SLOKA OF THE MONTH-- DEC 2013

SLOKA FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013

“ Athyanthasukhasamvrudaha Sukumaraha Sukhochithaha

Kathamthvapararathreshu Sarayumavagahathe

Thyakthva Rajyam cha Manam cha Bhogaamscha vividhan bahun

Thapasvi Niyathaharaha Shethe Sheethe Maheethale”

Throughout the Ayodhya kanda the unflinching love of all citizens towards Rama and Rama’s steadfast love towards Dharama are shown. The citizens of Ayodhya followed Rama to the forest because of their indisputable love towards Him. Out of love for Rama Sita and Lakshmana followed Rama. Out of love for Rama Dasaratha sacrificed even his life. All of them loved Rama. This was because Rama followed Dharma. Out of all of them Bharatha was the best. Hearing the news of Rama’s exile he wept profusely. He came to Chitrakoot and asked Rama to accept the kingdom back. Rama consoled him and gave him his paduka as Jeevanadhara ( as a substitute). He brought back those padukas ( sandals) to Nandhigram. He did not enjoy the materialstic pleasure. He lived the life of an ascetic for 14 years.

                          Sri Rama left Chitrakoot and came to Panchavati. He lived in the hut built by Lakshmana. Even when it was winter he went to have his morning bath in the Godavari very early in the morning. Lakshmana came along. He once said to Rama “ Bharatha has been brought up with all comforts all these years. He ought to enjoy all the pleasures of a king. Yet he wears matted hair and the bark of a tree. He sleeps on barren ground and lives the life of a sage. We are doing so because we have been bound by the boon. He is not bound by any such boon” praised Lakshmana. Rama was thrilled to hear such words. He said “ Tell me more, tell me more about Bharatha. I feel happy listening about Bharatha.”

PAST EVENTS

PROGRAM AT SINGAPORE

Program at Singapore was held by Sri Krishnapremi Swamigal Satsangh, from Dec 1st to 7th. Smt. Vishakha Hari began on 1st Dec at SIFAS auditorium. The sangeetha upanyasam was on Krishna leela. Sri Hari Anna delivered the lectures on Ekadasha skandam at Sivan temple, Geylang. RadhaKalyanam

 was also conducted on Saturday and it was a grand conclusion.

The Conclusion Talk by V.Prabhakar Rao at the end of Smt. Vishaka Hariji’s “Sri Krishna Leela” – A Sangeetha Upanyasam at SIFAS (Singapore) on Dec 1st 2013 has been posted here.
Sri Gurubhyo Namaha
Even as I was walking to the rostrum in my mind the scene of Lord Krishna dancing on Kalinga in river Yamuna was running. Such was the beautiful way Smt.Vishakaji visibly portrayed this scene to us with the help of her Sangeetha Guru’s composition and her own wonderful musical ability.
I am very happy to see the hall filled with people. I even see some people standing at the end of the hall. It is an indication of the pull of Bhagavan Krishna and the music of Smt.Vishakaji.
In our culture whenever music meets devotion the result is divinity. . Today for giving such a divine event let us thank Smt.Vishakaji.
Smt.Vishakaji not only brought these two dimensions viz., Music and Devotion, but she also brought a third dimension into play. That was the Sense of Humour. Whether it was the Thambaalam or young Krishna or indhaaththu Mama or whichever one, I am sure all of us enjoyed the humour she brought in.
She started off by expressing why it is Krishna Leela and not Krishna Katha, Krishna Charithra, biography or autobiography ….. She emotionally brought out the fact that inspite of the most challenging circumstances He had faced Krishna took His life as a Play. He was born in the middle of the night in a prison to parents who were in handcuffs. From then on he had faced so many challenges in his life. Still He took His life as a Play. Hence it is Krishna Leela. Smt. Vishakaji brought out this so beautifully.
Starting from that point there was a smooth river of Bhagavatham running through the two hours of Sangeetha Upanyasam. Upanyasam requires coherent thought and fluency of delivery. Sangeetham brings into play its own musical factors. She has demonstrated ability in both the domains so commendably, which we could feel over the past two hours. And what more she was able to seamlessly move from Upanyasam to Sangeetham and back to Upanyasam at will, with complete ease. I was sitting there in the audience enjoying it as if my own daughter was performing!
As the event was progressing a mental picture of this upanyasam was forming in my mind as if it was a wonderful big tree. This tree had dharma as its root. The trunk and branches
were nothing but Srimad Bhagavatham. Sangeetham represented the beautiful flowers that we enjoyed in this tree. Finally what is the fruit? Her Bhavam was the fruit. Yad bhavam tad bhavathi. Her “Bhavam” became our “Anubhavam”. For that let us give her a big applause.
This kind of an event would not be so pleasant and enjoyable but for the outstanding accompanying instrumentalists. The Artiste on violin and the Artiste on mridangam added colour to the whole event.
SIFAS should be thanked for providing such a beautiful hall with excellent facilities and for hosting this event.
Sri Krishna Premi Swamigal Sathsangam of Singapore need to be thanked on all your behalf for arranging this sangeetha upanyasam.
And the audience for the wonderful support extended

UTHSAVAMS OF THE MONTH- DEC 2013

UTHSAVAM: KEERTHANAVALI UTHSAVAM
VILLAGE: PARANOOR
DATE: 18TH DEC TO 27TH DEC
PLACE: KOLAHALAN'S TEMPLE

SRI HARI ANNA'S PROGRAM

PROGRAM AT MUMBAI
DATE: 25TH DEC TO 31ST DEC
TOPIC: SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM
TIME: 7.00 A.M TO 7.00 P.M
VENUE: VANI VIDYALAYA, MULUND

