Shlokas with a Purpose: Shloka to beget Children

This Shloka as its name suggests will ensure progeny and can be recited by those who wish to get pregnant and beget children....
Sri Jnana Bhaskara Vamsa Vrudhi kara Durga Kavacham

Sanaischara Uvacha:-

Bhagawan deva devesa krupaya thwam jagat prabho , vamsakhya kavacham broohi mahyam sishyaya they anagha yasya prabhavath devesa, Vamso vrudhir jayathe,

Surya Uvacha:-

Srunu puthra pravakshyami , vamsakhyaam kavacham shubham,
Santhana vrudhir, yath padath Garbha raksha sada nrunam. 1

Vandhyapi labhathe puthram kaka vandhya suthair yadha,
Mrutha vathsa suputhra asyath sravath Garbha sthira praja. 2

Apushpa pushpinee yasaya , dharanascha sukha prasoo,
Kanya praja puthreeni yethath sthothram prabhavatha. 3

Bhootha prathadhija bhadha, ya bhadha kali dhoshaja,
Graha bhadha , deva bhadha bhadha shathru krutha cha yaa. 4

Bhasmee bhavathi sarvasthaa , kavachasya prabhavatha,
Sarva rogo vinasyanthi sarve bala grahascha yea. 5

Poorva rakshathu Varahee, cha agneyam ambika swayam,
Dakshine Chandika raksheth nairuthya hamsa vahini. 6

Varahe paschime raksheth, vayavyam cha maheswari,
Uthare Vaishnavi raksheth , eesanyam simha vahini. 7

Oordhwam thu sharadha raksheth, adho rakshathu Parvathi,
Shakambharee shiro raksheth, mukham rakshathu bhairavi. 8

Kantam rakshathu Chamunda, hrudayam rakshathachiva,
Eesani cha bhujou raksheth, kukshim nabhim cha kalika. 9

Aparna hyudaram raksheth katim bhasthim Shiva Priya,
Ooru rakshathu kaumari, jaya janu dhwayam thadha. 10

Gulphou padou sada raksheth Brahmani Parameshwari,
Sarvangani sada raksheth durga durgarthi nasini. 11

Namo devyai maha devyai durgai sathatham nama,
Puthra soukhyam dehi dehi Garbha raksham kurushwa na. 12


Om Hreem. Hreem hreem, sreem sreem sreem, Iym , Iym , Iym
Mahakali . Maha Lakshmi , Maha Saraswathi roopayai, nava koti moorthyai,
Durgayai nama, hreem, hreem, hreem.

Durgarthi nasini Santhana soukhyam dehi dehi

Vandhyathwam mrutha vathsathwam hara hara

Garbha raksham kuru kuru

Sakalam bhadham kulajam bahyajam krutham akrutham cha nasaya nasaya

Sarva Gathrani raksha raksha
Garbham poshaya poshaya

Sarvopadhravam soshaya soshaya swaha,

Anena kavechanangam saptha varabhi manthritham,
Rithu snano jalampeethwa bhaveth garbhavathi druvam. 13

Garbha patha bhaye peethwa druda Garbha prajayathe 14


Anena kavachenaadha marjitha yaa nisagame,
Sarva badha vinirmuktha garbhinee syath na samsaya. 15

Anena kavacheneha grandhitham raktha dorakam,
Kati dese darayanthi suputhra sukha bhagini,
Asootha puthramindrani jayanthamyath prabhavatha. 16

Gurupadhishtam vamsakhyam kavacham thadhidham sada,
Guhyath guhyathara chedham na prakasyam hi sarvatha,
Dharanath patanadhasya vamsachedho na cjayathe. 17

Ithi Sri Jnana Bhaskare Vamsa Vrudhikaram Durga kavacham.

Sanach Sampaak / Habbada Adige Festival Food ..

Here are a few recipes to make on any festival. This is the traditional Habbada adige....

Bhagyach KHEER (Akki kadale Bele Payasa)

This kheer is called Bhagyach kheer and is especially made for Varmalakshmi puja and bhogi etc. Mix the pressure cooked dal and rice with sufficient qty of milk and keep for boiling.
After it has boiled and thickened, add required amount of jaggery or sugar. Stir
Add ground cardamom, saffron crushed in hot milk.
Heat 2 tablespoons of ghee, fry some cashews and raisins separately and add to the kheer.

Beans Palya:Bhaji

Heat 2 tsp of oil, add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp urad dal, 2 broken red chillies in it.
Once urad dal turns reddish, add the boiled beans and salt.
Finally garnish with fresh grated coconut and take off fire. (Can add a tsp of sugar for those who like )

Potato or Chowchow palya:/Bhaji

Steam the vegetable till tender.
Heat 2 tsp oil, add mustard seeds and hing. Add the vegetable and salt and haldi.
Cook for a few minutes and add a few tsps Bhaji powder or sambar powder. Garnish with fresh grated coconut and coriander.

