of stars and planets in the sky. People of ancient times always believed that specific position of planets and stars in the sky affected the life on the earth. So to overcome this, some worship  and disciplines were formulated. Utsava refers to a joyous festive occasion which naturally buys up the spirit of the participants. Participation in devotional songs and dances fosters the social ties and a sense of belongingness , thus taking care of
society's well being because all poor and rich equally participate in the worship in temples and partake offerings of food without any distinction and inhibition.
Navaratri is a major and an important festival celebrated in all parts of India. At the change of seasons, it is celebrated. Generally, the Navaratis are four.
1  From the first day to the tenth day of bright half of the month Chaitra ( March-April ).
2 From the first day to the tenth day of bright half of the month Ashadha ( June-July ).
3 From the first day to the tenth day of bright half of the month Ashwina( Sep- oct ).
4 From the first day to the tenth day of bright half of the month Magha( Dec-Jan).
Of all the four, Vasantika ( also known as shayanakhya ) in the month of Chaitra and Sharadiya ( also known as bodhanakhya ) in the month of Ashwin are the most famous and celebrated all over India. The rest are celebrated in Shakti-peethas and other temples of Shakti ( Goddess Durga ).
The scriptures declare that the worship of the Shakti during the Navaratri in the autumn season( in the month of Ashwina) confers the four goals of life namely Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha on the faithful worshipper.
Parvati tells Lord Shiva ' Whoever does the Navarati worship in the month of Aashwina with devotion, I am pleased and give him good wife, wealth, health and prosperity. Devotees with no desires for these are blessed with salvation.
Why two Navaratris are more significant ?
There is a scientific reason behind this. The Puranas describe that the months Chaitra and Ashwina are jaws of Yama( death ). Spring comes after severe winter and autumn comes after rainy season. In both seasons, inthebeginning, change of seasons bring about various diseases lke fever, cough, cold and other ailments. So to remove these or as a prevention, the worship of the Goddess , taking a few sips of water kept in the kalasha ( jug) during the worship which is sanctified by the prayers and mantras and the harvested grains taken in the simple form maintain the health of the people.
One more significant feature is that the spring festival of Navaratri is celebrated when the Sun is in the northern hemisphere and the autumnal Navaratri is celebrated when the Sun is in the southern hemisphere.
Generally,festivals like Shivaratri, Janmashtami, Ramanavami are all celebrated for a day only where as Navaratri in honour of Goddess Shakti is celebrated for nine days. There is a reason behind this. The mantra of Shakti is called Navakshari. It contains nine syllables. So nine days are celebrated as a symbolism ( one day for each syllable ). Nava means nine. Nava means new also. Newness in old tradition. when vow is observed for nine days and nine nights, it is called Navaratra. When the worship of the Goddess is done at night for ninedays, it is called Navaratri..since Goddess Durga is worshipped in her nine forms. so each day is devoted to one form.
It is believed that the Goddess foght the demon for nine days, starting from the first day of the ashwayuja month ( Sep-Oct ).On the tenth day of Vijaya Dashami, she killed the demon, putting an end to the reign of evil and terror.The celebration on this day symbolises the victory of righteousness over evil.
It is said that Lord Rama worshipped the Goddess Durga on the shore of the ocean before his fight with Ravana. Even the great warrior Arjuna set out for the battle against the Kauravas on this day after worshipping the Goddesss.
The term 'Durga " means the destructor of calamity in the form of physical, mental and spiritual evils.
Devi Purana says that the five constituent syllables of the word Durga namely, da, u,r, g, aa, are said to destroy respectively demons, obstacle, diseases, sin and fear ( da- demons, u - vigna, r - roga, ga - papa, aa - bhaya ) Durga durgatinashini.
Parvati, the power of Shiva is basically the Adi Shakti, but she is called by nine different names.

