Divine discourse

It was great joy in viewing Shree Raam Kathaa discourse by Shree Prembhushanji Maharaj on Aashthaa TV Channel tonight.

Jai Shree Raam🙏.

Divine discourse

This evening, I derived immense joy by listening to a brief divine discourse by  Shree Bhupendra Pandya jee. He was explaining how the human soul gives energy to the human mind and the mind can sometimes attain energy to go against the soul. He gave his discourse as a guest of Shree Raam Kathaa discourse by Shree Chinmayanand Bapujee. It was nice viewing both speakers on the same stage.

Jai Shree Raam🙏.

Online shopping oddity

As I have mentioned in my previous posts, online shopping is a boon to senior citizens like me although direct shopping is relatively advantageous.

I had an unpleasant experience when  shopping for the following three items a few days back:

Horlicks nutrition drink.

Horlicks Barfi.

Anti-skid floor mat.

The nutrition drink pack didn't contain the expiry date anywhere. Barfi had neither the aroma nor the taste of Horlicks. The floor mat didn't absorb any water and it's bottom surface was very smooth and skiddy.

I regret that I wasted my money on buying these three items.

I think that manufacturers of items such as these should be barred from using online platforms. Our Government should intervene to fix such issues.

All that glitters is not gold

According to media reports, Shree Chinmoy Brahmachari, Chief Monk at ISKCON Temple in Bangladesh, has been arrested. This is only part of the atrocious comitted by Muhammad Yunus led interim government of Bangladesh. I think that the news reflects double standards exibited by Mr Ahmed, a Nobel peace prize awardee. It shows that having won Nobel peace prize doesn't mean that the person is good. Every one knows that such prizes are awarded by considering nominations and that nominees collect information using different modes including corruption. Once, when DMK was the ruling party in Tamilnadu many years ago, World Bank (or International Monetary Fund) officials as representatives of the Donor Agency, released a Report citing how the money was misused by DMK. After a few months, the then Chief Minister Karunanidhi (present chief minister's father) invited the WB/IMFofficials for a grand luncheon. A few days after this WB/IMF released a Report that the money was well spent and reached the beneficiary communities without any problem. Members of my age (73) of Brahmin community in Tamilnadu know very well about the atrocities committed by DMK against them for no reason.    

I hope that our Government intervenes and takes steps to stop such atrocities against Hindus in our own country as well as abroad. It is universal ethic that any discrimination against any community is indecent.

Multiculturalism

We all know that when people leave their home countries to work abroad, they usually work hard and contribute to the host country as well to their native country.

Although Japan is very conservative in preserving it's culture and traditions, as it welcomes skilled work force from any country, it enjoys being very multicultural  (though not as well known as in Australia, Canada etc).

Ghanaians are well known as migrant workers in many countries. I have worked with teachers from Ghana in Ethiopia and Southern Africa. I nostalgically remember these people.

This evening Japan's National TV Channel telecast an interesting documentary featuring a Ghanaian taxi driver working in Japan. Let me share the documentary here. It is interesting to see taxi drivers from India and Cambodia as well in Japan.

I think that multicultural communities offer many benefits including mutual understanding between people of different cultural backgrounds. Until I worked with my colleagues from Ghana, I never knew that Ghanaians some times communicate in English instead of their own languages because their regional languages are very different. This happens in several countries including our  India.

Chinese exiles

For the past few days, CNA ABC TV Channels have been telecasting documentaries such as this one, that feature Chinese exiles and their contributions. 

Leaving aside political dimensions, these reflect the fact that Chinese have retained their cultural traditions wherever they go. This is very obvious from their China town's in different countries. 

When working in Cambodia, I have personally seen their passion to retain their culture and traditions.

Although on a smaller scale, our own Indians (particularly those from Gujarat) who migrated/exiled to other countries have built their own Little India in countries such as Britain, the US and South Africa. I remember a few community establishments in South Africa.

Such establishments have a great potential in letting our youngsters to appreciate our great culture and traditions.

God's Wedding

This evening, as I am typing this post, my somewhat troubled mind derives joy by viewing Seetha Raama Kalyaanam (the wedding ceremony of Lord Shree Raam with Shree Seethaa Devi) as conducted by priests and telecast on Bhakthi TV .  Let me share the Utube version of the ceremony.

Jai Shree Seethaa Raam🙏

World Children's Day

Today is World Children's Day. Amidst global terrorism, poverty, ecological imbalances due to human meddling with nature, growing crime rates, etc., abuse of children seems to be growing in many communities. Let us hope that all governments consider childcare and education as one of their main objectives.

Excellent women leaders

Today is the birth anniversary of Rani Lakshmi bai of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. 

