Exemplary young family

I hope that I don't bore readers when I write on non-spiritual things. 

As in most Senior Citizen Home dining halls, most of mini conversations confine to "Good morning, Have a nice day" etc.

This afternoon, when having my lunch, I saw a small family consisting of husband and wife and their two children (a girl and a boy). The husband seems like in his late 30s or early 40s by age. He was in very traditional dress of Pancha kaccham and Anga vasthram. His wife was in traditional Bhaaratheeya saree, their daughter in tradional Bhaaratheeya skirt and Bhaaratheeya top, and son attired like his father. The father and son were wearing traditional Vaishnavite (Iyengaar) mudraa on their foreheads. Except the head of the family, they were having their lunch when I left the dining hall after finishing my lunch. As soon as I came out, I saw the young man (head of the family) performing his afternoon Sandhyavandhanam on the raised resting platform (known as 'thinnai' in Tamil) in front of a house. 

It seemed like an exemplary nuclear family.

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum🙏 

Saint Fest

Today is a very auspicious in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. This is the anniversary of the day on which Shree Raaghavendra Swaameejee attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna. 

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Lizard menace

This afternoon I saw a  lizard crawling on the wall of my bedroom. Hence I have abandoned my hope of getting rid of these little monsters. I think that I do have to face this situation whether I like it or not. There is no other way.

Lizard menace

In yesterday's post, I shared my uncomfortable life with lizards in my house. This evening as I stepped in to my living room, I saw a 6 cm long lizard running past toward the back of the inverter placed at one corner. Immediately I opened the main door and the mosquito mesh door attached to it, as these were very near the cornered inverter. I took a long plastic broom and luckily let the lizard get out of my house. Honestly, I  felt like I 'achieved' something significant. I hope that the creature finds comfort outside and that there are no lizards in my house any more. 

I am not against lizards. However, like many people, I don't relish lizards' company in my house. That's all.

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Today is a very auspicious in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. Today is Friday on which Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, our Devine Mother is the Presiding Deity. 

Today is celeberated as Shree Hayagreeva Jayanthi. Devotees offer special worship to Shree Hayagreeva manifestation of Shree Mahaa Vishnu on this day.

Today, married women observe Varalakshmi Vratham and perform Varalakshmi Poojaa.

Today is the day of appearance of Lord Balaraam, elder brother of Lord Shree Krishna according to ISKCON Centre, Bengalooroo.

Today is also auspicious as the day of Yajurvedi Upaakarmaa; on this day Yajurvedi Brahmin boys and men replace their old yagnjopaveethaas (sacred threads) by new ones. It is a ritual of spiritual recharging. 

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Life with lizards

It is common for lizards to move about in our homes not only in India but also in other countries. I don't know whether others have the same disgust as I have on these creatures. If I haapen to see lizard faeces when eating, I immediately get nausea and vomitting. My current residence consists of a new building. But still lizards are common in all the houses in our Complex.  I tried different techniques to combat the problem, but in vain. One of my neighbours said that he engaged a local Pest Control Company that specialises in Liazard repelling spray. He said that he spent Rs 10000 to deep clean his house with lizard spray and suggested that the Agency may be of help to me. Hence I engaged the Agency to deep clean my house; I paid Rs 1000. Two hours after the process, two lizards were peeping out from a loft in my bedroom. One week after spending Rs 1000, I still see lizards in my house. 

Like most people, I use mosquito repellant daily. As there is an open ventilator without any wire mesh in my bathroom it is easy for lizards to move in. Hence I began using mosquito repellant there too. But contrary to my expectation, since then I see lizards more frequently than before. I don't know whether lizards like the mosquito repellant's smell. I am not a biologist or ecologist to study the lizard behaviour. Whatever I have described happen, provided the fact that I have placed lizard repellant cakes (ordered online) in different parts of the house.

In the late 1980s, there was an excellent article written by one Prof D Balasubramanian, a scientist, in the Science Supplement of THE HINDU, a popular Newspaper published from Chennai. The Science Supplement used to be published on Thursdays. The professor described how moquitoes like certain colours. He had written several interesting articles.

Probably lizards have similar likes and dislikes. I hope that a lizard specialist writes an article on this.

Entertainment artistes' deaths

According to media news reports Sowcar Janaki and Dolly Parton have passed away. I remember a few movies in which Sowcar Janaki acted. I also remember songs such as Jolene by Dolly Parton. Their contributions will be remembered by their fans. 

Our respected Guruji's Programme

Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, Chief Pontiff of our Uttaradi Mutt has been gracing Dharvaad, Karnataka, by being present for this year's Chaathurmaasya Vratham and delivering his revered discourses every day. 

