DEEPAVALI 2014

22ND OCTOBER 2014

BIRTHIMANE

Deepavali..... Festival of lights ...... is time of celebrations, family re-union, greeting each other, fellowship and re-establishing lost contacts....Throughout the world, hindus celebrate deepavali celebrate with pomp and enthusiasm.

EARLY MORNING OIL BATH

The first day was Wednesday 22nd Oct, 2014 is called Naraka Chaturdashi. People take oil bath early in the morning, light lamps, wear new dress and burn crackers and then in the night they light lamps and burn firecrackers again. People visit their relatives and friends, exchanging love and sweets.
At Birthi Mane, Bengaluru, we had family together..... Me, mom Ravi, Vidya and Rishi. With mon's instructions, all had to get up early, pray god and get ready for oil bath with hot water.

BURSTING CRACKERS

After that, with new dress, lit lamps, burn crackers and ate dosa and avalakki as breakfast. In the evening again we lit lamps, burn crackers with neighbours. It could not be done much, as it was raining.

LAKSHMI POOJA

On the second day, Thursday, 23rd Oct. people worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. There was nice floral decoration with rangoli, lamps and flowers. Few more crackers were burnt.  People decorate their houses with lit lamps and lanterns to welcome Lakshmi to their home and hearts. On this day businessmen close old accounts and open new accounts. The earth is lit up by lamps and the skies are coloured by the multicoloured lights of fireworks.

CHILDREN ENJOYING BURSTING CRACKERS

The next, Friday children from Somayaji's Learning Centre came with crackers and we joined them in burning and enjoyed.
It was a great feeling of celebrations.
written Tuesday, 28th Oct. 2014

WEDDING: KAVYA / MURALI

This time ..... it's the wedding of KAVYA - MURALI at Guru Narasimha Kalyana Pantapa at Bull Temple Road, Bengaluru on Monday, 13th October 2014.

Kavya is daughter of Ganesh, brother of Sunanda Somayaji. Wedding hall was full of people...... main event being exchange of garlands, kanya daana...... and the fellowship friends and relations......

We meet only at the functions.....
Then of course....... grand lunch......
written on Saturday 18th Oct. 2014

BOOK RELEASE AND AWARD FUNCTION

12TH OCTOBER 2014

WOODLANDS HOTEL, BENGALURU

Dr Paduru Gururaja Bhat Memorial Trust, Udupi had organized a award function and book release of the 2nd Edition "STUDIES IN TULUVA HISTORY AND CULTURE".on Sunday 12th Oct.2014 at Woodlands Hotel, Bengaluru.

Book release

Dr S Settar, recipient of the award

The recipient of Dr Gururaja Bhat Memorial Award -2013 was Dr S Settar, Historian and Researcher.

ಉದಯವಾಣಿ ವರದಿ;
ಇತ್ತೀಚಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ "ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಉತ್ಸವ" ಎಂಬ ಸಂತೆಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಹೈಜಾಕ್ ಮಡಲಾಗುತಿದ್ದುಪರಸ್ಪರ ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಟೀಕೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸೀಮಿತವಾಗುವ ಈ ಗುಂಪುಗಾರಿಕೆಯ ನಗ್ನ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನದ ವೇದಿಕೆಯಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಇತಿಹಾಸಕಾರ ಡಾ.ಎಸ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟರ್ ಆಕ್ರ‍ೋಶ ವ್ಯಕ್ತ ಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಜೈಪುರದಿಂದ ಹಿಡಿದು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನವರೆಗೂ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಂತೆಗಳ ಹಾವಳಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಹೊರತುಪಡಿಸಿ ಉಳಿದೆಲ್ಲ ವಿಷಯಗಳು ಈ ಸಂತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚರ್ಚೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಿವೆ.ಇಂತಹ ಸಂತೆಗಳಿಂದ ಸಂಶೋಧನೆಗೆ ಅಥವಾ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಪ್ರಯೋಜನವಾಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ ಇಂತಹ ಉತ್ಸವಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುವ ಘೋಷ್ಟಿಗಳು ನಮಗೆ ಬೇಕೇ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿಸಿದರು. ಈ ಮೊದಲು ಬುದ್ಧಿಜೀವಿಗಳು ಒಂದೆಡೆ ಸೇರಿ ಚರ್ಚೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರಲ್ಲಾ ಎಂದು ಸಮಾಧಾನವಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೆ ಈ ಉತ್ಸವಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಹೈಜಾಕ್ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಬಹಳ ಆತಂಕಾರಿ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಎಂದು ಕಳವಳ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದರು.
ಹಾಗೆಯೇ, ಇತ್ತೀಚಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪುರಸ್ಕಾರಗಳ ಸಂತೆಯೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿದೆ. ಮಠ, ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲೆಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ಪುರಸ್ಕಾರಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅರ್ಹತೆಗಿಂತ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಸಮತೋಲನ ಮಾಡುವ ಕಸರತ್ತುಗಳೇ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿದೆ. ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರಿಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂಬ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ವಿಶ್ವ ವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣೇತರರಿಗೆ ನೀಡುವುದು , ಇಂತಹ ಕಸರತ್ತುಗಳೇ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪಾತ್ರ ವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿವೆ ಎಂದು ಬೇಸರ ವ್ಯಕ್ತ ಪಡಿಸಿದರು.

