KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2010

UDIPI KSHETRA
The state of Karnataka. Kshetra –Udipi. Udipi is a beautiful, serene place sanctified by the presence of Lord Krishna who stands there with the churning rod. The Lord of Dwaraka played many sports with his 16108 wives. Yet Dwaraka Krishnan did not forget Gokulam. He did not forget Yashoda though fondled by Devaki. Though nourished by vasudeva he never for a second forgot Nandagopa. Though Rukmini worshipped him He was always reminded of Radha. Thus he was always reciting his pastimes at Gokula. Hearing these tales Rukmini wanted to see GokulaKrishna. Immediately the All knowing Lord showed her the form holding the churning stick in one hand and the rope in the other hand. He made it an archa form and Rukmini worshipped this Krishna everyday along with her friends. One fine day He also did the rasakreeda with His pattamahishis as requested by Narada. This happened in the waters of the sea at Dwaraka. All the sandal paste of the women folk together became a small hill. This is what the vaisnavas refer to as Gopichandanam.
By the force of the brahamana shapam the yadavas fought with each other and attained their respective abodes( Swarga). The Lord also ascended vaikunta and Dwaraka was plunged in the sea. The murthy worshipped by Rukmini too was immersed in the sea and got hidden admist the gopichandam. Afet a long while boatmen took the gopichandam on their boat for the sake of balancing their boat. A sudden storm hit the boat. Madhwacharya who was then doing meditation on the banks of the sea saved the boat and its passengers through his thapobala. The boatmen offered their goods and valuables. Madhwacharaya refused to accept them but asked for the gopichandam alone. There he did a dwadasha sthothra of the Lord. Lord Krishna immediately came out bursting the gopichandam. Udipi means boat. As the Lord manifested Himself from a boat Madhwacharya built a beautiful temple for him at that place which came to be known as Udupi. Thus the Lord of Udipi showed Himself before the great Dwaitha philosopher Madwacharya.

SLOKA FOR THE MONTH AUGUST 2010

Akardamamidam theertham Bharadwaja Nishaamaya
Ramaneeyam Prasannambu Sanmanushyamano yatha
The sages used to spend most of their life time in forests. Forests are apt for their penance. These sages showed immense affection towards all animals and birds living in those forests. Thyaga buddhi ( sacrifice) is the foundation stone for affection.How does one show affection to another. Only when one sacrifices something for the sake of another does that affection sprout. We can learn this best from nature.The trees give fruits to even those who hit them with stones. It gives shelter to all but itself standing in the heat. Rivers give water, in return we pollute them. Dogs stay guard for our house even if we usher them away. Medicinal herbs cure even chronic diseases. In return we destroy them right from their roots.If we protect nature, in return the nature will protect us. Nature is the best treasure that God has bestowed to man.
Sages knew the value and worth of nature. They appreciated the natural beauty around them. In the above sloka Sage Valmiki’s appreciation of nature is illustrated. Sage Narada in a nutshell recited Ramayana to Valmiki.He then left. Sage Valmiki came to the banks of river Thamasa to do his anushtanam. The atmosphere was very serene with trees filled with fruits and flowers in full bloom. The birds played as couplets. The bees were busy drinking the nectar of the flowers. The waters of the river Thamasa were clear and pure. Valmiki looked at his disciple Bharadwaja and said “ Hey Bharadwaja, Look at the crystal clear waters of the Tamasa river. It is as pure as the heart of a sadhu.”

PAST EVENTS

SANGEETHA UPANYASAM AT HYDERABAD

Smt Vishakha hari delivered Sangeetha Upanyasams on Badrachala Ramadas and Gajendra Moksham at Hyderabad Keyes High School on June 5th and 6th. She was accompanied by Ananthakrishnan and Arjun ganesh on the violin and mrudangam respectively. Both the days the Governor of Andhra Pradesh and his wife attended the function and listened to her for full 3 hours daily. The program was conducted by Rama Navami Cultural festival, Sridhar Subhasree.

EVENTS OF THE MONTHS- JUNE AND JULY 2010

SRIMAD BHAGAVATHA SAPTHAHAM- KUMBAKONAM

July 11th to 18th witnessed a grand sapthaham by Hari Anna at sankara Mutt, Kumbakonam. It was organised on behalf of Ilaignar Bhajanai Samaj. Everyday Sri Hari Anna delivered enthusiastic lectures remembering Sarangapani of Kumbakonam. A huge section of audience enjoyed the program. On the first day Smt Vishakha Hari gave a sangeetha upanyasam on " Purandaradas charitram". accompanied by Ananthakrishnan and Arjun Ganesh. Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal inaugrated the function and blessed the function. Everyday there was dolothsovam too.

