SLOKA FOR THE MONTH APRIL 2011

THATHASCHA DWADASHE MASE CHAITHRE NAAVAMIKE THITHOU NAKSHATREADITHIDAIVATHYE SVOCHCHASAMSTHESHU PANCHASU GRAHESHU KARKATE LAGNE VAKPATHAVINDUNA SAHA’ PRODYAMANE JAGANNATHAM SARVALOKANAMSKRUTHAM KOUSALYAJANAYATH RAMAM SARVALAKSHANASAMYUTHAM VISHNORARDHAM MAHABHAGAM PUTHRAMAIKSHVAKAVARDHANAM KOUSALYA SHUSHUBHE THENA PUTHRENA AMITHA THEJASA YATHA VARENA DEVANAM ADITHIRVAJRAPANINA In the Gita the Lord says “ Janma karma cha me divyam”. “ My birth, my leelas are all transcendental. The Lord is not destined to be born nor is He governed by karma.Yet He takes several avtharas in this samsara. The only reason for such avathar is His Compassion. He takes the avatharam in order to lift the samsaris from the mire of samsara. “ Darma samsthapanarthaya”- The Lord also takes the avathar in order to establish Darma. The Lord does not suffer Garbhavasam. Does Matsyavatharam come from a fish? Is the Kurma avatharam from a tortoise? He takes the form of a fish or tortoise out of His own will. The Varaha avatharam was from the nostril of Brahama and Narasimha came out of a pillar. These are revelations that the Lord does not have garbhavasam. Lord Krishna was not born to Devaki the way children are born on earth. He gave darshan as “ Thamadbhutham balakam”- holding the conch and the disc, with 4 hands. Devaki at once prayed that the Lord should reveal Himself as a child. Immediately He showed the form of a child. Even in Rama Avathara the Lord showed His magnificient form before Kousalya. This is how Vyasa or Tulasidas describes the Ramaavathar. Valmiki also says “ Kousalya ajanayath” and “Divyalakshnasamyutham” and hence hints that the Lord gave darshan to Kousalya. 12months from the completion of the puthrakameshti, on a navami thithi, the star of punarvasu, 5 planets ruling the high skies Kousalya gave birth to Rama, the amsha of Vishnu and thus earned praise to the Ikshvaku dynasty. Just as the mother of Indra attained great fame and just as Adithi, mother of Vamana bhagavan attained great heights so did Kousalya shine at the birth of effulgent Rama. All over the world we celebrate Sri Ramanavami uthsavam.Dasaratha celebrated the first ever SriRamanavami uthsavam that day. April 12th this year is to be celebrated as SriRamanavami. It is but apt that we revel in this sloka and its meaning.

PAST EVENTS

KRISHNA GANA SABHA PRAVCHANAM

Sri Hari Anna’s pravachanam at Krishna Gana sabha, T.Nagar, Chennai was conducted from Feb 7th to 11th. Organised by Sri Krishna Gana sabha , the event was well attended. Sri Harianna gave enthusiastic pravachanams on Krishna leelas. The audience enjoyed all the upanyasams.

EVENTS OF THIS MONTH- APRIL 2011

I) UTHSAVAM OF THIS MONTH UTHSAVAM: SRIRAMANAVAMI UTHSAVAM DATE: APRIL 10TH TO 12TH VILLAGE: SENGANOOR II) HARI ANNA'S PROGRAMS

SRIMAD RAMAYANA PRAVACHANAM, CHENNAI

DATE: APRIL 1ST TO 8TH CITY: CHENNAI TOPIC: BALAKANDAM, AYODHYA KANDAM VENUE: PADMA SESHADRI SCHOOL, K.K NAGAR, CHENNAI TIME: 6.30P.M TO 8.30P.M

2) BHAKTHA VIJAYAM PRAVACHANAM, PONDICHERRY

DATE: 18TH APRIL TO 23RD APRIL PLACE: PONDICHERRY TOPIC: BHAKTHA VIJAYAM VENUE: SRINGERI MUTT TIME: 7.00P.M TO 9.00 P.M

III) VISHAKHA HARI'S PROGRAM

1) PROGRAM AT DELHI

DATE: 2ND, 3RD APRIL

CITY: DELHI

VENUE: TAMIL SANGAM, R.K PURAM

TOPIC: RAMA NAMA PRABHAVAM AND KRISHNA LEELAI

TIME: 6.30 TO 9.00 P.M

2) PROGRAM AT CHENNAI

DATE: 8TH AND 9TH APRIL

CITY: CHENNAI

VENUE: PADMA SESHADRI SCHOOL, K.K NAGAR

TOPIC: JATAYU MOKSHAM, SHABARI MOKSHAM

TIME: 6.30 TO 8.30 P.M

3) PROGRAM AT PONDICHERRY

DATE: 24TH APRIL

CITY: PONDICHERRY

TOPIC: ANDAL KALYANAM

VENUE: SRINGERI MUTT

TIME: 7.00 TO 9.00 P.M

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM - APRIL 2011

QUESTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2011

1) At which place during his theertha yatra did Vidura come to know of kauravas destruction?
2) Whose sister was Poothana?
3) Why did the Lord not rejoice on Duryodana’s death?
4) When the Lord advised Udhdhava about athmagnana who listened to him along with udhava?
5) Who was born as Vidura? Who cursed in order that Vidura was born.

