National Milk Day

Our country celeberates it's National Milk Day today.

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.

Hindu Fest

Today is an auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. It is celebrated as Skanda sashti. Shree Skanda is the son of Lord Rudra and Paarvathi Devi. Lord Rudraa is a well known Mahaa Vishnu devotee. Lord Skanda is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Gods, Deities and Sub-deities.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Maadhwaa Saint

Today is an auspicious day in the Maadhwaa Calender. As far as I know, it is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Sankarshana Wodeyaru attained Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu's Abode.

Hari Sarvoththamaa Vaayu Jeevoththamaa🙏.

Divine Flag Hoisting Ceremony

Today our honourable Prime Minister hoisted the saffron coloured Divine Flag at Shree Raam Temple

Ayodhya.

Jai Shree Raam🙏.

Hindu Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This day is known as Naaga Panchami.

Hari Sarvoththamaa Vaayu Jeevoththamaa🙏.

Shree Dharmendra

Yesterday's demise of Shree Dharmendra leaves a vacuum in the Indian movie industry. He will be remembered by his fans for years to come.

Sarvam Krishna Mayam🙏.

Maadhwaa Saint

Today is an important day in Maadhwaa community. Today is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Raghuveera Theertha attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna.

Hari Sarvoththamaa🙏

Vaayu Jeevoththamaa🙏

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

This morning, D D Malayalam TV Channel telecast a highly spiritually enriching function being held in Kerala. I think that it is held in Shree Anantha Padmanaabhaswaami Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. 

I tried to provide a link to the program, but in vain; DD Malayalam TV Channel doesn't seem to have such option.

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.

Divine discourse

It was highly spiritually enriching to view Shree Raam Kathaa rendered by Shree Morari Bapujee on Aashthaa TV Channel this evening. He explained the contributions of Hanumaanjee in Raamaayanaa. He uses the respected Shree Raama Charitha Maanas for his discourses.

I remember my beloved mother singing verses from Shree Raama Charitha Maanas regularly; this respected text was part of her academic curriculum when she was studying for Vishaarad/Praveen/Praveen Prachaarak course run by Dakshina Bhaarath Hindi Prachaar Sabhaa. This diploma/certificate course was later converted as a Bachelor's Degree Course. DBHPS awarded BA (Hindi) Degree to all those had received this Diploma/Certificate. When asked whether my mother would like to have it as Degree, she said that she was not keen in having it as a degree. 

My beloved brother

According to the Western Calender, yesterday marked the end of 10 months since my beloved brother passed away. I remember him with heavy heart. 

Following photo shows my brother:

It was taken in his family function held a few years ago. In the photograph, from R to L are my beloved sister, I, and my beloved brother. 

I wish that his soul is on it's way to Shree Mahaa Vishnu's Abode.

Sarvam Krishna Mayam🙏.

The Beatles

It is good news that The Beatles is due to release it's Anthology Volume 4 on 21 November. 

Divine discourse

As my blogposts may indicate, I spend my time listening to divine discourses by speakers on TV. One of them is Kripaluji Maharaj about whom I have mentioned in my previous posts.

In tonight's episode of his discourses, explained 'Bhakthi Saadhanaa'. When quoting verses from Scriptures, he usually quotes the Scripture as well as the serial number of the verse. I think that Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu has blessed him with enourmous memory power.

Hari Sarvoththamaa

Vaayu Jeevoththamaa🙏.

Lumumba's Africa

Today being Friday, it was interesting to view Lumumba's Africa presented by Prof P. L. O. Lumumba.

The Professor covered events in different parts of Africa from not only a political perspective but also a socio-economic perspective.

Thanks to RT for a very comprehensive series presented by a well educated neutral professor.

Hindu ritual

Today being Amaavaasyaa is a very auspicious day to Hindus. They remember their ancestors by performing ancestral worship ritual. I remember my beloved parents. 

Today is very auspicious being Wednesday on which Shree Mahaa Vishnu is the presiding deity.

l

Today is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Padmanabha Theertha Swaamiji, a former Pontiff of our Uttaradi Mutt attained Vaikuntha, Shree Mahaa Vishnu's Abode.

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.

African Legacy

This afternoon, it was pleasure viewing African Legacy, presented by Ms Samia Nkrumah, charismatic daughter of Mr Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of post-colonial Ghana.

Lumumba's Africa

I felt a little sad that my favourite program 'Lumumba's Africa' was not available on RT TV Channel for the past few weeks. It was pleasure to view the program presented by charismatic Prof. Lumumba this afternoon. 

He mentioned about Angola and a few other countries in Africa (wrongly known as 'Dark Continent').

