Featured Guest, Author at Raising World Children

The Kindness Chain – Shalini Tyagi

Joining the Kindness Chain. — >

Often we warn our kids about “stranger danger”. We teach to be wary of any unknown person, not accepting anything so on and so forth. On the other hand some or the other time one comes across a kind gesture by a total stranger and it leaves the heart just a little bit warmer..

Any story of kindness should not be withheld, it should be told and retold, bringing back some faith in an otherwise harsh world..

This incident, that I want to share, happened a few years back the day we moved to Dubai.

Travelling with two small children, my daughter just a few months old. Moving houses is a mammoth task with so much luggage,and being encumbered by a baby pram was a nightmare happening.

We somehow managed to haul ourselves to an airport cab and reached our new apartment building.

Upon reaching the building we were presented with the problem of taking the luggage up to the apartment along with the kids .

My husband was about to call the security guy to help when three men stepped out of the elevator , all dressed to go out for the evening.

They walked up to us and welcomed us to Dubai, then asked us whether they can be of help. We thanked them but requested them not to be hassled and carry on.

But they were not taking NO for an answer and told us to just bring the kids up to the respective floor and carried ALL our luggage to our front door. We unlocked the door and they deposited all the huge suitcases in our hall and further offered to get any groceries from the store.

After we assured them we had all we needed, they bade us a goodnight and left.

To many this would just be a small gesture, but for us in a new and strange city, it made a world of difference.

We knew nobody back then and these three strangers left us with a glow in our hearts and hope.

Since then I have had strangers open doors for me, carry my groceries in the elevator or just smile to wish a pleasant day and I never forget to be grateful.

Even I try to do my bit, a new mom trying to negotiate a double pram can always use a smile and a hand. If even for a few seconds I can be that stranger that a person can be grateful for, the world is still beautiful.

Shalini Tyagi

World of Indian Parenting With Allergies

World of RV Living and Parenting

The Kindness Chain – Sneha Jhanb

Joining the Kindness Chain – In Vegas, in a community I lived in, they did mealtrains for families where there was a person sick or had just delivered or lost a job etc. They asked me when I had to suddenly go in to hospital for a surgery. I of course had other help but kindness in communities does exist. It inspired me to organize meal trains in my mommy group as well. We all brought food for new delivered moms in the group for 2 weeks.

In North Carolina, I met with an accident on the road, and I did not have cell phone handy. A random stranger stopped his car, asked me how I was, called 911 l, ambulance and my sister for me and then I was alone and was scared and I asked him if I could just hold his hand for a moment and he let me. This was almost 11 years ago.

Finding Love and Commitment With Family Easily in an RV

The biggest push to move into an RV was the immense love and commitment to family I witnessed over and over by each full-time family I found online.

Finding Hope in Overwhelm.

Staying up late one night in our hotel, I was mulling over the decision to buy an RV. Would it be good for my child? Could Ed and I survive in such close quarters? He’d only been back in the states for a few months and we were still adjusting to one another. Are there people out there that do this successfully? I want so badly to feel that love and commitment to family. Will this help or hurt that desire?

Completely overwhelmed, I decided to search for RV families. Little did I know the full-time family not only existed, but FLOURISHED inside the RV.

Searching, so many different channels and blogs popped up. It didn’t take long to notice a completely different family dynamic. I saw families having fun together! In a small space! I found a family of 11, completely killin’ it out on the road. I read through a couple’s blog on how they started their marriage in an RV, successfully building different businesses and income streams TOGETHER! Then I came across a full-time family that looked just like mine! I learned of their desire to come together as a family and spend as much quality time together as possible.

Above all, I saw each full-timer showing love and commitment to family. Wow! These were the desires of my heart!

After that, it was a very easy decision to move into the RV.

My Own Little Full-Time Family

So we quickly bought and moved into an RV.

Am I happier? Do my values and priorities line up? Am I feeling that love and commitment to family?

YES! (I mean, mostly. Everybody has bad days, ya know.)

