SRIMAD BHAGAVATHA SAPTAHA MAHOTSAVAM

“SRIMAD BHAGAVATHA SAPTAHA MAHOTSAVAM” from 5th October 2014 to 12th October 2014 by Sri Ramanacharana Theertha NOCHUR VENKATARAMAN, Bramasri SRIDARA Sarma and Bramasri Angarai RANGASWAMY Deekshitar at SANKARA VIDHYALAYA, ECR, PUDUCHERRY-8.
Please see the attached INVITATION for details

Sankalpam and its meaning

We are always curious to know the meaning of the Sankalpam that we take before the start of a pooja or a ritual. Firstly, we need to know the Hindu Cosmic cycle.

1 Mahayuga = Sum of 4 Yugas(Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali) = 4,320,000 years. 

1000 such mahayugas comprise a day-time of Brahma also known as a Kalpa.
 

The kalpa is ruled by 14 manus in succession.
 

The reigning period of a manu is onemanvantara which is 71.42 mahayugas.

There is an equivalent night-time of 4,320,000,000 years. The day-night of Brahma together constitutes one Brahma day (8.64 billion years). 360 Brahma days constitute a Brahma year while 360 years represent the lifetime of Brahma which is the life of the cosmos. Doing this simple calculation gives the age of the cosmos to be 311 trillion years.

Carl Sagan, the noted scientist says in relation to this, ""The Hindu religion is the only one of the world's great faiths dedicated to the idea that the Cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed an infinite, number of deaths and rebirths. It is the only religion in which the time scales correspond, to those of modern scientific cosmology. Its cycles run from our ordinary day and night to a day and night of Brahma, 8.64 billion years long. Longer than the age of the Earth or the Sun and about half the time since the Big Bang. And there are much longer timescales still."

We are presently in the Sveta-Varaha kalpa in the reigning period of Vaivaswatha - the 7th manu. In this manvantara we are in the 28th mahayuga. As per our Cosmology, Brahma is supposed to have completed 50 Brahma years and is in his51st year. That is why he is called "Parardha-dvaya-jivin"(ie) he lives for two parardhas. A parardha is half.    Two halves make one. He is called so as he has completed one half of his tenure.

Sixty plus and still keep Going,...... Wisdom worth listening to:

Don't worry about what will happen after you are gone, because when you return to dust, you will feel nothing about praises or criticisms.

Don't worry too much about your children for children will have their own destiny and find their own way. Don't be your children's slave
Don't expect too much from your children. Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render any help.

Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties.
Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but you have no claims to their money.

60-year olds like you, dont trade in your health for wealth anymore………….

Because your money may not be able to buy your health………

 

When to stop making money, and how much is enough (hundred thousands, million, ten million)?
Out of thousand hectares of good farm land, you can only consume three quarts (of rice) daily;

 

out of a thousand of mansions, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night.
So as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough. So you should live happily.

 

Every family has its own problems. Just do not compare with others for fame and social status and see whose children are doing better, etc. but challenge others for happiness, health and longevity………….

 

Don't worry about things that you can't change because it does'nt help and it may spoil your health.
You have to create your own well-being and find your own happiness;

As long as you are in good mood, think about happy things, do happy things daily and have fun in doing, then you will pass your time happily every day.
One day passes, you will lose one day;…One day passes with happiness, and then you gain one day.
In good spirit, sickness will cure; in happy spirit, sickness will cure fast; in good and happy spirit; sickness will never come.

With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, always in the sun, variety of foods, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years of healthy life.

Above all learn to cherish the goodness around ……and FRIENDS……..they all make you feel young and "wanted"…without them you are surely to feel lost!!

Anubhavam Ayiram' (Experiences, a Thousand): Did Anjaneya Come?

One Friday at noon time in Sringeri, Jagadguru SriSriSri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Maha Sannidhanam after finishing his nitya pujas and bhiksha, sat in ekantam (privacy) and was conversing with the Matham disciples.

