Sri.Hari Anna: February 2014

Monday, February 10, 2014

SLOKA FOR THE MONTH OF FEB 2014

"Vrukshe Vrukshe cha pashyami Cheerakrishnajinambaram

Gruheethadhanusham Ramam Paashahasthamivaanthakam

Rakaaradeeni Namani Ramathrasthasya Ravana

Rathnani cha rathaaschaiva Vithraasam Janayanthi me"

The yogis mediatate upon the Lord through their consisitent abhyasa ( practice). It requires that the mind is pulled away from materialistic desires and focussed upon the Lord. This is known as “ Prathyaharam, Dharana, Dhyanam”. If such a yogi is a fanatic, perseverant staunch person then his mind easily concentrates on the Lord. For a dull headed sadhaka his concentration too is dull. Even for a perseverant sadhaka his mind would sometimes get distracted towards that which he desires the most. For example Bharatha Yogi’s mind was distracted by a deer. Becasue of that his mind which was centred towards the Lord through abhaysa was diverted towards a deer through desire. This proves that attachment, love desire is stronger than abhyasa. Now if this desire is shown towards the Lord the mind becomes God centric. The Gopis did precisely this.

Just as our mind thinks of a person dearer to us , so does it think of those whom we despise. Those who think of the Lord through enmity or fear too reach His feet. Shishupalan, Poundraka Vasudeva etc attained the feet of the Lord through jealousy towards him. Kamsa and Maricha attained Him through fear.

1) Sages like Bharatha concentrated on the Lord through Abhayasa.

2) Gopis did so through their affection.

3) The rakshasas like Maricha did so through their fear of God.

In Srimad Ramayana this sloka comes as a conversation by Maricha to Ravana. He says “ When I see any tree in this forest I only perciev it as Rama satnding tall wearing the tree bark, holding His Kodanda. This forest itself is Ramamaya ( totally Rama) for me. Becasue of my fear for Rama I do not even say the letter R. I do not even pronounce the words Rathnam, or Ratham as these words start with the letter “ R”.

PAST EVENTS- HYDERABAD SAPTHAHAM

Srimad Bhagavatha sapthaham was conducted at the Veda Bhavanam, Hyderabad from 17th Jan to 23rd Jan. Sri Hari delivered the lectures to the delight of all the audience. Radhakalyanam was conducted on 19th Jan. Many students studying in the patashala listened keenly with rapt attention.

EVENTS OF THE MONTH- FEB 2014

SRI HARI ANNA'S PROGRAMS

1) PROGRAM AT CHENNAI

DATE: 3RD FEB TO 9TH FEB

TOPIC: SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM

VENUE: AYODHYA MANDAPAM

CITY: CHENNAI

TIME: 7.00 P.M

2) PROGRAM AT SALEM,

DATE: 20TH FEB TO 22ND FEB

TOPIC SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM

VENUE: DHARMA SASTHA ASHRAM ( AIYYAPPAN TEMPLE)

TOWN: SALEM

TIME: 6.30 P.M

SMT VISHAKHA HARI'S PROGRAMS- FEB 2014

1) PROGRAM AT BANGALORE
DATE: 7TH FEB
VENUE: GAYANA SAMAJ
TOPIC: THE STORY OF SUDAMA

2) PROGRAM AT MYSORE
DATE: 8TH FEB
VENUE: MYSORE VASUDEVACHAR BHAVAN
TOPIC: TRIBUTE TO LALGUDI SIR

3) PROGRAM AT MUMBAI
DATE: 15TH, 16TH FEB
VENUE: SHNAMUGHANANDA SABHA
TIME: 6.00 P.M
TOPIC: TRIBUTE TO LALGUDI SIR- CONCERT-- 15TH
VAMANA AVATHARAM------16TH FEB

4) PROGRAM AT SRIRANGAM
DATE: 19TH FEB
VENUE: GORATHA MOOLA
TIME; 7.00P.M
TOPIC: SHABARI MOKSHAM

5) PROGRAM AT CHENNAI
DATE: 22ND FEB
VENUE: NARADA GANA SABHA
TIME; 7.00 P.M
TOPIC: DAANA MAHIMA--THE BLISS OF GIVING

6) PROGRAM AT SALEM

DATE: 23RD FEB
VENUE: IYYAPPAN TEMPLE
TIME; 6.30 P.M
TOPIC: GURU MAHIMA

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM- FEB 2014

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 FEB 2014

1) Who is known by the name Kumuda?

2) “Induriva Pushkalaha”—Lord Krishna incarnated like the moon. What Vedantha does Sri Suka say in this example?

3) For how many years did Prushni and Suthapa do penance?

