Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This day is considered as Vinaayaka Chathurthi. Devotees worship Shree Vinaayakaa, and more importantly, Shree Mahaa Vishnu residing in Shree Vinaayakaa's heart, as all deities including Vinaayakaa carry out their responsibilities under the orders of Shree Mahaa Vishnu, Supreme God.
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Jai Shree Ganeshaa anthargatha Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏
I think that every country feels proud about it's culture and traditions. Ours is no exception.
Our country has numerous doll makers as unsung heroes and heroins.
DD Karnataka TV Channel telecasts a regular program in which a charismatic anchor interviews craftspeople in different parts of Karnataka. This evening the Channel telecast a show feauring doll makers. I tried to access the link to the programme, but as usual, in vain.
Let me share a screenshot of the programme's title and a photo from the programme.
I wish that Shree Hari blesses these craftspeople with long lives and happiness.
(As I am typing this post, the power supply went off for the second time today; I think that irresponsible workers and officials in Electricity Department learn a lesson from the above mentioned simple and hardworking craftspeople).
(I am back at this post three hours since power cut; still it has not come. Irresponsible Electricity Department employees are fraudulent rascals and greedy, like stray dogs).
Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏.
Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This day is celeberated as Shree Dhanvanthari Jayanthi, Shree araaha Jayanthi and Shree Balaraama Jayanthi.
Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.
People of my age at 74 would have some place in their hearts for The Beatles, the most popular softrock band. Although at a personal level, my interest in Western Softrock music has gone down to a large extent, I retain my interest in keeping in touch with their web site.
Recently the band has come up with news about an anthology of their music that stretched for many years. Let me share the news.
Their songs such as Get back, Lady Madonna, Hey Jude etc. some times keep ringing in my ears.
Following image shows The Beatles with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi :
Let me share George Harrison's liking of our Hinduism and our Lord Shree Krishna here.
Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.
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It was great joy listening to to Shree Vrajrajkumarji Maharajji's Shreemad Bhagavath Kathaa on Aashthaa TV Channel this evening.
Although much of his discourse was in Gujaraathi (in which I am not familiar), he used Hindi and occassionally English. Hence I could grasp what he mentioned.
Hari Sarvoththamaa Vaayu Jeevoththamaa🙏
Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏
English language experts and enthusiasts know that new words keep on enering dictionaries.
According to a recent news report, Cambridge Dictionary has added two new words: 'tradwife' and 'skibidi'.
The word 'tradwife' seems to have precise and clear meaning.
But 'skibidi' has diametrically opposite (or contradictory) meanings; it can also be used without meaning anything. I don't really understand why such words are included in the dictionary. I think that Cambridge Dictionary is losing it's authenticity and reliability due to such entries.
I think that Cambridge Dictionary and other Dictionaries should not succumb to popular demand and should not include words with contradictory meanings and words that don't mean anything.
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This morning, it was joy receiving the following WhatsApp notification from Uttaradi Mutt to which I belong:
"The Government of India releases a commemorative coin to honor Shri 1008 Shri Satya Pramoda Teertha Swami ji, marking the beginning of his 108th birth anniversary celebrations, recognizing his enduring legacy. (1918-1925)
A milestone in itself, Shri 108 Satya Pramoda Teertha Swami ji is the Madhwa Swami ji recognized with a commemorative coin.
Pure silver coin weighing ~40 gms
Coin symbolic denomination of INR 108/- (celebrating 108th Birth anniversary)
Hyderabad Chaturmasya has a 71-year legacy, dating back to 1954 when Shri 108 Satya Pramoda Teertha Swami ji observed Chaturmasya to uphold Sanatana Dharma during challenging times.
Milestone 30th Chaturmasya of Shri Satyatma Teertha Swami ji– coinciding at Hyderabad and coin release.
...
Regards,
Communication Team-UM"
Commomorative Coin
Shri Satyapramoda Theertha Swaamiji was Chief Pontiff of Uttaradi Mutt. Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, our current Chief Pontiff, was his disciple.
Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji
Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.
Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This day is considered as Krishna Jayanthi, Krishna Janmaashtami or Gokulaashtami. This is the day on which Shree Mahaa Vishnu incarnated as Lord Shree Krishna nearly 8,60,000 years ago on our Earth.
Following image shows Devaki and Vasudevaa worshipping Lord Shree Krishna who had incarnated as their baby son:
Devotees perform special worship to Lord Shree Krishna on this day.
Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏
People of my age at nearly 74 may remember our boyhood years when we used to make boats etc. using ordinary paper. In Japan, this kind of creating 3 D objects using paper is known as Origamy.
This evening NHK WORLD JAPAN TV Channel telecast an interesting documentary on origamy. It is sad that our school curriculum does not included creative aspects like origamy which children would enjoy.
All Hindus know the significance of idols of Gods, Goddesses and deities, and how these idols are made by sculptors and then given 'divine lives' by priests by chanting appropriate scriptural verses (manthraas); when doing so, Shree Mahaa Vishnu is considered to bestow divine energy into the idols.
In large temples, idols are placed in the main room and worshipped without changing their positions. There are also idols which are carried on chariots through different parts of the area and worshipped by devotees. This is known as 'Ratha Yaathraa' meaning 'Chariot Ride'.
In Japan, similar customs prevail as shown in a Japanese documentary this afternoon on NHK WORLD JAPAN TV CHANNEL.