Chana dal Koshimbir:
Drain the soaked chana dal and mix with fresh grated coconut , sugar and ground cardamom seeds.

Mung Dal Koshimbir:

Drain the soaked mung dal, add to it some grated coconut, 1 grated carrot, coriander, salt and
finely chopped green chillies.
Heat 1 tsp of oil, add mustard seeds, urad dal and 1 broken red chilli and season the koshimbir with this.

White Pumpkin Khadi/Majjige paldya

Grind the above soaked chana dal with 3 tbsp of coconut, 4 green chillies(vary according to how much spice can be handled), 2 tsps jeera or cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 3 or 4 peppercorns and 1 tsp dhania seeds .
Heat 2 tsp oil, add mustard seeds, urad dal, 1 red chilli and hing. Next add chopped white pumpkin.
Add haldi and little water and cook till tender.
Once tender add the ground paste along with well beaten curds. Add salt and cook till the first sign of boiling. Take off fire and garnish with coriander.

Saar

Heat a tsp of ghee, add mustard seeds,jeera and hing.
Next add Chopped tomatoes.
Soak some tamarind in water, squeeze and add tamarind pulp once the tomatoes are cooked.
Now add saar powder or rasam powder, salt and haldi and curry leaves and allow to boil.
Add 1/4 cup of the above boiled dal mixed with water to required quantity and boil.
Garnish with coriander.

Mango rice/Ambecha Bhaath

Grind 3tsps coconut and 1/2 grated mango along with 1/2 tsp mustard seeds and 2 red chllies or3 green chillies and hing
Heat oil, add mustard seeds, urad dal 1 red chiili and add the ground mango coconut mixture. Cook till mango is somewhat cooked.
Mix with the cooked rice.

Ambode

Grind the dals soaked for ambode with the chillies and salt . Add some green chliies if needed.
Add salt, 1/4 tsp jeera if liked. ADD VERY LITTLE WATER TO GRIND.
Chop finely some dill leaves and add to this mixture along with curry leaves and coriander.
Heat oil, shape and deep fry

Waran/Thovve:
Finally dont' forget to add some seasoning of mustard seeds, urad dal and hing to the plain dal
for waran.
Can add this when making the seasoning for the mung dal koshimbir.
Add salt and coriander.

Serving food on festival day.

If the meal is served on a banana leaf, the pointed side of the leaf is to be on the left only.
The Deasasthas and Madhvas start serving with salt, on the left hand side, upper portion of the leaf corner salt. Next to it will be Chutney or pickle, then the two koshambaris side by side, then the two Bhajis. These will all be in a row on the upper portion of the leaf. Just below the bhaji is the Raitha. Now on the lower portion of the leaf, right hand corner, will be served the a spoon full of Kheer, a little above it is the varan[salted and seosoned dal], Left hand side corner will be lime rice or any mixed rice. pappad, and ambodey, is on the right hand side upper portion of the leaf. Water glasses are kept to left side of the leaf. After everybody is seated rice is served and then ghee. [It is said one should not eat a meal with out ghee]. After the men have done Chitravathi and said govinda can
all the others members can start to eat. The sambar or kadi whatever the Kaalvan[gravy dish] is served. One has to start by eating the kheer first. After sambar/kadi Saar is served, then the sweet the the kheer, and last is dahi.
Even though i mention sambar, sambar is NOT made on festival days. Kadi/ Pitla or Bisibele bhath is made.
When one has finished eating, if the salt has not been used , one has to pour a little water over it. I think, this is because if any person has eaten, so neatly but, the salt left alone it could be mistaken for a New leaf.
Important point to remember is VADA made out of Udad or Rice flour is NEVER made on festival days. Only ambodais are made, if this is not possible , Bhaji, mangalore bonda or Pkodas using bendi in place of onion is fried.
For festivals like Vralakshmi or Gowri puja or when a Bramin and savashni are invited for any other function, all the family members should wait till the bramin/savashni have started to eat then only can the family members start to eat. Children should be taught the rule from young age.
In many households i find the children and adults, eat with a spoon and without washing their hands serve themselves. Even if one eats with a spoon, it is USHTA[enjalu]. All people dont like this. This has become a trend, after this Buffet system came into Vogue. This is not a good habit. All parents have some ground rules in the family so some system will be followed.
Make it a point , that the full family are all present, for the puja in the family and also for lunch. The women take lot of trouble to cook, it makes her happy if the family partakes the food with word or two appreciating the dishes.
Our ancients had made these rules to keep the togetherness in the family and also the children, grand children all become aware of the customs followed by each individual family and the tradition.
If a bramin couple have been invited for lunch and the food is being served on the floor, before placing the banana leaf clean the floor, and at the place the leaf is to placed , pour a spoonfull of water, and with that water make a square and on that place the leaf. The square drawn out of water is called a Mandal. [ May be this is done so that the leaf stays in place.] Then in front of the leaf, draw a rangoli with haldhi or haldhi mixed with white rangoli. Then the food is served as mentioned at the start of this post.Generally bhaji is served as it is consumed, the mixed rice is served a second time after the sweet is served.Rice is offered before every kalvan [gravy] is served. Even though Kheer is served at the start of a meal, it is again served after the sweet, and a must. NO sweet is served after Dahi,[curds].[This is not a superstition like some think.Sugar as is well known is bad for the teeth.Dahi or butter milk has the good bacteria keep the keep the teeth and mouth clean.]
Some dishes that should not be made on festival days and some vegetables .
Poori and Seekarni[Seekarni is banana mashed to which sugar milk and cardomom is added and mixed]. Karela in any form, Arvi, Raw kela, [though this is used by the desasthas of tanjore], in karnataka this is not used.Soji/rava kesari/sooji halwa is not to be made and also Rava kheer.
Gojju is not made, though in Udupi cooking they make it, desasthas dont.SAmbar is not allowed.Brinjal, snake gourd, bala dhind[inner stem of a banana plant after it has yielded the flower and friut], the avarai that grows on the creeper, in hindi it is called Sem.
Another Sweet which is not made on festivals is Shakra Pongal.

