Brahmins during Ramayanan

Courtesy: sri.PK.Ramakrishnan

During Valmiki era even Bramins were meat eaters.

Quotations from Valmiki Ramayana.

I- aranyakanda sarga 47 slokas 22 and 23

vicharaama dvijashreshtha vanam gambhiramojasaa /
samaasvasa muhurtam tu sakyam vastumiha tvayaa //
aagamishyati me bhartaa vanyamaadaaya pushkalam /
ruruun godhaan varaahamscha hatvaadaayaamishaan bahuun /

When Rama and Lakshmana were away in search of Maricha,
Ravana appears in the form of a Brahmin Sanyasi.  Then Sita
advises the dvijashreshta to wait for some time when Rama would return after killing rurun (deers), godhaan (alligaters) and varaahaan(wild pigs).                                               

II - pancha pancha-nakhaa bhakshyaa 
      brahma-khatrena raaghava /
      salyakah svaavidho godhaa
      sasah kuurmascha panchamah //

When he was hit by Rama and was dieing Bali tells Rama - why are you killing me. Though  I am an animal with five nails I am not fit to be eaten by a Brahmana and Kshatriya.

There are five five-nailed animals
which can be eaten by them.  They are
salyaka -porcupine
svaavidha -porcupine ?
godhaa -alligater
sasa - rabbit
kurma - tortoise

Brahmins, Kshatriyas and some Vaishyas  become vegetarians after the advent of Jainism.
 

Sri Rama Navami (08-Apr-2014) - Sri Rama Stuti from Skanda Purana

courtesy: Sri.Krishnan Muralidharan

Dear All,

Greetings and Namaste. As Sri Rama Navami falls on 08-Apr-2014 (Tuesday), I am happy to share a short and sweet prayer on Lord Rama from Skanda Purana, Brahma Khanda, Sethu Mahatmya, Chapter 44 by Sages. One understand the sanctity and efficacy of the stuti through the brief Phalashruti at the end of the hymn - it is capable of granting all boons.

Innumerable are the hymns/names on Lord Vishnu but the quintessence of all of them is rAma, as is evidenced at the end of Vishnu Sahasranama from Mahabharata and Padma Purana. Sri Rama Nama Japa is considered equivalent of Gayatri Mahamantra Japa

mAnasaM vAcikaM pApaM karmaNA samupArjitam |

shrIrAma smaraNenaiva vyapohati na saMshayaH ||

Meaning : All sins committed and accrued by mind, speech and deeds are indeed annihilated by Sri Rama nAma smaraNa and let there be no doubt.

There seem to be many Rama Sahasranamas although I have only one. Similarly there are many Ashtottarams. Countless are the Kshetras attributed to Sri Rama and it is quite possible that many of such kshetras may have their own Ashtottarams and Sahasranamas. Perhaps people hailing from such Kshetras could contribute by bringing up such rare and forgotten stutis.

To give an example, I recently came to know that Madurai Azhagar Koil, my kuladaiva temple, has its own Ashtottaram called Sundararaja Ashtottaram from a purana. It is not used anymore and even priests may not be aware of it. So, temples like Vaduvur, etc. might have such rare attributions and everyone could contribute by bringing such rare ones back.

Recently, I got hold of an Ashtottaram of Sri Veera Raghava Swamy of Thiruevvulur (now known as Thiruvallur near Chennai - Markandeya Puranam attributes several chapters to this Kshetra under the title Veeksharanya Kshetra Mahatmyam).

May We Pray To Lord Rama on His Birthday! Bhakti to Rama is not easy - when Parama GYAni and Bhakta like Saint Thyagraja can cry "Theliyaleru Rama Bhakti Margamulu" (I don't know/get the path to Sri Rama Bhakti), do we need to even talk about us? It will be preposterous.

While we talk about this forgotten temples/texts, I am reminded of a personal experience. About 15 years ago, I had gone to Mumbai with a German colleague on official work. He insisted on visiting a temple in Mumbai which apparently is associated with Ramayana. In spite of me having spent 2-3 years there, I had not even heard of it. After lot of enquiry and search we went to the place which was like a small village within Mumbai with a small temple and a tank. Sadly, the value of our own treasures are not known to us - a German has to come and tell!

May I take this occasion to wish those who are following Lunar Calendar a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year Jaya! May The New Year bestow all your wishes!

Sanskrit

Kannada

Malayalam

Tamil

Telugu

INDIAN FOOD SYSTEM- Periyavaa

Courtesy: Sri.AR.Ranganathan

INDIAN FOOD SYSTEM (More precisely, South Indian but more or less applicable
to all Indian meal systems) The following are rough translations of the
words of Kanchi Paramacharya extracted from the Tamil publication titled
Sollin Selvar (The Expert of Words), Sri Kanchi Munivar by Sri Ra.
Ganapathy. The different Indian delicacies are explained as follows.

