Thursday, October 6, 2011

Golu depicting national Integration

GOLU DEPICTING NATIONAL INTEGRATION



It shows Unity in Diversity prevailing in India by showing dolls of different regions of India. All the dolls are handmade doll after stitching on cloth and then stuffing with cotton and finally putting jewelry and painting on the cloth.

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GUJARAT DOLL


Girl from Gujarat State wearing a skirt decorated with famous Kutch Mirror work embroidery.She is carrying basket on her head.
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JAMMU KASHMIR

Kashmiri Girl wearing long silver embroidered top and churidaar at bottom. She wears silver jewellery with huge silver earrings hanging from her ears, which is sign of married woman.
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WEST BENGAL

Lady from West Bengal wearing typical white with red border saree and at the end her pallu will have key chain tied to it. She is going to fetch water
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TAMIL NADU

Iyer lady, from Tamil Nadu, going to Temple wearing a Kanchivaram silk saree.
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MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtrian lady in a saree, pearl jwellery and black beads chain typical of Maharashtra.
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KERALA

Keralite lady wearing a Mundu (2 piece saaree). It is usually white with colored border.Keralite woman wear a lot of Gold jewellery
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BRUM BRUM MAADH

Brum Brum Maadh(in tamil) means the prophecy Making Bull (bull which does bhavishya vaani) The person will walk along the streets and go in front of each house for prophecy and in turn get alms.
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KARNATKA

This is a lady waering a saaree in a typical Coorgi Style . Coorg is hilly part of Karnatka known for scenic beauty and is an attractive tourist spot
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ASSAM

Assamese tribal girl picking Tea Leaves
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SAKUNTLA IN FOREST, WITH HER PET DEER

Shakuntla is carrying pot to fetch water from river in forest with her pet deer. She was the daughter of Menaka and Vishwamitra adopted and later brought up by Kanva Maharishi.She is the heroine of famous Sanskrit play Abhijnana Sakuntla (meaning memento –ring given as memento by Dushyanta to Sakuntla) written by Kalidasa
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LORD KRISHNA AND ARJUNA

Lord Shri Krishna expounding the Bhagvat Gita to Arjuna before the start of Mahabahrata War
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BHARATNATYAM DOLL


Bharatnatyam is classical dance form of Tamil Nadu. This doll depicts one of the pose of Bharatnatyam dance which is supposed to be the pose of shy bride wearing traditional dress and jewellery.
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AANDAL


She was one of the Vaishnavite saints of Tamil Nadu. She was found in Tulsi Vana (forest) by another saint Periazhwar . She was very devoted to Sri Krishna and composed many devotional songs about Krishna.She is especially known for Garland of 30 poems composed for the month of Mriga Shesha (Dec15 to Jan 15).It is supposed to be the dawn of the GODS. In Tamil Nadu during this month every body gets up at 4:00am and go in procession to temple singing these songs. Traditionally this month is devoted to prayers and spirituality and no marriages are performed during this period.
More about Saint Aandal follows in 2 stories, STORY1 of AANDAL and STORY2 of SRI RANGAM.
STORY1-AANDAL

As a young girl, Aandal used to wear Garland of flowers (and praise herself looking at her reflection in well water without her fathers knowledge) strung by her father before he took it to offer to GOD. But one day he saw her and got very angry. He then made another garland to offer to diety in the temple. But when he offered this garland to Lord, it kept falling off from diety and Lord would not accept the garland. That night Lord Vishnu appeared in father’s dream and told him that HE likes to wear garland worn by Aandal. When Aandal grew up , she wanted to marry Lord Vishnu only. GOD appeared in his father’s dream and asked to bring his daughter to Sri Rangam Famous temple in Trichy .
This temple is supposed to be the replica of VaikunthaNath. Here river Kaveri splits into two and then joins again forming an Island where Sri Rangam is situated . (This is similar to River Seine in Paris and where on the island Notre Dame Cathedral is situated) . Kaveri river at this place is considered as River Viraja (the celestial river) which soul has to cross after death to reach Vaikuntha. Rest of the story of Srirangam is continued in STORY2-SRI RANGAM .So as per his dreams father took Aandal to Sri Rangam temple.When she entered shrine, she disappeared and merged with GOD in GarbaGriha .On Jan 15 at the end of month of Mriga Shesha ,marriage of Aandal is celebrated in all temples of South India.



