Umasree Raghunath

Smile is the Name of the Man! Love you Dad!

2011-12-28T09:16:00.000-08:00

Smile is the name of the man

Who made us his life’s ever green

Held our hands as we learnt to walk

Smiled at every word as we learned to talk

Giggled us all over to see us smile

Ran behind us in our every small mile

Endearingly spent all his precious time

To cheer us, support us and love us

As a Dad, he gave us all his love

Walked beside us every day then and now

As one winter morning snatched him away

Brutally spoiling our nest’s happy days

He still smiled on us from the sky above

Showing us his blessings and love

One Star followed us everywhere we go

Spreading his divine will with glow

I can see his smiles running behind us

As we take every step towards his dreams

The dreams that he dreamt for us

The dreams that would not let us sleep

Love you Dad, always in our hearts

You will live with eternal peace within us

Never missed you Dad, for you blessed

All the time in all our ups and downs to rise

Truly and endearingly guiding us

With your divine will and grace!

Travelling Via Hongkong and having Transit time..... Read this!

2011-12-28T05:02:00.000-08:00

I would like to share my experience of visitng Hongkong during our journey to India....for this would be useful for those who are planning their stop over flights in HongKong.

Minimum Time Needed:

If you have minimum of 4-5 hours between your flights in Hongkong then it is advisable to use the transit visa and visit the City of Great Infrastructure.

Transit Visa Details:

Get refreshed after the first flight, and then go to the Immigration Counter, Fill up the form, and in the place asking for local address in HongKong you can fill up saying that you are in Transit and mention your next flight details.   The immigration officer will check your passport and give you visa anywhere between 1 day to 14 days for tourism.   We had no questions asked and got a 2 week tourist visa. You dont need a visa before entering the country and it is usually on Arrival for close to 200 countries including for Indian Nationals.

Currency Exchange:

The airport has a foreign exchange western union where you can get your foriegn exchange converted to HKD. Please note that you can only sell your Indian Currency, but unfortunately you cannot buy Indian Rupee in most of the airports across the world and this hurts.

Local Tourist Packages

Go to the HongKong Airport Customer Service Area and go to the Counter B12 where you get a HongKong Tourism Development driven tourist packages.   If you have more than 5 hours, you can choose from the various tourist sightseeing options they have and also can check in other counters with other tourist and hoteliers who can provide much customized packages.

The transit package provides you a bus taking you across the HongKong and leaves you back in the downtown area where you can do plenty of shopping and roaming around and then take the Airport Express from the IFC Mall and come back to Airport well in time for your next flight

Food & Rest Areas

You can get all types of food, including Asian, Continental and Mediterrian cusinies. If you want to eat in a good place, you have plenty of hotels inside the IFC Mall and if you want to have an economy food options, you can have in the World Wide Plaza area, but it will be very crowded and not so hygenic.

You have paid rest areas in the Airport and also small hotels all over HongKong.

Take the exiting Ferry from HongKong to Macau...

We had an amazing experience and awestuck with the kind of infrastructure that this small country built after its Independence in 1997...There is lot to learn from visits to such small but sophisticated countries within Asia....Happy Travelling!

Planning to bring your USA TV with NTSC to India ? Read this !

2011-12-27T23:47:00.000-08:00

For those NRI's returning home having NTSC specification American standard televisions wanting to bring the same to India, have to note the following

Major Differences between USA and India TV Systems and Other Possible Concerns:

1. The US Televisions are in the format NTSC, which is region specific. Where as the India Broadcast systems have AUTO or PAL Formats.   Most of the recent televisions have both NTSC and PAL. So please check the global specifications on your televisions for any type -LED/LCD/Etc

2. Voltage systems used in India and USA. US has the 110-120V @ 60 Hz while India uses 230V @ 50 Hz

3. Packaging - Safety issues during Transit

4. How much to pay at Customs at Indian Airports? How much do Airlines charge for transportation?

Solutions to the above differences

1. NTSC to PAL System Conversion

Most of the TV service provides in India, including Dish TV, Airtel and Sun Direct provide set up boxes that have the HDMI support feature and also internal NTSC to PAL converstion possibilities.    Dish TV Tru HD and Airtel HD Set up boxes work with the HDMI output connected to the TV HDMI input and works like a charm.   I have set up the Airtel HD set up box and it works like a wonder on my Sony LED with only NTSC option.

For those wanting to know the price I spent, it comes around Rs.3000 for set up boxes and Rs 1200 for convertor and choose any package of your choice starting from Rs.170 a month.

What happens if you try to connect to normal TV cable is that the picture is only in Black and white with no sound.

Non Worked Solutions ...So dont waste your time on these given below:     Using the earlier mentioned options in other online forums asking to set up the PAL to NTSC converter and external PAL tuner and etc are not viable and efficient options that I have researched...for they are very costly and a grey lines keep poping up on the TV using the Tuner.     Connecting with the TV tuner to your laptop and connecting the laptop to TV through HDMI is also a tough solution as every time you want to watch TV you have to start your laptop.

2. Voltage Conversion

230V- 110 V convertors are available in the India local markets and you can get a good convertor between Rs. 800- Rs 1200.    Spending few extra Rupees would ensure that convertors also handle often dripping voltage fluctuations in India . Check with your local electrician who can suggest you a good local brands that work in the locality

3. Packaging

Please do use only the Company Provided packaging for the television that you intially got with the TV.   That is the best and safest packing that you can do. Further protection based on the weight of the television, you can package it in the Wooden Box or additional packing boxes available in Home Depo or Office Depo.    You can add bubble wrap or shredded paper around the television in the blank space so that the TV has additional support.   Dont forget to put all your screws, small stuff, remote along with the TV and dont forget to remove the batteries from the remote. If possible keep the batteries in different baggage.   Check the dimensions of the box and weight and check with the airlines specifications.

4. Airport Transit

Check the dimensions and weight of the baggage and if you have extra billed baggage, ensure you put this as an additional paid baggage for check in instead of the free baggage allowance. In that way, you can claim any damages in case of transit breakage.      Please ensure that you add Fragile Stickers all around and keep the UPPER Side indication so that the TV is not handled wrongly.    Speak to the airline representative for addition of Fragile Indicators from their side and a personal request for careful handling

5. Customs to Pay at Indian Airports

Every person travelling back home is entitled to carry Rs.25k work of goods from abroad. So keep you bill handy and also the dollar value on that date of purchase. Most of the used home TVs more than 180 days old usually do not attract Octroi unless you dont have the correct bill and the package is looking brand new.     Otherwise, the difference of the TV value and Rs 25K limit attracts Customs Duty and you have to pay by cash at the SBI counter available and get a receipt before you take the TV out of the airport.

There are other corrupt cheap means people do in the airports which I dont want to suggest.

Now Wall Mount or Get a good entertainment centre, and enjoy Happy Televisioning in India....same time dont get hooked to the forever crying soap operas of the India telediaspora!

Enjoy!

A Great Visa CIRCUS- A NRI Story

2011-11-13T23:29:00.000-08:00

Few years back, Paru called me one early morning, telling me that I have to accompany her to take some pictures from the Gemini Flyover. It was just 6 am in the morning and I got really irritated on her urgency. She said that we have to go there to take pictures of people sleeping outside the Consulate. I said what is new in that. She hated people waiting there, getting visa's, leaving the country with good talents, always thinking West is great and stuff like that....

We all know that people unnecessarily go there before their time and line up, sleep and create a public inconvenience. The embassy requests people to appear just before 15 minutes of the their appointment time and they would let you in, for security check if you are at the right time. The whole process depends on the visa you are applying, the company you are working, the talents you possess. you IT degrees and above all a Great Engineering Degree in Computers!. And ofcourse a good knowledge of English, Economy and everything else you need to know.

Paru was on her research on the economy, visa, how people move across countries for jobs and to her she always felt that Indians are over desperate to make it to foreign lands in search of dollars and euros. I told her there is nothing wrong in that. Every one wants to grow in life and this is one of the most honest ways to do. Paru disagreed.

As part of her research writing, Paru wrote a big article on the 'Great Visa Circus'.    I was bit not comfortable for I was one among those aspirants who wanted to globe trot and enjoy work and life as it comes. Paru always felt that we are exploited. we are non- patriotic and we are disgusting.

As a Child we watch Airplanes and dream of flying in them one day. As a teen, we aspire to get into a good college that gives us a passport to a foreign land either as a college student or as a Intern...As we complete college, we dream being part of good companies that will give us loads of opportunities. This is normal Indian Middle Class Dream!

Paru used to think that we are draining away India of its resources. The other side of the coin is that Indians are taking away jobs in foreign lands.   But the actual fact is India is never drained with the talent and the percentage of Indian Population leaving India for greener prospects are never a threat to the Nation. They contribute to the Nation's biggest remittances on a regular basis pooling flexible funds to our banks and real estate.    Moreover, there is a real need for our kind of talents in the Global Market and we are economical, committed, hardworking and productive. (We can discuss the flip side of this later on Talents and Productivity!)

Later began, Paru's Great Visa Circus!   Season 1..... She wanted to go abroad...particularly to United States.   Not for earning money, but her curiosity to get the first hand feel of NRI life.   She put through herself and her family through the same visa process that she hated. The paper work, evaluation, finding project, planning the travel, wrapping up her stay in India, packing, shopping, travelling. I could hear her smiles and justifying why she took that decision, blah blah blah....As a good friend and her listener always, I kept smiling.

Paru's First Visa came through and she called me how professional people inside the embassy were, well organized, high security, punctual, and she kept saying that she found a first office in India which didn't seem Indian, the library that is so enriched, how her stamping was smoothly done and how her dates of travel were confirmed.   I was also happy for her, excited that her myths are broken and dreams are coming true.   Finally one summer morning she flew off to United States with her family,   and started writing mails of her trips on weekends, how professional her clients were, how she is managing communication and cultural changes, about the Freeways, the pollution free world and every good thing she found. Again, I Kept Smiling!

Settling down issues started to news-in...... how she had to put her kids in separate bed room , buy all second hand goods, how someone cheated her on the first car she brought there. how they have been looking for discounts, coupons an deals all the time. Her craving for a Hindu temple, a library, and desperate to make friends of the Indian Community started to grow. I believe Indians avoid Indians in US...for everyone interacting in Wal-Marts and Best Buys would be behind you to sell their AMWAY products or any other MLM nonsense that was not of your interest.

After 3 months, she packed away bags of her husband and children and sent them back to India saying that they are missing her home country and education.   After few more months of lone struggle, and as the project to her favour got successfully completed, she returned to India before her 1 year visa expired.     She cried that her promotion and hike did not happen that year because she was On site and now she returned after 1 year to nothing.   LOL!

Visa Circus Season 2 began.....The drama started to unfold. She was chosen as good professional for on site by her employer and was asked to apply for the Visa Again! She was happy that she is recognised, but same time she didn't want to trouble the family, so this time she went on for Business Visa!   She was again happy that she can travel for short terms without disturbing her family, same time, her skills were appreciated and her ability to do professional good projects is tested again.   She flew back to United States for few months.   She worked hard, did excellent job, contributed so much for the project but due to several external reasons, the project got shelved and she had to come back! She took it so personally that she fell sick for a month after coming back to India....God save her!

Circus Season 3 started to unfold as again an L1 Visa was applied.   She was again pumped with energy, enthusiasm and required things to go back and this time, she had amazing experience of working in a Global Project, that automates manual assembly lines.   Paru started to airport that night and I still remember the way her kid hugged her legs and cried.   Paru convinced that is all for her better life and the struggle is to make things better......The whole family went for Stamping again! ... few months and one Sunday morning, Paru calls me again.   Paru's children are not doing well. One is sick and hospitalized and other one failed in half yearly exams.   Teacher called to inform that they need their mother to be alright.   The balance being work and life, the striking balance between a working parent and a professional, she was confused.   Paru called me to pick her from the airport after couple of weeks.   The second phase of the project is postponed and she had time to decide if she will go back to United States.

After 3 months of enjoying Chennai life, Seasonal Music Concerts, meeting all relatives and friends, she decided to stay grounded.   Circus Mega Season 4 didnt leave her in peace.....With a valid Visa and good US clients handling experience, she was pushed to bench without being given the offshore projects waiting for the 'Onsite' assignment by her employer.   Paru was always keen on learning and she took that as a time to do her certification and sharpen her axes!....The day she got her coveted certification,    she did not realize that her life would again get on the roller-coaster....this time for a longer, happy, bumpy ride!    This ride to a most glamorous city filled with real amusement parks and world's best rides...! Enjoy Babe!

The Mega Season 4...came to an end shortly before 2 years of her globe trotting with visa not happening this time for Season 5 and with a high level uncertainty...thanks to Presidential Election, where every one's slogan is for creating Jobs! US Job market is at its worse and people are suffering. The country is struggling with increasing number under poverty line and global economy with its vulnerability, Paru is now not immune to the NRI story....keeping the bags ready, shopping list handy and with her favorite tag line ....'Uncertainity is the only Certainty!'...Paru has grown up now I guess....Same time she is confused!   Confused because some unknown unknown calls to tell her that she is not an 'Engineering Grad' and hence not a 'hot resource'....just because she had been on among 95% of the rejections happening.???...Where did the key tag, urgency tag go??...Paru is angry that her children's future is at jeopardy travelling back in midst of an academic year.   But who is to be blamed. Blame yourself and none other for your decisions!

Paru called me again... she wants to take life in her control and not leave it as the mercy of others. She is tired of others taking decisions that are important for her. I am happy for her if she gets what she wants and not others exploiting her in the name of employment and anything else. If at all Season 5 will unfold later I only wish she is at peace! The world is not a place today for honest, transparent, hardworking individuals. The world has become a circus tent with the ringmasters controlling it!

Paru is a genuine hardworking and wonderful passionate person for life. The day she decided to be controlled by herself, she will be fine. Paru is tired of fake promises, fake friends who are just fair weather folks, and tired of fighting for justice. Hope she gives up her attitude to please everyone and does what is close to her heart...... and End this Visa Circus!

Writer's note!

..........This is a story of a NRI...who is unfit to be called an NRI....probably a frequent R2I!!!.......a true story.....but truly written to humorously see the other side of a great travel around the world stories!.....Enjoy Reading it!

Benefits of Performing Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Vratham and way to do the puja

2011-11-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

Lord Satyanarayana is another form of Lord Vishnu who is commonly worshipped by Hindus in their homes along with family and friends. The worship is performed usually on a full moon (purnima) day of the month. People worship by reciting the gracious story of the Lord which was once told by Lord Vishnu himself to the sage Narada for the benefit of humankind. The Lord's grace is described in a Hindu mythological book called Skanda Purana. He has four hands like Lord Vishnu, however, his fourth hand does not hold a lotus rather it is extended upward to bless people.

Samuhikha Satyanaryana Swamy Vratham conducted on Nov 5, 2011 at Sri Asthalakshmi temple, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA.

Sankalpa/Preparation:

Previous Night, think of the Lord Sri SatyanaaraayaNa and mentally decide to perform puujaa the next day. This is the sankalpa.

Next day early morning keep the same thoughts of worshipping the Lord and take a head-bath (if possible an oil-bath). Wash Kalasha and fill it with clean water upto 3/4 of it and place it near the altar in a clean place and cover it up. Observe Fast (if possible).

Again in the evening take a head-bath. This should be done by both husband and wife. Wear youe best dress and decorate yourself and the kalasha. Decorate the front door, altar and the place near the altar. Invite your relatives, friends (who have bhakti in the Lord). The yajamaan's dress should be traditional dhoti.

Keep all the things for puja ready:

Turmeric Powder
1/4 lb

Kumkum
1 Packet

Sandal Wood Paste/Powder
1 Packet

Agar Bathi(Incense Sticks)
1 Packet

Camphor
1 Packet

Beetle Leaves and nuts
Approx. 30

Flowers
4 Bunches

Fruits
12 Bananas and 5 other Varieties

Coconuts
9

Rice
2 lb

Kalasa Vasthram
1 Towel or 1 Yard Fabric

Coins (Quarters)
20

Prasadam
Rava Kesari

Asirvatham Dress
Optional

Dry Fruits
Few

Kalkandu (Sugar Candy)
1 Packet

Milk
1/2 gallon

Yoghurt
1 can

Ghee
1 small bottle

Honey
1 bottle

Sugar
1 packet

Dates
1 packet

Navadhanyam
1 packet

Deepam (Lamp)/Oil for Deepam/Match Box/Cotton Wick for Deepam
Kalasam

Panchapathra Udharini

Small Trays 2, Big Trays 2, Small Cups 5

Asirvada New Dresses (Optional)

Blankets 2 (For Guest Seating purposes)

Paper Towels, Paper Plates (Sufficient Quantities)

Hammer (for breaking coconuts)

Aluminium foil

How to Perform Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Vratham?

##At the regular Altar##

1. OM sarvebhyo gurubhyo namaH |

OM sarvebhyo devebhyo namaH |

OM sarvebhyo braahmaNebhyo namaH ||

praaraMbha kaaryaM nirvighnamastu | shubhaM shobhanamastu |

ishhTa devataa kuladevataa suprasannaa varadaa bhavatu ||

anuGYaaM dehi ||

##At Shrii SatyanaaraayaNa Altar##

2 aachamanaH

OM keshavaaya svaahaa | OM naaraayaNaaya svaahaa |

OM maadhavaaya svaahaa | OM govi.ndaaya namaH |

OM vishhNave namaH | OM madhusuudanaaya namaH |

OM trivikramaaya namaH | OM vaamanaaya namaH |

OM shriidharaaya namaH | OM hR^ishhiikeshaaya namaH |

OM padmanaabhaaya namaH | OM daamodaraaya namaH |

OM sa.nkarshhaNaaya namaH | OM vaasudevaaya namaH |

OM pradyumnaaya namaH | OM aniruddhaaya namaH |

OM purushhottamaaya namaH | OM adhoxajaaya namaH |

OM naarasi.nhaaya namaH | OM achyutaaya namaH |

OM janaardanaaya namaH | OM upe.ndraaya namaH |

OM hariye namaH |

shrii kR^ishhNaaya namaH ||

3 praaNaayaamaH

OM praNavasya parabrahma R^ishhiH | paramaatmaa devataa |

daivii gaayatrii chhandaH | praaNaayaame viniyogaH ||

OM bhuuH | OM bhuvaH | OM svaH | OM mahaH |

OM janaH | OM tapaH | OM satyaM |

OM tatsaviturvareNyaM bhargodevasya dhiimahii

dhiyo yo naH prachodayaat.h ||

punaraachamana

##(Repeat aachamana 2 - given above)##

OM aapojyoti rasomR^itaM brahma bhuurbhuvassuvarom.h ||

##(Apply water to eyes and understand that you are of the nature of Brahman)##

4 sa.nkalpaH

OM shriimaan.h mahaagaNaadhipataye namaH |

shrii gurubhyo namaH | shrii sarasvatyai namaH |

shrii vedaaya namaH | shrii vedapurushhaaya namaH |

ishhTadevataabhyo namaH | kuladevataabhyo namaH |

sthaanadevataabhyo namaH | graamadevataabhyo namaH |

vaastudevataabhyo namaH | shachiipura.ndaraabhyaaM namaH |

umaamaheshvaraabhyaaM namaH | maataapitR^ibhyaaM namaH |

laxmiinaaraayaNaabhyaaM namaH |

sarvebhyo devebhyo namo namaH |

sarvebhyo braahmaNebhyo namo namaH |

yetadkarmapradhaana devataabhyo namo namaH ||

|| avighnamastu ||

sumukhashcha ekada.ntashcha kapilo gajakarNakaH |

laMbodarashcha vikaTo vighnanaasho gaNaadhipaH ||

dhuumraketurgaNaadhyaxo baalachandro gajaananaH |

dvaadashaitaani naamaani yaH paThet.h shruNuyaadapi ||

vidyaaraMbhe vivaahe cha praveshe nirgame tathaa |

sa.ngraame sa.nkaTeshchaiva vighnaH tasya na jaayate ||

##Whoever chants or hears these 12 names of Mahaa GaNapti does not get any obstacles in any of his work.##

shuklaaMbaradharaM devaM shashivarNaM chaturbhujam.h |

prasannavadanaM dhyaayet.h sarva vighnopashaa.ntaye ||

sarvama.ngala maa.ngalye shive sarvaartha saadhike |

sharaNye tryaMbake devii naaraayaNii namo.astute ||

sarvadaa sarva kaaryeshhu naasti teshhaaM ama.ngalaM |

yeshhaaM hR^idistho bhagavaan.h ma.ngalaayatano hariH ||

tadeva lagnaM sudinaM tadeva taaraabalaM cha.ndrabalaM tadeva |

vidyaa balaM daivabalaM tadeva laxmiipateH te.nghri.ayugaM smaraami ||

laabhasteshhaaM jayasteshhaaM kutasteshhaaM paraajayaH |

yeshhaaM indivara shyaamo hR^idayastho janaardanaH ||

vinaayakaM guruM bhaanuM brahmaavishhNumaheshvaraan.h |

sarasvatiiM praNamyaadau sarva kaaryaartha siddhaye ||

shriimad.h bhagavato mahaapurushhasya vishhNoraaGYaaya pravartamaanasya

adya brahmaNo.advitiiya paraardhe vishhNupade shrii shvetavaraaha kalpe

vaivasvata manvantare bhaarata varshhe bharata kha.nDe jaMbuudviipe

daNDakaaraNya deshe godaavaryaa daxiNe tiire kR^ishhNaveNyo uttare

tiire parashuraama xetre (samyukta amerikaa deshe ##St Lewis ## graame

##or Australia ##deshe ##Victoria ## graame bahriinu deshe)

shaalivaahana shake vartamaane vyavahaarike iishvara naama sa.nvatsare

uttara daxiNa aayaNe amuka R^itau amuka mAse amuka paxe

amuka tithau amuka naxatre amuka vAsare sarva graheshhu yathaa raashi

sthaana sthiteshhu satsu yevaM guNavisheshheNa vishishhTaayaaM

shubhapuNyatithau mama aatmana shrutismR^itipuraaNokta phalapraapyarthaM

mama sakuTumbasya xema sthairya aayuraarogya chaturvidha purushhaartha

sidhyarthaM a.ngiikR^ita shrii satyanaaraayaNa vrataa.ngatvena

saMpaadita saamagrayyaa gaNesha varuNa brahma suuryaadi navagraha i.ndraadi

ashhTalokapaal gaNapati chatushhTa devataa puujanapuurvakaM

shrii satyanaaraayaNa priityarthaM yathaa shaktyaa yathaa

militopachaara dravyaiH purushhasuukta shriisuukta puraaNokta mantraishcha

dhyaanaavaahanaadi shhoDashopachaare shrii satyanaaraayaNa puujanaM

tathaa vratokta kathaa shravaNaM cha karishhye ||

idaM phalaM mayaadeva sthaapitaM puratastava |

tena me saphalaavaaptirbhavet.h janmanijanmani||

##(keep fruits in front of the Lord)##

5 shhaDaNga nyaasa

##(Purifying the body -

touching various parts of the body)##

OM yatpurushhaM vyadadhuH katidhaa vyakalpayan.h |

mukhaM kimasya kau baahuu kaavuuruu paadaavuchyete ||

a.ngushhThaabhyaayaaM namaH | ##(touch the thumbs)##

hR^idayAya namaH ||

OM braahmaNosya mukhamaasiit.h baahuu raajanyaH kR^itaH |

uruu tadasya yadvaishyaH pad.hbhyaaM shuudro ajaayata ||

tarjaniibhyAM namaH | ##(touch both fore fingers)##

shirase svAhA ||

OM cha.ndramaa manaso jaataH chaxoH suuryo ajaayata |

mukhaadindrashchaagnishcha praaNaadvaayurajaayata ||

madhyamAbhyAM namaH | ##(touch middle fingers)##

shikhaayai vaushhaT.h ||

naabhyaa aasiidantarixam.h shiirshhNo dyauH samavartata |

padabhyaaM bhuumirdishaH shrotraat.h tathaa lokaa.nga akalpayan.h ||

anAmikAbhyAM namaH | ##(touch ring fingers)##

kavachAya hum.h ||

dhaataa purastaadyamudaajahaara shakraH pravidvaanpradishashchatastraH |

tamevaM vidyaanamR^ita iha bhavati naanyaH panthaa ayanaaya vidyate ||

kanishhThikaabhyaaM namaH | ##(touch little fingers)##

netratrayaaya vaushhaT.h ||

yaGYena yaGYamayajanta devaaH taani dharmaaNi prathamaanyaasan.h |

te ha naakaM mahimaanaH sachante yatra puurve saadhyaaH santi devaaH ||

karatalakarapR^ishhThaabhyaaM namaH | ##(touch palms and over sleeve of hands)##

astrAya phaT.h ||

6 digbandhana

##( show mudras)##

OM bhurbhuvasvarom iti digbandhaH |

##(snap fingers circle head clockwise and clap hands)##

disho badnAmi ||

##(shut off all directions i.e. distractions so that we can concentrate on the Lord)##