SAMBHAR: Sambar is also known as kuzhambu in Tamil, a term that literally
translates to 'get confused'. Paramacharya explains how these three courses
are related to the three gunas of spirituality: the confusion of sambar is
tamo guna, the clarified and rarified flow of rasam is rajo guna and the
all-white buttermilk is satva guna. Our meal reminds us of our spiritual
path from confused inaction to a clear flow of action and finally to the
realized bliss of unity. 

SADAM: Cooked rice, the main dish of a South Indian meal is called sAdam.
That which has sat is sadam, in the same way we call those who are full of
sat, sadhus. We can give another explanation for the term: that which is
born out of prasannam is prasAdam. What we offer to Swami (God) as nivedanam
is given back to us as parasAdam. Since we should not add the root 'pra' to
the rice we cook for ourselves, we call it sAdam. 

RASAM: Rasam means juice, which is also the name of filtered ruchi. We say
'it was full of rasa' when a speech or song was tasteful. If something is an
extraction of juice, then would it not be clear, diluted and free of
sediments? Such is the nature of our rasam, which is clear and dilute. The
other one, served earlier to rasam in a meal, is the kuzhambu. Kuzhambu
contains dissolved tamarind and cut vegetable pieces, so it looks unclear,
its ingredients not easily seen.

BUTTERMILK: A western meal normally ends with a dessert. In a South Indian
meal, desserts such as pAyasam are served after the rasam sAdam. Any sweets
that were served at the beginning are also taken at this time. After that we
take buttermilk rice as our final course. Paramacharya explains that since
sweets are harmful to teeth, our sour and salty buttermilk actually
strengthens our teeth, and this has been observed and praised by an American
dietician. We gargle warm salt water when we get toothache. The buttermilk
is the reason for our having strong teeth until the end of our life, unlike
the westerners who resort to dentures quite early in their life.

UPPUMA: If the term uppuma is derived from the fact that we add uppu or
salt, then we also add salt to iddly, dosa and pongal! Actually, it is not
uppuma but ubbuma! The rava used for this dish expands in size to the full
vessel where heated up with water and salt. The action of rava getting
expanded is the reason for the term ubbuma. 

LADDU: Ladanam (in Sanskrit) means to play, to throw. ladakam is the sports
goods used to play with. Since the ball games are the most popular, ladakam
came to mean a ball. The dish laddu is like a ball, and this term is a
shortened form of laddukam, which derived from ladakam. Laddu is also known
as kunjaa laadu. This should actually be gunjaa laadu, because the Sanskrit
term gunjA refers to the gunjA-berry, used as a measure of weight, specially
for gold. Since a laddu is a packed ball of gunjA like berries cooked out of
flour and sugar, it got this name. The singer of mUka panca sati on Ambal
Kamakshi describes her as Matangi and in that description praises her as
'gunjA bhUsha', that is, wearing chains and bangles made of gunjA-berries of
gold.

PAYASAM: payas (in Sanskrit) means milk. So pAyasam literally means 'a
delicacy made of milk'. This term does not refer to the rice and jaggery
used to make pAyasam. They go with the term without saying. Actually pAyasam
is to be made by boiling rice in milk (not water) and adding jaggery. These
days we have dhal pAyasam, ravA pAyasam, sEmia pAyasam and so on, using
other things in the place of rice. Vaishanavas have a beautiful Tamil term
akkaara adisil for pAyasam. The 'akkaar' in this term is a corruption of the
Sanskrit sharkara. The English term 'sugar' is from the Arabian 'sukkar',
which in turn is from this Sanskrit term. The same term also took the forms
'saccharine' and 'jaggery'. And the name of the dish jangiri is from the
term jaggery. 

TAMBULAM: It is customary to have tAmbUlam at the end of a South Indian
dinner. In the North, tAambUlam is popularly known as paan, which is usually
a wrap of betel nut and other allied items in a calcium-laced pair of betel
leaves. In the South, tAmbUlam is usually an elaborate and leisurely
after-dinner activity. People sit around a plate of tAmbUlam items, drop a
few cut or sliced betel nut pieces in their month, take the betel leaves one
by one leisurely, draw a daub of pasty calcium on their back and then stuff
them in their mouth, chatting happily all the while. The betel leaf is known
by the name vetrilai in Tamil, literally an empty leaf. Paramacharya once
asked the people sitting around him the reason for calling it an empty leaf.
When none could give the answer, he said that the usually edible plants
don't just stop with leaf; they proceed to blossom, and bear fruits or
vegetables. Even in the case of spinach or lettuce, we have to cook them
before we can take them. Only in the case of the betel leaf, we take it raw,
and this plant just stops with its leaves, hence the name vetrilai or empty
leaf.

