Shree Subramaniam Shasti -
 27th November 2014.

The Annual Shashti festival at Vithal main event today

Sharing some recalls- 

Srimath Anantheshwar Temple at Vittal was originally Sri Anand Padmanabha Temple and later changed to Anantheshwar. It has been a pilgrimage centre specially as it has Shrines dedicated to Sri Mangesh - Lord Shiva and all the other deities in the same sanctum sanctorum. The presiding deity there is Sri Ananth and the Shesanaga is explained from the Sri Visnu Saharanamavalli No.886

Anantah: One who is eternal, all-pervading and indeterminable by space and time. Or one who has taken up the form of Adisesa called Ananta. (Explanation from R.K.Mission translation).

The other names in this connection are:

Anantaya, Anantharupaya, Ananthasriye, Anantajite, Ananthatmane.

The inscription on the entrance of the temple reads as :

"Ananta Samasara Samudra Madhye, Magnum - Sambhyudhara Vasudeva

Anantasutre Viniyojysva, Anantharupaya - Namo Namaste. 

Briefly:

WE living in Samsara get overwhelmed (magnam) and totally caught in the spells of Samsara Sagara -To the one who links all in creation as a Sutre -Vasudeva - to   Anantha                                                                                           

To that eternal Divine, in this form, we offer our Salutations and Prayers.

With respects,

TR

Love of nature--- caring for it -Plant now.

a worthwhile new year project and resolution as 2015 approaches

 Love of nature---
"All things bright and beautiful " The Lord God made them all, by Cecil Alexander was a song we all sang at school in primary years.It was the morning song-hymn- prayer in School till 2nd standard- and with teacher playing the piano; Most of us used to even hum and sing it at other times and this spoke  of the emphasis &  standards of educational systems then-
Thank You GOD.  

A Child's Life has seen many complications in the last two decades -especially with new millennium changes and stress and strain affecting all.What has really happened  to us now;..we seem to just forget what Childhood is all about.

Today  the focus is only on progress reports,  tuition- marks, report cards and then Chill Outs- TV to cool off!!- etc and we forget the most basic part of humanity viz:

Sensitivity is what  we alone can demonstrate to children.
Studies confirm that  lecture-sermon-tell- teach have limitations.  

Nature Watch ---study and to help plant grow ---is a better way. 

Also an important part of Childhood.

Remember the news about vanishing Sparrows and many small birds going extinct esp in cities as we humans take over all space. This subject was taken up by AIR, Vividh Bharti in a recent Radio broad cast in Tamil and extremely well conducted with tel/radio talk- 
Most enchanting well and very done.

The world will always have some with just economic priorities only---. summed up as Money & Matlab ---but we need to just look beyond and try our best to add value to flora & fauna- 
In fact it also develops us more than we realise.

Looking after an abandoned cat, dog or an injured bird or tending a garden can be most therapeutic too- medical science acknowledges this."Compassion" -"Karuna"  is partly an "inner quality within" --the nature of a person , but  also can be  a nurtured quality - We develop ....gain by the relationship we have with loved ones, elders,  our  pets.. a dog or a cat - bird--or in a garden -a creative hobby where responsibility, care and concern takes a prominent role.

I have found that Gardening is also  great way to spend time-esp. for us grandads & grandmoms with  children and to teach them some important things about LIFE.

This will be enjoyable for all ages and alos give a opportunity to refresh ourselves on  our reliance on Mother nature-in some cases  the fragility of our environment when misused, 
the “law of sow and the harvest” and above the importance of work and personal responsibility in sustainability. 

Spending peaceful hours with Nature is our Choice.
Doing something to make it a better  is a worthwhile new year project and resolution- 
and makes all happier...a better place  to live in.

Best Wishes
Rgds
TR

dt.

27th November 2014.

LEARNING FROM NATURE

Sant Kabir's  "Patta Bola Vriksh se" -Played by Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan

In India we hardly have an Autumn season with leaves turning red and  yellow falling, as seen in temperate and cold climates -

But all leaves one day will Dry and Fall-- is the lesson of the Doha ,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOwuwDSmFq0

This is one of the most beautiful compositions from Sant Kabir's Vani -and thanks to Ustad Shujaat Khan Sahib for the musical support in sitar and vocal.|| Adding: Swami Iswarananda Giri's, discourses in “Autumn Leaves” with a pun on the words – Autumn i.e. when the leaves – leave and drop off, referring to retirement or Vanaprasth in what ever way we decide .
Today Chinmaya Mission and many others like Dignity Dialogue Forum have taken up this issue of “Griha Vanaprasth” in a changing social milieu, with dispersal of families or nuclear families and above all the isolation most Elders feel acutely. More so with smaller families...or friends and family links spread out to all corners of the globe in employment.

This shift in our Perceptions and Attitude and Outlook on Life is suited especially to those in post 55 age group and to me is a Revision and Refreshing study-more so in last few years, my work and also reading  is reduced to minimum due to a neuro problem ( most felt at my left eye junction) Also any long reading gets hampered,But short reading &Reflection -doing help me a great deal in learning, coping and decision making

Sant Kabir's Dohas- Vani  may appear as a bit sad, but in fact it  removes myths and moha- maya  as they address the Ultimate Reality. In  fact this actually has a gentle, calming effect and  Peace descends as we listen to the 25 minutes of the Kabir-vani lyrics of Dohas sung softly with gentle accompanying silken touch of Ustad Shujaat Khanji- son of the great maestro Vilayat Sitar.
The bhajan-sitar  Vaadan is absolutely Divine-
the lyrics include  " aaise vani boliye-apana tan sheetal kare-Auron ko sukha de--

Excellent-sublime and I hope all will enjoy it as much as I have

This outlook helps as we grow in years.

Shared with fellow man--friends in the spirit of Sharing

Rgds,

TR