QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM APRIL 2009

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 FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2009

1) Who is forbidden to even chant the name of the Lord?

2) What is treasured by the sadhus most?

3) Bhumi Devi suffered from heavy burden. How does Kunti equate this ?

4) “ Bhavesmin klishyamananam”- What is the reason for the avathar of the Lord in this sloka?

5) “ Ime janapadaha” What is the reason behind Indraprastha’s prosperity?

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2009:

1) After the mahabharatha yudha Yudhishtira did aswamedha yaga. How many times did he do so?

Dharmaputhrar did Ashwamedha yagam thrice in his lifetime

2) Ashwaththama discharged the asthra on pancha pandavas. How did Lord Krishna protect the pandavas from it?

The Lord saved the Pandavas from the missiles of Aswaththama with his Sudarshana chakra.

3) How did utharakumari seek refuge?

“ Deva Deva! Jagannatha! He Natha! In this world which is under the control of death you alone can save us from its clutches. Let this Brahmastram burn me but not my child in my womb” thus Utharakumari surrendered to the Lord.

4) “Namasye purusham”- Why is he called purusha?

A)“ Purushaha”- He is called Purusha as He existed even before the world was created ( Poorvameva aasa)

B) “ Puri shayanath” – Puram also means body. He is called purusha because he is the antharyami ( residing in the body)

5) “Vipadaha santhu naha” –Kunti prays for more and more accidents in life. Why is it so?

The Lord comes immediately during every mishap to save us from such incidents.

Thus Kunti obtained Krishna Darshanam every time she faced a difficulty. Kunthi

hence prays for more and more tribulations in her eagerness to see the Lord and

the conviction of His arrival.

MARCH WINNERS:

1.Sethuraman I- 110+10 points

2.Radhika Venkataraman -I-16+10 points

3.Nandakumar -I-10 points

4.Thaila -I-42+10 points

5.Arvina Hariharan -I-10 +10 points

6.Aparna -II -92+10 points

7.Hari Gurumoorthy-II-48 +8 points

8.Samrithi Nandakumar-III-8 +6 points

9.Girija Sitaraman-III-6 points

10.Padma Narayanan -III-64+6 points

CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS FOR THE YEAR APRIL 2008-MARCH 2009:

1.SETHURAMAN- I -120 POINTS [Rs.3000 ,SHIELD,KOLAHALAN PHOTO LAMINATION ]

2.APARNA GANESH - II-100 POINTS [Rs.2000 ,SHIELD,KOLAHALAN PHOTO LAMINATION ]

3.PADMA NARAYANAN -III-70 POINTS[Rs.1000 ,SHIELD,KOLAHALAN PHOTO AMINATION ]

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH APRIL 2009

SRI RANGAM PART V

RANGA GITA

Sri Ranganatha continues : “Lakhs of families earn their livelihood with my temple as their means”. Besides their earning they get immense peace of mind as they attribute their service to me. Faith in me can perform the most unimaginable miracles. It can even cure the most incurable disease in the world. I assume the form of archa for the sake of my devotees. Iam decked with jewels and I am celebrated in various uthsavams for the bliss of my devotees. My temple is a feast for all my devotees. It is joy for their eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue and mind. This is not just sensual pleasure however, as Iam involved it alleviates maya.

As the Lord says in the Ranga Gita even today Srirangam is always filled with uthsavams as follows:

1) Thai uthsavam in the month of Jan-Feb

2) Masi theppothsavam ( Feb- Mar)

3) Panguni Serthi uthsavam ( Mar- April)

4) Chitra thirunal- Brahmothsavam ( April- May)

5) Vaikashi vasanthothsavam ( May- June)

6) Poochaththu uthsavam

7) Jyeshtabhishekam ( July-Aug)

8) Pavithrothsavam

9) Navarathri uthsavam- Purattasi ( Sep-Oct)

10) Iyppasi Dolothsavam ( Oct- Nov)

11) Thirukarthikka uthsavam ( Nov-Dec)

12) Adhyanothsavam- Rapaththu, pagal paththu ( Dec- Jan)

13) Vaikunta Ekadesi uthsavam

Thus the whole year is filled with uthsavams. Here one might be a little speculative. Whereas in other religions places of worship are always calm and serene, in Hindu religion why is there pomp and show, noise and jubiliation? Sri Anna answers: In the Hindu Dharma temples are not meant for meditation, but for celebration. Meditative atmosphere is readily available in forest caves. Those who can control their mind and sense organs can very well do so at their very homes. People throng to the temples because they are unable to control their senses. The Lord says “ Come Oh Devotees, to me. If you are unable to control your eyes worry not, let them be free to see Me adorned with jewels and lustrous garments. Let them see me in different vahanas ( vehicles) in procession. If your nose asks for fragrance let them smell my tulasi garlands and incense sticks. If your ears throng for pleasant sounds let them hear songs in praise of me.. Thus the same senses which push us down to maya can be redirected towards the Lord to win over it. This is the master plan of the All Knowing Master.

To be continued.

SHLOKA OF THE MONTH MARCH 2009

SARVESHAM HI SA DHARMATHMA VARNANAM KURUTHE DAYAM

CHATHURNAM HI VAYASTHANAM THENA THE THAMANUVRATHAHA

The citizens of ayodhya never tire the sight of Rama on Ayodhya streets. The streets are full of people.. It is filled with not only the citizens of Ayodhya but the others who have come to witness the pattabhisheka function too. The streets, the houses, the house-tops, the roofs, tree tops- people, people everywhere. Sri Rama’s chariot pierces the crowd. His glance is full of mercy. He smiled at some, shook his head at some others, bowed down to elders, he gave what the devotees wanted. There was no difference between the foolish and wise, rich and poor, Brahmin and others in front of Rama. Every one was satisfied that his glance fell on them. There is no boundary to His mercy. There is place for the highly born Vasishta and the low born Guha in Sri Rama’s heart. The gnani (wise) Anchaneya and the fallen Ahalya are treated alike by him. His mercy equally falls on deserving Vibheeshana ( prapanna sreshta) and an undeserving kakasura who knew not even to prostrate. His mercy alone is our only refuge, we being laymen.