Pratimaala - antaakshari

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k-aVk4W4Tg#t=103

Translation of carnatic krithis

Courtesy: Sri,PR.Ramachander

I had translated about 98  Carnatic Krithis    During February  2014.  You can find   the links to them in 

http://rajathathablog.blogspot.in/2014/03/carnatic-krithis-translated-during.html

Brahmarishi

Courtesy: Sri.PK.Ramakrishnan

Viswamitra once said -
 
 
Valmiki Ramayana Balakanda Sarga 55 sloka 23
 
"dhig balam kshatriyabalam
brahmatejobalam balam /
ekena brahmadandena 
sarvaastraani hataani me" //
 
धिग्बलम् क्षत्रियबलम्
ब्रह्मतेजोबलम् बलम्  /
एकेन ब्रह्मदन्डेन
सर्वास्त्राणि हतानि मे //
 
Useless is the strength of a Kshatriya.
The strengh of a Brahmin is superb.
All my weapons have been destroyed 
with a single weapon of a Brahmin.
 
Then he did penence for long and got the title "Rajarshi".
 
He was not satisfied.
 
He continued the penance for a long time when Brahma
appeared before him and said that now he was a Brahmarshi.
But Viswamitra wanted that Vasishtha should proclaim that he was a Brahmarshi.
 
Finally Vasishta came and proclaimed that Viswamitra was a Brahmarshi.
 
 
Valmiki Ramayana Balakanda Sarga 65 slokas 24, 25
 
ब्रह्मपुत्रो वसिष्टो माम्  एवं वदतु देवता: /                 
यद्ययं परम: कामः कृतो यान्तु सुरर्षभा: //
 
Oh Gods. Let Vasistha the sun of Brahma say like this. This is my last wish. Then you may depart.
 
ततः प्रसादितो देवै: वसिष्टो जयतां वरः /
सख्यं चकार ब्रह्मर्षि-रेवमस्त्विति चाब्रवीत्  //
Then entreated by the gods  Vasihtha agreed and said  "If so, you are a Brahmarshi".

Sanskrit phrases as mottos

Courtesy:Wikipedia

The following is a list of educational institutions that use Sanskrit phrases as their official mottos.

