“The Mylapore Trio” Amarnath, Surendranath, Aparna, Sugathan and Members of Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation conducted the 14th ‘SUMUKHAIVA SADHAS’ – A Virtual Cultural Meet during this extraordinary pandemic situation and lockdown. It was a unique concept and a different conclave involving professionals of different genre. The BIRDS OF “DIFFERENT FEATHERS’’ FLOCKED TOGETHER. A platform was provided to a Speaker to talk on a subject of his/her choice or profession or expertise and the only criteria are, the topic must be correlated to culture and history. This was followed by an interesting questionnaire session which leads to good interaction. Every week audience learns a new subject enabling themselves to become more knowledge-centric.
The 14th Session was conducted on Sunday, 4th October, 2020 from 4.15pm to 7.00pm. The Programme began with the Prayer on the Trio's Foster Parents Smt. Sumukhi and Shri. Rajasekharan and their Grand Mother Smt. Nagammal, written and sung by Smt. Revathy Sankkaran.
Surendranth quoted Sumukhi Amma who had advised us to keep ZERO MIND and that is the Best relaxation. As an Art Director referred to some instances about how he had to face problems while he was an Art Director at various Ad agencies. He said his team members used to waste time in the day time and sit for late-night jobs which would create unwarranted stress which otherwise could have been avoided. Since he was a Te Tottlar, he had requested others not to smoke inside the room to relieve their tension and eventual add tension to others. He said tension is not removed from smoking and creativity does not come by smoking. He said the Trio as kids were taken to Kapali temple twice a day by Sumukhi and Rajasekharan and were thus shown the path not only for spirituality but also as a way to come out of stress. Temple visits definitely paves the way for peace and tranquillity.
The day’s Speaker was Smt. B.V. Balambika – formerly working in a corporate company and today a home maker and involved in many activities including culture and fashion designing. Her presentation was on the Topic ‘Install Culture and Uninstall Stress’. She explained the various type of stress one undergoes in a Corporate Company and the problems faced by the members of the team with the Team leader and vice versa. She also stressed upon late night jobs and stressful life one has to undergo in the modern professions. She also said that even school children and college students have high stress and they take up extreme steps of ending their lives, just to avoid stress and tension which is highly condemnable. Children should be taught to face life and methods to overcome tension by their parents and teachers.
She gave various suggestions to overcome job stress and strain involved in it. She quoted Bhagvat Gita and drew parallels from it and also referred to many Samaskritam words and phrases to bring out the importance of Vedic methods as stress busters. She also widely narrated the various yogic asanas and methods to relieve tension and mental agony. She said yoga is one of the best methods to bring peace and harmony to mind. She also suggested various Ayurvedic herbs and common cooking stuff as stress remedial methods. Many corporate companies conduct stress reliever workshops and training sessions to their employees.
She also referred to some historical material as examples to remove stress. Music is supposed to remove mental agitation to restore peace. She said by looking and admiring at Temple Sculptures and Paintings one would become calm and collective. Her presentation was supported by many colourful slides which made it interesting.
Aparna – a Chartered Accountant, said that stress and tension can be overcome by learning and practising an Artform. These are real stress busters and keep the mind relaxed and free from office thoughts and worries. She said though she faces a lot of powerful stress and strain being in a top position, she overcomes it by involving in the cultural activities of the Foundation. She said that she underwent a lot of tension even while she was doing her CA and she came out of it as per Sumukhi Amma’s advice. Aparna felt that she used to go to a temple near her class, listen to divine music and enjoyed watching classical dancing.
At the end, Amarnath as a History Professor concludes by saying that though all professions have stress and strain, the most stressful career is not IT, Banking, Engineering or Medical but Teaching. He said obviously others have stress but it is not to the level of Teaching. Once the noble profession was considered to be the easiest and tension free. He said that too the primary teacher is the person who is the most stressful person. In history, we come across many methods in the teachings of like Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavira and many others in Hinduism to remove stress and strain. He quoted Sumukhi Amma - she used to say that lying flat is the best posture for relaxation which she used to follow.
Sugathan felt that dance is the best way to bring out the stress from body and mind. It not only gives mental relaxation but also makes our thoughts pure and divine.
Sugathan’s Naturo Upaya explained the goodness of doing different physical exercises for the removal of tension and stress. He also quoted Mahatma Gandhi who had opined that exercise is the best stress buster but he could not do it in his younger days. He said that exercises are good for the mental and physical well being of mankind.
As per the diktat of the Foundation, all the participants were in light rose, blue and white attire.
The Programme ended with a happy note to meet again next week with a different Speaker and a Topic.
