SHLOK OF THE MONTH JAN 2010

Mrugapakshiganaaschaiva Sidhdhdasramanivaasinaha

Anujagmuhu Mahaathmanam Vihwamithram Thapaswinam

The world is bound by affection and love. None can control anyone by fear and fright. If we show love and respect towards all everybody will reciprocate the love and respect towards us. Sri Rama was loved by one and all. Everybody loved Him beyond their own lives. This is the reason why the entire Ayodhya citizens departed to the forest leaving their entire property behind them when Rama left to the forest. They decided to stay in the forest for 14years. But Sri Rama left them behind on the banks of the river Thamasa. The citizens decided to die without Rama.

Likewise in Brindavan the plants, animals,Yamuna river, the Govardhan hill showed boundless love towards Krishna. Even the wild animals were tamed by the Lord’s scintillating flute. If Krishna stood under the Mandara tree the tree swayed with emotion, had horripulations all over. The Branches bent down to give fruits to the Lord. The flowing river stopped at His very sight. The cows grazed not the grass but His feet. This shows that be it whichever avathar the very presence of the Lord invokes love and affection.

The saints are always in deep meditation of the Lord. The qualities of the Upasya deva are absorbed by the upasaka too. So do these saints show abundant love just as their Lord. Even the Lord has weapons in His hand. But the saints have only cymbals. There is utter peace in their ashram. The very term Vishwamithra denotes that he is the friend of the Universe. This is the reason why he helps Trishanku or Shunashshepa even during his highly intense asceticism. His permanent ashram was on the banks of Koushiki river. He made a temporary ashram at Sidhdhasrama for the sake of conducting a yaga. Still he showed immense love towards those animals and birds. Those animals reciprocated his love. This is characteristic of the sadhus. After the yaga he went to Mithila along with Rama nad Lakshmana. Those animals and birds started crying when Vishwamithra departed from Sidhdhasrama.

EVENTS OF THE MONTH NOV 2009

DUBAI PROGRAM

SRIVISHNUPURANAM- DUBAI

Nov 7^th to 12^th witnessed a very well organized and well attended Vishnu Puranam pravachanam by Sri Hari Anna. The pravachanam went on at the premises of Sindhi Hall, Bur Dubai.Sri Hari Anna has been giving lectures in Dubai for the past 7 years. SriMad Bhagavatham, Srimad Ramayanam, Bhaktha Vijayama, Dashamaskandam, Ekadasakandam, have been dealt with in great detail by Sri Hari Anna at this same place- Sindhi hall. Thus this audience is a very familiar one. Dubai rasikas are very great rasikas. They all eagerly expected this pravachanam. The very first day the hall was full. Sri hari Anna’s pravachanams were filled with new ideas, bhavas and emotions. The second day charitram was “ Prahlada charitram and in that pravachanam he said Prahlada’s bhakthi was to see the Lord in everything. Thus he saw Narayana even in a shoola, even in fire, in poison, in a mountain. Finally he saw Narayan even in a sthamba- pillar. The Lord does not reside only in a temple or a kshetra. He resides throughout the world in each and everything. The point is we have to cultivate such devotion as him to see the Lord in all. If it be so anywhere we go be it America, Africa, Australia, we can feel the Lord with us. On Nov 12^th Srimathi Vishakha Hari delivered Sangeetha Upanyasam on Kuchelopakyanam. She sang Bhagavatha slokas, Sri Anna’s songs and moved everyone to tears. Everday there was Dolothsavam. After the pravachanam the crowd waited for Dolothsavam without dispersing. Sri Ganesh, Sri Subramanyam, Sri Gandhi, Sri Radhakrishnan, Sri Gopi together oragnised the function beautifully.

HYDERABAD PROGRAM

Anyone adept in the Vedas who hears of the word Hyderabad will be reminded only of Veda Bhavanam.Sri Venkatarama Ganapadigal has established a Veda Patashala called the Veda Bhavanam at Secunderabad. Here almost 100 students learn the Vedas. It is a wonderful sight to see the young boys with shika, pleasant faced, calm, radiant. Here there is always the gosha of the Vedas.It was the sankalpa of the Lord that along with it the gosha of Ramayana be heard. Venkatrama ganapadigal desired that a navaham be conducted with 125 bhagavathas doing the parayanam and the pravachanam by Sri hariji and Rangaji. This event went on a very grand scale from Nov 21^st to 29^th. Everyday the parayanam was from morning 6.00 to 12.00 . Raju and Chandru led the parayanam with 125 bhagavathas following suit in one voice. 2.0 to 3.00 p.m there was Astapadhi bhajan by Sri Yagnaramadas. There was Divyanamam for a couple of days too. 4.00 to 6.00p.m SrI Rangaji delivered the upanyasamas and evening 7.0 to 9.00 was by Sri Hariji. Srimad ramayanam was dealt in detail because it was a two session upanyasam. On the last day there was pravachanam on pattabhishekam after the completion of the parayanam. After that there was Pattabhishekam for Ramar at the sabha mandapa admist Veda gosha, Sri hari anna performed the pattabhisheka. After the curd, milk, manjal abhisheka there was the recitation of the Pattabhisheka sarga during which Sri Hari anna performed the abhisheka with 12 kalashas. Alankara followed. Sri Yazhnarama Das began the Thodayamangalam, Guru keerthanam, ashtapadhi etc. Sri hari Anna then did the thirumangalyadarana to Sita Devi. The crowd was overflowing. People were standing outside the hall. Both sides of the hall were filled with people. Venkatarama Ganapadigal happily said to Sri Hari Anna “: It looks as if we are at Paranoor”.