• Acharya Nagarjuna University - satye sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam / सत्ये सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् / satye sarvaM pratiShThitam (Everything is established in truth)
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences - śarīramādyaṃ khalu dharmasādhanam / शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्मसाधनम् / shareeramAdyaM khalu dharmasAdhanam (Body alone is the instrument of doing all duties/deeds, Kumarsambhavam)
• Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham - śraddhāvān labhate jñānam / श्रद्धावान् लभते ज्ञानम् / shraddhAvAn labhate GYaanam (Reverent attains wisdom, Rigveda)
• Andhra University - tejasvi nāvadhītamastu / तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु / tejasvi naavadhiitamastu (May our knowledge become brilliant)
• Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University- tejasvi nāvadhītamastu / तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु / tejasvi naavadhiitamastu (May our knowledge become brilliant)^[1]
• Banaras Hindu University - vidyayā amṛtaṃ aśnute / विद्ययाऽमृतमश्नुते / vidyayA amRRitaM ashnute (Eat nectar through knowledge, i.e. be immortal through knowledge)
• Banasthali Vidyapith - sā vidyā yā vimuktaye / सा विद्या या विमुक्तये / sA vidyA yA vimuktaye (That is knowledge which liberates)
• Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur - uttiṣṭha jāgrata prāpya varānnibodhata / उत्तिष्ठ जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत / uttiShTha jAgrata prApya varAnnibodhata(arise, awake, obtaining worthy (teachers), Know (the truth))
• Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi - sā vidyā yā vimuktaye / सा विद्या या विमुक्तये / sA vidyA yA vimuktaye (That is knowledge which liberates)
• Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani - jñānaṃ paramaṃ balam / ज्ञानं परमं बलम् / GYaanaM paramaM balam (Knowledge is the supreme power)
• Central Board of Secondary Education - asato mā sadgamaya / असतो मा सद्गमय / asato mA sadgamaya ((Lead us) From Untruth to Truth)
• Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology - swayam tejaswin bhava(Be self-enlightened)
• Cochin University of Science and Technology - tejasvi nāvadhītamastu / तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु / tejasvi naavadhiitamastu (May our knowledge become brilliant)^[2]
• College of Engineering, Trivandrum - karma jyayoghya karmanah
• Delhi University - niṣṭhā dhṛtiḥ satyam / निष्ठा धृतिः सत्यम् / niShThA dhRRitiH satyam (Reverent dedication grasps truth)
• Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya - dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt / धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् / dhiyo yo naH prachodayaat (May (the divine savitA) propel our intellect)
• Gayatri Vidyapeeth, Shantikunj, Haridwar - vidyā dadāti vinayam / विद्या ददाति विनयम् (Knowledge generates humility)
• G.B. Pant Engg College (GBPEC) Pauri - tamaso mā jyotirgamaya / तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय / tamaso mA jyotirgamaya ((Lead us) From Darkness to Light)
• Gujarat National Law University - ā no bhadrāḥ kratavo yantu viśvataḥ (1.89.1 rigveda) / आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः / A no bhadraaH kratavo yantu vishvataH (Let good (thoughts) come from everywhere, from all the world)
• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University - ज्योतिवृ्णीत तमसो विजानऩ /jyotivranit tamso vijajnam
• Hans Raj College - तमसो मॅा ज्योतिर गमय / Tamso ma jyotir gamaya
• Hidayatullah National Law University - Dharma Sansthapanartham (for the sake of establishing the primacy of the laws of eternal value).
• Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur - yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam / योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् / yogaH karmasu kaushalam (excellence in action is yoga)
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay - jñānaṃ paramaṃ dhyeyam / ज्ञानं परमं ध्येयम् / GYaanaM paramaM dhyeyam (knowledge is the supreme goal)
• Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati - jñān hee shakti hai / ज्ञान ही शक्ति है / GYaan hee Shakti hai (Knowledge Is Power)^[3]
• Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur - tamaso mā jyotirgamaya / तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय / tamaso mA jyotirgamaya ((Lead us) From Darkness to Light)
• Indian Institute of Technology Madras - siddhirbhavati karmajā / सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा / siddhirbhavati karmajA (success is born of action)
• Indian Institute of Technology Patna - vidyarthi labhate vidyam / विद्यार्थी लभते विद्याम / vidyarthi labhate vidyam (One who aspires wisdom, attains it)
• Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee - śramam vinā na kimapi sādhyam / श्रमम् विना न किमपि साध्यम् / shramam vinA na kimapi sAdhyam (Without effort nothing is possible)
• Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad - vidyā viniyogāt vikāsaḥ / विद्या विनियोगात् विकासः / vidyA viniyogAt vikAsaH (Progress comes from proper application of knowledge)
• Indian Institute of Management Bangalore - tejasvi nāvadhītamastu / तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु / tejasvi naavadhiitamastu (May our knowledge become brilliant)
• Indian Institute of Management Lucknow - suprabandhe rashtra samriddhi/सुप्रबन्धे राष्ट्र समृद्धि/ (Better Management for a Better Nation)
• Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode - yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam / योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् / yogaH karmasu kaushalam (Excellence in action is yoga)
• Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Gwalior - viśvajīvanāmṛtam jñānam / विश्वजीवनामृतम् ज्ञानम् / vishvajeevanAmRRitam GYaanam (Knowledge is the nectar of Life)
• Indian School of Mines Dhanbad - uttiṣṭha jāgrata prāpya varānnibodhata / उत्तिष्ठ जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत / uttiShTha jAgrata prApya varAnnibodhata (Arise, Awake and Learn by approaching excellent teachers)
• Indian Statistical Institute - bhinneṣvaikyasya darśanam / भिन्नेष्वैक्यस्य दर्शनम् / bhinneShvaikyasya darshanam (See one in many) (even in differences, see the unity). "bhinneShu eva ekyasya darshanam")
• Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad - yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam / योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् / yogaH karmasu kaushalam (Excellence in action is yoga)
• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya - prajñānam brahma / प्रज्ञानम ब्रह्म / praj~naanam brahma (Knowledge is the Soul)
• Jamnabai Narsee School Mumbai - vidyā paramaṃ balam / विद्या परमं बलम् / vidyA paramaM balam (Knowledge is the supreme power)
• Kendriya Vidyalaya - tattvaṃ pūṣanapāvṛṇu / तत्त्वं पूषनपावृणु / tattvaM pUShanapAvRRiNu ((Lord) Remove Thou the Covering (that the Seeker may see the Truth))
• Kurukshetra University - yogastha kuru karmāṇi / योगस्थ कुरु कर्माणि / yogastha kuru karmANi (Do while steadfast in yoga)
