Chandigarh, November 23: The second day of the Literary Chandigarh Lit Fest 2025 at The Lake Club witnessed a beautiful session titled ‘Spiritual Cards – Stories of Change and Choice’. In this session, writer-astrologer Shalini Modi had an enlightening conversation with renowned spiritual guide and exponent of Bhakti and Vaishnavism, Krishnapad Das Ji. It was moderated by poet and writer Annu Rani Sharma.
Shalini Modi delved into the depth of the story of Ashwatthama, focusing on his divine birth, the choices that led him astray, and the curse of immortality that befell him. She shed light on how the choices we make shape our lives and destiny, for which she provided parallel examples from the story of Ashwatthama.
The poets present on the panel also shared their thoughts and presented their poems and thoughts on the subject of change and choice, which enriched the session. A major part of the discussion focused on clash, i.e. the experience of emotions of the mind, especially fear or dread.
Shalini Modi elaborated on how such negative emotions affect our mental state and how they can be avoided. She emphasized that the lives of divine beings can serve as an example of how to deal with these emotional challenges.
Concluding, Shalini spoke about her upcoming book, ‘The Eternal Sun: The Legacy of Suraj Dev’, which not only explores the virtues and significance of Suraj Dev, but also enlightens us about his family. She spoke about the profound influence of Suraj Dev on our lives and how the sun is a symbol for light, strength and life force.
Shalini concluded the session with a story from the Ramayana, which narrated how Lord Rama sought the blessings of the Sun God on the advice of Agastya Muni during the war with Ravana. The session was a rich exploration of spiritual knowledge, personal growth, and the transformative power of our chosen choices.