Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple- Diu

It is a very humble place with unpretentious entry. The temple is a few steps below, around a curve. So one is really unprepared for the beautiful sight that awaits around the corner.

The temple has pancha linga (5 lingas) which is constantly washed by the waves from the Arabian sea.
One can sit there and keep watching the scene of the waves washing the idols on and on.
The word Gangeshwar refers to lord Shiva who is considered the lord of Ganga because the river descended primary earth from beginning to end his tresses. Gangeshwar Temple is, therefore, committed to him. Gangeshwar temple is located in village Fadum; it is just 3 kilometers away From Diu. Gangeshwar Temple Diu India is one of those places which is infused with a spiritual atmosphere around it.

Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple Diu is committed to the god Mahadev and lingam. The Gangeshwar Mandir is located close to the sea shore .The most amazing characteristic of the Gangeshwar temple is five Shivlinga. Gangeshwar temple is a well maintained idea of the people that these shiva lings were established by the five Pandava brothers of the great topic Mahabharata during their unspecified stay in the jungle when they were banished for 12 years from their monarchy hastinapur. The place of pilgrimage five shivlingas which are frequently washed by the lapping waves of the Arabian Sea. The spiritual scene of the waves of the ocean present bend to lord Shiva inspires deep feelings of Religious worships and loyalty among the visitors.

Krishnamachari Santhanam.

Kubja - Inner Beauty

Young Krishna had been invited to Mathura by his uncle King Kansa. It was Krishna's first time in the city but the tales of his deeds had already spread throughout the land and the people were anxious and excited to see him. The prophecy - that Krishna would rid the world of tyrants and oppressors (especially Kansa) - was an open secret and the people rushed from their houses for a glimpse of the savior.
Everywhere he went he was assailed by people who greeted him and followed him around, adoring masses of people.

"He is so handsome, like Kamdev, the God of Desire!" The young women said. "He will be the greatest of lovers."

"He is so strong and powerful!" The men said. "He will vanquish all the wicked."

"He is the Lord himself," the sages said. "He has come to grant us liberation."

"He is so sweet, like a small child," the older ladies said. "He will fill our lives with joy."

Each of the people, according to their own hearts desires, saw in him the summation of their dreams.

But there was one who didn't rush to follow him when she saw him early that day. She stayed far behind the crowds, in the shadows, making no effort to go closer to him.

That afternoon, Krishna and his brother Balaram, after spending many hours greeting all the people, nipped down some alleyways and managed to lose the people following them. They needed a break from the crowds and, in particular, Krishna had someone he wanted to meet without everyone watching.  As he and Balaram walked down the lane, they spotted her. She was the one who had stayed in the shadows earlier, running away the moment there was a gap in the crowd.

She was young but appeared old. A hunchback, with half of her body bending forwards and one hand on her back to ease the ache, she was awkward and misshapen. Her hair was frizzy, her skin dark and mottled, and her nose was large and crooked, like a hag in a nightmare. In one hand, she carried a plate of sandalwood paste. The sweet scent of that sandalwood paste drifted down the street towards Krishna.  Krishna looked at his brother and smiled. Balaram smiled back and they strolled down the lane towards the woman.

"Sundari," Krishna called, moving to stand in her path. He had a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Sundari," he said, repeating the word that meant beautiful woman, "will you give me some of your sandalwood paste?"

The hunchback woman looked at him in affront. Then, without saying a word she tried to edge around the side and escape but Krishna moved quickly to corner her.

"Where are you going, Sundari? Not away! You have not yet given me any sandalwood."

Her face was covered in a red hot flush. Again she tried to move away. Again Krishnablocked her path.  Finally, she glared at him. "Why do you stop me?"

He gave her an innocent look. "I asked you for some sandalwood. You have not yet done me the curtsy of answering my request."

"I make this sandalwood for the king!" She snapped. "You cannot have it."

He gave her a wicked smile, so handsome he outshone the moon and the stars. "Can you not spare just a little? For me, sweet Sundari?"
Kubja looked at Krishna and her heart flipped over, as it had flipped over that morning when she'd first seen him. He was so beautiful. She'd never seen anyone so beautiful as he. She couldn't even glance at the other boy because Krishna so thoroughly commanded her gaze. "Are you not the one they call Krishna?" She asked.

"I am Krishna."

"They say you are gracious and compassionate. They say you protect the weak and destroy the wicked. That is why I never expected this cruelty from you."  He gaped at her.

 "What cruelty?" Krishna said.

 "You are cruel. You call me Sundari!" (beautiful)

 "That is what you are."

"No. I am not a sundari. I am ugly. I am a hunchback. People turn from me in horror. Little children throw stones at me. All my life I've been tormented by boys who've mocked me, never knowing how they cut me inside. But I never expected such cruelty from you, Krishna. You are supposed to be kind." Tears filled her eyes.