• Madan Mohan Malaviya Engineering College, Gorakhpur - yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam / योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् / yogaH karmasu kaushalam (Excellence in action is yoga)
• The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara - satyaṃ śivaṃ sundaram / सत्यं शिवं सुन्दरम् / satyaM shivaM sundaram (truth, auspiciousness, beauty)
• Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth-
• Malaviya National Institute of Technology - yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam / योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् / yogaH karmasu kaushalam (Excellence in action is yoga)
• Management Development Institute - yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam / योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् / yogaH karmasu kaushalam (Excellence in action is yoga)
• Manipal University - pragyānam brahm / प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म / pragyānam brahm (Knowledge is the attainment of God)
• Modern School, New Delhi - ""Naimatma Balheenien Labhya"" (Perfection can only be achieved by the strong/The weak cannot achieve perfection)
• Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad - siddhirbhavati karmajā / सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा / siddhirbhavati karmajA (Success is born of action)
• National Institute of Technology, Durgapur - udyogah purushasya lakshanam / उद्योगः पुरुषस्य लक्षणं / udyogah purushasya lakshanam (Industry is man's objective)
• National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur - Udyamena hi siddhayānti kāryāṇi na manorathaiḥ / उद्यमेन हि सिद्धयान्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः / A goal is achieved through labor, not by desire only (from Nīti Śatakaḥ by Bhartṛhari). Full text: Udyamena hi siddhayānti kāryāṇi na manorathaiḥ| na hī suptasya simhasya mukhe praviśanti mṛgaḥ|| (A goal is achieved through labor, not by desire only. As a deer by himself wouldn't enter the mouth of a sleeping lion.)
• National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra - śramonavarata ceṣṭā ca / श्रमोनवरत चेष्टा च / shramonavarata cheShTA cha (Tireless effort and attempt)
• National Institute of Technology,Raipur - नित्यं यातो शुभोदयं / Nityam Yato Shubhodayam/Let the rise of goodness happen every day
• Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology - ā no bhadrāḥ kratavo yantu viśvataḥ (1.89.1 rigveda) / आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः / A no bhadraaH kratavo yantu vishvataH (Let good (thoughts) come from everywhere, from all the world)
• Osmania University- tamaso mā jyotirgamaya / तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय / tamaso mA jyotirgamaya (Lead us from Darkness to Light)
• National Law School of India University - dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ / धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः / dharmo rakShati rakShitaH (Values protect the protector (of values))
• Rajkumar College Raipur - swadeshe pujyate raja vidvan sarvatra pujyate/ स्वदेशे पूज्यते राजा विद्वान् सर्वत्र पूज्यते / (A ruler is revered only in his kingdom, A learned man all over the world)
• Rajhans Vidyalaya - vidyā vinayena śobhate / विद्या विनयेन शोभते / vidyA vinayena shobhate(Knowledge graces by humility)
• Ramakrishna Mission - ātmano mokṣārthaṃ jagadhitāya ca / आत्मनो मोक्षार्थं जगधिताय च / Atmano mokShArthaM jagadhitAya cha(For one's own salvation, and for the welfare of the world)
• St. Xavier's School, Bokaro - roopāntarikaraneeyam / रूपांतरीकरणीयं / rOOpantarikaranEEyam (Towards self-transformation)
• Sainik School Rewa - vidyaiva balam / विद्यैव बलम् / vidyaiva balam (Knowledge is Power)
• Sainik School, Chittorgarh - na dainyaṃ na palāyanam / न दैन्यं न पलायनम् / na dainyaM na palAyanam (no misery, no running away) (For a soldier, one should not seek mercy nor one should run away from the battlefield)
• Sampurnanand Sanskrit University - Sśrutam me gopāya / श्रुतम् मे गोपाय / shrutam me gopaaya (Let my learning be safe, i.e. let it be fruitful, let me not forget my learning)
• Samrat Ashok Technological Institute - yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam / योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् / yogaH karmasu kaushalam (Excellence in action is yoga)
• Sandipani School Nagpur - sā vidyā yā vimuktaye / सा विद्या या विमुक्तये / sA vidyA yA vimuktaye (Knowledge is that which liberates)
• Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning - satyaṃ vada dharmaṃ cara / सत्यं वद धर्मं चर / satyaM vada dharmaM chara (Speak the Truth, Walk the Righteous Path)
• Sri Venkateswara University - Jnānam Samyaga Vekshanam
• Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University - tamaso mā jyotirgamaya / तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय / tamaso mA jyotirgamaya (Lead Us from Darkness to Light)
• University of Calicut - Nirmaya Karmana Sree
• University of Colombo - Buddhih Sarvatra Brājate
• University of Delhi - Nishtā Drithih Satyam
• University of Hyderabad - Sa Vidhya Ya Vimukthaye (Education results in liberation)
• University of Kerala - Karmani Vyajyate Prajna
• University of Moratuwa - vidyaiva sarvadhanam / विद्यैव सर्वधनम् / vidyaiva sarvadhanam (Knowledge is the greatest wealth)
• University of Mysore - Nahi Jnanena Sadrusham (Nothing is Equal to Knowledge) / Sathyamevoddharamyaham (I uphold only the truth)
• University of Peradeniya - sarvasya locanaṃ śāstram / सर्वस्य लोचनं शास्त्रम् / sarvasya lochanaM shAstram (Science is the eye of all)
• University of Pune - य: क्रियावान् स पण्डितः / yaH kriyAwAn sa paNDitaH (Learned is the one who is industrious)
• University of Rajasthan - Dharmo Vishwasya Jagatah Pratishtha
• Uttar Pradesh Technical University - yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam / योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् / yogaH karmasu kaushalam (Excellence in action is yoga)
• Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School - सह वीर्यं करवावहै / saha vIryam karavAvahai (Let the teacher and student together perform great acts of strength)
• Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur - yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam / योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् / yogaH karmasu kaushalam (excellence in action is yoga)
• West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences - Yuktiheena Vicharetu Dharmahnih Prajayate (Judgement Devoid of Logic Destroys Dharma)
• Naval Construction Wing, IIT Delhi - Kritih Vishwatishayani ((May what we create be the best in the world))
• Arya Samaj School - Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam / कृण्वन्तो विश्वमार्यम् (Let us make this world a noble place to live in)
• Income Tax Department- Kosh Moolo Dandah / (Treasury is the root of administration)^[4]
• M. J. P. Rohilkhand University- Charaiveti-Charaiveti / (चरैवेति-चरैवेति)- (Keep moving, keep moving)
• Uttar Pradesh Police - Paritranaya sadhunam vinashaya cha dushkritam (For the upliftment of the good and virtuous, for the destruction of evil)
• Directorate of Employment and training ^[5]

