Down the memory lane

This afternoon as I was browsing through a few online magazines of my choice, I came across a very interesting article. It took me back to my school days. My parents encouraged us to read good books and magazines. 

My father used to bring children's books in English as well as in Tamil, two languages in which I was most proficient. (My mother tongue is Marathi but it is significantly different from Marathi that is spoken in Maharashtra. My maternal and paternal ancestors are believed to be descendants of Marathi people who accompanied King Sarfoji when they left Maharashtra and settled down in Thanjavur in Tamilnadu and other places in Southern India. What we speak in our homes is known 'Thanjavur Marathi'). I was regular reader of 'Kannan' , a monthly children's magazine in Tamil and 'Chandamaamaa', a children's magazine in English. Besides, I used to regularly read 'Yoing Folk's League' in The Illustrated Weekly of India, a popular weekly magazine of those years. Whenever we visited our maternal grandfather's house, I used to enjoy reading books in my grandfather's library (a room filled with nicely arranged books in racks). He had a wide variety of good books including ancient Indian classics, books by Bertrand Russel, Leo Tolstoy etc. 

My mother used to explain stories such as 'Ugly duckling' written by a British author and was part of our English language textbook. She also taught English Grammar using a graamar book written by Wren and Martin; this book was considered a gold standard in those years.

I remember how I was encouraged to draw pictures and paint them using water colour. I fondly remember my water colour box and the brushes that came with it.

Those were golden years. Thanks to Rajiv Eipe for enabling old guys like me at 70 plus to revisit their boyhood years.

Courtesy: Google Images

Courtesy: Google Images

Memories of Mahindra Jeep

Reshma (my sister's daughter) informed me that her husband bought a Mahindra 7 seater car recently. They had a 5 seater car.

This info took me back to the 1990s when I was working in a school and an NGO.

In the mid 1990s when I was working in PREPARE, a Chennai based NGO, I had to travel to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh frequently. Sometimes, I myself used to drive the NGO's Mahindra Jeep (as shown in the following photo) to visit villages covered in our Education Projects.

Similarly when working as Principal in Rani Lakshmi Bai Public School in Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh, in 1997, I derived some pleasure in driving a Mahindra Jeep and taking my teaching staff to a nearby dam during a weekend. I think that I gave some rest to the Jeep's driver. My staff seemed to enjoy the visit to the dam and back. The CEO of the School told me that he would provide a Maruthi Suzuki for my personal use.

Amazing Amazon (Online Store)

On 18 July I mentioned about how an inappropriate  item was delivered to me by a misleading manufacturer/vendor via Amazon Online Store. I returned the item and sought a refund. Amazon Online Store processed my requested and the refund got done.

Thanks to the manufacturer/vendor and to Amazon.

Soorya Naaraayanaa Poojaa

Today is an auspicious day in the Hindu Calender as the day on which Vaivasvatha Soorya Poojaa is performed.

Shree Soorya Naaraayanaa

Jai Shree Soorya Naaraayanaa🙏

Maadhwaa Saint

According to a WhatsApp notification  from our Uttaraadi Mutt, today is an auspicious day as the anniversary of the day on which Shree Sumathinidhi Theertha attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna. I could not access any information on this saint from Google Search. Hence I am unable to provide any internet link about this saint.

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏

Maadhwaa Saint

Today is an auspicious day in the Maadhwaa Calender. It is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Varadhendhra Theertha attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna. 

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏

Amazing Amazon (Online Store)

A few days back, I ordered for a 3 legged walking stick for me. An acquaintance advised me to go in for a 4 legged one as it will be more sturdy. Hence I cancelled my order and placed a fresh order. Within a few hours after cancellation, Amazon Online Store credited the amount that I paid for the earlier order, into my account. Amazon Store is a boon.

Fraudulent manufacturers and online atrocities

A few days ago I placed order for a wooden mandir to keep my idols and poojaa items via Amazon Online Store. The item did arrive but without any instruction manual to assemble the mandir. The package simply contained a few wooden pieces (like the ones ised in 2 D jigsaw puzzles) and a few nuts and screws. The item was not like what the manufacturer advertised in the Online Store; it was very misleading as shown in the webpage. I tried to assemble it from the image as given by the manufacturer and as shown in the following photo:

But my attempt was futile.

I placed an order for a headrest for my computer chair day before yesterday. Advertisement for this item too was misleading in the Online Store.

I conrinue trusting Amazon Online. But I don't trust fraudulent mamufacturers who mislead consumers.

Lord Shree Krishna Fest

Fifth Ratha Yaathraa of Lord Jagannaath (Lord Shree Krishna) is performed at ISKCON Attapur today. Different ISKCON Temples situated in many countries perform this sacred ritual on different days.

