Sunday 24 October 2010

ATLA TADDI

Dear Sisters & Brothers, I am sure most of us coming from Andhra Pradesh know and at least heard of ATLA TADDI a unique festival for both married and not yet married sisters celebrated mainly in Andhra Pradesh and I have no doubt that other Southern states also have similar festival but with different names including in North of Bharat.

Tomorrow, Sunday, October 24 is Bhogi, which means the previous day of Atla Taddi to make preparations for Atla Taddi. The main ritual our dear Sisters need to observe on Atla Taddi is to worship GOWRI MATHA for the welfare of the whole family and not yet married sisters to get a good understanding life partner whenever they get married. Another ritual observed on this day is swinging (Uyyala oogatam in Telugu) which I used to enjoy during my childhood in our village with all the boys and girls. I am sure my generation of people still remember these events if they care to go back in the memory lane. And of course to taste delicious Atlu made by our Mother.

Those who would like to read more about this most traditional festival, please click the link below

http://hindupad.com/vratas-pujas/atla-taddi-vratam-atla-thadde-gauri-puja/

Some of our sisters might want to perform GOWRI POOJA and please click the link to follow the guide lines

http://www.sankethi.org/Culture/Festivals/gowri_ganapathi_pooja.pdf

IN FACT ALL SISTERS SHOULD MAKE A HABBIT TO DO GOWRI POOJA ALL THEIR LIFE DAILY BY JUST OBSERVING A FEW STEPS WHICH DOES NOT TAKE MUCH OF YOUR TIME AND YOU CAN DO IT IN THE EVENING FROM 6.00 PM ONWARDS. Please click the link what to do

http://indianfestivals.wikidot.com/niyhya-gowri-pooja

OR THE MINIMUM TO CHANT 'GOWRI' NAME IN YOUR OWN MIND FIRST THING IN AM AND LAST THING AT PM WHICH IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK AND DO IT!

Those who would like to observe properly at least on every Tuesday with all the traditional rituals, by clicking the link below ONLY IN TELUGU

http://www.raaga.com/channels/telugu/moviedetail.asp?mid=AD000360

Let us watch a few videos of Gowri vratam by clicking the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs995YwpO_0

Another useful information regarding customs & rituals durin Atla Taddi, please click the link below

http://hindupad.com/vratas-pujas/atla-tadde-main-rituals-and-customs/

ALMOST EXACTLY SIMILAR FESTIVAL IS OBSERVED IN SEVERAL STATES IN NORTH INDIA IS THE FAMOUS 'KARVA CHAUTH' BY OUR NORTH INDIAN SISTERS the next day after Atla Taddi !

North Indian sisters can click the link below to know more about 'KARVA CHAUTH'

http://festivals.tajonline.com/karva-chauth.php

There is nothing in this creation is useless but everything has a purpose for it's presence. Let us see how many of us think of our nose hair which is the first defense before our life principle (Oxygen) passes to our respiratory system.
Please click the link below to read about the importance of 'NOSE HAIR'

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-nose-hair.htm

Let us hope and pray we all have a peaceful weekend with our family.

With Love, Light & Peace to all,
SivaRamaKrishna

Saturday 16 October 2010

WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT?

