Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana !

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana !

MathiruviLakku, MaviLakku During Purattasi Saturday

In Srivaishnava Community, during the month of Purattasi (Mid August/Mid September) on a Saturday, they used to lit a lamp made of rice flour with added jaggery, Cashew, Ghee etc. Normally, this is done on any one of the Saturdays,  on the first, third or fifth Saturday of Purattasi Tamil month. Mainly, this is done when there is No Utsavam and Dwajarohanam is going on in the Tirupati Hill Temple; So finding a Saturday when the Festivities are going on in the Balaji Mandir of Tirupathi, it is very difficult, so in case of no odd number Saturday available, then they avail any other suitable Saturday. 

Many of the Tamilians [irrespective of the Sect & sub-sects] offer Maavilakku to the GOD of their choice; Amman, Perumal, Murugan ; in temples or at their homes. In Shivites custom, they offer this on the 1st Aadi and 1st Thai Vellikizhamai [Kataka/Karkatam and Makara months’ first Friday] 

Now please go through the following recipe, just given by our ever friendly Cheenu@Coimbatore (the original recipe which he got from his better half known as Saha-Dharmini or simply you call – from his wife) and NOT his own copyrighted one, so you can surely prepare and enjoy the stuff, without worrying about copyright infringements !!!)

INGREDIENTS:
Raw Rice 2 cups

Jaggery (preferred one is jaggery powder) 1 cup.
Cardamom  2 nos. [powdered] 

Ghee  2 table spoons. 

Cotton Wick 1 [not the conventional one] 

Method:
Wash the rice and keep it soaked for 10 or 15 minutes; drain well and spread on a clean white cloth ; grind the rice in a mixer [in small quantity] and sieve; when the powdered rice is ready, mix the flour with the jaggery powder [to add more taste, one can add honey, grated coconut and benzoine known as Pacchaikarpooram] and powdered cardamom: spread the dough on a plate  or basin and make one cup shape mould on the dough ; pour ghee ; put the wick. Now the Maavilakku is ready.

Draw a kolam and place the plate containing the Maavilakku. Decorate with flower. Lit the lamp by chanting slokams of the GOD to whom it is offered.  Srivaishnavites used to chant Govinda, Govinda etc. during the time of lighting the lamp and also when it is at going off stage of the lite. Shivites and others used chant VENKATRAMANA GOVINDA, SANKATA HARANA GOVINDA at the time of lighting the lamp followed by Vishnusahasranamam and Devi slokams.
When the lamp is about to go off, do offerings, neivedhyam of Milk or Fruits. Afterwards, remove the burnt wick, mix the dough properly, distribute the Maavilakku Mavu Prasadm [yummy…….]

You have now had the tasty bud of MaviLakku. Now let us see the meaning behind this practice! The entire DakshinayaNa (Mid July to Mid January) period is said to be of night time for the Devas. During these time, it is entirely devoted to prayer, offering and pooja etc. When the DakshinayaNa begin during Mid July, the Tamil month Aadi begin. From here on all the following six months known as Dakhsinaya is of festivities and celebrations and all to the Lord God. Beginning from the first Friday of Aadi, then Varalakshmi Vratham, Sri Jayanthi – Gokulashtami, Vinayakar Chathurthi, Deepavali (Diwali), Navaratri all the festivals aiming at offerings to the Lord Gods of various Status.

The Legend: During Every Saturday of the Purattasi month, it is said Lord Sri Balaji expecting his devotees to come closer to his consort hills. And for those who could not afford to travel at length, he beams himself through the light of this specific Mavilakku. Thus, a devotee getting His Lord’s Darshan without climbing the seven hills of Thirumala Tirupati. Also, the carbon emanated through the mixture of rice flour and cow’s ghee is said to remove all the ill radiations and negative vibrations from one’s home and that too when one recites aloud the name of the Lord God when the lighted cotton soak goes off. To make it worthy, devotees used to recite the Lord Gods name several times. Govindaa, Govinda, Govindaa. Sure, the fragrance, a temple like atmosphere and the divine recitals and the devotion,  all that makes one refreshed and happy.

Gender Selection – Baby Boy or Baby Girl?  Here is the suggestion.

THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE INDIAN & HINDU VEDIC SYSTEM. (PROGENY – MAHENDIRAM)

How to conceive? Conceiving probabilities – when High or Low?  Do you know this is a real thing..?!  

by TRS Iyengar 

For the benefit of the Newly married couples (Hi Newlywed couples – congratulations!) I post this article, so that they get a better “Progeny” called Mahendram.  Prayer is the most effective one, one can safely state. Still the Newlywed couples needs some guidance in many ways that will brighten & shine in their life. Here goes: Now you can plan and chose the GENDER of your baby Boy or Girl by using the Chinese planner chart given at the bottom of this page, according to your needs. The Chinese calendar varies from the Universal one so the approximate correction given according to English Calendar.  This is only a suggestive method, though proven accuracy in maximum number of cases; the author does not hold any responsibility for any  result   arising out of it usage.

Quite apart from the following listings, Please consider to check; one should check his/her horoscope, whether there is a progeny is indicated. Secondly, to choose the wanted gender, in one’s birth natal chart, the fifth house, fifth house Lord’s placement in a friendly house other than 8th & 12th houses and Jupiter’s (Guru) aspect to the fifth house or its placement in a good position are to be considered. Only then the following selection method works fine! One should take into account these factors while practicing the following method for a fool-proof result! Otherwise it may not work perfectly, to one’s desire.

 For A Happy married life and to gain full mental peace and also to create a new Healthy generation aye give below few suggestions. Aye am sure, if strictly adhered to these, every follower would surely benefit a lot more and enjoy a full life span with developed mental happiness.

To know and to follow these, you must keep handy a panchangam known as Almanac so that you can easily identify the dates suitable to your birth stars and moon sign.

To begin with, know your and your life partner’s birth star and moon sign. The astrological calculations and planetary movements are to maximum extent help one to conceive. You can find it in your horoscope, or you can simply check with any online website that give these basic things at free of charge. You need to give/feed your correct time, date of birth and place of birth to get the accurate birth star and moon sign.

Avoid any new ventures on any of your birth star days. On these days you will be a bit of tense and the body level pressure is likely to be fluctuating than normal days.

Avoid all important decision makings on the Chandraashtama days i.e. when moon transits through the eighth house to your moon sign. These days are very bad, especially people born on the Krishna Paksha i.e. after full moon day but before New moon day.

Also avoid Pradamai thithi – i.e. the immediate next day to New moon & Full moon days, then Ashtami & Navami – i.e. 8th & 9th days from New moon and Full moon days.

So far said is for common and avoidable days to start or begin any new ventures. The next is most vital that it deals with your personal life.

For every married couple, who are planning to have a child, the aforesaid stars, thithi and Chandraashtama applies more so if one intends to go for a child. In addition to above days they will have to avoid Bharani and Krittika nakshatra days too. If the couple can avoid all above dates/days, they will get hardly six to eight days left in a month to have physical relationship among husband & wife. Added to these 3 to 5 days gone – whence the natural monthly cycle period passes. (This mostly occurs during the avoidable Chandraashtama or Janma nakshatra days only for the majority of women, I can safely state here).

When then one gets the opportune time to plan and get their issues/child, a better progeny that they can be proud of? Is there any suitable days recommended, especially for newly wedded couples? What if they enjoy life as they wish & like?

just give below the negative aspect in the first place. So that one can understand the importance of Thithi & Nakshatra (birth Star known as constellation) and find out a solution to fit there needs!

**A woman conceiving on a Amavasya (new moon day) or Pradamai (the immediate second day from new moon/or of a full moon day thithis, delivers a spastic/under developed child or mentally unsound child.

**Women who conceive on her Chandraashtama day delivers a child who will be weak, suffers frequent ailments and illness and suffers with memory loss in the young age it self.

** If conceived on the Ashtami or Navami thithis, then the child likely to grow with some arrogance, aggressive tendency and never learns to adjust to the surroundings/situations.

** If Amavasya day also happens to be the Chandraashtama day for women who conceived on that day, and if Surya Dasha/Buktis too runs then, the child born will, mostly probably be blind or with defective eye sight.

** In addition a couple has to avoid having sex, a day when the husband goes for hair cutting (this is to avoid barber itch – related deceases), when one takes oil bath (to avoid body over heating) and when any of them suffering from dysentery (to maintain normal kidney functioning).