7 gaNapati puujaa

aadau nirvighnataasidhyarthaM mahaa gaNapatiM puujanaM karishhye |

OM gaNaanaaM tvaa shaunako ghR^itsamado gaNapatirjagati

gaNapatyaavaahane viniyogaH ||

##(pour water - making a promise)##

OM gaNaanaaM tvaa gaNapatiM aavaamahe |

kaviM kavinaamupama shravastamaM |

jyeshhTharaajaM brahmaNaaM brahmaNaspata |

aanaH shRiNvannuutibhiH siidasaadanaM ||

bhuuH gaNapatiM aavaahayaami |

bhuvaH gaNapatiM aavaahayaami |

svaH gaNapatiM aavaahayaami |

OM bhuurbhuvasvaH mahaagaNapataye namaH |

dhyaayaami | dhyaanaM samarpayaami |

OM mahaa gaNapataye namaH | aavaahanaM samarpayaami |

aasanaM samarpayaami | paadyaM samarpayaami |

arghyaM samarpayaami | aachamaniiyaM samarpayaami |

snaanaM samarpayaami | vastraM samarpayaami |

yaGYopaviitaM samarpayaami | cha.ndanaM samarpayaami |

parimala dravyaM samarpayaami | pushhpaaNi samarpayaami |

dhuupaM samarpayaami | diipaM samarpayaami |

naivedyaM samarpayaami | taambuulaM samarpayaami |

phalaM samarpayaami | daxiNaaM samarpayaami |

aarthikyaM samarpayaami |

OM bhuurbhuvasvaH mahaa gaNapataye namaH |

mantrapushhpaM samarpayaami |

OM bhuurbhuvasvaH mahaa gaNapataye namaH |

pradaxiNaa namaskaaraan.h samarpayaami |

OM bhuurbhuvasvaH mahaa gaNapataye namaH |

chhatraM samarpayaami | chaamaraM samarpayaami |

giitaM samarpayaami || nR^ityaM samarpayaami |

vaadyaM samarpayaami | sarva raajopachaaraan.h samarpayaami ||

|| atha praarthanaa ||

OM vakratuNDa mahaakaaya koTi suurya samaprabha |

nirvighnaM kuru me deva sarva kaaryeshhu sarvadaa ||

OM bhuurbhuvasvaH mahaa gaNapataye namaH | praarthanaaM samarpayaami |

anayaa puujayaa vighnahartaa mahaa gaNapati priiyataam.h ||

8 diipa sthaapanaa

atha devasya vaama bhaage diipa sthaapanaM karishhye |

agninaagni samidhyate kavirgrahapatiryuvaa havyavaat.h juvaasyaH ||

##(light the lamps)##

9 bhuumi praarthanaa

##(open palms and touch the ground)##

mahidyau pR^ithviichana imaM yaGYaM mimixataaM

piprataanno bhariimabhiH ||

10 dhaanya raashi

OM aushhadhaya sa.nvada.nte somena saharaaGYa |

yasmai kR^iNeti braahmaNasthaM raajan.h paarayaamasi ||

##(Touch the grains/rice/wheat)##

11 kalasha sthaapanaa

OM aa kalasheshhu dhaavati pavitre parisi.nchyate

uktairyaGYeshhu vardhate ||

##(keep kalasha on top of rice pile)##

OM imaM me gaNge yamune sarasvatii shutudristomaM sachataa parushhNya |

asiknya marudvR^idhe vitasthayaarjiikiiye shruNuhyaa sushhomaya ||

##(fill kalasha with water)##

OM ga.ndhadvaaraaM dhuraadarshaaM nitya pushhpaM karishhiNiiM |

iishvariM sarva bhuutaanaaM taami hopahvayeshriyaM ||

##(sprinkle in/apply ga.ndha to kalasha)##

OM yaa phaliniiryaa aphalaa apushhpaayaashcha pushhpaaNi |

bRihaspati prasotaasthaano ma.nchatvaM hasaH ||

##(put beetle nut in kalasha)##

OM sahiratnaani daashushhesuvaati savitaa bhagaH |

tambhaagaM chitramiimahe ||

##(put jewels / washed coin in kalasha)##

OM hiraNyaruupaH hiraNya sandrigpaanna paatsyedu hiraNya varNaH |

hiraNyayaat.hpariyonernishhadyaa hiraNyadaadadatthyannamasmai ||

##(put gold / daxina in kalasha)##

OM kaanDaat.h kaanDaat.h paroha.nti parushhaH parushhaH pari evaano duurve

pratanu sahasreNa shatena cha ||

##(put duurva / karika )##

OM ashvatthevo nishadanaM parNevo vasatishkR^ita |

go bhaaja itkilaa sathayatsa navatha puurushhaM ||

##(put five leaves in kalasha)##

OM yuvaasuvaasaH pariiviitaagaat.h sa ushreyaan.h bhavati jaayamaanaH |

taM dhiiraasaH kaavayaH unnaya.nti svaaddhyo svaaddhyo manasaa devaya.ntaH||

##(tie cloth for kalasha)##

OM puurNaadarvi paraapata supuurNaa punaraapaTha |

vasneva vikriiNaavaH ishhamuurjaM shatakR^ito ||

##(copper plate and ashhTadala with ku.nkuM)##

iti kalashaM pratishhThaapayaami ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

11 varuNa puujana

##On the second kalasha)##

tatvAyAmi shunaH shepoH varuNa trishhTup.h kalashe

varuNAvAhane viniyogaH ||

OM tatvAyAmi brahmaNA vandamAnastadA shAste yajamAno havirbhiH |

AhelamAno varuNaH bodhyurushaM samAna AyuH pramoshhiH ||

OM bhuurbhuvaHsvaH varuNAya namaH |

cha.ndanaM samarpayAmi ||

##(add to kalasha)##

OM bhuurbhuvaHsvaH | varuNAya namaH |

axatAn.h samarpayAmi ||

## (add to kalasha)##

OM bhuurbhuvaHsvaH | varuNAya namaH |

haridraa kuMkumaM samarpayAmi ||

OM bhuurbhuvaHsvaH | varuNAya namaH |

dhuupaM samarpayAmi ||

OM bhuurbhuvaHsvaH | varuNAya namaH |

diipaM samarpayAmi ||

OM bhuurbhuvaHsvaH | varuNAya namaH |

naivedyaM samarpayAmi ||

OM bhuurbhuvaHsvaH | varuNAya namaH |

sakala raajopachArArthe axataan.h samarpayAmi ||

avate heLo varuNa namobhirava yaGYebhiriimahe havirbhiH |

xayaM namasmabhyaM suraprachetA rAjannenAmsi shishrathaH kR^itAni ||

varuNAya namaH | mantra pushhpaM samarpayaami ||

pradaxiNA namaskaarAn.h samarpayAmi ||

anayA puujayA bhagavaan.h shrii mahaa varuNa priiyatAm.h ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayAmi ||

12 kalasha puujana

##(continue with second kalasha)##

kalashasya mukhe vishhNuH ka.nThe rudraH samaashritaH |

muule tatra sthito brahma madhye maatR^igaNaaH smR^itaaH ||

kuxautu saagaraaH sarve sapta dviipaa vasu.ndharaaH |

R^igvedotha yajurvedaH saamavedohyatharvaNaH ||

a.ngaishcha sahitaaH sarve kalasha.ntu samaashritaaH |

atra gaayatrii saavitrii shaa.nti pushhTikarii tathaa ||

aayaantu deva puujaarthaM abhishhekaartha siddhaye ||

OM sitaasite sarite yatra sa.ngathe tatraaplutaaso divamutpata.nti |

ye vaitanvaM visrajanti dhiiraaste janaaso amR^itattvaM bhajanti ||

|| kalashaH praarthanaaH ||

kalashaH kiirtimaayushhyaM praGYaaM medhaaM shriyaM balaM |

yogyataaM paapahaaniM cha puNyaM vR^iddhiM cha saadhayet.h ||

sarva tiirthamayo yasmaat.h sarva devamayo yataH |

athaH haripriyosi tvaM puurNakuMbhaM namo.astute ||

kalashadevataabhyo namaH |

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

|| mudraa ||

##(Show mudras as you chant )##

nirviishhi karaNaarthe taarxa mudraa | ##(to remove poison)##

amR^iti karaNaarthe dhenu mudraa | ##(to provide nectar - amrit)##

pavitrii karaNaarthe sha.nkha mudraa | ##(to make auspicious)##

sa.nraxaNaarthe chakra mudraa | ##(to protect)##

vipulamaayaa karaNaarthe meru mudraa | ##(to remove maayaa)##

13 sha.nkha puujana

##(pour water from kalasha to sha.nkha

add ga.ndha flower)##

sha.nkhaM cha.ndraarka daivataM madhye varuNa devataaM |

pR^ishhThe prajaapatiM vi.ndyaad.h agre ga.ngaa sarasvatiiM ||

tvaM puraa saagarotpanno vishhNunaa vidhR^itaH kare |

namitaH sarva devaishcha paaJNchajanyaM namo.astute ||

paaJNchajanyaaya vidmahe | paavamaanaaya dhiimahi |

tanno sha.nkhaH prachodayaat.h ||

sha.nkha devataabhyo namaH |

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami||

14 gha.nTaarchanaa

##(Pour drops of water from sha.nkha on top of the bell

apply ga.ndha flower)##

aagamaarthantu devaanaaM gamanaarthantu raaxasaaM |

kuru gha.nTaaravaM tatra devataavaahana laa.nchhanaM ||

GYaanatho.aGYaanatovaapi kaa.nsya gha.nTaan.h navaadayet.h |

raaxasaanaaM pishaachanaaM taddeshe vasatirbhavet.h |

tasmaat.h sarva prayatnena gha.nTaanaadaM prakaarayet.h |

gha.nTa devataabhyo namaH |

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

##(Ring the gha.nTaa)##

15 aatmashuddhi

##( Sprinkle water from sha.nkha

on puujaa items and devotees)##

apavitro pavitro vaa sarva avasthaa.ngatopi vaa |

yaH smaret.h pu.nDariikaaxaM saH baahyaabhya.ntaraH shuchiH ||

16 navagraha ashhTa evaM chaturdala devataa puujana

|| navagraha devataa puujana ||

##(begin at east go clockwise)##

aakR^ishhNenaaN^giiraso hiraNyastupaH savitaa trishhTup.h

suryaavaahane viniyogaH ||

hiraNyayena savitaaraten.h devo yaati bhuvanaani pashyan.h

suuryaaya namaH | suuryaM aavaahayaami ||

aapyaayasveti gautamaH somo gaayatri

chandraavaahane viniyogaH ||

OM aapyaayasvasametute vishvataH somavR^ishhNaM

bhavavaajasyasanghade sa.nghade

cha.ndraaya namaH | chandraM aavaahayaami ||

agni muurdha viruupaaN^gaarako gaayatri

aN^gaarakaavaahane viniyogaH ||

OM agnimuurdhaadivaH kakuthpatiH prativyaayaM

aapaaM retaa.nsi ji.nvati

aN^gaarakaaya namaH | a.ngaarakaM aavaahayaami ||

udbhuddadvaM saumyo budhaH trishhTup.h

budhaavaahane viniyogaH ||

OM udbhuddadvaM samanasaH sakhaayaH

samagni vi.ndvaM bahavaH saniilaH

dadhikraamagni mashasa.ncha deviimi.ndravato

vasanihvayevaH

budhaaya namaH | budhaM aavaahayaami ||

bR^ihaspate ghR^itsamadho bR^ihaspatitrishhTup.h

bR^ihaspatyaavaahane viniyogaH ||

bR^ihaspate athiyadaryo arhaadyumadvibhaati kR^itumajjaneshhu

yaddhidayashchavaasa rata prajaatatadasmaasudraviNaM dehi chitraM

bR^ihaspataye namaH | bR^ihaspatiM aavaahayaami ||

shukraa.nte bhaaradvaajaH shukraH trishhTup.h

shukraavaahane viniyogaH ||

OM shukraa.nte anyadya jatante anyadvishurushhe ahani daurivaasi

vishvahimaayaa avasi svaadhvo bhadrate puushannihiraatirastu

shukraaya namaH | shukraM aavaahayaami ||

shamagniririMbiraH shanaishchara ushhNik.h

kanyaavaahaane viniyogaH ||

OM shamagniraagnibhiH karashchanna tapatu suuryaH

shaMvaato vaatvarapaa apasR^idhaH

shanaishcharaaya namaH | shanaishcharaM aavaahayaami ||

kayaano vaamadevo raahurgayatri raahvaahane viniyogaH ||

OM kayaanaashitra aabhuuva duuthi sadaavR^idhaH sakhaa

kayaashachishhTayaa vR^ithaa

raahave namaH | raahuM aavaahayaami ||

ketuM kR^iNvan.h madhushcha.ndaH keturgaayatri

ketvaavaahane viniyogaH ||

OM ketu kR^iNvan.h ketave peshomarya aapeshase

samushhaD.hbhirajaayataH

ketave namaH | ketuM aavaahayaami ||

|| ashhTadala devataa puujana ||

OM i.ndraaya namaH | agnaye namaH |

yamaaya namaH | naiR^itaye namaH |

varuNaaya namaH | vaayave namaH |

somaaya namaH | iishaanaaya namaH |

|| chaturdala devataa ||

OM gaNapataye namaH | OM durgaayai namaH |

OM xetrapaalaaya namaH | OM vasoshhpataye namaH |

ravyaadi navagraha ashhTadala chaturdaleshhu sthita sarvadevataabhyo namaH ||

dhyaayaami dhyaanaM samarpayaami |

aavaahanaM samarpayaami |

aasanaM samarpayaami |

paadyaM samarpayaami |

arghyaM samarpayaami |

aachamanaM samarpayaami |

snaanaM samarpayaami |

vastraM samarpayaami |

yaGYopaviitaM samarpayaami |

ga.ndhaM dhuupaM diipaM samarpayaami |

naivedyaM samarpayaami |

mantrapushhpaM samarpayaami |

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

yasya smR^ityaacha naamnoktyaa tapaH puujaa kriyaadishhu |

nuunaM saMpuurNataaM yaadi sadyo va.nde tamachyutaM ||

##All mistakes in our tapa, puujaa or kriyaa are removed and

we are purified by thinking of or uttering the name 'Achyut'.##

anayaa puujayaa navagrahaadi devataa priiyataam.h ||

17 shhaT.h paatra puujaa

##( put tulasi leaves or axatAs in empty vessels)##

vaayavye arghyaM |

naiR^itye paadyaM |

iishaanye aachamaniiyaM |

aagneye madhuparkaM |

puurve snaaniyaM |

pashchime punaraachamanaM |

18 paJNchaamR^ita puujaa

##( put tulasi leaves or axataas in vessels )##

xiire somaaya namaH | ##(keep milk in the centre)##

dadhini vaayave namaH | ##(curd facing east )##

ghR^ite ravaye namaH | ##(Ghee to the south)##

madhuni savitre namaH | ##( Honey to west )##

sharkaraayaaM vishvebhyo devebhyo namaH | ##( Sugar to north)##

19 dvaarapaalaka puujaa

puurvadvaare dvaarashriyai namaH |

jayaaya namaH | vijayaaya namaH |

daxiNadvaare dvaarashriyai namaH |

na.ndaaya namaH | suna.ndaaya namaH ||

pashchimadvaare dvaarashriyai namaH |

balaaya namaH | prabalaaya namaH ||

uttaradvaare dvaarashriyai namaH |

kumudaaya namaH | kumudaaxaaya namaH ||

madhye nava ratnakhachita divya si.nhaasanasyopari

shrii satyanaaraayaNa svaamine namaH ||

dvaarapaalaka puujaaM samarpayaami ||

20 piiTha puujaa

piiThasya adhobhaage aadhaara shaktyai namaH || kuurmaaya namaH ||

daxiNe xiirodadhiye namaH | si.nhaaya namaH ||

si.nhaasanasya aagneya koNe varaahaaya namaH ||

naiR^itya koNe GYaanaaya namaH ||

vaayavya koNe vairaagyaaya namaH ||

iishaanya koNe aishvaryaaya namaH ||

puurva dishe dharmaaya namaH ||

daxiNa dishe GYaanaaya namaH ||

pashchima dishe vairaagyaaya namaH ||

uttara dishe anaishcharaaya namaH ||

piiTha maddhye muulaaya namaH ||

naalaaya namaH ||

patrebhyo namaH ||

kesarebhyo namaH ||

karNikaayai namaH ||

karNikaa madhye saM sattvaaya namaH ||

raM rajase namaH || taM tamase namaH ||

suuryamaNDalaaya namaH ||

suuryamaNDalaadhipataye brahmaNe namaH ||

somamaNDalaaya namaH ||

somamaNDalaadhipataye vishhNave namaH ||

vahnimaNDalaaya namaH ||

vahnimaNDalaadhipataye iishvaraaya namaH ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | piiTha puujaaM samarpayaami ||

21 digpaalaka puujaa

##(Start from east of kalasha or deity)##

i.ndraaya namaH ||

agnaye namaH ||

yamaaya namaH ||

naiR^itaye namaH ||

varuNaaya namaH ||

vaayavye namaH ||

kuberaaya namaH ||

iishaanaaya namaH ||

iti digpaalaka puujaaM samarpayaami ||

22 praaNa pratishhTha

##(hold flowers/axata in hand)##

dhyAyet.h satyam.h guNAtiitaM guNatraya samanvitaM

lokanAthaM trilokeshaM kaustubhAbharaNaM harim.h |

niilavarNaM piitavAsaM shriivatsa padabhuushhitaM

gokulAnandaM brahmAdhyairapi puujitam.h ||

##(hold flowers/axataa in hand)##

OM asya shrii praaNa pratishhThaapana mahaa ma.ntrasya

brahmaa vishhNu maheshvaraa R^ishhayaH

R^ig.hyajursaamaatharvaaNi chhandaa.nsi praaNa shaktiH

paraa devataa aaM biijaM hriiM shaktiH kroM kiilakaM

asyaaM muurtau praaNa pratishhTha siddhyarthe jape viniyogaH ||

|| karanyaasaH ||

aaM a.ngushhThaabhyaaM namaH ||

hriiM tarjaniibhyaaM namaH ||

krauM madhyamaabhyaaM namaH ||

aaM anaamikaabhyaaM namaH ||

hriiM kanishhThikaabhyaaM namaH ||

krauM karatalakarapR^ishhThaabhyaaM namaH ||

|| aN^ganyaasaH ||

aaM hR^idayaaya namaH ||

hriiM shirase svaahaa ||

krauM shikhaayai vaushhaT.h ||

aaM kavachaaya huM ||

hriiM netratrayaayavaushhaT.h ||

krauM astraaya phaT.h ||

bhuurbhuvasvaroM ||

aaM hriiM krauM krauM hriiM aaM

ya ra la va sha shha sa ha

OM ahaM saH sohaM sohaM ahaM saH |

asyaaM muurte praaNaH tishhTha.ntuH

asyaaM muurte jiivaH tishhThantu

asyaaM muurte sarvendriyaaNi manastvat.h chaxuH

shrota jihvaa gR^ihNa vaakvaaNi paadapaayopasthani

praaNa apaana vyaana udaana samaana atraagatya

sukhaM sthiraM tishhThantu svaahaa.

asuniite punarasmaasu chaxuvaH punarpraaNamihiino

dehibhogaM joxaxema suuryamuchcharantaM manumate

mR^IDayaana svasti amR^itaM vai praaNaH amR^itamaapaH praaNaaneva

yathaa sthaanaM upahvayet.h ||

svaamin.h sarva jagannaatha yaavatpuujaavasaanakaM

taavatva priitibhaavena bimbesmin.h kalashesmin.h

pratimaayaaM sannidhiM kuru ||

23 dhyaanaM

OM OM ##(repeat 15 times)##

OM shaa.ntaakaaraM bhujagashayanaM padmanaabhaM sureshaM

vishvaadhaaraM gaganasadR^ishaM meghavarNaM shubhaa.ngam.h |

laxmiikaantaM kamalanayanaM yogihR^iddhayaanagamyaM

va.ndevishhNuM bhavabhayaharaM sarvalokaikanaatham.h ||

24 aavaahanaM

##( hold flowers in hand)##

AUM sahasrashiirshhaa purushhaH sahasraaxaH sahasrapaat.h |

sa bhuumiM vishvato vR^itvaa atyatishhThad.hdashaaN^gulam.h ||

aagachchha devadevesha tejoraashe jagatpate |

kriyamaaNaaM mayaa puujaaM gR^ihaaNa surasattame ||

OM hiraNyavarNaaM hariNiiM suvarNarajatasrajaam.h |

chandraaM hiraNmayiiM laxmiiM jaatavedo mamaavaha ||

shrii laxmii sahita shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya

saa.ngaaya saparivaaraaya saayudhaaya

sashaktikaaya namaH |

shrii laxmii sahita shriisatyanaaraayaNaM saa.ngaM

saparivaaraM saayudhaM sashaktikaM aavaahayaami ||

##(offer flowers to Lord)##

aavaahito bhava | sthaapito bhava | sannihito bhava |

sanniruddho bhava | avakuNThitho bhava | supriito bhava |

suprasanno bhava | sumukho bhava | varado bhava |

prasiida prasiida ||

##(show mudras to Lord)##

25 aasanaM

purushha evedagaM sarvam.h yad.hbhuutaM yachchha bhavyam.h |

utaamR^itatvasyeshaanaH yadannenaatirohati ||

naanaa ratna samaayuktaM kaartasvara vibhushhitam.h |

aasanaM devadevesha priityarthaM pratigR^ihyataam.h ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | aasanaM samarpayaami ||

##(offer flowers/axathaas)##

taaM ma aavaha jaatavedo laxmiimanapagaaminiim.h |

yasyaaM hiraNyaM vindeyaM gaamashvaM purushhaanaham.h ||

26 paadyaM

##(offer water)##

etaavaanasya mahimaa ato jyaayaaga.nshcha puurushhaH |

paado.asya vishvaa bhuutaani tripaadasyaamR^itaM divi ||

gaN^gaadi sarva tiirthebhyo mayaa praarthanayaa hR^itam.h |

toyame tat.h sukha sparshaM paadyarthaM pratigR^ihyataam.h ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | pAdoyo pAdyaM samarpayAmi ||

ashvapuurvaaM rathamadhyaaM hastinaadapramodiniim.h |

shriyaM deviimupahvaye shriirmaa devii jushhataam.h ||

paadoyo paadyaM samarpayaami ||

27 arghyaM

##(offer water)##

tripaaduurdhva udaitpurushhaH paado.asyehaabhavaatpunaH |

tato vishvaN^vyakraamat.h saashanaanashane abhi ||

namaste devadevesha namaste dharaNii dhara |

namaste kamalaakaa.nta gR^ihaaNaarghyaM namo.astute ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | arghyam samarpayAmi ||

kaa.nsosmi taaM hiraNyapraakaaraamaardraaM jvalantiiM tR^iptaaM tarpayantiim.h |

padmesthitaaM padmavarNaaM taamihopahvaye shriyam.h ||

arghyaM samarpayaami ||

28 aachamaniiyaM

##(offer water or axathaa/ leave/flower)##

tasmaadviraaDajaayata viraajo adhi puurushhaH |

sa jaato atyatichyata pashchaad.hbhuumitatho puraH ||

karpuura vaasitaM toyaM mandaakinyaH samaahR^itam.h |

aachamyataaM jagannaatha mayaadhattaM hi bhaktithaH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | AchamaniiyaM samarpayAmi ||

chandraaM prabhaasaaM yashasaa jvala.ntiiM shriyaM loke devajushhTaamudaaraam.h |

taaM padminiimiiM sharaNamahaM prapadye.alaxmiirme nashyataaM tvaaM vR^iNe ||

aachamaniiyaM samarpayaami ||

29snaanaM

yatpurushheNa havishhaa devaa yaGYamatanvata |

vasanto asyaasiidaajyam.h griishhma idhmashsharaddhaviH ||

gaN^gaacha yamunaashchaiva narmadaashcha sarasvatii |

taapi payoshhNi revacha taabhyaH snaanaarthamaahR^itaM ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | malApakarsha snAnaM samarpayAmi ||

aadityavarNe tapaso.adhijaato vanaspatistava vR^ixo.atha bilvaH |

tasya phalaani tapasaanudantumaayaantaraayaashcha baahyaa alaxmiiH ||

29\.1 paJNchaamR^ita snaanaM

29\.1\.1 paya snaanaM ##(milk bath)##

OM aapyaaya sva svasametute

vishvataH somavR^ishhNyaM bhavaavaajasya sangadhe ||

surabhestu samutpannaM devAnAM api durlabham.h |

payo dadhAmi devesha snaanaarthaM pratigR^ihyatAm.h ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | payaH snaanaM samarpayAmi ||

payaH snaanaana.ntara shuddhodaka snaanaM samarpayaami ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

29\.1\.2 dadhi snaanaM ##(curd bath)##

OM dadhikraavaNo akaarishhaM jishhNorashvasyavaajinaH |

surabhino mukhaakarat.h praaNa aayu.nshhitaarishhat.h ||

chandra manDala samkAshaM sarva deva priyaM hi yat.h |

dadhi dadAmi devesha snaanaarthaM pratigR^ihyatAm.h ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | dadhi snaanaM samarpayaami ||

dadhi snaanaana.ntara shuddhodaka snaanaM samarpayaami ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

29\.1\.3 ghR^ita snaanaM ##(ghee bath)##

OM ghR^itaM mimixe ghR^itamasya yonirghR^ite shrito ghR^itaMvasyadhaama

anushhThadhamaavaha maadayasva svaahaakR^itaM vR^ishhabha vaxihavyaM ||

AjyaM surAnAM AhAraM AjyaM yaGYeya pratishhThitam.h |

AjyaM pavitraM paramaM snAnaarthaM pratigR^ihyatA ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | ghR^ita snaanaM samarpayaami ||

ghR^ita snaanaana.ntara shuddhodaka snaanaM samarpayaami ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

29\.1\.4 madhu snaanaM ##(honey bath)##

OM madhuvaataa R^itaayathe madhuxara.nti sindhavaH maadhvinaH

sa.ntoshhvadhiiH

madhunakta muthoshhaso madhumatvaarthivaM rajaH madhudyau rastunaH pita

madhumaanno vanaspatirmadhumaaM astu suuryaH maadhviirgaavo bhava.ntunaH ||

sarvaushhadhi samutpannaM piiyushha sadR^ishaM madhu |

snAnartante mayA dattaM gR^ihANa parameshvara ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | madhu snaanaM samarpayaami ||

madhu snaanaana.ntara shuddhodaka snaanaM samarpayaami ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

29\.1\.5 sharkaraa snaanaM ##(sugar bath)##

OM svaaduH pavasya divyaaya janmane svaadudarindraaya suhaviitu naamne |

svaadurmitraaya varuNaaya vaayave bR^ihaspataye madhumaa adaabhyaH ||

ixu danDAt.h samutpannaa rasyasnigdha tarA shubhA |

sharkareyaM mayA dattA snaanaarthaM pratigR^ihyatAm ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | sharkaraa snaanaM samarpayaami ||

sharkaraa snaanaana.ntara shuddhodaka snaanaM samarpayaami ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

29\.2 ga.ndhodaka snaanaM ##(Sandlewood water bath)##

OM ga.ndhadvaaraaM duraadharshaaM nitya pushhpaaM kariishhiNiiM |

iishvariiM sarva bhuutaanaaM taami hopa vhayeshriyaM ||

hari cha.ndana saMbhuutaM hari priiteshcha gauravaat.h |

surabhi priya govinda ga.ndha snaanaaya gR^ihyataaM ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | ga.ndhodaka snaanaM samarpayaami ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

29\.3 abhya.nga snaanaM ##(Perfumed Oil bath)##

OM kanikradajvanushaM prabhruvaana. iyathirvaachamariteva naavaM |

suma.ngalashcha shakune bhavaasi maatvaa kaachidabhibhaavishvyaa vidata ||

abhya.ngaarthaM mahiipaala tailaM pushhpaadi saMbhavaM |

suga.ndha dravya saMmishraM sa.ngR^ihaaNa jagatpate ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | abhya.nga snaanaM samarpayaami.

