The Thoppukaranam

Our Indian prayer to Lord Ganapathi -- may now be patented in USA as Super Brain Yoga.
What we have been practising for generations since childhood may soon be packaged by Yale university school of Medicine as Superbrain Yoga to increase intelligence.

Nothing but our simple Pillayar THOPPUKARNAM.. ( Obeisance to Lord Ganeshji---as we say in Tamil ) Amazing. See the YouTube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSwhpF9iJSs

Just shows that so much of wealth is there in our culture, tradition and civilisation.

See Lal Bagh Ka Raja's enlarged image by clicking on the above picture.

Striking A Balance

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Striking a balance

By Sukhi Sivam

While giving to those in need is important, the gesture must not be such as to encourage laziness, and while it is important to save, it is equally important to know how and when to spend. The important thing is to have a balanced outlook towards money and wealth.

One day a zamindar rode his horse, with a servant behind him holding an umbrella to shield his master from the sun.

After a while, the zamindar dismounted from the horse and rested in the shade of a tree.

A poor man who was passing by told the zamindar, “You travel on horseback. But I have to walk, and will therefore be exposed to the sun for longer. Don’t you think I should have your umbrella?”

The zamindar saw the logic of his words, and gave the poor man his umbrella. Then the poor man said, “Why do you need slippers?” And the zamindar parted with his footwear. Then the poor man said, “Why do you need this horse? Give that also to me.” But the zamindar now drove the poor man away.

Far from being unhappy, the poor man was happy. The puzzled zamindar asked him why. The poor man said had he gone home without asking for the horse, he would have felt miserable, wondering if he should not have asked for that too. But now that he had asked and was refused, he felt relieved.

He now knew that even his asking wouldn’t get him the horse.

The moral of this story is that when we work hard for something, we are happy with the results. But when something comes easily, we become demanding.

In another instance, a rich man had a big gold bar, which he buried in his garden. Every day he would dig it up and have a look at it. One day his neighbour stole the gold bar.

When the rich miser confronted him, the latter replied that since the rich man was only going to look at the gold bar and not use it anyway, what did it matter whether it were brick or gold?

The moral of this story is that while we must save for a rainy day, it is also important to spend.

Ambur Periya Anjneya Swamy

Anjneya Swamy Ambur

Arulmigu Periya Anjaneyar temple The story has been glorified in a temple in Ambur in Vellore district which dates back to centuries.

The 11-foot idol of Hanuman carved out of hard black stone has Saneeswara under his foot. The idol and the temple are believed to have been renovated probably in 1489, during the period of Krishanadevaraya of Vijayanagar kingdom who then ruled this region. An inscription found in one corner of the temple testifies to this fact.

In 1976, the temple was taken over by the HR & CE department of the State Government. In 1987, Maha Kumbabishekam was performed. Interestingly, the main deity Hanuman is place in one corner of the sanctum sanctorum facing south. This is considered a rarity in India. It is believed that, because devotees lit oil lamps at this temple, it got rid of the harmful effects of Saneeswara, in one stroke.

The temple has been drawing thousands of devotees steadily. In the eastern corner of Ambur town, in a place called Anaimadugu, a rocky foot print, believed to be that of Hanuman, receives special poojas once a year during the Hanuman Jayanthi celebrations. It is said that Hanuman holding the Parvatha hills in one hand and standing on Saneeswara made a big leap from here to cross the Indian Ocean to reach Sri Lanka where he gave the herb to revive Lakshmana.

VIjayadasmi

Our scriptures narrate many legends and episodes of Parashakthi coming in different incarnations for different purposes. Each day of Navarathri is dedicated to one such form of Parashakthi. Vijaydasami is the day on which she is invoked as Mahishasuramardhini. She destroyed the evil elements that caused harm and hurt to her darling children – all her creations. She waged fierce wars and eliminated the evil elements and protected her children. One thing to remember is that in the fierce fighting she used up lot of her cosmic energy. She needs to generate a lot of energy to replenish the stocks utilized in the fight. Who can cooperate with her in her efforts to rejuvenate her cosmic dimension? It is the unselfish prayers and dedicated devotion alone of her devotees that enables her to ‘regain’ her energy. ‘Panakam’ offered as a neivedyam to Amman in the evening of Vijaydasami is a gesture of offering a sweetened drink to Amman returning tired and thirsty after the fierce fight. Ask yourself a question: “Amman has done so much for us and saved us and protected all of us by fighting fierce wars to ensure security and peace for us. In what way can we cooperate and participate with her in her efforts to rejuvenate her energies and enhance her cosmic powers? The answer is to recognize that she resides in ‘her temple’ in our hearts. She gathers strength from the energies we generate in our body centres. Expression of our love and compassion is her strength.