** Also one has to avoid sex on the day when any one of them goes on fasting, feeling headache, or any other urinary infections.

** If a couple can avoid having sex on the aforesaid days and follows strictly and plans for a child, the conceiving probability will be high on the other days, thus giving birth to a good and healthy baby.

** The timing for this should be chosen between 3 and 5 AM on any suitable day. By this timing, food consumed earlier night is almost digested and the early morning freshness in the air/ozone layer is rekindling one’s body and mind. This timing called as “Brahma Muhurtham” in the Vedic scripts. 

Based on the Jaathaga Paarijaatham, an Indian Vedic script describing the astrological points and methodology, for a Progeny to honor,  I reproduce the options on conceiving a child/Gender selection. Readers will note the points and plan accordingly. It is generally and medically not advisable to have sex on the menses periods of a woman. From the time of menses, five full days to be avoided for relationship. If by any chance a woman conceives on these days, then the child is born with abnormalities and short-lived one.  Desirable results can be obtained by following the information, according to ones needs. It is almost a kind of natural cycle that enriches the Gender Selection of your choice. This way of calculations is still widely followed in Southern part of India and particularly from Kerala. To any woman, to conceive is a GIFT and those are the one who are blessed by the God.

Day 06  =  A boy who preserves his traditions and values.

Day 07  =  A girl born with private organ defects or impotency. 

Day 08  =  A boy born with manly organ defects or impotency. 

Day 09  =  A blessed girl with beauty and brain. 

Day 10  =  A healthy and sound boy.

Day 11  =  An Ugly girl with uneven shape and odd look. 

Day 12  =  A boy with knowledge, wisdom and kind. 

Day 13  =  A characterless girl with sinful acts. 

Day 14  =  A boy with noble character and wisdom. 

Day 15  =  A beautiful girl with good and generous qualities

Day 16  =  A boy with good qualities of a scholar, learned and practical.

You will notice, from the day of menses first five days are to be avoided from start of menses day and again days 7, 8, 11 and 13^th days for having physical relationship. To conceive an healthy and fittest child, this calculations to be kept in mind. From days 17^th to next menses course, it is called safe period whence the chances of conceiving are remote. (days to be Counted from first day of menses – starting day as day one and so on).

Safer sex is only having sex with one person and that is a  lifetime partner – Your Wife!. This will avoid a lot of problems in future and also will be the most healthiest practice one must follow. Sex with anyone and anytime would bring you an unhealthy trend, frequent emotional failure, mental fatigue and may even get you into Skin ailments, HIV/Aids or sexually transmitted diseases.  So be cautious in choosing your partner for your sex and sexual pleasures. And according to Srivaishnava siddhantham, Sex is only for a Progeny to serve the Lord Sriman Narayanan, and nothing more to it! Of course, the emotional bondage, love, care and caress that one feels with the touch and hug should encourage each other for a caring love. But one should not forget, that this is only with a legitimacy and within the bonded married life!

Human body in itself is a mystery!  No one can say for sure that one has  fully control and knowledge of one’s own body. Yes, now you can simply do this following test and find whether you are aware of this.

Now take a deep breath. Exhale the same slowly. Check with your pointing finger taking it near to your nose,  from which nostril the breathed air is coming out. From right or left nostril ? or from both side nostrils?

FOR MEN :

If the carbon is released through your right nostril then it is a good omen. When starting to do some thing new or when moving out of your home for some auspicious functions, check your breath is emitted from your right nostril. If it is from the left nostril or when the flow is from both nostrils then wait for few minutes to continue. The best timing for having sex with your partner is while the emission is from your right side nostril.

FOR WOMEN

When the emission of carbon is from your left nostril, then it is the best time for you to start your activities. Also while planning for a child and having sex see that the carbon emission is through your left nostril. If emitted from both nostrils or from the right one, then it is considered inauspicious.

Male / Female Infertility? Problem in Menstrual course Cycle?

An immediate & sure relief for so many defective organ failures.

Ayurvedic practice is the oldest one to judge the natural properties in a viable healthy way! From time immemorial, in India, the practice of using honey for years in medicine to strengthen the semen of men. If impotent men regularly take two tablespoon of honey before sleeping, their problem will be solved. In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women who do not conceive and to strengthen the uterus have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries. Women who cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body. After consuming Honey & Cinnamon, many people experienced a wonderful change and got healthy babies too! **This was clinically proved in the western countries and is recommended by many physicians in general.

(**Read this Article, at the bottom of this article, a table explaining about  HONEY & CINNAMON )

Now, for the Effective Prayer part:

As the saying goes, prayer is the most effective tool to achieve all goals. Here is another suggestion to conceive a baby; if done for consecutive 96 days, in addition to above suggestions, recite the following versus for at least 28 times a day minimum (for better results to recite it for 108 times daily in the morning time only). The following script is for getting a baby child, known as Sri Santhana Gopala japam which is recited with Havan or Homam known as Holy fire. Generally, many Srivaishnavites are performing this ritual with Homam to be blessed with a child. Those who cannot afford to perform the Homam known as Holy Fire offering, can simply recite this versus, just simply 108 or 28 times a day for a consecutive 96 days. (Excluding one’s menses period / Menstrual course of 4 full days). If both husband and wife together chant and pray daily, the phonetic vibration is said to activate the genetical productivity organs and stimulates the brain neurons to activate the needed strength and stamina!

Here below is the slokha & Mantram to invoke Lord Sri Vasudeva. This Santhana Gopala Japam / Mantram is part of the scripts, that’s sufficient to recite. For the convenience of readers, I give this in Sanskrit, rough translation in phonetic English and in Tamil too. I hope this is helpful to the needy.

{This prayer is to invoke Lord Sri Vasudeva, the Father of the Universe, to bless with a child, for who prays &  who perform the recital with Holy fire (Homam),  thus to continue with their family generation. The chanted verse in Holy fire (Homam) would count to 1008 times.}

Now once You achieved your goal, take a few steps to normal delivery – Avoid surgical method

It is gift of nature, that is bestowed upon any luckiest women. Indeed, those of the majority are proud of it, that they could reproduce. Pregnancy is a very precious and important event in a woman’s life. And also, at times, if proper care is not taken, then it is a too risky one too. What is gifted is to be preserved, cared and nurtured till one gains the fruit of the labor. It is true that the development of the baby is affected by several maternal, physical & as well as fetal factors.

The commonly known problems are listed as below: hypertension, diabetes, malnutrition, chronic renal disease etc. can cause harmful effects on the fetus. Similarly chromosomal anomalies in the embryo, and infections in the mother is known to cause several birth defects. Apart from afore stated causes, tension, fear, anxiety and chronic stress in pregnant would be mother can cause serious problems, resulting in the poor outcome. It is now well-recognized that stress causes psycho-neuro-immunological changes in the body level, leading to pregnancy complications; it can lead to irregular, in coordinate uterine contractions, that might cause distress ending in operative surgery. Hypersensitivity of the mother leads to intolerance to pain, requiring heavy dosage of painkillers, which are not safe for the unborn. Here, the side effects too pose serious problems in the future. There are three types of postulated mechanism that relatively lead to more complications. The three postulated mechanisms of transfer of maternal stress to the fetus are:-

1.  Reduction in blood flow to the uterus and fetus at increased levels of maternal stress.

2. Tran placental transport of maternal stress hormones.

3. Stress-induced release of placental CRH to the intra-uterine environment

The commonly known complications during pregnancy are excessive vomiting (hyper emesis gravid arum), intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH), gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and pre-term delivery.

If you take proper care, guidance and with confidence can carry on, sure one can get a healthy, strong and brilliant child. It is in pregnant woman’s will power, that will be put to test during the delivery time. If every one can withstand the paid and wait till a baby is born naturally, then sure the unwanted caesarian cases could reduce a maximum extent.

To cheer-up a pregnant women, Srivaishnava community used to do a lot more things; few such things are known as Poochoottal (floral decorations of the pregnant woman),  Valaikappu (Ornamental decorations with bangles of different types and color) and Seemantham (A ritualistic and elaborative function held during 7/8th month of pregnancy) are a few state.

“NOW, FOR THOSE WHO WANTS TO POSTPONE OR AVOID CONCEIVING.”