Thanks to Prof Lumumba. I think that he is a God given gift to African youth.

Childrens' Day

Today is an important day in India. This day is celeberated as Childrens' Day.

Sarvam Krishna Mayam🙏.

Swaminarayan

In a few previous posts, I  have mentioned about Swaminarayan places of worship with headquarters in Gujarat. I had always thought that 'Swaminarayan' meant an incarnation or manifestation of Shree Mahaa Vishnu. 

Day before yesterday I was lisrening to a divine discourse by one of the elders in our Madhwaa Community. He was mentioning about ISKCON, Swaminarayan faith etc. 

This aroused my curiosity and yesterday I visited Swamynarayan website; I found that the name implied a sage and not any incarnation or manifestation of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu. 

I think that Swamynarayan places of worship should be treated somewhat like Mutts and not as Temples, although these places of worship seem to be involved in worship of a devotee of Shree Mahaa Vishnu.

National Education Day

Today is celeberated as National Education Day in India, our country.

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Media mischief

It is a well known fact that news reports by media are not always neutral and factual. Recent news from the BBC adds weight to the scepticism. (As I am typing now, power supply is cut in our area in Chennai; God knows when it will be restored. As I have written in my earlier posts, power cuts are very common and frequent here).

People of my age (at 74) would know how much trust worthy BBC Radio and TV were many years ago. 

I remember the authenticity of BBC World Service Radio Reports during the mid 1960s when I was a teenager and when the news readers began their news by saying "This is London...".

Inside our own country, readers would know how the reliability levels got reduced in popular newspapers such as  THE HINDU. These media became mouth pieces of political parties in power.

Post-Internet, every one knows how unreliable can social media be (including those involved in dissemination of News).

As I have mentioned in my previous posts, technology in evil hands is dangerous, whether it is in our classrooms or social media and News Networks.

Cooking ordeal

Due to low quality online ordered food, I myself cooked some rice and cabbage gravy this morning for lunch. The gravy seemed to be okay as shown in the following photograph:

It was not delicious. But still I ate it as I didn't want to waste my money spent on raw materials such as cabbage, lentils, rice etc. and LPG. I realise that not every one can be an effecient cook.

For the past few years, I realise the importance of not wasting money.

Online shopping oddity

Last night I placed an order for 2 pooris with potato masala from Bakya Restaurant, Valasaravakkam, here in Chennai, via Swiggy. It cost Rs 100 according to Swiggy list. As usual, I had to pay extra for delivery. I paid Rs 174 via Google Pay. 

When my beloved brother was alive, I have eaten at the restaurant and found the quality of Pooris to be good. 

But this time, when I tried to eat the pooris, it looked like rotis; potato masala had very bad taste. Hence I rated the product as '1' on their 5 point scale.

I think that senior citizens married to caring wives are very fortunate. 

NYC Mayor

It seems like a welcome gesture in Zorab Zamdani's win as New York City mayor. It's a pround moment for numerous Indians as well as Africans.

I hope that his pledges such as free bus services in NY, free childcare upto 5 years of age, etc. are fulfilled.

Best wishes to him.

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. Today is Wednesday and Shree Mahaa Vishnu Himself is the Presiding Deity of Wednesdays.

Today is Kaarthik Pournima. Devotees perform Shree Vedavyaasa poojaa.

Today is also celebrated as Gowri Poornima.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Online oddity

A few days ago, I placed  an order for plum fruits from Swiggy Instamart listing. Although the material was delivered in '10 minutes', the fruits were rotten. According to Instamart, the fruits were imported from South Africa. An image of the fruits was displayed as shown below in the Swiggy Instamart online portal:

I am never particularly keen in buying imported items. Unfortunately there was no other plum fruit advertisement in the list. I tried to provide link to the material as listed in Instamart app, but in vain.

I regret that I wasted my money on rotten fruits.

All that glitters is not gold. 

Culture Crossroads

NHK WORLD JAPAN TV telecast an interesting documentary on an Cultural Integration between Indian community and local residents. The documentary included a few grocery stores that sell Indian food items uncluding herbs, masala powders etc. I nostalgically remember Aman restaurant (owned by a group of people from Bihar and Nepal) and a grocery store owned by Bangladesh man (married to a local woman); these two were in Phnom Penh, where I was resident. I remember how their products made my cooking easier and 'Indian'. 

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. In some places such as Tamilnadu, Bengaluru etc., this day is celeberated as Uththaana Ekaadashi. In some other places, it was celebrated yesterday.