4) When did Yogamaya incarnate from Yashoda?

5) Always the beloved ones are never together. What example does Suka give for this?

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF JAN 2014

1) Hasthi

2) Shanthanu

3) Dharmaputhra

4) 11 brothers

5) 5 sisters

WINNERS FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2014

1) Sruthi Suryaprakash-------------------I-------------76+10=86

2) Srinivasan Sujatha S-------------------I-------------80+10=90

3) Sethuraman-----------------------------I--------------90+10=100

4) Raja----------------------------------------I--------------66+10=76

5) N.Krishnan-------------------------------I---------------86+10=96

6) Padma Narayanan---------------------I---------------80+10=90

7) Lakshmi Kumar-------------------------I---------------10

8) Mathangi Iyer--------------------------I----------------10

9) Radhakrishnan Ramamurthy------II----------------86+8=94

10) R.Krishnan------------------------------II----------------8

11) Vishnupriya-----------------------------III--------------6

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF FEB 2014

THIRUKANNANGUDI

Once there was a summit of alla sages who intended to perform a yaga. As they were performing the yaga at the banks of river Saraswathi Sage Narada came there. He enquired “ Who are you trying to appease by this yaga? Who is the Deva who gives the fruits for these yagas? If you perform yagas with complete knowledge of these then you will beget the fruits completely.

The sages said “ We wprship all the Gods as equal in the yagas. Who is the greater is an irrevelevant vichara.” Narada smiled and said “ One God orders the others . All other Gods are just kinkaras. Do you know amongst all these Gods which God has sathvaguna and is devoid of lust and anger/

On being questioned so Brigu, the sage left for testing the Gods as to who was superior amongst all. Each of them were found to be either with lust or anger but when he reached the abode of Vishnu, he smilingly welcomed him. Brugu, wanting to test him further kicked at his chest. Yet the Lord was full of compassion. Brugu came back to the sages and declared that Lord Vishnu was the best of all, filled with Sathva gUna.

Thenceforth all those belonging to the Bhargavagothra became Vaishnavaites. But Brugu was greatly pained that he had kicked the Lord of all Lords. Who was he to test the Lord? Hence he came to the Sravana theertha at chozhadesha and did severe peanance. The Lord appeared before him. Brugu wept for his sin and cried profusely.

The Lord appeared before him and said “ I look at the intention of a person alone and not at his activities. Since you wanted to prove my greatness to the world what you did is not a mistake.” Brugu was finally satisfied. Even today there is this kshetra where the Lord appeared for sage Brugu. It is called Thirukannangudi.

SRISRIANNA - AN INTRODUCTION

WELCOME TO THE GATEWAY OF A GLORIOUS TRADITION – THE PREMIKA SAMPRADAYA

SRISRIANNA – AN INTRODUCTION

SriKrishnapremi swamigal fondly called as SriAnna was born in Sanganallur, a small village in tamilnadu, India. Right from his early days he was a severe practioner of YogaSadhanas. This saint however wished to prove the world that the easiest way to attain the lotus feet of the Lord is nevertheless the path of Bhakthi. He revered SriBhagavanNama Bodendral as his Mansika Guru. He took to Srimad Bhagavatham as his pramana grantha [Authoritative treatise]. He founded a glorious sampradaya called PremikaSampradaya.[SriAnna is addressed as Premika].

SriBhakthaKolahalaKrishna is his Upasana deity. Paranur is a village near Villupuram. SriAnna built a wonderful temple for SriKolahalan in this small village. Thenceforth he started living there. He himself performed all the sevas to SriKolahalan right from Suprabhatham in the morning, the afternoon pooja, the evening rituals till dolothsavam in the night. Like SriThiyagaraja Swamigal who sang Utsava sampradaya keerthanas to his IshtaDaiva Lord Rama, SriAnna composed Uthsava krithis for the seva of SriKolahalan.[Suprabhatham to Dolothsavam]. Those Keerthanas are being sung till date during the pooja of the lord in Paranur. Besides this SriAnna has composed several Shathakas[A Shathaka consists of 100 Krithis] including 1. Raghava Shathakam 2. Radhika Shathakam 3. Yugala Shathakam 4. Govinda Shathakam 5. Ranga Shathakam etc. He has composed more than 1000 Krithis to date. It is definite that SriAnna visits Paranur every Ekadasi.There he follows `the Ekadasi Vratham in a strict manner, fasting, performing Abhishekam to Kolahalan, Pravachanam in the evening and Divyanama Sankeerthanam in the night. Gokulasthtami Utsavam is a grand affair in Paranur with 1000’s of devotees participating, Bhakthi overflowing through the streets. Navarathri Utsavam, Vasanthothsavam, SriRamanavami Utsavam, Keerthanavali utsavam, Thepothsavam are the othert festivals celebrated grandly at Paranur.

