Update: Mahalaya Paksha Masa – September 17th – September 30th 2016

The fortnight (15 days) preceding the Navaratri/Dasara or the second half “Krishna Paksha” of Bhadrapada Masa is called Pitru Paksha also known as Mahalaya Paksha. This period is important for honoring our ancestors. Men, whose fathers have passed away, offer their obeiscence (shraddha) to their ancestors during this period. This year it falls on the following days in the United States and India.

No functions such as upanayanam, marriage, gruhapravesha, engagement or any such activities performed during these 15 days. These 15 days are totally dedicated to our ancestors.

Pitru Paksha – Mahalaya Paksha : September 17th – September 30th 2016

There are many resources available online to assist in giving tarpana and doing shradha for the departed souls of ones family. Attached below are all the links.

If you have any resource, please share.

• Pitru Paksha from Sumadhwa Seva
• Pitur Paksha from Uttaradi Math

Sree Shiva Vishnu Temple is performing the same and a donation of $95 is charged and includes dakshina for the priest as well.

P.S: Please refer to dates in your country, and check with elders or temple priests.

Learn Sree Raghavendra Stotra – One Stotra At a Time

We had another Satsangha last week at Virginia. It was just amazing to see how much devotion and bhakthi people have on our beloved Rayaru. As I was going through my won blog, I found that I had not given link for people to learn and recite the amazing Stotra step by step. I have several links for the Stotra itself, but not matter what language it is written in, it is tough for many including me to pronounce Sanskrit properly.

So, below is an amazing link on Patwari.org which has each and every sloka recited one at a time. This is a great resource for many of you to share with your friends, relatives and kids to learn the Stotra.

Learn Guru Stotra.

As always all credit goes to the webmaster. I am just providing the link for easy learning.

 

 

Ganesha Festival Pictures – 2016

It was a festive day yesterday. Just the thought of doing pooje to our Lord Ganesha lit up the mind and the house. As always, the blog, the computer and the phone assisted us in many many ways.🙂

Attached are some pictures of the greatest festival at my place. This year we decided to bring Ganesha instead of using the Gold idol one we used to use. We plan on bringing the same from now on.

We had relatives and friends for pooje in the morning and evening. We served food on Banana leaf from our own garden. As always I had prepared food as per our tradition –

• Moong Dal Kosambari
• Channa Dal Kosambari
• Beans Palya
• Seme Badnekayi Palya
• Idli
• Chatni
• Chitranna
• Payasa
• Modaka
• Kadabu
• Saru
• Kootu
• Happala Sabdhudana Sandige
• And Yogurt

Hope you all had a blessed Ganesha festival.

Home grown banana leaf used for serving food:

 

Evening Pooje:

Gowri-Ganesha Festival – September 4th and 5th 2016

Pooja preparations:

 

Gejje Vastra and Flowers getting ready to be offered to God.

Fruits and coconut for Lord Ganesha:

Kadabu for Lord.

After the morning pooja and naivedya.

Close up of the Lord.

Evening Pooje.

Chakkali prepared by my Husband for the Lord.

Mangalaruthi and evening naivedya chakali for the Lord to request him to come home every year.

The Ganesha festival falls on the fourth day Bhadrapada Masa. That’s why we say “Bhadrapada Shulkada Chauthi Aamdu”. Swarna Gouri Vrata and Ganesha Festival is celebrated on September 4th and 5th.

As always, check your closet temple to find the correct dates.

An idol of Gowri made of clay is brought two days before the Ganesha festival. Gowri is an incarnation of Parvathi. Gowri Habba, also called as Swarna Gowri Habba is celebrated one day before Ganesha Festival.

The Legend:

Goddess Gowri, while taking shower, created Ganesha out of the mud of and placed him at the entrance of the house. She told him not to allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva returned home and was stopped by Ganesha at the gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha’s head. When Gauri came to know of this she was grieved.

Lord Shiva ordered his servants to cut off and bring to him the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that position. Lord Shiva then joined the elephant’s head onto the body of Ganesha.

