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.

Power of Reciting Shree Raghavendraya Namaha

A few months back when we performed Satsangha at my place I mentioned about a miracle. Hope you all remember that. If not, link below:

A miracle on Thursday

Since the Satsangha we attended just two weeks back, my Husband and I decided we should spend 1 hour every evening from 7.00-8.00 PM in our Pooja room, learn new slokas, stotras, understand the meanings of several we already know. We started by reciting Shree Guru Raghavendra Stotra, and reading the meaning from the book I mentioned in the above post. We are almost done, and will be reading the last sloka today. Next, since it is Dasara, we will start reciting a few of Lord Venkateshwara Stotras and Slokas. I will definitely keep you all posted on anything new I learn.

I might have also mentioned several times that I recite “Shree Raghavendraya Namaha” 108 times every single day. I really have no clue when I started this. So, to know how powerful reciting this Japa brought chills. Maybe now I realize why I have so much calmness, so much confidence in the work I do, and courage when I jump for any new opportunity which comes my way at work or at home.

So, here are some of the details from the book. All credit goes to the author and publisher of the book. I have no intention of copying, I am just trying to spread the word about how powerful doing the Japa is.

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The 16th sloka which goes like this:

ದೋಷಾಸ್ತೆ ನಾಶಮಾಯಾಂತಿ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರಪ್ರಸಾದತಃ |
ಓಂ ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರಾಯ ನಮಃ ಇತ್ಯಷ್ಟಾಕ್ಷರಮಂತ್ರತಃ |
ಜಪಿತಾದ್ಭಾವಿತಾನಿತ್ಯಮ್ ಇಷ್ಟಾರ್ಥಾಸ್ಸ್ಯುರ್ನ್ಯ ಸಂಶಯಃ || ೧೬ ||

दोषास्तॆ नाशमायांति राघवेंद्रप्रसादतः ।
ओं श्री राघवेंद्राय नमः इत्यष्टाक्षरमंत्रतः ।
जपिताद्भावितानित्यम् इष्टार्थास्स्युर्न्य संशयः ॥ १६ ॥

doshaaste naashamaayaanti raaghvendraprasaadataha |

“OM shri raaghavendraaya namaha” ityashtaaksharamantrataha |

japitaadbhaavitaanityam ishtaarthaahasyurna samshayaha || 16 ||

This 16th sloka tells us the power of Shree Raghavendra Mantra – “OM shri raaghavendraaya namaha”.

Shree Raghavendraya Namaha is the Raghavendra Ashtakshara Mantra, consisting of eight syllables.

The meaning of this mantra is: Salutations to the great Guru Shree Raghavendra, who rules the hearts and minds of devotees, who destroys all  sins and fulfills all wishes.

The next few paragraphs explain about what Japa is. Devotees who sincerely do Japa of Guru Mantra are insulated and protected from shocks and dangers of life. Guru Mantra instills calmness, confidence, and courage in a devotee, who is comforted and secure in the warmth of Sadguru’s love. His mind is purified.

It is mandatory to chant the Guru Mantra 108 times daily in the morning, after bath. Fix the mind on Guru and chant the mantra mentally with eyes closed before lit lamps in the puja room. Wear washed cotton or silk clothes, as these are natural fabrics which effectively absorb and transmit the energy of the mantra into the body. The mantra loses its power if chanted aloud, or within anybody’s hearing.

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Now, that you all know the power of this mantra, start reciting it everyday after bath for 108 times. Simple and yet so POWERFUL!

 

 

Updated : Dasara – Navarathri – October 1st – October 11th 2016

Dasara is celebrated all over India as a religious as well as a social festival. Nava means nine and rathri means night and so Navarathri means nine nights. Some call it as Navarathri, some as Vijaya Dashami, and some as Dussehra. Doesn’t matter what you call, does it?

This year Dasara is celebrated from October 1st – October 11th 2016. Please check the dates in the country you are residing.

From day one of the festival, it is customary to keep a Kalasha (ಕಲಶ), this is filled with water(ನೀರು) and 4 betel leaves(ವೀಳೆದೆಲೇ) are arranged as shown below in the pictures.Apply Haldi (ಆರಿಶಿನ) , Kumkum(ಕುಂಕುಮ), and flowers, gejje vastra (ಗೆಜ್ಜೆ ವಸ್ತ್ರ) as shown again. This Kalasha is kept in front of the Pattada Gombe (ಪಟ್ಟದ ಗೊಂಬೆ) which is given during the marriage to the bride. This ಪಟ್ಟದ ಗೊಂಬೆ signifies Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavathi. Again, see pictures below. These ಪಟ್ಟದ ಗೊಂಬೆ are decorated with different jewelery, crown, bangles, dresses every few years.

If you are keeping an elaborate Gombe (Dolls), than the Kalasha and the Pattada Bombe are placed on the top shelf. And all other arrangements follow next.

