Sunday, November 25, 2012

A TRIBUTE TO GURUVAYUR GAJARAJAN KESAVAN

To whom the tribute is paying? Is he a freedom fighter? Musician? Politician? Other than the keralites, all people will think what was the specialty of this elephant to which keralites are paying tributes? Of course so many people other than keralites who went to guruvayur asking me whats the speciality of this elephant? Well, I narrate the heart touching real incident of this Hero. This real incident has been told as a story by my achan & amma while I was a kid. Heard of an elephant observing Ekadasi vratam? To understand the greatness of this elephant we have to be a true/pure human being. So leaving behind all the animal instincts hidden in ourselves (if any), let us have a close look at the divine qualities of this animal. The name of this famous elephant was Guruvayoor Kesavan.  


Guruvayoorappan Lord Krishna is one of the famous God of God’s own country who has a distinct place in every heart and every household and of course my achan’s favorite deity. Guruvayur temple has very good facilities to maintain elephants at Punnathurkotta. Guruvayur kesavan is regarded as the most prominent devotee elephant of Guruvayoor, the deity at Kerala. It was one of the majestic elephant which served the Lord in all its sincerity and uniqueness.  Valiya Raja of Nilambur once prayed to the Lord to save his family and property from the enemies attack. He promised to offer one of his many elephants if his wish is fulfilled. (It is a common Hindu custom in Kerala and many devotees offer cows, gold, silver, and elephants to Lord Krishna at Guruvayoor, as a demonstration of their devotion). So his wish was fulfilled and he offered an elephant in the year 1916, which later became the famous Guruvayur Kesavan.

On his arrival, Kesavan was 10 years old and elephant Padmanabhan was the undisputed king. Young Kesavan acquired all the kingly gestures and nobleness of Padmanabhan and even excelled him. He had his own rules. He is very choosy in food habits; He will never allow anyone to climb on his top through his front leg. This place was reserved only for the person who holds the Lord's idol. All others need to climb through his behind leg. Kesavan was sometimes referred to as eccentric and wonder. People say’s that the elephant held his head always higher in comparison to his peers and demonstrated a weird perceptivity or sixth sense. There were occasions when Kesavan got annoyed by the action of his mahouts. But he never caused any bodily harm to anyone. He sometimes was called "Lunatic Kesavan", but never spoiled any sanctity.

Once he was hurrying to the temple, disobeying the mahouts.  Everybody in the unity fled for fear of being trembled once by it except a poor, helpless leper. As the people watched with fear, they were astonished when they saw that Kesavan had actually lifted the leper with his trunk, placed him safely in a corner, and proceeded straight to the temple. Even if he became wild outside Guruvayur, he would straightaway come to Guruvayur, go round the temple and stood where he used to be chained. This transformed him into an ideal elephant.


In the year 1973 Kesavan was conferred the unique title "Gajarajan" (Elephant King), by the Guruvayoor Devaswom for his intelligence, good behaviour and his love and devotion towards the Lord Guruvayoorappan. He served the Lord in the temple for all processions, festivals and ceremonies until his death in 1976. Even his death was on the auspicious day of Guruvayoor Ekadasi, the elephant also observed fast that day and turning towards the temple, looking at the temple, with his trunk raised as if saluting the Lord, he left his body and attained his Moksha.The Guruvayoor Devaswom erected a life-size statue of Keshavan in its precincts as tribute to the services he rendered to the presiding deity of the temple. Its tusks, along with a majestic portrait of the elephant, can be still seen adorning the entrance to the main temple enclosure. The anniversary of its death is still celebrated in Guruvauyur. Many elephants line up before the statue and the chief elephant garlands it.


All of us feel the need to be loved, to be cared for, and be it a human or an animal. Humans express their feelings, not all animals/pets do, but even they have their own ways of expression. Extreme love and devotion towards the God not the specialty of man only and there are numerous examples of animals who were remembered for there deep love emotion and their faith towards the Lord. Gajendra moksham from Bhagavatham and the Guruvayoor Keshavan are the best examples of elephants who were illustrious devotees and their reverence and devotion to the Lord are much higher in plain than that of human beings. The devotion of Kesavan to the lord is no exaggeration. An elephant who served the lord with utmost devotion without ever chanting the slokas for 54 years, without anticipating anything. These legends are the most common in the state of Kerala and told to the young children in order to create a sense of love and respect towards the faith and their religion in their mind, from the young age.

The elephant, Guruvayur Keshavan still lives in the heart and mind of the Keralites through the narratives they get to hear from their older generations. The anniversary of its death is still celebrated in Guruvauyur. My father use to say that who have seen him will never forget Kesavan and we have his photo in my house. Every keralite where ever they are, will have the photos or calendars of this gajaraja kesavan. When ever I visit guruvayur I will bow infront of his statue and ask to give his blessings towards pure path of faith and devotion.