RVing makes you commit. You have to be all in or you’re gonna crack.

Move in day!

The small space forces us to be together. I can’t close the door when I’m mad because well, there is quite literally no door to close. I must communicate my feelings as I have them. There’s just no room for a grown woman to explode. Other RVers feel this way too, especially with the added pressures of moving around.

Before the RV, my husband came home to a stressed wife. I would put him on “daddy duty” immediately. (Okay, this means I’d practically lock Chelsea and Ed together in her room.) I felt I needed them out of my hair so I could catch up on cleaning or other duties. Despite being my own doing, I was jealous of their ability to play and be carefree. (Yes, I can be that crazy.)

How could they have fun while the mother of this family struggles to get the jam off the cupboard?!?! How rude!

Now, I have so much less to take care of and it brings great joy to hear or watch my husband and daughter play. Even if I’ve gotta do the dishes when he gets home, we’re all in the same room so I get to experience those daddy daughter moments. I don’t really resent housework anymore.

The small space also highlights when I’m feeling weak. Despite taking only 15-30 minutes to clean the RV, there are times when the thought of picking up one sock is equivalent to solving the world’s hunger problem. In our townhouse, it could take a week for the effects of that to show. Here in the RV, it takes a day. When I don’t bother picking up, my husband notices immediately. This signals to him I’m struggling and he begins helping me around the house. It has done wonders for our marriage.

The Magic of Nature

Have you ever heard the phrase “You just need some fresh air?”

Of course you have.

Well in the RV, we spend a lot of time getting fresh air. I mean, when you live in 380 square feet it makes it easy to want to get outside. With the added advantage of living on a campground with plenty of room to run, play, and explore, we get outside for hours each day.

And I’ve learned the simple act of getting into nature together is a miracle for the soul of the family.

When we moved into the RV, my toddler was just starting to use real words. Now she can name birds, scream there is a squirrel running up the tree, and point out turtles and fish in the pond. There is something magical about your child learning about the outdoors firsthand.

Looking into the water together, teaching her about algae

My heart swells with pride when Chelsea recognizes an animal in a storybook from real-life experience. Just writing this is making me smile! As a mother, there has been nothing more exciting than to see my child learn and fall in love with the world around her.

There is also great power in the cookout.

Yep, simply cooking outside has brought me so close to my family. My daughter loves watching us fire up the grill. I don’t know about your kid, but mine gets super excited for dinner. Being outside, she can run some of that excitement off before it is time to settle down and sit to eat. It makes dinner so much more enjoyable!

Getting this excited about dinner is just a normal RV thing

So why is RVing a secret formula to love and commitment to family?

Shared experiences.

Yep, that’s it. Living in an RV forces you to share just about everything with the people around you.

Michael Boyink of Ditching Suburbia put it best. He states that RVing has added layers to the family foundation:

“We(‘ve) negotiated new places together, discovered new foods together, explored beaches, deserts, and mountains together. We’ve encountered and interacted with different types of people together and learned a ton about our country and its history together.”

All of that boils down to shared experiences forging that love and commitment to family. I know all this to be true, oh so true.

And while my family isn’t traveling yet, living in this RV has forced us to share many things. We are dedicated to our daily walks together. Together, we meet lots of new and interesting people that come in and out of the campground on a daily basis. We watch the sunset together and cook dinner as a unit. Just about everything done is a family affair. It is forging a very strong bond for the Wilcox household.

And that is where the real magic is, how and why RV families can show that love and commitment to family.

It is because the family unit is getting back to the basics, working together to learn about the world around them and experience new things. The family bond strengthens as its members become explorers together. There are so many shared.

The family bond strengthens as its members become explorers together. There are so many shared experiences, it is hard not to feel close to each other.

Liz Wilcox is a free spirit on a mission to unite all RVers and dreamers. She does this at her Virtual Campground through a sense of community, one on one help and advice, but above all but-gusting laughs to keep you going when the journey gets tough. Get hooked up (that’s a funny RV pun, she swears) at lizwilcox.com.