STORY2-SRI RANGAM
Famous place in Trichy in which is situated the famous temple of Sri Ranga Natha .This main image of Sri Ranga Natha is considered to be the Kula Devam of Sri Rama’s family and was originally worshipped in Ayodhya.
During Sri Rama’s Incarnation , Sri Rama gave it to Vibhishana . Vibhishana was carrying it to Sri lanka. On the way near Kaveri river Vibhishana wanted to stop a little bit and he did not want to put the image down on ground . Then a small boy appeared and offered to hold it for him.When Vibhishana returned ,the boy had put the image on the ground and had run away. The Lord Ranga natha told Vibhishana that he should not punish the boy because HE, Lord Ranga Natha himself wanted to stay at this place permanently. So in this temple Lord is lying on SheshaNaag looking southwards towards Srilanka. It is believed that every nght Vibhishana comes to worship him.
Little boy is none other than Vighneshwara who ran to the top of hill near Trichy and can be seen in Temple there called as Utchipillaiyar temple(meaning –at top)
Sri Rangam temple has seven Prakaras (each wall with four Gopurams i.e entrance gateway and such 7 walls surround the diety). Each prakaram is supposed to be each stage that human soul passes until we reach Garba Griha which is abode of Parmatma(all powerful Lord)On the auspicious Baikuntha Ekadasi night people remain awake all night singing bhajans and lords praises and early morning the image of Lord Sri ranga natha is brought out through a special doorway called as ParmaPada Vasal (vasal means doorway) . If people have darshan of this then they are supposed to go straight to ParamPada or Vaikuntha(heaven) .(Nowadays there is direct telecast of this in television at 3:00 am). This custom of bringing out diety early in the morning on Vaikuntha Ekadasy day is followed in all Temples of Tamil Nadu.
 
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SARASWATI PUJA
So most of the people keep lots of idols at their homes and invite guests to their house to see their Golu. On 7th  day Saraswati puja is done which is done in all the houses in which they worship Goddess Saraswati which has power of showering blessing with which people excel in studies and singing. On this day also people visit their relative’s house. Even people who have not kept Golu, in their house will definitely do Saraswati Puja and invite people in their house on this day. Relatives will come and sing Carnatic song in front of diety and host will offer vaithapaak(sindoor,turmeric,beetle nut in beetle leaves and blouse bit ,coconut or some fruits )to guests and also offer sundal to eat there as prasaadam.

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Famous singer Smt Uma Ramanan visited Aunty’s house where I witnessed Golu and Saraswati Puja.

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Also during this day pooja for all the machinery in house (computer, laptop, washing machine, dish washer, television, sewing machine) and puja of vehicles is also done so called as AYUDHA Pooja.


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AYUDHA PUJA

In offices also , a priest will be called and puja will be done for all machines of offices like computers and vehicles and it is supposed to bring prosperity to the company .In my office CDOT Alcatel Lucent Research Center , Ayudh Puja is done every year.