R to L: Lord Shree Krishna, Shree Shubhadhraa and Lord Shree Balabadhraa 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna 

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 

Hare Raama Hare Raama 

Raama Raama Hare Hare🙏🙏

Good friends

In almost all Senior Citizens Homes, residents go to the dining hall to take their morning coffee, breakfast, lunch, evening coffee/tea and dinner. I had always preferred room service to this. Now I realise that dining hall is better as we have opportunities of meeting different kinds of people. When we meet good people, it reduces the lonliness level.

A few days ago, I mentioned about meeting a nice gentleman at the dining table. This afternoon during lunch time one fellow resident introduced her sister and niece who came to visit her. Her sister told me that the nice lady said that I am her best friend. I don't know whether I deserve her compliments. 

This morning, wife of the landlord, in whose house I was a tenant before moving to my current residence, phoned me and inquired about my health and how I am gettling settled in my new place. A few days ago her husband phoned me for the same reason. Both husband and wife are well qualified engineers and admirably good people. I phone my landlord sometimes inquiring about their health.

I remember my beloved mother's saying that if we are good to others, they will be good to us.

My beloved parents

Jai Shree Raam🙏

Lumumba's Africa

Being Friday, I could view 'Lumumba's Africa', my favourite programme on Russia Today TV Channel. In today's episode, Prof Lumumba explained how the French Government is still continuing to dominate African countries. 

(There are a few advantages like oases in deserts in colinisation. For example, I could attend French language classes at the Alliance Francais in Gaborone twice a week, wrire the qualifying exam for Certificate of Proficiency and obtain the Certificate without much difficulty. I and my friends could attend the classes in the evening after school. Gaborone was about an drive from my place of residence, thanks to the highway and my reliable Toyota Corolla 1.3L. I wish that such advantages continue and disadvantages sorted out).

TV Screenshot of today's episode

Hindu Fests

Today is a very auspicious in the Hindu Calender for the following reasons:

Today is Friday, the Presiding Deity of which is Shree Lakshmi Devi, our Devine Mother and wife of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu. 

Today marks the beginning of Dakshinaayana.

Today sacred river  Bhaageerathee from the Himaalayaas manifests in the sacred river Thungabhadhraa in Southern India. 

Today is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Shushilendra Theerthaa and  Shree Keshava Wodeyaru attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna. 

L to R: Arjuna and Lord Shree Krishna 

Hari Sarvoththamaa Vaayu Jeevoththamaa🙏

Shree Raam and Shree Krishnaa Fests

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender for the following reasons:

In Uttaradi Mutt, the age old tradition of Shree Raama Rathothsavaa (Festival in which Lord Shree Raam is seated in a decorated Chariot and taken in procession for devotees to have a dharshan of Him) is performed by Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, Chief Pontiff of our Uttaradi Mutt.

The sacred rituals related to Rath Yaathraa of Lord Jagannaath (Lord Shree Krishna), Lord Balabhadraa (Lord Balaram, elder brother of Lord Shree Krishna) and Shubhadhraa (sister of Lord Shree Krishna) is begun at Puri, Odishaa.

Priests adorning the wooden idols

 of 

Lord Balabhadraa, Shubadhraa and Lord Jagannaath

 at the Puri Temple

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Story writer on loneliness

This evening NHK WORLD JAPAN TV Channel's 'Direct Talk' featured Yogisawa Satoshi, a brilliant Japanese author. He has written a few stories on loneliness. Although I was known as a voracious reader during my school and college years, I had not read any of his stories. 

After my college studies, I continued my reading habit until a few years after the beginning of the current millenium (year 2002 or so) according to the western calender. I remember my almost daily visits to the British Council Library; it was about 10 minutes walk from the South India Regional Office of Macmillan India Limited. I had to visit the library as part of my job as Education Officer in MIL. This was a time when Internet's influence was beginning to change book reading habits globally.

This evening's spisode of 'Direct Talk' was of significant interest to me after having lost my beloved parents as well as siblings. As I have mentioned in my earlier posts, I can identify with lonely people. 

By the way, although I have liked many songs by The Beatles, I identify with their Eleonor Rigby for the past few years more intesnsely than ever before. Paul McCartney wrote the song. Following is a photo of the lyrics of the song as written by Paul:

Courtesy: Sir Paul McCartney 

I liked many songs by The Beatles such that I used to sing them in social gatherings of relatives and friends, when travelling in buses (such that only I could hear them), in unofficial meetings of senior officers in the Cambodian Ministry of Education, etc. The Beatles were the best softrock band of their times.