So on this special dwadasi day after my fasting rituals a small tribute in my own way,  posting this article in my blog. Even though I literally have not seen this great soul as I was unborn while he is alive but my heart always pays a great respect towards his dedication true faith and devotion. It does not matter if it is human being or an elephant. All Beings big and small are part of the Lord. Several beings took birth as birds and animals to be close to the Lord, when He existed in His body. Many beings take birth to be close to the Lord even now. This story of a devotee in the body of an elephant is quite an example. Bhakti (Devotion) always is holier than the Knowledge and associated ego. Love conquers all. Eternal love unmistakably flows from the Lord to all beings, who are receptive to it. Last but not least I believe 'Human life is the most precious thing that God has gifted us, with time being the most essential content of it'. So I desire to live each and every moment of life with full happiness and satisfaction.

courtesy: Image from net and
Few real incident narration from Bhaktha priya. 
Especially thanks to my Amma.

A HEART FULL TRIBUTE TO NATIONAL HEROES 26/11/2012


 

In the Blessed memory of those courageous Indians
soldiers, police officers who died in the struggle for

Deadliest terror attack.
For they who at the call of the duty

Left all that was dear to them
Endured hardships, faced dangers and
Finally passed out of sight of men
Thousands of men and women have given their lives
Some one they never knew nor will ever meet
So today we say a little prayer of thanks to those
        Countless persons who paid the price of their life for motherland.

My mind raced back to my school days when I learned a Hindi poem by Pt. Makhanlal Chaturvedi called "PUSHP KI ABHILASHA" and of course My most favorite poems of my school because this is an excellent devotion towards the Hindi poetry. In school days I just mugged it up because it was part of our course and felt little bit difficulty in remembering these tough words. But one day when I forget the lines while telling the poem because of blind mugg, my teacher told me to understand the meaning of the poem and study then you will never forget this poem in your life. When it has been translated to me by my loving sister Sheena v bhaskaran I dont know why somehow these lines have got etched in my mind forever. I find these lines very close to my heart since the time I read this poem first time in 8th standard; I will recite this poem daily just like a prayer. Poet has rightly placed the patriots at the highest place. 
 



                                       
                              Pushp Ki Abhilasha

 Chah Nahin Mai SurBala Ke
Gehnon Mein Guntha Jaaon
Chah Nahin Premi Mala Mein
Bindh, Pyari Ko Lalchaon
Chah Nahin Samraton Ke
Shav Par, He Hari Dala Jaaon
Chah Nahin Devon Ke Sar Par
Chadhon, Bhagya Par Itraoon
Mujhey Tod Lena Banmali,
Us Path Par Tum Dena Phaink
Matra Bhoomi Per Sheesh Chadhaney,
Jis Path Jaayen Veer Anek


When Translated in English:

I do not wish to be a part of the ornaments of the daughter of Gods,I do not wish to lure sweet love being a part of lover's garland for herI do not wish O God, to be offered on the dead-bodies of great kings I do not wish to adorn the foreheads of Gods and be proud of my luck.
O Gardener! Please pluck me and throw me on the street
where the brave men offering their head for the motherland tread!



This is no doubt best piece of poetry from Makhanlal. It accurately represents the pride and passion for the nation. This poem tells us dedication and patriotism towards our country. The poem is really soul stirring. Salute to him who wrote these lines and salute to them who shed their blood for our great motherland. I never heard a poem like pushp ki abhilasha, till now which tells us our dedication and patriotism towards our country. This is one of the best poems I still remember from my schoolbook, not because of its contents but because of its feel. An all time childhood favourite poem, and today I am sharing this with my mail as a tribute to all the soldiers who lost their lives in Taj tragedy.

I pray for the flower's wish to be granted.

*Peace*

Lets bow our head and say a little prayer of thanks to those countless brave soldiers who paid and sacrifice their life for defence of our nation.Perhaps this tribute of mine won't be able to add anything new or glorious to their life but yet my heart rending love & respect and it shall remain till my last breath.


 

Saturday, November 24, 2012

ORIGIN OF GURUVAYUR


You must be curious now to know about the origin of the shrine at Guruvayur. The "Narada Purana" in the chapter Gurupavanapura Mahatmya alludes to this story: King Janamejaya, in order to avenge the death of his father Pareekshit, brought about by the Naga chief Takshaka, performed the "Sarpayajna" (snake sacrifice) in which thousands of innocent reptiles perished. As a result of their curse that befell him, he was afflicted with leprosy, which left him in utter despair. Sensing this, sage Dattatreya appeared before him with a remedy - Propitiation of Lord Krishna at Guruvayur.
        The sage recounted, how the holy idol was blessed because Narayana Himself was the first to worship it. At the beginning of the Padma Kalpa, he gave the deity to Brahma (the Lord of Creation) who could execute his task of Creation only by its grace.

