Azhagar Kovil

 

திருமாலிரும் சோலை அழகர்      கோவிலில் தினமும் இரவு அர்த்த      ஜாம ஆராதனம் முடித்து விட்டு    திருமாலையாண்டான் ஸ்வாமி தன் திருமாளிகைக்கு  செல்லும் போது    அவருக்கு வயதாகி கண்பார்வை மங்கியதால் ஒரு கைங்கரியபரர் திருவடி பந்தம்  பிடித்துக் கொண்டு  அவருக்கு முன்னாள்  வழிகாட்டி  கொண்டு செல்லுவார் அதாவது திருவடிபிச்சன் அவர் பெயர் சுந்தர்ராஜன் என்பதுகாரணம் அந்தகாலம்  சோலைக்கு செல்லும் வழி முழுவதும் பொதுவாகவே இரூட்டாக தான் இருக்கும் அதுவும்   திருமாலிருஞ்சோலை வழி ஒரே     வனாந்திரபகுதி மரம் அடர்த்தியாக இருப்பதால் ஒரே இருட்டாகவும் இருக்கும் தன் கண்பார்வை மங்கியதால் வழி காட்ட திருவடிபிச்சன் வைத்திருந்தார் திருமாலையாண்டான்இப்படி ஒருநாள் பகவத் ஆராதன கைங்கர்யம் முடித்து அர்த்தஜாம ஆராதனமும் முடித்து விட்டு  தன் திருமாளிகை செல்ல ஆயத்தமானபோது திருவடிபந்தம் பிடிக்கும் சிஷ்யனை காணவில்லை 

( அக்காலத்தில் தன் கைங்கர்யம் செய்யும் அடியார்களை சிஷ்யனாக வரிப்பது வழக்கம்) திருமாலையாண்டான் திருவடி பந்தம் பிடிக்கும் அந்த சிஷ்யன் பெயரை      ஒரு முறைக்கு இருமுறை 

சுந்தரராஜான்னு அழைத்தார் உடனே கையில் திருவடி பந்தத்துடன் வந்து     

ஸ்வாமின்  அடியேன் என்று சொல்லி  அவருக்கு முன்னாள் சென்று வழிகாட்டி சென்றபடியே திருமாலையாண்டான் திருமாளிகை    வந்த உடன் அவரிடம் ஸ்வாமின்     அடியேன் திரும்பி செல்ல நியமம்  வாங்கிக்கின்றேன் என்று  சொல்லி திரும்பிவிட்டார் 

மறுநாள் அதிகாலை திருவடி பந்தம் பிடிக்கும் திருவடிபிச்சான் சுந்தரராஜன் திருமாலையாண்டான்     திருமாளிகை க்கு வந்து அவரை   சேவித்து ஸ்வாமின்     

அடியேன் தெரியாமல் உமக்கு திருவடிபந்தம் பிடிக்கும் கைங்கர்யத்தில் நேற்று அபச்சார  பட்டுவிட்டேன் என கூறதிருமாலையாண்டான் என்னடா      சொல்லுறே என்ன  அபச்சாரம்     பண்ணேன்னு கேட்க     

ஸ்வாமி நேற்று மாலை உடல் அசதியால் மாலையில் இருந்து இரவு         வரை நன்கு தூங்கி விட்டேன் அதனால் எப்போதும் தேவரீருக்கு      திருவடி பந்தம் பிடித்து  வழிகாட்டும் கைங்கர்யத்துக்கு நேற்று வர    முடியவில்லை     

ஸ்வாமின் தேவரீர் நேற்று வனாந்திர இருட்டில்  விளக்கு இல்லாமல் எப்பிடி  இந்த திருமாளிகைக்கு     எழுந்தருளினீர் என கேட்கதிருமாலையாண்டான், என்னடா     புத்தி மங்கிவிட்டதா நீதானே நேற்றும் எப்போதும் போல் எனக்கு     திருவடிபந்தம் பிடித்து வந்து இங்கே என்னை விட்டு விட்டு நியமம் பெற்று போனாய்  என்று  சொல்ல   ஸ்வாமி அடியேன் வரவேயில்லை என்று  சுந்தர்ராஜன் மறுக்க  அப்போதுதான் திருமாலையாண்டானுக்கு தெரிந்தது நேற்று பந்தம் பிடித்து வந்தவன்  தன் சிஷ்யனான இந்த சுந்தர்ராஜன் அல்ல 

சாட்சாத்ஆதிமூலமான அந்த

சுந்தர்ராஜனே என உணர்ந்து உடனே திருமாலிருந்சோலை சென்று ஸ்வாமியே தேவரீரே நேற்று திருவடி பந்தம் பிடிப்பவனாக வந்து     இந்த அடியவனைக்கு நீரா வழி காட்டினீர் என அழகர் திருவடிகளை பிடித்து கொண்டு கதறி அழுதாராம் திருமாலையாண்டான் சுந்தர்ராஜனான அந்த அழகர் திருவடிபந்தம் பிடித்து தன்னையும் சிஷ்யனாகவே பாவித்து கைங்கர்யம் செய்த உண்மை தெரிந்ததும் திருமாலையாண்டான்திருமாலிருஞ்சோலை அழகரின் சௌலப்பியத்தை நினைத்து ஆனந்த கண்ணீர் மல்க அவனை அன்று ஆனந்தமாக ஆராதித்தாராம்