Mr. Lakshmisha P, had left a comment here that he had the pdf files for the Swarnagowri vratha puja & katha. Attached below are the links for both the pdf files he has provided.
Thanks so much Me. Lakshmisha for all the support and also the time you have taken to convert this into pdf.

• swarnagowri_katha
• swarnagowri_vratha_puja
• Marada Bhagina for Swarna Gowri Vrata
• Sampradaayada Haadu On Goddess Gowri 

We used to sing at the top of our voice “Ganesha bhanda, kai kadubu tinda, chikka kerele edda, dodda kereli bidda”.

Lord Ganesha is not just worshiped on this day, but is worshiped first in all occasions since he is considered to be the remover of all obstacles, one who brings good luck on new activities or endeavors.

As always links for several resources songs, lyrics and stotras are posted on this blog.

• Lord Ganesha & Gowri Lyrics

P.S: If you would like to get email updates on when new articles are added, you can subscribe by clicking on the left hand side on the “RSS Feed“. It will take you to a new page, and you can enter your email ID.

And here comes the link which has colorful and many designs for drawing Rangoli

• Rangoli Designs

And can any festival be complete without authentic dishes? Here are some recipes posted in this blog:

• Festival Recipes

In case you see the moon on this day, here is the sloka you are supposed to say:

ಚೌತಿ ಚಂದ್ರ ದರ್ಶನ ಅಪವಾದ ಪರಿಹಾರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ

ಸಿಂಹಃ ಪ್ರಸೇನಮವಧೀತ್
ಸಿಂಹೋ ಜೌ0ಬವತಾ ಹತಃ |
ಸುಕುಮಾರಕ ಮಾರೋದಿಃ
ತವಹ್ಯೇಷ ಸ್ಯ್ಮಮಂತಕಃ ||

Simha prasenamavadith
simho jambhuvatha hathah |
sukumaraka marodhihi
thavahyesha syamanthakaha ||

P.S: The above sloka in Kannada is exactly as it is in the Uttaradi Matta Panchanga. Rather than taking a picture, I typed in the words. The English translation is done from the Kannada sloka to the best of my knowledge.

As always no food is prepared with onion or garlic.

Many of you have asked for the Pooja Vidhana of the festival, I do have the book for Ganesha festival, and it is several pages. I had no time at all to translate it into English. So, here is the link for the pooja vidhanas for both Gowri and Ganesha pooja. Hopefully I will have them next year.

• KannadaAudio.com

P.S:  If you have a scanned copy of the Ganesha Vrata Pooja Vidhana, please share. I can post it here.

Gowri Ganesha Festival Preparation & Recipes

This year Gowri Ganesha Festival is celebrated on September 4th Sunday and 5th Monday. For those of you in India, it is a national holiday. For us in USA, it is Labor day weekend so we have Monday holiday.

So, this post is to help all of you prep for this festival and get the blessings of Gowri and Ganesha.

Gowri Habba Preparation:

• Prep for all the pooja items like Haldi, Kumkum, Mantrakshate, Gejje Vastra.
• Make sure you have Rangoli, if you don’t have the dry powder, use Kundan Rangoli, a chalk and draw. If even that is not available, take some printouts and use them. I have used a combination of all of them as seen below. Draw small feet of Lord Ganesha from the front door.
• Make sure you have camphor, Agarbathi and also soaked cotton for Mangalaruthi.
• Buy all the ingredients required for the Maradha Bhagina. The  two posts which have already been published are linked below:

  • ಮರದ ಬಾಗಿಣ ಮತ್ತು ಮಹತ್ಬಗಳು – Importance of giving Maradha Bhagina

  • Swarna Gowri Vratha – Marada Bhagina Items

• Buy fruits, Coconut, Banana leaves, Mango leaves, Betel leaves and nuts.
• Buy plenty of flowers.
• If you are performing Panchamruta abhisheka, buy all items required for that.
• A list of all food items which can be prepared is added at the end of this post.