The students studying in Veda Pathashalas in Tirunelveli, Madurai and Ramanathapuram that had Sringeri as their Guru Pitham had then come there to have darshan of Sri Sharadambal and the Jagadguru. Swamigal had directed them to stay for some days and then return home. Those students also were listening to Swamigal's conversation.

The talk then turned about the upanyasakas (speakers) who give pravachana (spiritual expositions). A student called Sankara Subrahmaniyan, of the Veda Pathashala, Thallakulam, Madurai got up and prostrated to Jagadguru. Then he said, "About this pravachanam, I desire to do vij~japana with Gurunathar, something in my mind." Looking a little up and down at him Acharyal directed, "Ennadu, sollen (what's it, why don’t you tell me)!"

Forthwith in a low tone he said, "Nothing else Gurunatha! These days some upanyasakas who do katha pravachanam leave the saramsam (essential truth) and talk much only about other subjects! By this, the saramsam gets forgotten, (whereas) the other subjects stay well in memory. We don't get the trupti (satisfaction) of listening to a good pravachanam! Is this a shortcoming of those who do the pravachana or those who listen to it? Only Maha Swamigal should favour us with a clarification!"

Others who heard this, said that they too had this doubt. The Jagadguru smiled. Sitting upright in gambhiram (majesty), he inquired with compassion, "First, have all of you done your bhojanam (meal)?"

They all rose up, joined palms and said, "Done Swami."

"Santosham (happy)", the Jagadguru smiled and continued: "Wherever, whatever we listen to, we should only absorb the good saramsam in it and leave the rest. For this, we should do paripakvam of our mind. Only that is the lofty gunam (personality). Those who do upanyasa, doing anusara of the time and audience, at the same time without leaving the 'subject', complete it. Only we should absorb from it like the anna pakshi (the swan bird). What, you understand?" he asked and laughed loudly.

His reply created amazement among the disciples. Looking at Jagadguru, they discussed something secretly among themselves!

A shishya by name Suryanarayanan got up and prostrated to Maha Sannidhanam. Then he asked with bhaya bhakti (reverential devotion): "A prarthana (prayer) to Jagadguru! We all desire to listen to Srimad Ramayanam. Only Jagadguru should show krupa..." Before he finished, "Adukkenna... besha (why not, very well) we can arrange it. I shall get well-read pauranikas (puranic exponents) from Mysore and ask them to narrate it," said Swamigal.

Hearing this, the shishyas looked at one another with yearning. A shishya named Yagyanarayanan got up hesitantly and prostrated to Jagadguru. Then he beseeched with humility, "To do shravanam of Srimad Ramayanam through Jagadguru's amruta vak (nectarine speech) is our long time desire. Gurunathar should do anugraha."

Swamigal went supple. Still, laughing with a rattle and not showing out his feeling, he said, "Oho! So much pidikai (bush-beating) only for this?! Let's see, let's see," and went inside. Disappointment for the disciples!

Days passed by. That day was Friday too. The time of sandhya kalam (sunset). At Sri Sharadambal's temple, the crowed filled up and swelled. Suddenly... Swamigal came to have darshan of Ambal. It would have been eight o' clock when he came out finishing his darshan! The disciples waiting readily at the temple entrance, on seeing SwamigaL, fell flat and prostrated. Acharyal stood transfixed.

Looking at them and smiling, he said, "Edata, vidamattel pol irukkay (Seems you people will not leave me)? Alright, alright. It can be held it as desired by you! Selecting an auspicious day, we shall have the prarambham", and moved away quickly.

That auspicious day too came. It was decided that Acharyal would do exposition of the Sundara Kandam for seven days. The news, 'Maha Sannidhanam himself is going to do pravachana anugraha' spreading, the crowd was heavy. It had just finished drizzling!