சிஷ்யனாக வந்து திருவடிபந்த சேவை செய்ததால் திருமாலையாண்டான் பரமபதித்ததும் அவருக்கான இறுதி காரியங்களை அழகர் தம் பரிவாங்களை கொண்டு அர்ச்சக பரிசாரக முகேனமாக செய்கிறார் 

திருமாலையாண்டான் பரமபதித்த நன்னாள் ஐப்பசி மாதம் வளர்பிறை துவாதசி திதி 

அதனால் தான் அழகர் வருடாவருடம் அந்நாளில் திருமாலிருஞ்சோலை மலைக்கு சென்று எண்ணெய் குளியல் செய்கிறார் 

அழகர் வருடம் இரண்டு முறை நூபுரகங்கைக்கு வருவார் ஒன்று ஆடிமாதம் அழகரின் வருடாந்திர பிரம்மோச்சவத்திற்க்கு மற்றொன்று ஐப்பசி மாதம் வளர்பிறை துவாதசியான திருமாலையாண்டான் பரம்பதித்த நாளன்று

கலியுகத்தில் பகவான் மனிதரூபமாகவே வந்து கைங்கர்யம் செய்வான் எனவே அபிமானிகளே ஆபத்தில் உங்களுக்கு யாரேனும் உதவினால் அவர் உங்களூர் பெருமாளாகவே கூட இருக்கலாம் 

எனவே யாரையும் அலட்சியம் செய்யாதீர்கள்

திருமாலிருஞ்சோலைமலைமென்றேன் என்ன திருமால்வந்து என் நெஞ்சு நிறையப் புகுந்தான குருமா மணியுந்து புனல்பொன்னித் தென்பால்

திருமால்சென்று சேர்விடம் 

தென்திருப்பேரே

அழகர் திருவடிகளே சரணம் சரணம்.

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Sri Ramanujacharya

 

1.A seeker must acquire a true knowledge of the individual self and the Supreme;

 2.he must devote himself to meditation, worship and the adoration of the Supreme;

 3.this knowledge with discipline leads him to the realization of the Supreme. 

To put it briefly, the first affirms the tattva or the nature of the Reality, the second declares the hita or the means, and the third states the purushartha or the ideal of human endeavour.

 Sri Ramanujacharya.

Magic Rock

 Here is the clearest view I have ever seen of the Divine rock of MAGIC. It was always difficult to capture the whole rock in a photo as it was on a rocky terrain. 

*What is so special about this rock?*

*This unbelievable thing happened in 2013*

In 2013, a mighty glacial lake from a natural dam like formation, that originates River Mandakini on top of snowy Himalayas, suddenly broke and burst open. People heard a thunderous clap 50 kms away. Millions and millions of gallons of icy water, several thousand large boulders, and rocks slid vertically down Himalayas and washed away everything on the way - several towns got wiped away and thousands of people died.

River Mandakini from Himalayas was raging that night for about 10 hours throwing boulders and wiping out everything for at least 200 kms.

The very first human habitation in upper Himalayas was the temple town of Kedarnath at 11400 feet from sea-level. Kedarnath town was almost completely destroyed. The temple on the center of the town was literally the epicenter, and it faced the first attack and full brunt of mother nature.

One day after the event, high altitude helicopter crews surveyed the town. The town did not exist. Himalayas covered it. However to everyone's surprise the 7th century temple, built by ancient Saint Shankaracharya from South India, in the center of the town was standing.

As if by magic, a monstrous boulder (this magic rock) slid down the mighty Himalayas and just stopped short of the 7th century temple at raised ground of 10 feet. It diverted the boulders away from the temple and let minimal water above the rock.

Still water reached 21 feet inside the temple and 3 people inside the temple survived.

A few more feet of sliding, the temple wont be standing. A few less feet of sliding, the temple wont be standing. Nothing around the temple was standing. The boulders and debris that was left behind had a V-formation around just the temple structure. Yes, God split the river that night.

The whole area was ridden with boulders till 2021. Government cleaned it and is rebuilding Kedarnath with safety structures that can divert water flow.

Hindus are grateful to this boulder which protected their ancient temple, built by Adi Shankaracharya. Shankaracharya from South India, walked to Kedarnath and built this temple in 7th century. Kedarnath has no trees or vegetation as nothing grows at that height. He built that temple with resources from 5000 feet below.🙏🕉️🕉️🕉️

*What is so special about this rock?*

*This unbelievable thing happened in 2013*

In 2013, a mighty glacial lake from a natural dam like formation, that originates River Mandakini on top of snowy Himalayas, suddenly broke and burst open. People heard a thunderous clap 50 kms away. Millions and millions of gallons of icy water, several thousand large boulders, and rocks slid vertically down Himalayas and washed away everything on the way - several towns got wiped away and thousands of people died.

River Mandakini from Himalayas was raging that night for about 10 hours throwing boulders and wiping out everything for at least 200 kms.

The very first human habitation in upper Himalayas was the temple town of Kedarnath at 11400 feet from sea-level. Kedarnath town was almost completely destroyed. The temple on the center of the town was literally the epicenter, and it faced the first attack and full brunt of mother nature.

One day after the event, high altitude helicopter crews surveyed the town. The town did not exist. Himalayas covered it. However to everyone's surprise the 7th century temple, built by ancient Saint Shankaracharya from South India, in the center of the town was standing.

As if by magic, a monstrous boulder (this magic rock) slid down the mighty Himalayas and just stopped short of the 7th century temple at raised ground of 10 feet. It diverted the boulders away from the temple and let minimal water above the rock.