In our Uttharaadhi Mutt, respected Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, Chief saint of the Mutt will perform Thulasi Vivaaham this evening in addition to his daily Moola Raama Poojaa.

Vaasudevam sarvam ithi (All happen according to Shree Vaasudevaa's Will)🙏

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

The Beatles

Yesterday, Sony Picture announced a Four Films Cinematic version of the story of The Beatles, (legendary softrock band of the 1960s era) that would be released in 2028. It seems like The Beatles legacy is going on. The 'Fab Four', their team and their songs will be remembered by fans for years to come.

 

Great leaders

Today is the death anniversary of Smt. Indira Gandhi and birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, two great leaders.

Sarvam Krishna Mayam🙏.

Maadhwaa Saints

Today is a very auspicious day to Maadhwaa Brahmin community. This day is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Satyaveera Thirtha and Shree Vijayadaasaru attained the Lotus Feet of Shree Mahaa Vishnu.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Shree Naaraayana Guru

Our country is a great land that has received many incarnations of Shree Mahaa Vishnu. 

It has produced several spiritual/social leaders in different parts of the country. 

Kerala produced spiritual/social leaders such as Shree Shankaraachaarya, Shree Naaraayana Guru, and Maathaa Amrutaananda Mayee.

Today DD Malayalam TV Channel telecast a special program marking the centenary celeberation of Shree Naaraayana Guru's Samaadhi in Kerala in which dignitaries such as Smt. Droupadi Marmu, our country's President took part. 

I have personally seen how Shree Naaraayana Guru's contributions used to be mentioned in school text books in Kerala.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Shree Amit Shaw jee's birhday

Today is Shree Amit Shaw jee's birth anniversary. Best wishes to him.

Vaalmeeki Raamaayan

Chennai has been rainy for the past few days amidst relatively cold weather conditions due to human abuse of our trees and forests. However, I think that good TV programs bring in some warmth to us. I think that our Hindu spiritual programs such as discourses top the list of such programs. 

This afternoon, in his discourse on 'Vaalmeeki Raamaayan' on Sanskar TV Channel, respected Shree Bhupendrabhai Pandyaajee Maharaaj shed light on King Dasaratha's plan to formally handover his kingdom to Lord Shree Raam, his eldest son.

According to Sage Vaalmeeki, Dasarathaa knew very well that Lord Bharatha, Shree Raam's younger brother, was very good. But still he liked Shree Raam's Coronation to be done before Bharathaa returns to Ayodhyaa from his in-law's house. King Dasaratha thought that Lord Bharatha's state of mind can change any time and possibly disturb the coronation. I think that we all know how our own minds are inconsistent in our thoughts. 

With his highly charismatic style and occassional excellent English language skill, Shree Pandyaa gives unusual but obvious and significant insights in Vaalmeeki Raamaayan. 

It is well known that it was not the mind set of Lord Bharathaa that changed; it was Kaikeyi's (Lord Bharathaa's mother) mind set that got spoilt due to evil advice by Mantharaa thereby leading to unpleasant events and finally, Lord Shree Raam's killing of the evil demon king Raavana, thereby winning of evil by good.  

 

Jai Shree Seethaa Raam🙏.

Remembering my beloved brother

With heavy heart, I remember my beloved brother who passed away exactly nine months ago.

I wish that his soul is on it's way to the Lotus Feet of Lord Shree Krishna and serve at His Lotus Feet of Shree Mahaa Vishnu, alongwith souls of my beloved parents, in Vaikunthaa, eternally.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Festival of lamps

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This day is celeberated as Deepavali. As Satyatma Theertharu, our respected Guru mentioned in his recent Deepaavali Sandesha, it is a joyous occassion when devotees light lamp/s in front of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu and His wife Shree Mahaa Lakshmi. 

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏

Divine Discourses

It was joy listening to two divine discourses, one each by respected Chinmayanand Bapujee Maharaj on Shreemad Bhagavath Kathaa and by respected Bhpendra Pandyaji Maharaj on Aashtha and Sanskar TV Channels respectively this afternoon. 

They explained Sudaamaa's meeting with Lord Shree Krishna and Lord Shree Raam's journey to forests and Mithila on Sage Vishvaamithraa's request to King Dasaratha.

Shree Pandyaji gave an insight into the basic aspect of what led to Lord Raam's accompanying Sage Vishvaamithraa. He said that Sages Vasishtaa and Vishvaamithraa could foresee that if Lord Raam and Lord Lakshman would not travel with sage Vishvaamithraa, demons would continue spoiling numerous sages' Yagnas, and how the demon king Raavana would attack the sages and every thing in Ayodhyaa and Mithila as well as the whole area between them. 