Those who had darshan of the Jagadguru who came and sat in gambhiram on the Asanam (wooden plank), felt as if sakshat Veda Vyasa Bhagavan himself had come and seated himself. The pravachanam started in a majestic voice. Half an hour would have passed. Swamigal halted his pravachanam suddenly and called an assistant of the Matham. To him he ordered, "Was to tell you in the beginning itself... forgot! What you do, on my side at a small distance you lay a wooden plank. Spread a silk cloth over it. Then, in a silver plate, keep two guava fruits before the seat. Shighram (Quickly)!" His orders were carried out and he continued with his upanyasam.

The fifth day upanyasam was also completed. Swamigal, who elaborated well in a way the students could understand, also explained them the nuances of dharma shastras.

A student named Venkatesan belonging to the Tirunelveli Veda Pathashala came up slowly, prostrated to Jagadguru and said in hesitation, "I have a doubt, Gurudeva."

"What doubt, ask it", said Swamigal

He stumbled as he asked: "Gurunatha! From the day the upanyasam was commenced, you ask them to place a plank near you and also keep the guava fruits in a plate before it! Can't understand what it is for..."

Hearing this and laughing, Acharyal said, "Shall tell you, listen... 'Yatra yatra raghunatha kirtanam, tatra tatra krita-masta kanjalim'--'wherever Sri Rama's greatness is talked about there Sri Anjaneya Swami will readily come' is a belief. Here we recite Srimad Ramayanam itself. So Swami would come certainly? Can we make him stand? He is the 'nava vyakarana pandita'! The Asana palakai is for him to sit on. Then... this is like doing upacharam with fruits, bakshanam (savouries), coffee to a guest who comes to our home. Swami likes koyyapazham (guava fruit) very much. Have understood now?"

Venkatesan nodded yes. Didn't that Deivam (God) know that this tender fruit wasn't clear yet!

There was heavy crowd on the sixth day too. Jagadguru completed that day's upanyasam in a way that moved everyone.

After everyone prostrated to Swamigal and went away, the Pathashala students also, one by one prostrated and moved away. At the last of them was the Tirunelveli Pathashala student who prostrated shastaangam and stood with joined palms. Swamigal glanced at him with a smile and asked, "What's your full name?"

"Prasanna Venkatesan, Gurunatha!"

"Which place is your purvikam (native)?", Swamigal asked.

"A hamlet near Tirunelveli Kadayanallur, Gurunatha!"

"What is (your) tagappanar (father) doing?"

"Upadhyayam (Vedic occupation), Gurunatha!"

Saying "besh, besh", Acharyal took with his golden hands the two guava fruits dedicated to Anjaneya Swami and gave it to him. Then he gave him leave with the words, "Venkatesa! These are the uchchishta prasadam (remnants) eaten by Anjaneya. Cut it, drop a piece in your mouth and share it with others!"

But then Prasanna Venkatesan did not move away from that place. He stood rolling the guava fruits in his hand and looking at them!

Having understood his flow of thoughts, Acharyal said smiling within himself, "What Prasanna Venkatesa? Keeping the fruits in hand, what is that deep contemplation? Why not tell me a little, let me also know it!" He hesitated.

"Come on", the Jagadguru encouraged him.

"Nothing else, Gurunatha! On that seat, Anjaneya Swami comes and sits and listens to Srimad Ramayanam, eats the guava fruits dedicated to him and leaves..." Swamigal interruped him before he could finish.

"This is not told by me! This is a custom observed tradition after tradition with purna nambikkai (full faith) by the elders who do Ramanayanam pravachanam. This is satyam too! What is your doubt in this?" asked the Jnanaguru.

Even in that chill weather Prasanna Venkatesan was perspiring. He hesitated to talk. Asking him to come nearer, Acharyal encouraged him, "Whatever the matter... tell me boldly what strikes your mind."

He said in reply, "While listening to the pravachanam I was also looking at that plank often... For my eyes, nothing of Anjaneya Swami coming and sitting was seen! I also checked up with the sakhas (friends) near me. They also said having seen nothing. That's why..." Venkatesan gulped and faltered.

Acharyal asked, "Alright, alright. This is your first doubt! The two guava fruits are intact, they should have been parted had Anjaneya Swami eaten them is your second doubt (right)?"