Still water reached 21 feet inside the temple and 3 people inside the temple survived.

A few more feet of sliding, the temple wont be standing. A few less feet of sliding, the temple wont be standing. Nothing around the temple was standing. The boulders and debris that was left behind had a V-formation around just the temple structure. Yes, God split the river that night.

The whole area was ridden with boulders till 2021. Government cleaned it and is rebuilding Kedarnath with safety structures that can divert water flow.

Hindus are grateful to this boulder which protected their ancient temple, built by Adi Shankaracharya. Shankaracharya from South India, walked to Kedarnath and built this temple in 7th century. Kedarnath has no trees or vegetation as nothing grows at that height. He built that temple with resources from 5000 feet below.🙏🕉️🕉️🕉️

Arunachala

Thiruvannamalai

There is a Puranic story about the origin of the hill. Once Vishnu and Brahma fell to disputing which of them was the greater. Their quarrel brought chaos on earth, so the Devas approached Siva and besought him to settle the dispute. Siva thereupon manifested himself as a column of light from which a voice issued declaring that whoever could find its upper or lower end was the greater. Vishnu took the form of a boar and burrowed down into the earth to find the base, while Brahma took the form of a swan and soared upwards to seek its summit. Vishnu failed to reach the base of the column but “beginning to see within himself the Supreme Light which dwells in the hearts of all, he became lost in meditation, oblivious to the physical body and even unaware of himself, the one who sought”. Brahma saw the flower of an alse plant falling through the air and, thinking to win by deception, returned with it and declared he had plucked it from the summit.

Vishnu admitted his failure and turned to the Lord in praise and prayer: “You are Self-knowledge. You are OM. You are the beginning and the middle and the end of everything. You are everything and illuminate everything.” He was pronounced great while Brahma was exposed and confessed his fault.

In this legend, Vishnu represents the intellect and Brahma the ego, while Siva is Atma, the spirit.

The story continues that, because the lingam or column of light was too dazzling to behold, Siva manifested himself instead as the Arunachala hill, declaring: “As the moon derives its light from the sun, so other holy places shall derive their sanctity from Arunachala. This is the only place where I have taken this form for the benefit of those who wish to worship me and obtain illumination. Arunachala is OM itself. I will appear on the summit of this hill every year at Kartigai in the form of a peace-giving beacon

Arunachala also known as Thiruvannamalai houses the temple of Arunachalesvarar.The temple houses the Jyothi lingam Arunchalesvara.

There is a Puranic story about the origin of the hill. Once Vishnu and Brahma fell to disputing which of them was the greater. Their quarrel brought chaos on earth, so the Devas approached Siva and besought him to settle the dispute. Siva thereupon manifested himself as a column of light from which a voice issued declaring that whoever could find its upper or lower end was the greater. Vishnu took the form of a boar and burrowed down into the earth to find the base, while Brahma took the form of a swan and soared upwards to seek its summit. Vishnu failed to reach the base of the column but “beginning to see within himself the Supreme Light which dwells in the hearts of all, he became lost in meditation, oblivious to the physical body and even unaware of himself, the one who sought”. Brahma saw the flower of an alse plant falling through the air and, thinking to win by deception, returned with it and declared he had plucked it from the summit.

Vishnu admitted his failure and turned to the Lord in praise and prayer: “You are Self-knowledge. You are OM. You are the beginning and the middle and the end of everything. You are everything and illuminate everything.” He was pronounced great while Brahma was exposed and confessed his fault.

In this legend, Vishnu represents the intellect and Brahma the ego, while Siva is Atma, the spirit.

The story continues that, because the lingam or column of light was too dazzling to behold, Siva manifested himself instead as the Arunachala hill, declaring: “As the moon derives its light from the sun, so other holy places shall derive their sanctity from Arunachala. This is the only place where I have taken this form for the benefit of those who wish to worship me and obtain illumination. Arunachala is OM itself. I will appear on the summit of this hill every year at Kartigai in the form of a peace-giving beacon

Hidden Indian History - Prithviraj Chauhan and the Prithvi missile.

Prithvi

The real History of India is hardly found in our History Books. I will take you back in time to 1999. Air India Flight was hijacked by Islamic extremists to Kandahar in Afganisthan.

The then Vajapai Government allowed a few journalists to Kandahar to cover the events on ground.

The Journalists who stayed in a Hotel in Kandahar, were exploring the places close by on foot.  In one of the streets they found a mound of earth and dirt, where they found strange happenings. They found local Afghans passing by spitting on the mound or urinating and they even found a couple Burka clad women beating the mound with a slipper.

The Journalists were wondering at what they saw and on return to the Hotel asked the Reception about what they had just witnessed. The Receptionist explained that the mound was the Samadhi of a Hindu king and the local Islamic population was taking out their anger on the final resting place of the Hindu King.

The Hindu King was none other than the Great Prithiviraj Chouhan .  Prithviraj Chouhan ascended the throne at the tender age of 11 and since everyone used to say he was beautiful, He slashed his face with a sword,saying a warrior should not be looking beautiful. 

Prithviraj's uncle Jaichandran  was ruling the neighboring country, and he hated Prithiviraj due to his popularity. For the Swayamvar of his daughter Samyuktha , he refused to invite Prithviraj though he knew pretty well that they both loved each other. Everyone knows that the valiant Prithviraj rode alone into the palace of his uncle and rode back with his sweet heart Samyuktha, the future queen of his Kingdom. This incidence irked His uncle and he was seething with vengeance. It was at this juncture Muhammad Gori invaded India and was defeated twice by the valiant Prithvi Raj Chauhan and had to retreat hastily.