        At the beginning of the Varaha Kalpa, the childless couple, Sutepa & Prisna prayed in earnest to Brahma for the gift of a son. Brahma gave them this deity assuring them of their wish if they worshipped the deity with sincere devotion. This they did with excellence, so much so that the Lord Mahavishnu himself appeared before them. As a boon, they prayed Him three times, for a son. He pacified them that he himself would be born to them as their son in three successive births. Moreover, they would also have the good fortune of worshipping the divine image in all the three janmas (births) and so.. as the Lord wished, in the 1st janma, to Sutepa and Prisna was born as their son, Prisigarbha. In their 2nd janma, as Kasyapa & Adita, the couple worshipped the same image and got their son Vamana. In their 3rd and most auspicious janma as Vasudeva and Devaki, Sri Krishna was born to them.

       After slaying Kamsa , Krishna moved to Dwaraka where he built a temple, installed that image the supreme himself and worshipped it after the death of his parents. When the time come of his 'Swargarohana'( ascent to Vaikundha), Lord Krishna entrusted his devoted disciple Uddhava, to take good care of the idol. When the latter intimated him, his fears regarding the fate that would befall mankind in Kaliyuga during His absence. Krishna pacified Udhava that he would manifest Himself in and infuse His glory into the idol; He would also shield His devotees from the ill-effects of Kaliyuga and bless the mankind. He appraised Udhava that a subsequence of Dwaraka was impending and that he should install the image in an equally holy spot in consultation with Brihaspati (Guru), the preceptor of the Gods . Accordingly Guru along with Vayu (the God of Winds) set forth to Dwaraka where they in tensed the image being tossed about in the sea by the surging waves. The God of winds (Vayu) carried the image of his lead and both set part in search of a sacred place for its installation. In their quest, they came upon a lake of lotuses., none other than the Rudratheertha where Lord Siva & Parvathi were waiting to receive them. Siva told them that that spot was etched out for Narayana long ago; hence he and Parvathi would move to Mammiyur, the opposite bank. It is for this reason that a visit to Guruvayur is considered incomplete without visiting mammiyoor temple. Guru and Vayu installed the image in the temple built by Viswakarma, the architect of the God. As Guru and Vayu together founded the temple, the place came to be known as Guruvayurpura in accordance with Shiva's wish. The name was later shortened to Guruvayur.

       Moved by this story, Janamejaya proceeded to Guruvayur temple where he observed austere devotion for four months. In the night he would go to Mammiyur and bow before Shiva. One night while asleep he felt the lord's healing touch over his body and his pain was no more! He returned to his kingdom elated singing praises for the Lord. Yes, you too could prouder up on the story and arrive at your conclusions.
COURTESY:GURUVAYUR DEVASWOM BOARD.

POWER OF CHANTING SAHASRA NAMAM


The chanting of the Divine Name or nama japa has an important place in bhakti tradition. Nama japa can be in the form of japa or stotra. Japa is silent repetition of a mantra while stotra is uttered out loud.

The sahasranama stotra is perhaps the most popular of all stotras. There are sahasranamas of most of the deities of the Hindu pantheon of which two have attained great popularity. These are the Lalita Sahasranama in praise of the Divine Mother and Vishnu Sahasranama in praise of the Lord conceived as Vishnu.

Vishnu Sahasranama is a part of the Santhi Parva of the Mahabharata. Towards the end of the Great War, Bhisma lies on a bed of arrows, waiting for uttarayana to dawn so that he can give up his mortal coils.


He is questioned by Yudhistira who wonders who the Supreme Lord of all is, by praising and worshipping whom one can gain good and attain salvation. Bhisma answers Yudhistira’s query by reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama in Sri Krishna’s presence. Reciting the thousand names of Vishnu, Bhisma tells Yudhistira that Vishnu is the Jagat Prabhu or Lord of the Universe, Bhuta-Bhavya-Bhavan-Natha - Lord of past, present and future. The Almighty is depicted in terms of space and time as being immanent. He is one in many things to many.

The body of Lord Vishnu consists of the three worlds. His feet being the earth, His naval the sky and His head the Heavens. The life breath is air, His eyes are the sun and the moon. His ears are the directions, His face the flames of fire, His abode the milky ocean, He is Himself the universe. He is the origin of all that originated. He is Adhoksajah, the one who doesn’t degenerate. There is no change in His original nature.
Vishnu is also Pavanah Pavano Nala or one who is air among all purifying agents. He is Saptajihvah, the Lord in His manifestation as fire having seven tongues of flame, that which cannot be adulterated. He is Vasavanujah or the one who is born as the younger brother of Indra (Vasava) in His incarnation as Vamana, the dwarf. Even the Lord had to resort to the dwarf’s form while begging for a gift of land from King Bali. He is also Suparno vayu vahana.

