SHLOKA OF THE MONTH NOVEMBER 2008

“GANDHARVARAJAPRATHIMAM LOKE VIKYATHAPOURUSHAM

DEERGABAHUM MAHASATHVAM MATHTHAMATHANGAGAMINAM

CHANDRAKANTHANANAM RAMAM ATHEEVAPRIYADARSHANAM

RUPOUDARYAGUNAI: PUMSAM DRUSHTICHITHTHAPAHARINAM

GHARMABHITHAPTHAHA PARJANYAM HLADAYANTHAMIVA PRAJAHA

NA THATHARPA SAMAAYANYTHAM PASHYAMANO NARADHIPAHA

GANDHARVARAJAPRATHIMAM

Sri ram on Ayodhya streets. What a beautiful experience it is. The streets would be filled with people. A golden chariot, white horses. Sumantra used to drive the chariot. Sri Ram bedecked with a divya peethambara, having a broad chest, long hands, broad forehead marked by a kasturi tilaka, adorned with a bejeweled crown, eyes stretching to the ears, a sharp nose, lips matching corals, teeth arranged in order like pearls, an ever smiling face, what a beauty! The women of Ayodhya say to each other. The gandharvaraja cannot match Sri Ram in beauty.

LOKE VIKYATHAPOURUSHAM

The men of Ayodhya continue: “ This ram seems to be of immense valour. Karthaveeryajunan conqurered Ravana. Parasurama conquered Karthaveeryajunan and this ram has conquered even that Parasuramar. What a courageous person!”

DEERGABAHUM

The poor and penniless look at his long hands and say to themselves: “ What long hands he possesses. Long enough to stretch his helping hand to us”

MAHASATVAM MATHTHAMATHANGAGAMINAM

CHANSDRAKANTHANANAM RAMAM

The chariot stands at the entrance of the court. Sri Ram alights from the chariot and enters the court. His gait resembles that of an elephant. His face resembles that of a full moon, cool, emenating happiness and showering the nectar of sympathy.

ATHEEVAPRIYADARSHANAM RUPOUDARYAGUNAIHI PUMSAM DRUSHTICHITHTHAPAHARINAM

It never bores or tires to see the loving form of sri ram. Sri Ram has now enetered the court room. Even then none of the Ayodhya citizens return home. The reason. They shall wait to have a glimpse of his form again. His bewitching form captures the heart of one and all.

GHARMABHITHAPTHAHA PARJANYAM HLADAYANTHAMIVA PRAJAHA

NA THATHARPA SAMAAYANYTHAM PASHYAMANO NARADHIPAHA

The people scorched by the summer heat eagerly expect rain bearing clouds. So did Dasaratha feel as if his youth had returned on seeing his loving son Ram.

EVENTS OF THIS MONTH(NOVEMBER 2008)

I UTSAVAM OF THIS MONTH

Utsavam:Raasotsavam
Date: Nov 7 to 12
Town:Brindavan

II HARI ANNA'S PROGRAMS(NOVEMBER 2008)

1.Srimad Bhagavata Pravachanam,Chennai
Date: oct 31 to Nov 3
City: Chennai
Venue : Hari hara temple,chinmaya Nagar,Virugambakkam
Topic:Srimad Bhagavatam
Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

2.Srimad Bhagavata Sapthaha Satakratu,Mumbai
[Pravachanam will be conducted by 100 devotees ]

Date: Nov 5 to 11

City:Mumbai

Venue:Bhajan Samaj,Garodia Nagar,Ghatkopar

Topic:Srimad Bhagavatam

Time: 7 am to 6:30 pm

3. Srimad Bhagavata Sapthaham,Kadayanallor

Date: nov 28 to dec 4

Village: Kadayanallor

Topic:Srimad Bhagavatam

Time: 4 to 5:30 pm and 7pm to 8:30 pm

III VISHAKA HARI'S PROGRAM(NOV 2008)

1.Pravachanam at Chennai

Date: nov 5

City:Chennai

Topic:Narayna Theerthar charithram

Venue:Narada Gana Sabha,Mylapore

Time: 7 pm to 9 pm

2. Pravachanam at Banglore

Date: nov 8

City:Banglore,Indra Nagar

Topic:Tyagaraja Charithram in English

Venue:Indra Nagar Sangeetha Sabha,Purandara Bhavan

3. Pravachanam at Banglore

Date: nov 10

City:Banglore

Topic: Prahlada Charitram

Venue:Mangala Auditorium,N.M.K.R.V college,Jaya Nagar

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM( NOVEMBER 2008)

Rules and Regulations:
1. The answers should be mailed within 25th of the month to annahariji@gmail.com
2. Points will be alloted for the First, second and Third prizes.First - 10 Second - 8 Third - 6
3. The points will be cumulated every month if you get first, second or third.
4. The participants with the maximum points will be awarded first, second and third prizes at the end of the year.
5. The prizes will be distributed by Hariji at a grand function held at the end of the year.