World of Expressing Through Dance of Bharatnatyam

World of Parenting with Autism

Change Your Perception of Yourself

Once a dog ran into a museum- where all the walls, the ceiling, the door and even the floor were made of mirror.

Seeing this the dog froze in surprise in the middle of the hall, a whole pack of dogs surrounded it from all sides, from above and below.

The dog bared his teeth -and all the reflections responded to it in the same way. Frightened, the dog frantically barked – the reflections imitated the bark and increased it many times. The dog barked even harder and the echo was keeping up. The dog tossed from one side to another, biting the air – his reflections also tossed around snapping their teeth.

Next day in the morning the museum security guards found the miserable dog, lifeless and surrounded by a million reflections of lifeless dogs.

There was nobody, who would make any harm to the dog. The dog died by fighting with his own reflections.

Value of Life

Story from Sikhism

A man went to Guru Nanak Sahib and asked, “What’s the value of life?”

Gurunanak ji gave him one stone and said, “Find out the value of this stone, but don’t sell it.”

The man took the stone to an Orange Seller and asked him what its cost would be. The Orange Seller saw the shiny stone and said, “You can take 12 oranges and give me the stone.”

The man apologized and said that the guru has asked him not to sell it.

He went ahead and found a vegetable seller. “What could be the value of this stone?” he asked the vegetable seller. The seller saw the shiny stone and said, “Take one sack of potatoes and give me the stone.” The man again apologized and said he can’t sell it.

Further ahead, he went into a jewelry shop and asked the value of the stone. The jeweler saw the stone under a lens and said, “I’ll give you 50 Lakhs for this stone.” When the man shook his head, the jeweler said, “Alright, alright, take 2 crores, but give me the stone.” The man explained that he can’t sell the stone.

Further ahead, the man saw a precious stone’s shop and asked the seller the value of this stone. When the precious stone’s seller saw the big ruby, he lay down a red cloth and put the ruby on it. Then he walked in circles around the ruby and bent down and touched his head in front of the ruby. “From where did you bring this priceless ruby from?” he asked. “Even if I sell the whole world, and my life, I won’t be able to purchase this priceless stone.

Stunned and confused, the man returned to the guru and told him what had happened. “Now tell me what is the value of life, guru ji?”

Gurunanak said, “The answers you got from the Orange Seller, the Vegetable Seller, the Jeweler & the Precious Stone’s Seller explain the value of our life… You may be a precious stone, even priceless, but people will value you based on their financial status, their level of information, their belief in you, their motive behind entertaining you, their ambition, and their risk taking ability. But don’t fear, you will surely find someone who will discern your true value.”

Respect yourself.
You are Unique.
No one can Replace you!!

The Bird’s Trick

There once was a merchant who had a bird as a pet that he kept in a cage. One day, the merchant said to the bird, “I am going to India on business, the land that you are from. Do you want me to bring anything back for you.”

The bird replied, “Not really, I just want my freedom.”

“No,” the merchant responded.

“OK then,” said the bird, “Can you at least go the jungle in India and tell the free birds over there about me and how I am in a cage.”

So the merchant agreed and complied with the bird’s request when he got to the jungle in India. And as soon as he finished his statement, a wild bird that looked just like his own fell to the ground.

“Oh dear,” the man thought. “This must be a relative of my bird, whose sadness of hearing about my bird’s captivity has caused him to die.”

When the merchant arrived home and the bird asked what happened, the merchant sadly replied, “Unfortunately, when I spoke about you, one of your relatives collapsed immediately upon hearing how you are in a cage.”

When the bird heard this, it too collapsed in its cage.

The merchant thought, “Now the news of his relative’s death has killed my bird!”

Greatly saddened, he picked up the bird and put it near his window. Immediately after he did this, the bird flew out the window and to his freedom.

