SLOKA FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2013

Ramagamanamaakankshan Bharatho Brathruvathsalaha

Brathurvachanakaari cha Prathizhaapaaragasthatha

Paaduke thvabhishichyaatha Nandigraameavasaththada

Sa Vaalavyajanam Chathram Dharayamasa sa svayam

A devotee thinks of the Lord more in separation than in union. He cries to be re-united with him. Devotion grows more and more during times of separation. When Krishna left the gopis all of a sudden during raasam the Gopis cried and sang the “ Gopika Geetham”. The Lord did not come. They cried and wept profusely. Still the Lord did not come. They could withstand no more and the Lord stood before them. Sri Suka gives the way to the Lord’s darshan through the episode of Rasa leela.

                In Srimad Ramayana all devotees are ideal  characters. The pangs of separation is shown through the characters of Sita and Vharatha. Sita awaited Lord Rama for 10 full months at Ashoka vana , expexting him, crying for him, like an ascetic. Also Rama left her at the ashram of Valmiki even as she was pregnant. There too she sufferef sepation. Likewise Bharatha for full 12 years craved to see Rama. He came back to Ayodhya after 12 years but als Ram ahad left. Bharatha cried all his way to Chitrakoot. He requested Rama to accept the kingdom. Rama consoled him and gave his Paduka ( sandals) instead. Bharatha came back with Rama’s paduka to Ayodhya. He coronated the Paduka.  He did the chatra, chamara upachara too to the sandals themselves. He considered himself as a citizen of the Paduka Samrajya. He did not however want to live there without Rama. Hence he went to Nandigrama. All through the perIod of 14 years he aanticipated Sri Rama’ s  arrival.  He spent the entire time thinking of Rama. If he ever wanted to see Rama he would hug the sandals and cry his heart out. Rama then came in his dreams and consoled him.

PAST EVENTS

SAPTHAHAM AT  KADAYANALLUR

Akhila Bharatha Sadhu Sangam organised Srimad Bhagavatha sapthaham at Kadayanallur from Feb 26^th to March 5^th. Sri Hari Anna and Sri Rangan Anna delivered discourses from Feb 26^th to March 2^nd. Sri Hari Anna and Smt. Vishakha Manni delivered lectures from March 3^rd to 5^th. Parayanam, Ashtapadhi, Govinda Sathakam, Unchavruthy, pravachanam for 2 sessions, divyanamam and RadhaKalyanam were celebrated in a grand manner. Lots of devotees participated and enjoyed.

UTHSAVAMS OF THIS MONTH- APRIL 2013

1)UTHSAVAM: RAMANAVAMI UTHSAVAM
DATE: 19TH APRIL
TOWN: SENGANOOR

2) UTHSAVAM: SRIMAD BHAGAVATHA SAPTHAHAM

DATE: 23RD APRIL TO 30TH APRIL

TOPIC: SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM

VENUE: GOKULAM, AZHAGAR KOVIL

CONDUCTED BY SRI SRI KRISHNAPREMI SWAMIGAL.

AZHAGAR WILL COME TO THE ASHRAM ON 29TH APRIL

SRI HARI ANNA'S PROGRAMME- APRIL 2013

1) PROGRAM AT PUNE
DATE: 6TH APRIL TO 14TH APRIL
TOPIC: SRIMAD VALMIKI RAMAYANAM
VENUE: KANCHI SANKARA MUTT
TIME: 6.30 P.M

EVENTS OF THE MONTH OF APRIL 2013- SMT.VISHAKHA HARI'S PROGRAMS

1) PROGRAM AT CHENNAI
DATE: 3RD APRIL
CITY: CHENNAI
VENUE: KAPAALESWARAR TEMPLE
TOPIC: PARVATHY KALYANAM
TIME: 6.30 P.M

2) PROGRAM AT CHENNAI
DATE: 27TH APRIL
CITY: CHENNAI
VENUE: MUSIC ACADEMY
TOPIC: SUNDARA KANDAM
TIME: 6.00 P.M

3) PROGRAM AT UPPILIAPPAN TEMPLE
DATE: 28TH APRIL
VENUE: UPPILIAPPAN TEMPLE
TOPIC: THYAGARAJA RAMAYANAM- SEETHA KALYANAM
TIME: 7.00 P.M

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM- APRIL 2013

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE QUIZ

1) The answers to the quiz should be sent to the email idannahariji@gmail.com within 26^th of each month.