Now you will find the tragedy of Indian  lack of unity repeating itself.  Jayachandran ,the uncle of Prithviraj helped Mohammad Ghori and when PrithviRaj was sleeping in tiredness after a hunt , Jayachandran helped Mohammad Gori capture Prithvi Raj.  Mohammad Gori the cowardly invader in his insecurity blinded immediately Prithviraj and started taking him to his country. 

It was on the way they rested in Kandhahar in Afganisthan. It was then the poet friend of Prithviraj hatched a plan and told Gori that Prithviraj was such a good archer he could shoot arrows on target blindfolded.  Gori needing some entertainment wanted to test it out. There was no need to blindfold Prithviraj as he was already blinded. The targets were set and Gori's soldiers made noise near the target and Prithviraj shot the target correctly. Mohammad gori was impressed and shouted, "Sabash!".

This was just the moment Prithviraj was waiting for and he shot an arrow at Mohammad Ghori and he succumbed to it on the spot.  The infuriated Muslim army killed Prithviraj and his friend on the spot. This mound was the very spot this happened and the local Afghans were venting their anger on the valiant Hindu King by spitting on the mound.

The then Vajpai Government named the first Atomic misiile Rocket as Prithvi to commemorate the Valiant Hindu King who fought against the invaders of His Motherland.

The previous Governments will not Disclose such valiant Heroes but would glorify Mohammad Gori as a persistent soul like King Bruce who repeated His Invasion time and again to plunder Barath. Until such boot licking mentality exists India will keep facing Foreign onslaughts.

Jain Hind!!

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Know your Week!

It is funny how the whole world believes that the 7 day week is a western concept! 7 day week is not a concept borrowed from Romans as it is generally believed. The 7 day week is not really based on western calendar. Firstly, lets look at how classic predictions (Jyothisha Shastra ) of the Vedas for answers to these questions: Why do we have only 7 days in a week? Why can't we have 8 or 9? � What is an hour? � Why do we have only 24 hours in a day? Why can't we have 30 or 40 units & call it an hour?

 Ancient Indians were so well versed that they often used 4 to 5 different units of time. If you ask your Indian grand mother, she might have told you that during her days, people measured time in a weird unit called ghati/ghadiya (1 ghati = 24 minutes). 1 day is the time lapsed between two sunrises. Sandhi in sanskrit means knot or junction & hence the junction points are named as pratah sandhya(Early morning) & saayam sandhya (Evening) which divide the standard day into two halves i.e from sunrise to sunset & sunset to the next sunrise. Since there are 12 zodiac constellations, each constellation is assigned a part of the half a day unit and hence 12 parts in half a day each, together 12+12 = 24 units. This is the concept of hora or HOUR. (Yes, hora is the standard hour. English unit of time & Sanskrit unit of time named similarly. Strange coincidence, don't you think so?)

 Just as there are constellations associated with each hora, each graha is assigned rulership of individial hora. The order of the planetary rulership of horas is as follows. 1) Surya (Sun/SUN-DAY) followed by 2) Shukra (Venus/FRI-DAY) followed by 3) Budha (Mercury/WEDNES-DAY) followed by 4) Soma (Moon/MON-DAY) followed by 5) Shani (Saturn/SATUR-DAY) followed by 6) Guru (Jupiter/THURS-DAY) followed by 7) Mangala (Mars/TUES-DAY). In Indian Prediction science (jyothish shastra), the rising sign at the time of sunrise is noted down & is considered very important to make any astronomical / astrological calculations regarding a chart, esp. to find out the janma lagna (Birth time), it is is very essential. So, the rising sign is very important. Likewise, the planetary rulership of the hora during the time of sunrise is noted down.

The planet that rules the hora at the time of sun rise is assigned the rulership of the whole day. And hence, The day Ravi-vara (or Sun-day) is named after Ravi/Sun who is assigned lordship of the day because he rules the hora at the time of sunrise of that day. Now, following Sun, the next hour after sunrise is ruled by Shukra followed by the rest. In the above mentioned order of rulership of horas, calculate the next ruling planet that comes after 24 horas, i.e 1st hour by Ravi, 2nd hour by Shukra, 3rd hour by Budha, 4th hour by Soma, 5th hour by Shani, 6th hour by Guru, 7th hour by Mangala, 8th hour by Ravi, 9th hour by Shukra, 10th hour by Budha, 11th hour by Soma, 12th hour by Shani, 13th hour by Guru, 14thth hour by Mangala, 15th hour by Ravi, 16th hour by Shukra, 17th hour by Budh, 18th hour by Soma, 19th hour by Shani, 20th hour by Guru, 21st hour by Mangala, 22nd hour by Ravi, 23rd hour by Shukra, 24th hour by Budha ****End of a day****** 25th hour by Soma(moon/Monday) As you see it turns out that Soma is the ruler of the next day's sun rise. And hence, the next day Soma-vara (or Mon-day) is named after Chandra/Moon who is assigned lordship of the day because he rules the hora at the time of that day's sunrise. In the same order, Mangala-vara (Tuesday) for Mangala/Mars being the hora ruler at sunrise, Budha-vara (Wednesday) for Budha/Mercury being the hora ruler at sunrise, Guru-vara (Thursday) for Deva Guru Brihaspathi/Jupiter being the hora ruler at sunrise, Shukra-vara (Friday) for Shukra/Venus being the hora ruler at sunrise, Shani-var (Satur-day) for Shani/Saturn being the hora ruler at sunrise, Now after Saturday, the cycle reverts to 1) with Surya being the ruler of the hora at the time of next day's sunrise. This is the reason why there are only 7 days in a week based on these calculations of hora and their planetary rulership as mentioned in the vedic texts.