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

29\.4 a.ngodvartanakaM ##(To clean the body)##

a.ngodvartanakaM deva kastuuryaadi vimishritaM |

lepanaarthaM gR^ihaaNedaM haridraa ku.nkumairyutaM ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | a.ngodvartanaM samarpayaami ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

29\.5 ushhNodaka snaanaM ##(Hot water bath)##

naanaa tiirthaadaahR^itaM cha toyamushhNaM mayaakR^itaM |

snaanaarthaM cha prayashchame sviikurushva dayaanidhe ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | ushhNodaka snaanaM samarpayaami ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

29\.6 shuddhodaka snaanaM ##(Pure water bath)

sprinkle water all around##

OM aapohishhTaa mayo bhuvaH | taana uurje dadhaatana |

maheraNaaya chaxase | yovaH shivatamorasaH tasyabhaajayate hanaH |

ushatiiriva maataraH | tasmaa ara.ngamaamavo | yasya xayaaya ji.nvadha |

aapojana yathaa chanaH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | shuddhodaka snaanaM samarpayaami ||

sakala puujaarthe axataan.h samarpayaami ||

##(after sprinkling water around throw one tulasi leaf to the north)##

30 mahaa abhishhekaH##

( Sound the bell pour water from kalasha)##

30\.1 purushha suukta

AUM sahasrashiirshhaa purushhaH sahasraaxaH sahasrapaat.h |

sa bhuumiM vishvato vR^itvaa atyatishhThad.hdashaaN^gulam.h || 1||

purushha evedagaM sarvam.h yad.hbhuutaM yachchha bhavyam.h |

utaamR^itatvasyeshaanaH yadannenaatirohati || 2||

etaavaanasya mahimaa ato jyaayaaga.nshcha puurushhaH |

paado.asya vishvaa bhuutaani tripaadasyaamR^itaM divi || 3||

tripaaduurdhva udaitpurushhaH paado.asyehaabhavaatpunaH |

tato vishvaN^vyakraamat.h saashanaanashane abhi || 4||

tasmaadviraaDajaayata viraajo adhi puurushhaH |

sa jaato atyatichyata pashchaad.hbhuumitatho puraH || 5||

yatpurushheNa havishhaa devaa yaGYamatanvata |

vasanto asyaasiidaajyam.h griishhma idhmashsharaddhaviH || 6||

saptaasyaasan.h paridhayaH trissapta samidhaH kR^itaaH |

devaa yadyaGYaM tanvaanaaH abadhnanpurushhaM pashum.h |

taM yaGYaM barhishhi prauxan.h purushhaM jaatamagrataH |

tena devaa ayajanta saadhyaa R^ishhayashcha ye || 7||

tasmaadyaGYaatsarvahutaH saMbhR^itaM pR^ishhadaajyam.h |

pashuuga.Nstaaga.nshchakre vaayavyaan.h aaraNyaan.h graamyaashchaye || 8||

tasmaadyaGYaatsarvahutaH R^ichaH saamaani jaGYire |

chhandaa.Ngasi jaGYire tasmaat.h yajustasmaadajaayata || 9||

tasmaadashvaa ajaayanta ye ke chobhayaadataH |

gaavo ha jaGYire tasmaat.h tasmaajjaataa ajaavayaH || 10||

yatpurushhaM vyadadhuH katidhaa vyakalpayan.h |

mukhaM kimasya kau baahuu kaavuuruu paadaavuchyete || 11||

braahmaNosya mukhamaasiit.h baahuu raajanyaH kR^itaH |

uruu tadasya yadvaishyaH pad.hbhyaaM shuudro ajaayata || 12||

cha.ndramaa manaso jaataH chaxoH suuryo ajaayata |

mukhaadindrashchaagnishcha praaNaadvaayurajaayata || 13||

naabhyaa aasiidantarixam.h shiirshhNo dyauH samavartata |

padabhyaaM bhuumirdishaH shrotraat.h tathaa lokaa.nga akalpayan.h || 14||

vedaahametaM purushhaM mahaantam.h

aadityavarNaM tamasastu paare |

sarvaaNi ruupaaNi vichitya dhiiraH

naamaani kR^itvaa.abhivadan.h yadaaste || 15||

dhaataa purastaadyamudaajahaara

shakraH pravidvaanpradishashchatastraH |

tamevaM vidyaanamR^ita iha bhavati

naanyaH panthaa ayanaaya vidyate || 16||

yaGYena yaGYamayajanta devaaH

taani dharmaaNi prathamaanyaasan.h |

te ha naakaM mahimaanaH sachante

yatra puurve saadhyaaH santi devaaH || 17||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | purushhasuukta snaanaM samarpayaami. ||

30\.1 shrii suukta

hiraNyavarNaaM hariNiiM suvarNarajatasrajaam.h |

chandraaM hiraNmayiiM laxmiiM jaatavedo mamaavaha || 1||

taaM ma aavaha jaatavedo laxmiimanapagaaminiim.h |

yasyaaM hiraNyaM vindeyaM gaamashvaM purushhaanaham.h || 2 ||

ashvapuurvaaM rathamadhyaaM hastinaadapramodiniim.h |

shriyaM deviimupahvaye shriirmaa devii jushhataam.h || 3 ||

kaa.nsosmi taaM hiraNyapraakaaraamaardraaM jvalantiiM tR^iptaaM tarpayantiim.h |

padmesthitaaM padmavarNaaM taamihopahvaye shriyam.h || 4 ||

chandraaM prabhaasaaM yashasaa jvala.ntiiM shriyaM loke devajushhTaamudaaraam.h |

taaM padminiimiiM sharaNamahaM prapadye.alaxmiirme nashyataaM tvaaM vR^iNe || 5 ||

aadityavarNe tapaso.adhijaato vanaspatistava vR^ixo.atha bilvaH |

tasya phalaani tapasaanudantumaayaantaraayaashcha baahyaa alaxmiiH || 6 ||

upaitu maaM devasakhaH kiirtishcha maNinaa saha |

praadurbhuuto.asmi raashhTresminkiirtimR^iddhiM dadaatu me || 7 ||

xutpipaasaamalaaM jyeshhThaamalaxmiiM naashayaamyaham.h |

abhuutimasamR^iddhiM cha sarvaaM nirNudame gR^ihaat.h || 8 ||

gandhadvaaraaM duraadharshhaaM nityapushhTaaM kariishhiNiim.h |

IshvariiM sarvabhuutaanaaM taamihopahvaye shriyam.h || 9 ||

manasaH kaamamaakuutiM vaachaH satyamashiimahi |

pashuunaaM ruupamannasya mayi shriiH shrayataaM yashaH || 10 ||

kardamena prajaabhuutaamayi sambhavakardama |

shriyaM vaasaya me kule maataraM padmamaaliniim.h || 11 ||

aapaH sR^ijantu snigdhaani chikliitavasame gR^ihe |

nichadeviiM maataraM shriyaM vaasaya me kule || 12 ||

aardraaM pushhkariNiiM pushhTiM suvarNaaM hemamaaliniim.h |

suuryaaM hiraNmayiiM laxmiiM jaatavedo ma aavaha || 13 ||

aardraaM yaHkariNiiM yashhTiM piN^galaaM padmamaaliniim.h |

chandraaM hiraNmayiiM laxmiiM jaatavedo ma aavaha || 14 ||

taaM ma aavaha jaatavedo laxmiimanapagaaminiim.h |

yasyaaM hiraNyaM prabhuutaM gaavodaasyoshvaanvindeyaM purushhaanaham.h || 15 ||

yaH shuchiH prayato bhuutvaa juhuyaadaajyamanvaham.h |

suuktaM paJNchadasharchaM cha shriikaamaH satataM japet.h || 16 ||

padmaanane padma uuruu padmaaxii padmasambhave |

tanmebhajasi padmaaxii yena saukhyaM labhaamyaham.h || 17 ||

ashvadaayii godaayii dhanadaayii mahaadhane |

dhanaM me jushhataaM devii sarvakaamaa.nshcha dehi me || 18 ||

padmaanane padmavipadmapatre padmapriye padmadalaayataaxi |

vishvapriye vishvamanonukuule tvatpaadapadmaM mayi sa.nnidhatsva || 19 ||

putrapautraM dhanaM dhaanyaM hastyashvaadigaveratham.h |

prajaanaaM bhavasi maataa aayushhmantaM karotu me || 20 ||

dhanamagnirdhanaM vaayurdhanaM suuryo dhanaM vasuH |

dhanamindro bR^ihaspatirvaruNaM dhanamastu te || 21 ||

vainateya somaM piba somaM pibatu vR^itrahaa |

somaM dhanasya somino mahyaM dadaatu sominaH || 23 ||

na krodho na cha maatsaryaM na lobho naashubhaa matiH | |

bhavanti kR^itapuNyaanaaM bhaktaanaaM shriisuuktaM japet.h || 24 ||

sarasijanilaye sarojahaste dhavalataraa.nshukagandhamaalyashobhe |

bhagavati harivallabhe manoGYe tribhuvanabhuutikari prasiida mahyam.h || 25 ||

vishhNupatniiM xamaadeviiM maadhaviiM maadhavapriyaam.h |

laxmiiM priyasakhiiM deviiM namaamyachyutavallabhaam.h || 26 ||

mahaalaxmii cha vidmahe vishhNupatnii cha dhiimahi |

tanno laxmiiH prachodayaat.h || 27 ||

shriivarchasvamaayushhyamaarogyamaavidhaachchhobhamaanaM mahiiyate |

dhaanyaM dhanaM pashuM bahuputralaabhaM shatasa.nvatsaraM diirghamaayuH || 28 ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | shrii suukta snAnaM samarpayAmi ||

30\.3 vishhNu suukta

ato devaa avantu no yato vishhNurvichakrame |

p.rthivyaaH sapta dhaamabhiH ||

idaM vishhNurvichakrame tredhaa nidadhe padaM |

samuuhvayam.h asya paaMsure ||

triiNi triiNi paadaa vichakrame vishhNurgopaa adaabhyaH |

ato dharmaaNi dhaarayan.h ||

viShNoH karmaaNi pashyatayo yeto vrataani paspashe |

indrasya yujyaH sakhaa ||

tad.h viShNoH paramaM padaM sadaa pashyanti suurayaH |

diviiva chaxuraatatam.h ||

tad.h vipraaso vipanyavo jaag.rvaaMsaH samindhate |

viShNor yat paramaM padaM ||

devasya tvA savituH prasaveshvinorbhAhubhyAM puushhNyo hastaabhyaam.h

agnestejasaa suuryashcha archasendrasyaM indriyenaabhishiJNchAmi ||

balAya shriyai yashasennaadhyAya amrutAbhishheko astu |

shaantiH pushhTiH tushhTiH cha astu ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | mahaa abhishheka snAnaM samarpayAmi ||

31 pratishhThaapana

OM namo satyanaaraayaNaaya || ##(Repeat 12 times)##

OM tadustu mitraa varuNaa tadagne samyorashmabhyamidamestushastaM |

ashiimahi gaaDhamuta pratishhThaaM namo dive brahate saadhanaaya ||

OM grihaavai pratishhThaasuuktaM tat.h pratishhTita tamayaa vaachaa |

shaM stavyaM tasmaadyadyapiduura iva pashuun.h labhate gR^ihaanevai ||

naanaajigamishati grihaahi pashuunaaM pratishhTha pratishhThaa

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya saa.ngaaya saparivaaraaya saayudhaaya

sashaktikaaya namaH | shrii satyanaaraayaNaM saa.ngaM saparivaaraM

saayudhaM sashaktikaM aavaahayaami ||

shrii laxmii sahita shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

supratishhThamastu ||

32 vastra

##(offer two pieces of cloth for the Lord)##

OM taM yaGYaM barhishhi prauxan.h purushhaM jaatamagrataH |

tena devaa ayajanta saadhyaa R^ishhayashcha ye ||

OM upaitu maaM devasakhaH kiirtishcha maNinaa saha |

praadurbhuuto.asmi raashhTresminkiirtimR^iddhiM dadaatu me ||

tapta kAnchana samkAshaM piitAmbaraM idaM hare |

samgR^ihANa jagannAtha satyanaaraayaNa namo.astute ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | vastrayugmaM samarpayaami ||

33 shrii mahaa laxmii puujaa

33\.1 ka.nchukii

navaratnaabhirdadhaaM sauvarNaishchaiva ta.ntubhiH |

nirmitaaM ka.nchukiiM bhaktyaa gR^ihaaNa parameshvarii ||

OM shrii mahaa laxmyai namaH| ka.nchukiiM samarpayaami ||

33\.2 kaNTha suutra

maa.ngalya ta.ntumaNibhiH muktaishchaiva viraajitaM |

sauma.ngallyaabhivR^idhyarthaM ka.nThasuutraM dadaamite ||

OM shrii mahaa laxmyai namaH | ka.nThasuutraM samarpayaami ||

33\.3 taaDapatraaNi

taaDapatraaNi divyaaNi vichitraaNi shubhaani cha |

karaabharaNayuktaani maatastatpratigR^ihyataaM ||

OM shrii mahaa laxmyai namaH taaDapatraaNi samarpayaami ||

33\.4 haridraa

haridraa ra.njite devii sukha saubhaagya daayinii |

haridraa.nte pradaasyaami gR^ihaaNa parameshvari ||

OM shrii mahaa laxmyai namaH | haridraa samarpayaami ||

33\.5 ku.nkuma

ku.nkumaM kaamadaaM divyaM kaaminii kaama saMbhavaM |

ku.nkumaarchite devii saubhaagyaarthaM pratigR^ihyataaM ||

OM shrii mahaa laxmyai namaH | ku.nkumaM samarpayaami ||

33\.6 kajjala

suniila bhramaraabhasaM kajjalaMnetra maNDanaM |

suniila bhramaraabhasaM kajjalaM netra maNDanaM |

mayaadattamidaM bhaktyaa kajjalaM pratigR^ihyataaM ||

OM shrii mahaa laxmyai namaH | kajjalaM samarpayaami ||

33\.7 si.nduura

vidyut.h kR^ishaaNu sa.nkaashaM japaa kusumasannibhaM |

sinduura.nte pradaasyaami saubhaagyaM dehi me chiraM ||

OM shrii mahaa laxmyai namaH | sinduuraM samarpayaami ||

33\.8 naanaa aabharaNaM

svabhaavaa sundaraa.ngi tvaM naanaa ratna yutaani cha |

bhuushhaNaani vichitraaNi priityarthaM pratigR^ihyataaM ||

OM shrii mahaa laxmyai namaH | naanaa aabharaNaani samarpayaami ||

33\.9 naanaa parimala dravya

naanaa sugandhikaM dravyaM chuurNiikR^itya prayatnataH |

dadaami te namastubhyaM priityarthaM pratigR^ihyataaM ||

OM shrii mahaa laxmyai namaH | naanaa parimala dravyaM samarpayaami ||

34 yaGYopaviita

tasmaadyaGYaatsarvahutaH saMbhR^itaM pR^ishhadaajyam.h |

pashuuga.Nstaaga.nshchakre vaayavyaan.h aaraNyaan.h graamyaashchaye ||

xutpipaasaamalaaM jyeshhThaamalaxmiiM naashayaamyaham.h |

abhuutimasamR^iddhiM cha sarvaaM nirNudame gR^ihaat.h ||

brahmaa vishhNu maheshashcha nirmitaM brahmasuutrakaM |

yaGYopaviitaM taddaanaat.h priiyataaM kamalaapatiH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | yaGYopaviitaM samarpayaami ||

35 aabharaNaM hasta bhuushhaNaM

gR^ihNa naanaabharaNaani satyanaaraayaNe nirmitaani |

lalaaTa ka.nThottama karNa hasta nitamba hastaa.nguli bhuushhaNaani ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | aabharaNaani samarpayaami ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | hasta bhuushhaNaM samarpayAmi ||

36 ga.ndha

tasmaadyaGYaatsarvahutaH R^ichaH saamaani jaGYire |

chhandaa.Ngasi jaGYire tasmaat.h yajustasmaadajaayata ||

gandhadvaaraaM duraadharshhaaM nityapushhTaaM kariishhiNiim.h |

IshvariiM sarvabhuutaanaaM taamihopahvaye shriyam.h ||

gaurochana cha.ndana devadaaru karpuura kR^ishhNaagaru naagaraaNi |

kastuurikaa kesara mishritaani yathochitaM satyamayaarpitaani ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | ga.ndhaM samarpayaami ||

37 naanaa parimala dravya

OM ahiraiva bhogyeH paryeti baahuM jaayaa hetiM paribhaadamaanaH |

hastaGYo vishvaavayunaani vidvaan.hpumaaspramaa.nsaM paripaatu vishvataH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | naanaa parimala dravyaM samarpayaami ||

38 axata

tasmaadashvaa ajaayanta ye ke cho bhayaadataH |

gaavo ha jaGYire tasmaat.h tasmaajjaataa ajaavayaH ||

manasaH kaamamaakuutiM vaachaH satyamashiimahi |

pashuunaaM ruupamannasya mayi shriiH shrayataaM yashaH ||

shveta tuNDala sa.nyuktAn.h kumkumena virAjitAn.h |

axatAn.h gR^ihyatAM deva nArAyaNa namo.astute ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | axataan.h samarpayaami ||

39 pushhpa

mAlyaadiini sugandhiini mAlyatAdiini vaiprabho |

mayA hritAni puujaarthaM pushhpaaNi pratigR^ihyatAm ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | pushhpaaNi samarpayaami ||

tulasii ku.ndama.ndaara paarijaataambujaistatha |

paJNchabhirgrathitaa maalaa vaijaya.nti kathyate ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | vaijaya.ntii maalaa samarpayaami ||

40 naanaa ala.nkaara

kaTi suutaaN^gulii yecha kuNDale mukuThaM tathaa |

vanamAlAM kaustubhaM cha gR^ihANa purushhottama ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | nAnA alankaaraan.h samarpayAmi ||

41 athaa.ngapuujaa

OM satyadevaaya namaH | paadau puujayaami ||

OM satyaatmane namaH | gulfau puujayaami ||

OM satyanidhaye namaH | jaanunii puujayaami ||

OM satyasa.nkalpaaya namaH | ja.nghai puujayaami ||

OM satyaadhiishaaya namaH | uuruun puujayaami ||

OM satyaruupaaya namaH | guhyaM puujayaami ||

OM satyasevyaaya namaH | jaghanaM puujayaami ||

OM satyavarmaaya namaH | kaTiM puujayaami ||

OM satyodaraaya namaH | udaraM puujayaami ||

OM satyashaaraaya namaH | hR^idayaM puujayaami ||

OM satyakaamaaya namaH | paarshvau puujayaami ||

OM satyeshhTaaya namaH | pR^ishhThadehaM puujayaami ||

OM satyapaaraayaNaaya namaH | skandhau puujayaami ||

OM satyashauryaaya namaH | baahuun.h puujayaami ||

OM satyavaxaaya namaH | hastaan.h puujayaami ||

OM satyasa.ntushhTaaya namaH | ka.nThaM puujayaami ||

OM satyadevaaya namaH | vadanaM puujayaami ||

OM satyaachyutaaya namaH | naasikaaM puujayaami ||

OM satyasharmaaya namaH | shrotre puujayaami ||

OM satyapuurNaaya namaH | netraaNi puujayaami ||

OM satyaushhadhaaya namaH | bhravau puujayaami ||

OM satyaana.ndaaya namaH | bhruumadhyaM puujayaami ||

OM satyavapushhe namaH | lalaaTaM puujayaami ||

OM satyagraharuupiNe namaH | shiraH puujayaami ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH sarvaaN^gaaNi puujayaami ||

42 atha pushhpa puujaa

OM satyadevaaya namaH | karaviira pushhpaM samarpayaami ||

OM satyaatmane namaH | jaajii pushhpaM samarpayaami ||

OM satyanidhaye namaH | champaka pushhpaM samarpayaami ||

OM satyasa.nkalpaaya namaH | vakula pushhpaM samarpayaami ||

OM satyaadhipaaya namaH | shatapatra pushhpaM samarpayaami ||

OM satyaruupaaya namaH | kalhaara pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyasevyaaya namaH | sevantikaa pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyavarmaaya namaH | mallikaa pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyodaraaya namaH | iruva.ntikaa pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyadharmaaya namaH | girikarNikaa pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyakaamaaya namaH | aathasii pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyeshhTaaya namaH | pArijAta pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyanaarayaNaaya namaH | punnAga pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyashaantaaya namaH | kunda pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyaxayaaya namaH | mAlati pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyasa.ntushhTaaya namaH | ketakii pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyadaaxaaya namaH | mandAra pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyaachyutaaya namaH | pAtalii pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyadharmaaya namaH | ashoka pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyapuurNaaya namaH | puuga pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyaushhadhaaya namaH | dAdimA pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyaana.ndaaya namaH | deva dAru pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyavapushhe namaH | sugandha rAja pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyagraharuupiNe namaH | kamala pushhpaM samarpayaami ||
shrii satyanaaraayaNa svaamine namaH | pushhpapuujaaM samarpayaami ||
43 atha patra puujaa
OM satyadevaaya namaH | tulasii patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyaatmane namaH | jAjii patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyavibhavaaya namaH | champakA patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyasa.nkalpaaya namaH | bilva patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyaadhiishaaya namaH | duurvaayugmaM samarpayaami ||
OM satyaruupaaya namaH | sevantikA patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyasevyaaya namaH | maruga patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyaushhadhaaya namaH | davana patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyodaraaya namaH | karaviira patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyadharmaaya namaH | vishhNu kraanti patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyakaamaaya namaH | mAchi patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyeshmaaya namaH | mallikA patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyapaaraayaNaaya namaH | iruvantikaa patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyashauryaaya namaH | apaamaarga patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyadaaxaaya namaH | pArijAta patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satya sa.ntushhTaaya namaH | daaDimaa patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyavedaaya namaH | badarii patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyaachyutaaya namaH | devadaaru patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyavarmaaya namaH | shaamii patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyapuurNaaya namaH | aamra patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyeshvaraaya namaH | mandaara patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyaana.ndaaya namaH | vaTa patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyavapushe namaH | kamala patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyagR^iharuupiNe namaH | veNu patraM samarpayaami ||
OM satyanaaraayaNa svaamine namaH | patrapuujaaM samarpayaami ||

