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Life Saviour Sundara Kanda

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From Editors Desk The Ramayana written by Sage Valmiki is one of the greatest and matchless epics of India which was, is being and will be, recited to eternity. Such is the greatness of the epic that it not only elevates one’s level of Bhakti but also saves one’s very life. Life is not always a smooth journey whoever he may be or however great he may be. However there is one exception to this rule i.e. for those who surrender unto the holy feet of the Lord this rule just doesn’t touch them. The bhakta can effortlessly cross the perilous tides of samsara by merely holding onto His feet. It is said if a Bhakta or Devotee chants His holy name by lying in the bed Bhagavan listens to him sitting next to him, if that Bhakta sits and chants Bhagavan stands and listens, and if the Bhakta stands and chants Bhagavan starts dancing

Bhagavad Gita - Issue # 2

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Dear Readers Am happy to present the Bhagavad Gita – Issue # 2. Adisankara says in his “Bajagovindam” Bhagavad Gita Kinchita Theertha Ganga Jalalapi Kanika Peetha Sakruthapi Yena Murari Samarcha Kriyathe Thasya Yamenana Charcha If a person reads a little from Bhagavad Gita, Drinks a sip of water from Ganges. Worships Murari (Krishna) for a little moment, for them there is no arguments with Yama, [the lord of death]. Adisankara further says: Geyam Gita Nama Sahasram Dhyeyam Shripati Rupamajashram One should read Bhagavad Gita and Chant Vishnu Sahasranamam One should meditate upon Shripati i.e. Lord Vishnu The Baja Govindam further states Mayamayam Idam akilam hitva Brahmapadam tvam pravisha vidhitva Leaving this world which is illusory and by knowing the state of Brahman enter into it. This state of Brahman is explained in Chapter 2 , Verses 11 to 20 of Bhagavad Gita. The same was explained by Krishna when Arjuna said he cannot fight as by engaging in the war he needs to kill all his k

Guru Samarpanam - Issue # 6

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Dear Readers! I am happy to present the Guru Samarpanam – Issue # 6. The article dwells on the Biography, Teachings of Kanchi Paramacharya. The article also has the details of miracles experienced by devotees of Kanchi Paramacharya or often referred as Periyava. Though Periyava never boasted his spiritual power and declared himself an ordinary person. However whoever get in touch with Periyava felt his divine powers. In this issue in the biographical column we will come to know how by the divine will young Swaminathan of just 13 years old became Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, 68th Pontiff (Peetathipathi) of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. You will be thrilled to read Acharya’s own narration about the circumstances that led to his Pontification. In the teachings of Periyava we can see the prescription for removing our sorrow which is aptly titled as antidote to sorrow. In that Periyava clearly says it is by our own deeds alone we experience joy and sorrow and he prescribe the remedie

Sridhara! Gangadhara!!

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Hello readers, The Vedic scriputures like Srimad Bhagavadam and Upanishads says in this age of kali the path to salvation is “Nama Sankeerthanam” i.e. chanting the divine and holy names of the Lord. Lord Krishna Chaitanya pioneered the movement of Hari Nama Sankeerthan in the Kali Yuga. In this article we are going to dwell about Sri Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval who was a pioneer in propogation of Nama Sankeerthan in South India. We would have heard of music ‘Trinity’ (i.e. Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Deekshitar and Syama Shastri) who are composers of carnatic music. Many of us would not have heard of another ‘Trinity’ i.e. Bodhendral, Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval and Marudhanallur Sadhguru Swamigal who are considered as the primordial acharyas in the “Dakshina Sampradaya Bhajana Padathi”. Bodhendral who was the Acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam renounced his position to propogate Bagavan Nama and established the Bagavan Nama Siddantham. Bhodendral’s contemporary was Sridhara Venkates

Lord Sankara Vs Adi Sankara

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Hello readers, We hear lot of arguments in our homes, office etc., most of them are rubbish which needs to be trashed. However when we hear an argument between a Chandala (the low caste) and a Sanyasi (highly learned Jnani) what will be the result? We definitely get enlightened by listening to them. Adi Sankara along with his Sishyas at Varanasi (Kasi) after taking bath at River Ganges (Ganga) was on his way towards Kasi Viswanatha Temple saw a Chandala (dog eater) coming towards them. Lord Siva is said to have come in the disguise of that Chandala. Sankara then uttered “Gacha Gacha” i.e. Move away, Move away. Now the Chandala posed a few questions to Acharya who was dazed and was taken aback upon hearing his highly enlightened question. Sankara then replied his questions more philosophically. The answers are in the form of a small treatise by Adi Sankara is what is known as “Maneesha Panchakam”. The word Maneesha meaning “conviction” appear in last line of all the five verse. Adisank

Temple Visit - Sriperumbudur

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From Editor’s Desk Hello readers, Everytime while on my way to Kanchipuram I used to see a huge arch with an inscription “Bhagavat Ramanujar Avatharitha Sriperumbudur” i.e. Birthplace of Srimad Ramanuja kindling my interest to visit but never attempted. This time I need to go to Kanchipuram to get the blessings of Kanchi Acharya for my Son’s Upanayanam, I decided to visit the temple first and then proceed to Kanchipuram. Mine and my Sister’s family started from Chennai and proceeded on the Chennai-Bangalore Highway. After crossing Poonthamalli we fuelled our cars. The road was excellent and within a hour we reached Sriperumbudur. While entering the rajagopuram the Jeer of Sriperumbudur was coming out and we paid our obeisance to the revered Jeer and got the blessings. We then had nice darshan of the Lord Adikesavaperumal, Yathirajanathavalli Thayar and Srimad Ramanuja. We then drove to the main road and parked our vehicles outside Shri Rajeev Gandhi Memorial Site to have our breakfast.

Narayana Or Nayantara?

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Hello readers, The most expressive feature in our face is the eye. Eyes are non-verbal communicators and convey our moods. The word ‘Nayan’ means ‘eye’ ‘Tara’ means ‘star’. Nayantara means one whose eye shines like a star. We are going to read an incident about a person who loved a lady whose eyes were dazzling like a star. Sorry Guys! we are not going to read about Tamil film stars Prabhudeva and Nayantara love story in this article, rather we are going to know about an ordinary couple who later through the divine grace became great Shri Vaishnavas by the divine grace of Saint Ramanuja and Lord Ranganatha. This article will definitely help us to know the real and eternal beauty which we should love so as to cross nescience. Saint Ramanuja who live some thousand year before was devoted to the service of God and Mankind. The physical limitations and the social taboos were washed away by the flood of Ramanuja’s divine love. Srirangam is known as “Bulokha Vaikundam” i.e. Heaven on earth