From time immemorial, Indian habitats used to depend on nature’s wealth more than any count. And they were very successful in getting things done of their choice. The way they used the herbals then and now is really a wonder that they could pin point the value of each and every herbs that they found on the earth!

Tulsi, (Sacred or Holy Basil or Osmium Basilicum) a commonly available plant has a very high rich medicinal value. For normal cold and cough it is used as a home remedy, even to treat a new born child. It has no side effects. Thulsi (Tulsi) is a non poisonous and very commonly available throughout India. There are two verities; one black Tulsi and the other white. Black variety is generally used for medicinal purposes and the white one is used at all Temples and prayer halls for distribution. For effective natural contraceptive, Black Thulsi leaves are consumed raw. Minimum intake of twenty to twenty five Tulsi (Thulsi) leaves a day, gives a very effective contraception.

For any one who wants to postpone conceiving, they have to intake at least 20 Tulsi  (Thulasi) leaves every day in the morning. If the couples takes this for consecutive 3 to 4 months, that too regularly without any interval, then the conceiving probability is almost reduced or NIL. To gain more effectiveness, one has to take it in the empty stomach. If continued for 6 months, then at least for next 12 to 18 months a woman never conceives.

This is a natural contraceptive available and very cost effective. Further more there is no risk of any side effects or slow poisoning. In addition, the essence of this plant Tulsi (Thulsi, Tulsi  or Holy Basil) increases the blood circulation and also function as an antibiotic, in a natural way!

Hence I strongly recommend this method for those who want to plan their family way of life, without using the chemical combinations and oral pills. There are many more suggestions given in the Indian Scripts about this subject. Any one who needs information on these may contact me for details.

Now for the practical purposes I just give below the best period for a women to conceive. If you are planning for a child and to conceive in a very positive way, apart from the above notes, you must follow the guidance of the Medically Proven methods also. From the 7th day of a women’s menstrual course till the 15th day the chances are very bright for conceiving.

From the 15th to 22nd day from one’s MC period, the chances are very lean and later till the next cycle course it is called safe period when 99% chances of not conceiving. For child birth and normal delivery, a woman must be active all along from the day of conceiving and to take more calcium in her daily food. This prevents miscarriage and give good strength and vigor to the women and the conceived child too. Please read the article on Seemandham in the other page of this site, where care to be taken during pregnancy is listed.

This is not concluded. You will get more with supportive contents. Please visit again to check.

Oooops! Did you expect me to Dance? Hmmm.. I am already dancing, like every one, to the Almighty’s tunes in my life. 

That’s enough. Why exert more. Can’t sweat out any more. It’s my name that Dances, no, not me dancing here.

Howazzit, my dance?

Sighhh….it is really boring.

Now let me check with him… did you like my dancing??

Hhmmm, he too says, a flat “NO”.

Mr. Iyengar, I dance better than you!

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana !

Divorce? Should one go for it at the first place?

Think twice before you meet your lawyer!

Marriage, a thousands of year affair, with good progeny and a healthy generation to continue has now reduced to shameless act of divorce. In many cases, the give and take policy in day to day life is becoming one sided affair, only take and no return. This can safely be said in the case of both partners. Moreover, the freedom given to the younger generations from the childhood days are, in many cases misused to find their own way, rather than accepting the traditional way of finding a partner. In some cases, the marriages are fixed by the younger, then approved by their parents! This is in contrast to the traditional way, where elders decide on this matter. Just because they were brought up in an atmosphere and circumstances, where the traditional values are forgotten. Nevertheless, parents themselves are to be blamed in many cases, as they did not bring them up within their fold and never thought of teaching them the values and ethos of our own culture. Ego and personality clashes, differences in personal nature that causes the splits rather than accepting and adjusting to the reality; not giving any value to the progeny and future generation thoughts. Though one might think this for the Indian community, I am placing it here for entire human community that has some or other interest in the future of the society in general and the world we create and leave for the rest. In all my researches within educated community, what I found is, the most astonishing factors that I list below:

1. Economic freedom, independence and employment opportunity with higher pay slab causes to gain upper-hand; the trend is mostly reversing the home maker status is now to be the other way round, if not sharing the burden.

2. Many feels, settling in overseas, mainly in the US of A with a green card is sole concern and for this sake, they do not mind cheating! By hooch or crook, their interest is to land and avail the card. Then the drama unfolds. I am telling this fact, that even among the boys are it is their dream.

3. If born and brought up in a high rich families, these trends are some how escapes; the middle class families dreams are too high to state here. But the lower middle and economically lower families are some how coping with the situations to stick together, rather than going for a divorce.

3. Parting and divorcing has become a norm with some elite families that I observed all along. May be, they think it is a kind of social strata that they choose or ignore the values to their personal benefits.

4. I know a family in the US, whose wife deserted her husband after 17 years of living with him; that too having two grown up children, now with their father. She just left only to get more rich and married an American willingly! Leaving behind her own issues, a boy of 14 years and a girl of 16 years. Just for sheer luxury life style. I am worried, where these sort of marriages will lead them to. It is a shame to the humankind that for sheer lust for money, luxury and comforts they sacrifice ethical values and break the bondage.

In some cases, when the divorce take place after bearing one or two issues, the worst sufferers are the kids; socially, psychologically and mentally, they are confined to some worst but avoidable situations. No one can imagine or compensate the losses they face in life; no one can feel their pain, excepting such sufferers themselves. It is an undeniable fact – the divorcees-in-wait, should give merit to this specific aspect.

Now, let us see how we can avoid these social evil that is prevalent not only in the developed nations but also in the Eastern countries, where such break in marriage was unheard once and the married life for so sacred for them to split. In the Indian sub-continent, once the order was to select a suitable alliance by the parents; then the marriage takes place with lots of fanfare, pomp and celebrations and the witnesses of all the close relatives, near and dear are present. The marriages has one aim, bondage for lifetime! Lover each other from then on. Wherein, now a days they love each other, arrange the marriage through parents despite not knowing the implications or about the future and that breaks when the point of disagreement begins show its face. Though the Indian marriage conditions are albeit different from the western culture, I put it here for every one to think on these lines for creating a better, peaceful and happy worthy generations in the future to come.

Only an unshakable faith in unity can clear the air. An in depth understanding of each others needs, character, behavior pattern and the mutual tolerance capacity that should be be judged by each other before they come to the nuances of the alliance. By which time a year or more passes and they get a fine opportunity to develop and evolve a co-operative system, thus preventing any break in their wedded life. When at times the understanding fails, then the elders used to interfere to pacify the couple. If that too fails, then keep them separated for a specific period and counsel them in private with all the sorts of examples and exceptions. This period allows them to munch their thoughts of the facts and by then their anger is vented out to accept the reality.

The other sort of counseling through astrologers, seers and Gurus of their family did help a lot! Yes, when the family members words no longer taken by the couple, then they take chance with every available alternate mode to keep them united. And the social stigma attached to the separated couple did cause some uneasiness with both, thus mending their way for re-union of the couples and continue with their bondage. In fact, most of the joint family system that prevailed in those days, never saw any such rift taking them for divorce. It was the elders in the family to interfere and pacify the warring couples to bring them on line; it was also a family prestige issue for them to bring the matter into public or litigation that saved the bondage. By the time these adjustments arrived, they get an issue to bring up, a child in the family would always help the family from breaking!

So when next time some one thinks of going for divorce, ask yourself – what sort of society you live in and what sort of society you are going to create by this divorce. Suppose, if you remarry what if you get a worst than the first alliance? (This is what I got the answer from many, who remarried, had to say that their earlier marriage was good to some extent, when they compare the present!)

Whether it is for the wife or husband; take a cue from her/him – don’t force your ideas or thoughts to other but say politely what the benefit or loss by making such an idea. Try to listen, your better half may even have some sound and valid reasons for his/her ideas. One can really understand these when they involve in love to each other; otherwise, every word here is a waste. Though, I have a lot more to add here, I would like to get the response from concerned individuals before I proceed further. Whether it is received in good taste or otherwise, I welcome the comments, suggestions and criticism as well on this subject. Think twice before you meet your lawyer, whether it is really a necessary to go for a divorce ?

Note: You can contact me with your problems – with your family details and horoscope if you can prevent/avoid such an occurrence in your own family – if and when such a talk on divorce arises. Free counseling and consultation on your own/your partner’s birth chart is given for the needy, but with prior appointment only.

