Venice: Romance Capital of the World

Trust me, it's not just me...

In Gordon Korman's book - One False Note; Nellie says, "I always wanted to go to Venice. It's supposed to be the romance capital of the world."

Or to quote Woody Allen, "Venice is the most romantic place in the world but it’s even better
when there is no one around."

Or imagine someone like Friedrich Nietzsche saying, “When I seek another word for ‘music’, I never find any other word than ‘Venice’.”

    Need I say anything more!

I was in Venice with for 4 days. The city is nothing like you would see anywhere in the world. The boat from the airport leaves after every 30 minutes and is the best way to travel to the city. The first view of the city feels surreal. It feels as though you are entering another time, or is one a part of a movie set? One cannot tell.

Venice is also known as the "floating city". Its origins are traced to 420 A.D when after the fall of Roman Empire, Venetians realized that they can no longer survive on the mainland. Hence, they sought refuge on these marshy lands. Initially what started as a temporary settlement, soon became a major hub of culture, trade, arts in the world. The city became an important center during Renaissance, along with Florence and Rome, in Italy. While Florentines were known as great thinkers, Venetians came to be known as "great doers" since they had built a city on marshy grounds from nothing and had fought the deadly malaria.  Henry III is famously remembered for saying, “If I were not King of France, I would choose to be a citizen of Venice.” In current times, city thrives mainly on tourism and is one of the most visited city in the world.

I thought I can never walk in any city as much as I have walked in Manhattan. 

Was I wrong! Venice is all about walking. The two best options to travel in Venice are - public water taxi or by foot. Public water taxi is one way, that is takes a circle around the city, so the best bet you have for exploring the city is on foot. 

The city a labyrinth of narrow lanes with wind gushing through them, lanes which are alive with buzzing cafes, boutiques, gondolas and shops of all sorts. There are directions made on the building walls - above the eye level. Look out for them or you can be really lost. My friend's watch had a compass which came in more than handy while strolling through the endless streets.

Everyone finds their own way of understanding the city route - for us, there were two ends - Rialto and St. Mark Square. Piazza San Marco is impressive and breath taking. That's the most beautiful and impressive side of Venice. High end fashion shops, lovely hotels, adorable cafes all mark this area. With history in every corner, a place where you can spend an entire day. 

 

Rialto, which I personally liked quite a bit, is a buzzing center of activity. Has quite an old world charm to it. It is the commercial, financial center and has many street artists performing near it. Dances, masked people with odd tricks, magicians... the place has the pulse of live tourist center. 

Street performances are a highlight of this city and one needs to slow down, stand, watch, appreciate to soak in the vibe.

In the evening, to walk outside, laze outside a cafe and enjoy (my fav) Capricciosa Pizza, beer and watch the crowd go by... man! I want to go back there! 

I have no idea what we eat in name of pizza anywhere outside Italy. Italy ruined the flavor of pizza for me first few months after I was back from there, thankfully slowly my taste buds are back to their numbed version.  

I will never forget the flavor of my first pizza there which just melted in my mouth. Its a sin to eat anything other than pizza while you are there!

My friend would make us walk to find that perfect cafe which was less commercial or 'touristy' or 'American', had more of home touch. We ended up exploring some lovely food places there. It is a food lovers paradise. Lovely ice creams - like I haven't seen anywhere in the world - topped with cream, syrup and wafer. Best coffee, crisp fresh salads, lovely soups and out of this world pizzas.

And to top it "romance is in the air". Couples just walking by hand in hand, some guy singing on the gondola, loud chit chat and laughter around,  a violin or an accordion or saxophone or a flute player playing outside some cafe where there are more couples! 

Murano and Burano are two islands close by - both which can be covered in a single trip on any afternoon. The boats to these islands leave every 40 minutes or so from the ferry station that comes after the Venice Train Station. Murano is just glass factories, while Burano is more busy with cafes, colored houses and loads of shops with lace work. 

A lot of time we travel to shut the world out, but usually that means going back to the nature, himalayas or some retreat. Venice is one place where you step into another world. Its an old city, with slow pace, lazy days, and cultural evenings. Attend an opera, or musical concert, or a play or just stroll in the city - the place is a cocoon of love, warmth and intimacy. A bit like walking in the clouds in one's dream.

5 Slokas to Know (& to Impress)

The festival season just got over, and I noticed a lot of detailing this year. Apart from the decoration, food, even the pooja this year was quite elaborate - with a pandit presiding the prayer service almost everywhere. With today's fast paced life, it's not expected to know ancient chants - to see me reciting them along with the priest - a lot of friends and family were impressed. And there were quite a few that I didn't know, and they sounded so good to my ears that I wanted to learn them.

Hence, comes this post - few mantras and slokas that are quite common and heard frequently - with their complete meaning.

What are Mantras?

Mantras are vedic hymns that are repeated to aid concentration in meditation. The word has two parts "Mann" that is the mind, and "tra" that means instrument. Hence, the instrument of mind - the sounds that help one in reaching and aiding meditation. Chanting the mantras induce vibrations - no wonder - they sound so soothing to one's ears.

What are Slokas?