Anecdotes on Sri.Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Courtesy: Sri.PP.Ramachandran

                                          ANECDOTES  ABOUT  MUSICIANS

                                                Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

                                       Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer’s Guru   Maharajapuram Visvanatha Iyer was very strict. Read what Semmangudi wrote of a train journey with the Guru—“Picture me on a train with a tambura on my lap, my guru’s steel trunk, silver betel-leaf box and water-jug roped together and fastened to my waist. I couldn’t sleep when he was asleep and he wouldn’t let me sleep when he was awake”.

                                       Semmangudu’s maiden appearance was in 1926.Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer had given a performance at the Nageswara Swami temple at Kumbakonam. The accompanying mridangam vidwan Azhagunambi Pillai requested that Srinivasa Iyer should be given a chance to sing solo. Maharajapuram readily acceded and Semmangudi  sang during the late night puja. Azhagunambi  Pillai played the mridangam. Undoubtedly it was an impressive debut. According to Srinivasa Iyer no sooner he started than the heavens opened up and torrential rain blessed him with a captive  audience. Semmangudi    stated that he could not hear his own voice!.

                                         Semmangudi underwent two operations, one to remove a block in the nose and the other to remove the tonsils. The result was a wayward voice. One casualty was his pronunciation, inviting the comment of the most carping, acerbic critic of the 1940s, “Karnatakam”, the pseudonym of Kalki Krishnamurti that he pronounced “Siva Siva enarada ” as “ Jiva Jiva enarada".

                                           While arranging marriages it is customary for the bride-to-be to display her musical skills before the boy’s family. After Semmangudi rendered Chakkaniraja in Kharaharapriya for the first time, it became the song that was to clinch  marriage deals. The charanam starts with the words “ Kantiki Sundara “ describing Rama’s beauty. If the girl repeated that line three times, it was taken as consent !.

                                            Despite being a junior, Semmangudi affected the manners of senior vidwans emulating them in matters of dress, sporting the tuft, liberally smearing his forehead with the sacred ash and tying his dhothi in the traditional panchakaccam style. This created an impression of his being elder compared to his real age.

                                               He was noted for his great sense of humour. A few days before he died, he told a friend, “Actually, the God of Death did come calling for me last week. But with the muddle of old houses given new numbers on the street, he made off with a neighbor ”. One more anecdote. The location is the Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai, overflowing as they celebrated the centenary of Kalki. Among the speakers was Semmangudi. Even  as his turn came and he stood before the mike for two minutes someone sent a chit. He read it and asked the audience, “Do  you know what this is ?. I am advised to restrict myself to three minutes.” He exploded with feigned anger and said, “ I have come all the way from Chennai to speak about my good friend Kalki and no one is going to short-circuit me !.”. He spoke for full ten minutes crackling with wit and humour.       “ Kalki taught me History of the Kingdoms of South India but I taught him and Sadasivam how to platy Rummy !.”

