The culture where I have grown up, we do not have the concept of Thanksgiving as a single day for the whole nation. We do have our myriad festivals and rituals to celebrate a good harvest. In life though, every day we wake up is a reason enough to thank God, the Cosmos or whatever Supreme power is out there watching over us. It is believed in many cultures that the entire cosmos has evolved from the five elements - Earth, Water, Fire (including Sun), Air and Ether (Sky) and they are integral to our existence and sustenance. There are is so much around us to be thankful of which we otherwise take for granted and ignore.
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As a child I have been taught to pray twice a day; one when we wake up for the promising day ahead with innumerable prospects and hope to either achieve our goals or alter our life's course, and other at night to thank for the glorious day lived with purpose before falling asleep.
I am thankful for this wonderful life and all the marvelous things that I am able to do. It is a miracle and a blessing that I have a physically and mentally healthy body with its few blemishes and moles here and there. And maybe my nose is little crooked and teeth that are not exactly pearly. But then I can recognize people, think for myself and act independently. And write on this amazing platform. Ask someone with Huntington's or Alzheimer's disease what they will give for this life?
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I am thankful that I am not alone on this planet of 7 billion plus people. An amazing family and radiant friends surround me; parents who provided me a healthy and safe environment to grow up and acquire a university degree, a brother to butt head with, a loving husband who gives me the space to grow at my own pace while making my own choices and a seven year old kid who is always "unhappy" with me no matter how hard I try. Why am I grateful for unhappy? Because unhappy is always better than indifferent or unaffected. Unhappy is a feeling which shows that I matter.
There is so much poverty, hunger and scores of people are dying due to lack of clean water and sanitation. It is gratifying to see food on the table and a roof over my head. We often take our access to utilities and services for granted. On one side where the world is fighting lifestyle diseases there are millions who do not have basic medical care. Maybe we should bow in gratitude when we tap the screen of our tablets and mobile phones.
I am deeply thankful for my education which helps me discern between right and wrong and act upon it. It is a blessing of this education that an amazing person gave me the opportunity to share my views on this fantastic platform. The universe does work in mysterious ways and it definitely has a good plan for each one of us. We simply need to find the way.
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In the Rig Veda, there is an account of Gayatri Mantra; chanting of which is considered a vital aspect in Yoga. This prayer in Sanskrit is said to awaken our wisdom and reverberates through the universe from the chanter to all living beings illuminating our path forward.
|| Aum Bhuh, Aum Bhuvah, Aum Svah, Aum Mahah, Aum Janah, Aum Tapah, Aum Satyam
Aum Tat Savitur Vareniyam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat ||
I am presenting a very elementary translation/ explanation in English because the true essence of the mantra cannot be completely captured in any other language but Sanskrit.
Aum is the energy around all of us in the universe.
Bhuh = Earth (Physical Existence), Bhuvah = Water (Flow of life), Svah = Fire (The energy within us), Mahah = Air (Our Feelings, Emotion, Compassion), Janah = Ether (Creation, Ideation, Thought process), Tapah = Intellect (Understand, Assimilate, Imbibe) and Satyam = Consciousness (Ultimate Truth)
Tat = That, Savitur = Divine Light, Vareniyam = Bright (like the Sun), Bhargo = Destroy our Sins, Cleanse Us, Devasya = Divine Enlightenment, Dhimahi = Intelligence or Astuteness, Dhiyo = Good Thoughts, Yo = You, Nah = Us, Prachodayat = Steer (or Lead) us in the Right Direction
In the first line, the mantra channelizes our mind to invoke and awaken the seven planes (the seven chakras within us).
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In the second line, we pray to that divine light that is shining bright like the sun to destroy the sins within us and cleanse our soul for divine enlightenment of intelligence and the wisdom to imbibe the good thoughts from you (God) that steers us in the right direction.
This is the prayer which I recite every day to offer thanks to God for Everything.
May all of us remain blessed and in bliss.
Happy Thanksgiving!