"Sundari," Krishna said with a tender voice. "I only spoke the truth."

"Still you mock me!"

"No, I never lie."

Shaking her head, weeping, Kubja again tried to move around him but again he blocked her.


"When I look at you," Krishna told her, "I see a lady who never covets anything. One who helps others but asks for nothing in return. I see a lady who is scorned and hurt but never thinks of getting revenge on those who hurt her. I see a lady who is unselfish, kind, free of malice. One whose heart is pure in every way. I see a beautiful woman."


Throughout his words, Kubja gazed at him, disbelieving, overwhelmed by the force of his beauty. That he would look at her, care for her, when she was nothing - she didn't understand it. "How do you know about me?" she whispered.



"I know everything about you, Kubja. I am the one who walks with you each day. I am the one who lies with you at night. I am the one who resides in your heart. And I see you. I am your Krishna, Kubja. Do you not recognize me?"

Her breath caught in her throat. "My Krishna?"

He took her hand in his. "Your Krishna."

This time when her eyes filled with tears, they were tears of joy. The feel of her hand in his, their gazes meeting, Kubja was so in love she couldn't stand it. She lifted up the plate of sandalwood paste she had made after hours and hours of grinding. In all of Mathura she made the best sandalwood which is why she was the supplier to the king. But she didn't care about the king anymore. Ever since she had seen Krishna that morning she had thought only of him. His face had been in her thoughts as she'd ground the sandalwood, his name in her mind as she'd worked tirelessly.  "I made this for you," she whispered to Krishna.  He smiled sweetly. "Will you apply it for me?"

Unable to believe that he would allow her to touch him, Kubja took some sandalwood on her fingers and smoothed the cooling paste on Krishna's forehead. It would protect him from the sun and provide a lovely woody scent throughout the day. Her hand shook as she touched his brow. He held out his arms, asking for more and she smoothed the paste over his perfect arms and shoulders and chest, cooling him. She used up all of the expensive paste she'd worked so hard to make, not thinking of anyone but Krishna.

He breathed deep, savouring the sweet smell. "Thank you," he told her. "I've never worn such lovely sandalwood. I shall never forget it."  She loved him so much. She was his Kubja. She was his slave. He was everything to her. She fell at his feet. "Lord," she said. "My Lord."

Krishna lifted her up and as she stood Kubja felt a strangeness in her body. For the first time in her life there was no pain in her back. Krishna lifted her up, up, up, until she stood just as other people did, upright, straight.

She gasped and looked down at herself. Her skin, always mottled and ugly now glowed, radiant even in the shadows. Her old worn out clothes were gone and in their stead were fine silks and jewels, glimmering and glinting up at her. Her hands were smooth and unmarked. She touched her face and felt soft skin and perfect feaures while her hair was silky and long.


"What did you do?" she gasped, looking back at Krishna.

He laughed. "I simply made your outside reflect your inside. Now everyone will see what I see."  She shook her head. "I am not worthy-"  "You are precious, my Kubja, my Sundari. You will always be precious to me."  Again she fell at his feet and again he lifted her, his strong hands on her shoulders.

But then there was a yell behind them. The crowd that had been following Krishna had spotted him and was rushing down the lane. Krishna was swept away in their exuberance but Kubja never forgot the loving look he gave her, telling her she was precious. Telling her she was beautiful.

We spend much time thinking and beautifying our physical form and we forget what truly makes us beautiful -  our character.

Kubja was beautiful. As Krishna said, she was unselfish. She helped others without expectation. She never desired bad for anyone even if they hurt her. She never coveted. That is beauty. That is what the Lord saw when he looked at her because he saw the real her.

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Chinna Katha -29 - Faith

Cross the river

There was a pundit who led a disciplined life, sticking to a prearranged time table. He woke up from sleep in the early hours of the morning, recited pranava and later, after ablutions, drank a cup of milk at 7 a.m. exactly.

Sometimes the milk-maid arrived late, for she lived on the other side of a river that flowed between the area in which she lived and the area in which the pundit lived. She had to catch a ferry to cross over the river with the milk. The ferry boat either started a little earlier or a little later. So, sometimes by the time she reached the Pundit's house it used to be very late.

One day the Pundit scolded her and said "You are upsetting my disciplined life. Don't you know that I must have my cup of milk at 7 a.m.? Why do you depend on that boat to take you across? Just repeat the name of Rama. You will be able to walk across the river. Rama will see that you do not get drowned."