Here Suparna is Garuda who carries the Lord. Vishnu in this nama is described as one who has Garuda as His vehicle, but who instead rides on Vayu the wind.
The many weapons of Vishnu are described by the various names that occur towards the end of Sahasranama. Samkha - the panchajanya, Nandaki - the sword, Chakri - the sudharsana chakra, Sarnga dhanva - the divine bow, Gadadhara - the mace and Rathangapaani - the one who has the wheel of ratha in His hand. It is said that during the great Mahabharata war Krishna gave his word to the Kauravas that He would not use any weapon in the battle. But on the ninth day He wanted to control the fierce onslaught of Bhisma. He forgot the word given to the Kauravas. He jumped down the chariot and dropped the whip he was holding. Realizing that He had no weapon in His hand, He is stated to have grabbed a wheel from one of the chariots and rushed towards Bhisma.

Bhisma seeing Krishna running toward him in this fashion reminds Him of His promise. That sight of Krishna running with the wheel of a ratha in His hand was fresh in Bhisma’s memory even when Bhisma was lying on the bed of arrows. And the one-thousandth Nama depicts Vishnu as Sarva Praharnayudha.

There is no rule that the Lord has got only the above-mentioned weapons to fight the unlawful and protect Dharma. In His manifestation as Varaha, He used His mighty tusks to kill Hiranyaksha and as Narasimha, He used His fingernails to rip open the belly of Hiranyakashipu to save Prahalada. He also used His foot to crush the ego of King Bali in His incarnation as Vamana the dwarf.

The Vishnu Sahasranama is open to all; anyone can chant it without any distinction of caste, creed or sex. It can be chanted at any time and no special rituals are obligatory to do so. There are no hurdles in chanting the praise of the Lord. 

courtesy:Manoj kumar Times of India

NOVEMBER 24TH 2012 GURUVAYUR EKADASI.


The Mandala kaalam season started from 16th November 2012 and ends on 26th December 2012 (Vrishchikamasam 1 to Dhanurmasam 11). The most important festival during the Mandalam period is “Guruvayur Ekadasi”.There are 24 Ekadasis in a year and the Vrishchika Ekadasi (Suklapaksha) has got special significance in Guruvayur. Ekadashi that falls in the waxing phase of moon in the Malayalam month Vrishchikam (November – December) is observed as" Guruvayur Ekadasi" in the world famous Guruvayoor Sri Krishna Temple in Kerala – the abode of Guruvayurappan. In 2012, Guruvayur Ekadasi is on November 24. It is believed on this day the idol was installed. It is also on this day Lord Krishna preached the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra at Mahabharata Yudha (Mahabharata War) as per Malayalam calendar.

Legends of Guruvayur Ekadasi:-

Guruvayur Ekadasi is also observed as the Prathishta Dinam (installation day) of the temple. Though the temple is known as Sri Krishna temple, the idol made of Pathalanjana Sila, installed at the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum), is of Lord Mahavishnu. Guruvayur became divine on account of the "tapas" performed by Lord Siva for years under the waters and later by the Prechethas (the ten sons of Pracheenabarhis and Suvarna are together called Prechethas) in the Rudratheertham - the sacred tank on the northern side of the present temple - where Lord Guruvayurappan has His Arattu (holy bath on the last day of Annual Utsavam). Prechethas (the ten sons of Pracheenabarhis and Suvarna) came to this place to do tapas to attain "prajapathithwam" (king of all kings) from Lord Mahavishnu. Sensing the motive of Prechethas, Lord Siva emerged out of the Rudratheertham and revealed to them the "Rudrageetham", a hymn in praise of Mahavishnu. Siva suggested them to chant it with all their heart to get their wishes fulfilled. The Princes won the favour of Mahavishnu after rigorous tapas for 10,000 years under the waters of Rudratheertham chanting Rudrageetham.


The idol of guruvayur is unique since it is curved out of “Paathalanjana sila” and is considered extremely sacred. This idol was once worshipped by mahavishnu in vaikunta. From Mahavishnu the sacred idol has passed through the hands of Brahma, Suthapas, Kasyapa, Vasudeva, and Sree Krishna and finally at the time of Krishna's ascension to Vaikunta, his devotee Udhava became sad thinking how he will live without the Lord. Then Lord Shree Krishna gave Udava his idol and instructed him to entrust Brahaspathi (the Guru of Devas) with the task of taking the idol to a suitable place where people could worship it, so as to get salvation in Kaliyuga. A deluge had closed in on Dwaraka, but Guru salvaged the idol floating in the water, with the help of his prime disciple, Vayu. Guru and Vayu went around the world in search of an ideal place. They met Parasurama in Kerala, who was himself worried because of the widespread serious ailments amongst the people of the area. Sage Narada had earlier told Parasurama that installing the idol of Lord Krishna at Dwaraka in Kerala and regularly worshipping it would rid the people of Kerala of all their ailments. Parasurama felt very happy and lead guru and vayu to a lush green spot with a beautiful lotus tank where they felt the presence of Lord Siva. Lord Siva along with Parvathy welcomed them and said, "This is the same spot you are looking for, here it was, I imparted the Rudrageetham to the Prechethas" The idol was installed there. Siva with Parvathy left to the opposite bank, at Mammiyur. Siva permitted Guru and Vayu to perform the consecration rites and blessed them that henceforth this place would be known as GURUVAYUR (since the installation was done by Guru and Vayu).It is in memory of this that worships in Guruvayur will be complete and accomplished only with a worship of Mammiyur Siva also.