We all are in the highest order of all living organisms but we all have a duty to perform certain activities to make this height position in the living kingdom and all the faculties are gifted by Nature to perform those rituals.Without any exception all living things are made up of Pancha bhutas or elements of Nature but for the plants and animals Nature has provided the necessary activities as they have no faculties to perform as we all can do. That is the reason we are in the height est order of the living kingdom.The Panchabhutas or 5 elements are responsible for all what happens to us including health and ill-health! which our bodies perform accordingly but we need to assist our bodies to perform those activities, otherwise the opposite effects would result. That is the reason, we are only responsible whatever happens to all of us including, physical welfare, mental welfare and even spiritual welfare. It is amazing how the Nature is involved for the whole survival of this universe.
We are nothing but Panchabhutas or 5 elements.A superficial introduction to the five elements:Earth is the lowest element. Shape is square, colouryellow, sense is smell, function is elimination(anus), deity is Ganesha, chakra is muladhara, bija is"Lam."Water is the second element. Shape is crescent, coloursilver, sense is taste, function is reproduction (sexorgan), deity is Vishnu, chakra is svadishtana, bijais "Vam."Fire is the third element. Shape is triangle, colourred, sense is vision, function is transportation(feet), deity is Surya, chakra is manipura, bija is"Ram."Air is the fourth element. Shape is round, colour blueor black, sense is touch, function is manipulation(hands), deity is Shiva, chakra is anahita, bija is"Yam."Akasha (Space) is the highest element. Shape is likea flame, colour purple, sense is hearing, function iscommunication (throat), deity is Devi, chakra isvishuddha, bija is "Ham." Source: Indiadivine
We know these Pancha bhutas are responsible for our health of all our faculties and if we abuse these five elements, the result is ill health which can make our life miserable and not able to enjoy our lives.If we correctly respect and use these five elements in a right way which we are able to do can protect us from ill health and enjoy life. Let us see how we can utilise these elements for our good health (OGH)We already know we are we what we breath, what we drink and eat which we get from Air, Water, Sun, Earth to give Shakti or Energy which is the basis of our own existence.This sort of living is called Prakruti Jeevana Vidhanam (PJV) or in English The Natural way of Living)The most essential element of our Nature is Oxygen which comes from Air without which we cannot live not more than a few seconds. But our great Rishis in the past who were born only in India can live without breathing for long time with some advanced techniques which made them to live hundreds of years and that is the greatness of our Bharat.To have pure oxygen and use our lungs function efficiently and fully we need to breath deep daily for 10 minutes or so that it becomes as habit. Exercise, swift walk and gym activities all help to have proper breathing which is essential for OGH.The next important element is Water which is about more than 70% of body weight and we need to drink plenty of water up to 4 litres a day depending on where we live and age again to get OGH. Water also helps us by way of Water treatments like feet bath, hands bath, steam bath, spinal bath etc.We all need to have natural food which comes from nature without modifying it for the sake of our small tongue which can spoil OGH. WE NEED TO EAT WHAT OUR BIDIES NEED NOT WHAT WE WANT TO BE TASTY!We all need Sun, Earth to produce natural food with the help of water and seeds.The Sky which is emptiness in our systems for OGH and we can get that by fasting regularly at least once a week (Upavasam devised by our ancestors with fore thought)With all these 5 elements, we can have Shakthi, the energy we need to do all our activities both inside and outside our body.We dealt so far about body. But we have a mad monkey the Mind which is responsible for all our troubles and we need to keep it which can give OGH by way of Meditation etc.Above all, we have another unique boon which differentiates us from other living organisms to give our highest social order is Intellect (Budhi) which we need to use to discriminate from bad to good from unreal to Real.Hope I am sure we all understand these facts of life no science in the world can deny them. Life is wonderful in this creation and we need to protect is at any cost.Before I finish this topic one more thing that determines our personality and our thought, word and actions to make all of us different from each other. They are triGunas, Satvic, Rajasic & Thamasic which are again derived from Prakruthi ie Nature. As we all including monozygotic twins are different WE SHOULD NOT COMPARE WITH ANY BODY WHICH ALWAYS CAN LEAD TO PROBLEMS AND MAKES US UNHAPPY!These triGunas are in different proportions in all of us which is the reason why we all are different. These three Gunas dependent again what we breath, what we drink and eat. We need to cut down the rajasic and thamasic qualities and increase satvic quality which helps us to have the good thoughts, speaking good words and acting in a right way.WE NOW KNOW THE BASIC ACTIVITIES OF OUR BREATHING, OUR DRINKING AND OUR EATING AS SUGGESTED.Let us hope and pray we all at least try at this late stage our life and make our life worth living and to teach our children and youth to develop these qualities from younger age to think right, to speak right, to see right, to listen right and read right books from as early as 8 years of age to become a life habit.Please save this message and keep reading from time to time to remind us our responsibilities to have a worth while living not only serve ourselves but to serve others especially to those less fortunate's in our society.

Tuesday 5 October 2010

NAVARATRI FESTIVAL

Dear Sisters & Brothers, We are in the sacred month during which so many divine events happen to make us very busy with devotional singing, prayers, pujas for our own sake and our families and the society in general.

Tomorrow is MAHALAYA on Thursday, October 7 and please click the link below to read about Mahalaya

http://hinduism.about.com/cs/audiomusic/a/aa092003a.htm?nl=1

Please look a couple of audio links towards the end of the above link is a must to listen on Mahalaya early morning.

On Friday, October 8, starts the divine 9 nights (NAVARARATRI) followed by VIJAYADASHAMI on Sunday, October 17 to celebrate the event of victory over evil.

A MUST article to read on the evening of Mahalaya, before the start of Navaratri to know the magic and importance of AMMA which is a poorva janma sukrutam (The gift of our past births) by clicking the link below

http://www.exoticindia.com/article/navaratri/

To know what is Navaratri? and many aspects of these divine 9 nights, please click the link below to read

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navratri

To read about the nine Avataras of DURGAMMA and the power of various powers, please click the link below to read
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=2&nav=display&webtag=ab-hinduism&tid=2231

Another useful link about Navaratri by clicking the link below

http://www.theholidayspot.com/navratri/

Some of our dear sisters might want to know the latest 9 colours to wear during Navaratri for 2010 by clicking the link below

http://hindupad.com/vratas-pujas/9-colours-of-navratri-2009-nine-colours-of-dresses-to-wear-in-saran-navratri-2009/

At least some of our sisters would like to observe for all the nine days & night, how to prepare, what they need etc, please click the link below and read TODAY to get ready for Friday

http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/09/how-to-do-or-perform-navratri-puja.html

THE FIRST 3 DAYS ARE DEDICATED TO DURGA:


The first three days of Navaratri are dedicated to Devi Durga. SALUTATIONS to the Divine Mother, Durga, who exists in all beings in the form of intelligence, mercy, beauty, who is the consort of Lord Shiva, who creates, sustains and destroys the universe.