Ganesha Habba Preparation:

• All pooja items as listed in Gowri Habba.
• In addition to all fruits, flowers get lots of garike and leaves for Lord Ganesha.
• The key food items made are 21 Modaka, 21 Kadabu and 21 Chakkali. Recipes listed all the way at the end.
• Offer Gejje Vastra. Usually fancy ones are offered here. 16 strings or some times 21 strings.

Food Items for Gowri Ganesha Festival:

Kosambari ಕೋಸಂಬರಿ

1. Cucumber Kosambari

2. ಕಡಲೆ ಬೇಳೆ ಕೊಸಂಬರಿ – Channa Dal Kosambari

ಚಟ್ನಿ Chutney

1. Channa Dal or Kadale Bele Chutney

2. Coconut Chutney

3. Pudina or Mint Chutney

4. Mint Mango Chutney – ಫುದಿನಾ ಮಾವಿನಕಾಯಿ ಚಟ್ನಿ

Bonda – ಬೋಂಡ ಭಜ್ಜಿ Bhajji

1. Heerekayi Bonda

2. Red and Green Capsicum Bonda or Fritters

3. Aloo Methi Pakoda

4. Ambode

5. Bombai (Aloo) Bonda

6. Sabhudani Vada – Gluten Free

ಸಿಹಿ ತಿಂಡಿಗಳು- Sweet Dishses

1. Badam Poori

2. Kayi Kadabu

3. Dry Coconut kadabu

4. Coconut Burfi

5. Mango Rasayana or seekarane

6. Pineapple Kesaribath

7. Steamed Modaka – ಮೋದಕ

ಪಾಯಸ – Payasa – Kheer

1. ಶಾವಿಗೆ ಪಾಯಸ – Vermicelli Kheer

2. Evaporated MilkyWay ಶಾವಿಗೆ ಪಾಯಸ – Vermicelli Kheer

3. Gasgase or Poppy seeds Payasa

ಸಾರು ಹುಳಿ ಕೂಟು – Rasam Sambar Kootu

1. Hesaru Bele Thove

2. Ridegourd Thove

3. Sweet or Sihi Kootu

4. Sandige Huli Recipe

5. ರಾಯರ  ಕೂಟು – Spicy Kootu Made in Sree Raghavendra Swamy Mutt

ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆ ಮೊಸರು ಅಡಿಗೆಗಳು – Yogurt Based Dishes

1. Majjige Huli

2. ಹಸಿ ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆ ಹುಳಿ – Hasi Majjige Huli

3. ಬೂದ ಕುಂಬಳಕಾಯಿ ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆ ಹುಳಿ  – Winter Melon Majjige Huli

ಗೊಜ್ಜು – Gojju

1. Gojju

2. Cucumber Gojju

2016 Shri Krishna Janmashtami @ 14619

It has been a hectic few months with two India visits back to back. My first trip was from July 4th – July 24th and the second one was from August 12th – August 24th. Yes, came back just the night before Shri Krishna Janmashtami. I had to travel back to speak at a conference and do a workshop in Kerala. I was also able to spend the last day of our Beloved Rayara Aaradhane in Bangalore, had prasada at 4th T block Jayanar mutta Bangalore. I also visited Shree Kamadhenu Kshetra in Bangalore, and would love to share the miracle which happened there. A new post and some pictures coming soon.

Since the last visit I have had severe back pain and undergoing physical therapy to relive the pain. As such was unable to make too many items for the festival yesterday. So, the decoration was simple, food was simple, but there was no lack of energy to do the pooje or sing all the devotional songs.

Attached below are the pictures of the pooje and the very simple food preparation. Hope you all had a wonderful celebration of Lord Krishna Janmashtami.