QUESTIONS
1) How did Narada lead the rest of his life after the ashareeravak ( anonymous call) pacified him?
2) Do the wise suffer from Prarabdakarma or can they escape from its clutches?
3) What did the Lord give Narada as a gift?
4) What other blessing did the Lord give Narada?
5) How does Narada bestow happiness to this world?

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2008

1) Which part of the Lord’s divine Body did Naradha mediatate upon the very first time?
The Lord’s Lotus feet.

2) How did the ashareeravak of the Lord sound?

The ashareeravak of Bhagavan was 1) Bold and authoritative 2) crystal clear and 3) soothing enough to remove sorrow

4)What did the Lord anonymously say?
“ Those who are not matured cannot beget my darshan. Hence you cannot get my darshan in this birth. You sought refuge under the sadhus and obtained immense love towards me. Hence you begot my darshan this time. Love tendered towards me will remove all material desires. You will become my parshada in your next birth. You will have knowledge of your previous birth then.”

4) What removes the anger and desire from one’s mind?

The love towards the infinte will obliterate the anger and desire in ones heart.

5) Nobody in this world has the knowledge of previous births. How did Narada become an exception?

Narada begot knowledge of his previous births because of the Lord’s blessings.

OCTOBER WINNERS

1.Sethuraman -I -60+10 points
2.Nandini -II -10+10 points
3.Gurumoorthy -II -24+8 points
4.Karthik Venkataraman -II -18+8 points
5.Hari gurumoorthy -II -10+8 points
6.Srividhya sri -II -18+8 points
7.Thaila -II -8 points
8.Natraj Punjai -II -6+8 points
9.Usha Shekar -III -20+6 points
10.Aparna -III-50+6 points
11.Padma Narayanan - III-28+6 points

KSETRA FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2008

THIRU ANBIL

Enroute from Trichy to Lalgudi lies a small village, Anbil by name. Here is the Lord Sundaarajan who blessed Sage Valmiki. Tirumangaiazhwar’s mangalasasana “ nagaththanai” reads Anbil as Peranbil. The very reason for the name is that the Lord showers his bountiful grace, immense love ( Peranbu) on his bhakthas. The Lord Sundararajan and Sundaravalli shine in beauty as their very names suggest. The Tarakavimanam shines there in glory. This kshetra called Banapuram in Sanskrit has an interesting anecdote.

Ruksha, a hunter lived at anbil protecting his clan. He lived a cannibalistic life feeding on animals, killing passers-by. Once his wife Vanjula, pestered him for a nagarathna ( a jewel lying in the hood of the snake). Ruksha who loved his wife very dearly killed hundreds of sankes for the jewel but in vain. One night he happened to meet Naradha who was wearing a chain of rathnas. Ruksha immediately stopped him and questioned him:

Ruksha (R ): Oh sage How on earth did you come across this jewel?

Narada ( N ): Why? Kubera gave it to me. I have made it into a garland for my japa. Sometimes I also wear it around my neck.

Ruksha: Interesting, Snake jewel for a japa mala. You could use the tulasimala instead. You shall hand over this jeswel to me.

N: How strane indeed. One is supposed to donate to Brahmins and not snatch away from them.

R: Enough of your preaching. I will kill you if you do nit hand it over to me.

N: You foolish hunter, it is a sin to thieve. You will beget hell.

R: No Not at all. I do not steal it for my sake. I steal for my wife’s happiness. So the sin is her’s.

N: No. You are wrong. The sin of a disciple is the sin of his guru. The sin of citizens belong to the king. The sin of the children belong to the parents’. Thus the sin of one’s wife is nothing but the sin of her husband’s. Also note Ruksha, the sin of the husband however does not reach the wife.

The hunter disblieveingly tied Narada to a tree and went back to his relatives. He questioned them about Narada’s statements.They confirmed it. None including his wife were ready to share his sin.

The hunter realized the transcience of the world. People are willing to share my happiness but not my suffering. What a selfish world. Of What use is my love towards them?

Ruksha went back to the sage, released him and asked him for salvation from his sins. Narada pacified him and gave him the Rama nama japa. Oh Hunter this mantra is called the Taraka mantra. It will obliterate one from all sins. It has no restrictions regarding time, place or state. The Vedas, smruthis, puranas all echo the greatness of Rama nama.

However Ruksha could not pronounce the word Rama. He lisped lama, lama instead. Narada intelligently advised him to chant instead Mara, Mara instead. Ruksha began:

“ Mara Mara Maramaramara Rama Rama Rama”

Mara became Rama

Ruksha became Valmiki maharushi.

Ruksha’s penance of rama nama japa was concentrated and severe. An ant hill covered him up. Yet his concentration did not fade. The very Lord Bruhma came to him very many years later. “ Arise Oh Ruskha. As you come from the valmika ( anthill) you will be called Vaalmiki from now on. You are a Brahmarushi. You are no more a hunter, no more Ruksha, no more a thief, no more a sinner. You are the incarnation of Brugu, the son of varuna. You are born in this world to give the world the nectar of Ramayana. May you go to the banks of River Sarayu. Ramawill be born there”

Thus by the blessings of Bruhma Valmiki of Anbil became Valmiki of Ayodhya.