It was Shree Mahaa Vishnu's plan that enabled Lord Raam and Lord Lakshman's travel with sage Vishvaamithraa. It was a kind of internship to the brothers. Their plan ended in Lord Shree Raam's killing of Raavana and all the good things that followed. 

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

International Day of Rural Women

Today is celeberated as International Day of Rural Women all over the world. 

In rural households usually men go to work in their fields etc. whereas women help in housekeeping. They also take care of their family including their inlaws as part of joint families though unfortunately this system has become history in many countries including India, my home country.

It's good that NGOs and Shree Narendra Modi's Government are helping rural women in many ways.

Sarvam Krishna Mayam🙏.

River Gangaa Fest

Today is an important day in the Hindu Calender. This day is known as Gangaashtami and is related to the sacred river Gangaa. Devotees worship the sacred river that has been flowing after washing the feet of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu. The river has been carried on His head by Lord Rudraa and is worshipped by Lord Brahmaa.

Sarvam Krishna Mayam🙏.

World Post Day

According to a notification by Department of Communications, Government of India, 6 to 10 October is celeberated as National Postal Week. Yesterday was World Postal Day. Yesterday was World Post Day. 

Let us remember those golden years with friendly postmen/women and community friendly post offices with simple and effective schemes such as Post Office Savings Bank.

Divine discourse

As I write this post, I derive the joy of viewing Shreemad Bhagavath Kathaa by respected Shree Rajendradas Devacharya Ji Maharaj at the revered Ayodhyaa, Uttar Pradesh. 

Jai Shree Seethaa Raam🙏.

Mango chutney

From my experience of online shopping of food from local vegetarian restaurants, I found Shero Home Food as a good option except when I found human hair in their gravy last week. Yesterday when I tried to order some food item from them via Zamoto, I found that they have begun cooking non-vegetarian dishes also, though it is disabled in my account. Now I have decided to stop any food item from them as there is every possibility that they would be using the same utensils to cook both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items. 

Today I liked to cook a simple side using raw mango. I tried to use it to make something like chutney. It came out well as shown in the following image:

It was not as delicious as I expected it to be, but it was palatable. 

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏.

World Noodles Day

Yesterday was celebrated by people in many countries as World Noodles Day. 

I didn't know about noodles like almost all people of my age, until leaving my home to work abroad.

When I worked in African countries, I had myself experienced cooking noodles and relishing them. Noodles are fast and easy to cook; these are also portable. I remember how I used to cook ready made noodles and keep it in the fridge, reheat it the next morning and take it for lunch during my lunch time at school.

Vegetarian Noodles have always been delicious and user friendly to me. In fact my dinner menu tonight was noodles. Thanks to noodles and my friendly fork.

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏.

TV to textbooks: A brief insight

I have been viewing Makkal TV Channel for many years since it's beginning. I think that it is one of the best channels for edutainment. 

This afternoon I had the pleasure of viewing one science program in which an entrepreneur explains how to make a simple home made electric generator using very easily available household materials. This program is telecast in episodes with the title "Soo".

Following image is a screenshot of one of the episodes:

This program reminds me of 'UNESCO Sourcebook for Science Teaching' published several years ago by UNESCO; it used to serve as an excellent source of information. I think that NCERT publishef the local exitions of the book. Cenrral and State Governments took efforts to distribue this book  in all Government  Schools. 

I remember how I and my students were benefited from the book's contents. 

UK based English Language Book Society ((ELBS) used to publish low cost editions of University Level textbooks in different subjects; these were easily available in India. 

Delhi based S Chand Publishing used to publish excellent textbooks at the BSc Degree Course level; I have used their 'Textbook of Optics' by Shree Brijlal and Shree Subhramanyam, among others. These books helped our understanding of textbook concepts easily.

In those days, there was only one problem: there was no teacher development magazines until Orient Longmans began publishing 'Teacher Plus'. Recently Teacher Plus replaced it's print version by online version. I personally feel that print version should not have been stopped.

I tried to share Makkal TV's programme in this post, but in vain. I think that MAKKAL TV has banned this option to prevent misuse by evil people.

Divine Mother Fest

Today is an important day in the Hindu Calender. Devotees perform Kojaagratha Vratham and offer special worship to Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, our Devine Mother, and Indraa on this day.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Divine discourse

It was spiritually enriching in viewing Shree Laxmandasji Maharaaj's Shree Ashtalakshmi Kathaa on Aashthaa TV Channel this evening. He is so overwhelmed by devotion that teardrops flow down from his eyes (a dazzling display of devotion); this happens in many devotees who listen to his discourse.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.