 One may be a Christian, Muslim, Sikh or Jew, knowingly or unknowingly they follow the methods of the ancient Indian Rishis. This is the reason why Hindu dharma is called Ancient Indian Civilisation Principles-ie called as Sanatana dharma (i.e eternal & expansive in its very nature). It is funny how the whole world believes that the 7 day week is a western concept!

Atari Border Post

Atari - Indian Side of the Border Name
Wagah - Pakistan side  name.
The Flag lowering ceremony is held at the Atari border?

How often have you heard the word ATARI?
Hardly ever. The Media with its extra national loyalties, has always called it the Wagah border. Our politicians of the yore also took pride in calling it 'The Wagah border' Well! They had their own reasons.
But today we don't have to toe the lies.

The place where the border check post is built was called Atari in honour of the great

*Sardar Shyam Singh Atari*,

who was a chief in the great Sikh Army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The history is filled with the stories of bravery of these brave and fearless Sardars who had defeated the coward Army of the marauders attacking India in the name of their religion from the west.

All offices of the Govt, like the immigration, customs etc are are located in Atari.
The Pakistani administration, however, had named their side of the border as Wagah. Our appeasing politicians, (and you see them parroting similar lines even today), chose to refer to this place as the Wagah border there by denying the honour to the great Sardar Shyam Singh.

Next time, when we wish to visit, or wish to refer to that Great place, let's talk about it correctly and honour the name of our brave legend "ATARI".

Jai Hind

Shraddanjali

As per Hindu Dharma, if a father dies in war killed by his enemies the son should observe grief for 12 days and wearing Balck/Blue dress takes a holy bath and on the 13th day slaughters his father's killers and does Shraddanjali.

Pulwama attack on Feb 14 and Bombarding the terrorist camp on February 26th the thirteenth Day.
The Prime Minister performed his duty as a dutiful son for the slain soldiers. This was not an attack on Pakistan but a valiant attack on the terrorists breeding fear and terror among innocents in both Pakistan and India.


Rest is history.

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Polarisation of the Guru

One way to magnetize a bar of steel is to place it in proximity to another magnet. The reason ordinary steel is not magnetized is not that it doesn’t have that magnetism potentially inside it.

Rather, it is because every molecule cancels out the north-south polarity of the others. When you can get all the molecules pointing in one direction, then the bar of steel becomes a magnet.

Human beings also have a divine power locked within them, but every desire, every impulse, every conflicting tendency that we have cancels out the flow of our inner magnetism. Lacking in magnetism, we don’t have the power to succeed in anything, much less the spiritual quest.

You will notice that there are some people who are extremely magnetic. You don’t know how to define their magnetism, and yet you know it’s there.

In the true guru-disciple relationship, the guru helps the disciple to bring out his own spiritual magnetism. There are so-called gurus who have set the bad example of trying to dominate their disciples. A true guru would never try to do that, because his purpose is to bring out your own inner freedom and to develop your own inner magnetism to release your highest potential.

Krishnamachari Santhanam

A man with a Dual mind is really Blind

A Man with Dual Mind is Really Blind 

In a village there lived a farmer who used to drive his cattle for grazing to the forest nearby. A very rich land-lord living in that village had his cattle driven to the same forest for grazing. This land-lord by virtue of his property and affluence wielded great influence over the entire village and was almost a dictator. One day the farmer's bull and the land-lord's bull entered into a scuffle and the land-lord's bull was fatally wounded. The farmer was terribly scared and felt nervous to report the matter to the land-lord. He hurried to the mansion of the land-lord and said: "Master, today an unusual incident occurred in the forest". "What is it, come on, tell me", said the land-lord. The farmer said: "My lord, your bull and my bull entered into a scuffle". "Oh, is that so? There is nothing unusual about it. Even sensible men are quarreling with each other", replied the land-lord. "My lord, continued the farmer, your bull killed my bull". "Oh, is that so? What is unusual about it, every creature that is born has to die some day or the other" said the land-lord. The farmer realised suddenly that in his nervousness he had reported the matter wrongly. He said: "My Lord, pardon me for the slip of my tongue. It is my bull that killed your bull". "What?," roared the land-lord. How dare you come and report the matter to me in such a way? What were you doing when your bull was wounding my bull? You must be punished suitably". He called the servant and ordered him to give the farmer twenty hard stripes on his back.

The feeling of mine and thine blinds our judgment and degrades our nature. Blessed is the person who identifies himself with others and their sufferings as well as in their joy.

#Sai in #Chinnakatha

Vasthu

Vasthu for Home

Vasthu are aesthetic principles laid down in the Sastharas , but based on scientific and Environmental principles.

Vasthu Sasthra or Indian version of Feng-Shui  can lead to harmony in Home and Ease of living. Please not that not all these can be scored off in any house and no direction per se is good or bad. Because of the orbit of the Sun from East to west these factors are given to position the house favourably in the gravitational orbit.

