Mahaa Bhaarath info

This evening as I was listening to a Chaathurmaasya Divine Discourse by Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, Chief Pontiff of our Uttaradi Mutt on UTube, I learnt some thing which I guess, that many people don't know.

Our Swaamiji described how Yudhishtiraa the eldest sibling of The Paandavaas sought the blessings from Bheeshmachaaryaa and Dhronaachaaryaa of The Kauravaas at the beginning of the Mahaa Bhaarath war. Kauravaas and Paandavaas were opposing sides. 

Swamiji said that Yudhishtiraa shot an arrow each in front of the feet of Bheesmaachaarya and Dhronaachaaryaa as a gesture of his bowing himself down before them; Bheeshmaachaarya and Dhronaachaaryaa blessed Yudhishtiraa saying "Vijayee Bhava" meaning "May you be victoriuos". 

Last year in a UTube discourse by one of respected Maadhwaa spiritual speakers, I heard that before leaving to the battle field, Duryodhana asked for his mother's blessings; instead of blessing him specifically, she said "Whichever side is Dhaarmic (meaning righteous) will win the war". She didn't deviate from righteousness by succumbing to affection for her son, unlike her husband, with the fact that what all Dhuryodhana and his team mates did were sins.

Although Bheeshmaachaarya and Dhronaachaaryaa were in Kaurava side that served the wicked King Duryodhanaa, they were considered to be Shree Mahaa Vishnu devotees.

L to R: Bheeshmaachaarya on his death bed, Lord Shree Krishna 

and Arjuna

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

According to our Mutt, today and tomorrow are very auspicious days. Today is Ekaadashee and tomorrow, athiriktha Ekaadashee. Vishnu devotees observe mandatory fasting on these two days and offer special worship to Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu.

Today marks the beginning of one month long Dhadhi Vratham.

On Ekaadashee, I try to confine viewing only Sanaathana Dharmaa programs on TV as these seem to provide medicinal effect on my troubled mind after having lost all closest relatives of mine (My beloved parents and siblings).

L to R:

My beloved mother (1927-2017)

and

my beloved father (1923-1997)

My beloved sister (1954-2026)

My beloved brother (1957-2025)

Lord Shree Krishna 

Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Multiculturalism

From my experience, I find that living in a multicultural community is usually interesting and sometimes complex as integration of traditions is not easy. This is particularly so in people who migrate to countries other than their own. I have witnessed this in South Africa. Every town there has a small community of Indians engaged in different professions and running businesses such as restaurants and grocery stores. Places such as Tower Hamlet in London (UK) and Queens in New York (USA) are other examples.

There are a few countries such as Cambodia which is highly multicultural due to tourists. Here too multiculturalism is interesting. Integration of ancient Sanaathana traditions with Chinese, Vietnamese and other traditions are well reflected in Angkor Wat, Cambodian Apsaraa Dances (that are part of Cambodian version of Raamaayanaa) etc.

This morning I happened to view an interesting documentry on CNA TV CHANNEL on how Srilankan Tamil people have integrated with local French communities in Paris, France. I tried to provide a link to the documentry, but in vain. 

The documentary reminded me of my visit to a Srilankan restaurant with Hans, my Dutch colleague, in Kampot (or Kho Kong), when I was working in Cambodia. Hans was Education Advisor to the Regional Education Officer. He was a softrock music fan like me.

Old age and marital bond

This evening I had an opportunity to view a documentary entitled The waiting game on ABC AUSTRALIA TV CHANNEL. 

Although we live in communities with relatively multinational cultures and traditions, I think that many people have misconceptions about other cultures. One such is that in western countries marriages don't last as long as in Asian countries. I have myself seen old caucasian married couples staying together in their old age and helping each other. ABC documentary shows specific examples of this bond. I think that many of our own Indian married people who get into divorce due to lack of adjustment should learn lessons from such documentaries. 

Maadhwaa Saint

Today is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. From week point of view, being Wednesday, Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu is today's Presiding Deity. From month's point of view, today is Saothami. Ravi (Sun) is today's Presiding Deity. According to our revered Scriptures, Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu of golden colour sits elegantly in the middle of the Sun on a Divine Chariot driven by a charioteer and seven horses. He is adorned with precious divine ornaments. Devotees offer special worship to Shree Mahaa Vishnu on this day.

Shree Mahaa Vishnu on His Divine Chariot

Today is also auspicious as the anniversary of the day on which Shree Satyavrata Theerthaa attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna.

