Friday, August 2, 2013

Happy Senses - 2

This is a continuation of my earlier post Happy Senses 1. For those who have not read it, basically I am trying to list things that have a deep impact on me with respect to each of the five senses.

Hearing:

Image courtesy of OhMega1982 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • The sounds of nature are the most musical notes on the planet and a rarity in the mad rush of the cities.If one moves a little away from the hustle bustle of the concrete jungle to where there is more greenery the symphony of birds would permeate the air as the sun rises.A myriad of tweets and coos hits our ears as we just peep our heads out of the covers. The world wakes up to tweets these days but on twitter. We need to stop and listen to the real ones for a change!
  • Have you witnessed a small infant or toddler breaking into peals of laughter on something that to us adults would be a totally mundane thing or occurrence. The gurgle of their innocent laughter has a rippling effect and would lift the spirits of all around. Small things like these make life worth living.
  • Imagine a serene clear green lake surrounded by the mystic mountains. One should opt for the yet to be commercially exploited ones where tranquility would hold fort. In the pleasant misty weather, the small waves would gently kiss the lake shore. One should take a boat ride on a non-motorized vehicle. The water speaks to us each time the boatman's paddle slices through the gleaming ripples. Apart from that silence pervades; A quiet peace.
  • I have a fascination for wind chimes. In a gently blowing breeze, the soft tinkling notes they disperse in all directions are magical and meditative. Once during a trip to Bali we came across a wind chime store in a temple at a high altitude. Imagine fifty wind chimes rocking in unison together. It was amazing.
  • While watching a cricket or a soccer match on TV, every time the crowd goes into frenzied screams it fills me with so much excitement. After someone delivers a great performance on stage , when the entire audience goes into a deafening applause it gives one a unique feeling. Applause and cheer always lightens ones mood, though one may or may not be the recepient of the same. Well that reminds me of the moments in school and college when for various reasons one would burst into an elated 'Yay!! Hip Hip Hurrah' with friends.
  • In South Indian functions like marriages there is something called 'Getti Melam'. Its a unique combination of the nadaswaram and melam (the musical instruments) thats played during significant moments like when the groom ties the knot around the bride's neck and makes her his wife. With the guests strewing blessings in the form of flower petals and atchathai (turmeric coated rice) over the couple, the rhythmic music is deafening and befitting that wonderful scene.
  • My list  would be incomplete without something synonymous with hearing ;  music. Everyone likes music in some form though the tastes might be diverse. I enjoy different genres of music and what I would listen to depends on my mood, the weather(Oh yes!), my energy levels etc. There are times I like to listen to soft soothing Ilayaraja numbers and times when I would like to do a crazy jig with some A R Rahman fast number blasting away on my speakers. There are also times when M S Subbulakshmi's voice takes me to a different domain. When MTV first made its way into Indian television I did develop a fascination for Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys and other chart toppers of that time but apart from that I do not follow Western music much save the numbers I get to listen during an occasional taxi ride on radio. Music can be therapeutic, soul stirring.It sometimes provides one a momentary bliss, a peaceful solitude even when surrounded by so many things. 


I thought of clubbing Taste and Touch as well, but then it would be a really long post. Will follow up with those in another post.

Do let me know what you relate with hearing!

36 comments:

  1. The silence highlighted by cricket chirping, the voice of the one on phone, message beep on the phone (expecting from someone special)....i could go on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, the sounds related to the phone can be special indeed!

      Delete
  2. I love this series! There's so much to sense, isn't it? Its enough reason to be thankful that I have all my five senses in tact!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely Rajrupa . We just take them for granted don't we ?

