Hayagreeva Fest

According to Hindu Calender, today is Hayagreeva Jayanthi. Devotees offer special worship to this Lord of Knowledge and Wisdom.

Elections and Indians

Presidential/Prime-ministerial elections are due to be held in near feature in countries such as Malaysia and USA. We have seen strong Indian representations in countries such as Fiji, Singapore, UK, Mauritius, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Surinam. Those who got elected seem to be doing their best for the countries in which they serve.

I wish people of Indian origin win the elections that are scheduled to be held in near future.

Onam Fest

Malayalees in Kerala and other parts of the world celebrate today as Onam. Best wishes to Malayalee readers of my blog and to all my Malayalee friends.

Our 'Space Research' and ground reality

Our Central Government has always been proud of it's achievements in a wide spectrum of human development areas such as health, education, digitalisation, economic empowerment and so on.

Recently the Government lauded the efforts of ISRO's Chandrayan 3 Mission. I strongly feel that such missions are not of any benefit to common folk.

Every even minded Indian knows the speed at which cost of living has been increasing. To give a specific example, a cylinder of domestic cooking gas (LPG) cost Rs 625 in 2017; it increased to Rs 850 in 2021. Just last month, when I ordered for a cylinder, it cost Rs 1118.50.

I sincerely think that instead of misusing taxpayer's money in needless space research, our Government should spend money in developing projects that would bring the cost of living down and enable common folk to live more comfortably. 

Shree Vara Lakshmi Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. Hindu women  perform Shree Varalakshmi Pooja, and offer special worship to Shree Mahaa Lakshmi and Her Husband  Shree Mahaa Vishnu, The Almighty.

Divine Program

As I write this post, I am overwhelmed by the joy of viewing a divine programme dedicated to Shree Thulasi Devi , a divine manifestation of Shree Mahaa Lakshmi wife of Shree Mahaa Vishnu , and organised by Shree Morari Bapu Maharaj on Aashthaa TV Channel .  This program known as 'Award samarpan samaroh' featured Awards presented to various personalities dedicated to Aadhyaathmic service. Recipients included Shree Raghavachryajee Maharaaj, Shree Sharanaanandjee Maharaaj, Raamaanujarya Swamy Shree Shreedharaachaaryajee Maharaaj etc.

Kalkee Jayanthi

Today is considered as Kalkee Jayanthi, anniversary of the day on which Shree Mahaa Vishnu incarnates as Kalkee and destroys the world at the end of kaliyuga and thereby, Mahaa Yugaa. 

A Mahaa Yugaa consists of Krita Yugaa, Trethaa Yugaa, Dwaapara Yugaa and Kali Yugaa. 

We are now in the beginning of Kali Yugaa in the 28th Mahaa Yugaa. Mahaa Yugaa consists of 43,20,000 years.

Our country's Independence Day

Today is our country's 77th Independence Day. I join all patriotic fellow Indians in congratulating the Nation on this occassion.

Although there has been significant developments in Sanaathana Dharmaa awareness campaigns, digitalisation and finances sector in the country since independence, I think that no ruling political party at the centre or in Tamilnadu (where I reside) has worked dedicatedly to weed out corruption in areas such as Health, Education, Police and Judiciary, except for a brief period at the Central Government during Mrs Indira Gandhi's regime, and Tamilnadu Government during Dr M G R's regime.

I think that the Cenral Givernment and Tamilnadu Government should realise this problem and work out to fix it. 

Politicians are supposed to work for the welfare of all people instead of mere basking under ancient glory, filling their own pockets and misleading common folk.

Shree Mahaa Vishnu

In his Chathurmaasya Utube video, Shree Satyaatma Theertha Swaamiji mentions how the sound of the alphabet 'A' denotes Shree Mahaa Vishnu in Sanskrit, and how in every language including English, this alphabet is the beginning one.

As Swamiji mentions in his discourse, just like 'A' is the leading alphabet in all languages, Shree Mahaa Vishnu is the leading deity among all deities. He is the Almighty Founder President and CEO of the entire Universe.

Shree Mahaa Vishnu is Great.

Shree Raam Kathaa

Morari Bapuji is a charismatic spiritual speaker; he gives discourses on 'Shree Raam Kathaa" at different places in our country and abroad. 

In this morning's discourse '921st Raam Kathaa' telecast from Cambridge University in the UK via Aashtha TV Channel, he spoke about the University and related it to devine knowledge about Lord Shree Raam.

Although most of the audience should be brilliant people in different areas, they shared two common values: Humility and respect to Bapuji's words. 

Soccer on sundays

ABC's 'Pacific' is an interesting program as it features countries in the South Pacific. Although each episode is only 30 minutes long, it covers almost all countries in the region.

This morning's episode consisted of a news item showing how soccer is promoted in high schools in Fiji. Known as 'Football for Schools', it seems to be very popular. (There are a few other countries such as South Africa in which soccer is very popular. I remember my visits to the local football ground on weekends to view local teams play).

Region specific games such as African football and Bhutanese archery are a nice treat to eyes.

I think that it would be nice if our schools give priority to soccer when allocating budgets, for all the benefits of the game.