Another legend says that once when Lord Maha Vishnu visited the abode of Yama, he heard heart rending cries of people tortured for their sins. The Lord wanted to save them from more suffering and uttered the word Ekadasi. The very mention of the word removed all their sins. Observance of Ekadasi is believed to have a purifying effect. It is believed that the sins of a life time are washed away if one happens to see the Guruvayur Ekadasi Vilakku (festival of lights). Legend says that on Guruvayur Ekadasi, Lord Indra comes with Kamadhenu and gives all material wealth and offers worship to receive Sri Krishna's blessings. On that day all the theerthas such as Kasi, Badri, Sabarigiri and Palani in addition to rivers like Ganga and Jamuna assemble in this sacred place.

Significance of the form of the guruvayurappan:-

Guruvayur is considered to be “Bhooloka Vaikunta” - the heaven on earth, as the idol was once worshiped by the Lord Mahavishnu himself in Vaikunta. The deity is in the traditionally orthodox form of Mahavishnu, with all the compliments - four arms each carrying sankh (conch), chakra (wheel), gadha (club) and padmam (lotus).

His lower right hand represents the revolving or creative tendency. This hand holds conch, symbol of the five elements ( panchajanyam). When blown, it produces a sound that is associated with the primeval sound from which creation developed.

His upper right hand represents the cohesive tendency. This holds the discus (sudarshana chakra) or the wheel. This has six spokes and symbolizes six-petalled lotus. It represents the limitless controlling of all the six seasons and is the fearful weapon that severes the head if demons.

The upper left hand represents the tendency towards dispersion and liberation. This holds the lotus, symbol of the causal power of illusion from which the universe rises. This lotus is called Padma. It is the symbol of purity and represents the unfolding of creation.It is the truth from which emerged the rules of conduct and knowledge.

The lower left hand holds Gada (Mace), the symbol of primeval knowledge. It represents the notion of individual existence. This is named Kaumodaki and is the elemental force from which all physical and mental powers are derived.

Lord Guruvayurappan is the owner of the largest number of elephants in India and on the Ekadasi day there are special elephant processions. Special rituals and celebrations are held at the Lord Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple Ekadasi Vilakku (lamps) is an important ritual associated with Guruvayur Ekadasi. The temple remains open throughout Shuklapaksha Dasami and Shuklapaksha Ekadasi. The temple only closes at 9 hours on Dwadasi day, the day after Ekadasi. Also on the Dwadasi day there is a unique custom of offering Dwadasi Panam in the Koothambalam. The Dwadasi Panam is a token amount of money and it is considered highly auspicious.


A highlight of the Ekadasi is the memorial honour for Gajarajan Kesavan. Guruvayur Temple places a garland at the statue of Guruvayur Kesavan and other elephant’s lineup before the statue. Guruvayur Kesavan was the most famous elephant in Kerala and he died on a Guruvayur Ekadasi Day. On Ekadasi after night pooja the famous Ekadasi Vilakku with elephant procession takes place and provides a fitting finale to the festival.


Fasting procedure:-

Ekadasi is the name of the Goddess that arose from Lord Vishnu to defeat Demon Mura. Happy with her divine act, Lord Vishnu blessed her that anyone who observes Ekadasi fast will be freed of their sins and will attain Moksha. Rice is avoided during ekadashi days as it is believed that the demon Mura finds a dwelling in the rice eaten on Ekadasi day and in some parts of Kerala wheat attained a whole lot of importance that day with breakfast consisting of wheat upma, lunch of wheat 'kanji' and dinner possibly a repeat performance.

Some people only take a single meal on the Dasami day, the day before Ekadasi. After mornings pooja on Ekadasi day Fasting begins and it is for 24 hours. It is believed that a partial or total abstinence from food on Ekadasi is rewarded with bliss. You can also opt for a partial fast by avoiding food made of rice. The food that can be consumed on the Ekadasi day includes fresh and dried fruits, milk products, vegetables and nuts. Avoid pulses and grains on Ekadasi.Drink lots of water and eat fresh and dried fruits. In Hinduism, Upvaas is meant to bring a person close to Brahman. So forget about the rules and regulations and what you are going to gain from the Ekadashi fast. Spend the day in purifying the mind and body.

The next day on Dwadasi – that is the day after Ekadasi – take a single meal the same routine done on Dasami is followed. Overeating should be avoided on Dwadasi day. Puranas state that one should not take pride in observing Ekadashi. The food on Dwadasi should be cooked in one’s house.

It is good to go on fast once in a while as it recuperates the body. Ekadashi observance cleans our body and the digestive organs get much needed rest. Those people suffering from ailments and on medications should take the advice of a doctor before fasting. Never torture your body in the name of religion. There is nothing wrong in having fruits or milk. And you can bring a certain amount of flexibility in the way it is observed.