44 naama puujaa

OM keshavaaya namaH | OM naaraayaNaaya namaH |

OM maadhavaaya namaH | OM govi.ndaaya namaH |

OM vishhNave namaH | OM madhusuudanaaya namaH |

OM trivikramaaya namaH | OM vaamanaaya namaH |

OM shriidharaaya namaH | OM hR^ishhiikeshaaya namaH |

OM padmanaabhaaya namaH | OM daamodaraaya namaH |

OM sa.nkarshhaNaaya namaH | OM vaasudevaaya namaH |

OM pradyumnaaya namaH | OM aniruddhaaya namaH |

OM purushhottamaaya namaH | OM adhoxajaaya namaH |

OM naarasi.nhaaya namaH | OM achyutaaya namaH |

OM janaardanaaya namaH | OM upe.ndraaya namaH |

OM hariye namaH | OM shrii kR^ishhNaaya namaH |

OM parashuraamaaya namaH | OM raamaaya namaH |

OM buddhaaya namaH | OM kalkine namaH

OM shrii satya naaraayaNaaya namaH |

naama puujaaM samarpayaami

46\.6 shhashhThaavaraNa puujaa

Kathaa:

INTRODUCTION

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita (Ch4.9) " Janma Karma cha may divyam yevam yo veththi tha-thwathah...." " One who knows My divine birth and activities will not be born again". Sri Sathyanarayana katha is one such activity of the Lord, by studying which we have every chance of being liberated. Sri Sathyanarayana katha forms a vital and integral part of this pooja. Not listening to the katha will be a major loss. Repeatedly hearing this story and meditating on its different aspects will make us more and more interested in the Lord and His activities. As the Lord Himself says further in Gita (Ch9.14) "Sathatham keerthayantho maam yathanthascha dradhavrathaah: "The mahaatmaas among devotees, always speak and sing My glories, and try with determination, to realize Me"

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

CHAPTER 1

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

not visit Him without a purpose. Naradaji tells Him what he saw and requests Him a panacea for all such miseries. The Lord is now happy at this question of Naradaji because of Naradaji's intention of benefiting the world by seeking the right answer. The Lord said:

Yes, there is a vrita called Sri Satyanarayana vrita which is not known to the inhabitants of the Bhuloka. This is a secret and yet since your interest is the benefit of the mankind, I shall narrate to you this vrita. This can be performed by anyone (anyone means it does not need an expert or a priest to worship the Lord - ANYONE of any caste, community, creed can worship the Lord directly) and very easily. One who does this, will get all the benefits and the pleasures of this world and will eventually get Moksha too. Now Narada wants to know more details of this vrita. The Lord says, this can be done any day, in the evening. Gather friends and relatives and perform this vrita with faith and devotion. The prasad for this vrita is known as Sapaad which is prepared thus:

Take an equal measure of rava, Milk, Ghee, Banana, Sugar ( the measure should be 1 1/4 or multiples thereof ) cook it till all mix into a paste.

The night should be spent in Bhajans and praise of the Lord. All those attending Pooja should be given food and respect. Thus the performer will get all his wishes fulfilled.

End of Chapter 1

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

CHAPTER 2

Sri Lord Narayana tells Narada the further story:

Shri Sathyanaranayana katha is from Skanda Puraana, Revaa kaanda. Suta Puraanikji was the narrator of these stories, in Neimishaaranya to the rishis lead by Shounakji who were performing a 1000 year yajna for the benefit of mankind.

Shounakaji and others now ask Suta Puranikji an important question. "When a man has a desire, how can he fulfill that ethically sound desire?By worshipping whom, by what vrita, or tapas? Please let us know.

Sutaji was pleased to know that this question they asked, was for the benefit of the mankind and not for their personal benefit, for, they had abandoned their homes and all desires. Sutaji said " this question was also asked by Devarshi Naradaji once to Lord Narayana Himself; Let me tell you that story.

Once Naradaji was traveling all over the worlds and finally came to Bhuloka, where he found almost everyone was suffering one or the other misery on account of their past Karmas and were not knowing how to extricate themselves from their untold miseries which were multiplying everyday on account of their ignorance. Being a Satjana his heart felt their agonies and immediately he reached Vaikunta, to Lord Narayana to find the right answer for getting the people out of their miseries. But when he sees the Lord, being a great devotee of the Lord, he forgets his purpose and starts praising the Lord. The Lord Narayana smiles at him and asks the purpose of his visit, knowing that normally Naradaji does.

There was an old and poor Brahmin in the city of Kashi. He was a man of virtue and yet extremely poor and was always begging for the next meal. Since the Lord is Viprapriya- (Brahmana priya means Lover of Brahmana- Brahmana means anyone on the devotional path ) -He came in the guise of an old Brahmin and accosted him " Tell me my friend, what ails you?

". The brahmin replied "I am an old and very poor man and I shall be grateful if you can tell me how to get rid of this poverty of mine which does not seemto leave me". The Lord replied "Why don't you perform Sri Satyanarayana Vrita", and He told him how to perform the Vrita.

The poor man now desires to do this vrita and thinking over these thoughts of the Lord he goes to bed. He could not sleep on account of these thoughts.

Again in the morning he had same thoughts and he says to himself, "whatever I earn today by begging I shall use it to perform the vrita". Since the Lord likes such feelings, (bhaavena devam - Lord does not want our material possessions, he is won by the genuineness of our feelings) that day, he got plenty of money while begging and thus pleased, he took the necessary articles and performed the vrita. Very soon he became rich and had all the things of the world and thereafter he started performing the vrita every month and thus he enjoyed all the pleasures of the world and finally reached the Moksha too.

Now Shaunakji and other rishis want to know how this vrita spread in the world. Also those who have heard the story, what benefits they got. Sutaji replies:

Once when this brahmin was performing the Sri Satyanarayana Pooja there came to his house a woodcutter. He saw the pooja and wanted to know what it is and what are its fruits. The brahmin said, "This is Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. Whatever desires you have in your mind will be fulfilled by performing this vrita. My own poverty and troubles all ended by my very decision to perform this vrita". On hearing this, the woodcutter prostrates to the Lord, takes prasad, and decides to perform this pooja next day. He thought in his mind, "Whatever amount I get from the sale of the wood tomorrow, I will use it for the performance of the vrita." That day he sold the wood for twice the price. Happily thinking of the Lord Satyanarayana he proceeds to do this pooja, inviting his friends and relatives. Thus performing regularly he became rich and happy and finally reached Satyaloka.

End of Chapter 2

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

CHAPTER 3

Suta Puranikji continues the story:

Once there was a good king called Ulkamukha. He was wedded to truth and sense-control. Everyday he used to go to the temple, worship the Lord, distribute alms to the needy. Once he was performing Sri Satyanarayana Vrita on the banks of a river. At that time there came a merchant in a ship loaded with precious goods. He approached the king and wanted to know the details of the pooja and also its fruits. The king said, "My friend, what we are doing is a vrita called Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. This is done with a desire to have progeny, wealth, property, etc. By this, we are worshipping Lord Narayana or Mahavishnu".

The merchant said, "Please tell me the details as to how to perform this vrita, because I would like to have children whom I have not been fortunate to have till now." The king tells him the details of the vrita and the merchant returns home. He tells the details to his wife and they decide to perform this vrita if they get a child. Sometime later his wife Liilaavatii became pregnant and delivered a girl who was named Kalaavatii. Liilaavatii reminded her husband about the vrita and he kept postponing it, till his daughter grew of age and was ready to be married. The father finds a suitable groom and marries her off and again forgot to perform the vrita although he had decided to do so at the time of marriage of his daughtier. The Lord now wanted to remind him.

The merchant and his son-in-law were in a city called Ratnasara where king Chandrakethu was ruling. There was a theft at the palace and the burglars were chased by the police. The running burglar saw these two merchants resting near a tree and they left the booty with them and ran off.

The police caught the two merchants with the stolen goods and they were straight away sent to the prison. The king himself overlooked to investigate. It is this time the merchant suddenly realized that this was all on account of his forgetting the promise to the Lord. At about this time, back home both Liilaavatii and her daughter Kalaavatii lost all their belongings due to thefts at home and were rendered beggars. During one such wandering trying to find some food Kalaavatii sees Sri Satyanarayana Pooja being performed at one house. She goes in, hears the story and details and returns to tell her mother what had taken place. Liilaavatii now knows that it is their forgetting to do the Pooja that had created all these problems. Next day she calls her relatives and friends and performs the Pooja, begs for forgiveness. Accordingly, the king had a dream that the merchants were innocent and he releases them on inquiry and gives them lot wealth.

End of Chapter 3

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

CHAPTER 4

Suta Puranik continues the story:

Thus released from the custody the merchants were returning home. They reached the outskirts of their town in their ship. The Lord in order to test them again comes in the form of an old Sanyasi and inquires as to what the load in the ship is. The merchant bluffs and says that it contains dried leaves. The sanyasi says "Tathaastu". When the merchant returns to the ship he finds that it does contain now dried leaves only. He swoons and when he regains his consciousness he realizes that these are doings of the Sanyasi whom he had cursorily dismissed earlier. He seeks him out and begs for forgiveness. The ever-merciful Lord again forgives him. Now that the merchant was near the town, he sends a messenger in advance to Liilaavatii to let her know that they are on their way home. Liilaavatii. tells her daughter to complete the Satyanarayana poola they were performing and goes ahead to meet her husband. Kalaavatii does the pooja, but in a hurry to meet her husband, she neglects to take the prasad; and when she nears the anchorage, she does not find the ship nor her husband! It looked to her that they both sank/drowned. She swoons and now she decides to die.

The merchant thinks that this must be on account of some fault on their part in ignoring the Lord and then and there he decides to do the pooja as a part of expiation from his side for mistakes of omission or commission. The Lord now pleased makes him realize that it is the daughter's oversight in not accepting the prasaad that has created this problem and now if she goes and takes the prasaad, everything would be all right.

Kalaavatii returned to the altar and took prasad with all faith and reverence. And her husband returned and from then onwards, they all performed Sri Sathyanarayana Pooja regularly till the end of their life and finally after death, they reached Satyaloka.

End of Chapter 4

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

CHAPTER 5

{ 5th chapter is important to us as we too tend to behave like the King in this story, in respect of other peoples' pooja/worship/religion }

In the woods of Nemisharanya Suta Puranikji continued the story narrating the greatness of this Vrita to Shounaka and other Rishies:

In ancient times, there was a King called Angadwaja. He was good and righteous king {like all of us, good and righteous}; and yet once he ignored the prasad of Sri Satyanarayana Pooja and had to suffer very dearly to that.

Once this king was returning from hunting the wild animals in the forests. He rested under a tree for a while. A few yards away a small group of cowherd boys had gathered to perform Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. They did not have anything except their daily bread they were carrying and a talkative among them became their priest and they played the game of doing a pooja. At the end of the pooja, they offered the prasad to the king who, out of contempt and pride, left it untouched.

Pretty soon all his wealth was lost; his hundred children died and he now knew, being a good king that this was all on account of his contempt for those children's pooja. Without any delay the king goes to that very spot where the cowherd boys had done the pooja earlier, gathers them all around him performs the Satyanarayana Pooja with all shraddha and bhakthi.

Thus the king again got all his wealth and kingdom and kins.

Suta now tells the Rishis that this Vrita is specially effective in Kaliyuga. This Lord of Lord is called Ishwara, Satyadeva, Sri Satyanarayana and by many other names. He alone has taken names and forms.

One who reads this story and one who hears it will be rid of all woes and difficulties.

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

OM shrii kRishhNaarpaNamastu ||

End of Chapter 5

48 ashtottarashatanaama puujaa

##Chant Dhyaan Shlokas##

OM shrii satyadevaaya namaH |

OM satyaatmane namaH |

OM satyabhuutaaya namaH |

OM satyapurushhaaya namaH |

OM satyanaathaaya namaH |

OM satyasaaxiNe namaH |

OM satyayogaaya namaH |

OM satyaGYaanaaya namaH |

OM satyaGYaanapriyaaya namaH |

OM satyanidhaye namaH |

OM satyasambhavaaya namaH |

OM satyaprabhuve namaH |

OM satyeshvaraaya namaH |

OM satyakarmaNe namaH |

OM satyapavitraaya namaH |

OM satyama.ngalaaya namaH |

OM satyagarbhaaya namaH |

OM satyaprajaapataye namaH |

OM satyavikramaaya namaH |

OM satyasiddhaaya namaH |

OM satyaachyutaaya namaH |

OM satyaviiraaya namaH |

OM satyabodhaaya namaH |

OM satyadharmaaya namaH |

OM satyaagrajaaya namaH |

OM satyasa.ntushhTaaya namaH |

OM satyavaraahaaya namaH |

OM satyapaaraayaNaaya namaH |

OM satyapuurNaaya namaH |

OM satyaushhashaaya namaH |

OM satyashaashvataaya namaH |

OM satyapravardhanaaya namaH |

OM satyavibhave namaH |

OM satyajyeshhThaaya namaH |

OM satyashreshhThaaya namaH |

OM satyavikramiNe namaH |

OM satyadhanvine namaH |

OM satyamedhaaya namaH |

OM satyaadhiishaaya namaH

OM satyakratave namaH |

OM satyakaalaaya namaH |

OM satyavatsalaaya namaH |

OM satyavasave namaH |

OM satyameghaaya namaH |

OM satyarudraaya namaH |

OM satyabrahmaNe namaH |

OM satyaamR^itaaya namaH |

OM satyavedaaN^gaaya namaH |

OM satyachaturaatmane namaH |

OM satyabhoktre namaH |

OM satyasuchaye namaH |

OM satyaarjitaaya namaH |

OM satye.ndraaya namaH |

OM satyasa.ngaraaya namaH |

OM satyasvargaaya namaH |

OM satyaniyamaaya namaH |

OM satyamedhaaya namaH |

OM satyavedyaaya namaH |

OM satyapiyuushhaaya namaH |

OM satyamaayaaya namaH |

OM satyamohaaya namaH |

OM satyasuraana.ndaaya namaH |

OM satyasaagaraaya namaH |

OM satyatapase namaH |

OM satyasi.nhaaya namaH |

OM satyamR^igaaya namaH |

OM satyalokapaalakaaya namaH |

OM satyasthitaaya namaH |

OM satyaushhashaaya namaH |

OM satyadikpaalakaaya namaH |

OM satyadhanurdharaaya namaH |

OM satyaambujaaya namaH |

OM satyavaakyaaya namaH |

OM satyagurave namaH |

OM satyanyaayaaya namaH |

OM satyasaaxiNe namaH |

OM satyasa.nvR^itaaya namaH |

OM satyasampradaaya namaH |

OM satyavahnaye namaH |

OM satyavaayuve namaH |

OM satyashikharaaya namaH |

OM satyaana.ndaaya namaH |

OM satyaadhiraajaaya namaH |

OM satyashriipaadaaya namaH |

OM satyaguhyaaya namaH |

OM satyodaraaya namaH |

OM satyahR^idayaaya namaH |

OM satyakamalaaya namaH |

OM satyanaalaaya namaH |

OM satyahastaaya namaH |

OM satyabaahave namaH |

OM satyamukhaaya namaH |

OM satyajihvaaya namaH |

OM satyadau.nshhTraaya namaH |

OM satyanaashikaaya namaH |

OM satyashrotraaya namaH |

OM satyachaxase namaH |

OM satyashirase namaH |

OM satyamukuTaaya namaH |

OM satyaaMbaraaya namaH |

OM satyaabharaNaaya namaH |

OM satyaayudhaaya namaH |

OM satyashriivallabhaaya namaH |

OM satyaguptaaya namaH |

OM satyapushhkaraaya namaH |

OM satyaadhridaaya namaH |

OM satyabhaamaavataarakaaya namaH |

OM satyagR^iharuupiNe namaH |

OM shrii satyapraharaNaayudhaaya namaH |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNa devataabhyo namaH |

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH ||

iti ashhTottara puujaaM samarpayaami ||

49 dhuupaM

vanaspatyudbhavo divyo gadhaaDh.hyo gandhavuttamaH |

satyanaaraayaNa mahipAlo dhuupoyaM pratigR^ihyataaM ||

yatpurushhaM vyadadhuH katidhaa vyakalpayan.h .

mukhaM kimasya kau baahuu kaavuuruu paadaavuchyete ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNa svaamine namaH | dhuupaM aagraapayaami ||

50 diipaM

sAjyaM trivarti samyuktaM vahninA yojituM mayA |

gR^ihANa mangalaM diipam trailokya timirApaham ||

bhaktyaa diipaM prayashchame devaaya paramaatmane |

traahi maaM narkaat.h ghoraat.h diipaM jyotirnamostute ||

braahmaNosya mukhamaasiit.h baahuu raajanyaH kR^itaH |

uruu tadasya yadvaishyaH pad.hbhyaaM shuudro ajaayata ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | diipaM darshayaami ||

51 naivedyaM

##(dip finger in water and write a square and 'shrii' mark inside the square. Place naivedya on 'shrii'. ; remove lid and sprinkle water around the vessel; place in each food item one washed leaf/flower/axatha)##

OM naaraayaNaaya vidmahe | vaasudevaaya dhiimahi |

tanno vishhNu prachodayaat.h ||

OM namaH satyanaaraayaNaaya ||

##(show mudras)##

nirviishhikaraNaarthe taarxa mudraa |

amR^itii karaNaarthe dhenu mudraa |

pavitriikaraNaarthe sha.nkha mudraa |

sa.nraxaNaarthaM chakra mudraa |

vipulamaaya karaNaarthe meru mudraa |

##Touch naivedya and chant 9 times## 'AUM'

OM satya.ntavartena parisi.nchaami

##(sprinkle water around the naivedya)##

bhoH! svaamin.h bhojanaarthaM aagashchaadi viGYaapya

##(request Lord to come for dinner)##

sauvarNe sthaalivairye maNigaNakachite goghR^itaaM

supakvaaM bhaxyaaM bhojyaaM cha lehyaanapi

sakalamahaM joshhyamna niidhaaya naanaa shaakai ruupetaM

samadhu dadhi ghR^itaM xiira paaniya yuktaM

taaMbuulaM chaapi vishhNu pratidivasamahaM manase chi.ntayaami ||

adya tishhThati yatkiJNchit.h kalpitashchaapara.ngrihe

pakvaannaM cha paaniiyaM yathopaskara sa.nyutaM

yathaakaalaM manushhyaarthe moxyamaanaM shariiribhiH

tatsarvaM vishhNupuujaastu prayataaM me janaardana

sudhaarasaM suviphulaM aaposhhaNamidaM

tava gR^ihNa kalashaaniitaM yatheshhTamupa bhujjyataam.h ||

OM namo naaraayaNaaya | shrii laxmii naaraayaNaaya namaH ||

amR^itopastaraNamasi svaahaa ||

##(drop water from sha.nkha)##

OM praaNaatmane naaraayaNaaya svaahaa |

OM apaanaatmane vaasudevaaya svaahaa |

OM vyaanaatmane sa.nkarshhaNaaya svaahaa |

OM udaanaatmane pradyumnaaya svaahaa |

OM samaanaatmane aniruddhaaya svaahaa |

OM namaH satyanaaraayaNaaya |

naivedyaM gR^ihyataaM deva bhakti me achalaaM kuruH |

iipsitaM me varaM dehi ihatra cha paraaM gatim.h ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namastubhyaM mahaa naivedyaM uttamam.h |

sa.ngR^ihaana surashreshhTha bhakti mukti pradaayakam.h ||

cha.ndramaa manaso jaataH chaxoH suuryo ajaayata |

mukhaadindrashchaagnishcha praaNaadvaayurajaayata ||

aardraaM pushhkariNiiM pushhTiM suvarNaaM hemamaaliniim.h |

suuryaaM hiraNmayiiM laxmiiM jaatavedo ma aavaha ||

OM namo naaraayaNaaya |

shrii laxmiisahita satya naaraayaNaaya namaH |

naivedyaM samarpayaami ||

##(cover face with cloth and chant ## gaayatrii ma.ntra ## five times or repeat 12 times ## OM namaH naaraayaNaaya ##)##

sarvatra amR^itopidhaanyamasi svaahaa |

OM shrii laxmiisahita satya naaraayaNaaya namaH |

uttaraaposhhaNaM samarpayaami ||

##(Let flow water from sha.nkha)##

52 mahaa phalaM

##(put tulsi / axathaa on a big fruit)##

idaM phalaM mayaadeva sthaapitaM puratasthava |

tena may saphalaavaaptirbhavet.h janmanijanmani ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | mahaaphalaM samarpayaami |

53 phalaashhTaka##

(put tulsi/akshata on fruits)##

kushhmaaNDa maatuliN^gaM cha karkaThii daaDimii phalam |

rambaa phalaM jambiiraM badaraM tathA ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | phalaashhTakaM samarpayaami ||

54 karodvartana

karodvartankaM devamayaa dattaM hi bhaktithaH |

chaaru cha.ndra prabhaaM divyaM gR^ihNa jagadiishvara ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH |

karodvartanaarthe cha.ndanaM samarpayaami ||

55 taaMbuulaM

puugiphalaM sataaMbuulaM naagavalli dalairyutam.h |

tAmbuulaM gR^ihyatAM deva yela lava.nga samyuktam.h ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | puugiphala taambuulaM samarpayaami ||

56 daxiNaa

hiraNya garbha garbhastha hemabiija vibhaavasoH |

ana.nta puNya phaladaa athaH shaa.ntiM prayashchame ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | suvarNa pushhpa daxiNaaM samarpayaami ||

punaH puujaa

OM shaantaakaaram bhujaga shayanam, padmanaabham sureesham

vishvaadharam gagana sadR^isham megha varNam shubhaangam

laxmiikaantam kamalanayanam, yogibhir dhyaana gamyam

vande vishhNuM bhavabayahram, sarva lokaika naatham

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | dhyaayaami, dhyaanaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | aavaahayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | aasanaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | paadyaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | arghyaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | aachamaniiyaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | panchaamR^ita snaanaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | maha abhishhekaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | vastrayugmaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | yaGYopaviitaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | gandhaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | naana parimala dravyaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | hastabhuushhaNaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | akshataan.h samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | pushhpaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | naanaa ala.nkaaraM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | a.nga puujaaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | pushpa puujaaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | patra puujaaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | aavaraNa puujaaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | ashhTottara puujaaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | dhuupaM aaghraapayaami

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | diipaM darshayaami

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | naivedyaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | mahaa phalaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | phalaashsTakaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | karodvarthanakaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | taambuulaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | dakshiNaaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | mahaa niiraajanaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | karpuura diipaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | pradakshiNaaM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | namaskaaraan samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | raajopachaaraM samarpayaami |

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | mantrapushhpaM samarpayaami |

57 mahaa niiraajana

shriiyai jaataH shriya aniriyaaya shriyaM vayo jaritrabhyo dadaati

shriyaM vasaanaa amR^itattva maayan.h bhava.nti satyaa samidhaa mitadrau

shriya yevainaM tat.h shriyaa maadadhaati sa.ntata mR^ichaa vashhaT.hkR^ityaM

sa.ntatamai sa.ndhiiyate prajayaa pashubhirya yevaM veda ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | mahaaniiraajanaM diipaM samarpayaami ||

58 karpuura diipa

archata prarichata priyame daaso archata |

archantu putrakaa vataa puraaNa dR^ishhNavarchata ||

karpuurakaM mahaaraaja raMbhodbhuutaM cha diipakaM |

ma.ngalaarthaM mahiipaala sa.ngR^ihaana jagatpate ||

OM shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | karpuura diipaM samarpayaami ||

