Update: Rayara Brindavana Banner

Many call our Beloved Rayaru Brindavana a samadhi, it is not. Many call our Beloved Rayaru Brindavana a stone structure, it is not. Many call our Beloved Rayaru a God, he is not. Many call our Beloved Rayaru a magician, he is not.

To really know and understand the intricate details of the Brindavana and know what a great saint our Beloved Rayaru is, please take a look at the banner attached which is provided by SRSMUTT Mantralaya.

Many of you sent me this over emails, WhatsApp, thanks so much. Appreciate it very much. Download the PDF, most details are in Kannada, I am planning on converting the same in English, just need the time to do so.

Rayara Brindavana Banner

Please also find updated banner with all Gods name in English. This took almost 4 hours to complete. I am not copying anything, all credit to SRS Mutt Mantralaya. The English subtext is just to help people who don’t read Kannada. No other intention. Zoom the Pdf to see the text.

Rayarau-Banner-English

Updated : Dasara – Navarathri – October 10th – October 18th 2018

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 10th – October 18th. 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 16th
  Read more about Saraswathi Pooje here.
• Durgasthami – October 17th
  
• Ayoodha Pooja – Mahanavami – October 18th. Read more about Ayoodha Pooja here.
• Vijayadashami – October 18th
  

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

Celery Chutney

We are almost a dozen close knit satsangha group who have truly become sisters. We eagerly wait for the monthly satsangha, each one a staunch devotee of our beloved Rayaru. The very first attraction to all of us is our Rayaru, and the second the love and affection we have for each other, and last but not the least the food.

In the month of August we had Satsangha at Ms. Radhika’s house. Ms. Padma prepared Celery Chutney and it was just delicious and something I had never eaten. My Sister used to make Majjige Huli from Celery, but I had never eaten Celery Chutney. It was very very delicious and immediately became a super hit.

Yesterday, we had Satsangha at Ms. Vandhana’s house, and Padma once again made this chutney, and once again it was liked by one and all. Everyone started asking the recipe, and the next thing I know they all wanted me to post it here so we can refer to it anytime we wanted. So, here comes the recipe for Celery Chutney. Thanks Padma, and Radhika.

Recipe as sent by Ms. Padma on our WhatsApp group.

Ingredients:

1. Celery Sticks – 1 bunch
2. Peanuts – Handful
3. Mustard Seeds, Jeera, Methi seeds, Hing
4. Oil
5. Ginger, Tamarind, Green chillies, Jaggery, Coriander leaves, Curry leaves

Method:

• Celery sticks – fresh medium size bundle (you can use the leaves also). Wash , chop into small pieces and keep aside. Use them fresh so that it has water content in it.
• In a kadai, put some oil and let it heat. Add the following in same order:
• 2 handful of peanuts and let it fry till light brown, move it to the side in the kadai itself and add 2 tea spoon of mustard seeds and let it splutter, add 2 tea spoon of jeera, 1 tea spoon of methi seeds and mix all the ingredients, add a small ball of tamarind and  little hing and stir, add 4-6 green chillies based on how much spicy you want, add coarsely chopped ginger, curry leaves broken into pieces by hand and give it a stir, add chopped celery, stir and leave it open to cook on  low to medium flame – do not close the vessel, it will anyways leave water.
• Cook for approx 8 to 12 mins
• Add salt, jaggery and Coriander bunch and stir. It will leave more water. Let it cook for another 5 mins in low to medium heat.
• Let it cool completely
• Blend either finely (for sandwiches) or coarsely for rice/ idly/dosa. Celery will still have water in it and most likely, you will not need to add water while blending.

2018 Ganesha Pooje Pictures

Every year once we finish the festival we look back and say lets plan simple next year, but come next year we try and perform the Ganesha festival with full force. This year was no different. Even though my Ankle is still giving lots and lots of problems, we again managed to perform the festival like every year. And once again we had my Daughter join us and she helped us every step of the way.

We didn’t even have a drop of water until we finished the pooje, did Naivedya, have my sister and brother-in-law as Brahmana Mutaide, served food for the two of them, my daughter husband, and when I had lunch it was close to 3 pm. It was just humbling to see even my daughter not even have.a sip of water until lunch was served. Blessed are we to have a daughter who grew up all her life in America, is going to be an Orthopedic surgeon soon, and still follows our customs and traditions. And yes, she did 21 namaskaras to Lord Ganesha.

We also had a few of my Satsangha sisters for pooje, Ganesha story reading and followed by dinner. I wish a few of the blog friends could have joined, but well it was a week day so cannot force anyone.

Most flowers, banana leaf, Tulasi, grass-garike, patre leaves were from our garden. Mango leaves and Betel Leaves from my Sister’s garden. Like I always say, we had lots of fruits, coconut, flowers. And as always we prepared all the food. Some of the items we prepared were:

1. Moong Dal Kosambari
2. Chana Dal Kosambari
3. Potato Palya
4. Chayote – Seeme Badanekayi Palya
5. Idli
6. Chatni
7. Dal Thove
8. Saaru/Rasam
9. Majjige Huli
10. Shavige Payasa
11. Kadabu
12. Modaka
13. Mango Chitranna
14. Happala

As always, sharing some pictures for you all. Hope you all had a wonderful Ganesha Festival.

The Ganesha was handmade by my Sister Suma and Niece Shwetha. we did the visarjane in the night itself.

Pooja Preparation:

Morning Pooja:

Naivedya For Lord:

 

Banana Leaf food for us:

Evening Pooja:

Gowri-Ganesha Festival – September 12th and 13th

Pooja preparations:

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

Fruits and coconut for Lord Ganesha:

Kadabu, Modaka and Idli 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 12th and 13th.

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 12th and 13th 2018.

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

2018 Shree Krishna Pooja Pictures

Hope you all had a wonderful and joyous Shree Krishna Jayanthi/Janmasthami. The festival was on a Sunday, so we had time on Saturday to do all the shopping and Monday to rest since it is Labor Day here and a holiday.

It was tough setting up the Pooja upstairs, so we decided we will do it in the Pooja room downstairs. It was tough even with that since by mid afternoon my ankle had completely swollen. I was to be honest really really depressed and kept wondering why this tough challenge, still unable to sit down, or even do activities I used to perform so easily just a few months back.  So most frying was done by my Husband.

My Daughter joined us through FaceTime during the pooje at night and was there until the end when we gave Argya to Lord Krishna. I just love technology, we can meet, share, see and perform ePooja remotely.  And today morning as I do every year, I was able to show my parents all the pooje which we had done. My dad as soon as he saw said ” So beautiful, looks like the pooje has been done in a temple.”. I had tears of joy hearing this from my Dad.

My own blog helped in getting all the links for songs, food items and recipes.

Food prepration like you see were items such as:

• • Moong dal Kosambari
  • Channa dal Kosambari
  • Uppittu or Upma
  • Avalakki
  • Sweet Avalakki
  • Thengolu
  • Om Pudi
  • Shankar Poli

• Rava Laddoo

Last year it was yellow rose flowers and this year we brought Red roses. And as always, I tied a Tulasi Garland for our Putta Krishna.

 

 

Now for the next big festival Shree Gowri Ganesha Festival. Will post all links and recipes as we approach the festival.

May Lord Krishna Bless us all. Jai Shree Krishna!