EVENTS OF THIS MONTH (JAN 2010)

I UTSAVAM OF THIS MONTH

UTSAVAM : THEPPOTSAVAM
DATE :JAN 18
VILLAGE : PARANOOR

KALYANA UTSAVAM

UTSAVAM :KALYANA UTSAVAM
DATE : JAN 26
VILLAGE :SEGANOOR

II HARI ANNA'S PROGRAMS( JAN 2010)

SRIMAD BHAGAVATA SAPTHAHAM, CHENNAI

DATE :JAN 20 TO 26
CITY : CHENNAI
TOPIC : SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM
VENUE : PADMA SESHADRI SCHOOL , K.K.NAGAR,CHENNAI
TIME : 7 PM TO 9 PM

III VISHAKA HARI'S PROGRAMS

1.PROGRAM AT CHENNAI

DATE : JAN 27,28
CITY : CHENNAI
VENUE :PADMA SHESADRI SCHOOL,KK NAGAR,CHENNAI
TOPIC :SRI KRISHNA LEELAIGAL
TIME :7 PM TO 9 PM

2.PROGRAM AT CHENNAI

DATE : JAN 23,24
CITY :CHENNAI
VENUE : KAMARAJAR ARANGAM
TOPIC : SRI KRISHNA LEELAIGAL
TIME : 7 PM TO 9 PM

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM (JAN 2010)

RULES AND REGULATION:
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 OF THIS MONTH :

1) Who informed Yudhishtira that Dhridharashtra had departed to Swarga?

2) How many months did Arjuna spend in Dwaraka?

3) Which sabha is called Sudarma?

4) “AAryonujaha” – 15^th Chapter, 9^th sloka- Who is mentioned as brother here?

5) The weapons administred by Bheeshma and others did not touch Arjuna. Which example does Vyasa give here in the 15^th chapter?

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER QUIZ

1) The sadhus sanctify the kshetras and teerthas by their power to meditate on the Lord in their heart incessantly.

2) Vidura did not inform Yudhistira of the destruction of Yadukulam.

3) Yamadharmaraja

4) Gaandhari

5) Ganga

DECEMBER WINNERS :

1.Sethuraman --I-- 54+10 points

2.Karthik Venkataraman --I--56+10 points

3.Padma Narayana --I--52+10points

4.Gopika Sampath --I--50+10points

5.Girija Sitaraman --I--60+10 points

6.Radhika Venkataraman --II--68+8 points

7.Sudarshana Narayanaswamy --II--8+8 points

8.Srinivasan --III--6+6 points

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF JAN 2010

SRIRANGAM PART XII

Thayar- Ranganayaki is found below a Sriphala tree ( Bilva tree). That is why in her archana we extol her as “ Namami Bilvanilayam) .The Lord has 8 Lakshmis along with him ;

1) Periya Piratti- Lordess Ranganayaki

2) Uraiyur lakshmi

3) Karuvula Nachiar- the daughter of Pandya King

4) Sengamalavalli Thayar

5) Maragathavalli Thayar

6) Serakulavalli Nachiar

7) Sultan Sundari

8) Andal

Lord Ranganatha gives all blessings on His devotees. It was He who bestowed Santanu with a child ( the great Bheeshma). It was the Lord who got Arjuna married to Subadra. Santanu and Arjuna stayed at Srirangam and also incidentally built mandapams for the Lord. Till date the mandapams are known by their names as Santhanu mandapam and Arjuna mandapam. Those who worship even in the direction of Srirangam are sure to attain prosperity .”Pranipathya na seedathi”. Those who worship Lord ranganatha will get wealth, progeny, peace and prosperity. The azhwar says “ Thuppudayarai”- I surrender at your feet Oh Lord. May you take me into Your abode when I breathe my last. I do not know if I will utter your name when my end nears. Hence I seek your help right now . When that moment arrives You should arrive and take me at your feet.

Those who surrender so at His feet, those who read the Ranga Mahathmyam are sure to attain moksha when the right time arrives.

Na draavidasamo desho na Kavveri samaa nadi

Na Srirangasamam kshetram sathyam sathyam vadamyaham

There is no desham such as Draavida desham, there is no better river than Kaveri, no kshetra can equal Srirangam and none to parallel Lord Ranganatha. This is the truth, the truth and nothing but the truth.

End of Ranga Mahathmyam