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Shree Krishnaa Temple

As I was browing my mobile Net, it was joyful to visit ISCKCON Temple at Vadodara, Gujaraath. I fondly remember my visit to the Temple when I was working as Content Development Manager in Edukite Learning, a K-12 Elearning Materials Development Company, in Vadodara. 

I also fondly remember my visit to Raaghavendra Swaami Mutt at Vadodara; I was told that it was founded by respected Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, Chief Pontiff of Uttaradi Mutt to which I belong. 

Raaghavendra Swaami Mutt, Vadodara

I  thankfully remember Shree Amarnaathjee, the autorickshaw owner and driver who took me to these places.

Lord Balabhadraa, Shubadhraa and Lord Shree Krishna 

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Sabarmathi Aashram

As I was viewing a travel documentary on Gujarat on TravelXP TV Channel this afternoon, it was interesting to hear that the famous Sabarmathi Aashraam was founded by Mahaathmaa Gandheejee with his twenty disciples at his Phoenix Aashram. I have mentioned briefly about my visit to Phoenix Aashram in a few previous posts.

In the late 1980s or so when I was travelling to South Africa from Vellore, my hometown in India, after terminal holidays, when I disembarked at Johannesburg International Airport on route the domestic airport near the town where I resided, my unaccompanied luggage didn't arrive. I was given transit accommodation at a hotel inside the airport and was asked to wait until my luggage arrived and then take the domestic flight. 

As I was waiting for my luggage, I happened to meet a South African Indian gentleman by name Bakul Patel. He said that his house was just in Suburban Johannesburg; he said that he would be glad to take me to his house; he said that I can stay as long as I wished and that I can leave for my town after claiming my missed luggage. He was very kind. He was one among the many very wealthy South Africans of Gujaraathi origin. During my 3 days stay, he took me to his parent's house and siblings' houses. It was nice to know that they followed our culture and traditions remarkably. 

During my stay there, Bakul's father took me to the Phoenix Aashram. It was a very memorable visit.

Gandheejee.

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Mario Miranda

This evening, as I was browsing the online edition of Reader's Digest India, I came across an article on Mario Miranda. The article took me to my school and college days when I was a regular reader of 'The Illustrated Weekly of India', popular weekly magazine. The magazine used to contain 'Young Folks' League', a column for children contributed by 'Aunty Wendy'. Those were golden days.

Singer's demise

My dear friend Jos sent a message to me this morning attaching a video about Smt. S Janaki's demise yesterday. Her songs will be remembered by her numerous fans for years to come. 

Condolences to her family😥🙏.

Maadhwaa Saint

Tomorrow is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. Tomorrow is Dhwaadhashee. Lord Shree Haree is the Presiding Deity of tomorrow.

Tomorrow is an auspicious day in the Maadhwaa Calender; it is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Vidhyaapathi Theerthaa attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna. 

Lord Shree Krishna displaying His Vishwa Roopam 

to

Arjuna

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Divine Discourse

I had the joy of listening to Shreemad Bhaagavath Kathaa by respected Shree Devkinandan Thakurji on a Spiritual TV Channel this evening. 

Thakurji mentioned how Western influences have shattered our Ancient Bhaarath Varsh (India) facts. He mentioned Darwin's Theory according to which humans are decendants of monkeys. Our school and college textbooks still contain this Theory. None of our Sanaathana Dharmaa Scriptures mention that we are descendants of monkeys. Our Scriptures clearly mention that Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu created Lord Brahma and that Lord Brahma created Manu, a male human being and Sathroopaa, a female human being. Let me share an information on Manu and Shathroopaa. Manu and Sathroopaa were the ancestors of all human beings. But oddly enough, none of our school and college textbooks mention this fact.

(When I was studying for my BSc Degree in Voorhees College, Vellore, Tamilnadu, from 1968 to 1971, we had English as Second Language. We had to attempt a compulsory paper on two plays by William Shakespeare. One of the plays was 'As You Like It'. There was a teacher by name B G Swamidoss. Prof Swamidoss was a Christian and had a Doctorate in English Literature. Although he was Christian, he seemed to respect Hinduism. When teaching 'Seven stages of man' in 'As You Like It', he used to ask us "Do you think that your granfather's ancestor was a monkey"? He meant that the belief that our ancestors were monkeys was absurd. As the Professor's face resembled that of M R Radha, a popular film actor of those years, he was popularly known as 'Radha' among his students).

M R Radha 

Similarly, the false notion that Robert Cooke discovered that the Earth is spherical, Isaac Newton's discovered  the force of gravity, and many other such beliefs were pushed on us by Western Media although these were absurd. 

