Sanaathana Dharmaa Fests

Tomorrow is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. It is celebrated as Yama dhwitheeyaa.

Lord Shree Krishna and His cows on the bank of river Yamunaa

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Shree Krishnaa Fests

Today is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. Devotees celebrate Govardhan poojaa, Bali padhyaa etc. They perform Kaarthika dheepothsavaa on this day.

Hare Raama Hare Raama 

Raama Raama Hare Hare 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna 

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 🙏

Festival of Lamps

Tomorrow is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. Hindu people all over the world celebrate this day as Dheepaavalee. The term 'dheepaavalee' means 'Line of lamps'.

Let me share the divine speech delivered by the Chief Pontiff of Palimaru Mutt on Dheepaavalee in Kannada language here. Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, Chief Pontiff of our Uttaradi Mutt also delivers his Speech on Dheepaavalee in Kannada language every year. Let me share his speech here.

In the evening, devotees perform Shree Mahaa Lakshmi Poojaa. As tomorrow's Shraardha thithi is Amaavaasyaa, males perform Pitru Tharpanam (Ancestral worship).

With heavy heart I remember my beloved parents, brother and sister.

I wish that the souls of my beloved parents and my beloved brother are serving at the Lotus Feet of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu in Vaikuntaa and that my beloved sister's soul is on it's way to the Lotus Feet of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu in Vaikuntaa. 

Photo showing Shree Krishna, His wife Sathyabhaamaa and the slain demon Narakaasuraa

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏

Sanaathana Dharmaa Fests

Today is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. This day is is celeberated as Jala poornathrayodhashi, Dhana Lakshmi Thrayodhashi. On this day, Kuladhrma Poojaa is performed in all households that follow Sanaathana Dharmaa. 

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Sanaathana Dharmaa Fests

Tomorrow is a very auspicious day in the  Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. Tomorrow is Friday. The presiding deity of Fridays is Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, wife of our Supreme Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu. Tomorrow is Dhwaadashee. Lord Shree Hari (Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu) is the Presiding Deity of Dhwaadashee.

Tomorrow is celeberated as Gho Vathsa Dhwaadashi. 

Tomorrow is also celebrated as Dhana Thrayodhashi.

In the evening, Yama dheepa dhaanam is performed by devotees to please Lord Yama, who performs his duties as ordered by Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu. As Lord Yama resides in the South, two wick lamps are lit in the Southerly direction.

Tomorrow is also the day of Pradhosham. Devotees offer special worship to Lord Rudhraa, who performs his duties as ordered by Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu. 

L to R: Lord Shree Brahmaa, Supreme Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu and Lord Shree Rudhraa

Hari Sarvoththamaa🙏

Vaayu jeevoththamaa🙏

Lord Balaramaa Temple

Today is Ekaadashi, known as Sarva Ekaadashi or Ramaa Ekaadashi, a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. On these days, as far as possible, I watch only Vaishnavite programs on TV.

This evening, it was joy to watch a nice program on a temple dedicated to Lord Balarama, in 'Sandhyaa Deepam' episode on Amrita TV Channel. This shrine is situated in Nenmini, near the famous and very revered  Shree Krishnaa Temple in Guruvayoor, Keralam.

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Senior Citizens Homes

Today Senior Citizens Homes are increasingly popular all over the planet; our country is no exception. 

As far as I have experienced, such Homes are ideal for elderly population for different reasons. However there are difficulties too. These difficulties can be sorted out if people who run such Homes have clearcut policies to solve problems faced by residents. But unfortunately they don't.

In my previous posts, I have mentioned about table manners of residents in the dining hall. Problems include leaving the washbasin unclean after gorgling, spilling food on the floor after eating, talking loudly, coughing without covering the mouth while eating etc.

I have been facing a new problem for the past few days. There is only one window cum ventilator in my bathroom. When the weather is cloudy, the amount of sunlight entering  the bathroom is obviously less than that on sunny days. Someone who resides upstairs in the house right above my house dries her washed saree such that it blocks the ventilator in my bathroom as shown in the following photograph. 

A few days ago I spoke to a few single women to ask the lady not to dry her saree that way. But still the status quo remains. 

I think that I have no other way except to reconcile with the situation because such problems can occur when residing in independent house or apartment complex as well. I have experienced such problems when residing in apartment complexes that serve residents in High and Middle Income Groups as well.

Having said all these, I think that Senior Citizens Homes are better than residing alone in independent houses or apartments. 

A few minutes ago, wife of the Managing Director of our Senior Citizens Home visited the houses of residents to greet them for the Deepaavali and to distribute sweets and snacks for the occassion. Every day, Shree Sriram, Manager of our Homes, sends "Good Morning" messages to me; I reciprocate his greetings.  Thanks to these people for their  good gestures. 

Well maintained Senior Citizens Homes are a boon to lonely elderly men and women.

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏

Remembering my beloved sister

This evening, Reshma, younger daughter of my beloved sister, sent a photo of her with her mother; it was taken a few years ago during the Deepaavali Fest. Let me share the photo with heavy heart.

Sathyam Param Dheemahi🙏

Birthday

Tomorrow is the birth anniversary of Saatvika, younger daughter of Sushma. Sushma is the elder daughter of Kamala Jyothi (known as 'Jyothi'), my beloved sister. 

Satvikaa is doing her Standard 10 in a Secondary School. After completing this, she will pursue her Standards 11 and 12 before pursuing her Bachelor's Degree Course. She is brilliant like her elder sister Saasvathi. 

Following photo was taken a few days before my beloved sister passed away:

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 

Following photo, a recent one shows Saasvathi and Saatvikaa:

L to R: Saatvikaa and Saasvathi 

I conveyed my greetings to Satvikaa today itself. 

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Senior Citizens Homes

I think that many elderly people above 70 or 75 years feel lonely when they don't have a good spouse or children. This seems to be a global issue, particularly so in our country, where family relationships are usually steong and cherished. 

In our country there are numerous senior citizens who live without a good spouse or children for many reasons. This is where Senior Citizens Homes come as a boon.

Last night I didn't have a good sleep and got up a little late this morning. I didn't go to our dining hall to have my breakfast. Immediately after the breakfast time was over, my door bell rang. I opened the door. Shree Krishnan, my neighbour, had come to see why I didn't go to the dining hall; he said that he was very concerned about having missed me at breakfast. Shree Krishnan resides in the house opposite to that of mine. I obviously thanked him for his concern for me. He is a retired Senior Scientist from Neiveli Lignite Corporation, a Government of India Undertaking. After this another neighbour Shreemathi Sivasankaran, came to inquire about my welfare just like Shree Krishnan. Shree Sivasankaran is also a very nice gentleman. He has a well mannered brilliant son working in Reserve Bank of India in Chennai. Two months ago, Mr Krishnan, another neighbour came to my house as he heard that I didn't go for my breakfast. He had his own business enterprise. I have mentioned in my previous posts about Shree Viswanathan, my landlord when I was residing in Chennai, before shifting to my current residence. He and his wife, both highly qualified engineers, were adorably kind. I and Shree or Shreemathi Viswanathan phone to each other once in a few days. All these people are highly qualified and well placed. Yet they are simple.

My beloved mother used to say that if we are good, others will be good to us. I follow my mother's advice. However from my own experience, I have found that even though I had been good to some people, they weren't good; probably because of their evil nature or due to some irrelevant reasons.

Although there are debates about increasing number of Seniour Citizen Homes, good ones among them are a boon to lonely men and women.

Sarvam Krishna Mayam🙏