A.V. Devan Times

Dear Readers I am launching a new e-Magazine titled "Amritha Varshini". The magazine will cover a wide range of topics on religion. The cover price is just Rs.20 per issue.  The annual subscription of the magazine is priced at Rs. 240/- Those interested can send me a mail request to my email ids anand.vasudevan1@gmail.com or amrithavarshini2012@gmail.com Wishing you all a very happy new year 2012. Warm Regards Anand Vasudevan

Dear Readers, From Editors Desk I recently was travelling with my brother to Melmaruvathur. After finishing the darshan we thought of visiting few more temples on our way back to Chennai. We finally but fortunately landed in a small village known as Tennangur. Tennangur hosts the divine Gnanandagiri Peetam established by Sri Haridas Giri Swamigal, known as Guruji to all his devotees, dedicated his life toward spreading Nama Sankirtanam just a decade before. One will be taken aback by the beautiful and divine archa Vigrahas of Pandurangan and Rukmayee (Rukmini) in the divine temple complex. I used to hear the Music of Sri Haridas Giri and his discourse on the significance of “Radha Kalyanam” is still lingering in my ears! I want all my readers to buy at least one Musical CD of Sri Haridas Giri and hear his divine resonant voice. I am sure you will feel the divine vibration. Guruji has been blessed by his Guru Sri Gnanananda Giri Swamigal after severe tests and has been commanded to tak

Dear Readers, I am delighted to present the article Guru Samarpanam [Issue # 10]. The issue contains the excerpts from the biography, teachings and miracles of Pujyashri Sri Sri Chandrasekarendhra Sarasvati Swamigal fondly revered as “Nadamadum Theivam” [Walking God], Mahaperiyaval, Paramacharya etc. In the Biography section we are going to see an incident at Mahendramangalam when Periyava was studying Vedas taught by Painganadu Sri Ganapathi Shastrigal. We can also read an interesting episode as told by Pujyasri Sri Sankara Vijayendra Sarasvati Swamigal (Bala Periyava) which reveal the greatness of Paramacharya in explaining intricate Vedantic philosophy in an easily understanding manner to everyone including the learned pundits. In the section Teachings of Mahaperiyava talks upon “Man and Beast”. Here the Acharya talks about the significance of human birth and how one through knowledge should elevate oneself towards attaining the supreme knowledge which enables a person to attain lib

Dear Readers, I am very glad to present the article “Musical Mantra of Muthuswami Dikshita”, which covers the biography of one of the Carnatic Music Trinity Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar. I first heard the compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar through the music album titled “Guruguha Vani” sung by Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi Ammal. Both the compositions and the voice are divine unparallel. Dikshitar’s songs bring in a mood of meditative devotion which transcends words and feelings. Dikshitar Kritis are fraught with details of mantras, tantras, chakras, description of the deities, details of the temple, specialties of the place and the list is huge. Dikshitar in his compositions have kept the Mudra “Guruguha” and also woven the name of the raga ingeniously in his compositions. Dikshitar was a very learned and versatile. He had travelled wide to many temples and composed kritis on the deities. The devotion and bhakti is ever charged in his Kritis. The contribution of Dikshitar to the Carnatic musi

Dear Readers, I recently visited one of the oldest temple in Chennai. The temple is believed to be atleast 1300 years old. Lord Shiva is the principal deity worshipped as Adipureeswarar and Tyagarajar. The Goddess Tripura Sundari or Vadivudai Amman is popular than the Lord of Thiruvotriyur. Thiruvotriyur is also happened to be the birth place of Kalia Nayanar who is one of the Sixty Three Nayanmar. Hence I thought of sharing the details of both i.e. Thiruvotriyur Temple and also about Kalia Nayanar in this article. The article is being published as part of both the “Temple Visit” and “Sacred Sixty Three” series of articles. The temple is fraught with many legends and a visit to this temple make you travel centuries back. The temple was visited by many saints right from Adisankara, Thirugnana Sambandar, Thirunavaukkarasar, Sundarar, Arunagirinathar, Pattinathar, Saint Tyagaraja to name a few. The 27 Stars are believed to have worshipped the Lord and assumed the form of Linga by the grac

Dear Readers, I am glad to present the second article under the title “Ramanarpanam”. The article dwells on the biography, teachings and miracles of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. In the Biography section we can read about Bhagavan’s Childhood, schooling at Dindigul, an interesting incident occurred at Dindigul where Bhagavan had slept like a Kumbakarnan, may be an early indication of his deep meditative powers? In the teachings we can hear the discussion transpired between Maharshi and Mrs. M.A. Piggot. Their conversation will help us to understand a little of Maharshi’s philosophy. In the Miracles we share the experience of Bhagavan’s devotee Sri P.V. Sastri and how his deep sorrow was removed by visiting Ramanasramam. I hope you will cherish reading this! Please give your valuable feedback. Happy reading! Warm Regards, A.V. Devan 3.9.2011 Chennai RAMANARPANAM – [Issue # 2] Ramana Leela (Excerpts fro