KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH -OCTOBER 2012

                                             THIRUMEIYAM

Once Indra was seated on the throne along with Sachi Devi at Amaravathi. He was surrounded by all the other Devas, kinnaras, Kimpurushas, apsaras, Gandharvas. Vishnu too was in that sabha. Just then Sage Narada entered and praised Lord Vishnu with his sweet music. Indra questioned Narada “ I have heard that

Truth is the greatest theertha

Truth is the greatest penance

Truth is the greatest merit

Tuth is the greatest vratha.

Those who lie even casually will beget hell. Please tell me who at present in this world is a staunch follower of this truth?

Narada said “ there is a hill by name Sathyagiri ( Thirumeiyam) at the banks of Pushpabhadra river.There is a banyan tree by name Bhadravatam and a stone by name Chakrashila. There a sage by name Sathyamedas does penance. He is the most truthful of all.”

Having heard the words of Narada Vishnu and Indra wanted to test the sage. Vishnu took the form of a varaha and Indra disguised as a hunter came to the sage. The hunter came chasing the pig and the pig sought the help of Sathyamedas. The sage in turn hid the pig in his own ashrama. The hunter who came searching for it questioned sathyamedas “ Oh Dear Sage Where is that pig which I have been chasing all along. Me and my family have been starving for many days and that pig is my prey. Tell me where it is. Did you see it” Sathyamedas was caught in a fix. If he said he didn’t know about it, it would be a lie. And if he did tell out the truth the pig would be killed by the hunter. He then diplomatically answered “  You ask me if I have seen the pig. Who is the perceiver? What is to be perceived? What is meant by sight? May you understand by thinking about these three truths.”

 Having heard this wise yet true reply Vishnu and Indra appeared in their original form. Looking at Sathyanarayana and Indra the sage extolled the Lord beautifully “ Lord,You are the origin of truth, repository of truth, path of truth, protector of Truth. Truth both in word and conscience ( Rutham) are your eyes. One is truthful only when one acts as per his conscience. Rutham is protected by sathyama and vice versa. As you are the antharyami you know each person when he lies. By your maya the true athma looks as if untrue and the untrue world looks as if true. May you show me the exact truth. Those who speak nothing but the truth attain great peace and happiness. Those who speak the truth are mostly silent and speak very less.”

The Lord highly please by His words blessed him saying “ This hill will be named  after you and I shall show my presence here. Those who speak untruth especially in the court will be punished by me duly. Those sinners who truly repent will also be forgiven by me.”

Thus those devotees who truly realise their folly and worship sathyanarayana swamyt at Sathyagiri will be relieved of their sins.

SLOKA FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2012

“ Na Hi Ramatpriyataro Mamaaasti Bhuvikaschana

Braveemyetat aham sathyam Sathyenaiva ca te shape

Asya prasaadadashamse Lokesmin Sumahadyashaha

Dharmaavapthim ca vipulaamarthavaptim ca kevaalaam

Soham Priyathamam ramam shayaanam saha seethaya

Rakshishyami Dhanushpanihi Sarvato nyathibhissaha”

  

In SriVaishnava sampradaya Guha is referred to as Guhaperumal with respect. Sri Valmiki also says “ aathmasama sakha” which means Guha is a parallel to Rama. Never can Guha match Rama in strength, nor valour or beauty or wisdom or virtue or in his conviction for truth. Rama is unparalleled. But Guha is an ardent devotee. This is why Valmiki referes to Guha as equivalent to Rama. Bharatha comes running to have the darshan of Rama along with his huge army. Guha was not a great warrior. Guha did not have a huge battalion too. Guha looks at Bharatha approaching the place with his huge army force. He first suspected that he was trying to wage a war against Rama in the forest. Guha then decided “ If it be so then I would not allow Bharatha to approach anywhere near Rama as long as I live “. This proves his devotion towards Rama.

                                Sri Rama came to the banks of river Ganga. He blessed Guha too. He stayed there at the banks of river Ganga that night. Guha and Lakshmana spoke about the transcendental virtues of Lord Rama. Guha said to Lakshaman “ I promise that I love none more than Rama in this world. I wish to achieve praise, virtue, wealth etc by his blessings alone. When the Lord rests with Seetha I shall protect him all night along with my relatives.” This conversation clearly proves Guha’s devotion and service mentality.

PAST EVENTS- PROGRAM AT PONDICHERRY

                                        PONDICHERRY SAPTHAHAM

                       

From August 13^th to 19^th Sri Hari Anna delivered lectures at Sringeri Mutt, Pondicherry organised by SriKrishnaPremika Bhajan Mandali. People thronged to hear the lectures. There was unchvrithi, Divyanamam and Radha Kalyanam on 19^th August. The function went on in a very grand manner.