Traditional Deshastha Recipes.

There are a few recipes which is made in our houses especially the Thanjavur Marathi homes, like Rasa-Vangi, Golyacha-Ras, Pitla, Ambodai and Kadi which is eaten with Waran.

I will on this blog try to note a few of the recipes I happen to know.

Vangicha Ras or Rasa-Vangi.

• Recipe is for a 1/4 kilo of Vangi.
• Soak lime-sized amount of tamarind in water and extract pulp
• Fry separately each of these ingredients...

2 tbsp Chana Dal
1 1/2 tsp Udad Dal
1 tsp Coriander seeds
2 tsp Khus Khus
2 /3 Cloves(optional)
5/6 Red Chilli
1/4tsp Methi Seeds
1/2 Cup Fresh Grated Coconut
Jaggery as per taste
Hing and Salt to taste

• Fry chana dal and udad dal and methi seeds till golden the rest till they are crisp
• Cut the vangi into long slices and put it in water to retain the colour
• In a kadai add 2 tablespoons oil and when this is hot add mustard seeds, when this splutters add the vangi and fry for a few mins.
• Add the tamarind pulp with enough water and let it boil.
• In the mean time powder the fried items then add the coconut and grind to a fine paste.
• When the vangi is soft and boiled add the paste and let it boil till the raw smell disappears a whiffrasa vangi aroma emits.
• Add the jaggery and curry leaves.
• Serve hot with rice
• If desired a small piece of dal chini can be added when the dry ingredients are being fried.

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Bhendyacha Ras. The recipe for this is the same as Rasa Vangi. Bhendi is used instead of Vangi.

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Golyacha Ras

For this the recipe is the same as above with a few changes. Of course instead of vangi, it is made with golyas(kofta) made of raw jackfruit or raw banana.

Recipe for the Golyas is as follows...
Boil a 1/4 kilo of peeled raw jackfruit or raw banana with a little salt. And cool.
Mash this and mix with it 2 tablespoons of besan, salt , chilli powder and a little Marathi Masala also called Goda masala and make small balls called golyas.
Deep fry these golyas in oil.
The rest of the recipe is same as that of Rasavangi, except INSTEAD of Vangi, add the deep fried Golyas.

TIP: The raw jack fruit is peeled and made into small pieces and boiled with a little salt.
In case of the banana , it is boiled whole with the skin, then peeled and mashed

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Daangar

• Take a little sour dahi about one cup, udad atta ----2tsp.
• Mix the udad atta in the curds without any lumps .
• In a small kadai pour in 2/3 tsps oil when this is hot add 1/2 tsp udad dal 1/4 tsp mustard, green and red chili as per taste and hing.
• Pour this over the mixed curds. Add salt and mix well. This is usually served with sambar.

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Basic ingredients for masala powders.

1 Marathi Masala.
Lavanga Patta [ Cinnamon]--- 10 grams,--Lavanga[cloves]---5 grams, Yelaichi[cardamom]----5 grams.--Malli Moggu---5 grams,---Bay Leaf---2,--- Star Aniseed--2/3,---Dhania Seeds ---50 grams,---Chana Dal--25 grams,--Red chillies [kashmir or byadige] 8/10,Poppy seeds 20/25 grams.
Fry all the above one by one with a little oil till a good aroma emits cool and powder to e fine powder and store in air tight bottle.

2. Marathi Masala.
Dhania seeds-------4 cups, Chana dal and Udad dall----!/4 cup in each,Jeera----1/2 cup, Til[white]---- 1/2 cup,, Grated dry coconut------one full,Malli moggu----7/8 pieces, Dal chine -- --- -- 4/5 long pieces, Methi----1 tsp, Lavanga----7/8, Chilli powder------10 tsps[ less if you like it bland]. Salt ---to taste.
Fry all the ingredients separetly on low heat and powder together and store in air tight container.
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RECIPES WITH LEFT OVER RICE

Even though I am giving some tips to use left over rice, try and and make the correct amount, as rice has high starch, and will spoil easily.