59 pradaxiNaa

naabhyaa aasiidantarixam.h shiirshhNo dyauH samavartata |

padabhyaaM bhuumirdishaH shrotraat.h tathaa lokaa.nga akalpayan.h ||

aardraaM yaHkariNiiM yashhTiM piN^galaaM padmamaaliniim.h |

chandraaM hiraNmayiiM laxmiiM jaatavedo ma aavaha ||

yaani kaani cha paapaani janmaa.ntara kR^itaani cha |

taani taani vinashyanti pradaxiNe pade pade ||

anyathA sharaNaM nAsti tvamev sharaNaM mama |

tasmAt.h kAruNya bhAvena raxa raxa ramApate ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | pradaxiNaan.h samarpayaami ||

60 namaskaara

saptaasyaasan.h paridhayaH trissapta samidhaH kR^itaaH |

devaa yadyaGYaM tanvaanaaH abadhnanpurushhaM pashum.h ||

taaM ma aavaha jaatavedo laxmiimanapagaaminiim.h |

yasyaaM hiraNyaM prabhuutaM gaavodaasyoshvaanvindeyaM purushhaanaham.h ||

namaH sarva hitArthAya jagadAra hetave

shhaashhThaaN^goyaM praNaamaste prayatnena mayaa kR^itaH |

uuruusaa shirasA dR^ishhTvA manasA vaachasaa tathA

padbhyAM karAbhyAM jaanubhyaaM praNaamoshhThaaN^gaM uchyate ||

shAtyenApi namaskaaraan.h kurvataH shaarN^gapaaNaye |

shata janmArchitaM pApaM tatxaNa deva nashyati ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | namaskaaraan.h samarpayaami ||

61 raajopachaara

gR^ihNa parameshaana saratne chhatra chaamare |

darpaNaM vyaJNjanaM chaiva raajabhogaaya yatnathaH ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | chhatraM samarpayaami ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | chaamaraM samarpayaami ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | giitaM samarpayaami ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | nR^ityaM samarpayaami ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | vaadyaM samarpayaami ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | darpaNaM samarpayaami ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | vyaJNjanaM samarpayaami ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | aandolaNaM samarpayaami ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | raajopachaaraan samarpayaami ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | sarvopachaaraan samarpayaami ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | samasta raajopachaaraarthe axatAn samarpayaami ||

62 ma.ntra pushhpa

yaGYena yaGYamayajanta devaaH taani dharmaaNi prathamaanyaasan.h .

te ha naakaM mahimaanaH sachante yatra puurve saadhyaaH santi devaaH ||

yaH shuchiH prayato bhuutvaa juhuyaadaajyamanvaham.h |

suuktaM paJNchadasharchaM cha shriikaamaH satataM japet.h ||

vidyaa buddhi dhaneshvarya putra pautraadi saMpadaH |

pushhpaa.njali pradaanena dehime iipsitaM varam.h ||

namastvana.ntaaya sahasra muurtaye sahasra paadaaxi shiroru baahave |

sahasra naamne purushhaaya shaashvate sahasra koTii yugadhaariNe namaH ||

OM namo mahadbhyo namo arbhakebhyo naamno yuvabhyo nama aashinebhyaH |

yajaaM devaanya dishakravaa mamaa jaayasaH shaM samaavR^ixideva ||

OM mamattunaH pariGYaavasaraH mamattu vaato apaaM vR^ishhanvaan.h |

shishiitamindraa parvataa yuvannasthanno vishvevarivasyantu devaaH ||

OM kathaata agne shuchiiya.nta ayordadaashurvaaje bhiraashushaanaH |

ubheyattoketanaye dadhaanaa R^itasya saamanR^iNaya.nta devaaH ||

OM raajaadhi raajaaya prasahya saahine namo vayaM vaishravaNaaya

kuurmahe same kaamaan.h kaama kaamaaya mahyaM kaameshvaro

vaishravaNo dadhaatu kuberaaya vaishravaNaaya mahaaraajaaya namaH ||

OM svasti saamraajyaM bhojyaM svaaraajyaM vairaajyaM

paarameshhThaM raajyaM mahaaraajyamaadhipatyamayaM sama.nta

paryaayisyaat.h saarva bhaumaH saarvaayushaH a.ntaada

parardhat.h pR^ithivyai samudra parya.ntaya ekaraaliti tadapyesha

shlokobhigiito maruutaH pariveshhTaaro maruttasyaa vasan.h grihe

aavixitaasya kaamaprervishvedevaa sabhaasada iti ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNaaya namaH | ma.ntrapushhpaM samarpayaami ||

63 sha.nkha bramaNa

##(make three rounds of sha.nkha with water like aarati and pour down; chant OM 9 times and show mudras)##

imaaM aapashivatama imaM sarvasya bheshhaje |

imaaM raashhTrasya vardhini imaaM raashhTra bhratomata ||

64 tiirtha praashana

OM shriyaH kAntAya kalyaaNa nidhaye nidhayertinAm.h |

shrii venkaTa nivAsAya shriinivAsAya ma.ngalam.h ||

sarvadA sarva kAryeshhu nAsti teshhAM ama.ngalam.h |

yeshhaaM hR^idayistho bhagavaan.h mangalAyatano hariH ||

laabhasteshhaaM jayasteshhaaM kutasteshhaaM paraajayaH |

yeshhaaM indiivara shyaamo hR^idayasto janaardanaH ||

akaala mR^ityu haraNaM sarva vyaadhi nivaaraNaM | sarva paapa upashamanaM

vishhNu paadodakaM shubham.h ||

65 upayana daanaM

braahmaNa suhaasini puujaa

##(wash feet wipe offer gandha kumkum flowers sapaad

fruits and gitfs and make obeisances)##

ishhTa kAmyArtha prayukta samyag.h Acharita shrii satya nArAyaNa vrata

sampuurNa phala vaapyarthaM

shrii satyanaaraayaNa svaruupAya braahmaNaaya vAyana dAnaM karishhye ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNa svaruupAya braahmaNaaya AvAhana puurvaka Asan gandha

axata dhuup diipAdi sakalArAdhanai svarchitam.h |

nArAyaNa pratigR^ihNaatu nArAyaNo vai dadAti cha

nArAyaNo taarakobhyaaM nArAyaNAya namo namaH |

devasya tvaa savituh prasaveshvinorbhaahubhyaaM puushhNyo hastAbhyAM

agneH tejasA suuryashcha varcha sendriyenA bhisinchAmi.

balAya shriyey yasha senna dyAya shrii satyanaaraayaNasvaamine namaH |

vAyanadAnaM pratigR^ihNaatu (pratigR^ihnnA vilAti prativachanam)

66 visarjana puujaa

aaraadhitaanaaM devataanaaM punaH puujasma karishhye ||

shrii satyanaaraayaNa svAmi devatAbhyo namaH ||

puujaa.nte chhatraM samarpayaami | chaamaraM samarpayaami |

nR^ityaM samarpayaami | giitaM samarpayaami |

vaadyaM samarpayaami | aa.ndolik.h aarohaNaM samarpayaami |

ashvaarohaNam.h samarpayaami | gajaarohaNaM samarpayaami |

shrii satyanaaraayaNa svAmii devatAbhyo namaH |

samasta raajopachaara devopachaara shaktyupachaara bhaktyupachaara

puujaaM samarpayaami ||

67 aatma samarpaNa

yasya smR^ityA cha naamnoktyaa tapaH puujaa kriyAdishu |

nuunaM sampuurNatAM yAti sadyo vandey tam.h achyutam.h ||

ma.ntrahiinaM kriyaahiinaM bhaktihiinaM janaardana |

yatpuujitaM mayaadeva paripuurNaM tathaastu me ||

anena mayA kratena shriirsatyanaaraayaNa devataa

supriita suprasanna varadA bhavatu |

madhye mantra tantra svara varNa nyunAtirikta lopa dosha

prAyaschittArthaM achyuta ananta govi.nda naamatraya mahA mantra japaM karishhye ||

OM achyutaaya namaH |

OM ana.ntaaya namaH |

OM govi.ndaaya namaH

OM achyutaaya namaH |

OM ana.ntaaya namaH |

OM govi.ndaaya namaH

OM achyutaaya namaH |

OM ana.ntaaya namaH |

OM govi.ndaaya namaH

achyutaana.ntagovindebhyo namaH |

kAyena vAchaa manasendriyairvaa buddhyAtmanA vA prakR^iteH svabhAvAt |

karomi yadyat.h sakalaM parasmai rAmacha.ndreti samarpayaami ||

namasmaromi |

shrii satyanaaraayaNa svaamii devataa prasaadaM shirasaa gR^ihNaami ||

68 xamaapanaM

aparAdha sahasrANi kriyante aharnishaM mayA |

tAni sarvANi me deva xamasva purushhottama ||

yAntu deva gaNa sarve puujAM AdAya partiviiM

ishhTa kaamyaartha sidyarthaM punarAgamanAya cha ||

##(Shake the kalasha)##

|| shrii krishhNaarpaNamastu ||

Nadhiye Nadhiye Song Lyrics with English Translation

2011-11-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

Let me first tell you what a failed attempt this was to translate the beautiful verses of this song....I am so fascinated listening to this every time and thought of translating many times but it never happened perfectly and not going to happen at all....for there can be no match of watch to Vairamuthu's lyrics....The song, the music by Rahman and picturalization and above all...the wonderful expressions of Arjun make this song my all time favorite....Now Enjoy the lyrics!

Nadhiye Nadhiye Song Lyrics - Rhythm Tamil Song Lyrics

Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Theemthananaa

Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Thiranaa

Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Theemthananaa

Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Thiranaa

Nathiyae Nathiyae Kaathal Nathiyae Neeyum Penthaanae

Adi Neeyum Penthaanae

Onraa Irandaa Kaaranam Nooru Kaetaal Solvaenae

Nee Kaetaal Solvaenae

[ Oh beautiful Streams and Streams of thy river…oh river of love, you are also a woman right?

Oh dear…you are also a woman right?

Not one or two, but hundreds of reasons for me to tell if you ask…..

Will tell if you ask]

Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Theemthananaa

Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Thiranaa

Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Theemthananaa

Theemthananaa Theemthananaa Thiranaa

Nadanthaal Aaru Ezhunthaal Aruvi Ninraal Kadalalloa

Samainthaal Kumari Mananthaal Manaivi Petraal Thaayalloa

Siru Nathigalae Nathiyidum Karaigalae Karaithodum Nuraigalae Nuraigalil Ival Mugamae (2)

[You are brook as you walk, a valley as your pound on, and an ocean as you stop to stand

Full bloomed girl on puberty, a wonderful wife on marriage, and a great mother giving birth to a child

Small rivers, wonderful shores of the seas, waves of the beaches, watching the face of the woman in the surfs of the waters and waves in the shores]

Thinam Moathum Karai Thoarum Ada Aarum Isai Paadum

Jil Jil Jil Enra Sruthiyilae

Gangai Varum Yamunai Varum Vaigai Varum Porunai Varum

Jal Jal Jal Enra Nadaiyilae

Thinam Moathum Karai Thoarum Ada Aarum Isai Paadum

Jil Jil Jil Enra Sruthiyilae

Gangai Varum Yamunai Varum Vaigai Varum Porunai Varum

Jal Jal Jal Enra Nadaiyilae

[Every passing day, the river touches the sea shores….with the brooks singing the music of songs

Jil, Jil, Jil, with the rhythms

River Ganges comes, River Yamuna comes, River Vaigai Comes, the River of tolerance as well

Jal, Jal, Jal, with the river of rhythms]

Kaathali Arumai Pirivil Manaiviyin Arumai Maraivil

Neerin Arumai Arivaai Koadaiyilae

Vetkam Vanthaal Uraiyum Viralgal Thottaal Urugum

Neerum Pennum Onru Vaadaiyilae

Thanneer Kudathil Pirakiroam Oahoa Thanneer Karaiyil Mudikiroam Oahoa (2)

[ Beauty of love is known as you part, the value of wife is felt as she passes away

You will know the value of water when you are in the desert

Shyness makes you melting, touching fingers make you smitten

Water and Woman are the same in their smell

Born in the water of a woman’s womb….oh yes, completes the life in the shores of water as well..oh yeah]

(Theemthananaa Theemthananaa..)

Vanna Vanna Pennae Vatamidum Nathiyae Valaivugal Azhagu

Ungal Valaivugal Azhagu

Hoah Mellisaigal Padithal Maedu Pallam Maraithal Nathigalin Gunamae

Athu Nangaiyin Gunamae

Siru Nathigalae Nathiyidum Karaigalae Karaithodum Nuraigalae Nuraigalil Ival Mugamae (2)

[Oh Colorful girl, Oh beautiful flowing river, your shapes are an eternal beauty

Your curves are a beauty

Oh, hearing the soft music, forgetting the ups and downs, is it the features of a river? and it’s the features of a woman as well

Small rivers, wonderful shores of the seas, waves of the beaches, watching the face of the woman in the surfs of the waters and waves in the shores]

Thinam Moathum Karai Thoarum Ada Aarum Isai Paadum

Gangai Varum Yamunai Varum Vaigai Varum Porunai Varum

[Every passing day, the river touches the sea shores….with the brooks singing the music of songs

Jil, Jil, Jil, with the rhythms

River Ganges comes, River Yamuna comes, River Vaigai Comes, the River of tolerance as well

Jal, Jal, Jal, with the river of rhythms]

(Theemthananaa Theemthananaa..)

Thaenkaniyil Saaraagi Pookalilae Thaenaagi Pasuvinilae Paalaagum Neerae

Thaayarugae Saeyaagi Thalaivanidam Paayaagi Saeyarugae Thaayaagum Pennae

Poonguyilae Poonguyilae Pennum Aarum Vadivam Maarakkoodum

Neer Ninaithaal Pen Ninaithaal Karaigal Yaavum Karainthu Poaga Koodum

[Becoming honey from honeybees, becoming honey in the flowers, and becoming milk int eh covers…..oh water

Sharing the laps as a mother, becoming a mat to her man, and in man’s love transforming as a mother….oh woman

Oh Cuckoo, Oh Cuckoo., woman and river changes their forms as well

If water wants, and woman wants, all the borders can go vanished]

Nathiyae Nathiyae Kaathal Nathiyae Neeyum Penthaanae

Adi Neeyum Penthaanae

Onraa Irandaa Kaaranam Nooru Kaetaal Solvaenae

Nee Kaetaal Solvaenae

(Theemthananaa Theemthananaa..)

--

Earlier failed attempt to complete this translations !

Oh beautiful River, the river of love, You are also a woman?

Yeah, You are also a Woman!

Not one or two, but thoughts of reasons, ask and I will tell

Ask and I will tell!

While you walk, you are like a brook; While you arise, you are like a Fall; While you stand, you are a sea

As a girl blossoms..she is a lovely young lady; As she marries, she is a loyal wife; As she gives birth, she is a rejoicing Mom

Several Rivers, flowing into oceans as branches, reaching the shores, as you reach, its Her face!

"Aayiram Penmai Malarattume" Kannadasan Lyrics with my English Translation

2011-11-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

Ayiram peNmai malarattumE

Ayiram kaNgaL rasikkattumE

oruththiyin nenjsam oruvanukkenRE

sol sol sol.. thOzi sol sol sol

My English Translation ……..

Let the thousands of feminism features bloom

Let the thousands of eyes adore the loom

Yet, one’s purest heart is for one true love

Tell, tell, tell, Oh Friend, tell, tell , tell

(Ayiram)

onRE kAdhal onRE dheyvam

onRE vAzvin nIdhi

onRAy sErnthu anbAy vAzum

paNpE peNgaL jAdhi

kAdhal nAyagan oru pAdhi

kAdhali thAnum maRu pAdhi

irumanam anggE oru manam enRE

sol sol sol.. thOzi sol sol sol

My English Translation:
Only one love, only one God,

Brings in meaning to one’s life

Together we live, spreading the love

Character is the woman’s caste

The king of love rules one part

The queen of loves adore the other

Two hearts culminates as one soul here

Tell, tell, tell, Oh Friend, tell, tell , tell

mannavanE AnAlum

ponnaLanthu koduththAlum

peN manadhai nI adaiya mudiyAdhu

vAL munaiyil kEttAlum

venjsiRaiyil pOttAlum

udal anRi uLLam unnais sErAdhu

A..A.A....

mAnum peNNUm oru jAdhi

mAnam enggaL thani nIdhi

thavaRu seyyAdhE arugil varAdhE

nil nil nil mannA nil nil nil

My English Translation

The king rules the man

Giving the precious things away

Cannot capture woman’s heart

Keeping her at the edge of the sword

Preying with the brightest gifts

You can only win over the body

And the soul will never be won

A…A…A…

Mother earth and woman is one creed

The heart and soul is pure and consistent

Doing anything wrong, keep yourself away

Stop, Stop, Stop, Oh King, stop, stop, stop!

FILM: VAZHKAI PADAGU

YEAR: 1965

MUSIC: MS VISWANATHAN & TK RAMAMURTHY

PLAYBACK SINGER: P SUSHEELA

ONSCREEN ACTING: DEVIKA

My Interpretation of this song:

A woman adores true love and dedicated herself to one man whom she believes and she believes that her character is her biggest assest and she respects her femine qualities of endurance, care and love and giving… You can win over a woman by touching her heart and not by force or fake gifts. Forcing her will make you win her body but never her soul.

Dos and Dont's while taking Sabarimala Vratham - Things to know during Ayyapa Puja

2011-11-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

Certain things in life are inherited from the traditions followed since ages without even they being written anywhere but passed on from generations to generations by following and practicing what is deemed right and religious required. Kerala and its traditional temples were known for their orthodox and highly traditional and conservative existence known to mankind. The sanctity and purity of these rituals make this an endearing saga and gives an enriched way of life. We all cannot be saints all through our life, but these norms make us to be living a divine and meaningful times atleast during those days when we follow some religious path towards saturation. Lord Ayyapa is a symbol of beginning and end, being the son of Maha Vishnu and Lord Shiva….and also being a brahmacharya god is said to be following the most difficult of rituals in offering prayers to him. Every step of this prayer have a meaning and a scientific reason if you look deeper into it. Mostly this is in line with what Muslims follow during Ramzan fasting and Christians during Lent days….every religion has certain things that tie up to a one single path of realizing god in any form….a supreme, unseen and unheard form of existence.

41 days of diskha is like a tapas. The do’s and don’t’s are set to keep the focus on the God and his ultimate goals of cleansing the human mind, physical body and inner soul. This puja actually creates a vibrations for better living and character recheck of the people. Though most of the process may seem difficult, the path is rough , yet the happiness of doing this makes it easy and attainable. As an ardent child devotee who only remembers her dad in the Ayyapa dress all her life, I thought this season of Sabrimala, is a time to recap some do’s and don’t’s.

The list of things to know during Sabarimala Vratham

1. Wear black clothes only. You can wear dark blue or orange once you complete few years of diskha and travel to sabarimala. The reason being that Ayappa having offered that his devotees will pay due respects to him and as well as to Sani Bhagawan during the diksha so that he would not trouble them Wearing footwear is also avoided and washing feet before entering house or any place is required.

2. Start and end the day by taking bath twice with head shower with cold water. Initially this would be difficult but being clean is next to godliness. Using fragrances is avoided and using home made products is recommended.

3. Eating self cooked or clean cooked food in separate utensils have to be practiced. Ladies cooking the food have to be . Food have to be vegetarian and full meal only during lunch. Evening prasadam should be a light meal and fruits.

4. Sleeping on the floor is a must and you can use bedsheet or blankets as needed.

5. Who can take up this diksha? And Why?

a. Men of all ages can take up this diksha
b. Women who have not attain puberty and who are elderly and have had their menopause.
c. This restriction is to follow the tradition that Ayyapa is a brahmacharya (bachelor god) and to maintain the focus and santity of the tradition followed in this temple.

6. Following bachelor or brahmacharya life through out this varatham. This would keep the devotees focused on the rituals and on god.

7. Tell saranugosha or Ayyapa saranam vili everyday morning and evening. People going together in the Sabarimala piligrimage keep telling this loudly during travel to make things easy, keep energy up and also to keep the fear of animals and darkness away. Saranam minchiya Saramu illiyeee (there is no big weapon than the saranu gosha)

8. No indulging in arguments, vulgar talks or watching movies. Keep practicing devotional songs and attend ayyapa bajans as much as possible keep the varatham in tact

9. Follow meditation to keep you calm and follow all the rituals with ease

10. Conduct Ayyapa puja at home atleast once and give annadhanam to poor during this pooja. Having a guruswamy do this at home is a blessing and making panchamrutham without even smelling the ingrediants before offering to god is important. Annadhanam is a important ritual and if not possible at home, you can distribute food to poor near the temples as well

11. Practice deeksha during the full mandalam of 41 days. Lot of people these days due to convenience do this for few days which is not right or maladaranam only during the pilgrimage. This will not give full benefits and it is important that giving time cleaning the mind and body during the puja days is very important.

12. First time travelers to sabarimala are called Kanniswamies and they follow that they are driving by the saranu gosha and not with the help of stick as they climb the forest hills to sabarimala. Stop at Erumely and play pettatuli (carnival dance) before proceeding to sabarimala. The first arrow from erumely to be placed in Saramkuthi alayam. There is a story that the year when there is no saramkuti from the first time traveler to sabarimala, that is when Lord Ayyapa will get married…..and the waiting continues but devotees don’t stop coming to Sabarimala

13. Do not indulge in any wrong doings, accepting bribes, indulging in violence or talking foul language. Do not drink or smoke.

14. Keeping modest way of life is the way to perform this puja. Don’t indulge in showing wealth during bhajans or puja at home. In the eyes of god, everyone is equal

15. Have all ingediants required for Irumudi and attend the irumudhi function with poise. As the family puts behind rice in your bag as you start to sabarimala, it means that you are actually leaving behind all your entanglements of life, including relationships and materialistic well being and surrending oneself to god.

16. Keeping away from attending death ceremonies, funerals and women during this time is required. In this vratham, one is far above all that is free from any kind of emotional entanglements and it is only to indicate that no one is above destiny and their own karma.

17. Visiting any local temple during the puja days once is recommended. In Chennai, every corner of the street have ganesha temples that can be visited.

18. Following all puja norms for mala removing after the pilgrimage is also recommended, It is not right to remove the mala once visit is completed before the 41 days is completed. And it has to be done with the help of guruswamy only or in the ayyapa temple when the vratham is completed.

My personal experience with the Lord is that whoever believes in him, he will take care of them….Who ever tries to test this whole thing and do it for name sake and try to not mind any of these is also not forgiven. The meaning is that don’t do something that you cant do with 100% dedication. Even if it means a prayer to god!

Let Lord Ayyapan bless you all for the healthy, wealthy and problem free life. Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.

Sri Venkateswara Suprabatham Lyrics in English

2011-11-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam Lyrics

Kowsalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravarthathe

Uthishta narasardoola karthavyam daivamahnikam

Kowsalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravarthathe

Uthishta narasardoola karthavyam daivamahnikam

Uthishtothishta Govinda uthishta garudadhwaja
Uthishta kamalakantha thrilokyam mangalam kuru
Uthishtothishta Govinda uthishta garudadhwaja
Uthishta kamalakantha thrilokyam mangalam kuru

Mathassamasta jagatham madukaitabhare
Vakshoviharini manohara divyamoorthe
Sree swamini srithajana priya danaseele
Sree Venkatesadayithe thava suprabhatham (twice)

Thavasuprabhathamaravindalochane
Bhavathu prasanna mukhachandra mandale
Vidhisankarendra vanithabhirarchithe
Vrishasaila nathadavithe, davanidhe

Athriyadhi saptharushay ssamupasya sandyam
Aakasa sindhu kamalani manoharani
Aadaya padhayuga marchayithum prapanna:
Seshadrisekhara vibho! Thava suprabhatham

Panchananabja bhava shanmukavasavadhya:
Tryvikramadhi charitham vibhudhasthuvanthi
Bhashapathipatathi vasara shuddhi marath
Seshadri sekhara vibho! thava subrabhatham

Eeshathprapulla saraseeruha narikela
Phoogadrumadi sumanohara Balikanam
Aavaathi mandamanilassaha divya gandhai:
Seshadri shekara vibho! thava suprabhatham

Unmeelya nethrayugamuththama panjarasthaa:
Paathraa vasishta kadhaleephala payasani Bhukthvaa
saleelamatha keli sukha: patanthi
Seshadri sekhara vibho! thava suprabhatham

Thanthree prakarsha madhuraswanaya
vipanchyaa Gayathyanantha charitham
thava naradopi Bhashasamagrama sakruthkara sara ramyam
Seshadri sekhara vibho! thava suprabhatham

Brungavaleecha makaranda rashanuvidda
Jhankara geetha ninadaissa sevanaya
Niryathyupaantha sarasee kamalodarebhyaha
Seshadri sekhara vibhol thava suprabhatham

Yoshaganena varadhadni vimathyamaane
Ghoshalayeshu dhadhimanthana
theevraghoshaaha Roshaathkalim
vidha-dhathe kakubhascha kumbhaha
Seshadri sekhara vibho! thava suprabhatham

Padmeshamithra sathapathra kathalivargha
Harthum shriyam kuvalayasya nijanga Lakshmya
Bheree ninadamiva bibrathi theevranadam
Seshadri sekhara vibho! thava suprabhatham

Sreemannabheeshta varadhakhila lookabandho
Sree Sreenivasa Jagadekadayaika sindho
Sree devathagruha bhujanthara divyamurthe
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham (twice)

Sree swamy pushkarinikaplava nirmalangaa
Sreyorthino hara viranchi sanadadhyaha
Dware vasanthi varavethra hathothamangaha:
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Sree seshasaila garudachala venkatadri
Narayanadri vrishabhadri vrishadri mukhyam
Akhyam thvadeeyavasathe ranisam vadanthi
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Sevaaparaashiva suresa krusanudharma
Rakshombhunatha pavamana dhanadhi nathaha:
Bhaddanjali pravilasannija seersha deSaha:
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Dhateeshuthevihagaraja mrugadhiraja
Nagadhiraja gajaraja hayadhiraja:
Swaswadhikara mahimadhika marthayanthe
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Sooryendhubhouma bhudhavakpathi kavya souri
Swarbhanukethu divishathparishathpradanaa:
Twaddhasa dasa charamavadhidaasa daasa:
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Thwathpadadhulibharita spurithothha manga:
Swargapavarga nirapeksha nijantharanga:
Kalpagamakalanaya kulatham labhanthe
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Thvadgopuragra sikharani nireekshmana
Swargapavarga padaveem paramam shrayantha:
Marthyaa manushyabhuvane mathimashrayanthe
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava Suprabhatham

Sree bhoominayaka dayadhi gunammruthabdhe
Devadideva jagadeka saranya moorthe
Sreemannanantha garudadibhirarchithangre
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Sree Padmanabha Purushothama Vasudeva
Vaikunta Madhava Janardhana chakrapane
Sree vathsachinha saranagatha parijatha
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Kandarpa darpa hara sundara divya murthe
Kanthaa kuchamburuha kutmialola drishte
Kalyana nirmala gunakara divyakeerthe
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Meenakruthe kamatakola Nrusimha varnin
Swamin parashvatha thapodana Ramachandra
Seshamsharama yadhunandana kalki roopa
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Elaa lavanga ghanasaara sugandhi theertham
Divyam viyathsarithi hemaghateshu poornam
Drutwadhya vaidika sikhamanaya: prahrushta:
Thishtanthi Venkatapathe! thava suprabhatham

Bhaswanudethi vikachani saroruhani
Sampoorayanthi ninadai: kakubho vihangha:
Sree vaishnavassathatha marthitha mangalasthe
Dhamasrayanthi thava Venkata! Subrabhatham

Bhramadayassuravarasamaharshayastthe
Santhassa nandana mukhastvatha yogivarya:
Dhamanthike thavahi mangala vasthu hasthaa:
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham

Lakshminivasa niravadya gunaika sindo:
Samsarasagara samuththaranaika setho
Vedanta vedya nijavaibhava bhakta bhogya
Sree Venkatachalapathe! thava suprabhatham(Twice)

ltnam vnsnacnala pamerlna suprabhatham
Ye manava: prathidinam patithum pravrutha:
Thesham prabhatha samaye smruthirangabhhajam
Pragnyam paraartha sulabham paramam prasoothe(Twice)

Dealing with Uncertainty

2011-10-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

In today's world of chaotic chase between options and varied goals, the factors of uncertainty have become quite certain in every one's life. Be it professional or personal aspects, today we live in a kind of confusion, anxiety, caution, nervousness and expectations. In fact, this uncertainty is the New Normal, it is not a negative aspect of life any more. Uncertainty means multiple Options. Certainty limits our scope and actions whereas uncertainty gives us a larger room for choosing anything that would make our lives better, challenging and progressive.

The first principle of dealing with Uncertainty is understanding the fact that uncertainty gives us multiple directions and enriches our thought process. Instead of avoiding this fairly certain aspect, it is good to deal with it and excel in managing the varied directions that lay in our front. This is called as turning adversities into opportunities

Unknown unknowns are not easy and often scary as there is no choice of safety and security in the way we want to deal with things in the most peaceful and consistent way. This uneasiness will actually limit our potential and finding new opportunities and possibilities. Instead of worrying where our relationships would take us, where our careers would lead us and what our friends and neighbours think about us, we need to focus on the things in hand. This would let us make informed decisions considering all the factors within and outside our line of control.

Windy afternoon at Venice Beach watching the tides and boats

We always end up paying a huge cost for the uncertainty when we don't take calculated risks. Understanding that taking risks is very much a success factor and also noting that the chances of failure only makes our options of success more stronger and worth the effort will make things easy for us. Taking risks and failing is always better than not taking any. This would eventually end all possible successes as well if we don't dare to take new steps in life.

This overwhelming situation has become the norm of life, with the vulnerable global economy, job losses, corruption, political unrest, emotional entanglements, and the urge to succeed in everything and anything we do. A parent worries about a 2 year old getting admission in a school today in India, and a grown up child worries about getting a good college, educated graduate worries about a high paid job, a professional worries about marriage, a relationship that would sustain in these days of high tech no time life styles, a married couple worries about having children, bringing them up in right way being both working professionals, old people are uncertain which child would support them when they need, employees are worried about promotions, managers are worried about pie-sharing, companies are worried about competitions, countries are worried about economy and war, and world is worried about global warming, depleting natural resources and oil, unexplored mineral wealth, and fight for the borders. More the quest for being organized, civilized, and perfect, the world is actually heading towards a bigger chaos and Uncertainty. So calm down, this is just the phenomenon of the present day life.

Personally, every one of us have various goals and ambitions in life. These ambitions can be towards being something or achieving everything in life. We always want to be the one which we are not. An actor tells that he wanted to be a doctor...a teacher tell that's she wanted to be a lawyer.... a house wife dreams about a career, a working woman dreams about spending more time with children.... Too many goals and the too many lives that we wish to lead. Ultimately we have to make choices. Make one decision at a time that will take us in the direction in which we want to go no matter what is the end result. A person who don't expect the end result and travels the road less travelled with courage, wisdom and wishful thinking is the person who succeeds more times than the one who keeps a life time goals and struggles to run all sides. A step by step move actually eliminates the amount of uncertainty in life to a great extent.

The future is always uncertain and unclear and difficult to see through. That doesn't mean that we don't need to dream, dare to think, decide to aim and struggle to cross the bridges of fate with poise and will. It means that we need to take every step with courage and eliminate the fear of uncertainty by taking every move with viewing options on all sides, and keeping the ground felt at every level of decision making to avoid a highly nervous uncertainty. Taking informed decisions with level of intelligence will make us walk through the foggy unknowns in life and still be content with the end result with the fact that we have done deliberate decision making taking all factors into consideration.

To fail and to raise every time, taking new routes towards human development and progress, and not slowing down when we are pulled back hundred times, but to leap ahead with courage and realign our decisions based on the outcomes as we cross each step in the only way to deal with the uncertainty. History has taught us that the greatest achievers of mankind are the one's that dealt with the uncertainty and nothing else. Man would not have landed in space any day had he not taken the risk of going far above the skies where he was not sure if he can ever land somewhere! So uncertainty is actually not a negative aspect of life any longer, it is a pristine way of telling us to take right decisions and move in the right direction and go by what our intuition, circumstances and hearts tell us!

Happy Dealing with Uncertainty folks! I am dealing with one now with the same spirit!

Coping with Performance Review Anxiety

2011-10-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

This is again the time of the year for Annual Performance reviews that usually act as the career-building exercise in Organizations. This is one of the times of the year, when there is lot of activity on both sides- for managers and employees.

During this time frame, employees try to be pleasing the managers keeping their ‘I’ factor aside so that what is fresh do not stay in the Manager’s mind during the D-Day that they wait all year long. Managers having the burden and anxiety to complete the process, hear to end less emotional outburst and keeping in pace with the facts/ details struggling to do justice to both their employees and other factors including Organizational Performance, account related budgetary constraints, identifying right talents and skills sets, giving due recognition amidst their own anxiety of this process with their managers. This struggle and anxiety is like in the food chain. Being in the top of food chain like said in the “Lion King’ movie gives managers an advantage of having the end word and keeps employees either motivated or otherwise depending on how they handle this whole process. Ultimately this is the time the either strengthen or damage the ‘Manager-Employee’ relationship in the organization and caution have to be adhered to for the benefit of the Organization.

Good preparation is the key for Performance Review discussions and they help the team performance taking it to the next level of growth for the projects and improve the relationship within the team members and those between the employee and the managers as well.

This whole exercise is highly stressful especially for the managers who have multiple reports and every member of the team have to be reviewed separately. Not carefully planned process can result in burnout for managers and displeasing results for employees. One year when I had close to 10+ direct reports to review, I ended up with weeks of planning, paper work, thinking and rethinking and in an ardent quest to strike a right balance. So can imagine the stress for managers having a bigger number.

Advice for Managers

What manages should remember is that though the process is stressful, with each of the employee, the process is critical and sensitive for them and it is one time exercise in a year that we all have to go through. Having multiple reviews to do, and having back to back sessions do not only result in a burn out for the manager, but also would lose the required energy and attention that is required to be given. Careful planning and giving time to think between meetings on the person on focus is very important not to give biased opinions that may ruin the whole process. The awareness that this is a nervous time for the employee who slog all through the year for some betterment in life and in career have to be heard genuinely.

It is very easy to keep a set of perceptions, organizational objectives, corporate strategy and self- advancement career path and go by those perceptions in your discussion. It is required to keep a caution on these factors and focus on the goals that have been set for the employee and review based on those goals and not just towards the events that happened at the end of the year. Any statistical data like the number of tasks completed, managed and efficiently done, appreciation or escalations received by the employee, financial impact of the performance in the organizational/project/program objectives become very key and important yardstick to measure performance.

There can be non-subjective factors like team work, attitude, client relationship etc. which can be considered. Non-objective yardsticks like how close you are to the employee outside office, how many times we had coffee together, family friendships, will the employee listen to whatever I say, and other actual factors that today hinder genuine discussions in the organizations have to be curtailed and purely controlled for the benefit of all. Evaluation employees based on the needs as a manager in the process of sharing the pie share that you have is a very common process in the corporates today. At the same time evaluation based on full year’s performance and based on their strengths, weaknesses and improvement areas will benefit the organizations in the long run.

Discussions often circle around the most recent past and it makes the key factor in decision making which is actually tough to stop but that should be made only one area of discussion and this should be the time to show appreciation on the good things done in the past and also provide guidance on the areas of improvement.

The important last word would be, Performance review is to be based only on employee performance and as one time measurement of what is achieved and what is not. Also important to plan the next year, discussion compensation and growth of the employee without any false promises or fake discussions that would surely motivate employees and would let them appreciate the management for their sensibility, professionalism and sensitivity in dealing with People…..After all, what you are working with are human beings…and not machines! Proudly called ‘Human Potential’!

Advice for Employees

The very important thing for the employees is to focus on the purpose of the review that includes goals review and performance objectives. Having details is important but getting too much into it would be a draining situation for both you and your manager, especially when you don’t arrive in consensus and end up in arguments. Having facts and entering into a healthy discussion is important for it is only between YOU and YOUR Manager. There should be no third party in this relationship. It is all about how you performed, where you failed and where you need to contribute and what you need to do to grow in the organization. It is like talking to a priest for god’s blessings???? Is it not??? Ending up in courter and useless arguments and debating with manager really will lead nowhere.

It is important to do your homework and be prepared to back up your proposal for your growth and good performance rating. Instead of giving a general note, it is important to have track of the specific details. And above all having clarity in your career goals is important and having achieved them gives you confidence to this whole process. To understand what was expected, what was performed and what is not achieved gives you a clear conscience of what you could be rated as. Anything away from your own assessment, is a probable result of other factors not within your line of control, probably within or without your Manager’s line of control of things as well. This means, fretting about the results that happened for what you are not responsible is being foolish. You would have given 100% but the project could have failed for so many other reasons.

Self-confidence, integrity and honest approach, on either side give a true meaning to this whole process. Any deliberate flaws will only result in employee attrition and dissatisfied managers resulting in draining away Organization’s best talents and causing unwanted financial impact and growth. So coping up with this anxious period with due caution is very important for the benefit of all concerned.

The Rain of Wisdom

2011-10-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the office window, amidst the pile of work

I stare outside for a second, and see the storming rainfall

Thoughts flowed like a streaming brook, with eyes wide open

Into the cataclysmic of the nature all around

The mountains in the far looked like the shining canyons

Whispering to the weighed mules that carry people around

I know I need to take this few minutes to scribble down

Or else these thoughts are going to be prolonged

Looking for the sun on a windy rainy day from ground

Is like always wanting things that you don’t have around

The showers that flow on the glass window pane

Remind me that how much ever the tears of pain

They would just disappear along the wind and disdain

Calmness engulfed all around, there cannot be inner calmness

To the tensed thoughts’ of a heart that knows not to rejoice

It is the lack of faith that creates limitations

And it is the lack of thoughts’ that creates the boundaries

Once you are free from the limits and learn to go by nature

Life can be nothing but all yours and truly better

The rain is still pouring down the mountains,

And whispering into the leaves that sway in happiness

The roads are all wet and walkers are careful to step around

The cars are buzzing off the freeway in the far round

And see…now the rains of wisdom, started to fade from my thoughts

And it’s just done in 2 minutes of my time, and time to go back

To my pile of work that’s actually not using my wisdom of rain!

Eternity visits Los Angeles….Rendezvous with Dr. BalaMuraliKrishna..Living legend of Carnatic Music…

2011-09-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

There can be no words to describe the enthralling performance of a great legend of our times….I have been watching him from the first Mile Sur Mera Thumara days in 80’s and watching him live is nothing but a great blessing.

A multifaceted personality, a gifted soul, a rendition that is equivalent to the supreme souls of Indian Classical Music and he joins the connoisseurs of Carnatic world including Annamaya, Thyagabhrama, and so many other legends. The simplicity of the man in his smile, the beautiful artistic interaction with his fans…and the competitions he brings in with his accompanists is a visual treat, a divine grace and above all a soul stirring dive into the music of Carnatic songs….the bhavas, the ragas and the samskruthi….. there can be no par!....I am so glad I was able to show this great legend to my child, a budding artist and she would realize what an opportunity it was to see him singing sitting in the first few rows… an awakening experience

His first opening song of ‘Endaro Mahanubhavulu….’ ,. I felt amongst all, he was the biggest Mahan!. ‘Samajavaragamana…’ made the crowd sway in an eternal ecstacy..and ‘Akilandeswari’ evoked goddess Durga just before the duga puja celebrations week to begin..and people were waiting for him to continue…when he smiled and said ‘over’….’Muruga…. ‘was an wonderful performance having B.U.Ganesh Prasad on Violin and Tanjavur K Murugaboopathy on Mridangam…what a great percussionists he had..young talents and wonderful. Saraswathi who gave the introduction of his songs and anecdotes was not only perfect…but very gifted. His song in Hindi calling Bala Gopala…was taking us all into the world of Bridhavanam…just can feel lord krishna dancing in the corners of the fully packed high school auditorium in Norwalk, Los Angeles, CA here in USA.

The one mystical minute was when he explained his love of travelling in train between ‘Bejawada’ to ‘Madras’ now called Vijayawada and Chennai…. And the way he recited all the stations in a musical way…as a child who took this route for several years, I could be nothing but overwhelmed..shouting my town, my city, my route,…my maestro! He ended the recitation like a child who finished his first poem recitation and smiled in fact giggled with blushes….it was such a treat to watch him like a little child feeling pride and happy after every song…such a humility and happiness in an artist of his caliber is a rare phenomenon. His ‘Tilana’ was the last song in the concert and it made us feel like wanting to dance…and I could see all people around tapping their feet in a happiness….the real happiness and success of an artist is when he can get his audience spell bound and rejoice in the presence forgetting everything else around and stay glued to the seat and eyes on him all the moments.

At the age of 81 his ardent dedication and physical strength, is only possible when the soul is truly submerged in the endeavor he is doing…and it is his inner enormous love for music that is giving him that ability to manage the pressure of concerts and sitting down for 3 hours continuously ….In all ways…for us who are blessed to be alive during his times, who are privileged to get to see him and enjoy his life….it gives a greater meaning of what we called is eternity of Indian Music….a lasting memory of happiness for rest of our lives. Long live Sir,…and hope you would bless many more children around you to see this mystical performances….To me, you are an eternal bliss

And for those who were were wondering, what are the stations he mentioned between Vijaywada and Chennai , here is the list:

Vijayawada Junction

Krishna Canal Junction

Kolanukonda

Peddavadiapudi

Chiluvur

Duggirala

Kolakalur

Tenali Junction

Tsunduru

Modukuru

Nidubrolu

Machavaram

Appikatla

Bapatla

Stuartpuram

Ipurupalem

Ipurupalem Halt

Chirala

Jandrapeta

Vetapalemu

Kotta Pandilla Palli

Kadavakuduru

Chinna Ganjam

Uppugunduru

Raparla Halt

Ammanabrolu

Karavadi

Ongole

Surareddipalem

Tanguturu

Singarayakonda

Ulavapadu

Tettu

Kavali

Sri Venkateswarpalem

Bitragunta

Alluru Road

Talamanchi

Kodavaluru

Padugupadu

Nellore

Nellore South

Vedayapalem

Venkatachalam

Manubolu

Gudur Junction

Odur

Pedapariya

Nayadupeta

Doravari Chatram

Polireddipalem

Sullurupeta

Akkampet

Tada

Arambakkam

Elavur

Gummidipundi

Kavaraippettai

Ponneri

Anuppambattu

Minjur

Nandiyampakkam

Attippattu

Ennore

Kathivakkam

Wimco Nagar

Tiruvottiyur

V.0.C. Nagar

Tondiarpettai

Korukkupettai Junction

Basin Bridge Junction

Chennai Central•

It took me around 7 hours always to travel this distance but surely would take more than that to get these names byheart .....and doubt it if I can ever can :-)

A Wave of Friendship

2011-09-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

They came into our lives so simply, just like any other friends
like a big wave of real and close friendship, possibly with no ends
Just like the flocking birds on the tree, whispering sweet nothings
they came in our lives like the bleaming winds and friendship waves...

Like all friends did and do, we spent time giggling for everything
Eating together, sleeping under the same roof, and cheering Indian Cricket....
Movies, Games and Fun, and times sat on the terrace to cry together tooo....
Sometimes just sitting together and doing just nothing....

The day came when we made others feel jealous of us by all means
and so did some wicked minds that slowly came closer in between
Ofcourse, thats what made us think what we mean really to each other
as we overcame all obstacles to an real good friendship....

As I said, flocking birds...as they found a new tree away from our shore
and it was time for them to fly, and make us search for them tommorrow
We realize how much they were part of us unknowingly everyday
And just with all thoughts, and sinciere prayers that they would just do ok

Where ever they go, what ever they would endeavor
who ever their new friends are going to be
We would cherish every day and every moment spent
for friendship is far beyond the test of time or distance

Gonna Miss you Vasudha and Ram...But for sure you would live in our hearts ever! Thank you for the wonderful time we spent together.....will wait for such a time again.

Nightmares of an unpredictable onsite career - Not a myth of being part of an onshore-offshore project

2011-08-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

What happens when you are tempted next time to take up a lucrative onsite assignment in a most happening city in the world?   Think again before you do on things that matter to you and your family first.     Corporates and Managers need not be considerate to your priorities and less will they be worried about what is killing you on all sides if you make wrong decisions.

You can call this my experience or my anguish and pain...what so ever.....when there are so many external areas of control, for heavens sake I should have thought about the things that are well within my internal areas of control.   I am perplexed when people treat people like just any other resource in the organization, a broken table, crashed laptop, virus infected software or a unvending coffee machine....

Trust me you are just replaceable...no matter how much you made the work your life, how much you tried to be loyal to the company you work for, how much you are commited to your client's and project commitments. We are living in an emotion-free corporate world, where people are no more the most important reason for growth in the companies.

Next time, when you pack your bags for an onsite career,try to do some internal introspection? Dont fall for the pursuing words of a manager who is desperate to fill up the Project Org Chart with people...dont think that you are chosen because of your talent and skill set, but because he/she has a desperate project need to fill you in......dont think that she/he is doing you a favour by chosing for the best of the moves, it is only because a client needs your profile and for that moment you are the best fit and makes this for your fascination.

When the urgency is gone, when the project is going smooth, and when there is no escalation because of your good work, trust me, you are no more important to the project and easy replaceable!    You are just given a great incentive and a big piece of the cake which lots of other people are only dreaming off!!!!

YOU are not the you who was so important at the beginning!    When your goals are achieved, you have done your job,,,,you just did what is expected! When your goals and project deadlines are missed and you show sudden surge of improvement, and turn project from RED to Green then you are the best, you are the great member, you are an acheiver.   Thats why people who consistently perform struggle to grow in the organizations...People who sometimes fix things become god sent!

Today Corporate IT industry is always struggling to get the right people, good people who understand client expectations is short just because of this indifferent attitude of people who manage these organizations. Their perception and training that no one is important is what is draining organizations of good innovation and loyal employees..... Every time, projects suffer from iterations, lack of good talent and consistent performance and inbuilt employee motivation because Managers speak the parrokeeted words that they are trained to speak to..... I also underwent this training from NIS on how to handle people during performance appriasal discussion and can imagine how strong we are supposed to be not getting succumbed to employees emotional outburst...But please people, think again, you are also reporting to some one else and will hear the same Music!

After frequent travels on project needs, I decided to focus on my highschooler and asked for an offshore project and just because I had valid visa, I was pushed to 'Bench' waiting for that the dream change....When the dream change came, I was given just a month to sell of my car, bike, my husbands job to quit, tc from school for my kid, put my mom under lonliness, vacate the house, sell of the electronics that would not sustain 2 years of storage and spent so much on the packing...moving to the most costliest city with family was another challenge....trust me, to give the same life to the family on what you had in hometown with the earnings that come, is a challenge but still you showcase a brave front and pretent to be happy!

Finally the day comes when your visa is at someone's mercy or the project is at stake, or just that your manager is not happy with you because you also talk like him or her  and you end up again in a situaton of relocation with an emotion-free corporate giving a slightest consideration to what would happen to you!   Managers think that we had the INCENTIVE of being onsite...but ask any NRI who lives with the second hand goods, manages to look happy always looking for deals, and alway under the uncertainity of 'What Next?'

The INCENTIVE is paid by the uncertainity of

'Which school would take a highschooler in the mid of the year in India?????? Years away from home with No Hindi or Tamil, World history replacing the Social Studies,... Physics in detail replacing Science ....American English replacing the British Indian English,,......Algebra replacing General Maths...I jus dont know if an admission is by any means possible! Did I put my child's education and future at jeapardy!   Expecting my company to understand my predicment is way too much.It was my mistake!!!!!

'Will my husband get back a job? A decent one that he was doing before??''' May take time though not a big deal

The rest are minor and self-made issues that I know I can manage.....but still the nerve of uncertainty is so killing!

Friends,   Onsite careers are real lessons both on the technical, project perspective and also from a personal front.    You make decisions that are important for you in life and not by your companies..... ultimately you may not be with the same company, or with the same project, for long, but surely the families are gonna be with you for life.

Dont damage the life of your dear one 's in the name of your profession, for career is only a part of your life for your living.   Unless you are able to strike this balance, be 100% sure that the changes you take in life do not impact the consistency and happiness of your people, trust me, dont take chances. I have seen so many co-onsite workers who pretend happiness back to families in India, but look for deals of 5 or 10 $ savings., who makes families spend time with the TV and cable, and who struggle with second hand cars that are not happy to ride! Every thing of you gets compramized because of the 'Onsite Incentive' and the day the realization happens, you will sit and fret like me on a Saturday morning! Happy Onsiting!

The uncertainty of life is the New Normal and this is the exact reason why lot of Indians are travelling back to India in search of more peaceful, consistent life closer to family and friends.   I am gonna be one very soon!

Disclaimer: This has got nothing to do with my company, my project or my manager.. This is the frustration of a mother with a teenage daugther worried about the 'What next?' factor in life at this point!

Paru and I

2011-08-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

This story is about me. I have been sitting in my posh upscale office in New York City and watching the mad rush of the Manhattan downtown. Rejoicing the beauty of the new décor I got for my office, I looked satisfied in the mirror on my desk. I smiled at my face beaming with pride of leading a Multi-National Bank as a Vice President. Having travelled all over the world, I developed a fancy for anything that is of a ‘brand’.
Suddenly I remembered Paru, my old friend back in India. Paru and I started life together and we were very hardworking young girls always aspiring for new things and new horizons. I think having the right opportunities at the right time made the difference and I soon started to climb the corporate ladder.