                                         His last bow was to donate his eyes to the Eye Bank of Shankar Nethralaya, Chennai.

                                         It was a serendipitous coincidence that on the morning of Semmangudi’s passing away, Chennai Doordarshan broadcast a seven-year old hour long concert by him, ending with the incomparable rendering of the Shankaranharanam masterpiece of Dikshitar, addressed to Sri Dakshina Murthi.

                                          I conclude with an anecdote with a personal bearing. It was February 16, 1999. Semmangudi, who had turned 90 was being felicitated in the prestigious Y.B.Chavan Auditorium in South Bombay. Kishori Amonkar was there to adorn him with a Gold Bracelet—aVeera Sringala. The Hall was jampacked. After the bracelet was presented to him Semmangudi was requested to sing one or two songs by the artist of the evening Sanjay Subramaniam. He did and the audience was spellbound. After this he was lead to a seat in the first row. During a short interval I  dived to the first row and prostrated and told him, “Sir, I am one of your million unknown admirers and have heard you for over five decades. I want your autograph.”. He said “O.K. What is your name and where should I autograph?”. I pulled out a copy of “Frontline” issue dated November 6, 1998. This carried a wonderful analysis of “Semmangudi looks back—at 90” and  had several valuable photographs, including two in gorgeous colour. He saw the entire article and pictures and commented that I have brought a very good foto and signed on the colour picture. I thanked him. Then he gave a toothless smile and said, “ Ramachandran, there is a charge for the autograph. Rupees Fifty”. I pulled out a crisp new Rs Fifty note and gave it to him. “Don’t think this goes to Semmangudi. I collect for an orphanage in Thanjavur”. I said, “I shall not demand to know where the amount goes. I am supremely content that I could have your blessings and autograph. I shall cherish both as long as I live.

World's oldest Shift register

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Karayan Nonbu - Devi Stuti By Brahma/Vishu/Shiva - Brihad Dharma Puranam

Courtesy: Sri.Krishnan Muralidharan

Dear All,

Greetings and Namaste. In connection with Karadayan Nonbu festival falling on March 14, 2014, I am glad to share a very rare Devi Stuti by Lord Brahma/Vishnu/Shiva from Brihaddharma Puranam, Chapter 41. This hymn was sung by the trinity at the end of Daksha Yajna. The uniqueness of this prayer is that the Trinity pray to Devi as all encompassing including creation, protection and annihilation (which are typically associated with the Trinity).

This festival, though celebrated mainly in the South by women for the longevity of their spouses, it is also associated with the story of Savitri who brought her dead husband (Satyavan) back to life due to her devotion, chastity and clever interactions with Lord Yama. Though this story is included in many purans in varying lengths, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Purvabhaga has a very detailed account of this in many long chapters. In this Purana, Lord Yama describes the journey of soul, characteristics of one's karma and the resultant fruits, ways of attaining supreme knowledge, significance of Lord Vishnu Bhakti, etc.

Especially, Chapter 30 contains many divine instructions, dos and don'ts for mankind - he describes in shlokas 153-188 the sure ways of a human being attracting the deadliest sin "Brahma Hatya" (killing of a person with divine knowledge). A sample below:

shrIkRRiShNe ca tadarcAyAM munmayyAM prakRRitau tatha | shive ca shivali~Nge cA sUrye sUryamaNau tathA || 153 ||

gaNeshe vA tadarcAyAM evaM sarvatra sundarI | karoti bheda bud.hdhiM yo brahma-hatyAM labhet tu saH || 154 ||

(Meaning : One who differentiates among Bhagavan Sri Krishna, Archana to HIM, an idol made out of clay on Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva, Shiva Linga, Lord Surya Suryamani, Lord Ganesha and his archana, will surely attract the sin of Brahma hatya.

shivaM shiva-svarUpaM ca kRRiShNa-prANAdhikaM priyam | pavitrANAM pavitraM ca GYAnAnandaM sanAtanam || 162 ||

pradhAnaM vaiShNavAnAM ca devAnAM sevyaM Ishvaram | ye nA.arcayanti nindanti brahma-hatyAM labhanti te || 163 ||