The maid being very simple and unsophisticated had faith in the words of the Pundit. Next day, the maid repeated the name of Rama and she just walked across the river. The Pundit questioned her: "How could you come on time?" The milk-maid replied: "Sir, I repeated the name of Rama as you instructed yesterday, and I could just walk across." The Pundit was flabbergasted. He did not believe. He just drank the milk and said: "Let's now go to the bank of the river. Let me see you walk across the river." The maid stepped into the river repeating the name of Rama; she could just walk across. The maid requested the Pundit to follow her. But the Pundit knew that he would not be able to walk across the river, because he did not have faith in what he himself had said - the power of the Name.
Sai in Chinna Katha.

Chinna Katha -28

Loyalty to One's Guru

There was a great sage called Gautama in ancient India. He had a number of disciples studying under him. One day he called all his disciples and said: "My dear children! You know that we have been experiencing severe drought in this region and there are no signs of its abatement too. I am very much worried about the cattle of our hermitage. They have already become very lean and weak. I am unable to bear the sight of suffering of these dumb creatures. I think these cows have to be driven to a distant place where there is ample pasture and plenty of water. I will be very happy if one of you could volunteer to undertake this task. You can bring them back when the calamity has rolled over."

Many pupils just hung their heads lest their true feelings should be found out by their master. Some tried to hide behind others in order to avoid the direct stare of the guru.

A pupil by name Sathyakama, got up and, paying his salutations to his master, said: "Master, I shall take them, don't worry." Many students tried to dissuade him from undertaking such a hazardous task. They warned him: "Oh! You have to be all alone in the wilds away from the comforts of the hermitage. You may not even find good food. Sathyakama replied: "My dear friends, I am quite confident that the goodwishes of our guru will provide me enough safety and sustenance. I shall not be alone for I will have these cows to keep company."

The guru was happy that at least one among the many pupils volunteered to undertake the job as service to the guru. He blessed Sathyakama and said: "You are taking with you 400 cows; you can return when the herd multiplies into a total strength of one thousand."

Sathyakama drove the cattle to a charming valley. Every day, he used to wake up early in the morning, finish his ablutions and bath. Then he would offer prostration to the Sun God and recite prayers. While tending the cattle and while walking or sitting he would constantly chant the name of God. He affectionately looked after the cattle. He regarded 'go-seva' (service to cows) as guru seva (service to the Master). He never felt any anxiety or worry over his life in solitude. He never bothered to count the cows too.

One morning after the morning rites, he was seated under a tree. Indra the chief of gods appeared before him and said: "My dear son! Have you not observed that the herd has multiplied itself to the total number of 1000? You can now return to your master's hermitage. I will be travelling with you. Come on let us go."

Sathyakama prostrated to Indra and thanked him for reminding him of the fact that it was time for returning. Sathyakama and Indra had to spend four nights in four different places. Every morning Sathyakama was taught the essence of one Veda. Thus by the time he reached his guru's hermitage he was the master of the four Vedas. His face shone with a strange splendor as a result of the vedic illumination that he had been blessed with by the Lord of Heaven. Having enlightened Sathyakama, Lord Indra disappeared after showering his grace on the young boy.

Sathyakama walked into his guru's hermitage with 1000 cows. He was given a rousing welcome by his guru and the inmates. Sathyakama fell at the feet of his master. Gautama embraced him saying: "I know that you are now a great scholar of the four Vedas. You deserve it, my son." Sathyakama could please Indra, the Lord of Heaven, only because of his love and loyalty to his guru.

Sai in Chinna Katha.

God is Omnipresent!!- Chinna Katha 27

Remember, He is Omnipresent!

Thiruppandar was a great devotee of lord Shiva. Once he happened to visit a famous pilgrim center dedicated to his favorite Lord. After the darshan of Siva, he felt that he was too exhausted and weak to walk further, and therefore rested for the night in the temple itself.

Early in the morning, the priest entered the temple with a potful of water to perform abhishek to the Lingam. To his utter consternation, he found an aged man sleeping right in front of the shrine with legs stretched towards the sanctum sanctorum. He got wild at the sight and, in indignation, he sprinkled some water on the face of the old man. But, there was no sign of any movement. So, he bent down and tried to lift the old man's legs. Immediately the old man opened his eyes and said in an appealing tone, "My dear Son! Why are you pulling my legs?" The priest shouted "Oh! For your age, is it not shameful on your part to indulge in such a sacrilegious act of stretching your legs towards God?" The old man said calmly, "My dear son, I feel a cramp in my legs and cannot get up. Will you place my two feet in a direction you like, where God is not? I shall certainly get up after a while." The priest did not want to waste time in arguing with the man. So, he held the two feet of the man, lifted them up and placed them in the opposite direction. Suddenly, there sprang out a lingam from underneath the feet! The priest tried to place the old man's feet in another position, but there again sprang up another lingam! In a minute, the place was full of lingams! The priest fell at the feet of the old man and said "Oh revered one! You must be a realised soul. Pardon me for my insulting words and actions." The old man got up and said "My dear son, have you not read in the scriptures that God is omnipresent? Can you limit God to a place and to an image or a picture or in a frame? Of course we have temples with idols and pictures of worship; but they only help devotees to direct their faith and devotion to God as embodiments of the various Divine shaktis in this vast boundless universe. The Supreme Creator, the Almighty God is only one, and remember, He is Omnipresent."