1 - First day, she is called Shailaputri. Shala means mountain, putri means daughter. She is called Shalaputri because she appeared as the daughter of the king of the mountains, the Himalayas. In this form, she is depicted as riding on an ox. She has a trident in the right hand and a lotus in her left hand. She is also called Haimavati. In this form, she became the consort of Shiva. She was Sati in her previous birth. Among the nine forms, Shailaputri has infinite power. She has great importance that is established by the fact that she is the first one to be worshipped during Navaratri. The yogis concentrate on the first plexus, Muladhara Chakra, to revitalise themselves and to awaken the Kundalini shakti. From here begins the journey to higher chakras.
Dhyana shloka for Shailaputri-

Vande vanchitalaabhaaya chandrardhakrtashekharam l
vrsharudham shuladharam shailaputrim yashasvineem ll

2    - On the second day, the Goddess is worshiped as Brahmacharini. It is in her nature and character to attain the Brahman as Shiva through penance. while a maiden, she is called Brahmacharini and also Tapah charini or Uma. She had performed rare penance on the advice of the sage Narada, when she was the daughter of Himalaya, which included years that she spent on only fruits and the years when she ate only the fallen leaves and the years when she stopped eating the leaves also.That is the reason why she is called Aparna .Amazed at the hardest penance, the gods praised her and Brahma appeared and granted her wish to be the consort of  Lord Shiva.
She has a splendidly glowing form. She has a rosary in her right hand and a kamandalu ( water jug ) in the left. The Brahmacharini form of the Devi fulfills all the desires of the devotees, Sadhakas and Yogis. On the second night Brahmacharini is worshipped and the Kundalini shakti reaches the Swadhishtana chakra. She blesses the devotees. One is enriched with penance, a sense of sacrifice, detachment, moral character and control over the self. Even during the toughest days there is no deviation from the righteous way and solemn duties.
Dhyana shloka-

Dadhaana karapadmaabhyaamakshamaalakamandalu l
Devi prasidatu mayi Brahmacharinyanuttama       ll

3  - Chandraghanta  - The pleasant half-moon is her forehead, in the shape of the lower part of the bell, so she is called Chandraghanta. Her form is very peaceful and benevolent. She has a bright golden hue. She has three eyes and ten hands with swords and other weapons , lotus in one hand and another blesses all. She rides a lion. She is ready for battle. The dreadful sound of the bell creates fear in the devils and protects the devotees.
She is worshiped on the third night. The Kundalini reaches the Manipura chakra. With her grace the yogis are able to see wonderful and divine things, listen to celestial music and smell rare sublime fragrance. She wipes out all the impurities and clears the path of the devotees. The meditation on the Goddess gives instantaneous success. The devotees are freed from fear and endowed with humility, brightness and grace and his voice gets spiritual effect, attraction and sweetness. By worshipping her, one gets wordly success and Moksha.
Dhyana shloka-

Pindajapravararuda  chandakopastrakairyuta l
Prasadam tanute mahyam chandraghanteti vishruta ll

4 - Kushmanda
With her gentle laughter, she created the egg that is the universe. She is called Kushmanda.
When there was no creation, all everywhere darkness, this goddess with her little smile created the universe. There was no universe before her. She is the Adi Shakti. She resides in the solar system and shines brightly like the Sun. Her illumination and glow are matchless. Her glow illumines each animate and inanimate thing in the universe.She has eight hands that stretches up to and covers all the eight directions. She is also famous as Ashtabhuja Devi. She holds different weapons and other things in her seven hands: Kamandalu, dhanush, bana, lotus, vessel with nectar, chakra and mace and grants all Siddhis, Riddhis and Nidhis with her eighth hand in form of japamala.
Kushmanda is worsipped on the fourth day when the Kundalini shakti ascends to Anahata chakra. She frees the devotees from all sorts of diseases and pains and adds longevity, fame, strength and health. She gives material and spiritual powers and properity.
Her vehicle is lion. Kushmanda has another meaning that is pumpkin gourd. it is offered as an offering.
Dhyana shloka-
 Sudhasampurnakalasham rudhiraplutameva ca l
Dadhana hastapadmabhyam Kushmanda shubhadastute ll

