The Darog Journal - Compute Through

Sricharanam is the name given to the namam used by Iyengars (caste name given to Hindu/Tamil Brahmins who follow Visistadvaita philosophy propounded by Sri Ramanujacharya), members of Sri Vaishnava tradition. Sri could be a prefix or it could refer to Lakshmi, while Charanam refers to feet. Sricharanam consists of single, thin, vertical red or yellow line in the middle of the forehead. The full Sricharanam, also called Thiruman Sricharanam includes a white U mark. Sricharanam represents the feet of Vishnu and the red/yellow line in the middle represents Lakshmi. The Sricharanam signifies devotion to Vishnu. The red namam is made out of Sindoor, red powder. Yellow namam is Sandal wood (Chandan) paste. Thiruman is made out of clay. The two iyengar sub-sects, Thengalai and Vadagalai wear the Thiruman Sricharanam in different ways. Thiruman in the case of Thengalai extends to the bridge of the nose, forming a Y shape.  Vadagalai wear the U namam.

Hayagriva in Hinduism is considered to be an incarnation of Vishnu. Haya means Horse and Griva means Neck. The horse faced form of Vishnu is the god of Gnana (knowledge) and Prosperity. One who prays Hayagriva will be blessed with knowledge and wisdom. Legend has it that during the creation, the demons Madhu and Kaitabha stole the Vedas from Brahma and Vishnu took the Hayagriva form to recover the Vedas from the demons. Another legend says, Vishnu compiled the Vedas in the Hayagriva form and that the Hayagriva Avatara precedes the Matsya Avatara wherein he recovered the stolen Vedas from the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. There are believed to be 108 forms of Hayagriva. Hayagriva is the presiding deity of Parakala Mutt, Ahobila Mutt and Andavan Ashram. The very first stothram on Lakshmi Hayagriva is ==> Gnanananda Mayam Devam Nirmala Spatikakruthim Aadharam Sarvavidyanam Hayagrivam upasmahe. Hayagriva is worshipped in Tibet by those who own horses, because he is believed to fright...

Navratri is a holy festival for Hindus. It is a festival of nine nights during which people worship goddess of shakthi - Durga, Raja Rajeshwari, Lakshmi, Saraswati… During these nine nights/ten days, nine forms of Shakthi/Devi are worshipped. Nine forms of Devi are – Durga, Bhadrakali, Jagadamba, Annapurna, Sarvamangala, Bhairavi, Chandi, Lalitha, Bhavani and Mookambika. The festival culminates on the tenth day, called Vijaya Dasami or festival of Dasara/Dussehra. – The day marking the victory of Good over Evil. Navratri commences on the first day of the lunar month of Ashwin, celebrated for nine nights starting October. Navratri is divided into sets of 3 days to adore 3 different aspects of the supreme goddess. In the first three days, goddess is invoked as a spiritual force called Durga in order to destroy all impurities. Durga symbolizes nature in all its might. Durga is central to the legend of the destruction of the demon Mahishasura. Durga is enshrined in almost all Saivite...

Tamil New Year day, Bengali New Year Day (Pohela Baishakh) and Vishu are celebrated on April 13th & 14th 2008, in the month of Chitthirai in Tamilnadu, Kolkatta and Kerala. Tamilians around the world believe that it was on this day that Brahma started creation of the world. In Tamilnadu, people exchange greetings "Puthandu Vazhthukal" on this day. This auspicious day is popular as Varusha Pirappuv. It is also said, that Goddess Meenakshi got married to Lord Sundareswar on this day. Tamilians start the day by getting up early in the morning and viewing the auspicious light called Kanni at dawn with a hope to bring good luck. Followed by ritual bath. People offer special prayers to Lord Ganesha with flowers, sweets and fruits. Later Panchagam is read in the house by priest or in the temple. On this day, people decorate the house entrance and pooja room with Kolam (made of rice flour). People also place Kuthuvillakku in the center of the kolam to bring light to...

The festival marks the new year day for the people in Deccan region of India - Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra (festival called as Gudi Padwa). People from these states follow the lunar calendar with a change in moon's orbit. It is believed that the creator of the Hindu Pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day. Ugadi falls on Chaitra Shuddha Paadyami. The day starts with oil bath afterwhich entrance of the house is decorated with fresh mango leaves. It is said that Subramanya and Ganesha (2 sons of Lord Siva & Parvati) were fond of mangoes. As the legend says, Subramanya exhorted people to tie mango leaves to the doorway signifying good crop and general wellbeing. This is followed by prayers, then eating of Bevu-Bella (in Kannada) / Ugadi Pachhadi (in Telugu). Bevu Bella is a mixture of - Neem flowers, Neem leaves, Raw mango, Tamarind juice, Jaggery, Pepper and salt. This symoblizes that life is a mixture of happiness, sadness, impurity, chaos, fear, ange...

Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to visit Mac Anderson's(Founder of Simple Truths and Successories) web site. I was touched by the stories and inspirational movies on the web. Developed an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and subscribed to his newsletter. Thank you very much Mac for sharing with us the stories and movies. Good ideas dont just happen, they depend on the people who are making them happen. On Leadership ==> http://www.eagleschoolmovie.com/ Power of Teamwork (be inspired by the ultimate team) ==> http://www.powerofteamworkmovie.com/ What it takes to be #1 ==> http://www.lombardimovie.com/ Power of Attitude ==> http://www.powerofattitudemovie.com/ On Service ==> http://www.stservicemovie.com/ 212 - The extra degree ==> http://www.212movie.com/ Nature of Success (inspire to reach goals) ==> http://www.natureofsuccessmovie.com/ The Race (Life's greatest lesson) ==> http://www.the-race-movie.com/ Rock solid leadership (how gre...

In Hinduism, an avatar is an incarnation of the ultimate supreme being. It is derived from the sanskrit word (अवतार) which means "descent". Ten avatars (Dasavatara) of Vishnu in Garuda Purana Matysa - fish, appeared in Satya Yuga (represented by a man carrying a small pot) Kurma - tortoise, appeared in Satya Yuga Varaha - boar, appeared in Satya Yuga Narasimha - half-man/half-lion, appeared in Satya Yuga Vamana - dwarf, appeared in Treta Yuga (represented by a man carrying a Cow and an Anchor) Parashurama - rama with the axe, appearaed in Treta Yuga Rama - king of Ayodhya, appared in Treta Yuga Krishna - dark coloured, appeared in Dwapara Yuga (represented by a man carrying a Bow and Axe) Buddha - enlightened one, appeared in Kali Yuga (represented by a man without clothes) Kalki - eternity or destroyer of foulness, appeared in Kali Yuga Twenty Five (25) avatars of Vishnu in Bhagavata Purana Catursana - four sons of brahma (god of knowledge) Varaha - board ...