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Monday, September 5, 2011

Puzzle

Spot 10 differences between 2 paintings--Waiting for Santa Claus





























Monday, July 25, 2011

Sri SrinivasaKalyanam Harikatha

Om Namah Narayana Namah
Story1     -   Maharishi Brihu’s visit to Vaikuntham
Maharishi Brihu was on a visit to all the three lokams(DevLokam, BhuLokam and Paataal lokam) inorder to visit the three Eashwaras namely Lord Brahma (the creator-Srishti),Lord Vishnu(Karta) and Lord Shiva(the Destroyer) .When he made a visit to Vaikuntham(DevLokam)  ,Lord Vishnu was in deep state of meditaion that Maharshi Brihu remained unattended.So Maharshi got angry due to this ignoring behavior of Lord Vishnu and he kicked at the chest of Lord Vishnu with his right foot . Maharshi Brihu is short tempered because he can see everything happening every where since he has third eye in Right foot.Vishnu opened his eyes and held the foot of Maharshi and started massaging the foot  saying ,” Maharshi,Your leg would  have got hurt due to the strain of kicking me.So let me give a soothing massage to your foot”. Brihu was dumbfolded with such an astonishing kind words of Vishnu .
[The Vedas and Puranas say that Goddess Maha Laksmi  dwells in the chest of Lord Vishnu.
Goddess Saraswati stays stays at the tongue Lord Brahama.
Goddess Shakti devi resides in half body of Lord Shiva so he is called as Ardh Naareeshwar.]
[Aacharya says that this clearly depicts that women were given equal respect as men world during those times also.]
Now coming back to Maharshi Brihu’s story.Mahalakshmi got angry with Brihu’s behavior of kicking Vishnu’s chest where she was dwelling. On the top of this, she got irritated  with Vishnu’s behavior of of doing  sewa for “Not good “ act of Brihu .She told Vishnu that she felt humiliated with all drama and considering as disrespect for her , she fled to earth .
Lord Vishnu did sewa for Maharshi inorder to soothe Maharshi’s anger and bring down the sage’s pride.
[Aacharya says that these incidents are “Deiva Sangalpam”which paves way for Avatars of GODs in Bhulookam (Earth) so that people can experience the divinity of the Lords.]
Story2     -   Goddess Lakshmi ’s avatar as Padmavati
Mahalakshmi was born as a beautiful and charming baby girl in Lotus flower .The king who ruled South India came for hunting and found this devine lookinirg baby girl and immediately adopted her as his daughter .Since he did not have any of his child he took her as GODs gift . Those days Thirumala Venkatagiri was under Dravidian Rulers. Since Goddess was born on Lotus ie Padmam in Sanskrit she was named as Padmavati. Princess Padmavati happily grew up in the palace and she reached her 13 years of age.
Now coming back to Vaikuntham Lord Vishnu lost all his wealth and prosperity from the time Goddess Lakshmi left him and came to earth. Lord Vishnu was worried as years were running by and Goddess Lakshmi did not come back .SO he decided its hightime he must make his avatar to Earth and search for Lakshmi there and get her back .Since Mahalakshmi is already grown 13-years old so Lord Vishnu decided he has to take avatar as a 18 year old boy suitable for Padmavati .
Some stories also say that  Vishnu went to Shiva and Brahma for solution of his problem. They told him Since he had become poor he should beg and when he was begging his begging bowl fell to Earth so with reason to get his bowl he came to earth but actually he came to earth to get his wife back to Devlokam .
Story3    -   Lord Vishnu’s avatar as Srinivasa
In Venkatagiri / Thirumala/Saptagiri mountainous forest there was a Sanyasini named Vagulavalli .Whole of her lifetime she kept doing pooja to her favorite GOD Varahar in the banks of pond Pushkarna .This Sanyasini is none other that Yashodha ,Lord Krishna’s mother in Krishna Avataar.
Vedas say that in Krishna Avataar, Lord Krishna was born to Devki mother but he was brought up by Yashodha mother. So once he asked yashodha mother “You have take such good care of me ,Do you have any wish  left that you want to come true then tell to me?” . For this Yashodha said “I had along desire to be your real mother and I don’t want you to be shared with some other mother .So Lord Krishna promised her that in his next avatar she will be his real mother .
So going back to Thirumala now Vagulvalli sanyasini is Yashodha mother’s reincarnation.
One fine morning when Vagulavalli was doing morning poojas to her Lord Varahar, it started raining heavily along with thunders and lightning . Her intuition told something divine is going to happen today .Lord Vishnu came to Earth as 18 year old divine looking boy. Vagulavalli looked at him and asked him who he was and from where was he coming.Lord introduced himself saying he was an orphan nas was just roaming in the hills .She was moved by this and told he is no more an orphan and from that day he was her son and she was his mother .Lord said that he can be called Srinivasan. Vagulvalli got extremely happy that she has got a wonderful  perfect son .Srinivasan brings fruits and vegetables for her mother and helps in daily activities .Six months passed like this .Lord Vishnu had forgotten why he had come to Earth and was having good time with his mother .
Meanwhile there were lots of famines, droughts, floods, natural calamities on earth because Paalan karta of Earth was not in heaven and also because Lakshmi was separated from him. So Narada Muni came to Earth to remind the Lord the purpose of his avataar. He also told him that Padmavati is in same kingdom as kings beloved daughter.
