Conversational Sanskrit

यद्यस्ति पतिशुश्रूषा यद्यस्ति चरितम् तपः । यद्यस्ति एकपत्नीत्वं शीतोभव हनूमतः     ॥ Yadyasti patishushrooshaa  yadyasti caritam tapaH  Yadi vaa ekapatneetvam sheeto bhava HanoomataH यदि= if अस्ति= there is पति = husband शुश्रूषा= service of यदि= if अस्ति= there is आ चरितम्= conduct of तपः= devout penance यदि = if  अस्ति= there is एकपत्नीत्वम्= devotion of a man to a single wife शीतः= cool भव= may you be हनूमतः= o hanumAn Hanuman came searching for  Sita in Lanka where Ravana had taken her after kidnapping her. Hanuman finds her imprisoned in the Asoka garden and reassures her that her husband Rama will presently come for her. He goes on to destroy the Asoka garden and is taken prisoner by Ravana's soldiers. They tie rags to his tail and set it on fire. Sita prays that if she has faithfully served her husband Rama if she has been faithful to her religious penances and if Rama had remained loyal to...

When we think of the Hindu wedding ceremony, the image that comes to mind is one of endless smoke-laden torture of the bride and groom. The only fun and meaningful aspects of the wedding appear to be the song and dance at the baraat and sangeet, and the opportunity to dress up. In fact, the bride and groom appear to be mere figureheads for what seems to be a function for the family and the community at large. At first sight, it looks so different from a church wedding, with its simple elegance and the most critical moment belonging exclusively to the bride and groom as they say their vows. In Christian weddings, the couple expressly consent with " I do". In Muslim weddings, the bride at least gets to say 'qubool hai' (it is acceptable), the Hindu woman never seems to be asked her opinion about the wedding. In fact, the Hindu wedding is, for the most part, not a religious ceremony but a beautiful conversation between the bride and the groom, reaffirming their commitm...