Appreciate your Support

It has been humbling seeing all your messages, your emails, texts and phone calls. We all deeply appreciate your expression of sympathy. Thank you is a very small word for the support you all have shown us.

It has been tough, and I cannot comprehend how hard it is to come to terms that I don’t have my Amma anymore. I pick up the phone so many times to call her and realize that I will never ever be able to talk to her in my remaining life.

The only consolation is that my Father is staying with me at this point. I get to take care of him, cook for him, console him and share my grief with him. He is devastated. I still see the undeterred faith he has in God and Rayaru. It truly amazes me, since I myself am devastated and question so many times even the existence of God having seen this tragedy.

Once again, I am truly grateful for your support, thoughts and prayers. I am not sure how soon I will start posting here. I am still having trouble getting to terms that my Mom is not there. I am not interested in anything, so might take a few more months to be active here.

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay isolated.

May God and our beloved Rayaru bless us all.

Miss you Mom

A day which has etched like none other in the Rao household – 02/24/2020. This is the day we lost our dearest Mother. The loss is unbearable, very raw,  and the deepest sorrow a heart can ever bear. 

A mom who was an exceptional daughter to her parents. A daughter who lives behind her 104 year old Mother in deep grief.

A mom who was a doting Sister to her siblings. A sister who left her brother tear up every time he talked about her, and was quite eager just before her passing away to spend her time with her brother and Mom in Mysore.

A mom who was truly a devoted wife to her Husband. A wife who never left her Husband even for a single day alone. A devoted couple who were married close to 60 years.

A mom who was a role model to her kids especially her daughters. A mother who was a trail blazer showing her kids how to push for their dreams, how to make a mark in this tough world, how to work hard, how to be involved in your kids, how to balance work and home.

A mom who was truly proud of her Son-in-laws. A mother-in-law who was like a Mom to her Son-in-laws who adored her.

A mom who was an amazing grandmother to her grandkids. A grandmother who showed unconditional love towards her grandkids and cherished all their accomplishments.

A mom who was an amazing relative and friend to so many of her relatives & friends. She was there for everyone that needed her during their good and tough times. And yes, we need someone to support us during tough times.

A mom who was an incredible professor to her students. A professor who supported all girls studying in her college and helped them succeed by paying their fees, by providing them emotional support and many a times talking to parents to let the girls continue further studies.

A mom who was kind to anyone she worked with. To the auto driver, to the watchman, to the care taker, to the construction worker next door, each and everyone she touched, loved her for her generosity and empathy she showed.

A mom who will be dearly missed by one and all she touched in her life. A mom who will be dearly missed every second. A void in our life which will never be filled.

Who do we call Amma/Mom now? 

Where do we find the loving arms which waited for us to fly to India?

Where do we find the mom who kept counting not days but minutes for our arrival?

Where do we find the mom with whom we could share anything and everything?

Where do we find the mom who was proud of our achievements?

Where do we find the mom who never ever judged us?

Where do we find the mom who when said “Amma I love you” said “Me too”?

Where do we find the mom who was a fighter and showed us incredible resilience by saying I don’t have anything to worry when she was battling sickness?

A void in our life which will never ever be filled.

We love you MOM. We pray and wish we get a Mom like you in every life, and wish we can be a mom like you to our Kids.

Rao Family

Update : Akanda Parayana for Sri Sri 1008 Sri Vishwesha Teertharu

The “Akanda Parayana” for 24 hours concluded today at the temple. Below are some pictures of the day we spent at the temple. We were truly blessed to do our part to Swamigalu.

There was also Madhu( Honey Abhishekha for Shree Anjaneya).

And our beloved Rayaru.

 

This coming Saturday January 4th 2020 to Jan 5th 2020 (24 hours) Sri Bhakthi Anjaneya Temple has planned “Akanda Parayana” for 24 hours. Attached below is the flyer. Each of us has a 2 hour slot. We are planning on being there on Sunday from 8 AM- 10 AM.  If you are in the DC area, please join anytime during the 24 hours.

You can signup for the slots here at the following link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054aafac2ca1f49-mahaa

White & Moong Beans with Colored Capsicum Sabzi

 

A very interesting and super delicious and protein filled palya or sabzi which goes so very well with Chapathi. You can pick and choose any choice of beans and vegetables.

Ingredients:

1. 1 can white beans washed throughly
2. 1 cup soaked and cooked moong beans ( hesaru Kalu)
3. 1/2 green capsicum ( I used frozen ones from our garden)
4. 1/2 red capsicum ( I used frozen ones from our garden)
5. 1 firm tomato chopped
6. 1 green chilli
7. 1 tsp each red chili powder, cumin powder and coriander powder
8. Salt to taste
9. Coriander leaves and lemon for garnishing
10. Oil, mustard seeds and cumin seeds.

