Spirituality walked in
clad in saffron
spouting chaste Malayalam
thinking the high thoughts
the lady said, ‘food is ready, do come in’
spirituality walked in
straight head on straighter shoulders
the heavy weight of this world and the next
carried with elan, after great knowledge, what obstacles?
when about to sit for delicious summer food
of mambazha koottan, pachadi, achar, koottu kalan and pappadam
spirituality asked
‘so are you planning to serve both of us together?’
referring to the cab driver thumbing through the newspaper
the hostess replied
‘both of you are hungry
both of you are travelers
what your destinations are
what paths you choose I hardly care
both of you will share the same table
two travelers, one food, one table
one teacher!
Adhyapika 
9 responses to “Feeding Spirituality”
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I’d like to join in. Starting to look up menu items now.
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You are most welcome 🙂
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OK, so here’s what I’m sending, along with your poem, to my poker group–five over old guys, who also like to eat out together sometimes– a suggestion that we look for a restaurant that offers
“delicious summer food”:
1) mambazha koottan, https://cookpad.com/us/recipes/2607884-sweet-mango-curry-with-coconut-mambazha-kootan
2) pachadi: side dish made with vegetable, yoghurt, coconut, ginger and curry leaves and seasoned with mustard. https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/cucumber-pachadi-recipe/
3) achar: combo of sliced fruits and vegetables pickled in oil and spices that has the power to vivify even the most tired bowl of rice. https://www.tastingtable.com/cook/national/achar-indian-condiment-pickles
4) koottu kalan: an ultimate comfort food with some rice and any spicy vegetable stir fry on the side. Usually prepared with Chena /Elephant Foot /Yam and Pachakkaya /Raw Plantain. https://www.kothiyavunu.com/2009/07/kalan-kaalan-recipe-kerala-sadya-recipe.html
5) and pappadam” – tortilla-size, paper-thin, crisp wafers with a lovely nutty flavor. Made from lentil, chickpea, or rice flour, they’re available plain or accented with cumin, pepper, garlic, or chile. https://www.finecooking.com/article/whats-a-pappadam
(I’ll let you know if our Midwestern USA city might allow us to travel gastronomically.)
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Hmm appreciated… You might as well plan to visit Kerala …that would be fun
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I was.rereading your poem, which is worth reading often, and just now saw this note. Must have not attended to it before.
I really would like to visit Kerala, now that I know someone there. Sadly, My Dear and I have passed the age at which we can travel long distances.
Well, not exactly sad. We have done our share of exploring the world. And it’s actually rather peaceful and enriching to sit on our back porch and read writings such as yours. I haven’t found many, but I feel blessed to have found an adhyapika across the miles
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It’s me, Albert. Trouble logging in.
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Hi Albert
Always a pleasure to hear from you. Its difficult to travel but impossible no….but you are the best judge. Floods have devastated most Indian states this year…so it has been with Kerala. None to blame except our poor unhealthy management of natural resources and human greed…
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🙂 great hearing from Albert. I am happy too to have found a friend in you. That’s one thing too rare to find honestly…
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