To Measure Rice:

How do you measure rice to avoid leftover rice?

On an ordinary day when the meal consists of a bhaji, sambar, saar and dahi, rice is measured, 3/4s cup per head, and for children 1/2 cup. On a festival day when the menu has a sweet and kheer etc 1/2 a cup per person will in most times suffice.

Do not use left over rice for more than a day. Use the rice cooked in the night the next morning, dont keep till late in the day.

However careful we are in measuring rice, we do find at times we land up with a good quantity of leftover rice! Here are some recipes to use leftover rice....

Khichdi with leftover rice:
One can make Khichdi with the left over rice.

• Boil the Mung dal with the usual masala ie ginger, curry leaves, pepper, jeera, and haldhi powder.
• When the dal is boiled soft add salt ghee and the rice and mix well. Serve hot.

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Coconut Rice with leftover rice.

• For two cups of rice, use 1/2 cup coconut scrappings, 2/3 table spoona chana dal, 2 tblspspoons udad dal, 6 dry red chillies as per taste, oil and mustardseeds , curry leaves and hing.
• Fry the dals and chillies till the dals turn golden, cool and grind to a coarse powder and keep aside.
• In a kadai add about two tblsps of oil add the mustard when this splutters add the curry leaves then the coconut scrappings and fry till the coconut turns pink.
• Add the ground powder and rice and mix well. Serve with fried pappads.

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Pepper Rice
For two cups of cooked rice:- In a kadai pour in two table spoons oil. When this heats up add a teaspoon on udad dal, 1/2 tsp mustard, hing and curry leaves. When the udad dal is golden add 11/2 to 2 tsp of pepper powder[ adjust the pepper powder as per taste] , mix well and remove from fire put in the rice and salt mix well. garnish with dry coconut scrapings. If desired a few kajus can also be added.
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Instead of pepper powder one can use udad dal, which has been roasted golden and ground into a course rava. For two cups of rice 2 to 2 1/2 tblsps of dal will do.

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Make a instant pakodas, To one cup of rice or even less add 3/4 tblsps of basen a pinch of baking powder, onion or finely cut cabbage, curry leaves salt. mash the rice well then add the other incredents. Fry as for pakodas till golden serve hot with chutney or tom sauce.

Publish Post

Mustard Rice.

A very tasty dish with mustard.

Incredents:- Raw rice----one cup, Mustard ---two tea spoons, pepper ---1/2 tea spoon, Cummin seeds---- one tea spoon, cooking oil[best with gingelly oil] one table spoon, Salt ---to taste, Curry leaves a few, Asophoptida 1/4 tea spoon.

Cook rice and keep it warm. In a pan add two tea spoons of oil, heat the oil add the mu.stard seeds , when they splutter add pepper and cummin seeds. Fry for few seconds ans switch off the stove. when it is cool,. grind it to a fine powder. Add this to the rice add rest of the oil and mix well. garnish with curry leaves. Serve with pappad or chips.

This powder can be made in a large quantity and stored

Sri Satyanarayana Vratha Katha

After performing the Satyanarayana Puja, one should read Lord Satyanarayana's Vratha Katha without fail.

Click Here for details on Sri Satyanarayana Puja method.

INTRODUCTION

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita (Ch4.9) " Janma Karma cha may divyam yevam yo veththi tha-thwathah...." " One who knows My divine birth and activities will not be born again". Sri Sathyanarayana katha is one such activity of the Lord, by studying which we have every chance of being liberated. Sri Sathyanarayana katha forms a vital and integral part of this pooja. Not listening to the katha will be a major loss. Repeatedly hearing this story and meditating on its different aspects will make us more and more interested in the Lord and His activities. As the Lord Himself says further in Gita (Ch9.14) "Sathatham keerthayantho maam yathanthascha dradhavrathaah: "The mahaatmaas among devotees, always speak and sing My glories, and try with determination, to realize Me"

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

CHAPTER 1

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

Shri Sathyanaranayana katha is from Skandha purana, Reva kaanda. Sutha Puraanikji was the narrator of these stories, in Neimishaaranya to the rishis lead by Shounakji who were performing a 1000 year yajna for the benefit of mankind.

Shounakaji and others now ask Suta Puranikji an important question. "When a man has a desire, how can he fulfill that ethically sound desire? By worshipping whom, by what vrita, or tapas? Please let us know.

Sutaji was pleased to know that this question they asked, was for the benefit of the mankind and not for their personal benefit, for, they had abandoned their homes and all desires. Sutaji said " this question was also asked by Devarshi Naradaji once to Lord Narayana Himself; Let me tell you that story.

