Shree Mahaa Lakshmi Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. Devotees worship Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, who is the Consort of Shree Mahaa Vishnu.

There is a beautiful song known as "Those were the days" sung by Mary Hopkin in the '60s.

I don't know about others, but I have comitted a few mistakes, which if avoided, would have made me and thereby my parents, happy.

In 1978, I was working in a Public School in Kotagiri, near Ooty, India. There was a colleague; she was daughter of a retired Government Officer. When she introduced me to her father once, he was so happy and asked me to help her tone up her English language skills. As it was a boarding school, she also had to reside in the teacher's quarters and used to go home only on weekends. When doing so, she used to ask me to give my used clothes so that she would get them washed. When the weather was too chilly, she used to take her pull-over and monkey cap away and put these on to me. She relished my singing. On the first page of my songbook where I had written my name, she would add her name so that it would be 'Josephine Guruprasad' and ask me as to how nice the name looked (Her name was not Josephine; I am not letting the readers know her real name for ethical reasons). I was such a fool that I never understood it's meaning (when watching movies I used to close my eyes when fighting, death and romantic scenes were shown, because I didn't like them). I too liked her but never had the guts to tell her so. At that time I had another colleague by name Manohar. He was my classmate and from the same area where we lived in Vellore. He was previously working in a nearby school in Kotagiri and resigned for some reason. I got a job for him in my school. When I told him about Josephine's interest in me, he asked me not believe women. He was probably jealous.  I believed him foolishly. When leaving for Bhutan, I didn't even give my address or phone number to her. I just gave a pen as parting gift (though I had romantic feeling for her). I should have continued to communicate with her from Bhutan; but unfortunately I didn't do this. She was a bit short, soft spoken, dark and good looking. She was from a tribal community but from an educated middle class Hindu parentage. At that time my sister Jyothi was not yet married. Much later, after my marriage failed, when I told my parents about Josephine, they told me that if I had let them know, they would have spoken to her parents, got the marriage fixed and got it done immediately after my sister's marriage. Years later on return from South Africa, I sought a job in the same school with the intention of meeting her if she were not married. To my disappointment, she had got married and settled in Kerala. 

As my cousin said the other day, there seems to be some thing known as fate, and it cannot be changed.

Divine Discourse

Day before yesterday, I had the joy of viewing a Spiritual Discourse on Shree Krishna, by a popular saintly gentleman (a screenshot of whom is posted below), in Telugu. I was drawn to his discourses too, after seeing my mother viewing his discourses with interest.

It was nice to view Shree Bhupesh Bhai Pandya's discourse on Ashta Channel this afternoon, after many months.

After a long time I had the joy of viewing a Praavachanaa by one of my favourite saints on Bhakti TV channel last night. I was worried as to what happened to him all these days. I began liking his discourses after observing my beloved mother viewing his discourses with interest. I don't know his name as I don't know how to read Telugu (If my mother were alive today, I would have asked her).

Rishi Kapoor

It is sad that veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away. His fans will remember him for years to come. People of my generation would remember many good Hindi language movies such as 'Amar, Akbar, Antony' and 'Bobby' in which he acted.

Yesterday during his Religious Discourse, respected 'Bhaishree' mentioned as to how marriages breakdown due to ill advice that mothers give to their daughters. It happened in my own case when I got married in 1982 and took my wife abroad where I was working. I think that boys' parents should look into this aspect before their sons get married.

Yesterday was the third anniversary of the death of my beloved mother, according to our traditional Hindu Calender.

Parashuraam Fest

Today is an auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. This was the day when Shree Mahaa Vishnu incarnated as Lord Parashuraam on this Earth, billions of years back. Devotees offer special worship to Lord Parashuraam on this day.

Traditional New Year's Day

Today is an important day that marks the beginning of traditional new year in states such as Kerala and Tamilnadu in India, as well as in countries such as Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in South East Asia. South East Asian countries celebrate their new year's day at the same time because these countries were ruled by kings who migrated from Southern India, particularly Pallavaa kings from Chennai. According to well documented and authentic historic records, ancient India, known as 'Bhaarahta Varsha" stretched from present day Afghanistan to the islands of Bali in Indonesia. I remember the three day long festivities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2009. People from all over the country used to gather in their capital city for this colorful annual Fest.

New year greetings to all my friends who celebrate the occassion.