In the News-1: "Animated Film on Swami Vivekananda"

Temples of India-4: "Uchi Pillayar Temple at Trichy"

Entrance to 'Uchi Pillayar' Temple

'Uchi Pillayar' Temple with Rockfort

"Uchi Pillayar" means "Lord Vinayaga at the Top (of the hillock)". This small temple perched at the top of a hillock at the heart of the city of Tiruchirappalli or Trichy, as it is popularly known, is one of my favourite temples of Lord Vinayaga, the elephant-faced god. Climbing the hill and then praying to the Lord and having a look at the city from top are experiences I cherish. Only it is becoming difficult for me nowadays to climb it, as I am aging.

These photographs were taken by me during my visit to Trichy last week, using my Canon Powershot A-590 camera. I have used the auto mode only. I am yet to learn the intricacies of the camera and utilize it to its fullest potential.

Gems from Swami Vivekananda-23:

"..We shall crush the stars to atoms, and unhinge the universe. Don't you know who we are? We are the servants of Sri Ramakrishna. Fear? Whom to fear, forsooth? It is those foolish people who identify themselves with their bodies, that piteously cry, 'We are weak, we arelow.' All this is atheism. Now that we have attained the state beyond fear, we shall have no more fear and become heroes. This indeed is theism which we, the servants of Sri Ramakrishna, will choose..."

Temples of India-3: "Sri Karpagavinayagar Temple at Pillaryarpatti"

Last week I had been to Pillayarpatti to have a 'darshan' of Sri Karpaga Vinayaga and to worship him. The calm and serene atmosphere there was soothing. I had taken with me my new Canon Powershot A-590 camera. I clicked whatever appealed to me. I am posting a few of those photos here: "Pillayarpatti in Pictures". Hope who know and love the place, find them enjoyable.

Gems from the Manusmrti-1: "MODESTY"

Through want of modesty, many kings have perished, together with their belongings; through modesty, even hermits in the forest have gained kingdoms.

Sri Ramakrishna Jayanthi at Belur Math

From My Spiritual Diary-55: "Virtues to be cultivated by all"

Truth, Kindness, Austerity, Cleanliness, Forbearance, Thoughtfulness, Control of Mind, Restraint of the Senses, Renunciation, Study of the Scriptures, Straight Forwardness, Contentment, Equal Vision, Service, Gradually withdrawing from the coarse desires, Seeing the vain activity of people, Silence, Inquiry about the Self, Sharing Food and such other necessities of life with all creatures according to their need, Looking on them - more particularly on the human beings - as one's self and as a God, listening to and singing about the ultimate goal of all the great ones, remembering Him constantly, seeing Him, offering sacrifices to Him, bowing down to Him, becoming His servant, His friend and finally, Total Surrender to Him - these thirty qualities constitute the supreme duty of all human beings and by these the Lord can be pleased.

- The Bhagavata.

Spiritual Journals: "Prabuddha Bharata" (Awakened India)

This is a monthly magazine founded by Swami Vivekananda himself and has been continuously published without any break from 1896. It has entered the 114th year of its publication. As a journal of the Ramakrishna Order, it has its Editorial Office at Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, Uttarakhand and is published by the Advaita Ashrama, 5, Dehi Entally Road, Kolkata-700014. They have an internet edition available at: http://www.advaitaashrama.org/.

Many great thinkers, philosophers and leaders have been contributing articles to this magazine.

They can be contacted by email also. mail@advaitaashrama.org

The subscription rates for India and Nepal are:

Annual: Rs.80/-
Three Years: Rs.230/-
Life (20 Years): Rs.800/-
Patron (25 years): Rs.1500/-

Websites to Watch-1: "Kandamangalam.com"

This website is devoted to the propagation and cherishing of the Vedas. As such, it contains all the four Vedas, many slogas, mantras, information on seers and sages, Panchangam, the epics, Ramanayana and Mahabharata and much more. It also contains a photo and video gallery.

This is the website of Kandamangalam Sri K.S. Gopala Dekshidhar, who has dedicated his entire life for the study and dissemination of the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Adharvana Vedas, on the banks of the sacred river Cauvery in KandamangalamVillage, located 20 miles west of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.

To those who would like to know more about Hindu scriptures, this is a very good portal.

www.kandamangalam.com

Temples of India-2: "Sri Ramakrishna Temple at Belur Math"

Photo courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/saubhanik/2157848976/
Grateful thanks to Saubhanik and Flickr for permitting to share the above photo.