      Delete
  3. Of the oars slicing through the water, fifty chimes on a hill, of applauses that bring a lump to my throat even if it is for some one else, the nadaswaram...I'm glad I read this post early in the morning :) You've made my day! I remember a haunting Ilayaraja song featuring Suhasini and Mohan(I think) jogging around a hill on a misty morning. I'm try to find but can't :( Reminds me of my growing years in Chennai.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You grew in Chennai , wow ! :) that song is 'paruvame puthiya padal ' from movie ' nenjathai killathey '

      Delete
    2. Thanks a ton Jaish! Found it on the youtube and made my girls also listen to it. Guess what! The younger one was humming it the next day :D

      Delete
  4. The sounds of Nature are truly a bliss, Jaya. However, the most amazing sound of my life is my mother calling my name. Ah! I die to hear the love mixed with my name when it comes out from her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course those are special . My dad is no more but the way he used to call me is etched in my mind

      Delete
  5. I am liking this series. Sense of sound is so very important... remember as mothers how we know what the kid is up to based on the sounds or lack of it from his room!! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes Shilpa . Speaking of it the lack of sounds is more perilous ha ha

      Delete
  6. Nice. Waiting for the next post in the series. I have never been so conscious of these things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much TF . After I started writing this series I became more conscious I should say :)

      Delete
  7. How about hearing & listening to what people have to say to us?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely expression of happiness Jaishree!

    ReplyDelete
  9. They say,if heard with carefully,one can acually hear sounds in silence too

    ReplyDelete
  10. Today I saw a video on CNN where a little girl, I guess few months old was cracking when her father was feeding popcorn to their dog. The sound of her laughter will remain with me for a very long time and that's the only thing coming to my mind right now. I agree with Rajrupa, your sense series is fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Saru. We have a lot to learn from those little ones, living in the moment for starters! :)

      Delete
  11. Sounds, now, are very evocative for me as well. I cannot forget the rustle of the wind, the gurgling of a nearby stream and the sudden spurts of birdsong on my various treks. The sights, sounds and silence is what still entices me to trek.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That makes me yearn for a getaway to somewhere serene like your treks Suresh! Have never done anything like that!

      Delete
  12. Yes jaish the sounds of nature & a baby gurgling are truly divine.I love the sound of gentle waves lapping against the shore-so calming!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are very calming arent they especially when all that you hear are their sounds! :)

      Delete
  13. Serene sounds are things you want to hear... I like listening to a soothing musical alarm in the morning when I have to get up... Puts you in the perfect mood for the whole day! Excellent post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If it's a soothing musical alarm I will never wake up Danny , my alarm has to sound like a military general's call for attention

      Delete
  14. I totally love this series of yours. When i visited Bombay two months back, the crashing waves had such a beautiful impact on me and at that time it was the only thing I could hear. The mind was also totally blank.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember your post on Bombay , waves are magical aren't they ?

      Delete
  15. Loving this series, Jaish. Oh, hearing allows us to gain insight into the mind of others.. including nature-every sound of nature is so rich!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I imagined each sound you described and found that I felt the same way about them. I love the sounds of wind chimes in the breeze, joyful laughter, the birds singing...and definitely music!! Loved reading this post.

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. The sounds of nature have quite a calming effect on us. I guess that's why we tend to go on vacations to places away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ah the simple joys!.
    What a beautiful post, Jaish! Reading this was such a pleasure to my eyes (and mind). Thank you so much for taking us through these instances; feels so, so good. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've always loved the singing of birds, or the symphony of birds, as you call it. There is no word in my vocabulary to describe the joy I get in listening to their voices with Silence as the background music. :D

    Also, yes, the toddlers have a unique way of laughing at nothing in particular. It's infectious, and I love it.

    It's been a long time, though, since I had the pleasure to listen to a wind chime. But I can well imagine the symphony of 50 wind chimes at a high altitude. Ooooh. :D

    ReplyDelete
  20. A Great post. All readers will definitely like this post. Looking forward for your next post.

    ReplyDelete
  21. One lovely post ! I too love wind chimes and sounds of nature. Would you believe it if I told you, one of the most relaxing sounds for me is to hear the cow patiently chewing the grass..something I associate with my childhood !

    ReplyDelete