Divine Fish Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This day is celebrated as Mathsya Jayanthi.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa 🙏.

Traditional New Year Day

In Bhaarath Varsh (India), we celebrate our New Year Day based on our own customs and traditions. In Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharaashtraa etc. people celebrate to day as traditional New Year Day. In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh this day is known as Ugaadhi.

According to Bhavishya Puraanam, it was on this day that Lord Brahma began his creation task directed by Shree Mahaa Vishnu, millions and millions of years ago.

Let us wish a happy Ugaadhi to these people.

Today also marks the beginning of Shree Raama Navaraathri that ends on Shree Raama Navami, Lord Shree Raam's birth anniversary. 

Let me share the Ugaadhi blessings delivered by Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, our Guruji, in Kannada here.

Although today is supposed to be a day of happiness, I miss my beloved brother so much that my mind refuses to perceive today as a happy day; I didn't even like to order for sweets as is commonly done on such occasions. 

I only wish that I die as early as what God has decided and that I would meet my beloved parents and brother who had been with me in my present life time, in future, after a few days, months, several years or several hundreds of years. 

Jai Shree Raam🙏.

Lumumba's Africa

In today's episode of Russia Today TV Channel's 'Lumumba's Africa', Prof Lumumba spoke about the roles played by Non-Aligned Movement that consisted of several countries. At individual country levels, he mentioned the contributions by leaders such as Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and Tanzania's Julius Nyerere in freedom struggles.

Shree Mahaa Lakshmi

Today being Friday, an auspicious day to Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, our Divine Mother, I viewed Tataplay TV Channel's 'Tata Play Darshan'. This program telecasts the Poojaas conducted at the Temple live.

The programme reminded me of how my beloved brother made appointment for me on specific days  when Dr Ms Haripriya, the Chief Eye Surgeon at Aravind Eye Clinic, conducted the cataract surgeries herself to patients. He had taken me to the Clinic that was about half an hour from our residence many times (for registraion, testing, preciew etc). Many times he had delayed his breakfast, lunch etc. for my sake. Some times, we used to take our breakfast, lunch or dinner at a well maintained Restaurant attached to the Clinic. Some times we used to take food at his favourite 'Skanda Vilas', a vegetarian restaurant near our residences.

I fondly remember my beloved brother and Dr Haripriya, a God given gift to humanity.

I miss him a lot with a heavy heart.

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏.

Slow train tracks and laid back lives

Today, people all over the world seem to like fast food, fast life etc. Amazingly there seem to be exceptions. Japan is well known for it's trains and train tracks. This morning NHK WORLD JAPAN TV Channel telecast a very interesting show featuring a slow train track in it's Dive in Tokyo program. One of these trains running at a speed of 20 km per hour is very nice for a relaxed laid back sight seeing experience.

During my stay abroad, weekends were holidays that were very useful in relaxing our minds and enabling us to go for enjoyable outings with friends. 

Divine discourse

This morning, my favourite Aashthaa TV Channel telecast a divine discourse on Shreemad Bhagavath Mahaa Puraan by Dr Parasharji Maharaj. He was explaining the meeting of Shri Sudaama with Lord Shree Krishna, his Gurukul classmate many years ago.

The programme reminded me of an excellent TV Serial on Shreemad Bhagavatham that used to be telecast on our National Channel; I clearly remember how Lord Shree Krishna got up from his seat and ran to the main door of his palace even without wearing his footwear, to receive his boyhood friend. 

I remember my beloved mother who kept a few jasmine flowers (from the plant in front of our cottage) in a small bowl of water so that I could offer it to Lord Shree Krishna; this was during my mother's last few years when she had become very weak. Once, after my morning Sandhyavandhanam, I said that I was tired and was going to take some rest; my mother said that we should not say that we are tired after performing Sandhyavandhanam. I think that what she meant was that we should not think that we are tired after performing any meditation, Deva Pooja etc.

I also remember my beloved brother who was a Shree Krishna devotee.

(After my brother's demise, I and my sister communicate over phone more frequently than before. Last week my sister told me that many times he had said "In my case and your case, we have family, and hence there are people to take care of us, if needed. But in Prasad's case, he has no one except you and me. Hence we should take care of him".

I experience some moisture in my eyes as I type these sentences). 

Thanks to Shree Parasharji Maharaj for bringing solace to very troubled minds like those of mine.

Lord Shree Krishna 

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏.

Metro Project

Residents in Chennai know that the city Corporation has been conducting programs such as mosquitoe elimination. In doing so, the workers spray a nauseating chemical resembling kerosene to drive the creatures out. I think that this is a very irresponsible move by the Health Department of Govt of Tamilnadu. Instead they should use non chemical natural alternatives in such cleaning campaigns.

Private satellite channels

Many of us depend upon private satellite TV channel providers such as Tataplay. Although these are reasonably customer friendly, these remove channels with no customer approval. According to a Tataplay announcement as shown in the following image, Aashthaa Bhajan will be removed in a few days. I hope that Tata Play includes programmes that are being telecast in this channel are included in some other existing channel.

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏.

Arts in Johennesburgh

Johannesburg is a beautiful city in spite of it's large population and metro related problems. Just on the outskirts of this city is Satyagraha House where Gandhiji lived. 

I remember my travels to the city and how comfortably I used to park my car at the airport and pick it up after 2 or 3 days when flying to nearby cities such as Durban.

This morning RDW TV Channel telecast an interesting documentary on Arts in the city. The show featured museums and places of art contains works by South African artists. 

Let me share this interesting show here.