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2011
1) Penance
2) 1000 years as per Devas’ count
3) Rahasyam means Bhakthi. Angam means karma
4) 10 lakshanas. They are 1) Sargam 2) Visargam 3)sthanam 4) Poshanam 5) uuti 6) Manvatharakatha 7) Eeshanukatha 8) Nirodham 9) Mukthi 10) Aashrayam
5) Description of Sri Rama avatharam, Sri Krishna avatharam and such avatharas, and bhaktha charitram like Dhruva charitram, Ambarisha charitram etc is called Eeshakatha.

MARCH WINNERS
1) Girija Seetharaman----------I---------104+10 points
2) Gopika Sampath-------------I---------90+10 points
3) Padma Naryanan-----------I----------82+10 points
4) Radhakrishnana Ramamurthy----I----62+10
5) Radhika Venkatraman-----------II---80+8 points
6) Karthik Venkatraman-----------II----72+8
7) Srinivasan Sujatha--------------II-------102+8
8) Srinivasan----------------------III--------18+6

WINNERS FOR THE YEAR 2010-2011
1) FIRST PRIZE---GIRIJA SEETHARAMAN--114POINTS
2) SECOND PRIZE--SRINIVASAN SUJATHA--110POINTS
3) THIRD PRIZE---GOPIKA SAMPATH--------100 POINTS
CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2011

THIRUNEERMALAI Sri Rama took His avathar in this land to establish dharama. He did so by ruling over the land for 11000 and odd years. Sita Devi left the earth well before the Lord. Lakshmana too left his mortal body through yogamargam. Sri Rama entered the Sarayu river along with His entire family. Valmiki who could not withstand the separation from Sri Rama decided to get back to south. He yearned for Sri Rama’s darshan. He knew that Rama was none other than Lord Narayana himself and Sita was Mahalakshmi. Their departure from the earth was not true. It was just an illusion. His form is immortal. Those who want to see Him can do so if the requisite penance is done. Valmiki was in search of an apt place for his penance. He spotted Thondaimandalam, devoid of people, full of trees and beautiful hills. He climbed atop a hillbut was inflicted with severe thirst. He wandered here and there for water and food but could not trace any. It was at that time that he saw a young hunter. “ Is there any place where I could get some water “, the sage requested.Atonce the hunter struck an arrow which pierced the mountain and out sprang sweet waters. The sage was astonished at this feat. Immediately the hunter disappeared and instead stood the Lord with his four arms along with SriDevi. Valmiki praised the Lord who comforted the sage saying His forms were eternal. They were neither created nor could be destroyed.” You may stay here and do my aradhana henceforth. This hill shall from now on be called THiruneermalai as water sprang out of this hill.”- Thus Valamiki styaed there and read the Ramayana and was immensely satisfied.

SLOKA OF THE MONTH- MARCH 2011

“ Bhayam Thyajatha Bhadram Vaha Hithartham Yudhi Ravanam
Saputhrapouthram Saamathyam Samithragnaathibaandhavam
Hathva kruram Duradarsham Devarshinam Bhayaavaham
Dashavarshasahasrani Dashavarshashathaani cha
Vathsyami Manushe Loke Palayan Pruthiveemimaam

Srimad Ramayanam is a sharanagathi shastram. Every kaandam has sharanagathi in it. In the Baala kanda the sharanagathi of the devas has been described. The Devas, tormented by the rakshasa assembled and pondered” Under whom do we surrender ourselves and take refuge? Who will save us. It was Sriman Narayanan who protected the people from Hiranyakashipu, Madhukaitabha. Again now it is He who should protect us. Where do we see Him? Shall we go to the Ksheerabdhi. If we wish to see Him truly we can see Him here and now” – thus the Devas reflected. It was then that the Lord arrived mounted on Garuda. The Devas, delighted at the sight of the Lord said “ Oh Lord. We are suffereing at the hands of Ravana. We surrender unto you. Please save us.” Do we surrender to the Lord because He grants us Abhayam or do we surrender looking at Him who always gives Abhaya? HE never for a moment lets us down. It is the nature of the Lord to grant abhayam whether we surrender to him or not. As soon as the Devas surrendered the first words the Lord spoke were “ Do not fret” He showed His abhayahastha too. “ You will soon beget fortune. I shall destroy Ravana along with his entire family so that you and this entire world begets good fortune. Besides I shall rule the world for 11000 years and show the world the path to righteousness.”