Method:

1. Cook the moon beans (hesaru Kalu) in your pressure cooker
2. Wash the white beans ( I used the can)
3. Chop capsicum into 1 inch cubes, green chillies
4. In a pan add oil, when its hot add mustard and cumin seeds
5. Next, add the capsicum and tomatoes and fry for a few minutes
6. Once you feel the capsicum is cooked, add all the dry masala like red chili powder, cumin powder and coriander powder
7. Add the white beans and cooked moon beans. Add salt
8. Adjust water and let them all cook for 4-5 minutes together
9. Finally, switch off the stove and garnish with coriander leaves and lemon juice
10. Serve with Chapathi along with Yogurt.

Some useful links on various white beans you can use for this dish:

1. white beans

 

Dimbadalliruva Jeeva Song Lyrics

On December 29, 2012 Ms. Chaitra asked about this song, and neelpai posted the lyrics on December 31, 2012. I heard about the song today on our Swamigalu. I had tears as I was listening to song and watching our Swamigalu.

 

And here is the lyrics for the same. Hope to convert into English also soon.

ರಚನೆ : ಶ್ರೀ ಕನಕ ದಾಸರು

ದಿಂಬದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಜೀವ ಕಂಬ ಸೂತ್ರ ಗೊಂಬೆಯಂತೆ,
ಎಂದಿಗಾದರೊಂದು ದಿನ ಸಾವು ತಪ್ಪದ್ದೊ ,
ಎಂದಿಗಾದರೊಂದು ದಿನ ಸಾವು ತಪ್ಪದ್ದೊ

ಹುಟ್ಟುತ್ತೇನೆ ತರಲಿಲ್ಲ ,ಸಾಯುತೇನು ಒಯ್ಯಲಿಲ್ಲ
ಸುಟ್ಟು ಸುಟ್ಟು ಸುಣ್ಣದಗಳು ಆಯಿತೀ ದೇಹ.
ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಬಲು ಕೆಟ್ಟದೆಂದು ಎಷ್ಟು ಕಷ್ಟ ಮಾಡಿದರು
ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಹೋಗುವಾಗ ಗೇಣು ಬಟ್ಟೆ ಕಾಣರೋ

ಹತ್ತು ಎಂಟು ಲಕ್ಷ ಗಳಿಸಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ಸಾಲದೆಂದು ಪರರ
ಅರ್ಥಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಆಸೆ ಪಟ್ಟು ನ್ಯಾಯ ಮಾಡ್ವರೋ
ಬಿಟ್ಟಿ ಬೆಳೆಸು ತನ್ನದೆಂದು ವ್ಯರ್ಥ ಚಿಂತೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿ
ಸತ್ತು ಹೋದ ಮೇಲೆ ಅರ್ಥ ಯಾರಿಗಾಗುದೋ.

ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಹೊನ್ನು ಮಣ್ಣು ಮೂರು ತನ್ನಲಿದ್ದೂ ಉಣ್ಣಲಿಲ್ಲ
ಅಣ್ಣ ತಮ್ಮ ತಾಯಿ ತಂದೆ ಬಯಸಲಾಗದೊ
ಅನ್ನಾ ವಸ್ತ್ರ ಭೋಗಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ತನ್ನ ಸುಖವ ಕಾಣಲಿಲ್ಲ
ಮಣ್ಣು ಪಾಲು ಆದ ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾರಿಗಾಗುದೋ

ಬೆಳ್ಳಿ ಬಂಗಾರಿಟ್ತುಕೊಂಡು ಒಳ್ಳೇ ವಸ್ತ್ರ ಹೊದ್ದುಕೊಂಡು
ಚಳ್ಳ್ ಪಿಳ್ಳ್ ಗೊಂಬೆಯಂತೆ ಆಗಿ ಹೋದೆನೇ
ಹಳ್ಳ ಹರಿದು ಹೋಗುವಾಗ ಗುಳ್ಳೆ ಬಂದು ಒಡೆಯುವಂತೆ
ಗುಳ್ಳೆ ಪೊರೆಯಂತೆ ಕಾಣೊ ಸಂಸಾರದಾಟ

ವಾರ್ತೆ ಕೀರ್ತಿ ಎಂಬೋ ಎರಡು ಸತ್ತ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಂದವಯ್ಯ
ವಸ್ತು ಪ್ರಾಣ ನಾಯಕನು ಹ್ಯಾಂಗೆ ದೊರಕುವನೋ
ಕರ್ತೃ ಕಾಗಿನೆಲೆಯಾದಿ ಕೇಶವನ ಚರಣ ಕಮಲ
ನಿತ್ಯದಲಿ ಭಜಿಸಿ ಸುಖೀಯಾಗಿ ಬಾಳೇಲೋ
ಸುಖೀಯಾಗಿ ಬಾಳೇಲೋ

 

And here is the link from youtube if the one on Facebook doesn’t work for you.