Unknowingly amidst the entire quest, the touch of luck started to embrace me towards success that is now a reflection in my life. But unfortunately for Paru, things did not materialize as she dreamt. She took up a small time accountant job in a firm and got married and raised a family.

I looked at the clock, that’s imported from Germany. It is 5 pm in New York, and it must be 8 am in India. Paru would have completed her cooking, packed her lunch box, and would get her kids ready to school, finished her cleaning and washing and would be getting ready in her salwar kameez, un-ironed most of the time, and running to catch the crowded bus at 8.30.

My new sedan smiled at me telling that I have none of those hassles. Paru may be standing all the way to office going by bus, tolerating the preying men’s hands on her shoulders and hips., sometimes someone stamping on her feet and making her feel like falling down in the jam packed bus.

I grabbed my new iPhone and dialed her number. She responded with the first ring and I could hear her smile….and in her usual poetic way started to talk to me.,

’Rejoice this morning going old, as the setting sun on the other world,

Loved to grace my morning fine., how I wish to tell this friendship being mine…..’ .

I could hear the bus conductor whistling away for the next stop. I am right Paru is on her way to office, a typical 9-6 job which pays her Rs.4000, probably my 100$ bill … yet the irony that she sounded happy.

We spoke for few minutes and she told me that she picked up a part time job of taking tuitions to a disabled child of a Merchant Navy Sailor at their home for Rs. 600 and how much that is helping her to fulfill her children’s extra expenses of making them learn swimming. She was so excited that the child’s mother serves her hot chai every evening and she is so refreshed with it when going back home at 8 pm and start cooking dinner for her family.

She was still singing Jibanananda Das’s verses

I have journeyed, alone, in the enduring night,

And down the dark corridor of time I have walked

I was perplexed. Here is a woman who runs from pillar to post to make her living. All she has are bare minimum necessities to survive in a polluted and corrupted city where she has to bribe everyone for everything. But I could find a great sense of happiness, contentment and joy in her of what she is doing. Paru surely sounded happy and her words echoed in my ears for long

"As the footfall of dew comes evening;

The raven wipes the smell of warm sun

From its wings; the world's noises die."

Banalatha Sen…..I thought. Her enthusiasm in poetry has not slipped a bit and her spontaneity of words and using them with wisdom rightfully made me smile again. Paru has been using poetry as her solace ever since I knew her. Her every emotion is packed with the words that have poetic brilliance. I decided to forget her, for Paru reminds me of ordinary Indian woman whose struggles never end. Abused by the entire system that have no outlet and in a conservative and religiously tight communities, the society haven’t changed over decades after Independence.

Paru lives in a sense of emotional freedom in mind, which as a Liberal Free Modern Woman, I am not able to appreciate or least accept. I know I thought of writing my story and thinking too much about Paru. I am going to erase her now.

After couple of weeks, I decided to go to Las Vegas to enjoy a good vacation. The Arizona and Nevada borders always fascinated me with the deserts and night winds and dunes amidst which I love to drive. The Colorado river with its beauty flowing amidst the Grand Canyons always made my camera busy. Vegas also hit by the recent recessions and there aren’t the usual crowds in the Casinos.

I sat in the Cesar Palace and looked at the girls dancing on the poles. They looked like the Russian Circus girls who used to jump from one corner to the other in the Raj Kamal Circus that I watched decades ago in my home town. Yes, I went to circus every year with my family and friends, which included Paru, my best friend.

Is life not a circus for Paru even today? Is she really happy with her life? I can hear her boss yelling at her for not keeping the files ready for Audit. She knows he would anyway pay Rs.500 to the auditor for a good report. Her son is pulling her to play with him. She just switched on the Sun TV for her usual mega serial. Amidst all this, she is humming the words of Tagore from Geetanjali on the phone when I dialed her

“Time is endless in thy hands, my lord.
There is none to count thy minutes.
Days and nights pass and ages bloom and fade like flowers.
Thou knowest how to wait.”

She was telling me about the years that we missed to meet. And she is happy to wait for few more years to give me her big hug. She loved being called aunty by her children’s friends and tells that she is now not asking her husband to color his hair. I guess he is looking wise and matured and handsome with the nature’s salt and pepper strokes.

My divorce after 7 years of marriage, an extra marital affair with a colleague and now settling down with a boyfriend who is equally successful, I had the fun and spice in life that I needed. Probably, what is the need to tolerate a relationship that is meaningless? Should we not move on? For people like Paru, divorce is a sin. Going by your heart and doing what you want is out of place. Abiding by the society and its set protocols is the way to live. I now know that I started to hate her more than ever.

Again, did I not tell you that this my story? This Paru seems to be disturbing me from continuing my story in its truthfulness.

Back to New York, I started to concentrate on my work. After finishing a rather busy day, I was walking toward the car park, when I noticed Paru sitting in my lobby. I was excited to see her. I went and hugged her. She looked old than our age. Wrapped in a traditional Indian saree, she looked like an old aunty with greying hair, and wrinkles down her eyes. She looked tired.

I took her to my office and offered her tea and snacks and caught up a lot on where we left after our last phone call. She was telling me about Anna Hazare and how he is fighting to end corruption and how people in the name of Scam are ruining the progress of my motherland. I smiled. I have been following the world news closely and am aware of all that she is telling at the touch of a browser in my iPad. I didn’t have to wait for the 7.30 Sun News.

After that day, Paru came to office many times. I purposefully avoided her and walked away from the other door whenever I saw her waiting for me in the lobby. What does she need? Money, donation, job or a house? I didn’t know and never felt like stopping by and caring to ask.

But in all this process, I noticed that she is a happy woman. She is still the happiest person I could see in my entire office. Her eyes were tired but they still had sparkle. Her face looked aged but same time very wise. There is some kind of mixed goodness in her, warmth, a truthful care and a genuine friendship. How the hell can she have all the happiness in this world amidst struggles of an ordinary woman? I found her having her interests in tact for arts, poetry, friendship, travel, learning and nothing changed in her over the years. Rabindranath’s translation of his own Bengali poem, as the song offering says

"Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine.

Ages pass, and still thou pourest, and still there is room to fill."

Yes, Paru is still fresh in her mind and thoughts. Her physical appearance has changed. Her circumstances remained close the same from where it all started from. I found myself envious of her suddenly despite all the things I achieved in life. Do I hate myself and not Paru anymore? That thought it-self is so disturbing.

I desperately needed a break and I booked my next flight to Hawaii…..the beautiful islands filled with live volcanoes, colorful sands and vibrant beaches. President Obama was born and loved vacations in this beautiful state. I started to run to the waters and play like a child….sat on beach and pulled the sands all over me and looked at the sky.

I could hear laughter of children and turned around to see. I saw a boat….What am I seeing….The coconut trees are swaying on the banks of Kerala backwaters and a family is rejoicing their holiday on a wooden boat house. Children are still jumping and playing around when their mother Paru was running behind them with the dinner plate trying to feed them. I got bewildered. STOP IT! I cried at them. I took my shoes and ran inside the hotel.

I could not hold this anymore. I need to end this now or never. I saw my agitated self in the mirror and didn’t like what I am seeing. Wrinkles, red eyes, fake smiles. I hate it. I took the flower vase and hardly hit at the mirror breaking it at one stroke. The pieces fell off to the ground relaxing my nerves. I looked at MY reflection in the multiple broken glass pieces on the ground. Paru smiled at me, her way, naturally……and I started to cry to my heart’s content. I know this is my story.

"Into the cyclone rainfall of tears, I now know I am far away from fears….fears of myself and my reflections!”

Author’s Note:

“Paru Tales” is a collection of short stories I started to write few months back and the protagonist Paru goes through various phases and experiences that relate to most of the women around. This story of “Paru and I” is an extract from that collection titled ‘The Naked Parade’. Why I named Paru Tales as ‘Naked Parade’ is for the genuine reason that it is reflection of tales of truth, thought provoking and closer to me as a writer!

- This story is dedicated to all people, who would willfully lead their lives as per their dreams and follow their hearts, naturally. This story is a reflection of millions of people who have to hide their natural selves and live life the way the circumstances demand and get got in the materialistic quest and forget what is truthfully closer to their hearts. For many of us, it takes many long years, to fearfully look back and think what we wanted and what we were made out of the life. Paru is just a sample of that reality, naturally

An Educated Fool! Am I?

2011-08-08T16:23:00.000-07:00

As one neighbour impishly hit my sensitivity

Calling me an educated fool, I gave myself a silent inner pause!

Am I? That gave me a good amount of time

To introspect my inner self, my thought process!

What makes you educated is the not the number of degrees

But the amount of knowledge you learn from life’s lessons!

What makes you wise and thoughtful is not years you lived!

But the number of people whose lives you have touched!

May be the person who said so, the most wisdomful soul!

I revere the happy unthoughtful comment in the night!

But graciously let me let him know that I am not a Fool!

Yes, I would have been a fool having letting others say so!

As gracefully I know to handle people of all types in life

Having had the luck to deal with people of vivid attitudes

The best way is to keep yourself away from insensitivity

What you don’t deserve, let it not touch your heart

The things that others throw at you, thoughtlessly

If you don’t pick it to your hearts and leave them there

Trust me, god gives them back where they need

And lets your live in the way you are made and in peace!

Domestic Violence- Are we thoughtful to other people's problems?

2011-08-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

A young lady in her early 20s (let’s call her Paru) is at a family gathering to celebrate the wedding reception of her brother in law, and welcoming the new bride. The family consists of Mom, Dad, three sons and 2 elder daughter-in laws, one daughter, one daughter-in-law who is the new bride.

Our Paru goes about the day helping with the festivities, but she is quiet and has little enthusiasm. As the day moves on, there is a sudden explosion that disrupts all festivities. The explosion is of an emotional source and comes from Paru.

Paru begins to shout, “What is wrong with all of you? How can you all act happy?! This bride is in potential danger!”

She starts crying and flees from the room. Now, please reflect: What are your thoughts about what happened? Has she ruined the whole atmosphere? Is she unstable and does she lack control? Is she perhaps even crazy?

If any of these conclusions come to mind, this young adult has been labeled what psychology calls, “The Identified Patient.” She would be the one encouraged to get therapy.

What is the immediate truth here? Before the outburst, her mother in law had abused her physically and emotionally as young bride for few years now. What is the historical truth? Her family had been indifferent and mother in law treated her as a servant and her husband was made aware of it — everyone but her parents and family.

So the reality is this: She is part of a family system that operates in denial, and it is that system that is dysfunctional. So let’s shed some truth on this scenario.

This young woman is actually the only one in her family who has insight, is emotionally healthy and takes action. Her husband had been uncomfortable when she told him of the agony she goes through.. Once he accepted it, he talked to the mother in law once, and then wanted it to never be spoken of again.

Father in law went into emotional denial. He accepted it had happened, but could not accept how deeply the abuse affected his daughter in law. Dad figured he paid for therapy; why couldn’t she just get over it and forgive?

Her mother in law, thought the lasting repercussions were her “Paru’s issue” and she went along with life. Mom felt “uncomfortable” when her daughter wanted to spend time with her away from her in-laws place. When abuse was brought up in another context, the father in law asked his daughter in law if she would divorce her husband because of this domestic violence
When she responded, “yes,” he said, “Whatever, Paru” — as if Paru had the problem.

What is this family system exhibiting? Denial and concealment. What are they conveying? That the daughter in law is the one with problems.

Essentially, she’s the family scapegoat. Her anger festered, justice, righteousness and truth screamed out to be heard, and she was met with, “Paru’s crazy.” And her younger brother in law called her as a ‘Fish Market!’

Actually, Paru is the most sane member of the family in this story. This is a family system that had thrived on everyone agreeing and denying. This is called pseudo mutuality and is a very dysfunctional family dynamic. Truth and healing are rarely revealed in this type of system.

This is Paru’s narrative. We all have one. Often, the source of a painful narrative is family of origin, abuse, being misunderstood and the like. Our experiences create who we are. When no one gives us a voice, and others do not take the time to understand our experience, then people who are innocent can be misunderstood.

Often victims look like the identified patient, the one with the problem, when in fact it is the system that is dysfunctional. Often domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, shaming and emotional abuses are denied. They can either lead to someone shutting down emotionally or one becoming a voice for justice.

Integrating facts and truth into how we view people demonstrates morality. It should be practiced as members of a community, family and even in friendships. We often speak cavalier statements, such as a person is dysfunctional, crazy or unstable. But we must take the investigation of truth into consideration.

Victimized individuals are deeply affected by life and often much more intuitive and emotionally intelligent than others. They are less likely to put up with injustice. They often make a stand and speak out against immorality, and this just makes others uncomfortable.

But the reality is, the woman in the above story is absolutely right. She uncovered hidden sin. Once it was revealed, it was pushed under the carpet. She then confronted the denial.

Why did she do this? To save others from being victimized. Her experience gave her insight, righteous indignation and the courage to point out and fight against injustice and abuse.

Let’s support those who speak out against abuse and get over our discomfort. We then become healthy systems for people to thrive in.

Thanks to Kimberlee Z,whose article inspired me to write this story

Invaders looted the wealth of my nation in the Past and Neta’s are looting much more in Present! What is the future of my country?

2011-07-10T22:52:00.000-07:00

Shri Padmanabaswamy temple treasure is only an indication of the prosperous India in the glorious Pre-British days where kings and queens ruled my motherland. This treasure shows the intricate nature of the wealth that my Mother India possessed and the benevolence of the rules and amazing talents of beauty in the art hundreds of years ago. Those were no digital days and all the glorious gold and jewelry recovered only show the artist India with its real skill man ship and excellent talent of hand work that is slowly fading away.

These are the hands of millions of Indians, who need empowerment, it is the time Leaders of our Nation realize that this hands should be filled with the prosperity of tommorrow as early as possible!

For several centuries, Mother India was mercilessly invaded again and again by people who came in the name of trade, and begging for help. For 7 -8 centuries, Indian sub-continent faced continuous war in search of enmassing wealth and mineral resources that the countries geographically landscape had in its belt. We were not only wealthy in Natural Resources, Mineral wealth and man-made prosperity and our puranas and age old stories talk about the wonderful rulers who made people cherish with wealth and happiness.

Gupta Empire, Challukyas, Cholla’s , Pallava’s and Pandhya’s ruled the Nation as the golden age of India before the invasion of Muslim Rulers, and Slow and steady invasion of British into our otherwise peaceful nation. Mughal rules introduced art and architecture to India and at the same time brought in a religious divide amongst the otherwise Hindu dominated country. India being annexed by the most cleaver invasion by East India Company in the mid-18th Century ended the golden period of wealth and self-sufficiency. This was the end of the golden era for India.

As children, we read in our history text books, how Md Ghazni invaded India 17 times and still he could not take away much of its wealth. Every temple and kingdom was filled with the glory of the past and wealth of the Nation that was natural to its existence. Temples were destroyed and palaces were looted in this search and robbery by the so called wealthy developed nations. Thanks to the one sensible king who kept his entire wealth in the secret vaults of the Kerala temple and today we have this as a strong reflection of what it was in the past. Thanks to the Travancore royal family who preserved it so far and been loyal to both the king and the temple god. Otherwise we would have only read about it in history books, seen this in movies and not believed in the truth that my nation was the wealthiest at times.

Even today, if we as a public civil force, form a team and penetrate into the private homes and villas, bank accounts and binami’s of every politician, every member of the parliament in the past and the present, I am sure we will find an equal amount of wealth that would save us from being called a ‘Developing Nation’. If past had been a curse to us as part of the history, the current day scenario is much worse. For what these people are leaving behind to the future generation is a growing cost of living, increased poverty, struggle for survival, the stress of world class competition and an entire ruined and corrupted system.

Indian judiciary can let go a famous actress after she joined her fiancée and cuts her boyfriend’s dead body to multiple pieces and destroy the evidence because of the money she is able to pay into the system , where is the Law of the land? Political and media drama is taking people of India to the heights of tolerance. Every functionary in the country is haunted by a wave of corruption. To get a birth certificate or even worse a death certification, you have to bribe somebody. From the peon to the Prime Minister, everyone is part of this loot. The so called excellent economist and the most reversed Prime Minister of India stands as a silent spectator to the world’s biggest scam dramas as they unfold and still calls the press and says that he is doing what need to be done. Had he been doing what he was supposed to do, India today would have been a developed Nation,. With him occupying the highest chair of democratic government for 2 full terms. Wake Up Dr. Singh, we still believe in you!

And now the most happiest family in India, who can produce films after films spending crores after crores….a young 20 year old K- Klan kid will produce a movie worth 100 crores… with whose money? 87 year old King K of the family called their patriarch happily dons his 2 recognized wives on either side at events. A neighbor having 2 wives is pulled on streets by the same TN police for cheating his first wife? A 20 year old hardworking student who struggled all his childhood to make it to Anna University ends up in some remote college, where as all the kids of K-Klan get to go to the same university…. On what talent basis?

It takes several years for hardworking professional to build a two bedroom apartment, and a NRI struggles between the priorities and expectations of his life and people back home and finally manages to make few lakhs after years of struggle away from home. But these entire clan makes crores after crores that they don’t even know where the money is all spreaded secretly? The easy way to be rich, marry a younger K kid and you will be happily settled, first in life and then in Tihar jail. Mr. Singh and Madam are silent for they very well know that if they try to help the dust off the K family now, they would be equally dusted off by public.

Thanks to CBI finally something is happening. No politician is clean in the country, but enmassing the whole of nation’s wealth in the name of growth and welfare projects is unpardonable? What they did in the Telecom scam is not the 1,70,000 crores loot, but they stopped the possibility of this amount getting into the Indian Treasury as Telecom Dept. profits. How can you be ever developed in these kind of scenarios? We are today the world’s best scammed Nation! Unfortunately! Disgustingly our children are scared to live and lead their lives peacefully in India any longer. It takes our lives off to get one BSNL connection in Chennai, making us run from pillar to post…and our most educated Maran was able to have an entire telephone exchange grounded for his and his family’s personal gain. If we start running special dedicated railway trains and tracks for railway minister, special dedicated unpaid airports for aviation minister, universities for education ministers, when will be a developed Nation?

The life of the ordinary man is not changed for any good after Independence. Today we are still struggling to make both ends meet for millions of people…we are still having the bigger nightmares of illiteracy, unemployment, declining agriculture, increased cost of living, increased and commercialization of temples and education system, horrible transportation system, fraudulent banking systems, unreached health facilities to all of India, terrorism striking from neighbors, dowry deaths, honor killings, fraudulent colleges and professionals, fake pilots, raping policemen, fake medicine manufacturers, female feticides, farmers suicides, water disputes, terror strikes, moists and naxals revolts, language and religious fantasies, child labor, increasing AIDS, etc ,etc and cricketers becoming gods and warriors and our army men most ignored.

If all of the money that politicians have looted in the last 6 decades be brought to books and we rewrite the legal books that are dusted off and written 60 years ago for obedient people of pre-independence era., I am sure we will be a better country. A rape accused gets away paying a fine of Rs 10000, a murderer in the Grover case I mentioned, walks away after 7 years paying Rs 50000, and a dowry death, husband walks away after no proof produced and we let our terrorist whom we have videos recorded as shooting our civilians is provided a high level security and life?., where is the law and justice we are expecting in our country.

The words ‘Asathoma Sadgamaya…….meaning untruth leading to truth’ will never see a dawn in my country unfortunately if this continues. This is the cry of an inner heart of a citizen of India. It is my inner voice that makes me restless, angry and agitated to see the injustices happening and ripping my mother India apart. Please do not let her to bleed! PLEASE HELP MY NATION STOP TO BLEED!

Letter to My Little Girl...

2011-07-04T22:06:00.000-07:00

My dear Chinku,

This is how I called you from the time you were a toddler holding my fingers and learning to walk. I know you no longer allow me to call you so in front of others, for now you are a grown up independent little teen. Yet, to me calling you makes me rejoice the motherhood I enjoy in life because of you.   Today I woke up with this letter in mind, a train of thoughts with a struggle between the Past that I need to keep you informed and the dream of future that I need to share with you.

You may ask, amma, why here? I know Manasi would hate this post as she never wanted my life to be a open book, and she is the one stopped me to share my story to anyone.   But today, I realize that this story of mine, including you is a story of millions of middle class mothers, troubled wives, desperate parents, and challenged professions and of course of all those wonderful women who outgrow the human struggles.

This story of (y)our past is filled with the story and memories of your childhood. Today, I am called the most liberal parent, responsible adult and a very controlling mom. There is a great contradiction between being called liberal and controlling.   But I keep telling you that Liberty is the biggest Responsibility. But why do I teach you this always.   You will understand as you read further.

Aishu, I am very happy that you hardly remember anything of the first 7 years of your life. I am glad to make you know the past., for history is the biggest teacher to you. To us this journey so far is the most precious one to rejoice and look forward to the future. Here I have a daughter is multi-talented, multi-cultured, multi-language speaker, and a girl making best of both worlds, both the roots and values of India, and the best and innovative west.   I am also glad that you are making a right blend of both and I am so confident that you would not let me down any day.   Mistakes do happen and we learn from it. But as long as you don't repeat them, I am the happiest mom you could see.

This story is all about a most mis-matching marriage of your parents, diversified with the states we were born, the languages we learnt, the aspirations we built, the difference we had and will have for life. Yet, not longing for a perfection in life, we have learned to respect the limitations of each other in life and hence you see today is a most understanding parents you can have.   We have not tried to correct each other's flaws, instead we learned to realign and make a common way to survival. Today you are a student in West and many of your classmates are unfortunate to come from broken families. It is not the fault of any parent, it is only a lesson in life they missed, that compromising is not giving up. It is actually making it the most of any situation. This world would be a free place without war and fear, struggle and terrorism only when we learn this basic lesson from our households. I am sure you will agree to what i said here.

It was in the first week of my marriage that I decided that I need you in life. This thought came to me when I sat for 4 hours in the clinic of Dr.Rudhran, waiting to meet and counsel and give the confidence to my man who is just a week old as a husband that life is all going to be normal. I was just out of college, hardly 20 years old, and I know I have two options. One to run away from there and then. Other was to face it all.   The second decision undoubtedly was very easy to make, but the toughest to execute, for it is a relationship for life time.   All I asked Dr. R that day was whether my husband's illness is genetic. Dr R looked straight into my eyes and said NO. That day I know I am having you, for I don't want you to suffer what ever fear he was being going through.   270/90 was the toughest part of our life to deal with another friend we have not seen, heard or can manage., but we slowly learned to cope with this unknown invisible stranger and put him or her to rest peacefully.    Today we are just 3 and happy to have it that way.

This stranger whom we laid to rest was not letting your dad have a peaceful job and perfect married life. I had to first figure out a way to manage him than your dad. I learned that fighting the thought within me is meaningless, and I need to accept the reality.   The acceptance of the situation is the biggest challenge for a young woman and once you realize the problem and know its rootcause, you can very easily aim your mind at solutions.   Am I not doing this at work today? This was taught to me again in PMP, but this was a lesson that I learnt very early in life.   Every problem will have a solution.      Very sooner, you dad did not had the need to hide his old prescriptions and medications. He was free to share his feelings, and fears and now that we are two to deal with it, we had all the strength to fight it bravely.

I had the need to fight strange situations both in and out of the home.   I realized that all I have with me is my education.   If education taught me anything so far in life, let me put it to best use. I started looking for work. You were just 6 months old when I first left you sleeping the cradle and went back to work. The day was the toughest. I did not have the luxury of cell phones or personal phone at work. But I used to somehow call and check that you took you regular feeds and is free from any pain or inconvenicne. Sooner I set my timely calls spanning for a couple of minutes and this time setter is still there in my outlook even today. Just to call you for 2 minutes at the time I know you are back from school. The feeling that you reached home safe, had your meal at school, and did not have a bad day., and giving you a chance to share all that happened in the day before you forget is the practice I would continue till you are a adult, later you may hate giving me this updates :-)

Amma, why are you writing all this? Don't I know this? I can hear you asking me. Yes baby, I know, but who ever forgets those moments that made their life, believe me, the fire to continue and crave for success will be gone. Hence I don't want you not know any of these.     Have we not overcome things that millions of people in India suffer even today?    Violence, illness, poverty, fear and anxiety, eve-teasing in buses, wrong intention of men around, unkind people around, arrogance and selfishness, helplessness and thoughtlessness of our own people is all that we have overcome to make this far.   Baby, today , we have the best of our self-respect, self-reliance, gratitude to family and friends who helped us, courage, strength to help others, heart to give it back to society, and above all a very very happy family.   However, all this was not made in a day. It had years of hard work, will power, strong determination, to win over failures, a fire to succeed. We always had the thought to prove to people who thought that we would fail as a family, that we not going to let this life go off our hands.