Rangoli Known As Kolam in Tamil. A few Drawing Sketches

Kolam – An Artistic View at your Home Entrance

Kolam – meaning: A decorative appearance, Beauty

TRS Iyengar

In Tamilnadu, one would find a finest drawn and artistic drawing decorating every house at the front entrance. These drawings are not just merely a decoration, but it has lot more significance  to this practice. During festival seasons and on any auspicious functions, the drawing are drawn still larger even extending up to the street! A classic example can be noted from these, a woman’s creative at it’s best, talent to make it an even more attractive. There is also a competition amongst the neighbors, who draws a finest one! These artistic kolam drawings also an impressive of positive attitude one provides. Every home with happy mood and positive attitude used to draw such fine kolams. Only when there is a death or grief, then it would totally be absent at their homes.

In the olden days, they used pure rice flour to draw such art. It was a kind of feeding the insects, specially the ants of all sorts, that will get its days food from these drawings. Thus, they prevented these ants from entering their home. These sort of drawings also proved the talent and creative imaginations of the house ladies. Oh, while they drew these Kolam, they used bend their body physically which prevented growing pot belly!. Yes, this also worked as a physical exercise for them and gave ample scopes to maintain their fitness as this exercise being a regular routine. It also reflected on a woman’s nature, her recording patience, creative values, changing mood elevations! Yes, these are too small to judge at the first look, but surely holds a high esteem of the person who draws the Kolam every day at her front door outskirts. Only an experienced person on such psychology and sociology can spot the difference! 

This Kolam also an impressive mood analyzer of a woman, who does all the chores of their house hold routines. These drawings would be absent only at the homes, where some one has passed away; they used to mourn for one full year for the departed soul, and the absent of such artistic Kolam would be an indication for a visitors.

If some family is out of station for quite some times, then these marking Kolams would be absent. The thieves used to notice this to enter such homes to steel the valuables. So, when such drawings of “Kolam” is present, even the thieves too would desist from entering such homes. To avoid such occurrences, the neighbors used draw some sort of Kolam at the home entrance of the absentees home. Thus, strengthening the bondage of neighbor-hood.

Apart from the above facts, it is widely believed that Sri Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth resides at the homes where such Kolam art is present every day. Since this is a routine change that take place every day; before drawing these artistic Kolam, they used to cleanse the place with a mixture of Cow dung and water, sprinkle it at the place where they used to put the Kolam drawings. This is in a way acted as an anti-bacterial agent. Though this practice is not continued in big towns and cities, one can see it in the remote villages and interior places. This practice is more visible during the festive season and specifically during 15th December to 15th January every year. The period is known as Dhanur month and is the fag end of the night time for the Brahmma Logam. On or about 15th January, the Sun enters into Tropical Capricorn which is known as Makara Sankaranthi in northern part of India and Pongal in Tamilnadu. This specific season, the Kolams are largely visible at every house hold, shed and shelters. There is surely another reason for drawing such larger artistic Rangoli kolam on these days. When the star Sun transits through tropical Capricorn, there are lots of changes taking place, viz. magnetical, tropical, climatic and many other changes that are unknown to the humans naked eye. Yesteryear persons knew, if not exactly all, at least a few; these knowledge made them to capture the available natural gifts in an useful method, namely Yantra form! Yes, these artistic Kolams are referred to as Yantra in a meaningful way. Such a Yantra display in an artistic way  in the front entrance of their home, these Kolam helped them to get some sort of positive energy, not only to the person who draws it but also the entire family. Though there is a specific method and system existed in drawing such Kolams, that too with pure rice flour, these are a forgotten issue nowadays!

A few sketches of such drawings are given below in image format, for you to treat your eyes. These images are the properties from the blog at the URL: http://kaleido-kolangal.blogspot.com and I admire the mother who has given these beautiful art to the next generation.

On her younger son’s Upanayanam day, my elder sister drew this Kolam at the front door entrance, which was appreciated by one and all. Date: 29.06.2011 at Ambattur, Chennai.	This is by my elder sister during her son’s upanayanam on 29th June 2011.

Sex, Religion, Realities, Yoga & Experience!

I reproduce an article which is authored by Mr.  Parveen Chopra, and posted at : http://www.youbeyondyou.com/displayarticle6.html . Here it is, for your thought & pleasure. –  TRS Iyengar


Long seen as the enemy of the spirit, sex is now being used as its ally

Sexuality: A few years ago I attended a grueling 10-day vipassana camp. A few days into the course and I started having unusually erotic dreams at night. It was disconcerting, to say the least. What could be the provocation when I was sitting in meditation practically all day? On the tenth day of the course, when we broke the silence, I overheard a group of boys talking animatedly about erotic dreams.

I sought out an explanation from the course supervisor. He said it was not unusual in vipassana camps. Since deep and extensive cleansing takes place during the course some deep-rooted vasanas and sanskaras, long buried in the unconscious and subconscious, come to the surface and get released. Repressed sexual desires are naturally deeply embedded in the psyche and cleansing process triggered by intense meditation manifests as erotic dreams.

This was a very intimate first-hand experience of the somewhat fuzzy relationship between sex and spirituality.

We may be unclear about the exact nature of the relationship between the so-called most base and the highest drive in human beings. But there is no doubt about the link, going by the strident pronouncements of the two hostile camps down history. Trantric and latter day libertarian seekers insist that without sexual yoga you cannot attain enlightenment. On the other hand, the sadhus and swamis and monks and priests have always argued that without celibacy you may as well forget about spiritual growth.

Freud onwards, psychology has also conceded that the sexual drive or energy can be sublimated into higher avenues such as art and spirituality. “The elements of the sexual instinct are characterized by a capacity for sublimation, for changing their sexual aim into another of a different kind and socially more worthy. To the sum of energies thus gained for our psychological productions we probably owe the highest results of our culture,” he wrote.

Taking a different tack, psychologist Erich Fromm wrote in The Art of Loving that the basis for our need to love lies in the experience of separateness and the resulting need to overcome the anxiety of separateness by the experience of union. In its deepest meaning, then, love/sex becomes spiritual. The stories of legendary Indian lovers are a case in point. Majnu’s love and intensity of desire to be united with Laila is so exalted that it becomes spiritual. Laila substitutes for God as an object of worship.

Now, one new factor in sex-spirituality equation is that the shame and guilt associated with sex is all but gone. There is more permissiveness. We are bombarded with sexual content from print and advertisement media, TV channels, the Net. All this makes people wonder that there must be more to it than we are getting. In the western world, this has sent many unfulfilled people on a wild goose chase for super sex. Still others are queuing up for workshops on Tantra for both sexual fulfillment and spiritual growth. In fact, Dorothy Scaly, an American now based in Delhi, reports that in the USA, the most sought after New Age workshops these days are on Tantra. Whether they are the genuine item or just provide titillation is another story.

The common Indian, however, may still be suffering from the classic Portnoy’s Complaint: not getting enough sex-except in marriage. Most of us do grow out of guilt and shame associated with sex, but the question pops up again when we start treading the spiritual path. Is it okay? How much is okay? So, we come back to square one.

But first let’s understand and accept that sex is a very powerful drive. Speaking from his 12 years of teaching, American guru Andrew Cohen states that for most spiritual seeker today, “sex is more important than God”. He might as well have included some well-known spiritual gurus: every year a new scandal breaks out in an ashram somewhere, where the supposedly celibate guru gets charged with sexual misconduct and sexual harassment of female disciples.

Now married, to an Indian, Cohen talks candidly about the earlier period when he would get disturbed by the sexual urge: “I knew little in relationship to this at times overpowering force that could rise out of nowhere and completely capture my attention.” He insists that it is always a mistake to underestimate the overwhelming power to create delusion that the sexual instinct possesses.

As his spiritual yearning grew, Cohen began to find the romantic/sexual experience to be “an annoying distraction,” and the less interested he became in ” bearing the emotional intensity and personal focus” that the romantic/sexual drama almost always involves. From experience, he found that the enticing promise that the sexual/romantic impulse always offered was rarely fulfilled. And even when it was, even that proved to be a distraction from the longing for spiritual union.

It is perhaps to conserve energy spent on the sexual/romantic drama that gurus such a Maharishi Mahesh Yogi recommend that their followers either get married or remain celibate. On the other hand, Aurobindo ites say that the Mother discouraged marriage, not because she was anti-sex, but because she believed that a true marriage of the minds needs no social bond and in marriage the sacred bond is invariably violated.