Krishna Krishna Krishna Yendu Lyrics

Ms. Padma Rao shared the video yesterday for this song and since than I haven’t been able to take it off my mind and have been singing it non-stop. Here is a tribute to our Swamigalu who did Krishna Seve for almost 81 years.

The Lyrics in English:

Krishna krishna krishna yendu mooru bari neneiro
santushta nagi mukuthi kottu mikka bara horuvano ||

Sakala veda shastra phatisi saaravannu tilidarenu
makara kundala darana naamake saatiillavo ||1||

Kamala nabhana chinneyanu dharisi kondu mereyiro
yamana bhataru nodi anji adavi hoguvaro ||2||

Janma vethi madhva matava anusarisi nadeiro
summanadi sri krishna tanna loka koduvano ||3||

 

The Lyrics in Kannada:

ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಯೆಂದು ಮೂರು ಬಾರಿ ನೆನೆಯಿರೊ
ಸಂತುಷ್ಟ ನಾಗಿ ಮುಕುತಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಮಿಕ್ಕ ಭಾರ ಹೊರುವನೋ ||

ಸಕಲ ವೇದ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ ಪಠಿಸಿ ಸಾರವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದರೇನು
ಮಕರ ಕುಂಡಲ ಧರನ ನಾಮಕೆ ಸಾಟ್ಟಿಯಿಲ್ಲವೊ ||1||

ಕಮಲ ನಾಭನ ಚಿನ್ಹೆಯನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ ಕೊಂಡು ಮೆರೆಯಿರೊ
ಯಮನ ಭಟರು ನೋಡಿ ಅಂಜಿ ಅಡವಿ ಹೊಗುವರೋ ||2||

ಜನ್ಮ ವೆತ್ತಿ ಮಧ್ವ ಮತವ ಅನುಸರಿಸಿ ನಡೆಯಿರೊ
ಸುಮ್ಮಾನದಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ತನ್ನ ಲೋಕ ಕೊಡುವನೋ ||3||

 

Sri Sri 1008 Sri Vishwesha Teertharu Passes Away

 

I always looked up to him just like our beloved Rayaru. I would keep thinking seeing his smile and his energy that our Rayaru also was like this, maybe 1000’s times more karunamayi. I had tears rolling as soon as I saw the news today.

I hope you all have seen the news and lots of images which are circulating on WhatsApp and internet. I would like to see his smiling face and so decided to post this in the blog.

We will miss him dearly.

Haalaladaru haaku neeraladaru haaku Raghavendra Lyrics

Over the past few days, we in our Rayaru satsangha group had been discussing about Dr.Rajkumar’s devotional songs on our beloved Rayaru. We have all grown up listening to Dr. Rajkumar’s song on the radio. My sister and I used to recite the songs during the Bhajane we used to have at our place. Even though it doesn’t have any ankitha, it just brings back such great emotion and Bhakti listening to his songs.

Yesterday during satsangha, we decided to sing at least one song and I started with Nee Thande Na Kandha. However, we couldn’t get the lyrics for any of the songs sung by Dr. Rajkumar. So, I decided to post all of them one after another here and here comes the very first one.

Image Credit: Our SBAT Rayaru in Maryland, golden Kavacha during Aaradhane.

ಹಾಲಲ್ಲಾದರು ಹಾಕು ನೀರಲ್ಲಾದರು ಹಾಕು ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ
ಹಾಲಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆನೆಯಾಗಿ, ನೀರಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀನಾಗಿ ಹಾಯಾಗಿರುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ||

ಮುಳ್ಳಲ್ಲಾದರು ನೂಕು, ಕಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಾದರು ನೂಕು ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ
ಮುಳ್ಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳ್ಳಾಗಿ, ಕಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲ್ಲಾಗಿ ಒಂದಾಗಿರುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ 

ಬಿಸಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ಒಣಗಿಸು, ನೆರಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಲಗಿಸು ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ
ಬಿಸಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಂಪಾಗಿ, ನೆರಳಲ್ಲಿ ತಂಪಾಗಿ ನಗುನಗುತ ಇರುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ || 1 ||

ಸುಖವನ್ನೇ ನೀಡೆಂದು ಎಂದೂ ಕೇಳೆನು ನಾನು ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ
ಮುನ್ನ ಮಾಡಿದ ಪಾಪ ಯಾರ ತಾತನ ಗಂಟು ನೀನೇ ಹೇಳು ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ 

ಎಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರೇನು ನಾ ಹೇಗಿದ್ದರೇನು ನಾ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ
ನಿನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಶರಣಾಗಿ ನೀ ನನ್ನ ಉಸಿರಾಗಿ ಬಾಳಿದರೆ ಸಾಕು ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ||2||