From a distance, he said to his former owner, “You have been tricked. You thought that misfortune had struck me, but in actuality the opposite has happened. The message of the way I could free myself was sent by my relative through you.”

And with that statement, the bird flew away.

8 Amazing Things About Travel in Cuba

Havana has been on the hot list ever since tourism opened for Americans. As someone who blogs about travel to Cuba and has gone five times in the past year, I get the question all the time: is it safe for kids?

Short answer: YES! Long answer: Some cities are just better than others.

The Most Kid-Friendly City In Cuba

The city of Havana is just like every other major city. The underbellies of society put out on front street: trash, crumbling buildings, and massive amounts of pollution. Don’t get me wrong, there are great things about Havana. But when I think of children, my number one suggestion would be the city of Viñales.

Why Is Viñales Safe?

Viñales is a town 2 hours west of Havana and can be accessed by taxi for $60 from the airport. While Cubans in general are very family and community-oriented people who incorporate children in every aspect of life, the city of Viñales itself is especially community-oriented.

With only one main road, and houses of every color lining the street, you immediately feel safe and secure. It’s a town where children can walk the streets alone, run in and out of each others houses, and play together in the town square. You better believe you can’t get lost or in trouble without a neighbor or two knowing about it.

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Salsa Lessons for Kids

Speaking of the town square, there is always live music. Whether it be at a restaurant or the Casa del Cultura, music is sure to follow. Children and adults alike can take salsa lessons for $10/hour at the casa del cultura or booked through their casa particular. And at night at the Casa de la Musica, there is a nightly cultural dance show that starts at 9PM.

Stay With A Cuban Family

Accommodations in Cuba are fairly inexpensive at around $25-$30/night. But it is best to stay in a casa particular. These are either separate apartments or guest bedrooms where a Cuban family will rent out their extra space. To be in community with the locals is the best way to travel and the best way to have your children’s accommodations met. But please also be respectful! This is someone’s home, not a concierge service.

My personal favorite is Casa El Cactus. They will arrange everything from your salsa lesson, to your taxi transfer, to your tobacco tour, and will even cook you breakfast, lunch, or dinner in house.

Go On A Horse Ride Through The Tobacco Farms

There are two options for touring through the tobacco farm: the walking option or the horse option. The guides have trained their horses to handle people of all ages from birth to the elderly. There’s no greater feeling than going on a slow walk through the tobacco farms by horse with your little one sitting in front of you. These tours only cost $25/person for touring with a personal guide through caves, lakes, coffee plantations, and tobacco farms.

The tobacco farmers walk you through the entire process of growing, preserving, and rolling the cigars, and even give adults a complimentary cigar to enjoy. These are the authentic Cuban cigars that John F. Kennedy loved so much. Viñales Valley is the only place where you can purchase cigars and the profits will go directly to the farmer as opposed to the Cuban government.

Snorkel and Swim at Cayo Jutias

A trip to the Caribbean just isn’t complete without a beach day. Daily trips to the nearest beach of Cayo Jutias are made from 9AM and return at 5PM. Upon arriving on the beach, you’re greeted with the most crystal clear blues and greens that you’ve ever seen.

It’s hard to grasp how perfect the water glitters and how calm the sea is. Palm trees offer shade on the white sand, coconuts filled with rum are served at the bar, and fresh lobster is sold on the sea. In addition, if you walk far enough, you can find starfish hidden in the shallow waters. You just can’t get a better beach day than this.

Bike Rides To The Mogotes

If your kids are old enough, I highly recommend doing a bike ride through the Mogotes to see the huge limestone cliffs that are signature of the Viñales Valley. If that is not an option, you can take a taxi to Hotel Jazmines and see the incredible view poolside. The landscape is so beautiful it doesn’t even look real.

Other Tips for Kid-Friendly Travel in Cuba:

The water is not safe to drink.
Bottled water is available at every store for mixing formula.
Pack lots of sunscreen.
Bring a mosquito net.
Be flexible because Cuba is about laughs and going with the flow and not for the uptight.