Story4    -  How  Srinivasa and Padmavati meet
One morning Srinivasan told his mother hat He is going for hunting (He lied to his mother actually he wanted to search Padmavati) .In every avatar of Lord Vishnu Garudalvar also take avatar to serve GOD. So in Srinivasa avatar Garudan came as a sparkling majestic white horse to take Srinivasa from Thirumala’s mountains to Padmavati’s garden .
Srinivasan being GOD made an arrangement such that a big elephant enters the garden of Princess Padmavati so that he comes as her savior who also wins her heart.
PLACE:Padmavati Palace Garden.
A big elephant came running towards the princess Padmavati and her friends.Some of the girls ran off while others hid behind tree and bushes while Padmavati was left alone. She could not run out of fear and stood there only closing her eyes .Then came Lord Srinivasa charming yound lad on white horse and he drove elephant away and asked Padma vati to open her eyes and there is no need to fear .
After so many years Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi looked into each others eyes .It was such a divine moment that all heavenly Devas,Indran,Brahama Deva , Saraswati devi ,Shiva,Parvati devi and all the devaganas were looking at this divine spectacle from heaven.Lord Varuna showed his happiness in form of Rain.
It was such an emotional and holy moment tat tears of happiness rolled down the Padmavathi’s eyes .She did not know what was happening to her as she was not aware about her avatar .Then Srinivasa left the palace.
[Aacharyaviews:Even today in Brahmin marriages there is a ritual in which Groom and bride look into each other’s eyes .The groom chants a mantra stating that Lets begin our life journey together forever as a loving and loyal couple .Let this be a wonderful moment  of start of our prosperous and blissful life .]
Princess Padmavathi returns back to her chamber .Her heart is filled with charming thoughts of young man whom she met . Though she is clueless about the whereabouts of her dream guy she wished she would marry him. Days passed . She fell ill as she stopped having proper food and had lost proper sleep .All the time she was preoccupied with thoughts of Srinivasa. Seeing this peculiar behaviour of their daughter , King and queen were very worried but did not know what  as happened to their daughter.
Story5    -   Lord Vishnu’s avatar as Fortune Telling Girl (Gypsy Girl)
Going back to Thirumala ,Srinivasa told about his desire to marry Princess Padmavati to his mother Vagulvalli.This was a huge shock for Sanyasini mother .How can a marriage happen between a rich mighty King’s daughter and extremely simple styled poor sanyasini son. She is not aware that Srinivasa is Lord Vishnu himself. Srinivasa convinces her mother that he will take care of everything and without any worry she should just go to Palace and asker her daughters hand for him from King. Believing her son and praying to GOD she accepted for this.
All these things are happening as part of Lord’s leelas.
Meanwhile Srinivasan takes another avatar as a fortune teller gypsy girl.Though called Gypsy , this girl looks divine and more beautiful than the royal girls because she none other than Lord himself. Fortume telling girl wals on the streets towards the Palace saying she comes from hills and that she predicts future accurately.The palace guards direct her towards the queen hoping she can cure the illness of the princess .Queen brings the gypsy girl to her daughter to show whats wrong with her.Gypsy girl narrates the whole incident that happened between Srinivasan and Padmavati in palace garden.She can get back to normal charming life once she gets married to her dream guy.So now Queen asks from where to search Srinivasan.The gypsy girl says , an old Sanyasini would come to her palace to ask Padmavathi for marriage to her son.Her son is none other that the princess dream guy.Queen conveyed this to the King so that he could make arrangement for her daughters marriage .They treated gypsy girl with royal gifts and after that she vanished.
Story6    -   Marriage of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Padmavati
Srinivasan’s mother sanyasini Vagulvalli came to the palace with the woriies of how she can convince King to fulfill her son’s wish.She was astonished to see the King and the Queen and royal members waiting at the palace gate to welcome her .They happily accepted the marriage proposal from Vagulvalli.The Brahmins confirmed the marriage dates. Vagulvalli with all happiness conveys the news to her son Srinivasan. She told Srinivasan that she has a wish . She wanted  her son’s  marriage to be in proper way in which    there will be gifts& ornaments are given to bride and from our side also all friends and relatives should join in marriage. Srinivasan promised to fulfill her wish .Vedas say that Devas came down to Earth and took role of the Srinivasan’s relativesin his marriage.Srinivasan took loan from Lord Kuberan to spend in marriage which Srinivasa had promised to repay later.
[Aacharya told that’s why even today all the wealth we offer to Lord Venkataeshwar Thirupathii Temple is contributed to Lord in paying his marriage loan to Kuberan.]
Srinivasa-Padmavati marriage happened in the presence of all Gods abd great Maharishis.Padmavati hen came to Thirumala (Srinivasa’s Dwelling place) and both Srinivasan and Lakshmi continue to shower their blessing on the devotees till today.