Let us now hear the arguments forwarded in support of celibacy. Swami Chidananda, 84, the revered president of the Divine Life Society, gives the traditional argument cogently. He says: ” Brahmacharya, or celibacy, is a rational process of preserving and conserving precious energy so that it can be utilized in other very essential and indispensable functions. And if it is preserved like this, it can be converted, just as tangible, gross water is converted into subtle steam. Then it can do wonders.”

Sexuality But what is the origin, the source, of this energy? Swami Chidananda refers to the familiar findings of modern physicists that what exists in nature is not palpable or solid matter as such. It is energy. “Our ancients have said that it is this same cosmic energy that is present in living beings as the sex force. So Hindus regarded this energy as sacred, something that is worthy of being worshipped, not frittered away.”

Swami Chidananda is all for transmuting the sexual into the spiritual since the same vital energy, prana, is at work in both. “Any sense activity or sense experience consumes a lot of prana. The highest of all goals in human life, spiritual attainment, requires the maximum available pranic energy on all levels:
mental, intellectual and emotional. Celibacy or brahmacharya ensures that an abundance of pranic energy is available to the seeker.

Modern-day sexologists laugh at the traditional Indian idea of conserving bindu (semen, sexual energy), saying that it is an affluent that will find its way out. But just like modern medicine keeps revising its theories, this may not be the final word on the subject either. And even a dimwitted person will tell you that sex works on many planes.

Incidentally, more than Hinduism, the Buddha put much emphasis on celibacy for monks. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, 70, a renowned Buddhist scholar based in the USA, explains the reason thus in Andrew Cohen’s What is Enlightenment? magazine: “Because those who want to attain liberation from dukka, suffering, have to observe certain principles. Because if they are engaged in all kinds of sexual activities, they will be engrossed in various types of problems related to sex. Also, those who are interested in the monastic life want to live a very simple life-because in the final analysis, it is only when we get rid of our greed, lust and craving that we can liberate ourselves from suffering. You see, if our intention is to get rid of suffering, then we have to get rid of cause of suffering, and lust is definitely the cause of suffering.”

Unlike Chidananda, Gunaratana’s argument is not that celibacy conserves energy. He happens to concur with Cohen: “Because as long as you are in sexual activity, your mind will be cluttered, clouded and confused and you will get involved in jealousy, fear, hatred, tension and so forth-all the worries that arise from lust.” Yet, he says that the Buddha suggested that control and discipline of our senses should be done gradually, only through understanding, and not abruptly.

One religion that has almost converted the entire world to its conservative approach towards sex is Christianity. It all began with the idea of “original sin”. Margot Anand, tantric author and teacher, traces its roots to St Augustine, who was a very devout man, and who at a very early age wanted to become a priest. But he was also a very sexual being who had a lot of sexual energy. Throughout his adult life, he struggled without success to control his libido. Finally, he concluded that there was an element in us that predates the control that we can have through our mental and spiritual powers, and he called this “original sin”.

India wasn’t a sexually repressed society always. We became one under the influence of Buddhism and Jainism and later Islam and Christianity. Says Dr Shanshank Samak, an Indian sexologist: “Indians were the most sexually active people in the world. The Kamasutra was astonishingly liberal and men and women were equal participants in the sexual act. Sex was very creative, not only from the procreation point of view but recreation as well. It was not something to be done away with but an event to be celebrated, a road which led to ecstasy and finally nirvana for both the participants.” Maithunam paramam tatvam, shrushti stithi anya karanam..(Coitus is the ultimate principle behind creation, reservation and destruction of the Universe), said Lord Shiva in the Kailas Tantra.

Dr. Prakash Kothari, eminent Mumbai sexologist, however says that Indian shastras held both abstinence and Tantra as valid ways for achieving nirvana. Tantra recommends indulgence to such an extent that you have no further desires left. Now, this path is fraught with danger. It is for the brave and the resolute because you have a high probability of sinking deeper into the quagmire instead of rising above it. I’ve known a few Oshoites who tried this route at the Osho Commune in the ’70s and the ’80s when the place was more permissive. They had fun but were none the wiser for it.

“Hindu philosophy is holistic, all-embracing as it speaks of four purusharthas: dharma, artha, kama and moksha. Kama means desire, primarily sexual desire,” says Kothari. “Thus the path to moksha or liberation is through the experience of kama. In the tenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says: “I’m omnipresent but in the human body. I take the form of desire, particularly sexual desire.”

Chaturvedi Badrinath, an Indian journalist who specializes in spiritual/religious writing, adds: “The major Upanishads consider the human body, of man and woman, with all its innate attributes, physical and psychological, as sacred. This is a matter not of attitude but of acknowledgment that the clearer the awareness of the sacredness of the physical, the more heightened will be the sexual pleasure. There is absolutely no doubt that vairagya (asceticism) was a product of fear-the fear of life in which fear of sex became the most dominant fear. It became a denial of the body and its natural pleasures, of personal ties and their comfort, of social relations and their security. Before the Buddha there had been in the Upanishads a turning away from senseless asceticism. And yet, the ascetic, by whatever name called, remained at all times of Indian history a visible presence.”

What’s special about Hinduism is that both extreme asceticism and Tantra flourished here. Tantra was later co-opted by some branches of Buddhism, particularly in Tibet. While Tantra has mystical, philosophical, and religious aspects, it is, above all, a technique of action-a physical, mental and spiritual discipline that incorporates meditation, yoga, and sacramental worship in the very widest sense of that phrase. All the actions, which sometimes are socially unacceptable, undertaken by a practitioner of Tantra are means to the same end: the transformation of the individual, his or her rebirth to a new existence on every
level of consciousness.

Badrinath explains: “The force of sex can be transmuted into the highest form of spiritual energy. That can be done neither by confining sexuality within an arbitrary social order, nor by renouncing it, but by utmost submission to it. The cosmic energy stored in human sexuality can be released into human consciousness. But not before sex has been perceived, and worshipped, as the primal force, Shakti.”

According to Dr Rajan Bhonsle, Indian sex and marriage counselor and therapist, sex transcendence should happen in the natural course of events. “Trantric philosophy holds that sexually man is required to move through four stages. These are auto sexuality (age 0-7), homosexuality (age 7-14), heterosexuality (age 14-42) and asexuality from then onwards. Unlike physical aging, the sexual stages depend upon us, but this is the pattern that nature wanted to follow. At 42, man’s obsession for sex will leave him. He may still have sex but he will be detached. He will have attained a natural celibacy. At this stage his spiritual attainment too, will reach its climax, because he is evolved in every way.”

The basic belief of Buddhist Tantra, according to Miranda Shaw, American Tantric scholar, is that in order to attain full enlightenment you have to release the energy of your heart. She writes: “Some of the Tantric pioneers felt that a celibate lifestyle did not, in fact represent a mastery of one’s sexuality, but rather a repression of and even a flight in fear from one’s sexuality. There is a Tantric teaching to the effect that without the practice of sexual union and without integrating one’s energies at that level, it is impossible to attain enlightenment in the present lifetime.”

A Tantric text, quoted in Shaw’s book, goes so far as to state that even the Buddha did not, in fact, attain enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, as is commonly believed, but while practicing sexual yoga in the palace with his wife. Then he renounced his kingdom, became a homeless wanderer and did years of austere
practices in order to draw people, who would be inspired by renunciation and who are in fact destined to follow a path of renunciation, to the spiritual path.

Margot Anand, who teaches Sky Dancing Tantra, a system combining elements of Tantra and modern psychology, explains that the spiritual orgasm given by Tantra leads to enlightenment: “Tantra is an activation of all our energies. And by channeling the sexual energies through the various charkas, you can reach levels of ecstasy, states of merging an session through your partner with the divine that are so powerful that I would certainly say that Tantra is a shortcut.”

Margot, with her best selling books, The Art of Sexual Ecstasy and The Art of Sexual Magic, was a pioneer in bringing Tantric practices to the West. Since she began teaching in the 1970s, hundreds of books, workshops and videos on Tantra have sprung up in the USA. Margot has led workshops at the Osho Commune in Pune also. In The Art of Sexual Ecstasy, she describes the pinnacle of Tantric practice as the “orgasm of the brain”. This experience, she writes, “creates a bridge between the left and right hemispheres, fusing the intellect of the left hemisphere with the intuitive faculties of the right. It is this fusion that creates the experience of ecstasy, in which body, mind, heart and spirit all participate.” And in The Art of Sexual Magic, she writes: “In deep sexual embrace, the mind stops. Quite literally, you “***** your brains out.” Your consciousness becomes clear, innocent, fresh.” As a guide to attaining these ecstatic states, Anand provides an extensive (and explicit) manual of exotic sexual practices.