Kiona, Ph.D., is an advocate for women, minority populations, and being self-aware and accepting when cultures mix. She believes that if more people traveled, the more humans would have mutual respect for each other and a greater appreciation for the things they have at home; making the world more about love and less about hate. Her blog partners travelers with the best recommendations on how to conquer a country with minimal hassle and on a budget. You can find her website here.

Breastfeeding in Iceland – an Ice Breaking Experience

I am an Icelandic mother of three, the oldest one is 4 years old and the youngest one will be one year old in August. I have breastfed everyone and I am still breastfeeding the youngest child.

In the last 52 months I have been breastfeeding infants for a total of 33 months. That means that for more than four years I have been breastfeeding continuously. I decided to stop breastfeed the first one when she was one year old, the middle one when she was 10 months old (because I was pregnant, though I wanted to do it longer) and I am still breastfeeding my youngest son who will turn one year old in next month.

I will stop breastfeeding after few days. It will be hard because I feel so connected with my children while breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding in Iceland is an Icebreaker

I love how it is normal here in Iceland to give your child this important meal every where you choose. I would never ever feed my child in locket room or at the toilet.

When my baby is hungry, I breastfed it, whenever wherever. It is that simple for me. I have breastfed restaurants, at the mall, waiting in line for my printed photos.

The reaction when I breastfeed in public are beautiful. People smile at me, strangers come and talk to me with this pure smile when people see this brand new little person getting food from their mother. People share their stories with me and talk about when there children where so little. They advise me on how this time is so special! They ask me if I have more children and so on. I can say that breastfeeding in public places in Iceland is one special kind of an icebreaker.

Me and my husband got a great photographer Tinna Schram to come home and take pictures when our children where 10 days old. Because of how natural and beautiful breastfeeding is, the photographer took pictures of me breastfeeding the children. We cherish those pictures so much.

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The Downside

The people in Iceland are so fond of breastfeeding that it is really hard for mothers that are not able to breastfeed their lovely infants. If they need to give their babies bottle, they would try to not do it in public. They try to avoid as many eyes as they can.

The older generation would say, how do you not have enough or you did not try hard enough or your generation is too soft. Not everybody of course but too many by my opinion. Few of my friends have cried a lot because of these comments. I think these responses come only because 100 years ago people really needed to struggle to survive. Icelanders lived in farm building with turf walls and also in caves. Their hard lives maybe make them believe in natural ways and tough stances.

Looking forward to write again about the culture in Iceland in parenting. What has your breastfeeding experience been like ?

Eva Ösp Matthíasdóttir, is married to her best friend Bjarki Heiðar Bjarnason and they have three lovely children together that are all in kindergarten. She is a teacher from Iceland and loves being a mother. Before the motherhood, she traveled a lot and learned a lot from another cultures. She truly believes that every human being has a right to be loved and be accepted. Me and my husband just started youtube channel Our Journey that talks about our lives in Iceland

I Don’t Need a Ring On Me

A few weeks before I got married, I had an engagement ring,my first marital symbol . The first day I wore it, It drew too much attention. Friends and strangers called it out with equal exuberance.

They held my hand and ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ about the sparkling stone and wanted to know everything about my “love story”. It felt like I had announced my wedding on prime time TV. It made me way too conscious. So, after a few days, I hid it in my purse.

Following the wedding, I was adorned with the Mangal Sutra. I willingly wanted to wear it as part of the wedding ceremony. It was my homage to tradition.

Jasmine flowers in my hair and Mehendi in my hands, this was part of the quintessential wedding fantasy. I had unknowingly nurtured this dream since I was a little girl. But within a few days, the black and gold chain, as well as the shiny engagement ring, were both forsaken in an obscure corner of the dresser drawer.

Significance of Mangalsutra in India

In India, when women get married, they wear a Mangal Sutra. It is a simple chain made of gold with black beads woven into it. But, it is no ordinary chain. In it is packed centuries of tradition and history.