Even though all the 10 days and nine nights are important, there are a few major days where pooja is done with great devotion and pomp.
Those days are as follows:

• Saraswathi Pooja – October 9th
  Read more about Saraswathi Pooje here.
• Durgasthami – October 9th
  
• Ayoodha Pooja – Mahanavami – October 10th. Read more about Ayoodha Pooja here.
• Vijayadashami – October 11th

Devotional Songs for Dasara:

• Lyrics on Lord Sreenivasa

• Lyrics on Goddess Lakshmi

Dasara Pictures around the world:

• Dasara Pictures

Food Prepared during Dasara

• Authentic Madhwa Dishes

• Sweet Dosa for Saraswati Pooja

Other links posted on the blog:

• Navaratri-Dussera in Brief

• Amazing Rangoli of Shri Madhwacharya

• Dasara Celebration – Iskcon Temple in DC

• Amazing Rangoli for Dasara from Smt. Padmini

• 2009 Dasara Festival at my Sister’s Place

• Rangoli Designs for Dasara

Rava Dosa

We all have eaten crunchy, paper like rava dosa. There are several posts on the web for Rava dosa. I changed the recipe for rava dosa quite a bit. Tried this twice at home and each time it was a super hit. So, here comes the recipe for Rava dosa. I was and am tired of eating Oats for breakfast every single day. So, this Sunday, it was Rava Dosa for a change. I see all recipes using All purpose Flour or Maida. I didn’t use it as you see in the ingredients list. It was crispy, it was delicious. This is a recipe for ages now.

Just a quick note, we don’t get super fine Rava here at least at my Indian grocery stores. I had brought a kilo of this from my last trip to India. Since there was some leftover batter, I made 2 dosas in the night also. It was still perfect. 

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup super fine Rava
2. 1/4 cup rice flour –
3. 4 tsp urad dal flour
4. 1/4 cup yogurt
5. salt to taste
6. 1 tsp baking powder

Method:

• Sieve Rava, rice flour and urad dal flour
• Add it to a bowl, mix salt and yogurt.
• Now add water and make sure it is of running consistency.
• Just before preparing dosa, I added baking powder. For the millionth time, I have no idea when to use baking soda vs powder. I always use them interchangeably.
• Now heat a Griddle or Tava and make dosa. Don’t spread the batter like you do for normal dosa. The thinner the batter, the crisp the dosa gets.
• We ate with Chatni Powder. Plain and simple.

Prayer by Sree Appanacharya

As I was browsing through FB, I found this amazing link which gave a complete day to day activities  of our Beloved Rayaru  in the greatest detail as written by Sree Appanacharya who resided with Rayaru for several decades. This is one of the Prayers Sree Appanacharyaru used to recite. The very first time I read the Stotra and the meaning, I had tears rolling down my eyes. I couldn’t wait to share it with you all devotees of Rayaru.

Below is the Stotra in Kannada and Baraha English. You can copy and paste in Baraha and translate to any language of your choice.

ಸ್ವಾಮಿರಾಜ ಪ್ರಭೊ ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ ಪ್ರಭೊ
ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಪ್ರಭೊ ಪಾಹಿಮಾಂ ರಕ್ಷಮಾಮೇಹಿ
ಮಾಂ ಯಾಹಿ ಮಾಂ ಸರ್ವದಾ ಸರ್ವದೇಶೇಷು
ಸರ್ವಪ್ರಕಾರೇಣ ಸರ್ವೇಷ್ಟಸಿದ್ಧರ್ಥ್ಯಮತ್ಯಂತ
ಮಾರ್ದ್ರೇಣ ಚಿತ್ತೇನ ಸಂಸೇವಮಾನಂ

ಸದಾಬಾಲಬಾಲೋಪಮಾನಂ ತವ
ಶ್ರೀಪಾದಂಭೋಜದಾಸಾನುದಾಸಂ ಸದಾ ಪಾಹಿ
ಮಾಂ ಪಾಹಿ ಜೀಯಾದ್ಭವಾನಸ್ತು ಮೆ ಶ್ರೀಃ ಸದಾ
ನಮಸ್ತೇ ನಮಸ್ತೇ ವಚಸ್ತೇ ಶಿರಸ್ತೇ ಕರಸ್ತೇ
ಯಶಸ್ತೇ ನಮಸ್ತೇ ನಮಸ್ತೇ ನಮಃ

swAmirAja prabho rAmachaMdra prabho
rAghavEMdra prabho pAhimAM rakShamAmEhi
mAM yAhi mAM sarvadA sarvadEshEShu
sarvaprakArENa sarvEShTasiddharthyamatyaMta
mArdrENa cittEna saMsEvamAnaM

sadAbAlabAlOpamAnaM tava
SreepAdaMbhOjadAsAnudAsaM sadA pAhi
mAM pAhi jIyAdbhavAnastu me SreeH sadA
namastE namastE vachastE shirastE karastE
yashastE namastE namastE namaH

The meaning of the stotra goes like this:

O king of Sanyasis, O Ramachandra’s worshipper, O Raghavendra Guru, protect me

Please do reside within me, please do get me to your place. Protect me in all ways, all worlds, and always. I am praying to you to fulfill my smallest desires, I am the smallest among small being. I am the follower of your lotus feet, please protect me.

Victory be yours. May I be protected by your grace. I salute to you. I salute to you once again. I salute to your granthas. I salute to you who prays to Lord Hari.  I salute to your hands which worshiped Lord Hari, and composed and studied Guru Madhwacharya’s granthas.

I salute to you who is praised by one and all in this world. I salute to you, I salute to you once again.

I tried my best getting the message out, if you know Sanskrit, please do correct the meaning. Hope you all recite this amazing stotra to get the blessings of our beloved Rayaru.

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: