SHLOKA OF THE MONTH NOV 2009

Dasharathanrupasoonu saththamabhyam Thrunashayanenuchithe sahoshithabyam

Kushikasuthavachonulalithabhyam kshanamiva sa vibhabhou vibhavari cha

Just as all rivers mingle into the sea so do all sadhus seek Lord Rama. “Sarvadaabhigatha sadbhihi”- says Valmiki. Sri Rama stays in the midst of sadhus both in Ayodhya and in the forest. Thus there is no deshabedham- difference due to place. Sadhus stay both with baalaRama and YuvaRaama. Hence there is no difference due to age.Also Sri Rama was in the midst of sadhus while he was Pattabhirama or Vanavaasa Rama.Hence there is no difference due to Avastha- status. Sadhus hence never left Rama in all states, at all times, and at all avasthaas.

Rakshasas obstructed the yaga of Vishwamithra at Sidhdhasrama. Vishwamithra took Rama and Lakshmana along to Sidhasrama so that Maricha and Subahu may be conquered. They all came to the banks of Sarayu. Vishwamithra’s affection towards Rama swells up intensesly. They decided to saty there that night. He made a bed of grass for Rama and Lakshmana to sleep. Sri Rama not knowing this said to Lakshmana “ The sage is going to sleep, let us do him paadaseva.” The sage however asked Rama and Lakshmana to lie down. Unable to disobey his orders they both lied down on the grass.- Valmiki says “ this shayana- bed is anuchithe-unfit for these Raajakumaras. They who deserve to sleep on velvet beds, in Golden palaces are now lying down on barren grounds admist whirling winds on grass beds. Thyagaraja swami says ‘ Nee sogasu, nee dinusu vere”. Vishwamithra who is capable of creating yet another swarga, couldn’t he have created a Rajabhavanam for them Sri Anna replies “ Rishis are deergadarshis- those possessed with farsight. May be knowing that Rama had to undergo 14years of vanavasa , Vishwamithra now gives an experience of vanavasa and thrunasahayana. Now Vishwamithra sitting by the side of Rama and Lakshmana recited to them many stories of Dharama throughout the night. Thus he caressed Rama with his hands and words. The night passed as a second to Rama who was thus caressed. There is yet another lesson as “ Sukhamiva sa”- instead of “ Kshanamiva sa”. Which means the whole night passed very merrily for Rama. For Rathri Devi too the night passed quickly and joyously as she enjoyed Rama’s beauty as he lay asleep.- Sleeping Beauty indeed.

EVENTS OF THE MONTH OCT 2009

MUMBAI SAPTHAHAM

Srimad Bhagavatha sapthaham, Chembur, Mumbai.

Udayasthamana sapthaham begins at morning 7.00 and goes on till evening 6.30.p.m. Pravachanam goes on for 4 or 5 times, each session for an hour or so.The lunch break is from 12 to 2 in the afternoon. This is the pattern of Udayasthamana sapthaham. Every year in Chembur Udhayasthaman sapthaham is held.Sri Anna founded the Akhila Bharatha Sadhu Sangam at Mumbai 35 years back, and has been visiting Mumbai all the years thence. For the past 5 years Sri Hari Anna is conducting this uthsavam instead.From Sept 30^th to Oct 7^th this year the sapthaham was conducted.It was grand and crowd filled event. From morning to evening there was a huge crowd. The committee on behalf of Murugan temple as usual welcomed Hari Anna with poornakumbam. Hari Anna did the pravachanam on Vyasa Narada samvadam after the darshan of Lord Muruga.The hall was overcrowded. On the third day onwards Mumbai was flooded with heavy rains. Yet the crowd did not reduce, instead it was always on the rise. Almost 1000 devotees listened to the sapthaham with full joy.Sri Hari Anna was also very enthusiastic. In the end he cocluded “ All kainkaryaparas enthusiastically supported the event and made it a grand success. It is the will of Sri Anna that the Sadhu Sanga functions should be celebrated with grandeur. That will of his is the reason behind such success. All the devotees were touched by these words.”

EVENTS OF THE MONTH(NOV 2009)

I HARI ANNA'S PROGRAMS(NOV 2009)

1. SRI VISHNUPURANAM PRAVACHNAM,DUBAI

DATE: NOV 7 TO 12
CITY :DUBAI,UAE
TOPIC :SRI VISHNUPURANAM
VENUE:SINDHI HALL,NEAR DUBAI MUSEUM,BUR DUBAI
TIME:7 PM TO 9PM

2.SRIMAD VALMIKI RAMAYANA NAVAHA MAHASAMRAJYA PATTABHISHEKAM,SECUNDERABAD

DATE:NOV 20 TO 29
CITY :HYDERABAD-SECUNDERABAD
TOPIC :VALMIKI RAMAYANAM
VENUE: VEDA BHAVAN,58-59 ROAD NO 1,CHANDRA GIRI COLONY NEREDMET,SECUNDERABD
TIME:4 30 PM TO 6PM & 7 TO 8 30PM- PRAVACHNAM
7 AM TO 12 NOON PARAYANAM (125 DEVOTEES WILL CONDUCT)

II VISHAKA HARI'S PROGRAM

1.PROGRAM AT BANGLORE

DATE :NOV 6
TOPIC :THYAGARAJA CHARITRAM IN ENGLISH
CITY: BANGLORE
VENUE :CHOWDIAH HALL
TIME :6 PM TO 9 PM

2.PROGRAM AT SRIRANGAM

DATE:NOV 19
TOPIC :SRIRANGA MAHATHMAYAM
TOWN : SRIRANGAM
VENUE :SRI RANGA NARAYANA JEEYAER MUTT,NORTH UTTARA ST.
TIME :7 PM TO 9 PM

3.PROGRAM AT TRICHY

DATE:NOV 28
TOPIC :SEETHA KALYANAM
CITY : TRICHY
VENUE : SRI IYYAPAN TEMPLE CONTONMENT
TIME : 7 PM TO 9PM

QUIZ ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM (NOV 2009)

RULES AND REGULATION:
1. The answers should be mailed within 25th of the month to annahariji@gmail.com
2. Points will be alloted for the First, second and Third prizes.First - 10 Second - 8 Third - 6
3. The points will be cumulated every month if you get first, second or third.
4. The participants with the maximum points will be awarded first, second and third prizes at the end of the year.
5. The prizes will be distributed by Hariji at a grand function held at the end of the year.

QUESTIONS FOR THE MONTH NOV 2009 :

1) How big was the form of the Lord when he gave darshan in the womb of Uththarakumari?

2) What was the Lord doing with his gada ( mace) while He gave such a darshan?

3) “Arjunayoho dvayoho”- Who are the two Arjunas?

4) What is the meaning behind the name “ Vishnuratha”

5) “Parakshit”. What does this term mean according to Vyasa in Bhagavatham?

ANSWERS FOR THE MONTH OF OCT 2009

1) The Dwarakavasis welcomed Lord Krishna with upaharas. It seemed as if they showed Deeparadhana to SuryaBhagavan- 11^th Adyaya, 4^th sloka

2) Krishna blessed the Dwarakavasis by His very kataksha- 11^th adyaya 10^th sloka

3) Krishna nodded His head at some Dwarakavasis,He hugged some,He shook hands with some, He smiled at some,he glanced at some. Thus He satiated everyone according to their own desires.- 11^th adyaya 22^nd sloka

4) Seven

5) “Madanopi”- 1^st meaning: manmatha unable to create lust in the Lord was defeated and hence broke his sugarcane bow and surrendered to the Lord.

2^nd meaning- Amadanopi- Lord Shiva looked at Krishna who conquered manmatha and shone as Manmathamanmatha. Immediately he thought “ I conquered manmatha but fell a prey to anger”. Hence he broke his bow called Pinakam.—Meaning as per Sridhariyam

OCT WINNERS :

1) Padma Narayanan- First Prize- 32+10
2) Hari Krishnan- First Prize- 10
3) Girija Seetharaman- Second Prize- 42+8
4) Radhika Venkatraman- Third Prize- 52+6
5) Karthik Venkatraman- Third Prize -40+6
6) Gopika Sampath- Third Prize- 34+6

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2009

SRIRANGAM
PART X

Vibheeshana looks at Dharmavarma and consoled him. “Oh King, I appreciate your devotion but please give me way to carry my Lord. He is My lord because Sri Rama has himself given him to me. Iam on my way to Lanka.. Give me way please.” DharmaVarma says “ May be it is true that Rama gave Him to you, but I had been to Ayodhya quite before you. I had prayed to the Lord Himself that He may come over to SriRangam and stay with me forever. The Lord in His archaavathara has used you as his vaahana. It is He who has infact made Rama give him to you so that you may bring him over to this place. Once the procession is over the vaahana(carrier) goes to its mandapa, likewise you may retire to your abode.” Vibheeshana is taken aback. It is impossible for me to go back to Lanka without the lord. Let us not quarrel between us. Let us ask the Lord Himself. We shall wait for His answer. They pray to the Lord. “ Oh Lord of Lords, please give us an answer. To whom do you belong”. The Lord replies “ I belong to all. .Iam under the control of my devotees. Both you and Dharmavarma are my true devotees. Both of you are two eyes for me. But the fact is that Dharamavarma cannot come to Lanka to have my darshan as he is an ordinary human being. He cannot cross the sea. But Vibheshana being a rakshasa can come to see me through the akhasamarga.( through the skies). Hence I shall stay here. Vibheeshana can worship me in the nights and Dharmavarma during the daytime. Thus he consoles both of them. Vibheeshana too circumbulates the Lord and leaves for Lanka. The Lord stays at Srirangam facing Lanka expecting Vibheeshana every night.

( to be contd)