See the lovely face of Durga Devi by clicking on her picture !

Redifining Bhakti

Redefining Bhakti

By Swami Omkara Nanda

The greatness of the Vedas lies in the fact that they provide guidance for living for the entire range of human needs — from the most materialistic to the most detached and spiritual. Cutting across time, people and places, the authenticity, versatility and relevance of the Vedas have been acknowledged.

The Bhagavad Gita redefines the Bhakti Bhava and establishes its crucial role in the Jivatma’s salvation by providing a direct link with the divine. Bhakti Bhava is a unique emotional experience and its flowering in an individual is directly proportional to the spiritual maturity that one attains gradually. This implies that the individual has faith in the message of the scriptures and in the teachings of the Lord, preceptors and the devout saints who have directly experienced God and remain devoted to Him.

Lord Krishna reiterates that faith in scriptures is what differentiates a believer from a non-believer and that lack of knowledge of the Supreme Lord is the cause of all misery in this world. While it is easy to deny God, one needs faith to know Him. While the world, environment and people remain the same, there is an inner transformation bringing about an attitudinal change in us as love and devotion to Him begin to take root in our consciousness. Our outlook on things changes and our ability to deal with the problems of life is strengthened.

Arjuna, who always thought of Lord Krishna to be a friend, is made to realise that He is none other than the Supreme Brahman incarnate. There is nothing further to be known than the ultimate knowledge of the Supreme Brahman. Unless one is able to cross the barriers of desire, greed and delusion, it will not be possible to know God.Among thousands of men, one maybe, struggles for perfection. Among those who thus struggle, perhaps one attains perfection. Amongst those who are perfect maybe only one may know the Lord. The Lord explains that He is manifest as the universe comprising earth, water, fire, ether, mind, intellect and egoism. He is also the sustaining force of the entire universe.

Navaratri

The theme behind celebrating Dusshera or Navarathri is the victory over the evil. It’s either celebrated as Lord Rama’s victory over the ten-headed Ravana (Commonly known as Ram Leela) or killing of mahisharsura by Goddess Durga (Ambal). Ram Leela is a common thing in the north. On the tenth day of the Dusshera, the effigy of Kumbhakarna, Meghnad and Ravana is burnt. It’s really a wonderful sight to watch. This has been depicted in the film Swades as well. In Tamilnadu, it is celebrated as Golu. The dolls are considered as Gods and Goddesses’ who help Goddess Durga in winning over Mahisharsura.

Today, it’s such an easy task to keep a Golu. Everything is available in the shops – stand, dolls, decorative materials etc. But this wasn’t the case 15 years back. The affluent people employed skilled carpenters to design and architect a Golu padi.
The Golu we celebrated at D-4 isunforgattable, office appa use to take great intrest and design the golu padis, the main architec of the whole show used to be Sheaojee from 1956 onwards till appa retired from Incab , two corners of the drawing room had semi circular steps with dolls and the centre used to be the straight steps. It used to take nearly a week for the prepration and the golu at D-4 was one of the best in town.

We used to enjoy the variety of sundal prepared for the ten days period, we used to have rehersal of the drama to staged at South Indian Association during navratri period, as office appa used to be the director for the stage play, even once Gopal has acted in one of the dramas.

Nice days to remeber on all these festive occassions

Mahalaya Amamvasya & Durga pooja

Mahalaya is observed on the Amavasya day in the Hindu month of Ashwin or Ashwayuja (September-October). Mahalaya 2009 date is on September 18. The last day of Pitru Paksha fortnight, the period sacred for doing rituals and offering oblations to the souls of the departed ancestors, ends on Mahalaya day. Durga Puja rituals also commence on Mahalaya day.

The rituals and rites on Mahalaya day are performed early morning on riverbanks or on seashore. The main offering made on Mahalaya Paksha to ancestors is food. It is believed that the offering made during this period will benefit all the departed souls. Charity in the form of food is also done by people.

Mahalaya also heralds the advent of Goddess Durga to earth. Mahalaya marks the beginning of ‘Devipaksha’ and the countdown to Durga Puja2009 Mahalaya is on the dawn of 18th September.It means that this year’s SharodiyoDurga Puja will commence from 25th September (Shosti).This article is about thesignificance of Mahalaya and the Tarpan.