ಹಾಲಲ್ಲಾದರು ಹಾಕು ನೀರಲ್ಲಾದರು ಹಾಕು ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ
ಹಾಲಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆನೆಯಾಗಿ, ನೀರಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀನಾಗಿ ಹಾಯಾಗಿರುವೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ||

Haalaladaru haaku neeraladaru haaku Raghavendra

Haalali keneyagi, neerali meenagi hayagiruve Raghavendra ||

Mullaladaru nooku, kalaladaru nooku Raghavendra

Mullali mullagi, kalalli kalagi Ondagiruve Raghavendra

Bisilalli vanagisu, nerelalli malagisu Raghavendra

Bislilalli kempagi, nerelalli tampagi nagu nagutha iruve Raghavendra ||1||

Sukhavane needendu yendu kelenu naanu Raghavendra

Munna madida papa yara tathana gantu Neene yelu Raghavendra

Yellidarenu na hegidharenu na Raghavendra

ninnalli sharanagi nee nanna usiragi bhalidhare saaku Raghavendra ||2||

Haalaladaru haaku neeraladaru haaku Raghavendra

Haalali keneyagi, neerali meenagi hayagiruve Raghavendra ||

And the video from Devatha Manushya on this song:

2019 Tulasi Pooje Pictures & Updates

A few updates:

The blog has reached 13 million( 130 lakhs) visitors. It is just mind blowing to even see that number. Even more so when so many of you have become my extended family. The love and affection I have received from you all is something only 1 in that 13 million can get and I am humbled to be that one person.

Also, last post I had informed about my Mom. By your prayers she is getting better, takes time. Your prayers have been heard. The emails you all sent was truly a blessing from our beloved Rayaru. My namaskars to you all.

And finally, below are some pictures from the Tulasi Vivaha. It has been a hectic few months with work pressure, but it was Friday evening and we were able to perform the pooje.

Once again, my heartfelt namaskars to you all. Since it is winter all plants have come inside now.

Updated:ತುಲಸೀ ಹಬ್ಬವಿವಾಹ ಉತ್ವಾನ ದ್ವಾದಶಿ – Uthwana Dwadashi/Tulasi Habba – November 8th/9th 2019

ತುಲಸೀ ಹಬ್ಬವಿವಾಹ ಉತ್ವಾನ ದ್ವಾದಶಿ – Uthwana Dwadashi/Tulasi Habba – November 8th in USA and November 9th in India
Last year’s pictures:

 

Close up of our little Tulasi Plant:

Lighting of Agarbathi:

Aaruthi for Tulasi.

Tulasi Pooje Preparation 2013:

Uthwana Dwadashi – Tulasi Habba or Tulasi Pooje is celebrated a fortnight after Deepavali. It signifies the day Tulasi married Lord Vishnu. On this day, Tulasi katte is decorated like a bride. Amla trees are planted along with the tulsi plant.

Pooje to be done in the evening.

What’s Tulasi?

In most Hindu homes, you find a Tulasi plant growing out of a Tulasi katte . Tulasi is considered to be a holy plant and is worshiped every morning. Tulasi has medicinal value and is often used as a herb in curing the common cold and cough.

So what’s Tulasi Habba?
Tulasi came out of the ocean during Amrita Manthan as a younger sister of Lakshmi. She too was devoted to Lord Vishnu and wanted to marry him. But Lakshmi who was already married to him did not like the idea and cursed her to become a plant. Thus the tulasi plant was born. But the all merciful Lord Vishnu took pity and fulfilling her wish declared that when he will be in the form of a saligrama, found in most temples and madhwa houses, she will remain close to him in the form of a tulasi leaf. Therefore even today a saligrama will have a tulsi leaf along with it. In front of every Hindu home there will be a tulasi katte in which a plant grows round the year.
Although the prayers are offered to Tulasi everyday by watering the plant in the morning and lighting an oil lamp before it in the evening, on Kartik Shukla Dwadashi there will be an annual Tulasi Pooja in the evening when the tulasi katte will be beautifully decorated with clay lamps.

Attached below is a screen shot of the Tulasi Vivaha Slokas and Procedure as printed in the Uttaradi Matta Panchanga. If you click on the image a bigger picture will display which has the words very very clear.

Here is the link for all the Tulasi slokas at this weblog.

1. Slokas

2. Daily Tulasi Pooja Procedure

3. Tulasi Sankeerthaney Lyrics and Audio

4. Devaranama on Tulasi – ಒಲ್ಲನೋ ಹರಿ ಕೊಳ್ಳನೋ

5. Vrundavanadevi Namo Namo Lyrics

6. Tulasi Pooje Songs