5  - Skandamata
  Sanat Kumara, also known as Skanda or Kartikeya, is the commander of the army of gods. In the Puranas, he is also called Kumara or SHaktidhara. She is his mother. So she is called Skandamata. She is a deity of fire.She is seated on a lotus with Skanda in her lap and rides a peacock. She is also called Padmasana Devi. She is completely white and glowing.
She is worshipped on the fifth day during Navaratra.   On this day, the Kundalini Shakti ascends to Vishuddhi Chakra.The Yogi in the Vishuddhi Chakra gets rid of all all outer activities and wordly desires.He is purely in the most pious and conscious state. All his wishes and desires get fulfilled and he feels perfect peace and pleasure. He is in the state of complete bliss and beatitude. A glowing divine halo appears behind his head and gives the devotee illumination.
Skandamata has four hands. She holds her son with her upper right hand and the lower right hand rises up with a lotus. Similarly, the lower left hand rises up with a lotus flower and with the upper left hand, she showers blessings.
Dhyana shloka-

Simhasanagata  nityam padmashritakaradvaya l
Shubhadastu sada devi Skandamata yashaswini ll

6  - Katyayani
To fulfil the wishes of the sage Katyayana she appeared at the hermitage of Katyayana to accomplish some rare feats for the gods like killing of the demon Mahishasura. The sage accepted her as his daughter. So she is called Katyayani.
 The Gopis of Braja worshipped Katyayani for Shri Krishna. As a result she is the presiding deity of the complete Braja region even today. She has bright golden hue. She has four hands. The right upper hand makes one fearless and lower hand blesses all. She holds a sword with the upper left hand and a lotus in the lower. She rides a lion. She is worshipped on the sixth day. On this day, the Kundalini Shakti ascends to the Agya Chakra. The Sadhaka completely surrenders to the Goddess. All the pursuits- Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are easily achieved. His spiritual power and brightness increase.She is worshipped with all prowess, might and agility.
Dhyana shloka-

 Chandrahasojjwalakara  shardulavaravahana l
katyayani shubham dadyad devi danavaghatini ll

7 - Kalaratri
As she killed many demons and became the dark night even for Kala, she is called Kalaratri. She is black with untied hair and wears a necklace as bright as lightning. She rides a donkey, breathes out fire, holds a sword in her right hand and blesses with the other.
Kalaratri has three eyes and she is very dreadful to look at, but she is always auspicious, and hence is also called Shubhankari. So , her devotees have no cause of fear or worry.
Kalaratri is worshipped on the seventh day when the Kundalini Shakti ascends to Sahsrara Chakra. The union with the Brahman is completed.All knowledge and every power of the cosmos is showered on the devotee. He is an enlightened one.He gets Moksha and a treasure of virtues that never gets empty. It can be achieved with atmost piety and carefully following the rules of Yoga.
Dhyana shloka-

Ekaveni Japakarnapura nagna Kharastitha l
Lambosti karnikakarni tailabhyaktasharirini ll
Vamapadollasallohalatakantakabhushana l
Vardhanamurdhadhvaja krshna Kalaratrirbhayankari ll

8 - Mahagauri
In fairness, she has been compared to conch- shell, Moon, and kunda flower ( Jasmine ). Her age is eight years( asta varsha bhaved Gauri ).
In her Parvati form, she did severe penance to get Shiva as her husband.. She had grown weak and dark because of the severe penance. Lord Shiva poured  the Ganges water on her and she got her dazzling white colour back. From then on she became Mahagauri.
She wears white clothes and white ornaments. She has four hands. She holds a trident ( Trishul ) and a tambourine ( Damaru ) and assures all to fe fearless with the upper right hand. She blesses with her lower left hand.
Mahagauri rides a bull. She is an embodiment of peace and tranquility. She is worshipped on the eighth day during the nine-day worship of the Shakti. Her devotees become pure. The impiety and sin do not come near them even in future. They are safe and secure. She is easy to please and readily showers her blessings on all.
Dhyana shloka-

Shwete vrshe samaruda shwetambaradhara shucih l
Mahagauri shubham dadyanmahadevapramodada  ll

9-  Siddhidatri
Nineth form of Shakti is Siddhidatri. She is the giver of all siddhis. Because she makes one free through salvation, she is called Siddhidatri. Shiva acquired eight siddhis- Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Ishitva,and Vashitva, by worshipping Mahashakti. It is according to Markandeya Purana. Brahmavaivarta Purana mentions eighteen siddhis.