It is the upholder of virtue, a cornerstone of social norm and a shining symbol of loyalty. You may grudge it, seeing it as a weapon that men use to make sure their women are branded as theirs. Or you may revere it as a reminder of one’s change in identity, the first step of a new journey together in life. No matter your viewpoint, one thing is for sure, you may not ignore it.

Significance of Rings in America

When I came to America, instead of the chains, I witnessed rings. The symbol of a marital bond was shared here by men and women. Here, the ring was the sign of a couple’s commitment to one another. Single people filtered eligible men or women they might see at the bar, grocery store or random meetup group by a quick, expert glance at the ring finger.

Men and women thus make sure their spouses are not exposed to roving eyes and unwelcome advances. The power of the diamond studded metal ring ensures couples are able to a secure, UN-threatened, marital life.

My Real Marital Identification

Initially, there were some occasions like the annual Diwali celebration, a guilt-induced temple visit, or a friends baby shower for which I frantically looked for the ring or the chain and wore them for an hour or two. But as the years went by, I realized I had no use for them.

It is not that I don’t like jewelry, I do. My drawers were filled with earrings – long ones, terracotta ones, gold ones, beaded ones. I used to purchase little trinkets from all the places I traveled to. I had a necklace from Peru, a bracelet from Amsterdam, a pendant from Arizona. But the charm of all these was that they didn’t need to stay on me forever. After a few hours, I could put them back in the jewelry case and get back to an unencumbered life.

Wearing stone studded metal rings on my finger all the time got in the way of me cooking, cleaning dishes and daily ablutions. It was too much trouble.

As for the chain, it swung about when I went running, slipped when I went swimming and itched when it was a hot day. So I discarded them both in the 2*2 foot locker of my bank. I might indulge in cosmetic jewelry every now and then, but I don’t bother with the ‘real’ stuff anymore.

If you see me now, nothing sets me apart from a merry spinster. Well, nothing other than the baby weight that is sticking to me like a piece of discarded chewing gum on hair. If you are wondering whether my husband ever worries about romping men hitting on me because of the want of a chain or a ring, rest assured.

For one, he doesn’t wear one either for similar reasons. And secondly, he has nothing to worry about.

I have a better symbol of being ‘taken’ that I carry around with me all the time; My cheerio infested, melted crayon marked, sticky candy filled, eight-seater minivan.

What is your marital identification ?

Sandhya Acharya, author of the best selling children’s book the Big Red Firetruck grew up in Mumbai, India and now lives in the Bay Area. She worked as a financial professional and now pursues her passion for writing. She is also an amateur runner, a dance enthusiast and loves reliving her childhood through her young sons. Her work has appeared in NPR(KQED), ThriveGlobal, Peacock Journal and India Currents among others. She blogs regularly at www.sandhyaacharya.com

Substitute Dad – The Story of A Stepfather

My story is one of struggle and work but with a wonderful reward. Where a man came in and fulfilled a much-needed role missing in too many homes. The absent father.

This is the other side of single motherhood. The advent of the Substitute Father. This is when a man comes in and has a relationship with a single mother.

Our Love Story

It starts like all other relationships, man meets woman. Man falls for Woman. Woman has a child from a previous relationship. Suddenly Man has a new child to father.

Now as this is my story I need to give a little background. I was a bachelor with no children when I met this woman, never had any experience with fatherhood or raising children in any way.

So, one day after the wedding happens, suddenly this single man has a whole family. After the usual panic attack and the momentary self recrimination he gets to work.

Now don’t get me wrong this man has met the child before and in fact has a good relationship with him. There is a huge difference between being the boyfriend and being the new daddy.

Going From Stepfather to Father

The day comes where have to step up and father this young boy who has never had a male figure in his life with the exception of an absent and bitter father, A biological father who does not want to pay for his child.

So this day comes when the child has a need for direction, for a man to show him how to be a man. Now this is my job and I have absolutely no idea how to fulfill this in any meaningful way so I go to my backup plan.