Shree Hari's Devine Name

This evening I was listening to a divine discourse on Shreemad Bhagavath Kathaa by Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, Presiding saint of Uttaraadi Mutt (to which I belong). He was mentioning about the importance of chanting Shree Hari's Names even when engaged in works other than those of spiritual or religious nature.

I fondly remember my maternal grand mother who had the daily habit of  singing divine songs praising Shree Hari after taking her bath until she completed her cooking in the mornings. One of these songs which I vividly remember was "Krishnaa ena baarade?..." meaning "Why not chant Shree Krishnaa's name?...".

She was a nice lady who hailed from a village known as Sathya Vijaya Nagaram (named after Shree Sathya Vijaya Theertharu, a Maadhwaa saint). (One of her brothers by name Vasudeva Rao, was Principal of Sanskrit College in Mysuru, in those days). 

Good old days.

Singapore National Day

As one of the very few city states, Singapore celeberates it's 58th National Day today.

As we all know, it is the most economically and socially developed country in South East Asia. 

The harmonic relationship between it's three main ethnic communities, namely Chinese, Malay and Indian, has kept it as a vibrant country for the past 58 years since independence from British rule.

Dosa

As I am writing this post, I am viewing 'Culinary Escapes' on Foxlife TV Channel. It features San Francisco in the US. 

It was pleasure to view Sreejith Gopinathan, chief chef at Taj Campton Hotel in the city. He demonstrates a few Indian dishes. 

It reminds me of Gandhidoss (or was it Christu Gandhidoss or simply Gandhi? I don't remember). He was a Mauritian Indian culinary expert specialised in Dosa, a popular and common food item in southern states of India. I remember how I used to be a bit disappointed at the restaurant when told, "Sorry sir, no dosa service this time, as Gandhidoss has gone home on vacation".

Whether it is Gaborone, Durban, Vadodara or Phnom Penh, dosa seems to be a priced food item not only among us Indians but also others in our global village, rather global city.

San Francisco also reminds me of Sayee, my maternal uncle's son, who worked there. He is a US educated computer engineer.

Coming back to dosa made in restuarants, the best ones that I have ever had were made in a small Udipi restaurant owned by a Brahman gentleman in Tripunithura, a suburb of Ernakulam in Kerala. If I remember well, each dosa with delicious healthy side dish (sambar and coconut chutney) cost just one ruppee; it was in the early 1980s. Good old days!

Paul McCartney

This evening, when having my dinner, as I was viewing ABC TV Channel , I bumped into an unexpected interview by ABC's Sarah Ferguson with Paul McCartney of The Beatles in it's program '7.30'. 

It was great pleasure viewing one of my most favourite singers. When he mentioned the song "When I'm sixty four", I was reminded of the late 60s, during which time numerous teenagers like me used to sing this song and many others by the 'Fab Four'.

I tried to provide a link to the programme, but couldn't access any.

Soma paanakaha

In this evening's episode of 1000 Naamangal 1000 Kathaigal, Dr U Ve Venkatesh explained "Soma paanakaha", one of Shree Mahaa Vishnu's Names listed in Shree Vishnu Sahasra Naama Sthothram. He explained that the term "soma paanaka" means a juice obtained from the soma plant and that it is offered humbly in rituals to His Almighty Shreeman Naaraayana. Shree Mahaa Vishnu is addressed as "Soma paanakaha" as He accepts it from His devotees.

Mr Venkatesh cautioned viewers not to believe false rumours. (I remember having heard somewhere that the term means a somewhat alcoholic drink such as beer or whiskey). He gave an excellent advice to viewers not to be taken away by rumours spread by anti-brahmin rascals.

Lord Brahma's statue in Cambodia

I came to know that an awe inpiring 7 metres tall statue of Lord Brahma got installed in the main lounge of Siem Riep International Airport in Cambodia recently, as reported in The Phnom Penh Post.

While it is a tribute to one of the main deities functioning under the direction of The Almighty Shree Mahaa Vishnu, it would be nice if our Government of India takes steps to reinstall at least the main vigrahaa of Shree Mahaa Vishnu as the main God in the Angkor Wat Complex in Siem Riep. 

Vishnu devotees know that Shree Hari is Founder President and CEO of the entire Universe with Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, His wife, as it's Vice President.

Divine discourse

This afternoon, I had the joy of viewing Shreemad Bhagavath Kathaa discourse by Shree Kriparam Ji Maharaj on Aashtha TV Channel. He is a new comer in the channel. His explanations are very meaningful.

After the above program ended, when I tuned in to Sanskar TV Channel, I could derive the joy of viewing the discourse by Shree Anirudh Aacharyaji Maharaj. He mentioned how the relationship between Lord Shree Krishna and Gopikaa ladies was completely spiritual and not romantic in any manner; he also mentioned that Lord Shree Krishna was just seven years old at that time. (Nearly ten years ago, I have also mentioned this in a previous post). 

I tried to give a link with information about Shree Anirudh Aacharyaji Maharaj in English, but couldn't find any. Hence the link with information in Hindi.