Margot has coined the term High Sex, which she defines thus: “High Sex takes the experience of orgasm to a new dimension-a dimension in which genital orgasm is only the beginning. It inspires you to explore the full capacity of orgasm. Culminating in ecstatic body-to-body and soul-to-soul communion. It is an experience to the whole body, the whole being.”

All credit goes to Margot’s master, Osho, for bringing the sex-vs-spirituality controversy center stage in our time with his runaway book From Sex to Super consciousness. He propounded the view that orgasm is a mini and temporary samadhi. It can transport you to a state of rapture. The mind becomes devoid of thought, the egocentric view of life disappears and we step outside of time into the timeless a ‘now’ of bliss. Very much like samadhi or pure consciousness. This line of thinking was so revolutionary for his time tat he attracted a lot of flak and notoriety.

The fundamental view pervading the contemporary spiritual scene seems to be that sex, long seen as the enemy of the spirit, is actually its ally, or can be made to act like one. This sex-positive spiritual view holds that to truly become whole, we must liberate our sexuality from the chains of guilt, shame and repression, and allow it to find full expression as a natural, healthy and even sacred part of life.

This belief has become so widespread that today the spiritual practice of celibacy-considered for millennia to be a profound, powerful and even crucial aspect of spiritual life by Christians, Buddhists and Hindus alike-seems to have all but fallen by the wayside. The modern consensus seems to be that in a psychologically enlightened culture such as ours, celibacy no longer has much relevance. But the need of the hour is sacralizing sex. It is becoming too mater of fact, almost like an itch that needs to be scratched. The mystery is gone.

The views of many Indians are heartening though. Says Vikas Malkani, an Indian spiritual guide and author: “Making love can become a giving, expressing, selfless act, which is a form of prayer in itself. Through the body, the hearts are touched; the emotions opened, needs and desire expressed, fears released, security given and souls merged. Through the act of physical sharing, God is revered and remembered. Making love goes from the physical to the emotional and finally to spiritual level where it becomes a prayer to the Divine.”

Santosh Sachdeva, a Mumbai businesswoman who has been blessed with some advanced spiritual experiences which she has just published in book form, almost seems to endorse Malkani’s statements: “In my meditation, I saw consciousness dividing itself into the male and female principle. The left side was the female and the right side was the male. The coming together of the male and female is the source of all creation. Everything comes through that. We have so many inhibitions about sex, perhaps understandably so, but ultimately, it is nothing but creation manifesting itself.”

The final word goes to Osho: not from sex to super consciousness, sex is super consciousness. There is no higher, no lower.

Chinese method for gender selection.

  For Gender Selection – PART II –  Baby Boy or Baby Girl? 

by TRS Iyengar

Here is the suggestion.

How & When to conceive? – You can predict your baby’s gender, just by the following Table of Chinese method. 

For ancient Indian – Hindu Vedic Astrology based Gender Selection, please click here

Following is a chart  of Chinese origin. This chart provides with a choice in conceiving of a boy or girl. Many of my friends who found some accuracy in this chart and are happy with the results. There were some failures too! For the benefit of Newly wed couples I provide this for them to plan their family way of life.

Note :  FF stands for female child and MM stands for male child.

Example : If a woman of 18 years conceives during 15thJanuary/14th February, then she delivers a baby Girl. If the same age woman conceives in the month of 15th February/14th March then it is a male child.

Likewise, if a woman of 36 years of age conceives in the month of 15th January14th Feb., then it is a female child and if the same woman conceives in the months of 15th February/14th March  or 15th March/14th April,  then she delivers a male child. You can calculate and plan so on.

This chart provides results for women from the age of 18 up to 44 years only. You may try your luck! All the best.

NOTE :-1.

Chinese calendar varies from other Universal Calendar viz : Jan- Dec. Hence suitably modified.  Age should always be taken as fully completed years and not running year. This is a must to get good result.

—————————————————————————————————-

Disclaimer:

The author does not hold responsibility for any failures arising by using the above chart. Though, practically many known persons benefited and found the result are to maximum extent correct, sometimes the genetical factor may imbalance this method which I feel, around 15-20% percent.

TRS Iyengar

The Botanical name of Tulsi is Ocimum tenuiflorum (commonly known as Holy basil in English, Thiruthuzhai in Tamil and Tulasi or Tulsi in Sanskrit); this plant is a close cousin of the Thai Basil. It is a well known natural aromatic plant in the family of Lamiaceae. Apart from its culinary uses, for which it is known across the world, it is also used as a medicinal plant, and has an important role within many traditions of Srivaishnavites and also generally with every Hindu Household. Every Vishnu devotee performs worship using Tulasi  leaves. Native to India, it is a short lived perennial herbal, grown at most Hindu homes. The foliage is green or purple, strongly scented. Leaves have petioles, and are ovate, up to 5cm long, usually somewhat toothed. Flowers are white, tinged purple, borne in racemes. There is also some confusion among the users, that Thai basil is mistakenly sold as Sacred basil. The fact is, the Sacred Holy basil – The Tulsi is little hairy wherein Thai Basil is smooth and hairless and slightly different in its color. Also, the Sacred or Holy basil has an aromatic scent and spicy flavour, which is not so with its cousin Thai Basil.

Thulsi or Tulsi, a common household name to millions of Indian & Hindus Thulsi (Tulsi) is the ultimate symbol of purity. The only one word, yes  – Thulsi (Tulsi) is referred to, in all Indian languages, (Ocimum sp. or Ocimum Sanctum) known as Holy Basil. The only exception is in Tamil, {Though every Tamilian knows it as Thulsi (Tulsi)}. wherein Sri Andal refers to Thulsi or Tulsi as “Natrathuzhai” meaning as a scented beautiful smelly Holy Basil.!  For all Srivaishnavas,  Thulasi (Tulsi) is known as Thiruthuzhai.  Every Hindu is well aware of this plant and knows its value too!

What Rg Veda, Charaka Samhita state about Holy or Sacred basil – Tulasi

Known as Tulasi (alternate spelling Tulsi) in India it is an important religious symbol in many Hindu traditions that link the plant with the Goddess figure described in the ancient scripts known as Purana. The name “Tulasi” in Sanskrit literally means “the incomparable one”. The Tulasi plant is known in India is available and grown in two forms viz. dark Krishna or Shyama Tulsi and White or light green known as Rama Tulasi or White Tulsi. Though both the Tulsi plant possess a lot of medicinal value, the former has greater medicinal value and is commonly worshipped by Hindus.

In India, that is Bharat, from time immemorial, Tulasi has been known and worshiped and used as a prime herb in Indian Medicine known as Dhanvantri and Ayurvedic medicines. It is also used as home remedy for  treating commonly known ailments and used mainly for its diverse healing properties. The Charaka Samhita  – a nodal Ayurvedic script and The Rg-Veda,  both mentions Tulsi as a life saving one herb which contains a kind of ‘elixer of life’ and promotes longevity.

Quite apart from its medicinal values, in all the Sri Vaishnava & Sri Mahavishnu Temples, this Holy basil known as Thulsi (Tulsi) is given as prasadam to the devotees. For Lord Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha and Sri Hanuman, garlands made of Thulsi are offered. 

In the ancient medical scripts, such as Padaartha Guna Chinthamani, Agasthiyar Kural. Dhanvantri, Sushrutha Samhita, Charaka Samhita, Ashtangahridya, etc., the medicinal values and qualities are mentioned. Even today, Thulsi (Tulsi) is  used as a traditional medicine as an integral part of household medicine. Even to treat a new born child, they administer the essence of Thulsi (Tulsi) and this practice persists to this day in most Indian homes.

A number of passages in the ancient scripts known as Puranas and other Vedic scriptures, that state to the importance of tulsi within religious worship. Tulasi is regarded as Lakshmi (The Goddess of Wealth) – a consort of Sri Maha Vishnu. A garland of tulasi leaves is the first offering to the Lord, in many Srivaishnavite Temples, as part of the daily ritual. Tulsi is accorded the sixth place among the eight objects of worship in the ritual of the consecration of the Kumb or Kalasa, a copper vessel, the container of holy water.