Then he explained, "With Atmarta bhakti (soulful devotion) and shraddha (trust), we too can have darshan of Anjaneya Swami sitting bhavyam (pious) with bhakti and doing Srimad Ramayana shravanam! If Anjaneyar comes as vishva roopi and sits, will everyone have the shakti to look at him and bear with the sight? So he would come in sukshmam (subtle form) and return after listening!" Further he asked Venkatesan, "You know to read grantha letters?"

"I know, Gurunatha!" said the boy.

Forthwith, he asked for a Upanishad related grantha book to be brought to him from inside. Opening it at a page and showing a small passage, "You should memorise this in five minutes and recite to me, try if you can", he said with a laugh.

Venkatesan moved to a distance with the book. Precisely five minutes passed by. Coming back to Acharyal he recited the specific passage without any mistake of even a syllable.

Parama santosham on Acharyal's face. He took the book in his hand. Keeping the passage he asked the boy to memorize, he said, "Venkatesa! As asked by me you read and recited (the passage) in just five minutes! Just because you have absorbed those specific aksharas (letters), they haven't disappeared from their places! Aren't the grantha letters intact in their places? This is similar to that! Whatever we dedicate to God, He does sweekaram (acceptance) of only the ruchi (taste) accompanied by bhakti shraddha and leaves the padarthas (eatables) to us with supreme compassion. Do you now understand the secret of those two guava fruits remaining intact, in full, without withering or shrinking?", Acharyal asked him and laughed heartily.

Prasanna Venkatesan was sitting in amazement. Peace prevailed there for some time. They all prostrated in shastaangam.

The day of pravachana purti (completion of discourse)! At three in the afternoon itself Acharyal came to the stage. The upanyasam was going on very movingly. The time of completion, and everyone was listening, forgetful of their own selves. It was at that time that miracle took place!

A large vanaram (monkey) came by leaps and bounds to the upanyasam hall. Without taking heed of anyone, it jumped up the stage, went and sat quietly on the Asanam meant for Anjaneya Swami, facing Acharyal! The Jagadguru was looking at it for some time without moving his eyes away. It did not even regard the guava fruits kept before the seat! The crowd wondered at this sight!

Five o' clock in the evening. That vanaram did not sway this way or that until then. Did not also touch the fruits. Completing his upanyasam, Acharyal recited the phala sruti. Then turning his head to his right and looking at the vanaram, he said, "Anjaneya Swami, very happy that you came and sat here to listen to Srimad Ramayanam!" and requested, "Those two guava fruits are only for you, should do sweekaram of them." Looking around at the crowd once, the vanaram took the fruits and keenly looked at Acharyal for some time with affection.

Meantime a voice proclaimed from the crowd, "Anjaneya... Rama, Rama!" Everyone looked towards the direction the voice came from. Prasanna Venkatesan was standing there with joined palms, his eyes filled with tears. By this time the vanaram descended slowly from the stage, walked majestically and disappeared.

Coming to Jagadguru with filled eyes Prasanna Venkatesan said, "Gurudeva! That which came and sat on the plank near you did not appear as a vanaram to my eyes. I saw sakshat Anjaneya Swami with his shariram (body) that is Ajanubahu (arms reaching knees) sitting in gambhiryam (majesty)! I also saw Swami saying something to Acharyal! The tatparyam of what you told me is now understood by me, Gurunatha!" He fell at the Jagadguru's padaravinda. In spite of so many people consoling him, no one could control his flowing tears.

That Para Brahmam blessed him with raised hands!

Here are 10 tips to Help you manage your time more effectively:

Time is precious:

Time  is unidirectional. Once lost, it's gone forever. It is  therefore  essential to value it as a limited and fleeting  resource.  Wasted time is  one thing that can't be recycled.

Leverage your own time:

Look  at how you spend time in a typical day. What can you stop  doing, or do less of? If you use your time carefully,  you will have more  of it for  things that make a difference.