UTHSAVAMS OF THIS MONTH- SEPT 2012

UTHSAVAM: GOKULASHTAMY UTHSAVAM
TOWN: PARANOOR
DATE: 8TH SEPT TO 17TH SEPT
JANMASHTAMY: 8TH SEPT
KALYANA UTHSAVAM: 14TH SEPT
RATHOTHSAVAM: 16TH SEPT

UTHSAVAM: RADHASHTAMY UTHSAVAM, BRINDAVANAM

UTHSAVAM: RADHASHTAMY UTHSAVAM, BRINDAVANAM
DATE: 22ND SEPT TO 27TH SEPT
RADHASHTAMY: 23RD SEPT
EKADESI; 26TH SEPT

EVENTS OF THIS MONTH- SEPTEMBER 2012

SMT.VISHAKHA HARI'S PROGRAMS

1) PROGRAM AT MYSORE

DATE: 4TH SEPT

TOWN: MYSORE

VENUE; JAGANMOHAN PALACE

TIME: 6.30 P.M

2) PROGRAM AT PARANOOR

DATE: 14TH SEPT

TOWN: PARANOOR

VENUE: TEMPLE OF KOLAHALAN

TOPIC: CONCERT

TIME: 7.00 P.M

3) PROGRAM AT COIMBATORE

DATE; 30TH SEPT, 1ST OCT

TOWN: COIMBATORE

VENUE: IYAPPAN SANGAM HALL

TOPIC: VENKETESHA AVIRBHAVAM, SRINIVASA KALYANAM

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM- SEPTEMBER 2012

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 SEPTEMBER 2012

 1)      Prayaschithas  do not sanctify certain people. Who are they?

2)      What is the greatness of the Vedas illustrated in Ajamilopkyanam?

3)      Why is punishment meted out?

4)      “ Kshana sangena sadhushu”---who are the sadhus mentioned here?

5)      Which sage does the recitation of Ajamilopakyanam always?

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2012

1)      The son of priyavratha.

2)      There are 60000 of them.

3)      They live in Suthalaloka.

4)      Blue coloured.

5)      Those who harm birds and animals will be tortured by the Yamabatas in a hell called Kumbhipakam.

       WINNERS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2012
 1) Sethuraman------------------------I------------------40+10=50
2) Radhika Venkatraman-------------I------------------38+10=48
3) Karthik Venkatraman--------------I-----------------40+10=50
  4) Srinivasan Sujatha S---------------I------------------30+10=40
   5) Padma Narayanan----------------I------------------26+10=36
6) Raja-------------------------------I------------------30+10=40
  7) Radhakrishnan Ramamurthy-------I-------------------14+10=24
  8) Sruthy Suryaprakash--------------I-------------------30+10=40
  9) Smruthy Suryaprakash------------I-------------------32+10=42
  10) Srinivasan-----------------------II------------------8
   11) Sundar-------------------------III------------------6

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2012

                                        THIRUKALVANOOR

There is a temple of Bhuvarahaswamy at the banks of Nithyapushkarani at Tirukalvanur. There is a also  a beautiful and huge Ashwaththa tree. The Ashwatha tree is considered to be Lord Vishnu Himself and the punya done under its shade attains effect immediately. If it is a Monday and Amavasa ( new moon day) then special poojas are conducted under this tree. The married women are sure to beget progeny by worshipping and circumambulating this tree.

There was a devoted woman in that village who used to worship this tree everyday. She was Sumathi and her husband was Durmathi. He fell into the hands of a prostitute and left Sumathi. He took to all evil deeds. He drank, merried, thieved and this caused immense agony to Sumathi. All she could do was only pray to the Lord Varahaswamy. One day a brahmachari boy of 12 years suddenly appeared before her and said “ You will beget a son like me”. Sumathi felt greatly consoled.

       However Durmathi was caught by the police for having killed a miilionare and usurping his property. He was arrested and Sumathi had no other way than to run to the king. She begged for his release but the king refused. “ Dharmo rakshati rakshitaha”. Your husband is a criminal and is accused of killing a rich man. He who commits sin has to face its consequences.

Sumathi came back, all her efforts turning futile. Weeping incessantly she ran to Varahaswamy  who took the form of a Brahmin witness. “ Oh King. I come from Kalvanur. My name is Bhuvarahachariar.  My daughter is Sumathi and her husband is Durmathi whom you have arrested. Durmathi is not the culprit by the prostitute. It was she who killed the rich man for his riches and escaped quite easily blaming Durmathi. Your Highness. May you introspect into this case deeply.” The King noted down the convincing information provided by the witness and released Durmathi. Durmathi turned into a noble man and soon by the blessings of Varahaswamy and ashwatha vruksha pradakshina they begot a beautiful son.

Thus those who are in dire need of progeny may worship the ahwatha vruksha and by the blessings of Varahaswamy are sure to beget noble progeny.