2) Every month the answers will be evaluated and marks shall be given as points. These points shall get cumulatively added each month.

3) The highest score winner of the year ( April to March) will be awarded 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prizes.

QUESTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2013 

1)       Which hill did  Gajendra live in? Which samudra surrounded that hill?

2)      “ Yathaschedam, Yenedam”—Explain the difference in these two words in Gajendra’s sthuthi.

3)      “ Aroopaya, Ururoopaya”- these words in Gajendra sthuthi seem to contradictbecah other but they do nit. How is it?

4)      What is the philosophy behind Garuda which is explained in Gajendra’s sthuthi?

5)      How is Vishnuparathvam established in Gajendra moksham?

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2013

1)      Prahlada says “ One who asks a boon from the Lord is not a devotee but a trader ( a merchant, a businessman who does business with the Lord Himself.)

2)      The Lord gave Prahlada 2 boons a) Your father will attain mukthi as he gave birth to you. b) You will be the substitute for all devotees.

3)      Narada extols Dharmaputra as fortunate because “ Lord Krishna was dear to him, He was his relative,, serving him, guiding him.

4)      Sanyasis can stay at a village only for one night.

5)      Narada was Upabarhanan, a Gandharva  in his previous birth.

Winners for the month of March 2013 

1)      Radhika Venkatraman------------------I-----------------100+10=110points

2)      Kathik Venkatrman----------------------I-----------------104+10=114

3)      Sethuraman-------------------------------I------------------104+10=114

4)      Srividya Krishnan------------------------I-------------------82+10=92

5)      Padma Narayanan----------------------I--------------------90+10=100

6)      Srinivasan Sujatha----------------------I--------------------84+10=94

7)      N.Krishnan--------------------------------I--------------------98+10=108

8)      Raja-----------------------------------------I--------------------98+10=108

9)      Sruthi Suryaprakash--------------------II-------------------48+8=56

10)    Smruthy Suryaprakash---------------II--------------------42+8=50

11)   Srinivasan---------------------------------III-------------------32+6=38

CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS

YOU HAVE DONE IT.

WINNERS FOR THE YEAR APRIL 2012 TO MARCH 2013

1)      Kathik Venkatraman-------------------I---------------114

2)      Sethuraman----------------------------I---------------114

3)      Radhika Venkatraman-----------------II--------------110

4)      N.Krishnan----------------------------III-------------108

5)      Raja-----------------------------------III---------- --108

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2013

                      THIRUCHEMPONCHEYKOVIL

Once upon a time there lived  a boy called Upamanyu. He was very devoted to his Guru whonwas Doumya. He used to graze cows of Dhoumya’s ashram. Even if he was hungry or thirsty he never used to drink the milk of such cows as he felt all of them rightfully belonged to Dhoumya. He also gave his annabiksha to his guru. The Guru wanted to test him.  He ate everything and never left anything for Upamanyu. All that Upamanyu lived on was the milk of Erukka leaves. In a shortwhile he became blind due to drinking the milk of erukka leaves. By mistake he fell into a well on the way. His Guru came in search of him and found him fallen into a well. He hugged him and cried that he had become blind because of malnutrition. Doumya then mediatated on Narayana and told Upamanyu,

“ Lord Vishnu, who is omnipotent should be worshipped by you. He will bestow your lost eye-sight.” Upamanyu did so. The Lord appeared before him for his sincerity and Guru bhakthi. He gave him some ( Vellappam) sweets and asked  him to eat them. Upamanyu said “ I will not eat anything without offering it to my Guru. That is my principle.  Fine, said the Lord. Eat the sweets after your Guru gives them back to you. But now I have decided to restore your eye sight.” All of a sudden Upamanyu got back his eyesight.

Upamanyu went back to Dhoumya and told him all that had happened. Dhoumya said “ You have  got back your eyes but I still feel you are blind. One without true education is a blind man indeed.  Education is the eye of a man truly. Eat this sweet given by the Lord. You will be free from ignorance.”

Upamanyu  then partook the sweets. He radiated great effulgence. Dhoumya was pleased to see him. How do you feel dear? He asksed. Upamanyu said “ I can see none but Vishnu in you and me.” Dhoumya said “ You have attained complete wisdom. Go back to your house and lead a house- holder’s life. Upamanyu did as advised.

This kshetra is where Upamanyu saw Varadaraja and got back his eye-sight.