Sree Raama Navami April 5th 2017

Artist Bapu's vision of Sita Swayamvara.

Very early in the morning, I begin to hear strains of Puja stotras and Rama bhajans from temples and households. A peek outside gives me glimpses of women cleaning the front of their gates and doors and decorating with rangavalli. 

 It is Sree Raama Navami, the day on which he was born and also the day of Seeta & Rama's 

marriage. The classic song 'Seeta Kalyaana Vaibhogame'

 ( the splendour of Seeta's marriage) is heard on virtually every marriage pandal in South India and elsewhere. On the day of their marriage, every bride and groom is the embodiment of Seeta and Rama/ Goddess Lakshmi (goddess of material and spiritual wealth) and Lord Vishu (the Lord who is the personification of the Universe and also its preserver/protector). And the witnesses of such a marriage are akin to the great seers and Vedic rishis of yore, who attended the marriage of the Goddess of the Earth to the God of the Universe in the human form.

Tuning our minds to that all-pervading Divine presence,  visualizing that splendour, that glory, having  prepared in anticipation for the last eight days with fasting and worship, today we take ritual oil baths and make preparations for welcome, the ceremony and the wedding feast of the very embodiment of sacredness.

Nagole Satsanga Group's 'Common Kitchen' making Nivedana at 

'Sree Raama Namam Maruvam Maruvam...." Bhadrachala Ramadasa Keertana

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. —John 4:24 NRSV

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. —Psalm 9:9–10 NRSV 

Pujya Alivelu Mangathayaru & Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja Kalyana Mahotsavam celebration @Nagole, March 6th, 2017

Vinayaka Chavithi Subhaakaanshalu + Babugaru's Facebook post on meaning of 'Ganapati'

Re-sharing my most favorite part of Permaculture design manual. This is so close to the concept of 'Ganapathi' (the lord of the concept of diversity - Gana means countable, diverse) and 'Gajanana' (Ga+Ja+aanana, the one whose facade is all that 'moves' and 'changes' and 'events' and one who is behind it all) that it is an appropriate share the day after Vinayaka Chaviti. So far, this is the closest any system (that deals with the physical and the mundane aspects of life) has gotten to the highest spiritual ideal as presented by the Vedas. Democracy and marxism pale before the level of ideal presented by this book regarding humans and the world at large. If you have not yet, do purchase permaculture design manual. It costs about 12000 rs., and is well worth every rupee. Yes it is costly, by the way. But I would sell a gold ring to buy that book without blinking an eye. Literally worth its weight in gold in my opinion. By my experience, the highest rating for books in my opinion goes to books by Mahatmas, the likes of Vivekananda, Ramana Bhagavan, Potana bhagavatam, Yoga vasishtyam, patanjali Yoga sutras, etc. Second place goes to books by fritjoff capra, "my experiments with truth" by Mahatma Gandhi, and Permaculture design manual. And most other books come next. Fashion apparel last but one place after almost all other things, and movies are last in terms of where to spend money.

Jiddu Krishnamurthy on Breaking the pattern of conditioning

Jiddu Krishnamurthy On conditioning

Namaskarams

Sri Datta Sai Manga Bharadwaja Nilayam @ Nagole, Hyderabad, India on May 15th 2014

The physical symbol of their presence. Like Baba's Dwarakamayi, there is Master garu's Ammagaru's Nilayam for us. It is said that where ever Mahatmas set foot even for a short while, that place becomes as potent and sacred as a Teertha kshetra (centre of pilgrimage); A place which has the capacity to evoke all that positive and holy within us, answer our prayers and give us peace and solace. Then what to say of the residence of Mahatmas?

Nilayam by moonlight

Let not familiarity tarnish this value in  our hearts. Let us live and pray here as Baba spoke of the Samadhi mandir. Let us have the devotion  and wisdom of Lakshmi the calf which after one visit to Ramanashram, retraced the path on her own and after arriving there every morning, never left till the evening to the last day of her life.

Jai Sai Master

'Nobody builds a home on a bridge' ('Vantena meeda evvaru illu kattukoru') by Divyajanani Alivelu Mangamma

Sai Baba Magazine October 2011 Page 9
Read the complete article by clicking on the magazine link.

Embodiment of Divine Love - Divyajanani Alivelu Manga garu (Ammagaru). Oct 1st 2015 Ammagaru's Birthday

Photos are from November 9th, 2013, Pujya Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja (Master) garu's 75th birth anniversary (tithi).

Sri Guru Charitra Krutagnaya Mahotsavam Sept.6th 2015

Mastergaru's emphasized the importance of reading Sri Guru Charitra along with Sri Sai Leelamritam (Sai Baba the Master)  everyday for true followers of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. Read the introductions to both these books for his elucidation.
Babugaru (Sri Ekkirala Dwarakanath Jnaneswar) started Krutgnayata Archana (Worship with Gratitude) to this holy book itself in the spirit of Mastergaru's teaching a few years ago at Nagole. This year too on the first sunday of September, sharp at 10:00 am the puja was performed at Sri Datta Sai Manga Bharadwaja Nilayam, Nagole and worldwide.

This is similar to how devotees revere The holy Guru Granth Sahib and the the holy Koran as the very embodiment of the Prophet. The same tradition is mentioned in the Bible. Some quotes below:

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.Matthew 7:24

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.Hebrews 4:12

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.Matthew 24:35

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Matthew 4:4 

 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.James 1:22 

Cheyavalasinavi cheyadalachinavi - Kulapati Ekkirala Krishnamacharya

Another classic speech by Pujya Ekkirala Krishnamacharya garu

Building a rocket stove

Building a rocket stove

Sai Prasanna Kumar, Yoga Narendra and Madhu Setty spent some time building a rocket stove in  Yoga's house. Not something they trained for in school and college!

But something very much required in our resource depleted immediate future! The breath of Master's vision of a better society, a better India...How much Mastergaru back in 1970s struggled to bring us to this point of actually doing and learning a useful skill rather than  falling into the vicious circle of  'working for textbook education - college ranks - high paying salaried jobs - buying to fulfill basic needs - materialism - dissatisfaction',  ironically called having having a life!!!

Sri Anandamayi Ma "Hari, Hari": Her Words (1896-1982) *W/ her real voice

Today is Sri Anandamayi Ma's birth anniversary

 (April 30th, 1896)