Drawing Room Entrance/ Main Entrance

The main entrance of the House is usually through the Drawing room. When Locating the entrance ensure there is more space towards the right. The Direction of the main entrance is significant, as a door to prosperity as well as adversities.

1. North or east entrance- Bestows health,wealth,prosperity and fame.

2. South, North-east or south-east entrance- Indicates success but through hard work.

3, West Entrance- Ideal for scholars as it has a calming and quitening influence.

4. North-west entrance- Indicates development in all spheres.

5. South-west entrance- Considered inauspicious. Its negative influence can be countered by shifting the entrance towards east.

Vastu Guidelines for Bedroom

Let us also explore the basic Vastu guidelines that have to be followed, in case of the bedroom:-

1.       Vaastu Shastra does not recommend a bedroom in the South East under any circumstances. It is best to shift from this room to any other room in the South West, South, West or North West. In case there is no choice, keep the bed away from the southeast corner or you will be sleeping on too much fire. Sleep in this room with your head towards the South and feet towards the North to ward off the ill-effects.

2.       2. According to Vaastu Shastra, mirrors should not be located inside the bedroom as this leads to frequent misunderstandings and quarrels between couples. However, if essential, place them preferably along the North East wall.

3.       6. It is best to sleep with the head towards the South or East direction of the bedroom. The South brings a good deep sleep and ensures long life, while the East brings enlightenment. There should be no window behind you, while sleeping

Dining Room

Sitting Arrangement

1. The head of the family must always face east while eating.

2. The rest of the members can face north, east, or west.

3. Avoid the Southern direction

4. Keep the number of dining chairs even to avoid dispute within the family members.

Vasthu for Kitchen

Kitchen is the most effected area of house from where all kind of energies prevails while an expert Vastu consultant would surely identify about the adverse situation of house if kitchen is placed incorrectly. This important part of house must be placed on its corresponding place i.e. South-east governed by element Fire. Kitchen being the important part of home is the primary contributing factor in the general health and well-being of occupants.

Some essential things need to be considered in Vastu of kitchen, read out related Vastu tip for kicthen:

Element Fire governs in the direction South-east, so this portion of house ideal for locating kitchen. However, if choosing alternative then North-west part could be taken for constructing kitchen but avoid making kitchen in any other direction.

Kitchens in north quadrant tend to affect health female members.

Place water sink in the North-east with the maximum distance from cooking gas.

Larger windows in the kitchen should be in Eastern side while small ventilators should be placed in South.

Provision for water storage and taps should be made in North-east of the kitchen.

Avoid placing dining table in the centre of the kitchen instead locate it in the North-west direction.

The sink should be in the Northeast corner of the kitchen.

Electric equipment like microwave, oven or refrigerator should be placed in South-west.

The slope of the water flow should be from Southwest towards Northeast.

The cylinder should be placed in the Southeast corner.

The Geyser should be installed on the Southeast side.

The storage for all the food grains, utensils, the over head almirah should always be on the Southern and the western walls and not on the Northern and the Eastern walls.

A dishwasher can be placed in the north west of the kitchen.

The exhaust fan should be installed either in the Northwest corner or the South wall.

There should be no toilets and bathrooms adjoining, and above or below the kitchen.

The door of the kitchen should never face the door of the toilet.

There are more related to Color and Decorations but in this blog I have considered only the key elements which are Fixed in nature and needs to be considered before building or Moving in.

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Mixed Bag Of Cookies- Sixty years of tossing and turning!!

My Birthday Falling today on 31 January 2018 truly represents my life Pattern. Unique in all ways, truly a mixed Bag of cookies. Some Salty, Some Sweet, Some Bitter Chocolate, Some caramelized. But I truly cherish all those moments.

Today's Birthday falls on a full moon day and a Blue Moon at that , and followed by a Total Lunar Eclipse, for devout Hindus another auspicious day as it is Thai Poosam dedicated to Lord Muruga. You see the pattern, Auspiciousness blossoming to a full rare Blue Moon eclipsed by its shadowy counterpart only to be released to its fullness again. There goes my Life story. Extreme activity like Cycling 360 Kms to Bangalore at one time and sitting on hard flour for Five hours at a stretch at another. To strike the balance was the issue! This is where the Guru came in to rock the boat only to direct it the Right way.

Been fortunate to have a good family, Select Friends who are Friends till date! Inspite of my Vagaries of extremity at times. A Spiritual Guru who pointed out the right Source of Happiness at an Age when the Shimmering Tinsel world was trying to taunt me into its tentacle , and there He was standing like a Rock beside me.

So my Adolescent Age and Teenage and Middle Age was spent on the hard floors of Ashrams and temple hopping when my friends were Pub Hopping. When my Audit seniors would line up for New Cinema Release I would sneak in to Vivekannada Rock Memorial only to spend Three Nights consecutively secluded on the Rock.

True Finding is, Life has come a full cycle. The vanity of the austerities have fallen off, only to find that irrespective of what You think you are doing, God finds you! You do not contribute anything in Finding Him. It is His Grace alone which matters. I have childhood friends who were Atheists and who ridiculed me in my pursuits turning to hard core Spiritualists now. I know of Friends being Communists in College build Temples or Joined Ashrams.

So Past does not count, Future does not exist, It is the NOW which is ever present. Little wiser now, I take care of my present. Do what I want to do. Do not bother myself about absurd rigidities imposed by the Social Norms or get dictated by Religious doctrines. It is more like a Free format drive. Flow with the current Only dictated by the Conscience, nothing else. Life becomes much easier that way and more awareness of the present sets in.