The LORD OF GURUVAYUR is no distant elusive Deity, but one who is accessible to all devotees, learned and unlearned. As the Lord said to Arjuna in the Gita, "I am responsible for the welfare of those who think of me to the exclusion of all else and who remain devoted to me all the time", Guruvayurappan comes to the rescue of his Bhakthas in distress and manifests his grace in infinite ways. He is so generous that He will bestow blessings on devotees in material and spiritual form according to the wish of the devotee. Those who wish mortal material wealth can get their share from the Lord. The seekers of spiritual wealth will also get it abundantly according to their devotion. The darshan at 3.00 a.m. in the morning is called "Nirmalyam", by which Lord can be seen with decorations of previous night and this darshan is believed to be a wonderful and marvellous experience. It is also believed that by this darshan itself ones all sins will be wiped of.

Be pure. Be virtuous. Be sincere. Apply yourself with firm faith and strength of will. Yield not to beguilement and threats. Move on forward with confidence and determination. You shall succeed in achieving life's Supreme Goal. The Grace of the Almighty is ever with you.

Peace be to you all! May the mighty Grace of Lord sri Krishna flow through your hearts and prepare you for the memorable regeneration in the Spiritual Consciousness!  


Courtesy:Various sources i.e Guruvayurappan histroy from various websites.
significance of form of vishnu from chitra madam
and Nirmalya darshan and Ekadasi vilakku from Malayala Jyothisya Ratnam.

Monday, November 12, 2012

I WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY PROSPEROUS AND SAFE DIWALI




Deepavali or the Festival of Lights is an important and popular festival and one of the four main festivals celebrated In India. Deepavali. “Deepavali” derived from Sanskrit Deepa = lamp, awali = row, line, when It literally translated means “Row of Lights”. It means “row of lighted lamps” or the Festival of lights. It celebrates the victory of goodness over evil, light over darkness. During Deepavali people pray to Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth, light, prosperity and wisdom, but also to God Ganesha, the 'Remover of Obstacles' or the 'Lord of Beginnings'. Deepavali is associated with many legends.

Legends of Deepavali:-

One is that, on that day Lord Rama returned triumphant to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.

The second legend goes
it is the day when Shri Krishna killed “NARAKASURA” – the demon of sorrow and hell, who had kidnapped and imprisoned 16,000 princesses for his harem. 'Puranas' have it that Naraka, son of Bhudevi, acquired immense power from a blessing given by Lord Brahma after an evere penance. He soon unleashed a reign of terror in the kingdom of Kamarupa, harassing celestial beings with his invincible might. Unable to bear the tyranny of the demon, the celestial beings pleaded with Lord Krishna to save them from his torture. But Narakasura could not be easily killed as he had a boon that he would face death only at the hands of his mother Bhudevi. So, Krishna asks his wife Satyabhama, the reincarnation of Bhudevi, to be his charioteer in the battle with Naraka.

When Krishna feigns unconsciousness after being hit by an arrow of Naraka, Satyabhama takes the bow and aims the arrow at Naraka, killing him instantly. Later Lord Krishna reminds her of the boon she had sought as Bhudevi.The killing of Narakasura was a victory of good over evil. It is interesting to note that Bhudevi, mother of the slain Narakasura, declared that his death should not be a day of mourning but an occasion to celebrate and rejoice. Since then, Deepavali is being observed by people every year with joyous celebrations. 

The third myth says that on this auspicious day, Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and good fortune visits the houses of people. In the evening Lakshmi Puja is performed with great devotion. The second day is Amavasya when Lakshmi puja is performed. It is believed that on this day Goddess Lakshmi would be in her benevolent mood and fulfill the wishes of her devotees. One version says that it was on this day that Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagara (Ocean of Milk) when the Gods and demons were churning the sagara (ocean) for nectar (Amrit).

Normally according to dharma shastram, one is not supposed to take an oil bath before sunrise on any day. But on Deepavali, there is an exemption. People get up early in the morning and have an oil bath in hot water especially before sunrise. This is equated to having a bath in the Ganges. On Deepavali chathurdashi day, Mahalakshmi resides in gingelly oil and Ganges resides in water until sunrise. So we get the blessings of Mahalakshmi as well by doing this.


What is the Message of the festival:-
All festivals of India have an inner divine significance. In Bharat the festivals are celebrated to prove the immanent divinity in humanity. The slaying of Naraka by Sathyabhama could also be taken to interpret that parents should not hesitate to punish their children when they stray on to the wrong path. The message of Naraka Chaturdasi is that the good of the society should always prevail over one's own personal bonds.
Deepavali teaches a sacred inner meaning to humanity. During the night of Deepavali the myriad little clay lamps (diyas) silently send forth message of Deepavali: "Come, let us remove darkness from the face of the earth." No other element in this world is as significant as light. It is the light that shows us the way dispelling the darkness. It is because of the light that man is able to attend to his daily duties. The flame of a lamp has two significant qualities. One is to banish darkness; the other is a continuous upward movement. Even if a lamp is kept in a pit, the flame is directed upwards. The ancients have taught that the upward movement of the flame denotes the path to wisdom and the path to divinity. 