EVENTS OF THE MONTH JAN 2009

BHAKTHA VIJAYA PRAVACHANAM

Poornakumbam to hariji

Hariji

Pravachnam

Pravachnam

Audience

From Jan 20^th to 26^th Sri Hari anna stunned the audience at Ayodhya mandapam ( Ashwamedha mandapam) , mambalam, Chennai. Sri hari Anna’s resonant and emotive upanyasam was enjoyed by more than 700 devotees. The devotion of the bhakthas and the enormous compassion of the Lord was brought before the very eyes of the audience. Bhadrachala ramadasar’s staunch devotion, Purandaradasar’s vairagya, kabir’s gurubakthi, Ekanathar’s patience, Jayadeva’s gopibhavam was beautifully explained by Hari Anna. Sri Gurumoorthy made all the arrangements beautifully with great sincerity.

EVENTS OF THIS MONTH(MARCH 2009)

I UTSAVAM OF THIS MONTH (MARCH 2009) UTSAVAM: Holi Utsavam

DATE: March 1 to 10
TOWN: Brindavan

II HARIANNA'S PROGRAM(MARCH 2009)SRIMAD BHAGAVATA PRAVACHNAM SINGAPORE

DATE: FEB 25 TO MARCH 2
TOPIC:Srimad Bhagavatam
CITY: Singapore
VENUE: Sri Krishna temple,Waterloo street,Singapore
TIME: 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

III VISHAKA HARI'S PROGRAM MARCH 2009

1.PROGRAM AT CHENNAI
DATE: 1ST MARCH
TOPIC :Vibeeshana Saranagathy
CITY: Chennai
VENUE: Hamsadwany,Youth Hostel,Adayar
TIME: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

2.PROGRAM AT CHENNAI

DATE: 3rd March
TOPIC: Rukmini Kalyanam
CITY:Chennai
VENUE:Padmanabhaswamy temple,Adayar
TIME: 7 pm to 9 pm

3.PROGRAM AT TRICHY
DATE: 21 March
TOPIC: Sabary Moksham
CITY: Trichy
VENUE:R.R. Sabha
TIME:7 pm to 9 pm

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM MARCH 2009

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 FOR THE MONTH MARCH 2009:

1) After the mahabharatha yudha Yudhishtira did aswamedha yaga. How many times did he do so?

2) Ashwaththama discharged the asthra on pancha pandavas. How did Lord Krishna protect the pandavas from it?

3) How did utharakumari seek refuge?

4) “Namasye purusham”- Why is he called purusha?

5) “Vipadaha santhu naha” –Kunti prays for more and more accidents in life. Why is it so?

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF FEB 2009:

1)Who is Gautamy?

Aswaththama’s mother.

2) Why do we call Arjuna as Paartha?

Kunthi is otherwise known as “Prutha”. Arjuna is called “Partha” because he is the son of Prutha.

3) What was Draupadi’s reaction on seeing Ashwaththama?

“ leave him, leave Him” thus said Droupadi and bowed before Ashwaththama.

4) “ harehe haardam”- what is meant by haardam?

“Hardam is the notion of the mind, i.e., sankalpa.

5) What kind of punishment did Arjuna give Ashwaththama ?

He took off the jewel on Aswathathama’s head and shamed him

FEBRUARY WINNERS:
1.Sethuraman-First - 100+10 pts.
2. Hari Gurumurthy-First-38+10pts.
3.Aravind Hariharan-First - 10pts.
4.Aparna Ganesh-First-82+10pts.
5.Thaila-First-32+10pts.
6.Sujatha Nanadakumar-First-8+10pts.
7.Karthik Venkatraman- Second-42+8 pts.
8.Radhika Venkataraman-Third-10+6points

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH MARCH 2009

SRI RANGAM PART IV

Brahma questions the Lord: “ Oh Supreme Lord of mercy, the All Knower and All- powerful Being please be kind enough to explain how to worship such an archa ( vigraha) form of yours. Who should worship you? How does one worship you? How should one not worship you? Repository of compassion we wait for your answers”

Sri Ranganatha continues: “There are three forms of worship 1) agama 2) vaidika 3) Tantrika. Agama is the form of worship where the temple pooja is done either through paancharatra type or Vaikhanasa type.( In Tirumala the worship is vaikhanasa and in Sri rangam it is paancharatram). Vaidika form of worship is prevelant in temples and houses. Taantrika is prevelant in Kerala type temples. There is the fourth type followed by Vidura, Shabari, the gopis, aandal and many more such devotees. This form of worship is the Prema pooja. The Lord declares “ For a devotee with unflinching devotion I accept all his offerings and instead I give myself to him.”

“ I belong to all. I have no distinction of caste or creed. But my pooja has to be done by those who have the right to do so since several generations. However every person has his won share of service in my temple.

1) The archakas ( priests) worship.

2) The Kings build my temples.

3) Women decorate my temple with rangoli, prepare garlands, clean my campus

4) The sculptors prepare my vahanas

5) Potters mould mud pots for my food

6) Tailors stich my clothes, washermen wash them

7) Artists sing and dance in my temple

8) Farmers plough on my lands, cowherds graze my cows

9) Even barbers have their share of service in my temple. They shave my devotees head.

10) Hundreds of poor eat at my temple. I provide them with free food.

Lakhs of families earn their livelihood with my temple as their means”

( To be continued)