My niece's birthday

Yesterday was my niece (sister's daughter) Reshma's birthday. She was born in 1993. Married to a Mechanical Engineer, she is an Electronics and Telecomm Engineer. She works in a multinational Publishing Company and has travelled to many countries from Czekoslovakia to Singapore on work. 

Sometimes, my beloved brother used to forget birthdays. I used to remind him the day before the birthdays of my close relatives. 

Like every time I remember him, this time too I miss him with heavy heart and moist eyes.

L to R: My niece and my beloved brother during the 1st birthday of my brother's grandson nearly a year ago.

My blessings to my niece and her family.

Pottery mending

If our porcelain teacup or plate is broken, most of us discard these and buy new ones. But some people strive to repair these and continue to use these. This gives a feeling of belonging. I came across an interesting documentary on such people and craftspeople who mend the broken pottery. The show ends with a display of the power of planting a tree. Let me share the amazing show. 

Prof Lumumba's Africa

In his most recent episode of Lumumba's Africa, charismatic Prof. Lumumba continued explaining the effects of colonisation of African countries. He explained the contributions of leaders such as Julius Nyerere as well as those of Russia against colonisation. I have literally seen Russian contribution in economic development of Ethiopia. Russia never colonised any African country. It is sad that today Russia and Ukraine are in war although as far as I have known, people's of both countries in general, are good. I wish that the war ends as early as possible and that peace prevails in both countries.

Sansthan Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This day is celebrated as Holikaa Paurnimaa.

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏

Pamela Bach

Day before yesterday's death of Pamela Bach at 62 is sad news. Her fans will remember her action in TV shows such as Baywatch telecast in late 1980s. This was a period when TV Channels used to telecast shows such as Bold and the Beautiful. (These shows were very popular among educated middle and upper middle class folks like me, all over the world).

May Pamela's soul rest in peace.

Saint Raaghavendra Swaamy

This evening there was a spiritually enriching programme on Sri Sankara TV Channel. In this program entitled 'Raghavendra Bhavayami', Shri Dushyanth Sridhar, explained how evil Mantharaa brainwashed Keikeyee etc. He also mentioned about Shree Madhwaachaarya, Chief Aacharyaa of Maadhwaa community to which I belong. 

Although Shree Raghavendra Swamy shed his mortal remains and called by Shree Mahaa Vishnu, many years ago, he is believed to continue to bless Shree Mahaa Vishnu devotees; his Ashram is popularly known as Shree Raghavendra Swamy Mutt. 

The programme featured melodious religious songs by Sivasri Skandaprasad

As I have mentioned before, my brother was a devotee of Lord Shree Krishna to the extent that most of his computer related online passwords were related to Lord Shree Krishna's Names and that he donated his reasonably new (a few months old) TATA Nono car to ISKCON Chennai, nearly 15 years ago.

With heavy heart, I remember that the last time I met my beloved brother last month, a few days before he passed away, I saw a laminated  pocket sized picture of Shree Raghavendra Swamy on his bed near him.

Shree Dushyant Shreedhar 

Sivasri Skandaprasad 

Shree Raghavendra Swamy 

My beloved brother Ramesh

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Library

From my boyhood days, I have always had a fascination for good books. During college days, I used to spend my free time in the college library. 

I fondly remember how the British Council Library and the USIS Library used to send books by mail to their members who reside in places away from Chennai. I was resident in Vellore, and I used to long for these books.

After entering the teaching profession, I used to spend my leisure times either in the School Library or in the Physics lab. 

Wherever I got posted, I used to be a regular visitor to the local library. I fondly remember the UNESCO Library, German Cultural Centre Library and the British Council Library in Addis Ababa. I remember the British Council Library in Gaborone, Southern Africa; I used to visit it to collect books and media for me as well as for the Science Department of School in which I worked; I was Audio-visual Coordinator in the Department.

In the mid 1990s, I had the pleasure of obtaining Institutional Membership of the British Council Library, Chennai, for PREPARE, an excellent NGO in which I worked. This became the first NGO to be a Member of the British Council Library, Chennai.

This afternoon NHK WORLD JAPAN TV Channel telecast an interesting documentary on libraries. Let me share it here.

Tofu: Japanese delecasy

This afternoon, NHK WORLD JAPAN TV Channel telecast an interesting documentary on Tofu, a very popular food item not only in Japan but also globally including in our country. The show featured different types of Tofu.

It is 100% vegetarian and delicious.

Tofu to Japan is what coffee is to Ethiopia, piezza is to Italy, noodles are to countries such as Thailand and Cambodia, Netherlands to cheese, Switzerland to chocolates, wine to Germany, beer to South Africa, and dosa is to India.

Girl's day in Japan

Japan celeberates it's Girl's Day today. 

Ukraine and Russia

Although I am neither an enthusiast in politics nor  a competent person in commenting on political affairs, from a socio-economic perspective, I am a keen observer of the political scenario.

In the recently held meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymir Zelanskky, it looks like the former overplayed his role. Besides, it looked like the US side dominating the dialogue. I think that there should be no place for domination in any dialogue or bilateral communication. 

It brings a ray of hope for peace in Ukraine and Russia, with today's meeting of European leaders convened by the Britsh Prime Minister. 

Let us hope that the meeting strives to achieve peace in Ukraine and Russia. 

I wish that Mr Volodymir Zelanskyy is not isolated and that he is given all support that he and his people deserve.

Rascals' birthdays

This morning at around 6 am, some guy with horrible voice unsuitable for music began singing songs alongwith an orchestral accompaniment with loud sound level. It continues, the time being 10.15 am. 

I found the cause of the above noise pollution to be the birthday of M K Stalin, 'honourable' chief minister of Tamilnadu.

I think that such arrogant displays of birthdays of bad people should be banned.