Just after few months, when I went to Dr Rekha's clinic to have the first ultrasound, I heard your heart beat....It was the best moment of my life.   I can imagine the butterflies flying all inside me making me feel that I am going to have the most precious gift of god.     Sooner the day you were born, I touched you in the morning, a pink bundle of joy. I cried. My mom was shocked to see my reaction. I told her that she don't know what this little pink bundle would mean to me in life.   She is going to be my strength, my friend, my co-mate to deal with my life the way I want. I know today, that I was not at all wrong.

You just started to walk...... before your first birthday. I know I have to celebrate the day. My friends in Aptech raised to the occasion and so does the family. They all shared money to buy each thing we need for the party. Including for the cake, the dress, the food, and the pictures. Remember, those were the days we didn't have the digital cameras.   Finally in all my anxiety, I forgot to put the Jamun on the Mickey's face on the cake that was supposed to be its nose!    I still look at the pics and laugh to myself...crazy mom!

Your first words were Thata and Amma,,,,, I used to kiss every time you called me.   I did not have cameras to click the kodak moments of life, as you started to grow as my little angel.    Nor did we had the resources to give you everything that we wanted to give.   I could not afford beautiful dresses and precious little toys. But I know I could compensate you with loads and loads of hugs and kisses.   I used to look at you as you sleep on my lap and making my tummy a pillow pet, and dream so many things for you. Dreams that I always dream for you. Dreams that dont let me sleep even today.

I used to shuttle between west mambalam and Tambaram, and I used to buy the tirupur baniyan dresses and the rubber toys from the road side shops near tambaram railway station.   In what ever you were dressed, you used to look like a little doll.   You used to happily play with the rabit on the tortoise and throw every little toy once you played with it.   You used to get bored with the toys very fast., and wanted new one's every now and then. To me the roadside toy shop had been a rescue for sure.   Not only I was able to make your childhood colorful and joyful and I didnt have or could spend more on the things you wanted to change.

Believe me you still like that even today.   Barbie dolls, Dora Mania, Miley Cyrus Hannah Montana fever, Micheal Jackson and Johnas Brothers to today's Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, your fantasies and favorites keep changing with the times and years......and now the fever of Ram is making me smile to myself, for I know you are doing the right things at right age, and I also know that you would outgrow this film star craze also with the time!    As long as you do nothing to an extreme, and learn to welcome change and go by the rhythm of life, I have no worries.

Aptech Asset got closed and I moved to Dishnet call center. You used to wait till I come back from my odd shifts.   The work in the joint family squeezed me domestically, and your dad's fantasy of changing jobs, stressed me out really. That was the time I decided I need to do something. I started to do my MBA. I used to put you to sleep on my lap and keep writing my IGNOU's never ending assignment. 63 papers to submit, 3 assignment for the 21 course work to do....with a odd shift job...I know I have to realign....Thanks to Mr Bharath, who extended my probation and gave me a reason to quit dishnet and there came Manmar.

My Manmar days were the best.... can you imagine that Manmar building that stands today on Natesan road, in Mylapore now as Mediscan used to be the biggest building even till 2003...and there was a big dumping yard for waste management just opposite to it.    Onyx used to come and happily dump the city's garbage there and Dhanalaxmi wines used to be bus stop opposite to it...Every day we used to hear several funerals passing by.....Today the dumping yard is the foundation for the Chennai City Centre and very place ...Can you imagine how the place that once had a wine shop is now a home for America's favorite brands?   The whole place is changed for good.   I used to shuttle to office in 12G....this bus is still plying there...but with several people going to a different destination now.....This is the most happening place in Chennai today.    I think even our lives transformed with these changes that happened to this place..... irony!

I made friends for lifetime who loved seeing you grow as a happy child. Raghu and I were always careful that none of our struggles should hinder your growth.   We never fought or cried in front of you.   Unfortunately, the glorious days of Manmar started to fade....from a highest IT tax payer in the state, Manmar battled the end with the deal of GE merger failing and ended up not paying few months salaries. That made me take up a job in Bangalore with help of your god mother, my elder sister and that was the a turning point.

For Raghu after almost pleading Mr Mahalingam of Telekonnectors went off to work in Delhi, I left you behind with your grandparents and headed to Bangalore. Dreadful times when every weekend I shutttled after my london shift that ended at 10 pm, to the Majestic to take the last bus at 12 in the night to Vellore...from Vellore take a bus to Chennai and reach at 9 am, and you used to sit with a mug of water and brush waiting in the front yard waiting for me.    Remembering this makes me even feel bad today....but happy we did cross it....Today, Mr Mahalingam' s wife Latha is a colleague to me in Rotary Inner Wheel....and I just smile at life's vicious circle! I used to preserve the 23 weeks tickets thinking i will make it to Limca records for shuttling every week between Bgl to Chennai for 4 months....

Thanks to Murali uncle, the ordeal ended as I found the job in ABN towards the end of 2003.....Raghu also joined at the beginning of 2004..........but less we did realize that we will have fun of challenges in 2004..... The mysterious stupid fire accident that happened in our bedroom aiming to kill you and me, and Raghu saving us was in one way an end to our struggles.   Why it happened, who did it and what was the motive are few questions that we don't need to ask anymore baby...Who ever did it , am sure will not miss god's eyes and punishment!

Staying in hotel as we fought the police investigation and leaving you again in Bangalore with your pedamma for a year, till I settle down with the newly emerged challenges of life, I know I am not going to look back sweet heart!.   Your dreams were the reason how we crossed all this.   We left our home that we had so much of pride to be part of ...the hieress to the AK Sekar legacy, and we decided to be on our own....Independent and Self-Reliant....how much of this change gave us the courage to fight our own battles of poverty, fear, and rebuilding the life all again from the beginning..During all these times, 2 wonderful men stood beside me...my brother in laws....and a great friend, Vk. Had it not been for their support and encouragement I dont know how it would have been.

Gratitude is a small word if we forget the courage that your ammama and pedamma gave us when were completely ruined by the people whom we believed as ours.   Baby, trust me, dont take any body by their face value and dont ever build your emotions unless you know the people fully.   People who stand by you in tough times, are the people real in your life. It is not great having 1000 friends on facebook, but having 10 good friends who would run to you when you are in trouble makes you life.   Remember dearie, , when Floyd uncle died, he had 1400 friends on FB, but it was just 6 of us who stood by his bed when he was gone.    Learn to stand by your friends at all times.

Be a good friend for friends to respond to you when you need them. Have few friends but friends for life time. You will meet thousands of people in this journey called life, but all of them are only associates....just like friends we make in trains, under the trees in the parks, silent spectators in the library etc etc.... Real friends are those who know to accept you as you are.   There will be no ego, no back biting and the friendship will stay the same even if you meet them after years.    There will not be big time to catch up with life.... Learn to make new friends always but always remember to make few best friends for life!

Today, I know you are still not clear on what you want to become. Trust me, this is just ok. You will become what you are destined to become. God would have already made plans for you...and I am sure he would had the best plan.   You will rock this world darling. I would not tell you not to look back, look back but learn from it.... Stay grounded always...it is very important to stay composed and balanced at all times. Don't get agitated when things go wrong....always there will be two ways to make any thing,...be it a decision, solution or plan...Just follow your heart and think with your mind in calmness. I am sure you will choose the right path always.

Aishu, don't stop dreaming dear. Dont stop hard work, being strongly determined and focused in what ever you do. Do with truthfulness, sincerity and dedication. What ever you do for your best will succeed. Live for yourself first...try to be normal teen, aspiring and gentle. Be kind to animals and love them. Grow plants and enjoy flowers....make time for things that are closer to your heart.   You know that amidst all the speed breakers we had it life, you mom never gave up making time for poetry, writing articles, participating in events or ignoring work. Keep learning always.

You are born in the a most creative family on either side. Remember your great grandfather was a great Art director of the golden era of South Indian Cinema.... Remember you are part of the family of poets and writers.....let your creativity also grow...do what you are good at with whole heart and complete focus.

I love your smile, and keep smiling always my child. The world will smile back at you. Continue your passion for music and art.   Study Math and Science well for everything around us is filled with it in real sense. Don't be judgemental of others at all...always learn to be kind just like you are today.    Have safe fun....and never do the same mistake twice.

You have been following both Hinduism and Christianity with ease and can sing both classical music and hymns with ease. Remember Religion is only a path to reach God. It can be any faith...but the essence of all religions is the same. Be human.

To me the biggest gift that I can give is this learning.....I have learnt many things in a very hard way. You don't need to do it., just learn from what you parents have learnt.    Remember education is very important to any child today. I don't want you to get 100% any day, but remember what ever you learn in text books should make some meaning to you in life! As long as you use your knowledge in the right way, I know you have got your 100% off the report cards!

From the grounds of a modest town school called st.theresa's your three moms have reached the IIMC and PMP's....and now is your turn to outgrow our little successes....and I know you will take the right decisions...for I know that you no longer wear the stuff I buy for you but pick the best ones' that you think is your age and time appropriate.    From the street dresses to choosing the best brands of the world, you have had the luxury of both worlds...world of struggle and world of luxury.   I am sure you will be strong to face anything in life dear!.

You had the opportunities to see the world and travel across the airports of Paris, Dubai, Chicago, Detroit, Washington and London and Los Angeles...and I will surely make your dream to go to Italy to see the curve of Earth from South of Italy one day. Yet, given a chance, please go back to the Rural India and share your life with the people who are like us .....teach children, help adults who need help.    Dont forget the modest beginnings we had.   Dont hesitate to extend a helping hand to any friend in need.

Living in Hollywood, you very well know that Style is only good for statements.   All that hype created as Western influence in India is not truth, but a media hype.   People here in West also have great moral values, they also have poverty and fears, struggles of old and elderly people, churches struggling to survive, school drops out and kids waiting for help.   Las Vegas and New york is not whole of America. America is also modest, down to earth, freedom loving nation.   Have we not celebrated Pat and Chuck's 60th Wedding Anniversary......have we not seen Donna and kids getting back to routine after a period of grief.... and keeping their dad's dreams in tact.   Take the best of this Western world and stay grounded to the values of our heritage and culture that is in built in us.   Don't get influenced by anything that is not natural to you and your inner self.

Ok little girl, I know I have troubled you with this letter alot putting philosophy to words. But you will read this again when you are my age, and realise that every sentence written here is truth. Every struggle is common and we need to overcome.   Baby, I only wish your life is filled with happiness always, joys to come and successes to share. But remember the same time, life is never a bed of roses. I am sure you will handle any thing that comes in your way in a most composed and decent way.

You live for your dreams dear Chinku...and not for your mom's dreams.   Same time, dream good things and aspire the right things in the right way. Never do and regret later for anything that would let your mom and dad down....

Love you baby,....more than myself.   And give me all strength and support to welcome one little boy to our house as your brother sometime in future from a home in India....to cherish the memory of your little brother whom we could not have due to the circumstances a decade ago...and make some sense of our lives together.....

We are a happy family, we love each other, and you are our pranam!

---- Love, Amma.

Kissing the Sands of Sea!

2011-06-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Oh my wisdom, where are you taking me?

To the deeper oceans that I fail to understand.....

Oh my glory, where are you taking me?

To the deeper turbulances that pride aims to bring!

Setting aside the wisdom and glory of the masses

There arises a unstruggled inner peace

just like the kids kissing the sands of seas!

Going by your heart and living by your thought

makes you calm and better amongst the lot

Struggling with the silence depths of oceans

or giggling with the rising waves of the seas

you rave behind the oceans of calmness

and the kisses of the waves that touches

Life is all about remaining with inner calm

and rejoicing with the beautiful waves

that you touch, you kiss and you let go

And then wait for the next best wave

as your life and thoughts begin again to rave!

Top Ten Reasons/Factors for Stress in Working Parents

2011-06-23T22:35:00.000-07:00

I started this post with the aim of writing the 10 different stress factors for working mothers, and then realized that the stress factors are common to all working parents irrespective of if it is a man or a woman, more so for all professionals and working people of today’s world. How you plan to manage and avoid these stress factors depend on several personal factors and each individual can look into it in their own way and manage it. If you think any one of the above factors is familiar to your daily lives, it is time to give this post a serious thought!

1. Balancing Act between work and personal lives:

Today, the world is running faster than your thoughts. Traffic signals make you find seconds as longer in the life than anything else. Projects, work deadlines, everything makes you automatically pace with the world around. The way to organize one self to match with the expectation of the work place and family/children become important. Priortize not just the work for the day, but also the attention you need to pay to family and children become important. As long as one can organize, prioritize and pay attention and divide the available time with due diligence gives the best of both worlds

2. Feeling of Anxiety:

The feeling of anxiety to outperform others at work and the feeling of anxiety to prove as the best spouse / best parent all the time, ends up in a deep feelings of anxiety. This anxiety eats away attention to details, makes one feel nervous about everything happening in the day to day life and feel overwhelmed at both ends. At one point, in a urge to please everybody ends up pleasing no body. These feelings of anxious approach everything we do makes us aim at perfection all the time and there by damaging the very essence of the tasks. Understanding that every person cannot give 100% all the time to all things is very important to manage this stress factors.

3. Self pity and guilt consciousness

Every time I update my timesheets in office after a hectic work routine for a week, I feel so bad for myself. I think why I am working so hard, am I doing a thankless job, is this worth giving away my personal time for family and kid etc etc, and this happens to many people around me these days. The feeling of self-pity makes you feel depressed and tired more than the actual work. The guity consciousness that you are not spending enough time with your children makes you feel all the more miserable. Kids these days do understand the parental work pressure and they balance it right from the beginning. It is important for parents to sit and talk to children, help them understand that they are very important in life and they plan quality time with the family.

4. Becoming workaholics and lack of proper management of work

The competition to perform the best and the challenges of outsourcing project, client expectations, organizations widening their horizons in the times of recession and all these economies take toll on the committed people at work. People who take these factors both internal and external to the lines of control become workaholics in the long run. Over a period of time, these workaholics lose focus and attention and then start to bargain for best organized days of work. Proper management of work and organized every day routine makes work life easy and possible for good personal time. Communication, attentive work culture and positive management of work is the key.

5. Unplanned family time and distractions to work

Making a quick and timely calls to take family updates during breaks is always a welcome, but running errands for the family during work hours is something that may not please any bosses. Long personal calls, causal chit chats for long hours, browsing for personal needs, catching up with old friends on facebook and other social networking sites during production work hours is a sure no-no. Making families understand that they will not be able to pay attention to work with the distractions of family during work is very important to avoid the stress that such situations cause at work. Being truthful to personal emergencies is always understood by organizations and cooperated.

6. Continuous work with no vacations and personal time

Few people don’t take breaks or planned vacations for years. Families expected, fight, express it and finally give up with much frustration causing stress to the individuals also. Taking few days vacation and coming back refreshed is the best way to manage stress. That will not only give you energized mind to act fast but also giving you the physical break from the office ergonomics. Playing a cherished game, spending time with spouse for quite dinners, taking kids to beach and visiting old family members can sometimes be a great stress reliever.

7. Travel

In spite the culture of remote work in place in many corporate, travelling has become inevitable in everyone’s life these days. No big corporate are any longer located in the prime areas of the city and the travel to the work locations vary any time between 15 mins to 2 hours. And the traffic woes of today with the increased vehicles on the road add to the stress. If you job needs you to travel, that adds more to this stress on move. Taking public transportation or private transportation , it has its own levels of stress. Public commutation has too much crowd, inconvenient timings and above all women face all kinds of stress especially in trains and buses in India. Private transportation takes the tension to calm driving, cultural changes, increased cost of fuel, unorganized traffic etc. Planning ahead, avoiding drunken driving, maintaining traffic rules, following safety norms are few ways to avoid this stress.

8. Productivity

What you learn, what you work, what you earn and what you give are all correlated with one another. Right opportunities at the right time do not happen always to all people, but how you maintain your best at all times, consistency in your performance, practice and thinking is what makes your productivity. The stress and struggle to maintain this consisitency, reliability and integraty is a continuous factor for stress in lot of working professional today. To perform this and also inject the need of these values into children add to our stress. The essence of this factor is not to cause to the stress in reality but should be a way to get out of it. Productivity should not become a stress factor instead in should contribute to growth.

9. Multi Tasking and losing focus

Moving targets, in both personal and professional lives, changing priorities, reorganizing day to day activities cause lot of stress in individuals today. This add to the working parents daily woes. Multitasking is no more an additional ability, but the very walk of life today. If you cannot do it, you are just out of the game. Staying focused while doing 10 things at a time is the key stress factor. But not paying attention or giving focus is worse. So doing one task after the other, managing multi tasks with care and staying focused is very very important to stop making this a stress factor.

10. Not giving time for self

One desperate friend called me at 10 pm in the night to share the life’s burden and to lean on a shoulder and ears that can care. After 4 hours of talking into the night, this friend thanked me and said that I blessed him with the most precious gift in his whole life, I was confused. He said that the best of the gifts one can give to other in these hectic days is ‘Time’ and time to listen, share and react in a way to comfort the other person. Similarly if one is not able give time to oneself’s personal interests either in music, sports, hobbies of any kind, or simply time to relax for few hours and do nothng can contribute to greater levels of stress. Able to relax and not having a train of thoughts running all the time is also a best way to avoid stress. Meditation, exercise, eating right food, spending time with friends, visiting places of worship, listening to favorite music, watching favorite tv shows or visiting places on vacation, this personal time can be anything and even if it means giving oneself few hours a week will make a lot of sense to one’s life these days

Embracing the World- Our Experience of meeting Amma- Mata Amrithanandamayi in Los Angeles- Summer Tour 2011

2011-06-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

Mata Amrithanandamayi

'Everyone in the world should be able to sleep without fear, at least for one night. Everyone should be able to eat to his fill, at least for one day. There should be at least one day when hospitals see no one admitted due to violence. By doing selfless service for at least one day, everyone should help the poor and the needy. It is Amma's prayer that at least this small dream be realised''
- Sri Mata Amritanandamayi.

These words not only echoed in her discourse but shown in the deeds she did to the world so far. The greatest humanitarian of our times, and a wonderful spiritual leader who with her simple smile and embracing hugs had captured the thoughts and sentiments of the western world to a great extent. As a family,when we decided to pay a visit and meet the greatest living saint, we had no expectations. But as the dawn turned to dusk, and the Hilton Los Angeles parking lot got full, in less than 1 hour before the program begin, we only wished we would get a glimpse of her yesterday. With her lively discourse in Malayalam, as her senior disciplines translated in English, the close to thousands of people filled in the 3 Ballrooms of LA's biggest hotel listed to her in silence. As she took the crowd to divine embrace of her bhajans, I was not just surprised but filled with shame, as I saw the 90% of westerners around singing her bhajans with ease and reciting the hymns with so much of devotion. Then began the much awaited moments of dharshan., that started at 10 pm and slipped into the wee hours of today. People waited in silence, devotion, gratitude and a greater sense of happiness. We sat three rows just opposite to her watching her smile at every hug she gave, whispering ' chella pillai' or ''favorite child'' in the ears of the devotees as per their language,, and giving a prasad- a kisses chocolate wrapped with flowers. We did not see a single moment of tiredness or frustration in the lengthy process. The stalls around showcased the products manufactured and made in her ashrams in India with the employment opportunities she created.

Embracing the world exhibition showcased her achievements and created a moment of gratitude and pride to her fellow Indians on what she could achieve with her simple philosophy of practicing humanity. The endeavours that the MA centres across the globe do, is a continuous saga. A blessing to humanity in whole, with so many people benefiting from her selfless dedicated service to mankind. Millions regard her as godess, an incarnation of Mother Earth in various forms of Maheswari, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. To me she looked like a sincere human being whose every cell responds to a human need. Many of us would have the same feelings but how many of us really have the courage to go and do what she does in this world. Immortal bliss is what her message of love and compassion is experienced in the people who follow her for years.

We were in Z2 line and when the moment of embracing came in, it felt like a blessing. The happiness of being able to bow before the great personality is indeed a blessing. I felt proud of introducing and creating this opportunity to my child and see how privileged she is in this world and what all she can do to mankind in return. May be we will be able to do little of what she does. As I was talking to people around on what made them come there and stay all through night, in other wise not so nightly LA, their personal experience of the admirers from all walks of life, were a reflection of the world wide humanitarian work and the opportunities she creates which are enterpreneuring happenings around Amma. She resembled to them as a solace during times of sorrow and guidance in times of uncertainty. She is a living inspiration.

We had the privilege to help in the kitchen with cutting vegetables, selling chai to awaiting devotees, and Aishu enjoyed working as volunteer guarding her book store for a while. To us, this is one experience that we would cherish all our lives. This is one great experience that would always remind my child the opportunities that lay ahead to serve back to the mankind. It is one experience that would stay with us for rest of our lives. May Amma live long to give back her love to this world. May Amma create more inspirations that would expand her thoughts and deeds towards a better human world. Let her call for peace and kindness reach the world all over and all her dreams come true for a better and better tomorrow.

Jai Mata Amrithanandamayiki! Love and Compassion are the very essence of all religions.

Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. May all beings everywhere be happy.

------------We visited her program on June 11, 2011 Saturday at Hilton Los Angeles on her North American Summer Tour 2011------

After a period of hybernation....looking back at my journal...myself I guess!

2011-06-08T21:43:00.000-07:00

It had been quite a hectic 2 months with overwhelming activities on both personal and profession front....looking back last 60 days...my good ness...it had been nothing less than hectic. My son Ajay, hate to call him nephew and my mom visited us for 6 weeks from India.. and my sister Jai and my little son Akshat for 4 days from Canada..had loads of fun and family time....2 kids birthday parties..Office moved to a new location 25 miles away from home, making it a 100 miles shuttle for Raghu to drop and pick.... planned sightseeing, guess we covered the most of the California in and around Los Angeles ....breaking all odds..Aishu's final exams that one side kept me to keep track of her homeworks, assignments, projects, and preparation and 2 award ceremonies. Forgot about my diabetes and gym for a while, and finally at the end of a long run of 12-14 hours of day at work, average 2 hours of going around every day., and loading of full cooking and running errands, I guess lot did to me for good than my gym and medication.,.....losing 13 pounds in a month..amazing, I am sure my doc would be happy.    And now the relocation plans closer to office is not keeping me any time bored! and above all a new boss, hectic project schedules, aishu's demanding holiday summer plans.... Amidst all this I missed my poetry, blog, friends and movie time on saturday nights..didnt have time to talk to my all times friends who I keep in touch every day. .Hope slowly I would get back to my routines of meditation, self-help and lots of other stuff that keeps me on toes always. Sometimes I wonder how our brains manage this multi tasking and body cooperates so spontaneously,. as along as all is well, no complains.!

Back of my mind, the topics to write about the most hot topics in India, how America managed to nail down Osama and how we still let Kasab lead secured and happy protected life in India, kept on bothering me.   Interestingly Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev fasts and the rythm of India against corruption makes me feel I am missing India at the right time. Having been a short time crusader, against simple injustices around, I know the cause is big and concerns are widespread.

It was in 2004, in one of the Rotary Meetings, I met Kanimozhi when she was a chief guest...she was so humble, smiling, sweet and very down to earth.   In 7 years she rose to sudden political stardom and a equally sudden fall.   The innocence of a young woman who always adored poetry and tamil literature is no more innocent...She is behind the wheels of the biggest wagon of corruption. They costed a loss to exchequer worth of 1.7k crores same time dwindling around a bigger portion of it to themselves....it was in 2006 when Vijaya Thayaban, a fellow inner wheel member and friend lost election against Arcot Veeraswamy and joined DMK later., and because of her IWC of MS, had the privilege to invite DMK leaders to our club functions...so came Kani and Poongothai Alladi Aruna. Dr Aruna is an amazing woman politician of the next gen politics who talks down to earth when needed.

Another thing that didnt let me sleep last night was the bus tragedy near kanchipuram where 22 innocent lives were snatched in the fire that swallowed the KPN bus. Having travelled in KPN many times in those sleeper coaches, it was so hurting to see this happen. May god rest their souls in peace!

Reading Sarada akka's blog after long time and a motivating post, made me smile and look back at my blog.   Now finally, took up another 500 pieces of jigsaw puzzle which I aim to complete as time permits!....lets see!

India World Cup Victory Dates Glory- History Repeates from 1983 to 2011

2011-04-03T19:31:00.000-07:00

Wow, this makes me think when is the next year we will see this same calendar again.....

And imagine the 1983 victory also basked on India on a Saturday, 2nd April 1983 and our boys brought home the cup on the same day 28 years later!

The same calendar day and dates for the two successful years in Indian Cricket! Amazing but True!