The function was at Woodlands Hotel in Bengaluru, in the morning 10.00 am. Kittu Bhat from Mayagundi, Puttur, Dinesh Varambally and large number of people were there and the program was speeches, speeches and speeches....

Dr Gruraja Bhat's daughter & daughter-in-law

It was more of intellectual level of topic, historians, researchers and their difficulties...... The stage function was over by 1.30pm and buffet lunch followed.
Written Monday 13th Oct.2014

NAVRATRI 2014: AT BIRTHI MANE

28TH SEPTEMBER 2014

BIRTHIMANE

How did I miss writing about Navaratri get-together and lunch at Birthi Mane, Bengaluru, on Sunday 28th Sept 2014... I wonder....
It's mom's routine every year, one of the navratri days, she honours and gives HALDI-KUMKUM to few ladies for welfare and wellbeing of everyone.....

ASHA-RAMESH

So, on that day...... we had doddappa, Usha Kengeri, Sandhya Sadaram, Sridhar-Tara, Ramesh-Asha, Dinesh=Rekha and family, Sridhar-Bharthi Bidarahalli, Niranjan and we five............. Me, mom, Ravi-Vidya and Rishi......

Part of the lunch and sweet holige was ordered...... Bisi bele bath, fried. and mom cooked the rest..... rice, rasam, majjige huli, kosambri etc etc..... Nice lunch..... relaxed..... chatting...... all dispersed by 5pm........

written Monday 13th Oct.2014

IDAGUNJI DEVASTHANA

1OTH OCTOBER 2014

IDUGUNJI

We presumed that Idagunji Devasthana will be a short distance from Sagar, hence thought going for a visit. It was 130 km and two and half hour drive.
Left from Hongirana, Amatekoppa Sagara at 11 am, passed Jog Falls continued driving down in the western ghats, reached Honnavara at 1.30pm. From there, again about 5km along NH17 and a diversion from there about 15km. We reached there by 1.45pm, the temple prasadam was closed and the temple also was closed till 3.00pm
However, we three had a tumbler of payasa as prasada and waited till 3 pm for Darshana of Vinayaka,
Idagunji is a small place in Honnavara taluk, Uttar Kannada district, which has the famous Vinayaka temple. The temple is the main attraction at Idagunji, receiving more than 1 million devotees per year.
Idagunji Devasthana is an ancient temple with a history of more than 1500 years.At the end of 'Dwapara Yuga' great saints were praying to the Sutha-Pouranika at Badarikashrama. Shri Krishna had implied to eliminate the on coming doshas of 'Kaliyuga'. The divine saint, Valakhilya initiated narrating the significance of Kunjavana.