 

 

 

Shri Krishna Janmashtami – Thursday August 25th 2016

ಕೃಷ್ನಯ ವಾಸುದೇವಾಯ
ದೇವಕಿ ನಂದ  ನಾಯಚ
ನಂದಗೋಪ  ಕುಮಾರಾಯ
ಶ್ರೀ  ಗೋವಿಂದಯ ನಮೋ  ನಮಃ

ಕೃಷ್ಣಯ ವಾಸುದೇವಾಯ  ಹರಯೇ  ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನೇ
ಪ್ರಣತ ಕ್ಲೇಶ  ನಾಶಾಯ  ಗೋವಿಂದಾಯ  ನಮೋ ನಮಃ

KRISHNAYA VASUDEVAYA
DEVAKI NANDA NAYACHA
NANDAGOPA KUMARAYA
SRI GOVINDAYA NAMO NAMAHA

KRISHNAYA VASUDEVAYA HARAYE PARAMAATMANE
PRANATHAH KLESHA NAASHAAYA GOVINDAAYA NAMONAMAHA

Shri K G Bhimsen Doss has left this comment.

Difference between Sri Krishna Janmashtami and Sri Krishna Jayanthi.
Normally Shravana, Krishna Paksha Ashtami is celebrated as Sri Krishna Janmashtami. In such years, the Rohini star comes on Bhadrapada Krishna paksha Ashtami. So in places like Udupi (or those who follow solar panchanga) observe Sri Krishna Jayanthi in the month of Bhadrapada. Generally Iyegars follow this practice.
If the Rohini Nakshtra falls on Shravana Krishna Paksha Ashtami then both Sri Krishna Janmashtami and Sri Krishna Jayanthi fall on the same day. This year both Sri Krishna Janmashtami and Sri Krishna Jayanthi are on the same day.

P.S: Click on any picture to see it enlarged.

Flowers to our Lord.

Fried items.

Pooja Preparation.

Lord Krishna sitting with all decoration.

Pooje as evening approaches.

Flowers offered to our Lord.

Naivedya for the Lord.
Shri Krishnastami is celebrated on Thursday August 25th 2016. Sri Krishnastami or Krishna Jayanthi marks the celebration of the birth of Lord Sri Krishna;the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Lord Sri Krishna was born on the ‘Rohini’ nakshatra on Ashtami; that’s why it is called Krishnastami. In karnataka it is also known as Gokulashtami and Janmashtami. The festival occurs between August and September in our English calendar.

According to our Hindu mythology, Krishna was born to destroy Mathura’s demon King Kamsa, brother of his virtuous mother, Devaki. A celestial voice told Kamsa that he would be killed by the eighth child of Devaki. Alarmed by the message, Kamsa imprisoned Devaki and her husband Vasudeva. Taking no chances, Kamsa went on killing Devaki’s children soon after birth. Lord Krishna was born as the eighth child of Vasudeva at midnight. But at Krishna’s birth, under divine instructions, Vasudeva left the prison unnoticed with the baby. He crossed the mighty river Yamuna which was in spate due to heavy rains. Without any difficulty, he walked across the river protected from rain by the mighty serpent Shesha, and reached Gokul. In Gokul, on the same midnight, a girl named Yogamaya had been born to Yasoda, wife of Nanda a herdsman. The babies were exchanged, and Vasudeva came back to prison with the girl. When Kamsa was told that his sister had given birth to a child, Kamsa attempted kill the child. But the baby who was Goddess Maya, flew off to the heaven, warning Kamsa that Krishna, who would kill him, had already been born and was alive. Eventually, Krishna killed Kamsa, and released his parents from the prison, and brought peace and happiness to the common people.

In our Madhwa tradition, we are supposed to fast on this day, and late during the night; usually midnight we are supposed to give Arghya to Lord krishna. Here is the stotra to be said while giving Arghya to Lord Krishna. While giving the Arghya, hold a coin, a lemon and dried date in your right hand, and using a silver spoon offer 3 times milk and 3 times water to Lord krishna in a silver bowl, and keep repeating the below Stotra as well. Everyone in the household has to give Arghya to the Lord.