The place where Valmiki did his penance became a Vishnu kshetra, a taraka kshetra. Vishwakarma made the taraka vimana here and Brahma worshopped Lord Sundararaja with great festivity.

Thus the greatness of anbil continues.

SHLOKA OF THE MONTH OCTOBER 2008

Kathanchithupakarena kruthenaikena thushyathi

Na smarathyapakaranam shathamapi aathmavaththaya 

Sri Ram’s virtues are infinite. They kindle our love towards him. To Forget is Human and to Forgive is Divine. Sri Ram possessed this divine quality Himself being divine. He always remembered even a trifle good deed done to him. But what good can an ordinary mortal do towards the immortal? Of what use can a desperate, helpless layman be to the Omnipotent Lord? What help can an illiterate fellow do to the All-Knowing Supreme personality?  What help can a despondent sufferer do to the Supreme Godhead of bliss? What service can a Jeevathma render to the Paramathma, SriRama. Hence Sri Rama does not expect even a trifle help from us. He showers his bountiful grace on us.When he does so accepting his grace with gratitude instead of rejecting it  is by itself  considered a help by Sri Ram. To cite an example, Hanuman discovered Sita and came back with the happy news declaring “ Sita is seen by me.” Sri Ram felt happy and embraced him. “ I stand indebted to you for the helping hand you have lent to me” said Rama.

 “Na smarathyapakaranam shathamapi aathmavaththaya

 Sri Ram forgave hundreds of mistakes. Why he even pardoned the same mistake being done a100 times. Kakasura with his beak harmed Sita to the extent that she bled. At once Rama used a blade of grass to sanctify it as the brahma astra. He ran around all the worlds, came back falling at Ram’s feet. Though tainted with a severe fault, Sri Ram did not kill him, he gave refuge to Kakasura too.

 

EVENTS OF THIS MONTH(OCTOBER 2008)

I UTSAVAM OF THIS MONTH

Date: Sep 30 to oct 8

Village:paranur

Utsavam:Navaratri Utsavam

II HARI ANNA'S PROGRAMS(OCTOBER 2008)

1.Srimad Ramayana pravachanam,paranoor

Date: Sep 30 to oct 10

Village:Paranoor

Topic:Srimad Ramayana

Time: 4pm to 6 pm

2.Srimad Bhagavata Sapthaham,Mumbai

Date: oct 14 to oct 21

City:Mumbai

Venue:Subramanaya swamy temple,CHEMBUR ,CHEDDA NAGAR

Topic: Srimad Bhagavatm

Time: 6 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 6 pm

III VISHAKA HARI'S PROGRAM (OCTOBER2008)

1.Krishna Leela Pravachanam, Chennai

Date: oct 17,18

City:Chennai

Venue:Uttara Guruvayoorappan temple,Nanganalloor

Time:6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

2.Meera charitram Pravachanam,chennai

Date:oct 20

City:Chennai

Venue: Krishna Gana Sabha,T.nagar

Time:6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM(OCTOBER 2008)

Rules and Regulations:
1. The answers should be mailed within 25th of the month to annahariji@gmail.com
2. Points will be alloted for the First, second and Third prizes.First - 10 Second - 8 Third - 6
3. The points will be cumulated every month if you get first, second or third.
4. The participants with the maximum points will be awarded first, second and third prizes at the end of the year.
5. The prizes will be distributed by Hariji at a grand function held at the end of the year.

QUESTIONS: 

1)      Which part of the Lord’s Divine Body did Naradha mediatate upon the very first time?

2)      How did the ashariravak ( anonymous call) of the Lord sound?

3)      What did the Lord anonymously say?

4)      “Mathkamaha………Hruthchayan”—What removes the anger and desire from one’s mind?

5)      Nobody in this world has knowledge of the previous births. How did Naradha become an exception?

ANSWER FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2008

1) Svaayambuva kaya vruthya… Who is Swaayambuva in this context?

A: Narada

2) How did Narada’s mother die?

A: Snake bite.

3) How did Narada perceive his mother’s death?

A:He considered his mother's death as Bhagavath krupa

.4) Which direction did Narada proceed after his mother’s death?

A: North

5) Narada meditated on the Lord’s feet ,the very first time under a particular tree. Which tree is it?

A: Banyan tree/ pipal tree

SEPTEMBER WINNERS

1)Sethuraman I -10+50 points

2)Aparna I -10+40 points

3)Karthik Venkataraman I -10+8 points

4)Radhai, Madurai I -10+8 points

5)Padma Narayanan I -10+18 points

6)Vittal, Banglore I -10+12 points

7)Vijay, Banglore I- 10 points

8)Ramaswamy, Sri Rangam I - 10 poinys

9)Nandini ,Delhi I- 10 points

10)Hari Gurumoorty I -10 points

11) Gurumoorty Gopal Swamy  II- 8 +16 points

12)Sriraman III-6 points