Happiness for sale

A story from a few days ago. My cousin and her family had come over for the holidays and my snow white Maltese had just given birth to beautiful puppies and my nieces were very happy to welcome them into our family. But our parents said that they would not allow any more dogs in our home and with a heavy heart, we decided to give them away.

As we had bought our Maltese at a pet store, I only felt it fair to sell the puppies instead of giving them away for free. Also, I felt that this way I can ensure that the puppies go to a place where they'll be valued, where they would be cared for. So I started making arrangements for the sale.

I painted a nice sign board advertising my puppies and my kid-niece tried painting one of them onto it. I was nailing the board to a post in my garden when I felt a slight tug at my pants. I thought perhaps one of the puppies had managed to wiggle past the crack in their kennel door and turned to pick it up and take it back inside. Only to find a small boy with big eyes and a pleading smile looking up at me.

"Uncle," he said, "I want to have one of your puppies. (a longish) Please!!"

"Well bachu," I told him, "I am sorry but I am not giving away the puppies for free. If you want a puppy, you'll have to buy one!"

This took away a part of the smile. He dug into his pockets, apparently searching for corners hitherto unexplored, expecting some cash to appear there miraculously. After a good couple of minutes of scouring, he extracted some coins and held them out to me, "I have 7 rupees with me right now. Is that good enough?"

Although I personally would have preferred receiving a much bigger multiple of that amount, I did not want to break his little heart so I agreed. His smile returned, a small curve of his lips at first, then blossoming into a huge grin when I called out my dog and her puppies so that the boy could select his pet. He let out a squeal of joy when the four little fur-balls scampered up to him and started playing at his feet. His eyes danced with delight and it seemed he was having a tough time making up his mind on selecting one of them.

Just then, a fifth fur-ball appeared at the door of the kennel, and peeped out with its little bright eyes. It gave a shrill yelp and hobbled down to where its other brothers and sisters were playing. It was smaller than the others and had a slight limp due to which it couldn't walk well. Still it did the best it could and tried catching up with the rest.

"I want that one!" said the little boy pointing to the new entrant.

"But my dear, it is not like the other puppies," I told him. "Beautiful and cute it is no doubt, but he may not grow up to become a strong dog that can run and play with you like the others here," I said pointing to the other four who were now busy with some game of their own.

The boy ran to the small pup to pick it up. It was then that I noticed that he had a deformed left leg, and wasn't able to walk properly. Limping back to me snuggling the pup in his hands, he said, "As you can see uncle, I cannot run very well either. And when my friend here grows up, I'll be there for him so that he knows that it's not bad to be different from others. And at times when I feel bad about myself, he'll be there to teach me the same lesson. Thank you!" saying this he handed me the seven rupees and began limping away.

As I watched the twosome walk away happily, I couldn't help imagining just how many of us are searching for someone like ourselves, someone who can understand and accept us the way we are.

SUCH A BHAKTA IS DEAR TO ME

"SUCH A BHAKTA IS DEAR TO ME"

By HH Sadyojat Shankarashram Swami 

अनपेक्षः  सुचिद्र्दाक्शः                Anapekshah Suchirdakshah

उदासीनो गथाव्यथः                    Udaaseeno Gathavyathah

सर्वारम्भा परित्यागी                   Sarvaarambha parityagi

यो मद्भक्तः सा में प्रियः                  Yo Madhbhaktah Sa Me Priyah 

" He who is free from vain desires, who is pure in thought, word and deed, who is dexterous in his duties, who can judge correctly with an intellect bereft of prejudice, whose heart is peaceful, who eschews all actions born of self-aggrandisement - such a Bhakta is dear to Me. "

So declares Lord Krishna to Arjuna as He takes him along the turbulent path to God-realisation. This description of a Bhakta is to enable us to shed any misconceptions of Bhakti that we may be clinging to. Meditate on these qualities which are present in a Bhakta and which make him so dear to the Lord. And to help you in your meditation, meditate on one to whom these divine qualities have become natural.

The very first meeting with Pujya Swami Satchidanandaji impresses one with his self-possession. This quiet dignity, far from intimidating, calms the mind of those who come in his contact. It is born of Anapekashata - neither giving in to the demands of the world nor demanding of it. A little further into conversation and you are aware of the clarity of perception and the neatness in presentation of ideas - indications of Suchitwa, purity of the mind. The manner in which the heavy responsibilities of the Ashram, the correspondence etc. are handled calmly and dexterously displays Dakshata in work. The inevitable quarrels, petty jealousies that crop up in any institution have been settled by him without any touch of favouritism. This Udaseenatha is the mark of a Bhakta who is led by the Lord and seeks His affirmation only. The inner serenity so distinctly reflected on his calm countenance is again that of a Gathavyatha - one whose heart has been cleansed of the frustration of failure and the excitement of success. Seeking guidance from and at every step working only on the prompting of the Innermost Dweller of the heart, this saint has been living the life of an ideal Sannyasi, a life of Sarvaarambha partityagi - a giving up of all actions prompted by the ego.

Such a saint whose love for the Lord and Papa and Mataji has inspired innumerable aspirants to tread the path to God-realisation, completes 50 years of total dedication to the Lord. On this auspicious occasion of Pujya Swamiji's Sannyasa Deeksha Swarna Jayanthi, we pray to Lord Bhavanishankar to grant Swamiji good health and inspire him to continue to bless and guide Sadhakas for many more years to come.

 

( Source - Pujya Swami Satchidanandaji's Golden Jubilee Souvenir )

( The Vision - September 2009 issue )

Pitrupaksh

ll Sree Gurudev Datta ll
Ritual of Shraddh

Pitrupaksh, the 14 days of the year which fall in the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapad, beginning with the first day of Krishnapaksh till the day of Amavasya the new moon day are the days to pay our debts to our ancestors. This year Pitrupaksh is from 5-18th September.