Friday, July 22, 2011

HariKatha 17-07-2011 to 21-07-2011 GandhiNagar Adyar , CHENNAI

There was HariKatha in Sri Kanchi Anantha Pdmanabh Swamy temple GandhiNagar Adyar , CHENNAI

Harikatha by Kalaimamani Kalyanapuram Sri R. AravaMudaChariar
17-07-2011-Prahladha Varadhan
18-07-2011-Kulasekara Kanda Raman
19-07-2011-Pattarpiran Kanda Kannan
20-07-2011-Sathaguru Sri Thyagarajar
21-07-2011-Sri Srinivsa Kalyanam



Swamy narrated small stories each day about laord Rama,Lord Krishna and Lord Srinivasa in Tamil. Just had an oppartunity to attend the same with my friend Shrinivasini who tanslated some of those interesting stories to English .These days we rarely find time for such things.He also explained and compared at that society with todays society. 

DAY 3-Pattarpiran Kanada Kannan (Lord Krishna Charita)

Lord Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva. Devtas had predicted that when HE grows up he would kill cruel king Kansa , HIS maternal uncle. From this fear Kansa had imprisoned his sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva ,immediately after marriage .Whenever any kid was born for them Kansa used to kill the child .But as per GOD’s leela when 8th child was born to them ,Something strange happened .On that night it rained heavily and all the guards/people of kingdom fell in deep sleep. Vasudeva ‘s friend Nanda Gopal who was head of Yadhavas wanted to save this child .So he came with his just born daughter to the prison and exchanged with just born child of Vasudeva the LORD Krishna. He took him safely to his village without any one in the kingdom. Since it was raining heavily when NadaGopal was taking Krishna ,SheshNaga came and protected Krishna from rain by forming Umbrella with its hoods over Krishna.
So some stories about Lord Krishna’s childhood infance are narrated by Acharya during Krishna Harikatha in Sanskrit and then explained in Tamil and also sang bhajanas in classical music .He was assisted by musicians playing dholak and violin.
So please read and enjoy those stories for some of which we still remember some scene from Serials like Krishna telecast on TV during our childhood days and some stories were also new for me.

STORY 1:
One day when Lord Krishna was very small enfant ,Yashodha had to feed the little kid so she takes him out to show him Bright shining moon and mother nature . This way he would listen to her and eat food .
[Acharya compared this to Mothers of current era .These days mothers show ads in TV or cartoon inorder to divert the protesting action of kids while feeding them. That’s why kids become more adamant and ask for things shown on TV]
STORY 2:
Krishna as 2 year old:
When Lord Krishna was a 2 year old kid he had just started walking .Desikacharya in his work on Lord Krishna had mentioned that when little Krishna took his first foot step, the impression of shankh was found in yashodhas house, his next foot step made impression of chakra on floor. This depicts that Lord Krishna is none other than Lord Narayana himself.
[Acharya compared this to License Drving test in which they ask us to drive car in S- shape which resembles 8 ]
STORY 3:

Krishna grew up as a naughty and mischievous boy. He had a special Love for butter. He used to steal butter from the pot and after eating, in order to escape from his mom, he used to wipe away his butter loaded hands all over his body.
Now what if his mom gets the butter smell from his body. So Krishna used to roll himself in the garden sands. This says he grew up as a naughty little kid.
One day Yashodha was calling Krishna to have bath. Krishna was busy playing out and had least interest to listen to his mom. So Yashodha made many varieties of sweets and told Krishna will get sweets only if he takes bath. This deal moved Krishna to listen to his mom’s words. Thats why even today on Janamashtmi festival so many sweets are offered to Lord Krishna .
For Lord Krishna number 8 is very important. He was born on ashtami and was 8th child born to Devaki and Vasudev.

STORY 4:
Yadav Ladies always had complaints that Lord Krishna as a young boy stole butter from their house. One day Lord Krishna’s elder brother Balraam found him eating sand .He complained about this to Yashodha. Angry Yashodha came running to Krishna & asked him to open his mouth .She was astonished to see 7 worlds inside Lord Krishna’s mouth .First world had Yashodha checking Krishna’s mouth if he had eaten sand which in turn had another world inside (again in which Yashodha is checking Krishna’s mouth  if he had eaten sand) and so on…..

STORY 5
One day a yadav lady came to Yashodha’s house asking for justice .She convicted Krishna of stealing 2 golden bangles from her daughter’s hands .Lady narrated the following story. Lord Krishna came to the lady’s house and called her daughter and asked her to stretch her hands and close her eyes .She was one of the gopikas. So her heart was filled with love for Krishna and she obeyed his commands. Krishna snatched 2 gold bangles and vanished .He was found selling those bangles to someone for butter.
Yashodha did not believe this story and asked that girl to show her hands .Everyone around were astonished to see 20 gold bangles in girl’s hands. The girl did not have any bangles when she entered Yashodha’s house .
Acharya came up with the moral “If you offer something to GOD with true love, he gives you back10 times more .That is the love HE has for HIS devotees”

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Les Symbols des Couleurs

Les Symbols des Couleurs
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Blanche comme le lune a minuit en ciel
Rouge comme le lever ou coucher de soleil
Bleue comme le ciel tranquille
Verte comme jardin calme plein avec de les herbres
Brune comme le ligne de coco arbres
Multicoleure comme Gods couvert avec le decors

Qui donc est aussi fantastique,
Est-ce un reve ou est-ce veridique,
C'est le un forme de meditation dans temple magnifique, 
Fermez les yeux et ecoutez le musique classique.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Tips for French A1 Test

BONJOUR !!!!!!!!!!!

Questions for Oral Exam inclue:-
====================================



A)You go to First Room
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You have to randomly pick 2 sheets from a bundle of sheets.
1)One sheet contains pictures of different products that you have to buy say attire for women(femme/homme)or flowers (different types so must know their name)
2)Other sheet contains 4 words.You have to Frame 1 question with each word s and pose those 4 question to Jury and they will answer for those questions?
3)and a rough sheet
You get 10 min preparation time for wrting answers on rough sheet for above two questions in point 1) and 2) above .