SriAnna has also established a VedaPatashala at Paranur. There is also a Goshala beautifully maintained by him. These have been established by a trust founded by him. The trust is named “SriKrishnapremi Swamigal Baghavatha Dharmam trust”. This trust is run exclusively by the efforts of SriAnna.

THE SPREAD OF BHAKTHI THROUGHOUT INDIA:

SriAnna wished to spread awareness about the importance of Bhakthi in the minds of the people of India. Hence he toured throughout the length and breadth of India from Kanyakumari to the Himalayas many times. He gave discourses on several topics in several cities including Srimad Bhagavatham, Srimad Ramayanam, Mahabharatham, Bhakthavijayam, Bhagavath Geetha, Azhwargal vaibhavam, Upanishads etc. He is an ocean of knowledge – a reservoir of wisdom. There is in fact no topic not dealt by him. He also founded and established an association called “Akhila Bharatha Sadhu Sangham” throughout India in several cities. The objectives of this institution are

Spread the awareness of “ The Greatness of the divine name – NamaPracharam”
To conduct Bhavatham, Ramayana discourses.
Renovation of DivyaDesa temples etc.

Akhila Bharatha Sadhu Sangam functions in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Tirunelvelli, Madurai, Pondicherry etc.

OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS: {ASHRAMS}

PREMA MADHURI KUNJAM – BRINDAVANAM, MATHURA, UP

SriAnna holds Brindavanam very close to his hearts. Hence he built an Ashram called PremaMadhuriKunjam in RadhaNivas, Goranagar colony, Brindavanam. Here he built an exquisite temple for SriRadhaVamsidhara Krishna. Here too like paranur the rituals take place according to Premika Sampradaya [ Suprabhatham to Dolothsavam]. The main festivals celebrated here are Radhasthtami, Rasothsavam, Holy, and RadhaKalyanam. Every year SriAnna visits Brindavanam four times for these Uthsavams.

KOORATHAZWAR BHAJANASHRAMAM, ALAGAR KOVIL, MADURAI

This Ashram is at Alagar kovil, Madurai. This picturesque Ashram captivates the heart of every viewer. The natural beauty of this Ashram with the green mountains behind it and flowers of various hues is the apt place for meditating on the lotus feet of the lord. Every Chithra Pournami Lord Alagar comes to this Ashram to the delight of several devotees. SriAnna conducts a Sapthaham during this time. This Ashram is being goverened by Akhila Bharatha Sadhu Sangam, Madurai.

KRISHNASURI BHAJANASHRAMAM, MELKOTE

Melkote is a kshetram near Mysore, Karnataka. SwamiRamanauja retrieved the deity of this kshetram from the Delhi Badshah, after great efforts. Here again a beautiful ashram has been established. Chellapillai - as the deity is popularly known as, comes to this ashram in every July. This ashram is maintained by Akila Bharatha Sadhusangam Bangalore.

PANDURANGAN TEMPLE, THIRUCHANANALLUR

There lived a saint by name Krishnasuri in Thiruchanganallur [Chenganur]. It is he who is called Periyavachanpillai in tamil. He has commented on the entire 4000 Divyaprabhandhams. SriAnna incarnated in his vamsa. Periyavachanpillai had earlier constructed a temple for Lord Srinivasa. SriAnna too has built a small but beautiful temple for Pandurangan in this village. Besides this he has constructed a Mutt for PeriyavachanPillai. Periyavachanpillai too was born on a Avani Rohini incidentally SriAnna too was born on a AvaniRohini[Rohini star – Tamil month of Avani]. Hence on that day there is a procession of Periyavachanpillai to that Mutt built by SriAnna. Also every year it is routine that on January 26^th the KalyanaUtsavam of LordSrinivas and Panduranga are conducted.

SRISRIANNA’S WORKS:

SriAnna has written innumerable works in Sanskrit. To my knowledge after Valmiki and Vyasa he is the only person to write 40,000 slokas. Some of the important works are SriVaishnavaSamhita, Divyadesa Vaibhavam, Brindavana Mahatmiyam etc.He also has written works in various languages such as tamil, telgu, marati and the like. He also runs a monthly tamil magazine called BagavathaDharmam.

BRAHMASABHA:

SriAnna established an association called Bramhasabha to spread BagavathaDharmam throughtout the whole world. Bhajans, Parayans, Pravachans etc are being conducted at USA, Dubai etc by Bramhasabha members.

TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SRISRIANNA VISIT www.srisrianna.org

Sri.Hari Anna