Detailed Wikipedia article on "BELUR MATH":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belur_Math

Official Website of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission:
http://www.belurmath.org/home.htm

I was initiated as a householder disciple by Srimat Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj, the then Vice President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, when he visited the Ramakrishna Math, Madurai, for laying the foundation stone for the temple there. There was no planning on my part. It just happened. Must be my good fortune. I was sincerely doing spiritual practices and my spiritual fervour was growing. I have been reading Sri Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Literature since many years, especially The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. A desire arose in me to the places mentioned in The Gospel and closely associated with Sri Ramakrishna. So I wrote a letter to my Guruji. Within a few days I received a telegram from him. As he was going to Bangladesh for flood relief work, he advised to visit after his return to Kolkata. He has mentioned the date of his return to Kolkata. I immediately reserved my train tickets. With the help of Srimat Swami Chidghananandaji Maharaj, the then President of the Ramakrishna Math, Madurai, I got accommodation in Belur Math Guest House for 9 days. I decided that it would be a spiritual trip essentially.

As per plan I left for Belur Math and when I reached there I was given shared accommodation in the Belur Math Guest House. After putting my things in the room, I went to the PCO inside the Math and called my Guruji and told him of my safe arrival. He asked me what was the purpose of my visit. I told him that I had come to recharge myself spiritually. Then he told me that he would be visiting Belur Math for a meeting the next day and asked me to meet him through the caretaker of the guest house. My Guruji was then the head of the Ramakrishna Yogodyan Math at Kankurgachchi, Kolkata.

The next day, the caretaker came and asked me to accompany him to meet my Guruji. I met my Guruji, fell at his feet and received his blessings. After conversing with me, he asked to go over to his place at Kankurgachchi. He gave me directions of how to reach the place.

I went to Kankurgachchi Math and met Mukti Maharaj (I do not know his monastic name), Manager of the Math. I told him of my desire to visit places associated with Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda. Later I repeated the same to my Guruji also. He made all arrangements and took great care of me.

During my stay at Belur Math, I regularly attended the morning and evening bhajans and the special pujas. The very sight of the mammoth temple shown above filled my heart with happiness. I found the calm, serene and holy atmosphere soul-stirring and elevating.

To be continued.

Grateful thanks to the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Universal Temple at Barisha, Kolkata

I take pride in calling myself an initiated disciple (householder disciple) of Srimat Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj, who was the 14th President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission and who attained Mahasamadhi last year, on November 4. When he was a Vice President, he came down to south to lay the Foundation Stone for the Universal Temple at Madurai, Temple. At that time I had the good fortunate to receive initiation from him. As a member of the family of Sri Ramakrishna, I receive communications from the different centres of the Ramakrishna Math. The above is one such.

I am glad to note that another Universal Temple is being consecrated at Barisha, Kolkata on February 9, 2009. Most probably I may not able to participate in the function and I will be offering my prayers at the Lotus Feet of Sri Ramakrishna on the occasion from my place here. Those lucky few who are near Kolkata and who can make it, may kindly participate in the celebrations and get blessed. Many senior monks of the Ramakrishna Order worldwide will be participating and benedictory speeches by a few of them are also planned for the occasion. I have furnished above the complete program.

Jai Shree Gurumaharaj ki Jai!
Jai Shree Mahamayee ki Jai!
Jai Shree Swamiji Maharaj ki Jai!
Jai Srimat Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj ki Jai!

Tanjore Brahadeeswarar Temple: Slideshow from Flickr

I came across this wonderful slideshow in www.kandamangalam.com, a portal very interesting and useful to the Hindus who are spiritually inclined and others who love ancient architecture(about which I shall write separately) by couretsy of Flickr with an option to share it. Without any second thought, I used the option and you have here now the slideshow of the Great Temple of Tanjore.

Tanjore or 'Thanjavur' as it is known in Tamil, was the capital of the Chola Kings and arts and culture fluorished there. This great temple of Lord Brahadeeswara, also known as Peruvudaiyar Temple, was built by King Raja Raja Chozha. The main tower of the temple was so constructed that the shadow of it does not fall on the ground at any time. Maybe it was thought that stepping on the shadow of the tower would be a sacrilege. Whatever it is, it speaks of the great architectural skills of the Tamils of those days.

About 30 years back, I went to Tanjore for attending the marriage of my friend, Dr Janakiraman. Using the opportunity, I visited the temple with friends and offered my prayers there. (To be frank, that was more like a picnic or sight-seeing. Probably spiritually I was at my lowest ebb.) After that I saw the temple nicely presented in a Tamil movie called "Mahanadhi" (The Great River). Godwilling, I would like to visit the temple once more and pray there.

Here are three detailed articles from Wikipedia: "TANJORE", "BRAHADEESWARAR TEMPLE" and 'RAJA RAJA CHOLA":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanjore http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brihadeeswarar_Temple http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Raja_Chola

Grateful thanks to Kandamangalam.com, Flickr and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.