Shakti is the omnipotent power of the Lord, or the Cosmic Energy. The Divine Mother is represented as having ten different weapons in Her hands. She sits on a lion. She keeps up the play of the Lord through the three attributes of Nature, namely, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. Knowledge, peace, lust, anger, greed, egoism and pride, are all Her forms.

You pray to Mother Durga to destroy all our impurities, our vices, our defects. She is to fight with and annihilate the baser animal qualities in the spiritual aspirant, the lower, diabolical nature in him. Also, She is the power that protects our spiritual practice from its many dangers and pitfalls. Thus the first three days, which mark the first stage or the destruction of impurity and determined effort and struggle to root out the evil tendencies in our mind, are set apart for the worship of the destructive aspect of the Mother.

Let us recite or at least listen 'Lalitha Sahasra Namams on all the 9 days if possible during the puja in the mornings. Most of us already have a cd of this divine song in our Homes and some of the dedicated devotees these thousand names by heart! But the most important thing that Durga Ma wants for Her devotees is nothing But devotion to get Her grace.

Those of us who do not have a cd, please click the link below to listen Lalitha Sahasra Namams

http://www.musicindiaonline.com/p/x/34C9MP50IgIYMdwESIJjWWRM/?done_detect


During these first 3 days, it is highly desirable to recite Durga Stuti which is as follows in English, so that we all can recite without much problem of language!

Sarve Mangal Mangalye, Shive Sarvarth Sadhike |
Sharanye Trambake Gauri, Narayani Namo Stute ||
Shakti Do Mujhe, Karoon Tumhara Dhyan |
Path Nirvignya Ho Tera, Mera Ho Kalyan ||
Hridya Sinhasan Par Aa, Betho Meri Maa |
Suno Vinay Mam Din Ki, Jag Janani Vardan ||
Sundar Deepak Ghee Bhara, Karoon Aaj Tayaar |
Gyan Ujala Maa Karo, Metto Moh Andhkaar ||
Chandra Surya Ki Roshni, Chamke Chaman Akhand |
Sab Mein Vyapak Tej Hai, Jwala Ka Prachand ||
Jwala Jag Janani Meri, Raksha Karo Humesh |
Dur Karo Maa Ambike, Mere Sabhi Kalesh ||
Shradha Aur Vishwas Se, Teri Jyot Jalaoon |
Tera Hi Hai Aashra, Tere Hi Gun Gaoon ||
Teri Adhabhut Gaat Ko, Padhoon Mein Nischay Dhar |
Sakshat Darshan Karoon, Tere Jagat Aadhar ||
Man Chanchal Se Baat Ke, Samay Jo Aogun Hoye |
Dati Apni Daya Se, Dhyan Na Dena Koye ||
Main Anjan Malin Man, Na Jano Koi Rit |
At Pat Vani Ko Hi Maa, Samjho Meri Prit ||
Chaman Ke Aogun Bahot Hai, Karna Nahi Dhyan |
Sinhvahini Maa Ambike, Karo Mera Kalyan ||
Dhanya Maa Ambike, Shakti Shiva Vishal |
Angh Mein Rum Rahi, Dati Din Dayal ||



Let us have a lovely time during these three days, talking, reading the story of Maha Kali by clicking the links below to read in these 10 days! Even if you cannot read in these 10 days, we can read after words. The important thing is to read with devotion and try to practice in our daily life as much as we could.

Devi Mahatmyam longer version

http://sdbbs.tripod.com/devi.html

Shorter version for the busy Bees!

http://www.sivanandaonline.org/graphics/activities/navaratri_04/durga_saptasati.htm

To read the esoteric significance of Devimahatmyam, please click the link below

http://www.celextel.org/stotrasdevi/devimahatmyam.html

Those who would like to listen/sing the divine sthotras or songs of AMMA in audio form, please click the link below


http://www.andhravilas.com/moviedetail.asp?fid=%7C54%7C76%7C128%7C90

Two important things to do during Navaratri are GARBA & DANDIYA Please click the link to watch videos of these
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhWu50m03bc&feature=related

http://www.indiaparenting.com/video/display.cgi?v1=577&v2=YjQjrpGBgec

http://www.dandiyazone.com/cms/

You have plenty to read/listen/watch and you have the chance of NO MESSAGES UNTIL MONDAY as we are away to see family, friends and to attend an important celebration on Saturday at the New SHIVA TEMPLE in Birmingham.

With Love, Light & Peace to all,
SivaRamaKrishna