Once Naradaji was traveling all over the worlds and finally came to Bhuloka, where he found almost everyone was suffering one or the other misery on account of their past Karmas and were not knowing how to extricate themselves from their untold miseries which were multiplying everyday on account of their ignorance. Being a Satjana his heart felt their agonies and immediately he reached Vaikunta, to Lord Narayana to find the right answer for getting the people out of their miseries. But when he sees the Lord, being a great devotee of the Lord, he forgets his purpose and starts praising the Lord. The Lord Narayana smiles at him and asks the purpose of his visit, knowing that normally Naradaji does not visit Him without a purpose. Naradaji tells Him what he saw and requests Him a panacea for all such miseries. The Lord is now happy at this question of Naradaji because of Naradaji’s intention of benefiting the world by seeking the right answer. The Lord said:

Yes, there is a vrita called Sri Satyanarayana vrita which is not known to the inhabitants of the Bhuloka. This is a secret and yet since your interest is the benefit of the mankind, I shall narrate to you this vrita. This can be performed by anyone (anyone means it does not need an expert or a priest to worship the Lord - ANYONE of any caste, community, creed can worship the Lord directly) and very easily. One who does this, will get all the benefits and the pleasures of this world and will eventually get Moksha too. Now Narada wants to know more details of this vrita. The Lord says, this can be done any day, in the evening. Gather friends and relatives and perform this vrita with faith and devotion. The prasad for this vrita is known as Sapaad which is prepared thus: Take an equal measure of rava, Milk, Ghee, Banana, Sugar ( the measure should be 1 1/4 or multiples thereof ) cook it till all mix into a paste. The night should be spent in Bhajans and praise of the Lord. All those attending Pooja should be given food and respect. Thus the performer will get all his wishes fulfilled.

End of Chapter 1

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

CHAPTER 2

Sri Lord Narayana tells Narada the further story:

There was an old and poor Brahmin in the city of Kashi. He was a man of virtue and yet extremely poor and was always begging for the next meal. Since the Lord is Viprapriya- (Brahmana priya means Lover of Brahmana- Brahmana means anyone on the devotional path ) - He came in the guise of an old Brahmin and accosted him " Tell me my friend, what ails you?". The brahmin replied "I am an old and very poor man and I shall be grateful if you can tell me how to get rid of this poverty of mine which does not seem to leave me". The Lord replied "Why don’t you perform Sri Satyanarayana Vrita", and He told him how to perform the Vrita.

The poor man now desires to do this vrita and thinking over these thoughts of the Lord he goes to bed. He could not sleep on account of these thoughts. Again in the morning he had same thoughts and he says to himself, "whatever I earn today by begging I shall use it to perform the vrita". Since the Lord likes such feelings, (Bhavena Devam - Lord does not want our material possessions, he is won by the genuineness of our feelings) that day, he got plenty of money while begging and thus pleased, he took the necessary articles and performed the vrita.

Very soon he became rich and had all the things of the world and thereafter he started performing the vrita every month and thus he enjoyed all the pleasures of the world and finally reached the Moksha too.

Now Shaunakji and other rishis want to know how this vrita spread in the world. Also those who have heard the story, what benefits they got. Sutaji replies:

Once when this brahmin was performing the Sri Satyanarayana Pooja there came to his house a woodcutter. He saw the pooja and wanted to know what it is and what are its fruits. The brahmin said, "This is Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. Whatever desires you have in your mind will be fulfilled by performing this vrita. My own poverty and troubles all ended by my very decision to perform this vrita". On hearing this, the woodcutter prostrates to the Lord, takes prasad, and decides to perform this pooja next day. He thought in his mind, "Whatever amount I get from the sale of the wood tomorrow, I will use it for the performance of the vrita." That day he sold the wood for twice the price. Happily thinking of the Lord Satyanarayana he proceeds to do this pooja, inviting his friends and relatives. Thus performing regularly he became rich and happy and finally reached Satyaloka.

End of Chapter II

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

CHAPTER III

Suta Puranikji continues the story:

Once there was a good king called Ulkamukha. He was wedded to truth and sense- control. Everyday he used to go to the temple, worship the Lord, distribute alms to the needy. Once he was performing Sri Satyanarayana Vrita on the banks of a river. At that time there came a merchant in a ship loaded with precious goods. He approached the king and wanted to know the details of the pooja and also its fruits. The king said, "My friend, what we are doing is a vrita called Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. This is done with a desire to have progeny, wealth, property, etc. By this, we are worshipping Lord Narayana or Mahavishnu".

The merchant said, "Please tell me the details as to how to perform this vrita, because I would like to have children whom I have not been fortunate to have till now." The king tells him the details of the vrita and the merchant returns home. He tells the details to his wife and they decide to perform this vrita if they get a child. Sometime later his wife Lilavathi became pregnant and delivered a girl who was named Kalavathi. Lilavathi reminded her husband about the vrita and he kept postponing it, till his daughter grew of age and was ready to be married. The father finds a suitable groom and marries her off and again forgot to perform the vrita although he had decided to do so at the time of marriage of his daughtier. The Lord now wanted to remind him.