The great saints and Heavenly beings chanted the hymns in praise of Lord Ganapathi. Ganapathi, magnificently attired, was holding “Modhaka” and “Padma” in his hands.
Immensely pleased by the devotion rendered on him by the saints, Ganapathi expressed his desire to grant the wishes of his devotees. The other Gods were cherished and treated equivalently. They also blessed their worshippers. The other Gods appealed to go to their original places. Ganapathi emphasized his decision to stay and gratify the desires of his devotees. He also implied the Gods to leave behind a part of their omniscient power in the various lakes encompassed there.
The devotees can attain their hearts desires by dripping into the varied "Theerthas" and by offering pujas to Him. A lake was bestowed to provide water for bathing at Ganapathi's request. It was named as "Ganeshtith".So according to this purana , Lord Ganapathi stayed in the place Kunjaranya which is now renowned as Idagunji.
This brief summary explains the legendary and historical significance of the sanctity place of Idagunji.
Mhatobar Shree Vinayaka Devaru has been granting the wishes of thousands of people who regularly visit this place from year to year.

written Sunday, 12 October 2014

NAMAKARANA

6TH OCTOBER 2014

GURUNARASIMHA KALYANA MANTAPA, BENGALURU

proud mother with the baby RAGA

NAMAKARANA -Naming Ceremony...... an occasion to celebrate the arrival of new life in the family....  with relations and friends....
That was the occasion for Bhaskar Somayaji,, celebrating his grand daughter's presence and arrival.... Bhaskar comes from the extended family, from the same village, Salekeri, Birthi and now settled in Bangalore.

with Ramachandra Somayaji

His elder brother, Ramachandra Somayaji, went together to school, college and University, though he was one-year ahead.

Gathering

It was an occasion for a grand get-together, venue was at Gurunarasimha Mini Hall, at Basavanagudi, Bangalore, on Monday 6th October 2014. After the usual ceremonies, aarthi, presents and blessings, usual grand lunch on banana leaf.

written on Thursday, 9th October 2014

SHRI JENUKALLAMMA TEMPLE

Shri Jenukallamma Temple, Ammana Ghatta, near Kodoor, Shimoga Dist,  is really a powerful temple. This can be reached, either by Shimoga or Sagar. The temple is on a small hillock and inside a cave, is a karnik place.

Lot of people who believe in this Goddess Jenukallamma visit the place, offer pooja and get blessings.

ಜೇನು + ಕಲ್ಲು + ಅಮ್ಮ’ ಎಂಬಮೂರು ವಿಭಿನ್ನ - ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಶಬ್ಧಾರ್ಥಗಳ ಸಂಗಮ ಈ ಮಹಾಮಾತೆ.ಅಂದರೆ ಕಡಿದಾದ ಕಲ್ಲಿನಬೆಟ್ಟ, ಅದರ ತುಂಬಾ ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಕಟ್ಟಿರುವ ಹೆಜ್ಜೇನುಗಳ ಮೊತ್ತ, ಮಧ್ಯೆ ವಿರಾಜಮಾನಳಾಗಿದ್ದಾಳೆ ಈ ಅಮ್ಮ... ಅದಕ್ಕೇ ಮಲೆನಾಡಿನ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಬಾಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈಕೆ ಜೇನುಕಲ್ಲಮ್ಮ...!

ಇಡೀ ಹೊಸನಗರ ತಾಲ್ಲೂಕಿಗೆ ಅಂದರೆ ಮಲೆನಾಡಿನ ಹೃದಯ ಭಾಗಕ್ಕೆ ಈಕೆಯೇ ಕುಲದೈವ. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಹುಂಚಾ ಹೋಬಳಿಯ ಹುಂಚಾ, ಸೊನಲೆ, ಕೋಡೂರು, ನಾಗರಕೂಡಿಗೆ, ಇಟ್ಟಕ್ಕಿ, ಹೊಸನಗರ, ಕೊಳಗಿ, ವಾರಂಬಳ್ಳಿ, ಎರಗಿ, ಕುಂಭತ್ತಿ.ಜೇನಿ-ಚಿಕ್ಕಜೇನಿ, ಮೇಲಿನಸಂಪಳ್ಳಿ, ಕಾಳಿಕಾಪುರ, ಬೆಣ್ಣಕ್ಕಿ, ಮಾವಿನಕಟ್ಟೆ, ಮುಂಬಾರು ಹೀಗೆ ಹತ್ತು ಹಲವಾರು ಹಳ್ಳಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸಿಸುವ ಬಹುಸಂಖ್ಯಾತರಾದ ‘ದೀವರ’ ಜನಾಂಗಕ್ಕೆ ಈಕೆಯೇ ಹಡೆದಮ್ಮನೆಂದರೆ ಅತಿಶಯೋಕ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲ. ನಾವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಜೇನುಕಲ್ಲಮ್ಮ ತಾಯಿಯ ಒಕ್ಕಲು ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದರಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಅದೆಂಥದೋ ಸಂಭ್ರಮವಿದೆ ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ.

