She would recite, in a very soothing low voice, almost inaudible to others but her, one of her bhajans whenever she was cooking. Or she would be doing her regular japa as she worked in her simple kitchen in her modest home in the big city. Her food tasted heavenly, perhaps because of that. Everyone who ate even once in her home felt that ‘special’ taste in her food. It was not only their physical hunger that felt satisfied. Something else was being fed too. The real thing within, perhaps.
Beloo Mehra donned the hats of school teacher, university professor and researcher for many years, and is now happy to be doing what she does best – learn. Living in Pondicherry for the last 10 years, she devotes most of her time to studying the works of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo (particularly the ones focusing on educational, social and cultural thought), writing, gardening and just being. She is the author of 'ABC’s of Indian National Education' (Standard Publishers, 2014) and 'The Thinking Indian: Essays on Indian Socio-Cultural Matters in the Light of Sri Aurobindo' (self-published e-book).Â
Reading the post again only makes it more poignant, Beloo! Anyone who cooks and serves food needs to have pure thoughts and feelings, which make them true Annapurnas. I can imagine how the food she served would not only have physically nourished you but also nourished your souls with her positive energy.
Thank you Zephyr! Every time I am upset over some little thing while cooking, all I have to do is remember my mother working in her kitchen and it helps bring back that calm poise which adds positive vibes to the food being prepared. So she is still guiding me from wherever she is 🙂
Ramgopal
Excellent article, this is how our culture celebrated everything, from bathing,cooking to work, everything was divine. Let us work to bring this aspect by reviving and spreading the knowledge about our culture to younger ones
Thank you, Ramgopal ji! I agree with you, our cultural traditions really had a way of lifting every ordinary act to its divine status and offer each action to the Divine as sacrifice. While there are concerns about young generations moving away from these truths about our culture, there is also another important part of the time-spirit which is bringing back many Indians of my generation and those younger than me to a place where they are re-discovering in their own way the truths about their culture, their traditions. That is the hope for the rejuvenation and victory of Dharma in our times.
Reading the post again only makes it more poignant, Beloo! Anyone who cooks and serves food needs to have pure thoughts and feelings, which make them true Annapurnas. I can imagine how the food she served would not only have physically nourished you but also nourished your souls with her positive energy.
Thank you Zephyr! Every time I am upset over some little thing while cooking, all I have to do is remember my mother working in her kitchen and it helps bring back that calm poise which adds positive vibes to the food being prepared. So she is still guiding me from wherever she is 🙂
Excellent article, this is how our culture celebrated everything, from bathing,cooking to work, everything was divine. Let us work to bring this aspect by reviving and spreading the knowledge about our culture to younger ones
Thank you, Ramgopal ji! I agree with you, our cultural traditions really had a way of lifting every ordinary act to its divine status and offer each action to the Divine as sacrifice. While there are concerns about young generations moving away from these truths about our culture, there is also another important part of the time-spirit which is bringing back many Indians of my generation and those younger than me to a place where they are re-discovering in their own way the truths about their culture, their traditions. That is the hope for the rejuvenation and victory of Dharma in our times.