The merchant and his son-in-law were in a city called Ratnasara where king Chandrakethu was ruling. There was a theft at the palace and the burglars were chased by the police. The running burglar saw these two merchants resting near a tree and they left the booty with them and ran off. The police caught the two merchants with the stolen goods and they were straight away sent to the prison. The king himself overlooked to investigate. It is this time the merchant suddenly realized that this was all on account of his forgetting the promise to the Lord. At about this time, back home both Lilavathi and her daughter Kalavathi lost all their belongings due to thefts at home and were rendered beggars. During one such wandering trying to find some food Kalavathi sees Sri Satyanarayana Pooja being performed at one house. She goes in, hears the story and details and returns to tell her mother what had taken place. Lilavathi now knows that it is their forgetting to do the Pooja that had created all these problems. Next day she calls her relatives and friends and performs the Pooja, begs for forgiveness. Accordingly, the king had a dream that the merchants were innocent and he releases them on inquiry and gives them lot wealth.

End of Chapter III

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

CHAPTER IV

Suta Puranik continues the story:

Thus released from the custody the merchants were returning home. They reached the outskirts of their town in their ship. The Lord in order to test them again comes in the form of an old Sanyasi and inquires as to what the load in the ship is. The merchant bluffs and says that it contains dried leaves. The sanyasi says "Tathasthu". When the merchant returns to the ship he finds that it does contain now dried leaves only. He swoons and when he regains his consciousness he realizes that these are doings of the Sanyasi whom he had cursorily dismissed earlier. He seeks him out and begs for forgiveness. The ever-merciful Lord again forgives him. Now that the merchant was near the town, he sends a messenger in advance to Lilavathi to let her know that they are on their way home. Lilavathi. tells her daughter to complete the Satyanarayana poola they were performing and goes ahead to meet her husband. Kalavathi does the pooja, but in a hurry to meet her husband, she neglects to take the prasad; and when she nears the anchorage, she does not find the ship nor her husband! It looked to her that they both sank/drowned. She swoons and now she decides to die.

The merchant thinks that this must be on account of some fault on their part in ignoring the Lord and then and there he decides to do the pooja as a part of expiation from his side for mistakes of omission or commission. The Lord now pleased makes him realize that it is the daughter’s oversight in not accepting the prasad that has created this problem and now if she goes and takes the prasad, everything would be all right.

Kalavathi returned to the altar and took prasad with all faith and reverence. And her husband returned and from then onwards, they all performed Sri Sathyanarayana Pooja regularly till the end of their life and finally after death, they reached Satyaloka.

End of Chapter IV

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

CHAPTER V

{ 5th chapter is important to us as we too tend to behave like the King in this story, in respect of other peoples’ pooja/worship/religion }

In the woods of Nemisharanya Suta Puranikji continued the story narrating the greatness of this Vrita to Shounaka and other Rishies:

In ancient times, there was a King called Angadwaja. He was good and righteous king {like all of us, good and righteous}; and yet once he ignored the prasad of Sri Satyanarayana Pooja and had to suffer very dearly to that.

Once this king was returning from hunting the wild animals in the forests. He rested under a tree for a while. A few yards away a small group of cowherd boys had gathered to perform Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. They did not have anything except their daily bread they were carrying and a talkative among them became their priest and they played the game of doing a pooja. At the end of the pooja, they offered the prasad to the king who, out of contempt and pride, left it untouched.

Pretty soon all his wealth was lost; his hundred children died and he now knew, being a good king that this was all on account of his contempt for those children’s pooja. Without any delay the king goes to that very spot where the cowherd boys had done the pooja earlier, gathers them all around him performs the Satyanarayana Pooja with all shraddha and bhakthi.

Thus the king again got all his wealth and kingdom and kins.

Suta now tells the Rishis that this Vrita is specially effective in Kaliyuga. This Lord of Lord is called Ishwara, Satyadeva, Sri Satyanarayana and by many other names. He alone has taken names and forms.

One who reads this story and one who hears it will be rid of all woes and difficulties.

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SRI KRISHNARPANAMASTHU

Click Here for details on Sri Satyanarayana Puja method.

Two Wolves.

One rainy day a old man and his grand son were watching the rain from their porch.The old was a was quite . The grand son asked his grand father what he was thinking. The old man said, dear boy i was thinking of the two wolves inside us all, and the battle between them.The little boy wantd to know more. The old said son, the two wolves inside us, one is evil: it anger, envy,jealousy, regret, greed, arrogance, self pity,guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies,false pride,superiority and ego.
The other wolf is good, it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, benevolence, empathy, generosity, compassion, and faith. The child thought for a while and asked, Grand father which of the wolves won? The grand father said simply, The one you feed.
The Adults should practice and teach their children to only feed the good wolf, and the children will grow up to good human beings.

Pujas for a purpose.