Mahalaya marks the eve of Durga Pujo because seven days after Mahalaya the Durga pujo starts.The scriptures mention Mahalaya as the starting of days of fierce fighting between Maa Durga and the Demon Mohishashur.

The tale goes as follows.Mohishashur was a powerful demon and a menace for the sages and the gods.It was beyond their might to deal with him.Worried sages and gods seek refuge in Lord Vishnu’s feet.He places the responsibility of creating a goddesses challenging the might of Mohishashur on Rishi Kartayan.

Rishi Kartayan creates Maa Durga with all the powers and might of the heaven.She is armoured with a special weapon by every god in the haven.This is the reason why one of the many names of Maa Durga is Kartayini.

The fierce battle between Maa Durga and Mohishashur begins.Intimidatd by the might of Maa Durga the demon hides himself in a Buffalo. Maa kills the Buffalo and that is why the demon gets his name Mohishashur.

In the days to follow,the demon reappears every time a drop of his blood touches the ground.Lord Vishnu then takes the initiative and drinks the blood of the demon without allowing it to touch the ground.Maa Durga then,kills the Demon Mohishashur unleashing a fresh life in haven and earth from the menace of the demon.

Do try to listen to Chanidi path melodiously chanted by Birendra Kumar Bhadra, composed by Bani Kumar and set to music by Pankaj Kumar Mallick.

The above chandi path is broadcast by AIR on the Mahalaya ammavasya day at 4.30am in the morning, now we have the facility to listen to the chant at our convenient time by going to the folowing web site for the chant.The same is in two parts.

http://tutun23.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/parti.mp3

http://tutun23.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/partii.mp3

Click on the images to see enlarged image.

Teachers Day

Dr.S.Radhakrishnan

By Geeta Padmanaban

Courtesy: The Hindu

September 5! An important day for all of us. It is the day set aside to remember our teachers. For the time they spent with us, for what they taught us and finally for what we are today. It is Teachers' Day to commemorate a great teacher, philosopher and statesman - Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, whose birth anniversary falls on this day.

Ask any adult. They may not remember what they learnt in school, but every one of them will tell you the name of the teacher they admired the most. They will tell you why they remember that teacher after all these years. Goes to show how much our teachers are part of our growing years! Our school life (with so much to study) is happy because of our teachers. You do have a teacher you think is special, right?

“My favourite? My Science teacher,” said Naren, a Std. VIII student. “She is very strict, doesn’t spare anyone who misbehaves or comes without doing home-work. You miss home-work, you lose marks. You delay it, she won’t even accept it.” But the kids love her because she is fair to all. She allows time for students to chatter in the class. “She teaches the principles of science in a fun way,” he says. “She shows videos to explain scientific principles.” Once she made them do a children’s book about cells in a way that small children could understand. “I wrote about an adventure of a boy named Max who is whisked away by the amazing Professor Cellular in a small spaceship travelling through cells. On the way, he explains things like the mitochondria, nucleus and the golgi bodies.”

Overall, a good teacher is strict and fun at the same time, knows how to get along with kids, has a vast knowledge of her subject, thinks of the quality of the students’ education first, gives students fair and just punishment for academic crime — forgetting home-work, misbehaving and chattering when you should be working, not respecting the rules of the school.

Me? I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.

Teacher, Philosopher, Statesman

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday (September 5, 1888), is celebrated as Teacher’s Day. He was born into a middle class family at Tirutani in Tamil Nadu state, a town in Madras Presidency, British India. Radhakrishnan went through most of his education on scholarships. He joined the Voorhee’s College in Vellore but switched to the Madras Christian College. He graduated with a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the Madras Christian College in 1906.

In 1921, he was appointed as a professor in philosophy to occupy the King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science at the University of Calcutta. In 1929, Radhakrishnan was invited to take the post vacated by Principal J. Estlin Carpenter in Manchester College, Oxford. For his services to education, he was knighted by the British Government in 1931, but did not use the title in personal life preferring instead his academic title ‘Doctor’. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University from 1931 to 1936. In 1936, Radhakrishnan was named Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at the University of Oxford, and was elected a Fellow of All Souls College. In 1939, Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya invited him to become Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. He continued as its Vice-Chancellor till January, 1948. When India became independent in 1947, Radhakrishnan represented India at UNESCO, and was later Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union, from 1949 to 1952. He was also elected to the Constituent Assembly of India. Radhakrishnan was elected as the first Vice President of India in 1952.

He was elected as the second President of India (1962-1967). When he became President, some of his students and friends requested him to allow them to celebrate his birthday. He replied, “Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers’ Day.”