The above image shows chariot ride of a Japanese deity.
The above image shows recently held chariot ride of Shree Shubadhraa, Shree Balabadhraa and Lord Shree Jagannaath at Jagannaatha Puri, India.
Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.
Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This is the day on which Raaghavendra Swami is considered to have attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna. Raaghavendra Swaami's aaraadhanaa is celeberated today all over the planet.
A special ritual was performed by the chief pontiff of Shree Raaghavendra Swaami Mutt, Manthraalayam, to mark the aaaraadhaana celeberation today. The ritual was basically special worship of Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa seated in the heart of Shree Raaghavendra Swaamiji.
Let me end my post by providing a link to a series of lectures on Bhagavad Geethaa in English by Dr Panchamukhi here.
Jai Raaghavendra Swami anthargatha Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.
Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.
It was highly spiritually enriching in viewing a divine discourse on Geethaa by respected Gita Manishiji Maharaj at Leicester, UK, via Aashthaa TV Channel. Manishiji stressed the importance of balancing spiritual and materialistic lives, and explained Krishna Bhakthi.
The programme involved introductory speeches by eminent Krishnaa devotees that included very well placed professionals including an eminent eye surgeon who is a disciple of Shree Manishi.
We Indians all over the world celebrate Rakshaa Bandhan today marking brotherly and sisterly affection.
With gratitude, I remember Kamala Jyothi, my beloved sister, and Ramesh, my beloved late brother.
Following photo shows my sister, me and my brother from right to left, at a function organised by my brother a few years ago:
I wish that my brother's soul is on it's way to Lord Shree Krishna's Lotus Feet.
Sathyam vande Jagath Gurum🙏.
Singapore celeberates it's 60th National Day today. Best wishes to it's Government and people.
Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. Billions of years ago, it was on this day that Shree Mahaa Vishnu temple incarnated as Hayagreevaa.
Today is also the day on which Brahmin, Kshathria and Vysyaa males get their year old sacred threads replaced by new ones. It is an annual ritual of recharging our spiritual batteries.
Jai Shree Mahaa Lakshmi samtha Shree Hayagreeva Swaameejee 🙏
Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. Being Friday, Shree Mahaa Lakshmi is offered special worship on this day; she is the Wednesday deity.
Today is also very auspicious, as Shree Vara Mahaa Lakshmi, a manifestation of Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, is offered special worship and perform Shree Vara Mahaa Lakshmi Vratham.
Shree Mahaa Lakshmi is considered to be manifest in eight divine forms.
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Today is the death anniversary of Shree Rabindranath Tagore, Poet, Novelist and Social Reformer. It is sad that his ideas of school education got ignored by successive Central Governments.
Today is the birth centenary of Dr M S Swaminathan, Agricultural Scientist. Let me share the tribute paid by our beloved Prime Minister on the occassion.
I have mentioned a bit about Dr Swaminathan in a previous post.
Besides contributing to agricultural growth in the country, he was a prominent crusader of farmers's rights.
World history has been making it very clear that when countries are colonised, their people are killed,their treasures are looted, apartheid is practised and the colonising country makes efforts to wipe out local cultures and traditions. This has happened in our own country when the British, Portugese, French, Moghuls etc. colonised our country.
African countries are considered to be heavily colonised. One such country is present day Namibia. Previously known as South West Rhodesia, it was colonised by Germany.
I happened to view a documentary on Colonial Namibia on RT TV Channel this evening.
It reminds me of a cool summer evening in Southern Africa in 1990. I was having tea and biscuits in Shree Krishna Murthi's house. He was my friend from Karnataka and was teaching Maths in a local College of Education. He introduced a visitor who came to his house that evening. This guy was a caucasian Namibian of German origin.
Although I was never interested in local, national or politics, he began conversing with me by asking why Indian Government was practising apartheid against Sikhs. That was a few years after our Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assasinated by a Sikh body guard. There was a popular Supreme Court criminal lawyer named 'Ram Jethmalani'. He argued this assassin's case and got him aquitted by nasty means. A few months or years after this, instead of being given death penalty, this rascal lawyer was made Law Minister by the then BJP Government led by Mr Vajpayee. Even today, although BJP seems to least corrupt political party, I don't think that it is 100% free from corruption and favouritism.
Coming back to my conversation with the Namibian guy, I replied to him that what he thought was not true and explained that although there were aparheid by some political parties such as DMK against Brahmin communities etc., these were neither norm nor Government sponsored. The German guy would have probably understood it.
Let me share RT TV Channel's documentary here.
Colonisation is bad.
It is a well known fact that Chennai does not get enough rains during rainy season for obvious reasons such as cutting trees and vehicular pollution.
But even with occassional rains and drizziling, residents experience problems.
Last week I saw a 6 inches long centipede (known as 'Pooraan' in Tamizh) as shown in the following image, coming out from the washbasin near my kitchen:
Being Friday, RT TV Channel telecast it's weekly episode of Lumumba's Africa. In this episode, Prof Lumumba explained how the term 'Globalization' coined by Western countries is meaningless without including African countries. I can understand what he means as a professional who has worked on Gender Mainstreaming issues at the Cambodian Ministry of Education. Prof Lumumba mentioned authors such as Chinua Achebe. I have seen the enormous popularity of Mr Achebe's books such as 'Things Fall Apart' not only in his native Nigeria but also in other parts of Africa.
Africa is a colourful continent.