B)Next you are sent to Jury in Another Room
------------------------------------------
SO now jury asks these:-

1)First question is --->Presentez Vous? You have to present yourself what is your name where you stay where you work your hobbies and interests and your dreams and about your family.In between jury asks questions about your family from you? or from in between what you speak in presentez vous aanswers?

2)Second question is --->Jury asks you to Ask 4 questions of Point 1 of A) aove:-
I got these words

*)Metier:-Vous aimez votre metier?Pourquoi?
*)Colleague:-Quelles sont les noms de votre collegues dans la bureau?
*)Transport:-Quels sont le moyen de Transport dans votre pays?
*)Heure:-Vous avez a l'heure, Sil vous plait?


3)Third question is --->Achetez un produit du a magasin ?Buying some product from shopkeeper?

*)Say Bonjour (it is a must)
*)One Jury member acts as shopkeeper
*)What product you have to buy you already know from sheet
I got the topic "tenue" Point 2) in A)
Femme-Tailleur,Purse(porche),Chapeau--Specify--Coleur,Taille,Model
Gents-Costume,Chausseurs----Specify Coleur,Taille,Model
*)Je voudrais acheter un costume pour moi commes sa ......
...
###)Quelle taille
*)....I dont remember---A1 level book

###)Quelle coleur
*)..noire..black



*)Quelle le prix pour ........
*)Vous acceptez carte de credit..
*)Aussi ,Je voudrais achete un costume pour mon mari comme sa ...
*)Ca fait combien
*)Merci (a must)
*)Auvoir,Bonjournee..........(a must)

==========================Now ORAl TEST IS OVER Relax....U have some time slot for written test..................



Questions for Written Exam inclue:-
====================================

Sample Paper Can be found in Internet for DELF-A1
1)Exrecise 1 -Listen to audio 2 times and answer some questions?Picture are there You can make out context from them


2)Exrecise 2 -Listen to audio 2 times and answer some questions?Picture are there You can make out context from them


3)Written Exam:-
*)One passage and questions follow?

a)Identity Card--Nom,Prenom,Profession,Date de naissane,Marital Status....

b)A letter inviting your friend for Picnic.Inform him:-
*) Format is important...

To Whom Date/Place

Salut....

Bonjour Comment cava...

Contents

Merci..

A bientot,
From Whom



*)Where/When is picnic...a la plage... a samedi prochain
*)How he can reach that place giving direction s and mode of transport to use..
prendre un autobus numero 23c du Adyar Arrete,
descendez du autobus a arrete de Besant nagar,
allez tout droit justqu la creme centre,
Tourne a gauche et alle tout droit jusqu du magasin FashionFolks...,
traversez la rue...Rue principal..
vous etes a la plage Besant Nagar....

*)Which all friends are coming?
j'ai invitee Ramya,Navneeth et Saundarya .
*)What all activities you will do there?
..Nous allons jouer a l'eau de la plage..et joue disk aussi ..
Nous allons mange gateau qui est preparee par moi,
Nous allons faire une promenade ou piscine
Nous allons bavarder beaucoup..
Nous allons aller a l'eglise qui est pres de la plage..

*)What you will cook and Bring?
Saundarya va prendre noodles et navnneeth va prendre idli .
Vous ... get ..quelque chose pour boire comme Fanta Thumps up etc etc si possible...
Nous allons passe le temps inoubliable...

*)Ask him for cofirmation
Confirmez avant prochain jeudi..
A demain...


Note:--
Paper is simple only.
In oral remember.... Bonjour and Merci (2 poinst for each).
For written read question carefully to understand what it expects and then reply logically.


BON CHANCE !!!
BON COURAGE!!!

AVOIR !! BONJOURNEE!!!!!!!!!