The dharma of fire is the same wherever it is: in a poor man's house, in a rich man's house, in America, in Antarctica, or in the Himalayas. It gives light and heat. The flame always points upwards. Even if we keep the lamp upside down, the flame will burn upwards. The message is that our mind should be focused on the the Self wherever we are. The lamps remind us of our dharma to realize our divine nature.
One lamp can light several others. You can even light another 1000 lamps, and still the flame and the light of the first lamp will remain as it is. By becoming manifold, the light looses nothing. Thus the rows of light teaches important lesson of unity the light that shines forth from the Sun, the moon, the stars, and fire is all the same. 

Riches may come or riches may go; scholarship may be acquired or may not be acquired; even joy may come and go. Whatever happens, man must be unmoved, he must not swerve from the path that he has chosen towards the right goal of truth and dharma. 

My Message:-

People celebrate this festival by bursting firecrackers signifying the victory of good over evil. One way it is rainy season and it is good for killing of insects and mosquitoes. And in another way it is very dangerous to people which creates health problems also. Please don’t use hazardous crackers which cause health problems. Moreover bursting firecrackers was not part of our Deepavali tradition. In all festivals I like and love Deepavali very much and I used to celebrate the festival with great pomp and enthusiasm. But when I am pursuing LLB degree I studied a public interest litigation case filed by Mr.M.C.Mehta which made me tear jerking and from that time onwards I decided not to buy crackers because as many kids are made to work in the fire cracker factories by giving up their golden life. So I decided I should not buy it to promote child Labour.
 
My appeal to all my fellow Indians is that on this holy day; Stop Buying and bursting crackers. Save a few children their lives and save yourself. Think about the children below 12 years and thousands of other Children involved in child labor in our Fireworks factories. For those poor kids this festival of light simply translates into more forced and hazardous work. Think about them before buying and bursting crackers. Please do not buy and burst crackers because if you do that then in a way you intend to help an industry that unethically and inhumanely employs thousands of children. Stop supporting child Labour. Moreover bursting firecrackers was not part of our Deepavali tradition.


Still if you have already bought them and definitely want to burst Please think twice if you want to burst instead of throwing away and not buy next time.

If you still want to burst, make sure to buy low decibel ones from brands which carry NCLE/NHLI (NO CHILD LABOUR EMPLOYED/INVOLVED) SEAL.

If you want to burst, make sure you don't cause trouble to neighbors, pedestrians and traffic.

Don't burst high decibel, high sounding crackers to cause panic to sick & elder people.

Don’t burst crackers from 10PM to 6AM - it is illegal as per Supreme Court orders

Fill the heart with the oil of love. Place in it the wick of single - pointed mind. Light it with the knowledge of truth and remove the darkness of Ignorance around you.

Best wishes for the festivals of lights. May the festival stir up within you the unconquerable desire to excel in the pursuit you are engaged. Have a sense of pride aiming at achieving excellence in what ever work you undertake. It must be your endeavour to throw your heart and soul into it and try to achieve high standards of excellence.

WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY HAPPY DIWALI GLOWING WITH PEACE JOY AND PROSPERITY. HAVE A HAPPY, BLESSED AND SAFE DIWALI.




Sunday, November 11, 2012

ENJOY LIFE



Human life is very precious. Each day is a new beginning. God has bestowed on all of us many gifts and it is up to us, how we take things in our life.

This world itself is very beautiful. We are born into this world and have people around to love and care for us. Just imagine how it would have been if we were born as animals or any other creature. It is only human beings who can think and express emotions in the form of words.The other creations have emotions, though they cannot express them. So we should be indeed grateful to God for giving us this beautiful Life.

Nowadays we hardly bother to show our gratefulness, not only to God but also to our parents and elders, which is even more painful. We forget the fact that even we are bound to undergo the same stages they have experienced in Life. Youthfulness and energy, which we boast about, is transient.


Life is too short to keep grudges and hatred. Let us try to avoid people who tend to make us unhappy, rather than arguing with them. As it is said, we waste a lot of energy while arguing. The most important fact is that it's always easier to make a person understand when his/her mind is calm.

We also waste a lot of our time in waste talks especially gossiping, back biting, etc., which isn't really good.  It's a human tendency, however it is very important to reduce it. Instead, let this life be used for some good purposes.


TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE


There are two types of people in this world. 

The first is internally-motivated; they set goals for themselves and push themselves towards their goals on their own. This group of people are usually those who do not believe in religions. 

The second group is one that is externally-motivated; they rely on external motivation - religion, the promise of reward etc. This group of people are usually those who firmly believes in religion.