The wonderful and all connecting Xbox.

So we sit together one day playing some game in which I am bad at and we begin to talk. It is slow at first with basic small talk. Talk about the game and instruction on how to get better at it, that was him instructing me as he is a natural wizard at it.

Small talk leads to something a little deeper and before you know it we two are connecting on a new and different level. A level that probes the hurt and pain that he feels at the abandonment by his biological father, the anger that he feels towards his mother and the lack of hope for a real future.

My heart breaks at his words but I know that I must be strong and give him the support and advice that he needs at this time. I take a deep breath and begin to tell him my own story of abandonment, of my lack of a father in my life and the negative effect that it had in my life.

He sits and listens to me while I recite my story, the game forgotten. Time goes by, questions are asked and honestly answered. On both sides, a deeper connection is made between two men, one an angry teen and one a confused and scared adult but more importantly between a father and a son.

Being a Father is Hard Work

This was one the first of many conversations between myself and him. Conversations that were not always polite or civil. Angry words were said by both parties. Punishments and rewards were handed out. Love was created and nurtured.

Now he has moved on in his life, graduated High School and has been offered a scholarship to a local college. My son went from lost and lonely, desperate and afraid with no hope to a wonderful young man with a future. I like to think that my calm influence had something to do with that.

I say this not to pat myself on the back but to show that it can be done. For men out there who are in or entering into a relationship with a woman with a child.

You are the FATHER and it is your responsibility to act the part. It does not matter if your seed is their seed. Anyone can get a woman pregnant but it takes a real MAN to be a FATHER.

What do you think it takes to be a good father?

Chris Segee is a leading coach in the field of Divorce Recovery and Author of the Best Selling The 90 Day Heal available on amazon. He has coached persons in the throes of divorce and other emotional turmoil for the past 20 years with dozens of success stories of saved marriages as well as saved souls of those who have been divorced. He welcomes any and all inquires to his email chrissegee@gmail.com

Mythology – Story of Dashratha and Meaning

Dasharatha means one who can run ten chariots at a time. Your body is Dasharatha, the ten chariots, which include the five organs of senses and the five organs of action. These take the mind into ten different directions.

The three names of Dashratha’s queens are also very interesting. The first wife is Kaushalya, which means skill. The second wife is Sumitra, which means good friend. There could be many friends, but not all are good friends. Many times, friends drag you in the wrong direction. Sumitra is one who takes you in the right direction. The third wife is Kaikeyi, one who stands by your side, although she appears differently; but deep within, she does benevolence. It is like a doctor who gives you a bitter medicine, or a vaccination. As soon as the children see him, they start yelling and crying, but the vaccination does good to them. Similarly, Kaikeyi who apparently is not pleasant, but inwardly, does that which is good for you.

Dasratha did a yagya called Ashwamedha, after which he got four sons. Shwa means yesterday or tomorrow, Ashwa means today – not yesterday, nor tomorrow. It means it is eternal and the present moment. Medha means purification. Medha also means intellect. Ashwamedha means purifying the intellect by being in the present moment, purifying the spirit, the senses, the body-mind complex; going deep in the spirit.

When Dasharatha did the Ashwamedha yagya, Rama was born. This is the spiritual significance of Sri Rama’s birth. The words – ‘rays’, ‘radiance’, all these come from the Sanskrit root Ra, which means to shine, radiance, brilliance and light. Ma means within me, in my heart. ‘Rama’ means ‘the light in my heart’. When the mind in this body, with some skill gets into the present moment, it purifies the mind and the heart, and then Rama, the light in our heart, shines.

Four things come out of you when Ashwamedha is done. When your senses are purified, then what comes up is the Divine light in your heart (Rama), and awareness (Lakshmana). Then, you have no enemies (Shatrugnan), and all the talents (Bharat) come to you.

Retold by Aditi Wardhan Singh. Illustrated by Shruti Prabhu.