EVENTS OF THE MONTH- DECEMBER 2013

                                             SMT . VISHAKHA HARI'S PROGRAMS

PROGRAM FOR DECEMBER SEASON AT CHENNAI DECEMBER MUSIC SEASON 2013 S.NO DATE SABHA VENUE TOPIC TIME ACCOMPANISTS 1) 07.12.12 Karthik Fine Arts Narada Gana Sabha Kuchelopakyanam 6.45p.m Ananthakrishnan, Arjun Ganesh,  Trichy Krishnaswamy 2) 15.12.13 Jaya TV Chettinad Vidyashramam Guruvayurappan leela 6.45 p.m Ananthakrishnan, Arjun Ganesh,  Trichy Murali 3) 21.12.13 Krishna Gana Sabha Krishna Gana Sabha Parvathy Kalyanam 9.00 a.m Ananthakrishnan, Arjun Ganesh, Trichy Murali 4) 22.12.13 Krishna Gana Sabha Krishna Gana Sabha Meenakshy Kalyanam 9.00a.m Ananthakrishnan, Arjun Ganesh,  Trichy Murali 5) 25.12.13 Parthasarathy Swami Vidya Bharathi , Bhooloka Vaikuntam 10.00a.m Padma Shankar, GanapathyRaman, Trichy Murali 6) 27.12.13 Mudra Fine Arts Infosys Hall, Prahlada charitram  6.30p.m Charulatha, H.S Sudindra, Sukanya          T.Nagar ( near Joy Alukkas) 7) 29.12.13 Bharath Kalchar -Bharath Kalachar,T.Nagar Andal Kalyanam 4.00p.m Jyothsna,  H.S Sudindra, Sukanya  8) 30.12.13 Vani Mahal Vani Mahal, T.Nagar Subramanya Vaibhavam 6.00p.m Charulatha, Sudindra, Sukanya  9) 1.01.14 Narada Gana Sabha Narada Gana Sabha Srinivasa Vaibhavam 4.00 p.m Ananthakrishnan,Arjun Ganesh,  Trichy Krishnaswamy

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM

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 DECEMBER 2013

1)Which was the capital city of Karthaveeryarjuna?

2)To which rishi’s gothra did Parasurama belong?

3)Who was Oushanasi?

4) Who cursed Yayathi that he would become old?

5) Who took Yayathi’s curse of old age instead of him?

ANSWERS FOR NOVEMBER 2013

1)      Parikshith had listened to Ramayana from several rishis even before he heard from Suka.

2)      Sita matched Rama in beauty, form, character, virtue and age.

3)      Lavanan

4)      Sri Rama ascended Vaikunta placing His feet on those who thought of Him.

5)      Seeradhwaja

WINNERS FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2013

1) Srividhya Krishnan-------------I-------------------------58+10=68

2) Gokul--------------------------I--------------------------30+10=40

3) Padma Narayanan-------------I---------------------------60+10=70

4) Srinivasan Sujatha--------------I-------------------------60+10=70

5) N. Krishnan--------------------I--------------------------68+10=78

6) Sethuraman-------------------I---------------------------70+10=80

7) Raja--------------------------II---------------------------48+8=56

8) Sruthi Suryaprakash-----------II--------------------------60+8=68
9) Radhakrishnan---------------III--------------------------70+6=76

10) Lalitha Narasimhan----------III---------------------------6

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013

The crab worshipping Shiva.- Karkateshwara.

Gangakarshanam- the well at the mutt

                                                             

                                                              THIRIVISANALLUR

There is a shiva kshetra by name Thirivisanallur. There was once a chola king who wanted to worship Lord Shiva there. He had informed the archakar that he wanted to worship the Lord with thousand lotus flowers that had grown in the lotus tank. The next morning as the archakar made all arrangements for the king’s visit and opened the door of the sanctum sanctorium he was shocked.That was because there were already thousand flowers on Shiva. Who had worshipped Him? The king came there and to his utter dismay felt cheated. He suspected that the archakar had did it. The latter pleaded that he had not worshipped Lord Shiva and also said he would see who had done it. That night he was awake and waited to see who was worshipping Shiva. Just then a crab came through the Gomukha  and placed flowers on Shiva’s head one by one. As the archaka came to hit it the crab climbed on to Lord Shiva’s head so that he could not hit it. Crab is called Karkataha in Sanskrit. Hence Lord Shiva of Thirivisanallur came to be called Karkateshwara.

Many famous scholars lived at Thirivisanallur. But of all Sreedhara Iyyaval was the most famous saint. He was a contemporary of Bodhendral. He did Nama Sidhdhantha. He was previously a minister at the court of Mysore Maharaja.But he did not like his post. He preferred to be a sincere devotee of Lord Shiva. Hence he came on a kshetradana ( pilgrimage) to Trichy. He composed several works like Krishna Dwadashamanjari, Akhyashashti, Dolanavarathnamalika etc. He settled at Thrivisanallur. Once a hungry orphan begged him for food. Out of pity he gave food to him. But that was on the day of his pithru shraadhdham. All the Brahmins of that village were annoyed at his behaviour.  They advised that Ganga snan was the only solution to it. He went to his well and prayed that Ganges came to his well. The river truly came to his well. This uthsava is celebrated as Gangakarshanothsavam. Thousands of people come to this village on Kathika Amavasa for Ganga snan ( at the well). Sreedara Iyyaval’s greatness is indescribable.