Working with the different groups require a slightly different approach to the task. When working with the latter group, all you have to do is reward him or her with something. Praise him or her. When working with the former group, put him in comparison with another person who is weaker than him or her. He or she would do the rest. 

There are many cases of talents & potential being wasted, just because they did not develop it further. I heard of this student whose mother allowed him to go out with his friends only once a year. Of course, he’s a GPA-4 student. But he has close-to-zero social lifestyle, and any talents he might have would be lost. Perhaps he is good at drawing? Playing piano? 

So depending on which group you belong to, you can do different things to self-motivate yourself. For the former group, start comparing yourself with weaker peers (but don’t get too big-headed). For the latter group, start writing down the praises that others gave you. 

Remember, your brain is a powerful thing. You definitely have a talent. If you’ve discovered it, don’t waste it. Motivate yourself to develop it further. For those of you who haven’t discovered it, don’t be discouraged. You will find it one day.

GONE ARE THE DAYS


Gone are the days When the school reopened in June, And we settled in our new desks and benches. Gone are the days When we wanted two Sundays and no Mondays, yet Managed to line up daily for the morning prayers.

Gone are the days When we chased one another in the corridors in Intervals, And returned to the classrooms drenched in sweat. Gone are the days When we had lunch in classrooms, corridors, Playgrounds, under the trees and even 
on tree branches.

Gone are the days When all the colours in the world,Decorated the campus on the 
Second Saturdays.Gone are the days When a single P.T. period in the week's Time Table, Was awaited more eagerly than the monsoons.

Gone are the days When few played "kabadi" and "kho-kho" in scorching sun, While others simply played "book cricket" in the confines of classroom.

Gone are the days Of fights but no conspiracies, Of Competitions but seldom jealousy.

Gone are the days When we used to watch Live Cricket telecast, In the opposite house in Intervals and Lunch breaks. Gone are the days Of Sports Day, and the annual School Day, And the one-month long preparations for them.

Gone are the days Of the stressful Quarterly, Half Yearly and Annual Exams, And the most enjoyed holidays after them. Gone are the days of tenth and twelfth standards, when we Spent almost the whole year writing revision tests.

Let me add the nostalgic ghazal 
ye daulat bhi le lo,from the Ghazal Maestro, Jagjit Singh with English translation:-

Gone are the days We learnt, we enjoyed, we played, we won, we lost, We laughed, we cried, we fought, we thought. Gone are the days With so much fun in them, so many friends, So much experience, all this and more.


Gone are the days But not the memories, which will be Lingering in our hearts for ever and ever and Ever and ever and Ever.


ye daulat bhi le lo, ye shohrat bhi le lo
Take all this wealth and fame
bhale cheen lo mujhse meri jawaani
You may even take my youth too
magar mujhko lauta do bachchpan ka saawan
But please, let me keep my childhood memories
wo kaagaz ki kasthi wo baarish ka paani
The boat made of paper and that water from the rain


 1st charanam:-
mohalle ki sabse nishaani purani
The oldest relic of the community
wo burhiya jise bachche kehte the naani
The old lady, whom all called Naani (Grandmother)
wo naani kee baaton mein pariyon ka dera
That Naani's stories was about the fairies
wo chehre ke Jhuriyon mein sadiyon ka phera
One could see her sufferings from the wrinkles on her face
bhulaaye nahin bhool saqta hai koi
How can anyone forget
wo choti see raaten wo lambi kahaani
The short nights and long stories
(concept: time passes fast when having fun)


2nd charanam:-
kari dhoop mein apne ghar se nikalna
In the hot afternoon, stealing out from the home
wo chiriya wo bulbul wo thithli pakarna
and trying to catch the birds and butterflies
wo guriya ki shaadi pe larna jhagarna
Those little squirmishes on a doll's wedding
wo jhoolon se girna, wo gir ke sambhalna
Falling from the swing, and then getting up again
wo pithal ke challon ke pyaare se tho'fe
Those beautiful presents of brass rings
wo tuti hui chudiyoy ki nishaani
That Momento of broken glass bangles
(wo kaagaz ki kasthi wo baarish ka paani)2
The boat made of paper and that water from the rain

3rd charanam:
kabhi re't ke oonche tilon pe jaana
Climbing the sand hillocks
gharonde banana, banaake mitaana
Making sand castles then destroying them
wo maasoom chaahat ki tasveer apni
That is the "Innocence of Childhood"
wo khwabon khilono ki taabir jaageer apni
That personal estate of dreams and toys
na duniya ka gham tha na rishton ke bandhan
Has no worries of the worlds nor bound by relationships
bari khoobsoorat thi wo zindgaani
That life was so much beautiful

Jagjit/Chitra:
ye daulat bhi le lo, ye shohrat bhi le lo
Take all this wealth and fame
bhale cheen lo mujhse meri jawaani
You may even take my youth too
magar mujhko lauta do bachchpan ka saawan
But please, let me keep my childhood memories
wo kaagaz ki kasthi wo baarish ka paani
The boat made of paper and that water from the rain