Arghya Stotra

Arghya Stotra from the Utharadi Matta Panchanga

Krishna Arghya

Jathaha Kamsavadarthaya Bhoobharotharanayacha|
Kouravanam Vinashaya Dhaityanam Nidhanaya Cha ||
Pandavanam Hitharthaya Dharamasamsthapanaya Cha|
GruhanaArghyam Maya Dhatham Devakya Sahitho Hare ||

Chandra Arghya

Kshirodharnava Sambhootha AthiGotraSamudhbhava |
GruhanaArghyam Maya Dhatham Rhohinya Sahitho Shashin ||

Another set from Prasanna.

Krishna Arghya mantra
jatah kamsavadharthay bhubharo harNayacha

kouravaNam vinashaya diatyanam nidhanaya cha
panDavanam hitarthaya dharma sansthapanay cha

grahaNaarghyam mya dattam devikya sahito hare||

chandra arghya
kshirodarNav sambhootham atrigotra samudbhavam
grahaNrghyam mya dattam rohiNya sahitah shashinah||

The food items performed are mostly sweet dishes, fried items and items with Avalakki. All these dishes are performed with extreme madi. If you are not able to do so, here are some useful tips:

1. The most important thing in any festival is the breaking of the coconut and offering it to god, so bring a coconut.

2. Keep also 5 fruits for offering to god, like Banana, Mango, Apple, Orange, Grapes, Plum, Pear and so on..

3. You can make the following dishes which have been mentioned here in the blog which need no cooking at all, add the seasonings after you do the Naivedaya to god.

• Cucumber Kosambari

• Mosaru Avalakki

• Sweet Avalakki

4. If you don’t mind cooking on the gas stove, here are other recipes you can make as well

• Gojju Avalakki

• Upittu or Upma

• Kesaribath

• Thengolu

• Chakalli

• Ompudi

• Shankarpoli

• Kobbari Mittai

• Rave Unde or Laddoo

• Besan Unde or Laddoo

• Kodubale

• Poori

• Authentic Madhwa Recipes

5. Bring lots of flowers which are again easily available; roses

6. Offer butter also to the Lord which again is available in all grocery stores.

7. Below are several links which has all the songs in praise of Lord Krishna posted in this blog.

• Shri Krishna Ashtotra

• Keshava Nama

• Vande Vandyam

• Preenayamo Vasudevam

• Dwadasha Stotra

• Yenagu Aane Ranga

• Vijaya Kavacha

• Adisidalu Yeshodha

• Dasana madiko yenna

• Indu yenage Govinda

• Krishna Nee begane baro

• Loka Bharithano Ranga

• Lord Vishnu

8. Here are some links from dvaita.org as pdf files

• Palayachutha Palayajitha

• Gopi Geetha

• The 108 names of Lord Krishna.

9. We also place a silver cradle and keep the Ambegalu Krishna idol in the cradle and rock the cradle while singing the following song:

• JoJo JoKrishna Paramananda

10. Recite Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya as many times as possible.

11. Little feet of Lord Krishna are drawn as well along with other rangolis.

11. Last but not the least, do as many namaskaras as you can and break the fast.

Once you finish the pooje, surrender yourself to the Almighty Lord by saying the following Stotra.

ಕಾಯೇನ  ವಾಚ ಮನಸೇನದ್ರಿಯಿರ್ವ
ಬುದ್ಧ್ಯತ್ಮನ  ವ  ಪ್ರಕೃತೆ  ಸ್ವಭಾವತ್
ಕರೋಮಿ  ಯದ್ಯಥ್   ಸಕಲಂ  ಪರಸ್ಮೈ
ಶ್ರೀಮಾನ್ ನಾರಾಯಣಯೇತಿ ಸಮರ್ಪಯಾಮಿ

KAYENA VACHA MANASENDRIYAIRVA
BUDDHYATMANA VA PRAKRITE SWABHAVATH
KAROMI YADYAD SAKALAM PARASMAI
SRIMAN NARAYANAYETI SAMARPAYAMI

May Lord Krishna Bless ALL

ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣರ್ಪನಮಸ್ತು