Author: Natarajan

Legends of Onam: Let us all welcome Maveli, the righteous king!…

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Onam is one the most anticipated festivals celebrated with much fanfare and merriment by the people in Kerala, irrespective of one’s caste or creed.

Usually coinciding with crop harvests in the region, the story behind how the festival came into being goes all the way back to Vedic and Puranic ages.

The mythical King Mahabali, considered to be one of the greatest kings to have ever ruled Kerala, is believed to ascend to Earth from the netherworld to meet his subjects once every year.

It is his homecoming that is celebrated as the festival of Onam, as we know it today.

The king remains quite popular in Kerala even to this day, as testified by the folk song, Maaveli Naadu Vannidum Kaalam (When Maveli, our King, ruled the land), that speaks of his reign being one where all were equal.

According to the traditional legend, the king’s growing popularity amidst the common people became a rising concern for the jealous gods, Indra in particular.

According to Hindu beliefs, when a king or an emperor has a considerable number of fair and just deeds to his credit, he has the power to dethrone even Indra, who is the god of the gods.

Threatened by Mahabali’s rising greatness, they decided to hatch a scheme against the king and rope in the supreme god Vishnu.

Taking the form of a poor Brahmin monk named Vamana, Vishnu approached the king and asked to be granted a boon. Mahabali, who was known for his altruistic qualities, readily agreed to the monk’s request. 

An ancient illustration depicting Vamana casting the king to netherworld. Source: Wikimedia. 
Vamana wished for a parcel of land that he could cover in three paces or steps. Amused by such a trivial request, the king granted his wish. However, the ‘simple’ monk soon transformed into a giant – and covered all of the king’s lands in just two steps.

Where to put the third step? The king could not go back on his word. Having nothing left that he could pledge, Mahabali offered his head to the monk as the third step. Vamana’s final step pushed the king to the netherworld, thus robbing him of his earthly commitments and his throne to heaven.

Vishnu offered the king a chance to visit his kingdom once every year, for his attachment to his subjects was well known even amidst the gods.

And thus, the festival of Onam came into being, marking the homecoming of the noble king, who is lovingly called Maaveli by his people.

Different rituals are practised even today that celebrate the reign of the king, which is considered to be a golden era in the history of Kerala.

Interestingly, despite the role that Vamana had in the banishment of Mahabali, he is not written off as a villainous character in the state.

In fact, one of the major instalments of the festivities includes statues of both figures. These are circulated in homes of people as a representation of the king’s visit as well as the god’s.

While the statue of Mahabali is known as Onathappan, Vamana’s form goes by the name of Thrikkarayappan, the lord of the land covered in three paces. And both make way into the floral arrangement of Pookalam on Pooradam, the eighth day of Onam.

And as the month of Chingam falls by year after year, the people of Kerala continue to await the visit of their beloved king and seek his blessings.

Source….LekshmiPriya .S in http://www.betterindia.com

Natarajan

 

 

 

 

Message for the Day…”Wherever you see in this world today, there are only ‘pieces’, not ‘peace’. Peace is very much in your inner self. Hence search for it by means of an inward journey. That is your duty.”

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Source: http://media.radiosai.org/

People repose their faith in such a frail and impermanent physical body. This body is like a puppet with nine holes in it, and it may collapse at any time with a mere sneeze. Reposing their faith in such a perishable body, people forget the invaluable ornaments stored in it. That is the reason why you suffer mental agitation. You go to a millionaire and enquire, “Sir! You have everything in this world; but do you have peace?” He will immediately reply, “I have everything but not peace.” Wherever you see in this world today, there are only ‘pieces’, not ‘peace’. Peace is very much in your inner self. Hence search for it by means of an inward journey. That is your duty. Unfortunately you forget this sacred duty and desire for paltry and mean things. When you are able to manifest your own innate noble qualities, you can experience true and eternal peace.

Message for the Day …”To digest the food you have taken, you have to engage in some physical activity. To digest the lessons that you imbue through holy company or through the study of great books, don’t you have to practice them in daily life?”

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Source: http://media.radiosai.org

Many of you have read many great books, including the Ramayana and the Bhagavata many times, for they are now easily available at a very low cost. But what proof can you give for having profited by the hours that you have spent with them? To digest the food you have taken, you have to engage in some physical activity. To digest the lessons that you imbue through holy company or through the study of great books, don’t you have to practice them in daily life? Manana (recapitulation) is a very important spiritual practice (Sadhana); dwell in silence on the implications of the lessons you have come across. Keep up the enthusiasm that has given you the patience to sit through many spiritual satsangs for several hours. Develop it, and seeking the company of pious men and women, strengthen your satwik(serene and pure) tendencies, and progress in the spiritual path. You have My blessings.

“Message for the Day…”Be serene and calm in stress and storm – that is the Satwik or pious path to win the Lord, the Truth. The mind is a wonder, its antics are even more surprising. It has no distinct form or shape. It assumes the shape or form of what it is involved in.”

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Source: http://media.radiosai.org/

Without giving up sloth, how can Truth be known? Without giving up passion, how can devotion take root? Be serene and calm in stress and storm – that is the Satwik or pious path to win the Lord, the Truth. The mind is a wonder, its antics are even more surprising. It has no distinct form or shape. It assumes the shape or form of what it is involved in. Wandering from wish to wish, flitting from one desire to another is its nature. It causes loss and grief, elation and depression. Its effects are both positive and negative. The mind will gather experiences and store them in the memory forever. It does not know the art of giving up! As a consequence, grief, anxiety and misery continue simmering in it. It is worthwhile to know the characteristics of your mind and the ways to master it, for you will ultimately benefit! Teach it sacrifice (tyaga), and you will become spiritually wise (yogi)!

Joke for the Day… ” Which Barbie doll you mean , Sir …” ?

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One day a father gets out of work, and on his way home he suddenly remembers that it’s his daughter’s birthday.

He dashes over to a toy shop and asks the sales person: “how much for one of those Barbies in the display window?”

The salesperson returns: “which one do you mean, Sir?

We have Work Out Barbie for $19.95, Shopping Barbie for $19.95, Beach Barbie for $19.95, Disco Barbie for $19.95, Ballerina Barbie for $19.95,Astronaut Barbie for $19.95, Skater Barbie for $19.95, and Divorced Barbie for $199.95.”

he amazed father asks: “how much?! Why is the divorced Barbie $199.95 and the others only $19.95?”

The annoyed salesperson rolls her eyes, sighs, and answers:

“Sir, the other Barbies only come with an outfit. Divorced Barbie comes with: Ken’s Car, Ken’s House, Ken’s Boat, Ken’s Furniture, Ken’s Computer and one of Ken’s best friends.”

Source….www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…”Show that you have greater brotherliness, speak less, speak with more sweetness and self-control and demonstrate that you can bear defeat and victory with calm resignation.”

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Source: http://media.radiosai.org/

Your worldly intelligence cannot fathom the ways of God. God cannot be recognised by mere cleverness, which is what your intelligence is! You may benefit from God, but you cannot explain Him. You may benefit from electricity and use it in thousand ways, but you cannot explore and explain its mystery. At best, your explanations are merely guesses, attempts to clothe your ignorance in pompous expressions. The real mistake is, you give the brain more value than it deserves. The Supreme Truth (Para-tattva) is beyond your brain. Standing on a rock, can you lift it? Standing in ignorance (maya), you cannot discard it! Bring something into your daily practice as evidence of your having known the secret of the higher life from Me. Show that you have greater brotherliness, speak less, speak with more sweetness and self-control and demonstrate that you can bear defeat and victory with calm resignation.