Sloka means a song. These are songs that are usually dedicated in praise of God. During our prayers, most of the couplets recited are slokas. Slokas make for a powerful prayer, help in concentration and peaceful mind. They have meter, structure and melody. Slokas are mostly couplets, these couplets when put together form a chapter called "Adhyaya". A collection of "Adhyayas" then become a holy book - such as Ramayana or Mahabharata which are exclusively written in verse / slokas.


Difference between Mantra & Sloka     

Both are soothing and help in concentration, meditation.
While there are Slokas for almost every deity in Hindu religion, here I elaborate on the ones mostly recited by my mother and few which I found very soothing.

 Top 5 Slokas to Know & Impress

1.  Vishnu Stuti - Shanta Karam

My personal favorite as it sounds so majestic! At home, my mother usually recites this at the end of the prayers.

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं
विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्ण शुभाङ्गम् ।
लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यम्
वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम् ॥

Shanta Karam, Bhujag Shayanam, Padma Naabham, Suresham
Vishwa aaddharam, Gagan Sadrasham, Megh-varnam, Subha-gyaam
Lakshmi Kantam, Kamal Nainam, Yogi Bhir Dhyan Gamyam
Vande Vishnu Bhava bhaya Harnam, Sarvo Lokay Naathnam

This is in praise of Lord Vishnu who:
- Has a serene peaceful appearance, rests on a serpent, has a lotus coming out if his navel, is the lord of the lords.
- Is the keeper of the universe, is infinite like the sky,  has the blue colour of the clouds and is most attractive.
- Is the husband of Goddess Lakshmi, has eyes like lotus, can only be realised by Yogis through meditation.
- Obeisance to Vishnu who dispels the fear of worldly existence / rebirths, is the supreme Lord of all realms.

2. Tvameva Mata - Also called the song of surrender, it is dedicated to God, Guru or anyone to whom one expresses complete surrender. Many believe that this was recited by Queen Gandhari, mother of Kauravas, to Lord Krishna. 

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव ।
त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव ।
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणम् त्वमेव ।
त्वमेव सर्वम् मम देव देव ॥

Tva-meva, Maataa, cha, Pitaa, Tva-meva
Tva-meva Bandhush Sakhaa Tva-meva
Tva-meva Vidya Dravinnam Tva-meva
Tva-meva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva

- You are my, mother, and, you are my, father .
- You are my, relative, you are my, friend.
- You are my, knowledge,  you are my, wealth.
- You are my, all-everything, my, God, of Gods.

3. Shiva Stuti - Karpuragauram Karunavtaaram

कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं
संसारसारम् भुजगेन्द्रहारम् ।
सदावसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे
भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥

Karpura-Gauram, Karuna-Avataaram
Sansaara-Saaram, Bhuja ganedra Haaram
Sadaa-Vasantam, Hridaya Aravinde
Bhavam, Bhavani Sahitam, Namaami


This is in praise of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva who
- is pure like camphor, is a personification of compassion.
- is the whole world, has king of serpent as his garland. 

- always resides, in hearts like lotus. (Lotus is untouched by the muddy waters it is born in, similarly, Lord Shiva resides in the hearts that are as pure as Lotus, untouched by the world around them)
- To the Lord (Shiva), accompanied by the Goddess, I bow to them.

4. Ganesh Stuti - Vakratunda Mahakaya 

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय
 सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ ॥
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव
सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥

Vakra Tunda, Maha Kaaya,
Surya Koti, Samaprabha
Nirvi-ghnam, Kuru, Me, Deva
Sarva-karya-eshu, Sarvadaa

This is praise of and prayer to - Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha who:
- has curved trunk, massive body
- has brilliance of millions of sun. (Surya - Sun, Koti - Millions, Sama - equal, Prabha - splendor)
- Please make all my work obstacle free. (Nirvi - None, Ghnam - obstacle, Kuru - Give, Me - me, Deva - Lord, Sarva karya eshu - all endeveaors, Sarvada - Always)

5. Parvati Stuti - Sarva-Mangala-Mangalye 

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये
शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि
नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

Sarva-Mangala-Mangalye
Shive, Sarvartha-Sadhike
Sharanaye, Treh-ambike, Gauri
Narayani, Namoh-stutey

Goddess Parvati is worshipped as Shakti, meaning power. She is source of power for everything, and has many forms - Lakshmi, Durga, Chandi, Kali.
For the last line, there are two schools of thought - that is over the name "Narayani". As per one, Narayani is another name for consort of Vishnu - hence, they use this mantra to show that Lakshmi and Parvati is one, thereby confirming Shakti - Power as one supreme deity which is manifested in many forms.While the other, takes Narayani as sister of Narayan, which is usually taken as Durga, which in turn is a part of Parvati, thereby saying that Narayani is another name for Goddess Parvati - to whom this whole mantra is dedicated.

This in in praise of Goddess Parvati, who
- is the auspiciousness (positiveness) of all auspiciousness
- Consort of Shiva, who fulfills all desires
- gives refuge, is three eyed, has a shinning face
- Consort of Vishnu /  Parvati as Narayani, I bow before you.