This Ganesha Puja is observed when there is delay in work, studies etc.
All of know slokas for Ganesha and it is well known we pray to him to remove obstacles.
It also said that he answers our prayers fast, if one prays with devotion.
For any Ganesh Puja, the materials required will be a idol , picture of Ganesha, in case this is not available, make it with haldhi powder. [mix the haldhi powder with water into a dough and make cone . Place this on a plate and apply kumkum, this will be the ganesha.] Flowers, haldhi, kumkum.Sindhur if available,geja vastra,mantra akshitha, sandal paste and for naividya[prasad], Gur, banana or any friut, or milk and sugar. and of course water.
1] Select a good day and perform the puja as usual for 108 days.
2] On aevery tuesday perform the puja, but this has to done early in the morning in Mouna , is that the person doing the puja can only say prayers but SHOULD not speak to any one till puja is over. no answering telephone or mobiles.
3]One can do the puja for 21 days.
Whichever one you choose, at the end of the puja you have ask whatever you want from Ganesha. God knows what you want, but a human,, has to humble one self and make the request, even to god.
Prayers keeps our mind calm and whatever is our wish we get relief from the fact that we , for the time being have passed our worry to god ,who will take care and do the needful .
May Ganesha bless every one. After the work in mind has been successfull you have to give a idol of Ganesha as Dhana to a Bramhachari.
1] The other popular god is Hanuman. The Hanuman Chalisa by Tulasi das can recited daily.
2] Evey thursday a picture of Hanuman is worshipped in the usual way and curds rice[dahi bath] with green chillies, curry leaves and podni but without salt is offered as naividya.
Salt will added only after our whatever it is achieved. The dahi bhath offered should be such that it can be moulded like a laddu. This is because monkeys will not be able to eat it if the curds rice is liquidy.
3] For the Hanuman picture a mala is tied with Betal leaves is put arroud it. two betal leaves and a nut packet is tied together like a maala.
For all the pujas perform puja the usual way and offer some naividya






.

Shree Sathya Narayana Puja.

Sree Satya Narayana Puja is usually performed on a pournima day. It can also be performed on any day convenient.

Before starting any Puja, one should keep themselves clean, take a bath again if necessary, just before the puja.In todays fast world its very hard to keep the kalas every month.One can keep the picture of Sree Sathya Narayana and worship it in a shortened way.

Before I give the puja Vidhana, I wish to to tell a real instance. In Pune I have heard of a Sindhi lady , who was not keeping very well, and the doctors diagnosed her ailment as bone T.B.

When she was feeling down and out, that some one suggested to her, regarding the Sree Sathya Narayana Puja. She immediately started to perform the puja in great faith. She has been doing it for the last 20 years, She was cured of the Bone T., and is now living a normal life.

For the Sathya Narayana Puja, the materials needed will be a picture of Lord Sathya Narayana, clean water, plates, flowers, haladhi kumkum, sandal paste mantra akshitha, geja vastra ans ofcourse the Prasad which is called SAPAADHA, meaning--equal amounts.Coconut, betal leaves and friuts banana, orange etc.Divas in ghee, and arathi.

To make the Prasadha, the incredents , wheat rava, sugar , ghee, banana,milk. all the incredents used has to be equal, one cup milk, one cup rava, one cup sugar one cup banana [cutpeices,] one cup ghee.Clean the gas stove you are using well to make the prasad. In a thick bottomed kadai add the ghee and let it heat. when ghee is hot out in the kaju and the rava. When the rave is well fried and a pleasant aroma Emmits add the banana peices and keep stiring till the banana is well cooked, then add the sugar and milk and cardamom powder. mix well and keep stirring till it is done. Pour into a clean vessel and keep aside.
Start the puja after a bath wear clean clothes better if it is new. Keep the picture in proper place and collects all the puja items and perform the puja as usual reciting any slokas on Vishnu or the Vishnu Saharasa Nama. Break the coconut and offer the Prasad along with the coconut and friuts, betal leaves/ supari.
After the puja the story should be read. This puja if done with devotion, grants our wishes.

Click Here for the Story of Sri Satyanarayana Vratha Katha

Adhika Maasa/ Leap year for lunar calender.

Adhika Maasaor Mala maasa. This year, in Vikrama Year we have two Vaisaka maasas. One is Adhika maasa and Nija Vaisaka.Adhika Vaisaka is from 15.4. 2010 to 14.5.2010. Nija Vaisaka is from 15.5.2010. to 12.6.2010.
Purshothama is the maasa murthy, for any adhika maasa. Sankalpa and snana before sun rise, offering Dhanas. special pujas during adhika maasa, bring innumerable benifits. The lord brings success in all theefforts undertaken by a saadhaka, says Padma purana.
DHANAS. If one offers even a smallest dhana on dwadasi, pournima,or on Vyatee pata day, it brings Maha Phala. Vastra is said to be an important Daana during Adhika Maasa.It brings wealth , Sukha, Long life free of any desease, fame and also leads to the kingdom of god says the sriptures.
Apoopa is an edible item, made with rice jaggery gus gusa and ghee. Apoopa dhana is best dhans for adhika maasa. 33 peices of the sweet which is also called Anarasa /Adhirasm, is offered in a pithal plate to a any worthy bramin on any day except on Ekadasi, during the Adhika maasa.This dhana is equal to bhoomi dhana.
Why 33?
thirty three Apoopas are meant to please the 33 devathas to gain their grace. The 33 devathas are
Ekadasha Rudras ----11
Ashta Vasus---------8
Dwadasa Adhityas ----12
Vashatkara Devatha---1
Prajapathi----------- 1
Total ----------
33
The 33 sweets are offered if possible in a clsed metal,container together with ghee and dakshina.