1    Anima                                 7-    Sarvakamavasayita                          13 Srshti
2 Laghima                                  8   Sarvagyatva                                      14 Samharakarana samarthya
3 Prapti                                     9   Durashravana                                    15  Amaratva
4 Prakamya                             10 Parakayapraveshana                            16 Sarvanyayakatva
5 Mahima                                11 Vaksiddhi                                            17 Bhavana
6 Ishitva, Vashitva                   12 Kalpavrkshatva                                     18 Siddhi
Lord Shiva got all these siddhis through the Goddess. Because of her grace, Shiva's half body became the Goddess. So he is famous as Ardhanaishvara.
Siddhidatri has four hands. She holds a mace in her upper right hand and in the lower left hand she has a conch. She is seated on a lotus. She rides a lion. She is worshipped on the nineth, the last day of Navaratri. The devotee gets the Paramapada ( the Highest abode ) and has nothing more to achieve or wish.
Dhyana shloka-
Siddhagandharvayakshadyairasurairamarairapi l
Sevyamana sada bhuyat siddhida  siddhidayini ll

In the term Shakti, Sha refers to aishvarya and kti means prakrama.
Aishvaryavachanah shashcha ktih prakrama eva cha l
Tatsvarupa tayordatri sa shaktih parikirtita   ll            ( Devi Bhagavatam )
Shakti is the embodiment of  prosperity and strength.So she is the giver of the two.
The Adyashakti has three powers that is what is said of Brahman. The Supreme is formless. But with a view to create' Ekoham bahu syam prajayeya' ( I am one let me become many ) he assumes three forms because of his threefold powers of Maya. He creates the universe, protects and every thing dissolves in him. This is Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. The Shaktis are Mahasarasvati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali. The power of Brahma which creates the universe is called Mahasarasvati, the power of Vishnu, which nourishes is called Mahalakshmi and Rudrashakti, which is responsible for destruction is called Mahakali.
These actions can be viewed in two ways. one is ' historical and chronological sequence ' where in this is viwed like this- First a thing is created, then it exists and in the end gets destroyed.
These three actions can be viewed in another way also- that is from the psychological standpoint of the spiritual aspirant. In the words of Sadashivabrahmendra, ' Janiviparitakramatah', in the reverse order of creation i.e from dissolution. That is why ' Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaravati come in upasana or worship.
First the teacher removes the ignorance from the mind of the disciple , he does the work of dissolution, Rudra or Mahakali. Then whatever real knowledge is in the mind of the disciple, he nourishes it like Vishnu or Mahalakshmi. Then removing the ignorance, protecting the knowledge, he gives new instructions regarding the true knowledge which dawns, he does the work of creation, Brahma or Mahasarasvati. This is the sequence adopted in the scriptures. In Kenoupanishad, it is Uma Haimavati who imparts the knowledge to the seeker, Indra. Mother is glorified first,.' Matrudevo bhava'.  It is always a mother's compassion, love and greatness that bring prosperity to children. Feminine energy nurtures, it heals, comforts and motivates.
In Navratri, the first three days are devoted to the worship of Durga, the embodiment of Kriyashakti. The next three days are to Lakshmi, the embodiment of Icchashakti and the last days to Sarasvati, who represents Gyanashakti. When ignorance is destroyed, one gets inner strength and works. Efforts bring prosperity and one's desires get fulfilled. When he does not find peace in desires, he contemplates. Then the knowledge of the truth dawns. It leads to victory, freedom. In fact the celebration of Navaratri signifies the evolution of the soul through three ladders to its destination namely, freedom. Tamo guna, the dirt or ignorance of the mind is removed by karmayoga represented by Durga. Distractions , desires represented by Rajas brings prosperity denoted by Lakshmi. Sattva though is praised but still an obstacle in the realization of the pure-self. It is dispelled by the power of higher wisdom, which is Sarasvati. The final victory is called vijaya Dashami, the tenth day. That is the day of victory, where one masters the forces of Nature completely and one's goal is achieved. When one steps over nine, he enters into infinity. Numbers are nine only. The whole cosmos is within nine. When one transcends nine, he goes to Infinity, which is his real nature, self. The tradition of Goddess worship is reflected in the worship of young girls,and in different art forms like music, dance etc both in houses and temples.
Worship of the Goddess in various ways inculcates discipline and leads to purity of mind. Gradually the worship of the Devi enables us to go beyond the form to reach the real inner potential in us, which is formless, which is the absolute Truth, the realization of which is the purpose of human life.
Reading and recitation of Shri Lalita sahasranama, Durga saptashati, Saundaryalahari, Mukapanchashati are recommended as effective means for  the grace of the Goddess.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Disparity