(Meaning : Lord Shiva is dearer to Lord Krishna than His Prana (soul). Lord Shiva is the embodiment of all auspiciousness (kalyana svarUpa), the most sacred of the sacred, Gyanananda, and first among the Vaishnavites. and revered by all Devas. One who does not perform archana to Lord Shiva or cast aspersions on Him is sure to attract the deadliest sin of Brahma-hatya.

ye viShNumAyAM nindanti Vishnu-bhakti-pradAM satIm | sarva-shakti-svarUpAM ca prakRRitiM sarva-mAtaram || 164 ||

sarva-devI-svarUpAM ca sarvAdyAM sarva-vanditAm | sarva-kAraNa-rUpAM ca brahma-hatyAM labhanti te || 165 ||

(Meaning : One who does not pray to Goddess Devi, who is Vishnu Maya, bestows Vishnu Bhakti, embodiment of all powers, mother of all, embodiment of all Devi forms, etc. will surely attract the sin of Brahma-hatyA.

It is to be noted that Brahma Vaivarta Puranam is predominantly Vaishnavite in color although it contains many many hymns on other deity forms and corroborates the oneness of all forms. These innumerable corroborations of oneness of Brahman proves that the color of purana represents merely the focus on a particular form and not illogical superiority of one over others (which is the handiwork of myopic humans).

May we pray to Goddess Mata and seek her blessings!

Tamil

sanskrit

Fwd: INSPIRATION

Inspiration

MUST READ ALL 14 ONE LINE STORIES…

The following stories have wonderful shades of emotions. These are based on true incidences both wonderful and inspirational.

These stories will remove some wrong misconceptions that we have about the people and life in general.

1. Today, when I slipped on the wet tile floor a boy in a wheelchair caught me before I slammed my head on the ground. He said, “Believe it or not, that’s almost exactly how I injured my back 3 years ago.

2. Today, my father told me, “Just go for it and give it a try! You don’t have to be a professional to build a successful product. Amateurs started Google and Apple. Professionals built the Titanic. 

3. Today, I asked my mentor – a very successful business man in his 70’s – what his top 3 tips are for success. He smiled and said, “Read something no one else is reading, think something no one else is thinking, and do something no one else is doing. 

4. Today, I interviewed my grandmother for part of a research paper I’m working on for my Psychology class. When I asked her to define success in her own words, she said, “Success is when you look back at your life and the memories make you smile. 

5. I am blind by birth. When I was 8 years old, I wanted to play baseball. I asked my father- "Dad, can I play baseball?" He said "You'll never know until you try." When I was a teenager, I asked him, - "Dad Can I become a surgeon?". He replied "Son, you'll never know until you try." Today I am a Surgeon, just because I tried! 

6. Today, after a 72 hour shift at the fire station, a woman ran up to me at the grocery store and gave me a hug. When I tensed up, she realized I didn’t recognize her. She let go with tears of joy in her eyes and the most sincere smile and said, “On 9-11-2001, you carried me out of the World Trade Center.” 

7. Today, after I watched my dog get run over by a car, I sat on the side of the road holding him and crying. And just before he died, he licked the tears off my face. 

8. Today at 7AM, I woke up feeling ill, but decided I needed the money, so I went into work. At 3PM I got laid off. On my drive home I got a flat tire. When I went into the trunk for the spare, it was flat too. A man in a BMW pulled over, gave me a ride, we chatted, and then he offered me a job. I start tomorrow. 

9. Today, as my father, three brothers, and two sisters stood around my mother’s hospital bed, my mother uttered her last coherent words before she died. She simply said, “I feel so loved right now. We should have gotten together like this more often.” 

10. Today, I kissed my dad on the forehead as he passed away in a small hospital bed. About 5 seconds after he passed, I realized it was the first time I had given him a kiss since I was a little boy. 

11. Today, in the cutest voice, my 8-year-old daughter asked me to start recycling. I chuckled and asked, “Why?” She replied, “So you can help me save the planet.” I chuckled again and asked, “And why do you want to save the planet?” “Because that’s where I keep all my stuff,” she said.

12. Today, when I witnessed a 27-year-old breast cancer patient laughing hysterically at her 2-year-old daughter’s antics, I suddenly realized that I need to stop complaining about my life and start celebrating it again. 

13. Today, a boy in a wheelchair saw me desperately struggling on crutches with my broken leg and offered to carry my backpack and books for me. He helped me all the way across campus to my class and as he was leaving he said, “I hope you feel better soon.”. 

14. Today, I was traveling in Kenya and I met a refugee from Zimbabwe. He said he hadn’t eaten anything in over 3 days and looked extremely skinny and unhealthy. Then my friend offered him the rest of the sandwich he was eating. The first thing the man said was, “We can share it"