"What's in a Name?"- Shakespere

"What's in a Name?"
Well.. A lot of substance!
As a kid, i always wondered what my name meant. To the extent that i did ask my parents..All they ever told me was.."it just means a BEAUTIFUL girl". I somehow could not believe them. While in school and studying Hindi & Sanskrit i could never find my name under the beautiful category. I grew curious, when i spoke to my Hindi teacher. She told me that my name was the second name for Goddess Parvati. I liked the fact that my name was chosen with so much thought by my father.

When i got to know that my name was the second name for Parvati, i went back to my father and confronted him. All he told me was that APARNA symbolised strength and beauty to him.. He believed that my brother (AJAY) and my name means the same.. some one who cant be won over easily! Born to a Brahmin father, i now know the thought he put into before naming me APARNA.

Later, i met many Bengali people. Some of who are very good friends of mine. They told how beautiful a name APARNA is. They believe it symbolises the strength of goddess Durga.
It was in 1999 that my dearest friend told me that Aparna actually meant "leafless". I wondered why? It did not sound appealing to me. (it sounded like lifeless and weak to me).. It was then that my friend told me why Goddess Parvati was named Aparna. I was impressed and could not believe the little known story that she knew and told me. Thereafter, when anyone asked me what my name meant, i told them it was Goddess Parvati's second name and was called without leaf because of her determination.

Today, i do not quiet know what went through my mind.. But i randomly decided to do some googling.. ;) I typed my name and asked for its meaning.. and this is what i found. I always took pride in my name but did not quiet know whether i did justice to its meaning. Did/do i have even one bit quality of what my name actually refers to???? Can't tell for sure.. May be people who know me can say it best..But ask me and i would ";)"

Read on.. A beautiful story of Aparna.. (courtesy: www.boloji.com)
"The Name Aparna
Its Mythological Meaning in Hindu Religion
Compiled by Aparna Chatterjee

Goddess Parvati is also known by the name of Aparna. It means A (without) - Parna (leaf) – without a leaf. There goes an interesting story in Hindu Mythology as to how Parvati came to be known as ‘Aparna’ – the leafless one.

Himavan – The King of the snow-clad peaks of Himalayas and his wife Mena gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Uma, also known as Parvati, daughter of the mountains.

Parvati was Sati re-born, the mother-goddess herself, determined to make Shiva a householder once again.

After Sati had immolated herself in her father Daksha’s Palace, being humiliated before all the Gods by her very own father who denounced her husband Shiva as a wild, beastly, indecent vagabond - Shiva full of remorseful agony for his dead wife, isolated himself and led a reclusive life in the icy caves of the Himalayas in his abode – Mount Kailasa. He rejected the world outside.

Determined to draw Shiva out of his cave and make him her consort, every day, Parvati crossed the cold mountain valleys and went into his cave with gifts of fruits and flowers, hoping to win his love. She would sweep the floor and tend to the fire, so that he might take notice of her.

He never did. Not even once did he open his eyes to look upon her charming face. He either meditated or he smoked his pipe, the chillum, and lost himself in narcotic dreams. Parvati knew that she wanted Shiva for a husband. But how would she win his heart if he never looked her way?

Death of Kama

Parvati invoked Priti (the goddess of love and longing) and Rati (the mistress of erotica), to rouse Shiva out of his meditation. They entered Shiva’s desolate cave and transformed it into a pleasure garden of fragrant flowers, spring breezes, dancing nymphs, buzzing bees and singing mynahs. Kama – The God of Lust and Desire also joined in with his Consort – Rati, and with his sugarcane bow sent love-darts and arrows dripping with desire into Shiva’s heart.

Shiva was rather furious than amused. In his anger, he opened his third eye and with a flame of fury engulfed Kama’s beautiful body and reduced it to ashes. With desire so brutally crushed, the cosmic sage resumed his meditation.

“What have you done?” cried Rati, Kama’s beloved Consort. “Without desire, the bull will forsake the cow, the horse, the mare and the bees, the flowers. There will be no homes, no families, as men and women will not love each other. Society will collapse and life will be devoid of its very essence. Desire may be the cause of suffering; but it is also the reason for joy. What is life without it? An existence without flavor.”