 
                                        Disparity

A well-known philosopher was lecturing in a public hall. Someone asked him, " Sir ! why there is such a vast disparity between the rich and poor like between the earth and the sky." The saint - philosopher replied calmly, " No, there is no disparity at all. The division is imaginary and created by selfish, greedy and egoistic man and not by the Almighty. Only two days of hunger and a few hours of thirst is enough to erase this artificial disparity and make them equal."

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Rating Talent

     
                                    Rating Talent


Judge a person by what he is and not by how he looks. No one is perfect in this world. The external appearance is transient but the inner worth is the eternal and everlasting. In Nature, many flowers are big and attractive in color but carry no fragrance. So their attraction lasts for a while only ,whereas some flowers like jasmine are small but are so fragrant that their sweet smell spread all around and lingers for long.
Once the king Vikramaditya, strolling with the great poet Kalidasa in the garden said, " Oh great poet! You are highly talented and intelligent, but why God has not given you beautiful form in accordance with your qualities ? Kalidasa did not reply to this taunt. They returned to the palace. The poet, with the permission of the king, procured two vessels one of mud and another made of gold. He filled both the containers with the same ordinary water. After sometime the poet asked the king to drink the water from both and asked him," Your Highness ! which water is cool and soothing?" The king replied, " Dear friend, the water from the pot is cool and soothing and not water of shining gold pot. The poet explained, " Your Majesty ! Just as the coolness does not depend upon the external appearance so also the talent does not depend on the beauty or ugliness of the body."

Friday, March 14, 2014

Impact

                         Impact

The great Indian epic, The Ramayana of sage Valmiki is a practical demonstration of righteous living. It is said that Rama, the ideal man was a form of the Lord Himself, who came to earth and took human embodiment to teach the human beings how to live their lives correctly. The richness of  Indian culture depicted in the Ramayana in a sweet style strengthen us in the face of difficulty so we may act with wisdom and manage our emotions through the waves of sorrow and happiness calmly and make our life sublime. Ramayana is philosophy of being your best. This is the reason for its universal appeal. The charm of Ramayana in any form is ever fresh and new.
Once a person asked a scholar of Ramayana, " Sir, is the Ramayana real or fictitious ? "
The great man replied , " When the Ramayana was composed, I was not there. When Rama was roaming in the forest and ruling his kingdom , I am not aware of my whereabouts then. So I can't say whether it is real or fictitious. But I can tell you about the impact of its studies and moral teachings on me. I experience actual improvement in the quality of my life. I have become a better person and find my life sublime and enjoyable. If you want, you can also try."