In today's episode of Shree Raam Kathaa discourse by respected Morari Bapujee, the speaker who deilvered the introductory speech, mentioned the importance of husband and wife relationship and how they identify with each other in times of trouble.

The introductory speaker and his wife got blessed by Shree Mahaa Vishnu residing in the heart of Morari Bapujee.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. It is celebrated as Kalki Jayanthi. 

We are living in Kali Yugam that will last for 4, 32, 000 years. Kali Yugam began 2125 years after the completion of Dwaapara Yugam. Kali Yugam is the period when people will be increasingly involved in unrighteous ways. 

According to Shreemadh Bhaagavatham, when this unrighteousness reaches its maximum at the end of Kali Yugam, Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu will incarnate as the son of Vishnu Sharma, a Brahmin, in a village known as Shambalam. He will be known as Shree Kalki. He will be seated with a sword on a white horse and destroy all unrighteous and evil people. 

Many divine scriptures have mentioned about Shree Kalki Avathaar of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu. Our respected Guru Shree Madhwaachaarya has also mentioned it in his 'Dhwaadhasha Sthrothram'.

Today is also an auspicious day as the day on which married ladies perform Mangala Gowri Vratham.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Autofares in Tamilnadu

My current residence is good enough for me. The only problem that I face is the inaccesibility of online stores such as Big Bazaar in our area. As far as I know, Amazon Store is the only one that caters to our area. Whenever residents need any immediately essential consumer items, they travel to Kumbakonam town by shelling out at least Rs 600 for a return trip. This is expensive. But I don't blame the auto guys as this is the norm in Tamilnadu for decades, with no action by any State Government to fix the issue provided the fact that in all other States, autofares are relatively low. 

One alternative seems to be to self drive an economically viable small car such as TATA NANO XE. But self driving at my age of 75 years is difficult and risky on our roads.

Our Tamilnadu State Governments have failed to address the autofare issue for decades. No political party has included this issue in it's pre-election manifesto. Strangely, although different communities have staged protests and demonstrations on different issues, none of them have included autofares in their agenda at any time.

I think that it is high time that our State Government looks at this issue and fix it at least now, after several years of neglect.

Hindu Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. Devotees perform Naaga Panchami on this day. 

I fondly remember my beloved mother performing this poojaa every year except during her last few years when she  became very weak.

My beloved parents 

Shree Mahaa Vishnu with His wife Shree Mahaa Lakshmi 

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayana🙏

Southern African Indian Cuisine

This evening there was an episode of 'Every bite takes you home' presentd by Indira Naidoo on ABC TV CHANNEL. 

The episode featured South African Indian Cuisine. Although the documentary was not interesting to me as it centered on non-veg food, it reminded me of the late 1980s and early 1990s when I was working in Southern Africa. I nostalgically remember my visits to my Brahmin friends such as Shree Dayanand Sharmaji, Shree Manjunath, Shree Balasubramaniam and Shree Ganapathi. I am thankful to them for not only enabling me eat delicious 100% vegetarian food items but also for good conversations. I am also thankful to Mrs Dr Ram Devineni, wife of the Chief Medical Officer at the District Govt Hospital, Mrs Meera Chandra, my colleague and Mrs Surjeet Singh Gill, wife of my colleague, for cooking delicious vegetarian Indian food and enabling single guys such as me and my colleague Sasikant Rai to enjoy eating them. I and my Indian friends used to get home cooked vegetarian snacks from a few Gujarathi families settled in the region. I thank them too. Those were golden days.

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏

Divine Discourse on Lord Shree Raam

I am typing this post a minute after electric power cut as I am viewing the inagural day's divine discourse 'Raam Katha Maanas Guru Prasad' by respected Morari Bapuji on Lord Shree Raam from Harvard University Campus in the US. The University is internationally acclaimed and has produced several Nobel laureates. I think that Bapuji delivers this discourse every year at this University. Although most men who are in the audience were in western attire, they seemed to show a lot of respect with silence to what Bapuji said. The University is recharged with Shree Mahaa Vishnu's Grace via Sanaathana Dharmaa Discourses.

It was a pleasure to see my favourite spiritual speakers such as Bhupendrabhai Pandyaji among the audience.

(As in Chennai, these power cuts remain to be frequent in my new residential area too. However essential requirements such as ceiling fans are fulfilled as each of our houses has an inverter. 

I'm grateful to Shree Mahaa Vishnu that power has returned now after a brief period of absence).

Jai Shree Seethaa Raam🙏