Story of Vishnus Avatar --- Pundarik Vithala of Pundarpur


Lord Vishnu and Narada Muni talking in Heaven
Lord Vishnu: Narada Muni ,” You should take avatar and go to Earth to help people suffering there “
Narada: “But lord I will fall in trap of worldly desires so I don’t want to go to Earth”
Lord Vishnu:”Don’t worry .If that happens Ill come to earth and bring you back to right path”
So Narada agrees and takes avatar and goes to Earth. There he becomes a rich merchant and takes peoples Gold jewels and gives them money.If they are not able to give money he keeps their things and uses their jewels. Soon he becomes very rich. He is always accumulating wealth from poor people and never donates money to poor.
One day when rich Merchant was at his shop a poor old man comes to him.
Old Poor man: ” Son, I am an old poor man.Please Help me by lending money for my daughter’s marriage.”
Rich Merchant: No I cannot help you.
Old man pleads several times but in vain. Then he moves to net shops .He keeps on collecting money from people I the city.
 Then he happens to go to house of Rich merchant. His Wife comes and greets him
Wife of Rich Merchant: “Would you like to take some food?”
She gives him food and he eats it and is happy with that.
Old Poor man: “Daughter, Please Help me by lending money for my daughter’s marriage.”
Wife of Rich Merchant :”I don’t have money .I have only this diamond nose pin that I am wearing .Please sell it and do your daughter’s marriage.”
Old Man thanks her, blesses her a lot and leaves .
He directly goes to rich merchant to sell the nosepin. As soon as Merchant sees nosepin he is shocked that it can be none other than his wife’s nosepin that he gave to her. He becomes angry that she gave it to him .He takes nosepin from old man and locks it in his Box .He tells old man to wait near shop and that he does not have so much money at his shop  So he would go to home and get money from there .
At home of Rich Merchant
Rich merchant: “Can you show me nosepin that you were wearing”
Wife of Rich Merchant: “Yes I’ll get it. Please wait”
She is very scared .She goes to Tulsi Plant and prays in front of it .She touches Tulsi plant and she is enchanting GODs matra to help her as to what she will tell her husband that she gave nosepin to someone without asking him.
When she is hugging Tulsi plant she  finds Nose Pin lying there .She hands it over to her husband .Now rich merchant is shocked. He runs to his shop and opens the locked box and finds there is no nosepin  in the box. Meanwhile old man has disappeared. He tries to search him but cannot find him. He realizes that GOD had come and tested him. He had come to show him Right path.From that day on he started helping poor people and donation money

Monday, February 21, 2011

Bramhotsavam 2011



17th Year Brahmotsavam (08.02.2011  to 19.02.2011)
Brahmotsavam is a festival celebrated for 10 days once in a year in South Indian Temples. Not all temples celebrate in the same month . In Tirupathi  it is always celebrated in September-October month. In Anantha PadmaNabha Swamy Temple of Gandhinagar Adayar,Chennai, it is celebrated in February – March months .





Diety in this temple is Called as “Anantha PadmaNabha” GOD Vishnu lying on Shesha Nag. This Temple is exact replica of temple in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.

Concept of Brahmotsavam
Every south Indian temple has two images of GOD. Main Image in Sanctum Sanctorum (Shrine)is called Moola Murti made up of STONE .It is fixed and does not move. This is First Image of GOD.
The second Image of GOD in every temple is made up of PANCHA Loha (alloy of Gold, Silver, Tin, Copper and Zinc).This is called as Utasava Murti. This image is taken in procession on Four Roads around the temple during the Bramhotsavam festival days. All 10 days GOD is decorated in different avatars and rides on different Vahanas(vehicles).



During festival days ,there will be one image of GOD is sitting on a jhoola (swing)in temple.You can push the swing and use fan as service to GOD. This is called as OONJHAL Sewa (OONJHAL means swing)

OONJHAL-HE is sitting on jhoola as HE would sit in BAIKUNTHA and it is called as PARAMPADANATHA






Day 0     MOOSHIGA VAHANAM SRI LAKSHMI GANAPATHY ALANKARAM
Day before festival starts , Ganesha is worshipped so that no obstacles come during the following 10 days of festival .In evening Ganesha is brought in Procession riding  on Mooshika(Mouse) (Alangaram means decoration)

Day1-SRI NARSIMHAR ALANKARAM SIMHA VAHANA(Lion)
On 1st day in morning on First day is Kodiyetram is done (Kodi means flag).Flag is raised in temple to announce beginning of this festival
In evening GOD comes riding on LION Vehicle so called as SIMHA VAHANA and GOD is decorated as Narasimha.
 
Day2-    SRI PARTHASARATHY ALANKARAM (Surya Prabhai)/SRI TRIUPATHY VENKATACHALAPATHI (Chandra Prabhai)
On 2nd day in morning GOD is decorated as SUN and is called as SURYA PRABHA
In evening GOD is decorated as MOON and called as CHANDRA PRABHA



Day3-SRI SARASWATHI ALANKARAM
On 3rd day evening,HAMSA (SWAN)( in Tamil ANNA VAHANAM )carries GOD dressed as Saraswathi with Veena.



Day4-SRI VAIKUNDANATHAR ALANKARAM
On 4th day in evening behind GOD will be hoods of Sesha naag (serpent) spread out.This image of GOD is called as SHESHA VAHANAM

Day5-SRI RAJA ALANKARAM
On 5th day in morning there is Garuda Sewa(Garuda means the bird,Brahmani kite, who carries Lord Vishnu)-GARUDA VAHANAM.