Rati’s lamentations moved Shiva. He saw the wisdom in her words. He realized that complete rejection of the world made little sense. Living had its price - suffering; it also had its reward – joy. One came with the other. Together they gave a reason for surviving.

The death of Kama alarmed the Gods: “Without the Lord of Desire, man will not embrace woman and life will cease to be.”

Parvati said: “I shall find another way to win Shiva’s heart. When Shiva becomes my consort, Kama will be re-born.

Parvati’s Penance
Parvati realized that she had to prove the earnestness of her feelings if she wished to be Shiva’s Consort. Perhaps he would marry the mountain princess, if her love for him was true. With her he would find the balance between Yoga and Bhoga.

She went into the forest and performed rigorous Tapas, wearing nothing to protect her tender body from the harsh weather, eating nothing, not even a leaf, earning the admiration of the forest ascetics, Sadhus and Sages, who named her Aparna – the leafless one.

Parvati focused her mind on Shiva. She thought of nothing but him. She ate nothing, drank nothing, she only chanted his name. She sat so still that ants began to crawl on her skin and lizards slithered over her limbs, taking her to be a rock. The Sages were impressed by the determination of the mountain princess to endure such an endless fast for so long a time. They gathered around her and blessed her. “She is Aparna, the girl who refuses to eat even a leaf,” they said.

Aparna matched Shiva in her capacity to cut herself from the world and completely master her physical needs. The power of her Tapas shook Shiva out of his meditation. Her persistence was amazing. Shiva was impressed. He stepped out of his cave and accepted Parvati as his wife. He married her in the presence of the Gods with sacred rites before the holy fire. The cosmos rejoiced.
Parvati melted Shiva’s stern heart with her affection. Together they played dice on Mount Kailasa and sported on the banks of Lake Mansarovar, discovering the joys of married life. The Goddess also awakened Shiva’s concern for the world by questioning him on various issues about nature, society, life and marriage. As he spoke, he revealed the secrets of the Tantras, the mysteries of the Vedas and the splendors of the Shastras that he had gathered in eons of meditation. Thus his great wisdom was revealed for the good of the cosmos. Parvati was the perfect student, Shiva the perfect teacher. The world was enriched by these sacred discourses. Inspired by Parvati’s beauty, Shiva became the fountain-head of music, dance and drama. He sang and danced to the delight of the Gods who were pleased to see his enchantment with the Goddess. He came to be known as Lord of the Arts – Kaleshvar.

The Cosmic Couple
Parvati and Shiva complemented each other perfectly. She was gentle and graceful; he was wild and forceful. She domesticated Shiva and turned him into a householder, much to the satisfaction of the Gods. She softened the stern hermit with sweet words; her smile stirred love in his austere heart. When she embraced Shiva and the two became one in a sacred union, Kama – the Lord of Desire – the catalyst of all creative forces – was re-born. The twang of the Love-God’s Bow and the fragrance of spring filled the air. The cosmos and the Gods cheered this divine union. "


Thus, Aparna brought back the balance to the world!
And Guess what? My zodiac sign is " The Scales" ;)

It feels good to know the meaning & story behind my name.. I think its Apt for me (Libran Aparna -complete balance ;) )
"I love you daddy! you named me with one of the most beautiful names" Hurray!!!! :P

Love,
Aparna :)

2011

Happy New Year Folks!
2011!!
I am hoping and looking forward to something new and different that can change my life in a good way, be it personal or professional.

Off late i have been wondering, "have the decisions i have taken so far been correct? did i really want to do all those things that i did and ventured out to do? ". Frankly, i cant seem to remember whether i made calculative decisions or process thoughts. Though all that has happened did happen for the good.. As its always said.."Everything happens for the good".

Its a new year, and i am anxiously looking forward to this year. I am nervous, tensed, worried, & stressed..Not sure what's in store for me.. but like anyone else..i did work towards a few things. Waiting for the results now!!! Gathering myself together..trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together..lets see what i find out. Gosh! I have never seen myself this way.. so perturbed..so stressed.. its not me..but guess its the time... so..

Hey dear 20+C+N+B+11..i look forward to u.. :)