Vahanas of hindu gods and godesses.

The other day i was reading an article , and the thought occured to me that may be, to save the animals and birds, that every Hindu god has a bird or animal as a vehicle , [vahana].
Vishnus vehicle is Garuda [bird watchers call it the bramnical kite]. we see pictures of Mahavishnu riding on the back of the garuda and some times standing at the foot of Vishnu.
Ganesha s vehicle is Mooshika [mouse]. One would wonder how a mighty Ganesha could possibly sit on a mouse. There is a story that Mooshika was a evil rakshasa, whom Ganesh defeated and took him as vehicle.
Mahalakshmi s vahana is Elephant and in parts of bengal an owl.
Lord Indra rides a white horse.
Subramania--Muruga rides the Peocock.
Saraswathi rides a swan.
Shiva vehicle is the Bull and he has snakes round his neck.
Datthreya has with him a dog
Saturn known as Sani has a crow for a vehicle.
Godess Durga rides a Tiger or a Lion.
Krishna worshiped the cow.
Snakes are also worshiped by many.
As it well known the Dasa avathara of Vishnu started with fish, Mathsya, Kurma, Varaha,Narasimha, Vamana,Parushrama,Rama,Krishna, Budha and Kalki.

Recipes.

Curry leaves pitla/cootu.
Tamarind .......lime size. soak in a little water
Curry leaves.......Two cups [washed]
Grind these together to a smooth paste.
Pepper ...... 11/2 tea spoons, Chana dal........ one heaped table spoon, Dhania seeds.. .one table spoon, Jeera......1/2 table spoon,Dry chiily........4/5 as per taste, jaggery.... a little, oil4/5 table spoons. Fry the dry incredents in a little oil one by one and when cool grind to a fine powder.
Heat oil in a kadai add mustard, and asophotida, when it crackles add the ground paste and stir fry till the raw smell of curry leaves dissappear, add the ground powder and salt and jaggery and let it boil till the oil starts to suface stiring all the time. remove from fire and store in dry air tight container. this will keep for 15/ 20 days in fridge and is a good stand by gravy for rice.
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Dal and vegetable curry called Mathoda.
Tur dal ....1/2 a cup soaked for an hour or more.
Vegetable....... Senga, Banana flower, Methi leaves Any one of them... Two cups.
Red chillie....... 3/4 soak this with the dal to get good colour.
Green chilie........4/5 or as per taste,
Ginger.... one inch peice.
Jeera one tea spoon.
asophotida .....a little.
Salt to taste
mutard ..... 1/2 a tea spoon.
Oil.................150 ml
curry leaves And half cup coconut. Steam the cut and washed vegetable.
grind the dal with the both the chillies , ginger , jeera and coconut and a little salt coursly.
In a thick bottomed kadai pour the oil, when hot put the mustard, when it crackle add the ground dal and sir for a few ninutes , then add the vegetable and salt. Keep frying stiring now and then till the dal is done and is almost crisp.
Another method is to grind the dal add enough salt and steam it like idlis. Make the seosoning and add the dal which should have been cut into very small peices or if it is squeezed with the hand it will separate to look like rava. fry this with the veg for a few mins. this will not consume so much oil.
The dal can be ground and steamed and kept in freezer and used when ever wanted, the steamed dal will keep for a week or ten days.

few tips

Dont throw away the sample shampoo sachets, use them when you wash woolens add a little with the soap you use, your woolens will come out soft.
If you have a number of socks and hand kerchiefs to wash put them seperately in, in fridge bags in the washing machine. It will be easy to pair the socks and the small items will not get lost and they will come out clean.
While cooking if some dish gets charred and its hard to scrub it, wet the charred portion and sprinkle baking soda generously and leave it overnight. The next morning it will be easy to clean the vessel.Unfortunately, you cant use this trick on aluminum vessels.
To clean glass wear, to one litre of water add one table spoon of vinegar,your glass wear will sparkle. Never dry glass wear with a cloth, let them to dry.
If there is too much salt in the gravy or sambar , add a cut and peeled potato and let it boil. the potato will absorb the salt. Alternately you can make paste of rice flour and add it to the gravy and boil it for a few minutes. This method can be used to thicken the gravy too.
Dont throw away the empty tubes from paper towels and aluminum foils. Use them to store your child's certificates. roll the certificates and and put it inside the roll and seal the openings on both sides. Remember to label each of them. This way the certificates will not get damaged.
To remove adhesive tape, lift one end and then run a hair drier ,set in warm. The heat will soften the glue and it can be easily removed.