TenThings GOD Won't Ask

Shiva @ Kemp Fort Temple Bangalore

Ten things God won't ask:
1 ...God won't ask what kind of car you drove; He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

2...God won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home

3...God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4...God won't ask what your highest salary was, He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5...God won't ask what your job title was, He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6...God won't ask how many friends you had, He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7... God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8...God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character.

9... God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.

10...God won't ask how many people you forwarded this to, Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

To View Enlarged picture click on the Shiva Photo

Significance Of Margazhi Month

Mattu Pongal

Swamy & Thayar

Andal @ Srivalliputtur

The greatness of Margazhi month
The Yugam, in which presently we are living, is called as “Kali Yugam”. Other than this Kali Yugam, there are 3 Yugams that we have crossed and they are Kretha, Thretha and Dwapara Yugam. In all these 3 yugams, Sriman Narayanan has taken lots of Avatharams (incarnations) to protect the Dharmam against Adharmam (evil) and protect the life of his bhaktas.
The holy star Mrigaseersha combined with the Pournami thithi is the birth of the great Margazhi month. This year the popular and auspicious Margazhi month has begin on Tuesday the 16th December at 5.37PM among the 12 Tamil months, Margazhi brings the spring season.
The month of Margazhi which is supposed to be sacred from all aspects. Thus it's rendered to the GODhimself in aim of attaining prosperity and blessings, hoping GODshowers with all good luck. The very objective this month is to get together and offer the prayers, he will surely listens to it.
How to go about it?
Generally Brahma Muhurtham is considered to be good time perform pooja. Early morning on all 30 days Margazhi between 4.00 am to 6.00 am is beneficial for human being while the whole Margazhi the Brahma Muhurtham for DEVAS.
It is celebrated not only on Sri Vaishnavas and Saivas of Hindu religion but also Christians celebrate Margazhi. In this month, there are many programmes for SriVaishnavas in particular. On all the thirty days of this month, Tirupavai Pasurams will be rendered in the early morning in all temples and houses. Adhyayana Utsavam for 21 days (10+10+1) will also be held during this month by rendering holy scriptures (Four thousand Divya Prabhandam Pasurams) at 108 Divya Desam including Sri Rangam and many other Vaishnava Sthalams. The famous Vaikunda Ekadasi also will be celebrated in the early hours of the Tenth day of Adhyayana Utsavam the people will join with Lord in proceeding Symbolically to Swargham and on this Swargavasal will be opened in all temples. Lakhs of people gather on 3rd January 2004, the Vaikunta Ekadesi day in Sri Rangam, Tirupathi, Thiruvallikeni. Kanchi, Srivilliputhur, Brindavan and in many other temples. Saivites will celebrate Arudhara Dharshan. In Srivilliputhur, there will be "Piriya Vidai and Sri Andal Neerattu Utsavam" and followed by Sri Andal Thirukkalyanam on Bhogi Day".
The Proverb in Tamil says that "Thai Piranthal Vazhi Pirakkum". On completion of Margazhi and commencement of Thai, there would be better future and there is a way for happiness and good omens.
On Bhogi day, people not only cleans the houses, burn the old things but also purifies from bad things or situation by rendering prayers. Children also celebrate this month perhaps they enjoy holidays as Half yearly exams also conclude in this month only.
Elders and music lovers also visit to the Sabhas in the evening to listen music, attend dance programmes and other cultural activities throughout Margazhi. This month is familiarly known as Margazhi Maha Festival. All musicians, Vocalists and doyens of singers will gather together at Thiruvayaru and render Keerthanas of Sri Thiyagarajar. Doordarshan in All India Radio in is relaying this live. Thus, the New Year starts with the year ending in a Divine Manner.
In Tirumalai, only the sattrumarai pasurams used to be recited during the JEER SATTRUMARAI on all days and whereas at the time of commencement of Margasirsha, Margazhi month, entire Tiruppalli Ezhucchi and Tiruppavai will be rendered by Sri JEER Swami and all Sri Vaishnavites gather at Sri Varahar Sannadhi and Srivari Moolavar Sannadhi.
In Delhi, Sri Ramanuja Kainkarya Sabha also completes 17th Aavarti of reciting Divya Prabhandhams during this very Margazhi month in the weekly Sevakalam in all the houses of Sri Vaishnava Grahasthas on rotation from 1989.
Sriman U.Ve Sitarama Iyengar (GTS Iyengar) Swami also conducts 30 days Dhanurmasa Aradhana Vrathothsavam with unique style of Thiruvaradhanam and Homam in this Maragazhi month as in the past 14 years.
Courtesy-Compiled by :
Kandoor Thirunarayanapuram Thiruvengada Srinivasa Iyengar

Shridi Sai Baba

Shri Sadguru Sai Baba's Assurance to his devotees
No harm shall befall him, who steps on the soil of Shirdi.
He who cometh to my Samadhi, his sorrow and suffering shall cease.
Though I be no more in flesh and blood, I shall ever protect my devotees
Trust in me and your prayer shall be answered.
Know that my spirit is immortal, know this for yourself.
Show unto me he who has sought refuge and has been turned away.
In whatever faith men worship me, even so do I render to them.
Not in vain is my promise that I shall ever lighten your burden.
Knock, and the door shall open, ask and it shall be granted.
To him who surrenders unto me totally I shall be ever indebted.
Blessed is he who has become one with me.