• What is the importance of the ritual of Shraddha?
• When should the Shraddha be performed?
• Why should every son perform the ritual of Shraddha?
• When can females perform Shraddha?
• What is the method of performing Tarpan and Pitru tarpan?

For all these answers visit

http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/knowledge/category/shraddha

Watch a series of videos on how to perform Shraddha at:

http://www.hindujagruti.org/videos/index.php?id=7

Alongside the rituals, it is necessary for all descendents to chant 'Sree Gurudev Datta' for the appeasement of their ancestors and speeding up their journey onward for a better afterlife for them, during this period.
Benefit of chanting Lord Dattatreya's Name

A. The ancestors get speed in their journey to the next region and this makes the atmosphere in the house pleasant.

B. An embodied soul gets energy from Lord Shiv also.

Here are answers to some of the questions:

1. How does an embodied soul get entangled in its desires after death?
   After death a Jiva, that is, the subtle body constantly makes efforts for fulfilling its desires. Sometimes it enters another body forcibly. Due to desires a Jiva goes to various subtle regions (lokas) as per his actions.
2. When should the Shraddha be performed?
   Normally, no moon night, 12 sankrants in a year, solar-lunar eclipses, Yugadhi and Manvadi dates, Ardhodayadi parva, date of death, arrival of Shrotriya priests (Brahmins) etc dates are considered appropriate for performing shraddha
3. When can females perform Shraddha?
   ‘Ideally, the host should perform the ritual of Shraddha by himself. However, since we do not know how to perform it, we get it done through the priest (Brahmin).
4. What is the method of performing Tarpan and Pitru tarpan?
   On the day of Shraddha, sesame seeds should be sprinkled all over the house, sesame seeds mixed in water should be given to the invited priests (Brahmins) and sesame seeds should be donated.
5. What are the presiding deities and results of Shraddha?
   Matsya Puran mentions 'नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविध श्राद्ध मुख्यते ।', meaning, primarily there are three types of Shraddha - one performed daily, periodically and with purpose (Kamya).
6. What are the presiding deities and results of Shraddha?
   Matsya Puran mentions 'नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविध श्राद्ध मुख्यते ।', meaning, primarily there are three types of Shraddha - one performed daily, periodically and with purpose (Kamya).
7. What are three historically established phases of Shraddha?
   During the era of Rugveda, deceased ancestors were worshipped by offering Samidha (a kind of wooden stick) and Pinda (a rice bowl) to the sacrificial fire
8. What is the importance of the ritual of Shraddha?
   The ritual of Shraddha not only repays debts towards deceased ancestors, but also makes it easy to repay debts towards God and Sages.

Sent by -

Nandakumar Hattiangadi

Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

P. S. :- This piece of information was sent to members of Google Groups "Shri Chitrapur Saraswats" group on date 7th September, 2009.

Even though it doesn't give clear enough idea of Mhaal Mahina / Pitrupaksh, we all can research further on and add to discussion

Kojagiri Pournima Celebration

Dear All,

Namo Namaha!!!

As you all are aware, Our Param Poojya Swamiji has agreed to grace the Navratri Utsav at Karla (from 19th September 2009 to 28th September 2009), and HH will also be performing Lakshmi Poojan on the Kojagiri Pournima night (3rd October 2009). Swamiji’s stay at Karla will be from 18th September to 5th October.

This is to inform you that a cultural activity, under the banner of Chitrapur Yuvadhara, has been arranged on the eve of Kojagiri Pournima 3rd October 2009 (Saturday).

The main organizers (coordination, communication, etc.) of this event will be the youngsters of Andheri, Vile Parle & Virar sabhas.

Main elements/Features of the program:

1) A skit by youngsters of Grant Road & Dadar (Duration should not exceed 20 mins.)

2) Dance performance by Pune youngsters (7-8mins.)

3) Fusion of Lezhim & Dandiya (After Ratri Puja)Youngsters of Santacruz (Anirudh Nagarkatte) will take the responsibility of arranging to teach lezhim to those interested in learning.Representatives of Andheri, Vileparle & Virar sabhas (Abhishek Gokarn, Ruhi Kuddyadi, Kiran Gokarn, Divya Bijur) will be in charge of selecting the songs and setting up the dance steps for Dandiya and Garrba with the help of other youngsters good at the same.

Dress code for lezhim/dandiya: For Yuvatis- Ghagra Choli/Gujarati style saree/ Salwar Kameez.For Yuvas- Churidar kurta with 2 colorful bandini dupattas (one to be tied as turban/ pheta and second to be tied around the waist as a sash), in short attire that would give a festive look to the occasion.

Transport & Accommodation- We will be requesting Arun Padbidri Maam to provide bus for Mumbai youngsters. Pune Youngsters, with the help of coordinators will have to make similar arrangement. (Pick-up points will be informed shortly after the response from you all.)Youngsters from Mumbai/Pune intending to stay overnight on 3rd should inform beforehand. Accommodation will be provided to all at Karla (temple premises) or Indrayani guest house, whichever is available.

Please inform Padmini Balsekar Pachi or me, the details regarding representation of your respective Sabha, by 10th September to facilitate transport and accommodation arrangements.Duties & Responsibilities of representatives will be informed shortly.

Yuvadhara also extends its invitation to Prerana & Prarthana to join this event…

A request to all coordinators and representatives to forward this message to all (Yuvadhara, Prerana, Prarthana) in their respective sabhas to make this event a grand success!!!

Thanking you,

Warm regards,

Vidya R Aldangadi (Coordinator, Yuvadhara Andheri)

(For Yuvadhara, on behalf of Sharayu Pachi)