I remember a few months that I spent in Lalitpur, near Jhansi, as Principal of a school named after Rani Lakshmi Bai.  I remember my nice colleagues such as Mrs Renu Bansal, Mrs Ametha Singh and Mr Selvaraj. I remember Ms/Mrs Geetha, the cook, who used to serve delicious Aloo paratha and other items with kindness to staff and students.

Today is also the birth anniversary of Mrs Indira Gandhi. She was one of our best Prime Ministers.

Hindu Fests

Today is an auspicious day is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calendar. Devotees perform Vedavyaasa Poojaa on this day (although today is not His Birth Anniversary). Today is observed as Gowri Pournima and devotees worship Gowri. Let me share a Utube video that explains Gowri Paurnima in Telugu. 

Jai Gowri🙏.

Jai Lord Vedavyaasa🙏.

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏.

Donald Trump 2.0

News that Mr Donald Trump has nominated Tulsi Gabbard as Director, National Intelligence. She is known as a Lord Shree Krishna devotee. Let me share a speech that she delivered at an ISKCON Temple.

(Just before the past US Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections, when Tulsi Gabbard and Vivek Ramaswamy were nominated as candidates, I wished that one of them should win the election).

It seems that Mr Donald Trump is making excellent choices for his cabinet. Best wishes to him and his team.

Following photograph shows Tulasi Gabbard with two ISKCON devotees:

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏.

Children's Day

Today is the birth anniversary of Shree Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime Minister of India. 

His contributions included 'Discovery of India', a book. I remember an edition of the book that I received as 1st Prize holder in an Inter-school elocution competition in English when I was in middle school or high school.

Shree Jawaharlal Nehru was fond of children. Hence this day is celebrated as Children's Day in our country.

Donald Trump 2.0

It looks like Mr Donald Trump is introducing drastic and innovative changes in US Government System. One of these is the new Department of Government Efficiency. 

A few years ago, Bhutan Government introduced it's Gross Happiness Index. It seems to be a success.

Congratulations and best wishes to Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and DOGE.

I think that GHI and DOGE are unique in that no other country has tried such innovative approaches in recent world history.

 

Shree Krishna Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This day is celebrated as Uththaana Dwaadashi. Lord Shree Krishna is offered special worship; His marriage with Thulasi Devi is joyously celebrated on this day.Devotees celebrate Thulasi Vivaaham with utmost devotion to Shree Hari. 

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Today is the birth anniversary of Leonardo DiCaprio. He acted in several Hollywood movies. One of his most popular movies is 'Titanic' in which he acted as Jack Dawson, a poor immigrant paasenger with typical Yorkshire accent. This movie hit all time records in movie charts. Let me share the Titanic's title song 'My heart will go on' sung by legendary singer Celine Dion. (I nostalgically remember my having seen the movie in Mahesh Reddy's house in Chittoor, AP in 1998 on his invitation. I think that it was the day before I joined Camford English School as Principal; Mahesh was Correspondent of the school. Being the place of my birth, Chittoor has a special place in my heart).

Happy birthday, Leonardo.

Delhi Ganesh and Indra Soundarrajan

Heartfelt condolences to the families of Shree Delhi Ganesh and Shree Indra Soundarrajan who passed away recently. These two will be remembered by their movie and literature fans respectively for years to come.

Divine discourse

It was spiritually enlightening to view Shreemad Bhagavath Kathaa by Shree Raghavacharyaji Maharaj on Aashtha TV Channel this morning. He explained the difference between 'prem' and 'mogh' and why we should have prem and not mogh. He gave examples of Bhaarath Maharajaa (from whose name our country got it's name) and Jatabharath.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Fall of the Berlin wall

Today marks the anniversary of dismantling of the Berlin wall paving the way for United Germany. After several years of separation, people of Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and German Democratic Republic (East Germany) could travel in United Germany. Although people of former FRG were sceptical, the integration proved to be good for both sides very much like how it happened in Vietnam and Tanzania. Let me share a DW TV Channel's documentary on the fall of the Berlin wall here.

(In 1989, I was working in Southern Africa. It seemed to me that my colleagues such as Ulrich Lauren and Sabine Feeser, from FRG, were worried that the integration would negatively affect FRG. But, it didn't).

Shree Mahaa Vishnu

As I am typing this post, my heart and mind seem to be filled with joy, as I view a spiritual programme being held at Shree Swaami Naaraayan Temple at Vadtal Dhaam, Gujarat.

Guests include a swaamiji who represents Shree Chinna Jeeyar Swaamiji.