There was a rich gentleman who was very prosperous in his life. He had amassed a large quantity of wealth, houses and lands and had many servants and dependents.
When Baba’s fame reached his ears he said to a friend of his that he was not inwant of anything, and so he would go to Shirdi and ask Baba to give him Brahma Gyan, which if he got, would certainly make him more happy. His friend dissuaded him, saying, ‘ It is not easy to know Brahman and especially for a avarice like you, who is always engrossed in wealth , wife and children. Who will in your quest of Brahma
Gyan will satisfy you, who does not give away even a paisa in charity
Not minding His friend’s advice, the fellow came to Shirdi, and after seeing Sai Baba fell at His lotus feet and said, “ Baba , hearing that , You show the Brahma to all who come to you, I too have come all the way from a distant place. I am much fatigued by the journey and if I get the Brahma- Gyan from you, my troubles will be Baba then replied,’’ Oh my dear friend do not be anxious, I shall show you the Brahma. Many people come to Me and ask for wealth, health, power, honor, position, cure of diseases and other temporal matters. Rare is the person who comes to me and asks for the Brahma Gyan. There is no dearth of persons asking for worldly things but persons interested in spiritual matters are very rare.I think it is a fortunate and an auspicious moment when persons like you come and ask me for Brahma Gyan. So forthwith I show to you the Brahma with all its accompaniments and complexities.”
paid and rewarded. Then Baba called a boy and told him to go to one Nandu Marawadi and get from him a loan of Rs.five.
The boy left and returned immediately saying that Nandu was absent and his house was locked. Then Baba asked him to go to the Bala grocer and get from him the said loan. This time also the boy was unsuccessful. This experiment was repeated again and again with the same result. Sai baba as we all know the living and moving Brahma incarnate. Then someone may ask, “ Why did He want the paltry sum of five rupees and why did He try hard to get it? Really He did not want the sum at all. He must have fully known that Nandu and Bala were absent, and He seemed to have adopted this procedure as a test for the seeker of Brahma. The gentleman had a roll or bundle of currency notes in his pocket and if he was really earnest he would not have sat quiet and be an onlooker when Baba was frantically trying to get a paltry sum of Rs. five. He knew that Baba would keep His word and repay the debt and the sum wanted was insignificant. Still he could not make up his mind to advance the sum. Such a man wanted from Baba the greatest thing in the world , the Brahma Gyan!
When the gentleman asked Baba to show Brahma gyan soon Baba replied,” Oh my dear friend did you not understand all the procedures that I went through, sitting in this place to enable you to see Brahma..” Baba told him that the first important thing to do to know the Brahma Gyan is to have the quality of Surrender. Baba further gave a long discourse to make the rich gentleman understand the qualification of a mumukshu or the seeker of Brahma Gyan.Moral -Unless one gets detached to his mortal possessions and thoroughly surrenders, one is not qualified to receive BrahmaGyan, The Knowledge of the Supreme. One should understand importance of humility, sacrifice and infinite love and cultivate these qualities by meditation to get the vision of the supreme.

Prime God Head

Prime Godhead

By SrI N.Veezh Nathan

Courtesy The Hindu
The Lord’s cosmic form is as awe inspiring and awesome as it is unique in many respects. This is evident from Arjuna’s reaction to the direct perception of the unprecedented scale and magnitude of this form. When Arjuna saw the wonderful vision, spanning as it were the entire range of the universe and with no beginning, middle or end, he was overwhelmed to perceive the Lord as the abode of the beautiful and the terrible, the evil and the good as well, said The truth that the Lord alone is the only Knowledge worth knowing becomes clear to Arjuna. He is far beyond all and hence known as Akshara. The Yogis, the Vedas, and scriptures reflect either an individual or a collective search of this Supreme Brahman.
Arjuna realises that this manifestation is the final refuge and resort of all. He sees the Asuras entering the mouth of the all encompassing vision. Some of those whom he sees extol Him while some are scared of the sight. The fear evoking form revealed the great invincible warriors, Bhishma, Drona, Karna and many others along with all the sons of Dhritarashtra heading to the Lord’s enormous mouth.
The analogies used in this context — of rivers racing towards the ocean or moths rushing swiftly into a blazing fire to perish there — indicate the compulsive force that drives each one to face the consequences of one’s actions. Seeing this ferocious form, Arjuna bows in obeisance to the Lord and wishes to seek deeper knowledge of Him. Arjuna wanted to know who this form belonged to, who seemed to him to be the Primordial Being.
Lord Krishna describes Himself as Time (Kala). Time is the prime cause of the universe, for the Lord is constantly creating, protecting and destroying. Time is the eternal flow moving without any break. The Lord is outside the concept of time as we human beings perceive time. That is why He is able to control the events knowing the past, present and future. He tells Arjuna that what is now happening is the result of actions done in the past.
Though the Lord’s supremacy makes Him unconquerable, He can can be won over by Bhakti.

Ganesha Mantra

There are a couple of incarnations comprising the name of Ganapati in rigveda.The more oft recited of them in the worship of Ganapati is as follows

Gananantva Ganaptigum havamahe kavim kaveenamupamsara vastamam Jeyshta Rajam Brahm a nam Brahmanaspatye aanassruvannuthibhisseeda sadanam

गानान्त्व गणपतिगुम हवामहे कविम कवीनामुपसरा वस्तानाम,जेय्श्ता राजम ब्रह्माणं ब्रह्मस्पत्येआनास्स्रुंनुथिभिसीदा सदनं

The meaning of the above mantra is as follows, "O,Brhamanaspati lord of great actions,one among the divine legions and a commander of your caharts the most distinguished of all visionary poets, a possessor of limitless food stuffs,supreme among eminent, presiding deity of the mantra! I invoke your blessings for this endevour, listening to our prayers come and be seated in this abode of sacrifice with your benign grace.