BAT CITY – AUSTIN
I had the pleasure of meeting my school mates, in Austin, USA, after forty five years, that brought nostalgic memories of our school days. It was evening and we decided to take a trek along the ‘Lady Bird Lake’, chatting happily. On our return, I was surprised to see people gathering in groups on the […]
Mahalaya Paksham
A word about Mahalaya Paksham (What is a paksha, Karunyaka pitrus, performing daily, Hiranya roopa sraaddha, Significant days, Mahalayam with homam, etc. etc.) A ‘paksha’ is 15 days. When the Sun enters ‘kanya rasi’ (Virgo) in Krishna paksha, the period is termed as ‘Mahalaya paksha’. It is said that our ancestors get Yama’s permission and […]
Kumbabhisheka Mahotsavam of Arulmigu Velmurugan Gnanamuneswarar Temple
The Kumbabhishekam of Arulmigu Velmurugan Gnanamuneswarar Koil, Singapore is set to take place on the 20th and 21st of August, 2022.On the first day of the program,Ganapati Homam, Poornahuti, Abhishekam, Deepa Aradhana, Vaastu Saanti and Prasadam distribution will take place in the morning session. In the evening, 1st Kala Yaga Pooja, Astadasa Kriyai, Netronmeelanam (Eye […]
GSPK: Propagating sanatana dharma
Many organisations have been propagating the Srivaishnava Sampradaya propounded by Srimad Ramanujacharya and Swami Vedanta Desika. Prominent among them is Global Stotra Parayana Kainkaryam (GSPK). Started in 2020, GSPK has brought together several scholars of Vedanta, 4000 Divya Prabhandam, Sanskrit texts, Puranas and Itihasas for conducting online lectures and discourse series to reach out to the future generations and […]
SIGNIFICANCE OF TAMIL NEW YEAR
Tamil New Year (Puthandu) according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar is the first day of the traditional Tamil New Year. It generally falls on April 14, and is a public holiday in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Interestingly, along with Tamilians across the world, many other Indian communities also celebrate their traditional new year around […]
Poetry on anger and pride – 1
This explains the psychology of anger. अन्धीकरोषि, वाग्बाणं सन्धीकरोषि, मे श्रुतिम् । मन्दीकरोषि, मन्यो!, मां बन्धीकरोषि सर्वदा ।। 1 ।। Anger! You impair my vision, shoot words like arrows, block my hearing and always bind me (to my emotions)! ———————– On ahamkara and anger. However good a person may be too much of ego and […]
Poetry on animals, birds and insects – part 3
Nakulan (a) Dr.Sreeram Jaganathan Setlur रजसाssवृतनेत्रं तु शरीरं तमसाssवृतम् । तथापि चावयोः सत्त्वे कदापि सुस्वरः पिक! ।। 1 Our eyes are enveloped by rajas (passion /redness), body is enveloped by tamas (ignorance /dark colour), even then due to our sattva (existence) sometimes there is good svara (poetry and cooing)! ——————————- With the same hands we embrace […]
Poetry on animals, birds and insects – part 2
Nakulan (a) Dr.Sreeram Jaganathan Setlur This one is a comparison between noble people and those who are other-wise! The former are compared to parrots and latter to crows! Parrots being choosy in eating, staying etc are found in secluded places. Crows, who are always after eating (enjoyment) can eat anything and subsist anywhere and thus […]
Poetry on animals, birds and insects – part 1
Nakulan (a) Dr.Sreeram Jaganathan Setlur आवयोरस्ति साधर्म्यं यद्यपि परपीडने । शिरस्तमसि ते यूक! तमश्शिरसि मे गतिः ।। 1 ।। Hey louse! You and I share the nature of bugging others. You, being on the darkness at a high place (head) and I, being in the height of darkness. ————— तामसेपि शरीरे च राजसलोचने किल | आवां समौ तथापि त्वं कोकिल सात्त्विकस्वरी ।। 2 ।। Hey […]
An Anthology on Poets and ‘Me as a Poet’ – part 2:Nakulan (a) Dr.Sreeram Jaganathan Setlur
Those who have read Shakuntalam may appreciate this better! Vanajyotsna is a creeper that resorts to a mango tree (sahakara) for support as it is khsama (capable)! I am comparing kavitaa (poetry!) to vanajyotsna and saluting her, for she has chosen to climb upon my dry head (shuskha shirasi), though I am not a sahakara […]