As the speeches are in Gujaraathi, I am not able to understand the contents fully. But speakers' mentioning of "Vadodara" gives an indication that the function had close association with Vadodara based Swaamy Naaraayan Temple; I fondly remember my visit to the temple when I was working in Vadodara.

The function displayed a nice amalgamation of Swamy Naaraayan Temple and Shree Raamaanujaachaaryaa traditions in worshipping Shree Mahaa Vishnu. 

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Culinary discoveries

As a 73 years old single senior citizen, I used to rely on local Brahmin catering outlets for side dishes in my food. These caterers, Brahmin households, charge between Rs 100 to 120 for supplying four items: Sambar, curry, rasam and koottoo. They usually don't supply cooked rice. 

As four items are too much for me, I used to order for any two items daily. Recently, the caterers said that it is not profitable to them unless I ordered for full package of four items and said that they could not deliver just 2 items daily. 

Thanks to digital shopping scenario, I can place order for food via Swiggy, Zamato etc. But I don't use this option for two reasons: 1. I don't know whether the food is cooked by Brahmins. According to Scriptures, Brahmins have to eat only food items that are cooked by Brahmins; otherwise, it is a sin. Hence, I don't like eating some thing that is not cooked by Brahmins. 2. The delivery person keeps vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items in the same bag. This is uncomfortable for me.

Hence, I am myself cook rice as well as side dishes for the past few weeks. 

Usually I place order from Big Basket orAmazon. Recently I placed order for tomato puree. When I looked for the instructions to use it, I didn't find any thing clear. 

It was only this morning, when viewing a cookery documentary on EPIC TV Channel that I found how tomato puree can be used. Let me share the documentary . Thanks to Ranveer Brar and Sakshi Thanveer.

U S Election 2024 Trump 2.0

Congratulations to Mr Donald Trump on his having won the election. I think that he is a good friend of India. He has always reminded me of Mr Bob Williams, a Caucasian American and my Headmaster when I was teaching Physics in a Government Senior Secondary School in Southern Africa during the late 1980s.  There were nearly 60 teachers from different countries. My headmaster used to visit and observe teachers' teaching in their classes. As he never came to my classes, I asked him why he didn't come to observe my teaching. He replied that he had seen my classes several times as he was going on rounds in the corridors in front of classrooms and that my students seemed to be actively involved with interest. When I got a phonecall that my sister's baby son  (less than one year old) passed away, my headmaster came to my flat and expressed his condolences. He was a very simple gentleman. He used to tell me that he was taught by Indians during his University student years in the US.

Mr Donald Trump and Shree Narendra Modi

Divine discourse

This evening it was spiritually enriching to view Shreemad Bhaagavath Kathaa by Shree Sanjai Krishna Saleelji Maharaj in Kolkota, via Aashthaa TV Channel.  He explained how Shree Mahaa Vishnu gave mokshaa to Gajendraa, an elephant whose leg was tightly held and bitten by a crocodile. This incident is popularly known as Gajendra Moksham. 

The programme was sponsored by Naaraayan Sevaa Sansthaan.

Divine discourse

This evening it was joy to view spiritual talk by Shree Prembhushanji Maharaj in Hindu Spiritual Programme on Aashthaa TV Channel. Shree Morari Bapu's presence in the audience added more spiritual aroma to the function.

Jai Shree Raam🙏.

Death of Quincy Jones

Recent death of legendary singer and producer Quincy Jones has made the American Music scene deficient.

Although I have not listened to any of his songs, like many soft rock enthusiasts in the 1960s to 1980s, I knew that he worked with many talented singers such as Stevie Wonder, and that he was instrumental in producing the 1985 hit song We are the world in which many legendary singers participated. Singers in the song included legendary musicians from different genres of western pop music of those times. The team included Kenny Rogers (Country and Western), Lionel Ritchie, West Indian singer Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon (softrock musician who was previously in 'Simon and Garfunkel' with  'Mrs Robinson' as title song in the movie 'The Graduate'), etc. Bob Geldoff gave shape to this project after visiting Ethiopia.

I nostalgically remember the song. Let Mr Quincy Jones' soul rest in peace.

Saint's Mukthi Day

Today is an important day as anniversary of the day on which Shree Satyapramodha Theertha Swaamiji, Guru of Shree Sathyaathma Theertha Swaamiji, our community's chief Swaamiji, passed away. Shree Sathyaathma Theertha Swaamiji has composed a song as tribute to his Guru. Let me share his song.

From left to right: Shree Satyapramodha Theertha Swaamiji and Shree Sathyaathma Theertha Swaamiji 

Shree Krishna arpanam asthu🙏.

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Today is a spiritually very historic day in the Hindu Calender. This day is celebrated as Bali Prathipat.