ತತ್ ತ್ವಂ ಪೋಷನ್ ಅಪಾವೃಣು Tat tvam pooshan apavrunu

हिरण्मयेन पात्रेण सत्यस्यापिहितं मुखम्। 
तत् त्वं पूषन्नपावृणु सत्यधर्माय दृष्टये॥ (ईशावास्योपनिषत्)

ಹಿರಂಮಯೀನ ಪಾತ್ರೆಯೇಣ ಸತ್ಯಸ್ಯಾಪಿಹಿತಮ್ ಮುಖಂ |
ತತ್ ತ್ವಂ ಪೋಷನ್ನಪಾವೃಣು ಸತ್ಯಧರ್ಮಾಯ ದೃಷ್ಟಯೇ || (ಈಶಾವಾಸ್ಯೋಪನಿಷತ್)

Meaning:
The truth is covered by golden dazzling orb. O Pushan (Pushan is a solar deity), please unveil the covering so that the truth is revealed.

This shloka is addressed to Pushan, a solar deity, so it is fitting for the occasion of Sankranti as the welcome of Uttaraayana.

ಸಂಕ್ರಾಂತಿ||Sankranti

ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಂತಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಹಾರ್ದಿಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು!
We wish everyone a happy, prosperous Sankranti!

Vinayaka

Thousands of years ago, a very brave, powerful and wise warrior, the commander-in-chief of all the hordes of the Lord of the Himalayas, protected all the people who lived in the country from the mountain ranges of the north to the seas of the south. The people of this country viewed him as benign and lovable, as a deity who would destroy all obstacles to their prosperity. The people of the neighbouring countries viewed him as a terrifying being, who needed to be placated out of fear. The people of the country celebrated his birthday in style. They made wonderful asanas for him to sit on, offered him water to wash his feet and hands. They gave him clear water to drink and worshipped him with beautiful flowers and fragrant incense and sandalwood. They made him so many delicious things to eat. They made sure that he was shaded by a white umbrella and that there was plenty of sugarcane about. He had a big head, big ears and a large stomach. He was very fond of sweets. He was very talented. There was nothing he could not do. He could sing, play music, dance and fight. He was an expert in all that was there to know. Once one of his friends (Chandra) laughed at his big stomach. He turned half a horde (danta) of his on Chandra. Chandra was very sorry and apologised at once. Vinayaka ruled that no one should invite Chandra home again and offer him hospitality and worship. Chandra asked for a lighter sentence. Then Vinayaka relented a little. He said that if he was invited and worshipped first and this story was remembered then it was alright for people to look at Chandra and be friends with him.

Artist and Photographer: Satya Sarada Kandula: All Rights Reserved

Vinayaka loved small children and would help them with their questions and studies. He knew all the answers. He could explain things in a way that children would understand at once. Children used to keep all their books ready for Vinayaka’s visit. Vinayaka had a deep and understanding heart. When grown-ups took their problems to him, he not only solved their problems, but he also removed their sorrow. As the people of the country prospered and multiplied, and with the passage of time, people started making pictures and images of Vinayaka and showing all their love, devotion and respect to the image. They told their children that Vinayaka now lived in their hearts. So that the children could eat all the delicious things made for Vinayaka as long as it was offered to Him first. Children would keep their books under the image of Ganesha as the asana and make umbrellas for him out of paper. The people would offer him water, flowers, salutations and delicious snacks as they always had, from times immemorial. They entertained Him with their music and dance. And Vinayaka would help the children with their studies and the grown-ups with their problems and needs as He always had done. They loved Him as their dearest friend and He protected them.

For the complete article (including more exciting information related to Namma Ganapathi), click HERE!

Written by Satya Sarada Kandula, author of Ancient Indians, a website on Indian Culture.

Ganesha and Agni

Does Ganapati and Agni represent same aspect of Divinity, same energy? Agni is the presiding deity of Bhu-loka. Ganesha is presiding deity of Muladhara Chakra. Agni is considered a Brahmana deity. Ganapati is often traced back to vedic Brahmanaspati. Vedas begin with prayer to Agni. Any puja or ritual begins with prayer to Ganapati. Agni is Jaataveda, knower of all our actions and helps one in attaining material desires and spiritual upliftment. Worship of Agni is inevitable for overcoming limitations of physical universe. Ganesha is the giver,as well as,remover of obstacles. He grants material prosperity and spiritual upliftment and without worshiping in Muladhara, overcoming its limitations is not possible. Also, Agni is deity of speech. Similarly, speech in a person is supposed to originate in Muladhara. Perhaps, if not same, their essence are intimately connected to each other.

Written by Nithin Sridhar, Editor at Indiafacts

Regarding Updates

This blog has not seen timely updates for quite some time. Please forgive me for that! I will try to put up weekly updates. Stay tuned!
ಜಯ ಗಣಪತಿ!

Shri Rama Navami

On the occasion of Rama Navami, it will be interesting to learn the following shloka spoken to Rama by his mother, Kaushalya, before he leaves Ayodhya to fulfill the promise he made to his father.

यं पालयसि धर्मं त्वं धृत्या च नियमेन च |
स वै राघवशार्दूल धर्मत्वामभिरक्षतु ||


ಯಂ ಪಾಲಯಸಿ ಧರ್ಮಂ ತ್ವಂ ಧ್ರುತ್ವಾ ಚ ನಿಯಮೇನ ಚ ।
ಸ ವೈ ರಾಘವಶಾರ್ದೂಲ ಧರ್ಮತ್ವಾಮಭಿರಕ್ಷತು ।।

Meaning:
That Dharma you have held on/protected with principled resolve,
Oh! Best of Raghus, may that same Dharma protect you!

Ugadi

Ugadi habbada shubhaashayagalu! 
ಯುಗಾದಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು!
 When eating Neem leaves or even Bevu-bella, the following shloka can be said:

शतायुर्वज्रदेहाय 
सर्वसम्पत्कराय च |
सर्वारिष्टविनाशाय 
निम्बकन्दलभक्षणम् ||

ಶತಾಯುರ್ವಜ್ರದೇಹಾಯ 
ಸರ್ವಸಂಪತ್ಕರಾಯ ಚ ।
ಸರ್ವಾರಿಷ್ಟವಿನಾಶಾಯ 
ನಿಮ್ಬಕಂದಲಭಾಕ್ಷಣಂ ।।

Meaning:
To live one hundred years with a strong body;
To get all types of wealth and to get rid of all evils, eat neem leaves.

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सुर्यकोटि समप्रभ

निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा

Oh, Ganesha, the one with the curved trunk and the humongous body, please make all our works obstacle free, forever!

Ganapathi Bappa Moriya!

Please check out the Ganesh Chaturthi program on the Events page!