I had another lovely dance lesson with Sindhu today. She taught me the sixth Trebang, and we went over the first five trebangs and five chowkas. I am really getting the hang of Odissi – loving every second of it – and really love Sindhu!

And Kanadda…OMG I can’t get enough! Hema and I met from 6:45-8:15pm – and it seemed like we only spent five minutes together. She taught me tons more vocabulary tonight – but what I really love about her is that she spends a lot of time teaching me about the culture, while at the same time, teaching me the language…

The first bit of class was review of the vegetables, fruits, and animals

Then she taught me the months of the year:
January – Chaitra
February – Vyashaka
March – Marga
April – Pushya
May – Makha
June – Jashata
July – Aashada
August – Shravana
September – Badrapada
October – Ashvija
November – Karthika
December – Falghanu

The Planets:
Mercury – Mangala
Venus – Buddha
Earth – Buhoomi
Mars – Guru
Jupiter – Shukru
Uranus – Uranus
Saturn – Shanni
Neptune – Neptune
Pluto – Pluto

Numbers:
One – Onedhu
Two – Yaradu
Three – Mooroo
Four – Nalaku
Five – Idhu
Six – Aru
Seven – Yolou
Eight – Yentu
Nine – Wambathu
Ten – Hatu
Eleven – Hanandhu
Twelve – Hanaerdhu
Thirteen – Hadimoru
Fourteen – Hadinalaku
Fifteen – Hadinaydhu
Sixteen – Hadinaru
Seventeen – Hadinalou
Eighteen – Hadininthu
Nineteen – Hatombathu

Twenty – Epathu
Thirty – Movathu
Forty – Nalvathu
Fifty – Ivathu
Sixty – Arvathu
Seventy – Yapathu
Eighty – Yambathu
Ninety – Tombathu
One hundred – Nuru

To make 21-29, 31-39 etc…You simply add the number (say twenty and one – Epathuonedhu – sounds a little different when they are connected but really simple nonetheless.)

And we ended our lesson with more information about food. We talked about some spices, their Kanadda name, what they are used for, if they have medicinal value – what – and how to create the concoction…She even had her helper bring out almost all the spices so I could see, touch and taste them!! I love Hema! She has invited me to come have lunch with her one day – I told her I’d love to but would like to actually watch her make the foods so I can see how she prepares things. She has even said she’d like to take me to the market before I leave so I can put my newly acquired knowledge of fruits, veggies, and spices to use! I am so stoked!!!

Powder – Pudi
Bhala – Dal
Rice – Akki
Ragi – Ragi
Chick pea (toor dal) – too gri bhala
Green gram (with husk) – hasru kalu
Green gram dal (without husk) – hasaru bhala

- Dal creates gas – so don’t eat too much and when you make it you should add asatafotidi (a pinch of it in its powder form) to help counterbalance the gas created by dal.
- There are MANY types of beans in India – the season should dictate which beans you eat…some beans are cooling, some create heat etc...
- Each planet in the solar system has grains that correspond to it – so you should eat specific grains on specific days as well as specific seasons.
- In Hindi religion people don’t eat any meat on Mondays (b/c of respect for Shiva), Thursdays (b/c of respect for Raga Vendra and Sai Baba), and Saturdays b/c of Lord Vishnu (Saturday most important day to refrain from eating meat.)
- Chili Powder – Achakardha Pudi (it doesn’t really have any taste per se – it is meant to help secrete juices and saliva and also flavor other foods you eat with it)
- Coriander powder – kotmuri pudi (medicinal value – helps relieve menstrual pain)
- Turmeric – Haldi (it works as an anti-septic – all foods are washed with Turmeric before cooking or serving)
- Cumin – jeera – jeeraga (it removes all toxins in the body – also aids in digestion)
- Black pepper corn – good for colds (mix one glass of water with three pepper corns, three garlic cloves, and three curry leaves – boil together and drink slowly)
- Ajwain – Omkalu (it removes gas from the body – you can boil the tiny seeds in water and drink – or you can slowly chew it on its own – also used with cooking as it has a nice flavor and helps with digestion)
- Fennel – Somfu (also good for digestion – this is often what is given after dinner at restaurants here in India – often times coated with sugar for taste – but really has a hint of sweetness on its own!)
- Jaggary (a sweet taste like sugar but much better for you – it aids in digestion and also retains all its nutrients when added to cooking.)

I asked Hema before leaving if it would be possible to meet three days this week instead of two. She said that was fine! So I’ll be meeting with her on Wednesday and Thursday this week (and possibly move up to four or five days next week!) – Told you I just can’t get enough…

Today has been a fantastic day – yes yes I say that almost daily – but its true – I am loving every second of my time in Mysore…I am so extremely grateful – words cannot express…I feel like the luckiest person on earth – doing all the things I want to do – having the time and ability to do them – blessed to have the most amazing teachers – blessed to continue to grow as a person, continue to open my mind to new heights; continue to respect, appreciate, and value each and every day, each and every moment – and isn’t that what its all really about? To live in this moment – and to be content? For the first time in my life I can truly say – I GET IT…