21 April 2010

Akshaya thrithiya

Akshaya thrithiya falls on the May 16th of 2010.Its called Akkha Teej by the North Indians and is widely celebrated day in the year all over India.It falls on the third day after amavasya in the month of "Vaishaka" in shukla paksha(which is the waxing phase of moon).It is said both Sun and moon are best placed on this day.It is such an auspicious day that it is said there is no need to look for muhurat on that particular day as every second is auspicious.Akshaya in sanskrit means"that which never diminishes.It is the most ideal day to make new beginnings and make investments.Sri Parushurama Jayanti is also observed on this day.There are many legends associated with this day-

1. Pandavas received the Akshaya Pathram (a bowl in which anything placed will never diminish) from Lord Krishna (in the Mahabharata) on this day.

2.It is believed sage Vyasa invoked Lord Ganesha to start the beginning of composition of the most celebrated hindu epic- The bharatha(Mahabharatha)

3.Sudhama(lord krishna's childhood friend) visiting lord Krishna with a handful of beaten rice(hence in hindu tradition people do not visit anyone without carrying an eatable to anybody's house specially if there are kids in the visitor's house.

4.Goddess Annapoorna was born on the auspicious day

5.Lord Shiva came down from the kailash parvatha in form of a beggar to accept the bhiksha(alms) from the goddess Annapoorna


6.Kubera, the Banker in heaven, also got his position on Akshaya Tritiya.

Also in the puranas there is a description of a particular story associated with a merchant.here it goes-

During the ancient times,
there was a merchant who was so poverty-stricken that he found
it difficult to afford even one square meal a day. However,
he was intensely religious and noticing his
devotion the elders explained to him the greatness of Akshaya Tritiya.
The poor merchant decided to follow their advice.

On an Akshaya Tritiya day, he woke up at dawn,
bathed and offered food, water, sugarcane juice, milk and money to poor Brahmins.
he followed all the necessary austerities as advised by the
elders. Due to his sincere efforts, he was born as Kushapathy Chakravarthy in his next birth,
say the Puranas.

This day is very blessed for your departed ancestors. You can yourself do a ritual offering on this day before sunset. Place black sesame seeds and rice or rice powder on your right palm. Pour water over the items. Think of your departed ancestors and offer the rice powder and sesame. After this ritual, discard the material. This will do a lot of good for you.




14 April 2010

Rain and My feelings

It’s been raining for quite a spell now. But like most people I know, I’m loving it. I don’t exactly know what about the rain that I really like. I’m sure it’s not the science or the technicalities behind it nor the possible dangers it brings along. None of that. It’s a couple of other things. It’s probably the clear pool of water a heavy downpour leaves in its wake in flower pots or hollowed portions of the ground after the stirred up soil and mud have settled at the bottom. Its neither the gloominess,the dullness it brings after its stopped raining, Or the sense of newness and freshness that leaves of trees and plants invoke after a drizzle. the dew drops on the tender leaves..A few drops that fell on my cheek dripping down to my lips as I brushed my lips with my tongue..It could also be the cascading of rainwater on windowpanes that harks at the sentimental in me - like it does to broken hearted people in movies - or the steady pattering on rooftops that lulls me to reverie.
I wish it would rain again tonight. It has such a calming and soothing effect on me. Whatever I'm thinking or feeling gradually dissolves all through my body. And the smell. Soooo intoxicating. The "Earth's Scent" is what I lovingly call rain. I feel a relation between my emotions and rain :-) deep relation !













Tonight I really could use some rain. I hurt sooo bad but my screams must not be heard. My soul is gasping for anything to hold on to. Is anyone out there? I'm slowly becoming a gradient and fading into the background. Would anyone even notice if I disappear?

Rain Rain come Along-Random thoughts !

Wow Wondering why is it that it only rains in the evening and goes on to rain all thru the night in Bangalore.The heat this year was sooo unbearable.Though better than the other cities in India it seems as though weather had taken an oath to drain out sweat from everyone including few lazy ones like me..but wow i'm soooo delighted with the sudden change in weather today though quite unexpected ! Its hailing stones -can you believe i'm collecting few and eating them too :P.

Morning I made few potato papads looking at the scorching sunlight but utterly disappointed since it didn't dry up completely..but thats ok this was needed(Rain).Have been seeing parents struggle for water day in and out.I don't understand why be in such a posh area when you don;t even get regular drinking water? :-( BBMP has been at its worst.Electricity a daily problem our tenants suffer big time :P though we are spared becoz of inverter.Poor gals down there cant charge their lappys :P but as the song goes ....Alll izzz welll...Am happy (Dil idiot hai pyar se usko samjhana)