SAI in Chinna Katha.

Mathematics in Chamakam

The Chamakam mentions completely the ideal of human happiness and defines in the highest degree the desires to be fulfilled without delimiting those to be asked for or to be granted.

In the Chamakam, in anuvakas or sections 1 to10, the devotee prays for almost everything needed for human happiness and specifies each item. But in the 11th anuvaka or 11th section of Chamakam, the devotee prays for the desired things not specifically but in terms of numbers, first in terms of odd numbers from 1 to 33 and later in multiples of 4 from 4 to 48, as follows:

“Eka cha me, thisrascha may, pancha cha may, sapta cha may, Ekadasa cha may, trayodasa cha may, panchadasa cha may, saptadasa cha may, Navadasa cha may, ek trimshatis cha may, trayovimshatis cha may, Panchavimshatis cha may, saptavimshatis cha may, navavimshatis cha may, Ekatrimshatis cha may, trayatrimshatis cha may, panchatrimshatis cha may, Chatasras cha may, ashtou cha may, dwadasa cha may, shodasa cha may, Vimsatis cha may, chaturvimshatis cha may, ashtavimshatis cha may, Dwathrimashatis cha may, shatstrimshas cha may, chatvarimshas cha may, Chatuschatvarimshas cha may, ashtachatvarimshas cha may”

which means:
“Let these be granted to me. One, three, five, seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, seventeen, nineteen, twenty one, twenty three, twenty five, twenty seven, twenty nine, thirty one and thirty three as also four, eight, twelve, sixteen, twenty, twenty four, twenty eight, thirty two, thirty six, forty, forty four and forty eight”.

One great scholar says these numbers represent a polymer chain of molecules that form apa or water that enables evolution of life and intelligence, and apa is nothing but the nitrogenous base pairs of the DNA. The numbers 1 to 33 represent the 33000 base pairs of mitochondrial base pairs of DNA. The numbers 4 to 48 represent the 48 million nuclear bases of DNA. The two sets of DNA bases combine to provide sustenance of human wellbeing and onward evolution of human life. When the devotee prays for the blessing of these numbers, actually he is praying for bestowing on him all these DNA bases which conduce to sustenance of human well being and happiness.

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Pleasure is an interval between two pains.

Pleasure is an interval between two pains- it is a koan for life.

I will tell you my personal experience- swami called us for an interview, There was the chairman of bahrain- shivaraman by my side. as swami started talking to us shivaraman fainted and fell. there were three doctors in our group. they felt no pulse and panicked. I was just close to him and thought he was dead. Swami smiled and said not to worry, low pressure and he went himself and brought some water and sprinkled on him, and gave command for him to rise with his finger 3 times. what i saw was amazing. with each finger command, his rigid body got up by stages and then he opened his eyes. To sidetrack before this swami had been intently looking at the ring I was wearing for 5 minutes as he was talking , to such an intensity that I was feeling queasy about it. Now when Brother Shivaraman opened his eyes Swami smiled sweetly at him and waved his hands and created a beautiful diamond ring with 3 diamonds in a boat shape an exact replica of mine - a little larger perhaps. all of us were so happy and swami said, " Pleasure is an interval between two pains".

Now I have a habit, whatever swami says I always think about it- do not accept it as it is and leave it. As experience has taught me that when He says something, it is a mahavakya- hidden truths are in it. So I was expecting another pain in the offering. Later i went to Shivaraman and asked him if he heard what Swami said, to which he replied that he could not hear anything through the interview. I told him verbatim what Swami had told as he created the ring, without any elobaration. Shivaraman a long time devotee of Bhagvan understood the message immediately and said Swami give will give him the courage to see it through.

All of us returned to the gulf after the visit. When Shivaraman returned to Bahrain, and was alone in his house some robbers entered and tied him up and looted everything they could lay their hands on. Two things they could not see as Swami possibly hid their eyes- the diamond ring and a gold chain adorning Swami's life size photograph!!

Then I understood what Swami meant about pleasure being an interval.

Now as a spiritual equation pain opens door to spitual awareness much more than pleasure, as we find more fair weather friends around us and a few suporting ones at times of need. So my personal experience is that though pleasure is what motivates you to live, pain is what creates lessons which we carry through births.

Krishnamachari Santhanam