Carpe Diem Special (2nd guest) Kala Ramesh #4 jasmine rain

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

First a few announcements:

1. I am behind with commenting on all of your beautiful art-work of haiku- and tanka poetry. I hope to catch up a.s.a.p.
2. On our Tumblr "Carpe Diem Haiku Kai" you can find a sneak preview for the upcoming months. You can find this Tumblr HERE
3. Next month, because of the still running "autumn"-kukai I have a unique series of CD Specials in mind for you all ... here is the new CD Special logo for November (© photo):

I love to introduce haiku- and tanka poets from The Netherlands to you. I am busy with gathering the permissions for these CD Specials and I hope to surprise you all.

Okay ... back to our 4th CD Special by our second guest Kala Ramesh. Kala is a renown haiku- and tanka poetess from India and she really writes wonderful haiku and tanka. For this CD Special I have chosen a mixture of haiku and tanka created by her.

I hope her haiku and tanka will be bring you the inspiration you need ... in other words ... let Kala Ramesh be your muse for today.

I look at the blue sea
and the blue sky
in wonder . . .
gently they turn
into night

liquid twilight
the tilt of a water pot
on her hip

Banyan Tree

rain catchers

near our banyan tree
here and there
leaves of the pond lotus
roll raindrop-moons

fireflies
in their own world
jasmine rain

© Kala Ramesh, Pune, India

I wasn't familiar with the Banyan Tree, so I searched the Internet and found a nice piece of text (on wikipedia) in which the deeper spiritual meaning of the Banyan Tree is mentioned. There is also reference that the Banyan Tree stands for eternity and everlasting. In hindu images the god Shiva is seen very often sitting in silence under the Banyan Tree.

The banyan tree is the national tree of India. It is also called Indian or Bengal fig. This tree is considered sacred in India and can be seen near a temple or religious center. It is a big tree and gives shade to travelers in very hot summer months. An old custom offers worship to this tree.

In Hinduism, the leaf of the banyan tree is said to be the resting place for the god Krishna.
In the Bhagavat Gita, Krishna said, "There is a banyan tree which has its roots upward and its branches down, and the Vedic hymns are its leaves. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas." (Bg 15.1) Here the material world is described as a tree whose roots are upwards and branches are below. We have experience of a tree whose roots are upward: if one stands on the bank of a river or any reservoir of water, he can see that the trees reflected in the water are upside down. The branches go downward and the roots upward. Similarly, this material world is a reflection of the spiritual world. The material world is but a shadow of reality. In the shadow there is no reality or substantiality, but from the shadow we can understand that there is substance and reality.

A Big Banyan Tree at Bangalore (photo © Kiran Gopi)

shadows move

up and down the wall

bare branches

© Chèvrefeuille

in the shadow of the old Banyan Tree I sit in peace seeking contact with the Universe leaves resonate the Vedas

© Chèvrefeuille

What a beautiful tree this is the Banyan Tree ... I was really surprised to read all the information on this "holy" tree and as you can read I was inspired. Now it is up to you ...

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until October 28th at noon (CET). I will try to publish our next episode, folding paper, later on. Have fun ... take a seat under the Banyan Tree.