According to one story, Tulasi was a servant (known as Gopi) who fell in love with Lord Sri Krishna and so had a curse laid on her by His consort Radha. She is very dear to Vishnu. Tulsi is also mentioned in the stories of Mira and Radha immortalised in Gita Govinda (by Shri Jayadeva). One story has it that when Krishna was weighed in gold, not even all the ornaments of His consort Sathyabhama could outweigh Him. But a single tulsi leaf placed on one side by his another consort Rukmini tilted the scale.

Tulsi is ceremonially married to Vishnu annually on the eleventh bright day of the month of Karthika in the Luni/Solar Calander. This festival continues for five days and concludes on the full moon day, which falls in mid-October. This ritual, called the “Tulsi Vivaha”, inaugurates the annual marriage season in most parts of India.

In the Christians traditions, it is said that Tulsi grew around the place of Crucifixion.. Tulasi is also has a mention in the Shiite writings.

Tulsi/Thulasi (Thulsi) is the cure for cardiac disorders, diabetes, stress, Cholesterol control, smooth muscle relaxant, Anti-microbial agent, reduces primary urinary track infection. It is also believed that regular consumption of Tulsi leaves shorten the course of illness and also sharpens the memory. In addition, it also protects the surrounding from the hazardous Ultra-Violet rays. Researches has proved that the Thulsi Plant has the capacity to emit ozone along with oxygen thus reducing the air pollution.

Usage of Tulasi as an Ayurvedic medicine

Tulasi’s extracts are used in ayurvedic remedies for common colds, headaches, stomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning, and malaria. Traditionally, tulasi is taken in many forms: as an herbal tea, dried powder, fresh leaf, or mixed with Honey or Ghee. Essential oil extracted from Karpoora Tulsi is mostly used for medicinal purposes and in herbal toiletry. For centuries, the dried leaves of Tulasi have been mixed with stored grains to repel insects.

Many research and studies suggest that Tulasi may be a COX-2 inhibitor, like many modern painkillers, due to its significant amount of eugenol (1 – hydroxygen, 2 – methoxy – 4 -allylbenzene) Researches also give Tulsi to be effective for diabetes, by reducing blood glucose levels. The same study showed significant reduction in total cholesterol levels with Tulsi. Another study showed that Tulsi’s beneficial effect on blood glucose levels is due to its antioxidant properties.

Tulasi also shows some promise for protection from radiation poisoning and cataracts. The use of Tulsi for purification and as a medicine is widespread household medicine throughout India. Many Hindus — along with the ancient tradition of Ayurveda — believe that the healing properties of sacred herbs such as Tulsi were given by the Lord Himself, and can be used as a medicine out of reverence.  

The other Medicinal usages of Tulsi as home remedies are listed below:

•  Tulasi leaves contains ‘adaptinogen’ an anti stress agent and also used as mosquito repellant; its medicinal properties and uses are listed below:
•  Tulsi is used in treating common cold ,cough and sore throat including asthama,bronchitis and othe respiratory disorders.
•  It is an anti-malarial agent and extracts of tulasi leaves prove very effective in repelling malaria causing mosquito. Its known to be propylactic, prevents insect bites through its larvicidal properties.
•  Used for treating Kidney stones; the juice of Tulasi along with honey relieves pain and flushes stones via urinary tracts.
•  Proven to be an effective anti allergen
•  Can also be given to children while treating common colds & cough, used to treat skin, teeth and even eye disorders
•  An anti -infertile agent it is an effective medicine both for males and females suffering from infertility- thats why women are found encircling
  it daily (?) If excessively taken, say around 20 leaves a day, regularly for 96 days, then the same becomes contraceptive, and chances of one getting conceived during these days are minimum.
•  It has anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti diabetic properties. That’s why, most of the herbal healing powders are added with Tulsi.

Tulsi can help keep swine flu away: Ayurvedic experts.

 Wonder herb Thulsi can not only keep the dreaded swine flu at bay but also help in fast recovery of an afflicted person, Ayurvedic practitioners claim.

“The anti-flu property of Tulasi has been discovered by medical experts across the world quite recently. Tulsi improves the body’s overall defence mechanism including its ability to fight viral diseases. It was successfully used in combating Japanese Encephalitis and the same theory applies to swine flu,”  many herbal medicine practitioners believe.

Because of its immunizing properties, apart from acting as a preventive medicine in case of swine flu, Tulsi can help the patient recover faster.

“Even when a person has already contracted swine flu, Tulsi can help in speeding up the recovery process and also help in strengthening the immune system of the body,” the herbal therapists claim.

According to Dr Bhupesh Patel, (a lecturer at Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar) is also of the view that Tulsi can play an important role in controlling swine flu. “Tulsi can control swine flu and it should be taken in fresh form. Juice or paste of at least 20-25 medium sized leaves should be consumed twice a day on an empty stomach.” This increases the resistance of the body and, thereby, reduces the chances of inviting swine flu,” believes Dr. Patel.

Thulsi or Tulsi just cannot be plucked simply from the plant. There is a specific slokha that is to be recited and only after offering the prayer one can take the leaves, and that too, one should not use his/her nails to cut the leaves. For the benefit of the readers, I give below the slokha in image format, in Sanskrit, Tamil and the rough phonetic English verse:

Thulasi amrudajanmaasi sadaa Dwam Kesavapriye |

Kesavaarththam lunaami Dwaam varadhaa bhava shobane ||

Thulasi Sthuthi:

Tulasi s(h)ree sakhi subE pApahAriNim puNyadhe
NamasthE nAradanuthE namO nArAyaNa priye

துளஸி ஸ்ரீஸகி சுபே பாபஹாரிணிம் புண்யதே
நமஸ்தே நாரதனுதே நமோ நாராயணப்ரியே

तुलसी श्रीसकि शुभॆ पापहारिणीम् पुण्यते ।

नमस्तॆ नारनुडे नमॊ नारायणप्रियॆ ॥

Tulasi Vivaha or Marriage day of Tulasi:

A Tulasi plant decorated for worship, with fireworks display.

Followers of Hindu traditions often keep a Tulsi plant in front of their house. On a specific day each year known as ‘Kartik Shukla Dwadashi’ (usually or or about after a fortnight from Deepavali – Diwali) there is a tradition where Tulasi plants will be beautifully decorated with structures made of  small banana trees, Mango leave bunches and flowers and then  perform a Pooja  – a form of worship is offered.

As with Deepavali known in Northern part of India as Diwali celebrations, there are usually clay lamps lit around the Tulasi plant and the house. In some parts of India people will have also have fireworks displays to mark the occasion. In northern India and in Gaudiya Vaishnava communities it is called the ‘Tulsi vivah’ or the wedding day of Tulasi with Lord Sri  Krishna in his Sila form. There is another celebration called Tulsi Ekadashi where Tulasi is worshipped on the Ekadasi day.

Quotes from the Scripts that relates to Divine Tulasi :

“As by chanting the name of The Ganga (River Ganges), one becomes free from all kinds of worldly sins; if someone chants the name of Tulasi or chants the glories of Lord Sri Hari with devotion, he gets the same merit.” – Quote from The Naradiya Purana.

“Just by touching Tulsidevi one’s body becomes pure. By praying to her, all diseases practically become removed. If one waters her or makes her wet, the fear of Yama Dharma Raja (The death personified)  is destroyed.” – Tha Skanda Purana

“Tulasi is most beloved of Lord Krishna and thus her leaves and flowers are also most dear to Him.” – Srilasri Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswathi Thakura.

“Tulasi leaf is very, very dear to Lord Sri Mahavishnu ( Vishnu Tulasi Priyaa)  – Sri Bhativedanta Swami Prabhupada.

“Tulasi Daivam Mahathmeeyam” – Tulasi in Itself is God, and the values are innumerable by counts – St. Vyasa Maha Muni.

“Vishnu Tulasi Priya” –  Krishna Yajur Veda

Tulasi as a deity:

Tulsi as worshiped in deity form. The presence of a Tulsi plant in a home is considered as presence of Goddess Lakshmi herself; it symbolizes the religious bent of a Hindu family. In a Srivaishnavite household, it is considered incomplete if it doesn’t have a Tulasi plant. Many families have the Tulasi planted in a specially built structure, which has images of deities installed on all four sides, and an alcove for small earthen oil lamp. Some households can even have many plants and varities in their fore-house or at their verandah; affordable persons even cultivate it in their garden forming a “Tulsi-van” or “Tulsi-vrindavan” — a mini- basil garden.  

