Lumumba's Africa

Usually Russia Today TV Channel telecasts an interesting and informative show known as Lumumba's Africa on Fridays. As I have mentioned in my previous posts, it is presented by Dr P L O LUMUMBA, a highly charismatic professor.

Yesterday the program was absent. I am glad to view the show this evening as I am typing this post. Probably RT TV Channel has shifted the show for Saturdays.

In today's episode, Prof Lumumba explained how education was not confined to classrooms during pre colonial era; he mentioned how children were taught by their own elders, whether it was Yoruba community in Nigeria, Masaai community in Kenya or any other community in the continent. This seems to similar to our own education system in India. A few days ago I came to know that every village, town and ciry in pre-colonial India had well organised school systems known as Gurukulams as in ancient India. Our Sanaathana Dharmaa Scriptures contain very authentic descriptions of the Gurukulam system in which even Lord Raam and Lord Shree Krishna incarnations of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu studied under the guidance of great sages such as Sage Sandeepani and Sage Vasishta. 

Gurukulam

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Birthday

Today is the birth anniversary of Saasvathi, elder daughter of Sushma. Sushna is the elder daughter of Kamala Jyothi (known as 'Jyothi'), my beloved sister. 

Saasvathi is doing her B Sc Degree Course with Psychology as Main Subject in Auxilium College, Vellore, Tamilnadu. My sister did her B A Degree with English Literature as Main Subject in the same college many years ago.

L to R: Saatvikaa (Sushma's younger daughter), Saasvathi, Sushma, Jyothi, Satheesh (husband of Reshma, my sister's younger daughter), Murali (My sister's husband) and Reshma 

I conveyed my greetings to Saasvathi this morning.

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

TV Serial on Lord Shree Raam

Today being Saturday, I could derive the joy of viewing our National TV Channel's Serial 'Jan jan me Raam' (meaning 'Raam in everyone's heart) this morning. As I mentioned in a previous post, this serial is an excellent example of how today's youth can integrate traditional Bhaaratheeya values and their contemporary modernity aspects. 

This morning's episode included the youngsters travel to a sacred place in via Valsad in Gujarat state. It reminded me of my call taxi travels between Vadodara (where I worked) and Ahmedabad Airport many years ago. I remember Anand, a town in between Vadodara and Ahmedabad, where the popular Amul Enrerprise for founded many years ago. When remembering Amul, I cannot  forget Sivakumar, a nice gentleman who runs an Amul outlet in Chennai. I remember him with gratitude as he was supplying requirement of Amul koolcafe cartons for daily consumption; he used to send it through a messemger; sometimes he himself used to deliver it to me though it required him to drive in busy roads in Chennai. More importantly he was so nice that whenever we communicate with each other, he used to ask "What did you have for lunch today?" etc. Amul's use to me continues to this day with my morning coffee.

I tried to access today's  Jan jan me Raam episode, but in vain, as usual. Let me share an older episode of this excellent serial here.

Lord Shree Raam and His wife Shree Seethaa Devi 

Jai Shree Seethaa Raam🙏

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Tomorrow is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. This day is celeberated as Paashaankusha Ekaadashi. Tomorrow's Ekaadashi is also known as Sarva Ekaadashi. 

Lord Shree Krishna preaching His Shreemadh Bhaagavadh Geethaa to Arjuna

Shree Mahaa Vishnu's Viswa Roopa is also shown in the image

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Maadhwaa Fest

Tomorrow is a very auspicious day in the Maadhwaa Brahmin community. This day is celebrated as Madhwa Jayanthee every year. Shree Madhwaachaarya was the founder pontiff of our Madhwaa Sect of Brahmins.

Shree Madhwaachaarya blessed by Shree Mahaa Vishnu, His wife Shree Mahaa Lakshmi and Shree Vedavyaasa (Incarnation of Shree Mahaa Vishnu). 

On the sides of Shree Madhwaachaarya: L to R: Lord Hanumaanji and Bheema (previous manifestations of Shree Madhwaachaarya)

Lord Shree Krishnaa

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Sanaathana Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This day is celeberated as Vijaya Dashami by Hindu people all over the world. In South India people perform Aayudha Poojaa on this day. Let me share an informative article on aayudha poojaa here.

Today marks the end of this year's Navarathree/Dusseraa celebrations. On this day  in many Hindu households, children are guided by priests or close relatives such as parents or grandparents to learn the alphabets and begin their life long learning as shown in the image at the end of this paragraph.  Children are guided to write on a plate filled with white rice with their fingers held by the guide. This ritual is known as Akshara Abhyaasam, Vidhyaa Aarambham etc. 

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Hari SarvoththamaaVaayu jeevoththamaa🙏

Musical confluence

Music is said to be universal with no geographic barriers. Today WION TV's Wion Wings telecast as interesting programme featuring Sitar music by Shubendu Rao and didgeridoo played by an Australian musician.

Lumumba's Africa

Today being Friday, I had the opportunity of viewing 'Lumumba's Africa' on RT TV Channel. I tried to provide a link to the program, but in vain. 

In today's episode, Prof P L O Lumumba explained many aspects of  Pan Africanism. Some of the information seem new to me as these are not usually available in popular books or social media. One such is the scarfices made by African leaders such as Dr Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and Dr Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. Prof Lumumba mentioned that when they were Presidents of their countries, Dr Kaunda's financial assets were only US $6000 and and Dr Nyerere owned just two houses, one in Dar Es Salaam and the other in a Tanzanian village. They were simple. Both were known as followers of Gandhian values. 

Navarathree: Display of dolls

As Navarathree Fest is being celeberated, it is a traditional custom in South Indian households to display dolls as part of the celebration. 

I came across an interesting article on this dolls display known as 'Kolu'. Let me share it here. Although the article is highly informative and interesting, I differ in the dolls hierarchy mentioned in it. The topmost step is reserved for dolls of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu and His wife Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, and His main ten Incarnations. The next one down the line is reserved for Goddess Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, wife of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu. The next step down the line is reserved for Lord Brahma and His wife and Lord Shree Rudraa and His wife, and Lord Shree Hanumaan. Next steps down the line is reserved for other deities, sub-deities, Spiritual leaders etc.

In a few of my previous posts I have mentioned how I, my siblings and friends used to participate in Kolu and enjoy the Fest as children. 

In my post dated 10 October I shared a photograph of Kolu in my landlord's house in Chennai; before shifting to my current residence, I was a tenant in their house.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Religious congregation

As I am typing this post, I derive the joy of viewing Dharma Rakshana Mahothsavam on Sankara TV Channel. Heads of Shree Sankaraa Mutt  (Kanchipuram), Vyaasaraaja Mutt and Ahobila Mutt are the Chief guests in the program. Speakers included the Principal of Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi and Prof Dr V Kamakoti, Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai. Principal of Central Sanskrit University spoke in Samskrit.

Prof Dr V Kamakoti 

Principal, Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi 

Chief Pontiffs of Kanchi Sankara Mutt, Vyaasaraaja Mutt and Ahobila Mutt 

Spectators including highly knowledgeable speakers such as Shree U Ve Venkatesh

The program was like a sacred confluence of three oceans. It reminded the fact that although Adwaithaa, Visishtaa Dwaithaa and Dwaithaa differ in their own philosophies, their goal was one: Dharmaa and it's sustenance.

(The program reminded me of my beloved mother's maternal uncle known as 'Vaasu maamaa'; he was no more when I was born; but I have heard about him. As I mentioned in my previous posts, I inherit my spiritual values from my mother's lineage).

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