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Each moment well spent makes a precious treasure

              Each moment well spent makes a precious treasure

It is the little that makes up a huge thing. Small droplets of water make up a vast and deep ocean. Small savings steadily accumulated become a big amount in due course. Knowledge learnt in small amounts but continuously become a treasure for man throughout his life. Time is equally precious. If every moment is spent fruitfully, life becomes fulfilling and enjoyable. It is the characteristic of a great man that he utilises even a small unit of time into a great achievement.
Mahdev Govind Ranade was an eminent judge, a distinguished scholar, freedom fighter and a social reformer of India. Once, he was travelling in a train from Calcutta to Poona . Before boarding the train, he bought a newspaper in Bangla ( language spoken in Calcutta ) and also a small pocket dictionary of Bengali to English from a bookstall at the Railway platform. His wife asked him, " when you don't know the Bangla language, why did you buy this newspaper? " Ranade replied- " In these two days of travel in the train without any disturbance, this language can be easily learnt." He paid full attention on the script of the language and its construction. With the help of the dictionary, he enjoyed reading and understanding the contents of the entire paper. Reaching Poona,he read out the entire newspaper to his wife. Such was the perseverence and mental agility of that sixty year old great man

Friday, March 7, 2014

Man and machine

                   
                      Man and machine


Once a student asked the great poet Dr. Rabindranath Tagore,  " Sir ! If you were to choose between a machine which does not make any mistake and a man who commits mistakes, whom will you prefer?"
Tagore smiled and replied, " I will prefer the man who does mistakes. Many a times  mistakes churn out  great truths and discoveries.Man can make a machine. But machine however perfect and good it maybe , it cannot produce a  human being."

We are living in the age of machines. We cannot dismiss the good that our gadgets have brought to us. Everything gets better and easier. But we have become so much dependent on the machines that most of us have somehow slipped out of the human qualities and potentials which are inherent in us.Man in the name of modernity has made his life so artificial that he himself has become a machine.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

God is one, Names are many

                     God is one, Names are many


A person went to a saint and asked him,  "  All religions have one god. Muslims have Allah, Christians have Christ, Buddhists have Buddha. But Hindus worship so many gods. Why is it so ?
The saint : " God is one but his names are many.
The man : " How is that possible ? How can God assume so many forms and names and yet be only one ?
The saint called his student who was wearing a turban ( a plain cloth rolled into a shape of a head band ).
The saint pointed to it and asked the man, " What is that ?"
The man replied, " It is a turban ( Indian term for headband or headwear ) ."
The saint asked his student to untie it , roll it and tie around his waist.
When he had done so, the saint asked the man, " what is that ?
The man :  " a waistband."
Then the saint asked his student to unroll it as full cloth and tie it around his waist allowing the cloth to cover the legs till the knees and put a question to the man -" what is it now ?"
The man - " Lungi or long skirt."
The saint said to the man - " you have seen how the same cloth acquires different names when performing different functions. So also water can be a cloud when it is in the sky, it is rain when the same falls to the earth, it is a river when it flows and it is ice when it freezes. God, too, though One is called by different names in various forms by different people ."
" Whatever we may call God or whether we recognize Him or not, it does not change God's eternal nature and identity. It is man who gives God various forms according to his perception. If we understand this truth, we can make our life more meaningful, fruitful and sublime , rather than comparing religions and questioning oneness of God and fighting for it."

Humility is the ornament of knowledge

       
                                    Humility is the ornament of knowledge

     Vikram Sarabhai was a great Indian scientist who developed the science of space and satellite in India.
 When he went to England for higher studies, he got an opportunity to learn about the latest development in the field of science. He made it a point not to miss any article or seminar which dealt with a scientific discovery or an invention. He thoroughly studied each and every topic of physics which had become his love.
Vikram was a popular student. The teachers were amazed at his brilliance and keenness of studies
Though Vikram was brilliant and ahead in studies, but he was never proud. He was always humble and behaved in a friendly manner with his fellow students.
Many a times Vikram was approached by his classmates to get their doubts cleared. He was very clear in the basic concepts of physics, he knew that if the fundamentals are clear , one may find it easier to grasp the other complex processes.
He was ready to help one. Most of the students would tell him, " You explain the things in a better manner than our lecturers, you must become a teacher, you make even complex things appear simple."
Vikram would smile at them, " My dear friends , you are making me feel embarrassed. I am not such a learned person as you think . I have got to learn still a lot more."