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. A very good gesture. 

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🙏

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🙏