On the 15th day, it was a pleasure to view the respects offered to him by Shree Prahlad Joshi (our Union Minister of Education and BJP MP from Dharvaad) and his wife. I heard that as a Cabinet Minister, Shree Joshi gives his daily interviews to people only after his daily morning Sandhyavandhanam. It is nice to see that Shree Narendra Modi and his team are trying to follow the righteous path led by Lord Shree Raam when He was King.

Let me share our Mutt's UTube video of the programme here.

Shree Gurubhyo Namaha🙏

Shree Parama Gurubhyo Namaha🙏

Shree Aananda Theertha Bagavadh Paadhaachaaryebhyo Namaha🙏

Jai Shree Seethaa Raam🙏

Hari Sarvoththamaa Vaayu jeevoththamaa🙏

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Today is a very auspicious in the Sanaathana Dharmaa Calender. Shree Mahaa Vishnu devotees perform Shree Mahaa Vishnu Pavithrobhanam and offer special worship to Shree Mahaa Vishnu and His wife Shree Mahaa Lakshmi on this day.

Today is also auspicious as the day of Pradhosham and Mangala Gowri Vratham.

Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu 

and

His wife Shree Mahaa Lakshmi 

on 

Shree Aadhiseshaa, the Divine Serpent

in 

The Ocean of Milk

in 

Vaikuntam

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

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🙏

  

Role of technology in preserving traditions

We live in world that is changing due to changes in technology that affect individuals as well as communities.

In countries such as Bhaarath (India), communities strive to preserve old traditions by adapting improvements in technology. 

For instance, religiuos discourses used to be given by Gurus, and the teacher versus taught interaction used to be largely oral and written since ancient times until a few decades ago. 

Now these are replaced to a significant extent by computer and mobile based technologies, particularly after the Internet came into being. Today it is abnormal to find even spiritual programs without using computers and IT backed social media. It is an obvious fact that it is not easy to preserve our old tradions without embracing today's technology. 

Unless technology is in bad people's hands, it can be used amazingly effectively, as we see in Sanaathana Dharmaa Organisations today.

Maadhwaa Saint

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

Today is a very important day to all citizens of Bhaarath (India), our beloved mother land. It was in 15 August 1947 that our great country got independence from British rule. Google doodle has aptly honored our Independence Day.

Lord Shree Krishna and Arjunaa

Shree Krishnam Vandhe Jagadh Gurum 🙏

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

From 8 August to 26 September, Shree Satyatma Theertha Swaamiji, our respected Chief Pontiff of our Uttaradi Mutt will grace Dharvaad, Karnaatakaa, by his presence and perform Chaathurmaasya Vratham. I fondly remember my visit to Dhaarvaad on work when I was working in Macmillan India Limited. I remember Shree Sathyanaaraayana, journalist, who took me to a FMCG Fair in the town. I think that he also took me to a Shree Raam Temple in the town. I remember my visit to Shree Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in Bellaary, a nearby town, and my visit to Shree Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in Manthraalayam. 

Hari Sarvoththamaa

Vaayu jeevoththamaa🙏

Sanaathana Dharmaa Fests

Tomorrow is a very auspicious in the Hindu Calender. It is Wednesday; Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu, CEO of our entire Universe is the Presiding Deity of Wednesdays.

It is the last day of the Samskrith month Aashaada. Just like the last day of every month, this day is known as Amaavaasyaa and men perform ancestral worship on this day. This day is also known as Naagara Amaavaasyaa Day.

Ladies perform Dheepasthamba Gowri Vratham and Dhivasee Gowri Vratham on this day. 

Shree Sathyaadheesha Theertha attained the lotus feet of Lord Shree Krishna on this day.

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Shree Rudraa Fest

Tomorrow is a very auspicious in the Hindu Calender. Shree Rudraa devotees observe this day as Pradhosham day and offer special worship to Shree Rudhraa and His wife Paarvathi Devi. 

L to R: Shree Karthikeyaa, Shree Rudhraa, Shree Paarvathi and Shree Ganesh

(Karthikeyaa and Ganesh are sons of Lord Rudhraa and Paarvathi)

Shree Rudraa is a great devotee of Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu.

Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu and His wife Shree Mahaa Lakshmi 

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Today is a very auspicious in the Hindu Calender. This day is known as Kamika Ekaadashi Day. Shree Mahaa Vishnu devotees observe fasting on this day and meditate on Shree Lakshmi Naaraayan.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏

Shree Raam Temple

A few days ago I had to visit our Maadhwaa Mutt at Kumbakonam to meet the Managing Priest to speak to him that I shifted my residence to the town recently and about how to conduct shraardha ceremony of my parents and brother in the Mutt. After my meeting, I had the joy of visiting the devine Shree Raamanaatha Swaami Temple in town. It was a highly spiritually enriching experience. I write this not because I like to announce my visits to the Mutt and the Temple; I write this to make Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu happy in my humble manner.

L to R: Lord Lakshman, Shree Hanumaanjee, Lord Shree Raam and His wife Shree Seethaa Devi 

Jai Shree Raam🙏