The rush to accumulate Things is gone, it is more like releasing what I have. Less Luggage More comfort- a slogan I have seen on Railway coaches takes on a new twist and winks at me!
At the same time forced simplicity like Diogenes has lost its charm and I do not find using a Luxury item a Tax anymore. Everything has its time and Place. What is there now is gone the next moment. So attaching undue importance to people, place or things only creates misery.

Children have this habit, always comparing things. They can ask for hours question like If Tiger and Hippo fights who will win? If you answer next question will be ready If Superman and Spider man fights who will win? The list is endless. Now do not laugh!! As adults nothing much has changed. Only to be replaced with Who is Bigger? My God or your God? My Guru or Your Guru? So where is the progress? Zilch. I hope coming years will be productive in evolution and just patiently waiting for the next toss or turn!!

So here I am breaking my own promise of posting on Silence posting my Little mind's prattle.

See you at another time!

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Benefits of Silence

Q: Could tell us about the benefits of silence and how we could bring that home with us from this retreat?

A:Many of us have realized in the last few days that silence can be enjoyable. We realize that there are many things that we do not have to say, and that then we can reserve the time and energy to do other things that can help us to look more deeply into ourselves and things around us.

If you are pushed by your habit energy to say something, don't say it. Instead, take a notebook and write it down. A day or two later, read what you wrote, and you might find out that it would have been an awful thing to say. So slowly you become master of yourself, and you know what to say and what not to say.

I remember one time I proposed to a sister that she practice silence. She was an elder nun and she had a few negative seeds in her that prevented her from being happy. She was just a little bit too hard on the other sisters. I proposed to her that she was a very talented person, very skillful in many things, and she could make many people happy if only she knew how to be silent and to say only things that needed to be said.

I proposed to her that she use only three sentences for three months. She could repeat these three sentences as many times as she wanted(laughter) and I told her that if she practiced that for a week, she would feel happiness right away. The first sentence was, "Dear sister,is there anything I can do to help you?" (laughter) The second sentence was, "Did you like what I did to help you?" The third was, "Would you have any suggestion that I can do it better?" (laughter) If she could say that, she would make many people happy and the happiness would go back to herself very quickly.

In the family we can practice silence. We can ask the other members of the family to agree that we will practice silence for three days or for a week. It is very beneficial. There will be a transformation after the period of practicing silence.

Thich Naht Hanh

Miracles and cure

Excerpt from “Baba is God”- H.E.J.R.Jayawardene- Former President SriLanka.

As President of Sri Lanka, I had invited Baba on several occasions to visit Sri Lanka as a guest of Government and People. Though He was keen to visit us, He did not find an opportunity of doing so. However, in April this year, 1990, I visited Bangalore and had two audiences with Him on Thursday and 19th April and Saturday the 21st April. He spoke quite freely to me and to many others from Sri Lanka who meets Him with me.

His advice was always based on the teachings of the religious teachers, namely the Hindu Avatars, Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed.
He answered our questions dealing with public matters as well as private ones quite freely and in the contest of the same noble principles He always advocated. We were all deeply impressed by His presence and advice.
I remember several extra-ordinary healings narrated to me directly by persons who experienced them, of whose friends had experienced them.


I will mention one of them, which I heard directly from a reputed and highly qualified surgeon. A patient who needed surgical treatment to remove a portion of his intestines, which were subject to cancer, had seen him. He did not have the operation performed. He had gone away.


Ten years later, the same person whom the Doctor did not recognize, had consulted him again. This time he needed an immediate operation for a prostrate problem.


When they were preparing for an immediate operation, the patient asked him, “Dr; do you know who I am? “ When the Doctor replied “No! “He introduced himself as the patient who had seen him about 10 years ago for the operation mentioned above.


The Doctor was surprised that he was alive today without having the earlier operation.. The patient said, Dr, soon after I left you I paid my respects personally to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. His miraculous cure helped me to live without an operation. Baba further advised me that 10 years from that date, you would need an operation for a prostrate problem and then to see the same Doctor and not to delay the operation. That is why I immediately consented to being operated by you.


This doctor, who is not a Hindu and not a devotee, narrated this story to me when he heard that I had visited His Holiness in Bangalore.


I accept Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba as a Purna Avatar. His presence in this world enables Him to advise with His words of wisdom and love those who live in it.


Swami Says - The nature of divine can be understood only when the divine in human form teaches as man to man, the nature of this love.


Jai Sai Ram 

Wedding Gift

Bhagavan's Wedding Gift for a Student's Sister

I am also happy to let you know that Bhagavan did two important miracles that day. Having come out of the interview room, suddenly, He called one boy. Then, He just looked at him and took the wedding card he had for his sister.

The boy said, "Swami, this is my sister's wedding card."

"OK," He said and told the boy to go and sit.

The boy went and sat in the tenth or fifteenth row, which was his seat that day. At the end of arati, he finds there in another cover, the Mangalasutra, the sacred knot or the golden chain, which is given to the bride on the wedding day. The boy was thrilled and he told me. I was very excited to hear this. I have been sharing this with as many groups as possible because you must have understood my temperament. I cannot be at peace unless I share whatever I know with everybody. Yes, it is the greatest delight!

Another Vibhuthi Wonder

I can also share with you another miracle. There is a district by the name Khammam about a fifteen hours drive from here. There is a very small village close to Khammam by the name Chilukuru. Our seva dals went there and started doing some service. They noticed a Hanuman temple there, which was dilapidated and neglected. There was no priest, no daily worship, nothing whatsoever. So, the seva dals cleaned the whole premises; they whitewashed the whole temple. While they were there, they kept Baba's picture.