King Mahabali & Onam

The legend of king Mahabali is most popular and facinating

The festival is celebrated with fervour as King Mahabali is greatly respected by his subjects. King Mahabali is also popularly called Maveli and Onathappan.

Reign of King Mahabali

The story goes that the beautiful state of Kerala was once ruled by an Asura (demon) king, Mahabali. The King was greatly respected in his kingdom and was considered to be wise, judicious and extremely generous. It is said that Kerala witnessed its golden era in the reign of King Mahabali. Everybody was happy in the kingdom, there was no discrimination on the basis of caste or class. Rich and poor were equally treated. There was neither crime, nor corruption. People did not even lock their doors, as there were no thieves in that kingdom. There was no poverty, sorrow or disease in the reign of King Mahabali and everybody was happy and content.

Brief Sketch of King Mahabali
It may be noted Mahabali was the son of Veerochana and grandson of Prahlad, the devout son of demon King Hiranyakashyap. Mahabali had a son called Bana, who became a legendary king in his own right and became popular as Banraj in central Assam. Mahabali belonged to the Asura (demon) dynasty but was an ardent worshiper of Lord Vishnu. His bravery and strength of character earned him the title of "Mahabali Chakravathy" or Mahabali - the King of Kings.

Challenge for Gods
Looking at the growing popularity and fame of King Mahabali Gods became extremely concerned and jealous. They felt threatened about their own supremacy and began to think of a strategy to get rid of the dilemma.

To curb the growing reign of Mahabali and maintain their own supremacy, Aditi, the mother of Gods seeked help of Lord Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity) whom Mahabali worshiped.

It was said Mahabali was very generous and charitable. Whenever anybody approached him for help or requested for anything he always granted. To test the King, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a dwarf and a poor Brahmin called Vamana. He came to the Kingdom of Mahabali, just after Mahabali performed his morning prayers and was preparing to grant boons to Brahmins.

Lord Vishnu takes Vamana Avatar
Disguised as Vamana, Vishnu said he was a poor Brahmin and asked for a piece of land. The generous King said, he could have as much land as he wanted. The Brahmin said that he just wanted as much land as could be covered by his three steps. The King was surprised to hear but agreed.

A learned adviser of the King, Shukracharya sensed that Vamana was not an ordinary person and warned the King against making the promise. But, the generous King replied that it would be a sin for a King to back on his words and asked the Brahmin to take the land. The King could not imagine that the dwarf Brahmin was Lord Vishnu himself.

Just as King Mahabali agreed to grant the land, Vamana began to expand and eventually increased himself to the size of cosmic proportions. With his first step the Brahmin boy covered the whole of earth and with the other step he covered the whole of the skies. He then asked King Mahabali where is the space for him to keep his third foot.

The King realised that he was no ordinary Brahmin and his third step will destroy the earth. Mahabali with folded hands bowed before Vamana and asked him to place his last step on his head so that he could keep the promise. The Brahmin placed his foot on the head of the King, which pushed him to patala, the nether world. There the King requested the Brahmin to reveal his true identity. Lord Vishnu then appeared before the King in his person. The Lord told the King that he came to test him and the King won the test. King Mahabali was pleased to see his lord. Lord Vishnu also granted a boon to the King.

King Mahabali Requests for a Visit to Kerala
The King was so much attached with his Kingdom and people that he requested that he be allowed to visit Kerala once in a year. Lord Vishnu was moved by the Kings nobility and was pleased to grant the wish. He also blessed the King and said even after losing all his worldly possessions, the King would always be loved by Lord Vishnu and his people.

Genesis of Onam
It is the day of the visit of King Mahabali to Kerala that is celebrated as Onam every year. The festival is celebrated as a tribute to the sacrifice of King Mahabali. Every year people make elaborate preparations to welcome their King whom they affectionately call Onathappan. They wish to please the spirit of their King by depicting that his people are happy and wish him well. The second day, Thiruvonam is the biggest and the most important day of this festival. It is believed that King Mahabali visits his people on the second day.

Onam celebrations are marked in Trikkakara, a place 10 km from Kochi (Cochin) on the Edapally- Pookattupadi road. Trikkara is said to be the capital of the mighty King Mahabali. A temple with a deity of 'Trikkakara Appan' or 'Vamanamurthy' who is Lord Vishnu himself in disguise is also located at this place. Nowhere else in Kerala can one find a deity of 'Vamanamurthy'. This fascinating legend is artistically depicted at the Suchindram Temple in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.