Curry Stotra

The Curry Stotra
सिन्धूरारुणविग्रहां त्रिरुचिरां सामीप्यघ्राणस्फुरत्

शाकापाचकरूपितां दधिसखीं आपीतमूर्धन्यगाम् ।

पाणिभ्यां सुस्वादखाद्यचशकं तिक्तोत्पलं बिभ्रतीम्

रस्यां रत्न-घटस्त-रक्तचरणां ध्यायेत् करीं शंकरीम् ॥

 

 

I have been thinking, ever since my recent post about curry-bashers. Now come on. As one who lives and breathes curries, I am at a loss to understand how others, who have no civilised taste for curries, fuss about the Indian's obsession. 

Curry not only defines Indian culture, but it is India's biggest food export (MTR curry exports did half a billion dollars last year.) I read the other day that curry is the most common take-out food in England. I also suspect that the secret ingredient of Coca-Cola is a curry extract. And someone published a study that the reason why curry grows on you is that it causes addiction in the deep brain.

India lured Alexander, Marco Polo, Vasco da Gama, Robert Clive and Mountbatten with its spices and curries. In fact we poison every visiting cricket team with extra-strong curry so we can face their fast bowling a bit more easily. And do you know why the vedas and upanishads extol fire worship? It is a metaphor for the curry! And finally, do you know what is the significance of the Indian Tricolour? Don't you listen to Mahatma Gandhi or Kanchi Acharya. They give you esoteric interpretations involving trinity, holy sacrifice and peace. Nothing of the sort. It is a symbol of the Indian curry. Three types... the green variety, full of palak, keerai, beans and bhindi. And the red one, involving the fiery varieties from sambar to kadai and shashlik. Finally the white one... full of coconut and curd.. like kadi, aviyal and so on. And what shines in the centre? A pristine piece of pickle.... lemon in the south and lotus stem in the north.
That is the flag that flies high... and brings tears to one and all at the very thought. At the FIFA World Cup, you saw many a star shed a tear as he stood to attention when his flag was unfurled and his anthem played. And every Indian thinks of curry, and goes all sentimental. So, my friend, lets go and conquer... all we need is some curry power.I have therefore rewritten the dhyana sloka of the sacred hymn to Devi. The Curry Goddess indeed.

sindhUrAruNavigrahAM triruchirAM sAmIpyaghrANasphurat
SAkApAcakarUpitAM dadhisakhIM ApItamUrdhanyagAm
pANibhyAM susvAdakhAdyachashakaM tiktotpalaM bibhratIm
rasyAM ratna-ghaTasta-raktacharaNAM dhyAyet karIM SaMkarIm

Oh vermilion-red goddess, whose proximity stimulates my olfactory senses, born as you are from the cooking of vegetables, you go well with curd - because your taste rises straight to the top of my head. You hold in your two hands a pot of delicious curry and hot pepper plant. You are indeed tasty, and worthily placed on a jewel-studded pedastal. I bow down to you, oh Curry Goddess, who bestow good fortune on all your devotees!