From Bhagavan's picture, vibhuthi started flowing continuously. Those seva dals were immensely happy for the kindness of Bhagavan, approving and accepting their service to Hanuman. In doing this, Swami was establishing that He and Hanuman are one and the same.

The seva dals also did bhajans there in the temple premises. They saw Baba's face in the photo, full red in colour. Normally, Hanuman's face is smeared with the red colour (vermillion), as most of us must have seen. They noticed the same thing on Baba's face. I also wanted to share this had happened.

From: Anil Kumar Satsang, "Sai Pearls of Wisdom"

Going Bananas

At the rate of Dhs 12/- a dozen, death is being sold now-a-days in our markets.My request for everybody is to be vigilant. Friends, we all love bananas and we eat a lot of them, but the bananas available in the market are forced ripe by dipping in water mixed with Carbide.The consumption of these bananas is 100% sure to cause Cancer or some other infection in the stomach. Therefore, such type of bananas are to be avoided.

But, how does one recognize the bananas ripened with the help of Carbide?  Bananas which are ripened naturally are dark yellow and there are small black spots here and there on the bananas and the stalks are black.While those which are forced ripe with Carbide are lemon yellow and their stalks are green and more over they are clear yellow without any black spots.

Now, what is Carbide and how is it harmful?  Carbide is a chemical which if mixed with water, emits heat and the heat emitted by a Close tank mixed with Carbide is even more than that emitted by a LPG Cylinder, so much so it can be used for Gas Cutting (which means the calorific value is so high that it can replace LPG gas).

 In the same way, when the bunch of bananas are dipped in the water mixed with Carbide, the gas gets absorbed into the bananas and they get ripe.  However, the banana vendors are not that literate and so they do not know the exact proportion of Carbide to be used for a dozen of bananas.  As a result they end up using excess quantity of Carbide which gets absorbed into the bananas and ultimately enters our stomach.  Due to this excess use of Carbide, Tumours can be formed in our digestive system.So, next time you purchase bananas, make sure you select the naturally ripened ones. 

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Your Duck is dead!!

  A woman brought a very limp duck into a  veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest. After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away." The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?" "Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied the vet.

 "How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."

 The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left  the room. He returned a few minutes later with a  black Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs,  put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at  the vet with sad eyes and shook his head. The vet patted the dog on the head and took it  out of the room. 

A few minutes later he returned  with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also  delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat  back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly  and strolled out of the room. The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm  sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100%  certifiably, a dead duck." The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a  few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the  woman..

 The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill.  "$150!" she cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is  dead!".  The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you had just  taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but  with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150."


Krishnamachari Santhanam

Austerity

Austerity

In Shri Sai Satcharitra, Chapter XIV it is said that Baba always used to get wild and scolded those who brought costly & rich articles.

He had told Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar that His property consisted of1 Koupin (codpiece), 1 stray piece of cloth, 1 Kafni & a Tumbler, and that all the people troubled Him by bringing all these unnecessary, useless and costly articles."

Baba also never allowed Mahalsapati to accept any money or gifts

that devotees who came to see Baba showered on him. Baba kept him poor in Kind, but rich in his Spiritual Heart. Baba gifted him the supreme Bliss, much more valuable than any physical and transitory richness.

But, Baba always preferred Simplicity and was very much against the display of one's Wealth or power. He never gathered any sort of wealth except for the Love of his devotees.

 And today, devotees in love and gratitude for Baba, offer Gold / Silver and other Precious items to Baba. So much so that, everything has now been covered in Gold, be it Baba's Throne, his Chariot or the Walls & Pillars of his Samadhi's sanctum sanctorum. In a way, Baba has now been immersed in all the things for which he stood against.

I am also reminded of what Sri Sathya Sai Baba used to say, " When Pradarshan is there , there is no Darshan." and " When you hear the sound of a coin, I will not be there'" . That is why in Parthi you will not find till date a single Hundi.


As Devotees where are we failing?, Think and the answer will be very visible.

Krishnamachari Santhanam

I , the False Identity!

I

BECAUSE you have taken residence in this body, you cannot call the body "I". When you sit here in this Hall, you do not call the Hall "I". You know, you are separate and that you are here only temporarily. When you go about in a Tonga, you do not say that the Tonga is you, do you? You do not take the Tonga inside, when you step down from it on reaching home. So, also, you have to drop this body when you reach "home".

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Excess Humility is False Pride

Diogenes

“Diogenes, the famous cynic philosopher, argued that
to be happy one must rid himself of all riches, honors,
powers, and all the enjoyments of life,and he practiced
what he preached, going barefoot through Athens, never
wearing a coat, eating coarse foods, and inveighing against
corruption and comfort. 

Diogenes was, in fact, convinced
of his superiority and did not hesitate to abuse those who
disagreed with him. It is reported that Socrates once said
to him, ‘I see your vanity through the holes in your
garments.’ 

Even more telling is the incident of Diogene’s
visit to Plato in his home. When the cynic walked across
Plato’s beautifully and richly carpeted floors, he stopped,
glared at his host stamped his foot squarely on the carpet,
and said, ‘Thus do I tread on the pride of Plato.’ ‘Yes,’ said
Plato, ‘And with a greater pride.”


Krishnamachari Santhanam