In evening there is Hanumantha sewa (SRI HANUMANTH  VAHANAM)where Hanumaan carries GOD and GOD is decorated as Lord RAMA.

Day6- SRI GURUVAYOORAPPAN ALANKARAM
On 6th day GOD is riding an Elephant decorated like GURUVAYURAPPAN and called as GAJA VAHANAM(Gaja means elephant).
Guruvayur is most famous Krishna temple in Kerala.
In temple there was a story enacted for Gajendra Moksha. Story->Once there was an elephant who daily without fail used to pluck flowers from a lake and offer to GOD.One day a crocodile caught his legs and he tried his level best to escape but could not.Then he started enchanting GODs name and GOD came riding on Garuda with his chakara ( Disc)to save him. Actually Elephant was some Devta in his previous janma and he was sent to Earth to suffer for some misbehavior. So he thanks GOD and returns to normal Devta form

Day7  PUNNAI MAARA ALANKARAM
It is called as THIRU THERmeaning Chariot procession.On this day GOD is taken for procession in a beautifully carved wooden chariot .People walk behind it chanting Vishnu Sahsranama.


On this day GOD will be standing in front of the PUNNAI  (TREE) MARA ..Punnai is the sacred Tree under which Krishna  used to stand and play the  flute in Brindavan.



GOD is decorated like Krishna as Pundarik Vithala of Pandarpur  in maharashtra with his wife Rukmani.Saint Purandaradasa has written 4 lakhs songs praising Pundarik Vithala and the saint says GOD is putting HIS Hands on his HIPS with gaps so that devotees can go and hug HIM .









Day8- SRI RAJA ALANKARAM
This day GOD is representing KALKI avatar riding on Horse KUDHIRAI VAHANAM (Ashwa).When the world is going to end GOD is supposed to come riding on a horse to save Righteous people from Pralaya (Total destruction)






Day9-SRI SWAMI THIRU KALYANA KOLA ALANKARAM
GOD is decorated as Vishnu with his  wives on his left and right namely Sridevi (symbolizing Prosperity) and Bhudevi(symbolizing Earth) .
Kalyana Utsavam means Marriage Celebration-Usually on 9th day  Marriage of GOD is celebrated in the Temple in the evening and after that procession of GOD and his wives  is taken out .On the way people offer sweets,sarees,dhotis and thali(mangala sutra ) for 2 wives of GOD. 


Whenever, Lord Vishnu descended on the earth,as an Avatara, Bhudevi and Sridevi also came down as his wives.For example,Bhudevi was Sita devi in Ramavatar and Sridevi and Bhudevi were Rukmini and Satyabhama in Krishnavatar.


Day10-VENNAI  THAZHI  KANNAN  ALANGARAM-Butter Pot Krishna
Bala Krishna holding a pot of Butter.He is sitting in a palaki made of flowers.So also called as Pushpa Pallakku in Tamil.






 On the last day there will be THEERTHA VARI meaning Bath in the river or temple tank.Usually 1 priest will take the image of GOD'S chakra , called SUDARSHANA  Alwar and immerse it 3 times in the  river. (GOD’s idol will not take bath only his chakra)

After that  there is Kodyirakkam means taking down the flag after successful completion of the festival during  the  last 10 days
Priests who decorate GODs in all these days are presented gifts with GOD'S  Blessings.
People came out of there houses and took the blessings of the God every day around 8:00 a.m.and around  8:00p.m..

Popular singers of Chennai gave performances in the evening from 7:00 p.m.to 10:00 p.m. in the hall adjacent to the temple.  Very talented artists play ed Classical music  on a variety of Instruments like Saxophone,Violin,Mridangam,Morsing,Tabla,Ghatam,Kanjira  both as Solo performers and also as accompanists to the  vocalists . There was also a musical discourse by a very talented young lady on Saint Purandara dasa.
Some popular names include:-
Padmasri Dr Kadri Gopalnath,Tmt KanyaKumari,Sri Praveen Kumar,Sri B RajaSekar,Sri Rajendran, Sri TN Krishnan,Smt Visaka Hari,Sri TV Sankar Narayan,Smt Gayathri Girish,Priya Sisters(Smt Haripriya and Smt ShanmugaPriya),Malladi Brothers(Sri Ram Prasad and Shri Ravi Kumar),Bombay Sisters(Smt C. Saroja ,Smt C. Lalitha)





The bhajans were followed by applause of devotees in large number. and finally my favorite prasadam was distributed.




 This is a good way to increase spirituality as well as appreciation of classical music in the city.


Zeole Link: http://zeole.com/chennai/what-is-bramhotsavam-2687