VISHU- the paradise of Keralites

Vishu an important festival of Kerala conveys the Message of Auspeciousness and Prosperity.One exclusive item needed for making this festival significant is a flower called Konna flower the scientific name of which is Laburnum.Dark yellow in color adds to greatness of this blooming flower as a divine. Part of the Vishukani.(Picture above refers) Once Vishu was the New year Festival of Kerala before the Kollavarsham calendar began.In the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu also Vishu is being celebrated as the New year day.Kalivarsham and Saka Varsha also begin with Medam Vishu (Firstbday of the vernacular month Medam).According to the Mathematical science also Vishu is considered as New year day.on the Vishu day which has geographical and astrological relevance, The Sun is believed to have come above the line of Equator.There are two phases in a year called Dakshinayanam & Uttarayanam. While in the former the sun is on the southern side in the later on the Northern side It is believed that Lord Sreekrishna killed Narakasura on the Vishu day.There is another mythological belief that Demon King Ravana never allowed Sun to rise on the east.The sun began rising on East from the day the demon king Ravana was killed. The stories might differ.But there is a reality that on the first day of the Malayalam month Medam the Vishu is celebrated with auspicious Vishukani.In this regard there is a belief that that the first auspicious object one sees in the morning determine the prosperity in store for the year ahead.Hence a set of Auspecous objects are arranged in what is called a Vessel "Ursuli"made of Bronze. The Vishukani consists of auspicious objects such as Rice grains,Fruits,Konna Flowers are placed in a bell metal vessel in front of the Image of Lord Sreekrishna .the eldest lady of the family on the previous night arranges these and light a Nilavilakku( a traditional lamp of Kerala) the next day early morning and invites everyone in the family one by one to witness the Kani.Again traditionally the lady brings everyone with his/her eyes closed to open in front of the auspicious objects including the image of Lord Krishna.as soon as the Kani is over,the eldest male of the family gives everyone coins as "Vishukaineetam". After this the children in the family lights the crackers and other explosive items not dangerous to the children. In different places the Vishu is celebrated differently with entertainment programmes like Vishuvili,Vishukani etc. Everywhere on the day of Vishu invariably there would be a grand feast consisting of enormous vegetarian preparations. In the prominent Temples like Guruvayur and Sabarimala the Vishukani is arranged by the Temples also. Although Vishu is celebrated as the Astrological new year of Kerala ,the official new year of Kerala is in August - September called ONAM the harvest season of Kerala. SreedharanMundanat 13th April 2017 15-55 hrs( IST)

IPL HANGAMA 10 th Edition 2017

The enthusiastic cricket fans were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their favourite HANGAMA of IPL 2017. Finally their expectation turned into reality on the night of 5th April 2017.The very first match between the winners of last year The Sunrisers of Hyderabad & Royal Challengers was a thriller in which Sunrisers batting first scored over 200 runs usually considered as a land mark.Their hero was none other than Yuvaraj Singh the highest paid player of last year.Once again we got an opportunity to watch the old self of Yuvaraj Singh who used to score sixes at his will and pleasure. he scored a match winning score of 65 from 23 balls studded with sixes and fours.Eventually they won the thriller. Royal Challengers Bangalore was without de Villiers and Virat Kohli.Chris Gail with his super hits gave a good beginning for the Bangalore innings but could not continue for long to reach the formidable target fixed by the Sunrisers. The second match on 6th Night between Mumbai Indians and Rising Super Giants Pune.This match was also a thriller .Stevens Smith the captain of Pune won the toss but selected to take the field first.Although they started slowly towards the end in the last couple of overs HHPande score 35 runs from 15 balls with 4 hits over the fence and one a four. This enabled them to post a reasonably good score of 184 on the board. In reply Pune Giants began their innings fairy well.Rehane did a good job seemingly the role of acting Captain has taught him a few good lessons as a bats man.He kept the run rate under control.After he lost his wicket Ben Stokes the highest paid player of this season began well but lost rhythm and got out.This was a big blow for Pune.However Steve Smith kept his cool and went on scoring .Then Dhoni joined Smith .Although Dhoni could not contribute much to the score as expected ,he kept his wicket in tact until Smith in the final over dispatched the ball twice over the fence to win at 187/4 with a ball to spare. It was a spectacular show from Smith from the beginning to the end. Now let us evaluate the prospects of other teams. all the other teams,Gujrat Lions,Kolkatta Night Riders,Delhi Dare Devis and Punjab Kings eleven are strong in one way or other.it is in fact very difficult to predict who is going to win the Trophy this year. However,the Rising Super Giants ,Pune seems to have an ideal combination of batsmen & Bowlers. If Dhoni also assumes his recent form ,it looks the Pune Giants are really the favourites to lift the trophy SreedharanMundanat 7th -April 2017 17-20 hrs ( IST)

Guruvayur Temple

Guruvayur Temple and Thirupathy Temple are the two most visited Temples in South India by Devotees,They are the rich Temples also in India.

There are many stories about the Guruvayur Temple..Guruvayur Temple is more popularly known among Devotees as "World Vaikunddham"

One special feature about this Temple is the punctuality and orderly behaviour of various Poojas performed here.
It is believed that the system of Poojas established by Shri Sankaracharya 1200 Years back is still being followed here.Shri Sankaracharya is believed to be the Avatar of Lord Mahadeva( Shiva)

He with the Yogasiddhi he possessed had the power to travel by air also.Once he was travelling by air to Shringeri.When he arrived over Guruvayur Temple it was the exact time when the Shiveli procession was being held at the Temple.Everyone passing through or coming near Guruvayur at the time of Shiveli used to stop and pay respect to Guruvayurappan with folded hands invariably without fail.There are Shiveli thrice every day in the morning,evening and night
Perhaps ,being a Devotees of Shiva,Sankaracharya did not pay due respect to Guruvayurappan.This was considered by Guruvayurappan as impertinence on the part of Shri Sankaracharya.So Guruvayurappan temporarily removed the yoga siddhi from Shri Sankaracharya.No sooner did the Siddhi removed from him Sankaracharya fell down to the Earth.He fell in front of Guruvayurappan in the Northern Nada where the procession had reached.Sankaracharya at once realised his mistake and lying there itself wroteGovindashtakamand recited in front of Bhagavan begging for Pardon for his mistake.
As a compensation for this mistake Sankaracharya decided to perform Bhajan for a mandalam in the Guruvayur Temple.During this period of Bhajan Shri Sankaracharya revised the Pooja system by including Ekadasi in it suitably.Thereafter this revised system Is being followed in the Temple even today.
The spot where Sankaracharya fell is marked by making a hole over the shivelippura.At the same spot there is a statue of Sankaracharya.Even today when the Shiveli reaches Northern Nada ,the melam accompanied is stopped for a moment to remember Shri Sankaracharya.During Utsava season sri Guruvayurappan gives Darshan to Devotees at this spot.This spot is considered to be most ideal place to have Darshan of Bhagavan by Devotees.it is also believed to be highest boon to have Darshan of Bhagavan at Northern Nada where Sankaracharya fell.

Krishnanattam kali an offering to Bhagavan is also performed at the Eastern Nada..People perform Sashtanga namaskar at the Northern Nada.
listening to the divine stories of Bhagavan is an unending process.
                                    Ohm Namo Narayanaya Namaha!
                                       Sreedharan Mundanat &Geeta Sreedharan
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