Places that tend to inspire concentration and places ideal for worship, according to the Gandharva tantra, include “grounds overgrown with Tulsi plants”. The Tulsi Manas Mandir at Varanasi is one such famous temple, where Tulasi is worshipped along with other devas (demi-gods/goddesses). Vaishnavites, or followers of Vishnu, revere the Tulasi leaf because it pleases Lord Sri Maha Vishnu the most and thus is as an inherent part of offerings of naivedyam and then offer these Tulsi to the devotees as Prasad. They also wear beaded necklaces made of Tulasi stems. The manufacture of these Tulasi necklaces is a cottage industry in places of pilgrimage spots and at most srivaishnav temple towns. The other names used by different sects of Srivaishnavas such as Gaudia, Chaitanya Sect are Vrindadevi, meaning ‘the goddess of Brindavan aka Vrindavan. Only Sri Andal, the Tamil poet considered as one of the Azhwars stated in Her pasurams Tulsi as “Thiruthuzai”.

Interestingly, the following bit of information was supplied to me via E-mail, by one Ms. Vani Pillai (16 Years) from Singapore. She is very much interested in knowing about Hindu cultural and systems. She surfed these pages in detail and sent in few questions which I answered.

———————————————————–

I read in a Tamil book, ” Arul Mikka Samaya Katturaikal”  the following information.

Scientists were trying to photograph the star, namely Thiruvatharai. However, since it is the star of the Shiva, it was fiery, and the shot would always be “burnt”. However, one German photographer, had the star in a clear shot. This happened when the thiruvonam star was facing the thiruvatarai star. Thus the Thiruvonam star had the calming effect.

Therefore, for Shiva , the vilvam leaf is offered which is cooling effect as he has a fiery star.

Therefore , for Thirumal (Sri Mahavishnu), the Tulsi leaf has the heating effect as he was a cooling star.

That’s why, it is not advised to present Tulsi (Thulsi) leaf to Shiva or vice versa.

It suits for every other religion too!

A Joke for all……brown cat dies, Hinduism/Srivaishnavam survives!

by TRS Iyengar

Once there was a Guru who taught prayer and methods from Vedic scriptures to a number of Students. The students were very obedient and never went against the Guru’s wishes. 

Every evening, the students would assemble in a Hall where the Guru would teach them the prayer versus and slokhas for them to learn. On one such evening, while the prayer class was on, a brown kitten entered the hall. The Guru immediately gave asylum to the kitten and since then the kitten started living in the Ashram. 

One fine evening, when the prayer class was about to start, the kitten started playing and thus diverted the students’ attention. So the Guru thought of putting an end to this menace and he told a disciple student to tie the kitten to a pillar in the prayer hall, for which he handed a red silk ribbon which was used to tie the Vedic scripts and manuals. Also, the Guru instructed the student to tie the brown cat to the pillar in the prayer hall, every evening before start of the prayer and to free it only after the prayer class was over. This he thought, would stop the cat from playing around while the prayer class was on. 

This practice was continued everyday for a long time, prior to start of the prayer a student used to tie the brown cat in the pillar. One day, the cat died, and the worried students, went in search for another brown cat and found one to tie in the prayer hall. The Guru was unaware of this and kept on teaching the students. 

After a few years, the Guru too passed away. Then a new person took over as Guru of the Ashram and he too allowed the students to tie the brown cat to the pillar of the prayer hall, without knowing the reason, nor did he check with anybody about this practice. 

Days passed on, many students had come and gone as also many Gurus changed. However, the practice of tying a brown cat in the prayer hall continued, no one knowing the reason nor did anyone bother to check.

After a few generations, a gentleman came forward to write the history of the Ashram in details and wrote everything in praise of the Ashram. The concluding note read:

“The evening prayer of this Ashram is a very typical one, IT IS A MUST to tie a brown cat in the prayer hall, with a Red color Ribbon before the start of daily evening prayer.”

_____________________________________________

This story has NO direct or indirect link to today’s Srivaishnavam sampradayam and/or Hinduism. If any one feels so, it is not my fault because that is it!  About 35 years ago, my father told me this story (oh, then it was a black cat!) in such a way in Tamil & still I am with a fresh memory about this one.

(P.S.: The story involved a black kitten. I, however, have changed the color to brown, and showing you, the picture of a yellow one…tell me how you feel about it!)

If this goes left to right or left, it is a bad omen!


So, showing you only it’s shadow!!

(But Why is it considered a bad omen when a cat crosses our path when we go out?
 Cat is an animal, which has only negative energy. When a cat crosses, whether to your left or rigtht,  it leaves behind the negative energy in its  path. So, when we cross this path, we are affected by the negative energy and will not succeed in our venture.)

Mr. Mandyam Srinivasan has sent in the following Joke,  though similar in moral but different story that makes one to laugh a while, when you think about most of the rituals carried only on blind faith and without knowing its meaning or reasons:

In a Family there was a cat and all the family members use to love it. During shrardda day( Pithru Pooja known in Tamil as Devasam), before the start of the function …. first thing dad used to do … bring a large Makri from the store room( A basket made out of some bamboo canes and fiber – know in Tamil as Moongil Koodai). Makri is used to carry any item such as vegetable/fruits etc )and then cover the cat in a corner of the hall with this Makri, This restricted the cat’s movements around the house.

  After the function is over the basket known as makri is removed to free the cat.

This was observed by the children and they never questioned and thought that is how we should follow the procedure during shradda. After some years the children grew up and dad and mom died and also the cat. The children used to perform Shradda for his DAD or Mom… The children used to make sure to borrow a CAT from their neighbor house and confine it in a MAKRI before they used to start the function shrardda.

The moral we get from the above story is to teach your kids good morals and values in life…. we as parents have to “Behave Correctly”.  Since children will observe and watch their parents. They learn and follow the parents traits in their adult life also.

And now, enjoy the cat dancing & partying.

Churning of the Sea – The Milky Ocean – ThiruppArkadal

Greetings. The sea is a very important, famous and cheap resource. In Indian mythology, it plays a vital role in the fight against the gods and the demons; who wished to rule by dethroning them. Here I give you a brief account of the process by which the Fourteen Ratnas or jewels as their English translation were obtained. And below the story, I give you the Fourteen Ratnas. They are not in the order that they came out. Might I add that I have gotten this information from my Sanskrit books and tutors and by a little of my own efforts.

The demons were a constant trouble to the Gods who were worried that the demons might win the struggle and get control of the heavens. For fear of this, they went to Lord Shri Vishnu and pleaded to him for a cure for this problem. He suggested that they churn the seas for nectar, which would make the Gods more powerful than they were. More or less like the Ambrosia in Greek mythology. Even though Lord Shri Vishnu had told the Gods to churn the seas, the Gods still didn’t know what to use to churn the vast sea with. Vishnu again said that they could churn with the help of a mountain and a giant snake. Even with these many questions and answers, the Gods asked one last question. The Gods were not strong enough to churn the sea all by themselves. For this Vishnu told them to take the help of the demons themselves. The Gods were against this at first but later agreed.

They spoke to the head of the demons and told them that they could share the nectar. To this the demons agreed and helped them with the churning. The first thing that came out was poison. To continue the churning, someone had to drink the poison or the seas would get filled with the poison and every man and woman would die. The Gods pointed at the demons and vice versa. At last Lord Shiva came forward to drink the poison. When he drank this poison, his neck became blue by its effect and thus he is called Neelakhanta. The Kaustuba, the Dhanvantari, and the Moon etc. the fourteen jewels came out one by one. And at last came Laxmi carrying the pot of nectar in her hands.

The FOURTEEN JEWELS are:

01) Kamadenu or Wish fulfilling Cow

02) The Moon

03) The Kaustuba diamond

04) The Conch

05) Dhanvantari. (Doctor of the Gods)

06) The Parijhatha

07) Goddess Laxmi  (Lakshmi) 

08) Nectar

09) Ucchai Shravas

10) Poison

11) Airavat (Indras elephant)

12) Rambha

13) Sura

14) Haridhanush.

Submitted by:

Srilata S. Iyengar