PAST EVENTS

THIRUNELVELI SAPTHAHAM

Srimad Bhagavatha Pravachanam was conducted at Nellai Sangeetha Sabha, Thirunelveli from 24th Jan to 30th Jan. It was organized by Akhila Bharatha sadhu sangam, Thirunelveli and Nellai Sangeetha sabha together. More than 1000 people attended the pravachanam and benefited by the discourses delivered by Sri Hari Anna. All the discourses were emotionally packed and full of devotion and words of wisdom.

EVENTS OF THIS MONTH

I UTHSAVAM OF THIS MONTH
UTHSAVAM: HOLI UTHSAVAM
DATE: 10th MARCH- 19TH MARCH
TOWN: BRINDAVANAM
II HARI ANNA'S PROGRAM ( MARCH 2011)

SRIMAD BHAGAVATHA SAPTHAHAM- CHENNAI
DATE: 6TH MARCH TO 12TH MARCH
CITY: CHENNAI
VENUE: HARIHARA TEMPLE, CHINMAYA NAGAR, VIRUGAMBAKKAM
TOPIC: SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM
TIME: 6.30 P.M TO 8.30 P.M

III VISHAKHA HARI'S PROGRAM

DATE; 6TH MARCH

CITY: CHENNAI

VENUE: VIVEKANANDA CENTENARY HALL,

RAMAKRISHNA HOME FOR STUDENTS,

MYLAPORE, CHENNAI
TOPIC: PRAHLADA CHARITRAM

TIME: 6.15 P.M

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM- MARCH 2011

QUESTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2011
1) “Nishkinchananam Nrupa Yath Dhanam”- What is the wealth of great saints.
2) Brahma did penance to see SriVaikuntam. How many years of penance did he do?
3) What is meant by “Rahasyam”. What is meant by angam?
4) How many lakshanas does Bhagavatha purana. What are the lakshanas?
5) “ Eeshakathaha”- What is meant by it?

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2011
1) Bhuvarlokam
2) Surya
3) “Dattaha”- Means “given”. Athri Bhagavan wanted to have the Lord as his own son. The Lord gave his darshan and said “ I have given myself to you”- That is why the Lord is called by the name “ Datta”
4) 3 months
5) Sri Suka.

FEBRUARY WINNERS
1) Radhika Venkatraman---I---70+10points
2) Karthik Venkatraman---I----62+10
3) Gopika Sampath--------I-----80+10
4) Padma Narayanan------I----72+10
5) Sudarshana Sriram-----I----48+10
6) Radhakrishnan Ramamurthy--II---54+8
7) Srinivasan Sujatha------------II---94+8
8) Girija Seetharaman-----------II----96+8
9) Srinivasan-------------------III---12+6

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2011

THIRUVANPARISARAM

Thiruvanparisaram is a divyadesham in Kerala. There are many divyadeshams in Kerala out of which Thiruvanparisaram is a famous one.
Once there lived a king by name Kulasekhara in Kerala. He was a very generous, noble hearted, benevolent king. He was a great warrior too. Once he decided to go for a digvijayam and conqured Karnataka, Maharshtra, Kalinga, Gujarath., Anga , vanga, uthkala, Chola and Pandya nations. He was on his way back to Kerala. As he was resting for a while his horse was lost. He went all the way searching for it and was suddenly caught in a forest full of lakes and trees. There he saw a pond by name Somatheertha and a tree whre his horse was tied up. He also saw a Vishnu temple. Being a devotee of Lord Vishnu he entered the temple and saw The Lord seated on Seshasanam. At once there came a beautiful damsel richly decorated of smiling face. As she entered the temple she enetered the sanctum sanctorium and disappeared into the bosom of the Lord. Highly surprised at this sight he asked a sage by name Mouthgalyar who the lady was. The sage immediately extolled the glory of that kshetra and told him the fact that it was none other than Mahalakshmi herself. That is the reson why the place was called SriParisaaram ( as the Godeess herself serves the Lord). It is also called Thiruvanparichaaram as the horse wandered there. It was the divine sport of the Lord who wanted to give darshan to the king. Hence it was the Lord who stole his horse. Thus hearing the king extolled the Lord and His consort and prayed for immaculate staunch devotion at His feet.