Budget your time:

Even  more than money,we need to budget our time judiciously. The  art lies in laying down priorities for work, fixing minimum and maximum time slots for different activities and managing within the 24-hour  day. Never  close a week without planning a schedule for the next one.  Prepare a  daily time schedule. But do factor in minor adjustments. Maintaining  regularity pays dividends.  Also, you can't possibly cut down on sleep, can you? A  relaxed mind learns (and retains) far better and quicker than  one under tension. Make sure you budget some time for  relaxation and exercise in your schedule, how so ever busy. 

The early bird gets the worm:

An  early start saves a lot of time. If possible, begin and  complete your  assignments and projects well in time to avoid undue  tension. Don't wait  till the very last moment to get cracking. Make ‘Defeat  the Deadline’  your motto.

Table your intent:

Start  by preparing a timetable. To draw up a schedule that will work for you,  factor in your preferred style of study ie your ‘prime  time’ (you will  find that you function at your peak at a particular time,  this is the  best time to handle ‘tough’ tasks). Similarly, make a  note of your  average attention span. Only you know which learning method works best for you. Then, match your  style with the course requirements. Each study period must   cover  one learning objective.Ideally, it should not exceed beyond  90 minutes.  Although individual attention spans can vary somewhat,  research on learning patterns shows that the speed and effectiveness of  learning  changes with time. After about 25  minutes, the attention  curve begins to dip.Teachers are aware of this and attempt to restart the curve every  20 minutes or so by introducing a new activity like asking a  question or cracking a joke to liven things up and change the pace. 

Create a learning  environment:

An  environment conducive to learning is useful. If you think  you can sit  or curl up anywhere and learn, you may be wrong. The most  comfortable  environment does not necessarily promote learning. The best  environment  is one where you feel motivated, alert and reasonably comfortable to study Jot it down: How often do we find ourselves mumbling, "If only  I could remember…" The simple solution to this problem is to always  carry a pencil and paper with you. The moment you get a  unique idea or you hear something noteworthy — just scribble it down, and  file it where  it is easily accessible. This is an absolute time saver! 

Watch out for potential  time-wasters:

Lack of self discipline, idling, daydreaming, procrastinating  (putting off or postponing unpleasant or difficult tasks), focusing on  trivia, aimless  channel surfing or browsing the Net are some of the most  notorious time  wasters to avoid.  They surreptitiously whittle away at time without you  even realising it.

Prioritise your interests.

There are just that many hours in a day. Its better to concentrate on a few select interests and hone them to perfection instead of  trying to dabble  in a large number of activities that leave you exhausted  and unsatisfied.

Seek help: 

Despite all  the planning and determination, you may, at times, find that you are unable to stick to  your schedule. At such times, seek help from someone close to you. Discuss your goals and enlist their help in helping you  stick to your  schedule.

Time management is a 'skill' and, an 'art'  that we can develop through careful practice. And the sooner   we start the  better.  Remember  you have the same 24 hours per day that were given to Helen  Keller,  Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Leonardo da  Vinci or Albert  Einstein. It's how you use it that makes the  difference.

Rare Old Photographs of Tirupati and Tirumala Before the Gold and Money

This is an article on "Rare Old Photographs of Tirupati and Tirumala Before the Gold and Money"

The following rare old photographs show how Tirupati and Tirumala looked before the temple became rich and famous. You can see from the pictures that in those days it was a peaceful place without huge queues and crowds. Today over 40 million people visit the temple each year, and you can expect to wait up to 5 hours in the queue before having darshana of the main Balaji deity for a few moments.

In ancient literature, Tirupati is mentioned as Aadhi Varaha Kshetra. The Puranas associate the area with Lord Varaha, one of the Dashavataras of Lord Vishnu. Venkatadri is believed to be a part of Mount Meru, which was brought to the earth from Vishnu's abode of Vaikunta by his mount Garuda. The seven peaks represent the seven heads of Adisesha. Tirumala is also one of the 108 divya desams.

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