I think that it is high time that our Government looks into these issues and fix problems in our textbooks so that students are not misled. 

Cartoon showing Charles Darwin 

Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu 

and 

Lord Shree Brahma

Hari Sarvoththamaa Vaayu Jeevoththamaa🙏

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Today is Friday and Ekaadashi for which Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, our Devine Mother, and Shree Mahaa Vishnu, our Divine Father abd CEO of our whole Universe are Presiding Deities.

It was joy listening to songs on Lord Shree Krishna by Shree Anup Jalota, one of most favourite spiritual singers on TATAPLAY BHAKTHI SANGEETH TV Channel. The TV show included  Rang De Chunaria, a nice song on Lord Shree Krishna; I think that this song was originally sung by Shree Anup Jalota; probably he composed the song as well.

Lord Shree Krishna with Shree Rukmini Devi, His Wife 

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Mr Modi in Melbourne

It was nice to see the welcome accorded to our beloved Prime Minister when he arrived in Melbourne recently in today's episode of 'Our World' on ABC TV Channel. It was particularly nice to see him greeted by Brahmin Priests in their traditional attire.

Vasudeva Kutumbakam🙏

Maadhwaa Saint

Today is an auspicious day in the Maadhwaa Calender. It is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Sathyadheera Theerthaa attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna. 

Shree Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Ringo Staar's birthday

Today is the birth anniversary of Ringo Starr of The Beatles, the legendary Softrock Band of 1960s.

L to R: Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison with their MBE 

(Member of the Order of the British Empire) 

medals.

During the 1960s, when The Beatles were globally popular, it used to be trendy among boys to have long hair in the heads. I was no exception as the following photo taken when I was about 30 years old:

My beloved sister's birth anniversary

According to the Western Calender, tomorrow is the birth anniversary of my beloved sister; she was born on 7 July 1954. With heavy heart I fondly remember her.

Kamala Jyothi 

1954 - 2026

Hari Sarvoththamaa

Vaayu jeevoththamaa🙏

Baby's naming ceremony

Today Reshma (my beloved sister's younger daughter) and Satheesh, her husband, performed Naam Karan (Naming Ceremony) of their new born baby son and named him 'Agasthyaa'. 

Baby Agasthyaa

Agasthya Maharishi was a very well respected Saint in ancient Bhaaratha Varsh (India).

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

This afternoon during my lunch some thing interesting happened. I politely decline appalam that is served daily in the restaurant. Today there was a side dish known as 'Appalam Saambaar' (a Southern Indian gravy with appalam as one of the main Ingradients) in my lunch menu. It was delicious.

Before shifting to Senior Citizens Home, I used to cook food myself as much as possible; as a cholesterol conscious old man, although I did buy rice appalam, I stopped cooking it as it is usually fried in oil. I gave the appalam packet to my maid servant. 

This afternoon's appalam saambaar reminded me of how my beloved mother used to cook it. I had forgotten it for years until an hour ago when I was served appalam saambaar at the restaurant. 

Hats off to appalam saambaar.

 Rice appalam

Good people

I don't know about others' experiences. From my experience, I find that we are surrounded by bad people and good people. 

In a previous post I have mentioned about the stirling qualities of my landlord of whom I was a tenant. I also mentioned the extraordinary kindness shown by my landlord and his wife when I got suddenly seriously ill (sudden drop in hemoglobin) a few months ago. I stayed in my beloved sister's house in Vellore and got my illness completely cured. In a previous post, I also mentioned her kindness and her daughter's kindness during my stay there.

Just like many senior citizens, I didn't like to be a burden to any one. Hence I shifted to a fee paying Senior Citizens Home recently. The Home staff is very cordial and customer friendly. In any event of emergency, the Home's Administration arranges for ambulance to take the tenant to the hospital.

This afternoon, a gentleman came to my table in the Home's restaurant after his lunch. He mentioned that I look highly qualified, intellectual and good, and said that he felt like conversing with me. (He said that he and his team mates were from Bengaluru and were on a visit to temples and that they liked to have their 100% saathwick lunch at the Home's restaurant on the way). I thanked the gentleman and said that I too felt the same way on seeing him. I told him that I don't know whether I really deserve his compliment.

My mother used to say "If we are good to others, they will be good to us".

My beloved parents

Sarvam Krishna Mayam🙏

 

Maadhwaa Saint

Today is an auspicious day in the Maadhwaa Calender. It is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Raghuvarya Theerthaa attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna.

Krishnam Sarva Mayam🙏

Maadhwaa Saint

Today is an auspicious day in the Maadhwaa Calender. It is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Sathyapoorna Theertha attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna.

Shree Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