Indian mythology has been very fascinating for me since childhood. I remember we had neighbors who were South Indian families. There was a granny in that house, we use to call her Amma. She was very soft-spoken, generous, sweet, and always smiling.

She was suffering from uterine cancer and for her treatment, she had come from Kerala to Mumbai. But I had never seen her bedridden; she was very active and use to work a lot. Every evening just before sunset, she uses to take her grandsons, me and

my brother to the terrace. We use to sing prayer and the prayer used to be in Malayam language. Though Maharashtrian we could sing it well and still I remember some lines very clearly. The reason for singing prayer every day was she use to tell stories after

that. All tales from Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Panchatantra. Rama and Ravana tales were her favorite. Amma had told us Ravana had ten heads so he was also called Dashanan. That ten heads represented ten qualities of him that were dominant. The ten head symbolizes he had the wisdom of six shastras and 4 Vedas, making him the most intelligent king of his time. Another representation of Ravana’s ten heads is the ten emotions.

Kama (Lust)

Krodha (Anger)

Moha (Delusion)

Lobha (Greed)

Mada (Pride)

Maatsarya (Envy)

Ghrina (Hatred)

Bhaya (Fear)

Irshya (Jealousy)

Ahamkara (Ego)

Ravana was very dominant in all these negative emotions as compared to his positive qualities. He had to ultimately lose his kingdom and all his heads too. We all too have all these emotions within us and our minds always try to dominate all these emotions.

Meditation is a way to calm down the dominant-negative emotions of our minds. It brings positivity, kindness, apathy, generosity, and modesty which make you Rama.

Amma, you are been missed and your teachings shall always be in my heart forever.

Harmony, Health, and Happiness are key for a good life and it can be achieved by simple strategies: Awareness, Balance, and Control….