The day we visited, Saturday, 4th Oct,2014 was a special day, Vijaya Dashami. There was CHANDIKA HOMA for the Goddess and huge crowd was there and it was like a festival.

We could get the darshan of the Goddess after which lunch was served as prasadam to all people present and for that long line of people waiting. It was buffet served on a plate with rice, rasam, payasam and buttermilk.
After that we went up on the hill, climbed on the rock and spent time there.
We visited Neelakanta Udupa, resident of Kodoor, distant  relation guided us and his wife accompanied us to visit the temple.
written Tuesday 7th Oct. 2014

AYUDHA POOJA - HONGIRANA SCHOOL

WITH SHOBHA AND NALINI

We were at HONGIRANA SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE, near SAGAR, on a visit. That day happened to be Maha Navami and the school was performing Ayudha Pooja for 14 buses and other vehicles and equipments.

As Shobha, my niece, is the head and CEO of the school, my car HYUNDAI SANTRO was washed and kept for Pooja.
The buses, cars and motor bikes were washed, decorated with flowers, pooja was performed by Purohit.
K G Nagesh Rao, Shobha's uncle was present and was actively helping pooja ceremonies.

FLEET OF BUSES

Ayudha Puja is an integral part of the Navratri festival (festival of triumph), a Hindu festival which is traditionally celebrated in India. It is also called "Astra Puja", the synonym for Ayudha Puja. In simple terms, it means “Worship of Implements”.
The principal Shakti goddesses worshiped during the Ayudha puja are Saraswati (the Goddess of wisdom, arts and literature), Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) and Parvati (the divine mother), apart from various types of equipment.

POOJA PERFORMED

On the ninth day of Navaratri, i.e. the Mahanavami day,vehicles, books and all equipments are ceremoniously kept in front of the Goddess Sarasvati and pooja is conducted by purohit and the elders.

PROCESSION

It was a very auspicious occasion, and after the pooja, vehicles were taken for a procession for short spin.
written on Tuesday, 7th Oct.2014 

APSARA KONDA FALLS

5TH OCTOBER 2014 

We visited APSARA KONDA FALLS on our way back, after visiting Idagunji Mahaganapathi Temple.
The place is very beautiful and we have to walk down about 25 steps, behind the temple to reach the pond. The water is not very clean but height through whch water falling is very pleasant. One can spend about half an hour enjoying, being under the falls. 
There are lot of stones in the pond.

There also a small park, and a beautiful view of sunset and the river joining the sea from the top of the hills.
Apsara konda(Apsarakonda) is a small village near Honnavar, town in Uttara Kannada district. 8 kms from Honnavar are the "Apsara Konda Falls" (Pond of the Celestial Nymphs) set in a picturesque setting and a fine beach that offers glorious sunsets.
Legend says that the Apsaras (Heavenly fairies) used to come here to bathe and relax. The place truly exudes heavenly beauty. There is Devi temple and a branch of Ramachandra mutt. There are several big caves on the hillock called ‘Pandavas caves’.With a view of the river, the sea, lthe islands, l;the lush green fields and coconut groves, the Apsarkonda hillock verily offers a feast to the eyes that see.
It was quite a nice attraction near Honnavar, Uttara Kannada Dist.
written Monday 6th Oct. 2014