EVENTS OF THIS MONTH- AUGUST 2010

I HARI ANNA'S PROGRAM ( AUGUST 2010)

1) Bhaktha Vijayam Pravachanam, New Delhi

Date: 26th Aug to 31st Aug

City: New Delhi

Venue: Kamakshi Mandir, Aruna Asif Ali Marg

Topic: Bhaktha Vijayam

Time: 7.00 p.m to 9.00 p.m

II VISHAKHA HARI'S PROGRAM

1) Program at Vridhachalam

Date: 8th Aug

Venue: G.N Mahal

Town: Vridhachalam

Topic: Nandanar Charitram

Time: 6.30 to 9.00 p.m

2) Program at Bangalore

Date: 28th and 29th Aug

Venue: Unnathi centre, SGBS, Shathananda Nagar,

City: Bangalore

Topic: Krishna leelas

Time: 6.30 to 9.00

3) Program at Chennai

Date: 31st Aug

Venue: Guruvayurappan temple, nanganallur

City: Chennai

Topic: Kunthi sthuthi, Bheeshma sthuthi

Time: 6.30 to 9.00p.m

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM- AUGUST 2010

QUESTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2010

1) Which is the loka that is considered as the head of Viratpurusha?
2) Who is the deva existing in the sight of the Viratroopi?
3) Who is the deva in the mind ( manaha) of the Viratroopi?
4) Which deva exists in the nose of the Viratrupi?
5) The breath of the Viratrupi is a deva. Who is it?

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2010
1) Sri Suka appreciated Parikshit’s questions as benefetting the entire world and acceptable to athmagnanis too
2) Ethannirvidyamaananam ichchatham akuthobhayam
Yoginam Nrupa Nirneetam Harernamanukeerthanam
3) Parinishtithopi Nairgunye Uththamaslokaleelaya
Gruheethachetha Rajarshe Aakyanam yadadheethavaan
4) Those born in this world are sure to die. Death is compulsory and unavoidable. The agnanis look at men dying. Still they do not realize that this death is sure to strike them too. Also they do not realize the temporary nature of the prapancha. They choose to sink the mire of samsara.
5) By aathmagnana, Yogabhyasa, following dharma and by the grace of the Lord one can get the smarana of Narayana during the end of his life.

JULY MONTH WINNERS

1) Grija Seetharaman- I--- 30+10 points

2) Gopika Sampath - I----24+10 points

3) Srinivasan Sujatha S.-II---26+8 point

4) Padma Narayanan---III---12+6 point

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2010

MADURAI- PART 4- MEENAKSHI SUNDAREWSWARAR

Madurai is famous right at the outset for the wonderful Meenakshi temple. Who is this Meenakshi? Why is there a temple for her at Madurai. Going back to Malayadwaja Pandian, the Pandya ruler, he was a childless for a very long time. He approached the maharishis for a solution. They advised that he worship Lord Azhagar of azhagarmalai. He would bless him with a child. He did so. The Lord ordered that His yoga maya who is Bruhmavidyaswaroopini should be born to him.Soon a girl child was born to the Pandya ruler. He was overjoyed. He named her Meenakshi because of her beautiful fish like eyes. Meenakshi became proficient in music, dance, elephant riding, horse riding, charioteering, archery etc. The king pleased by her prowess coronated her as the next ruler. Thus Meenakshi became RajaRajeshwari. She began conquering all the kingdoms. It was her wish that she should get married to the one who conquers her. However wherever she went she achieved success. Finally she reached Kailasam itself. There she fought with Lord Shiva Himself who came in the guise of a prince. Lord Shiva won the battle. He came to know of her oath that the one who wins the battle also wins over her hand. Lord Shiva atonce consented to marry her.
The marriage preparations went on a grand scale at Madurai. As Meenakshi’s father had died soon after he begot a son, somebody else had to do the kannikadanam. Who was that somebody. The Lord of Azhagarmalai, Meenakshi’s brother Himself came to Madurai and did the kannnikadaanam. He gave Meenakshi to Sundareswarar, all the three are embodiments of beauty indeed as their very names suggest- the beautiful Meenakshi, the Handsome- Azhagar and the majestic Sundareswarar.
Thus ends Meenakshi kalyanam which is an important part of the mahathmya of Madurai.