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Our Virtual Ashram
- Thread starter Maya3
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Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Happy to hear about that. Tell her that one Tilaka is enough. She can use five in five days.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Delayed reply. Tell the deity about that as also how you want to worship him/her. The deity will understand. Offer the deity a basil (Tulsi) leaf, they do not like anything better than that. In case of Shiva it is a 'bael' leaf. Aegle marmelos, leaf, but that will not be available in your place.
Shantanu
Well-Known Member
So this is our Ashram: a place to visit when one is free of one's duties and dharmic actions, for a bit of meditation perhaps or to read a book and meet other visitors to share information and ideas with.
Well, I am glad to be here for the first time. I have been avoiding the place because I was busy with work. But today I am retired from all active pursuits. I start receiving my pension in a few days time.
I am glad to make your acquaintance.
May I have some coffee please?
Well, I am glad to be here for the first time. I have been avoiding the place because I was busy with work. But today I am retired from all active pursuits. I start receiving my pension in a few days time.
I am glad to make your acquaintance.
May I have some coffee please?
Ok, here's a funny story. Well, it wasn't so funny last night.
I'm about to leave temple and go down to the shoe/coat room. The room is pretty big, having racks along two walls. There are two foot washing stations.
It was quite crowded last night. There were shoes strewn all over the floor because of course nobody pays attention to the signs saying please put your shoes in the racks.
I put my shoes on a rack at the far end of the room where it was less populated. I know where I put my shoes and what they look like but when I went to get them to put them on and leave they were not there.
I stood there looking confused, scanning the racks back-and-forth to see if maybe somebody had moved them. Nope, they were nowhere to be found. Instead there was another pair that looked something like mine but newer. Someone must've mistakenly took mine and left theirs.
I didn't know if I would be able to drive my truck barefoot. I never did before, but I really didn't have a choice did I? Well I learned I can drive my truck barefoot.
There were only two problems I can think of, the lesser of the two problems was if I had to stop at the store I wouldn't be able to go in being barefoot. The bigger problem was that it could have been winter.
I think from now on I'll wear my biker boots. I don't think anybody could confuse them with their own shoes.
I'm about to leave temple and go down to the shoe/coat room. The room is pretty big, having racks along two walls. There are two foot washing stations.
It was quite crowded last night. There were shoes strewn all over the floor because of course nobody pays attention to the signs saying please put your shoes in the racks.
I put my shoes on a rack at the far end of the room where it was less populated. I know where I put my shoes and what they look like but when I went to get them to put them on and leave they were not there.
I stood there looking confused, scanning the racks back-and-forth to see if maybe somebody had moved them. Nope, they were nowhere to be found. Instead there was another pair that looked something like mine but newer. Someone must've mistakenly took mine and left theirs.
I didn't know if I would be able to drive my truck barefoot. I never did before, but I really didn't have a choice did I? Well I learned I can drive my truck barefoot.
There were only two problems I can think of, the lesser of the two problems was if I had to stop at the store I wouldn't be able to go in being barefoot. The bigger problem was that it could have been winter.
I think from now on I'll wear my biker boots. I don't think anybody could confuse them with their own shoes.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
You see, Jai, some people are just careless about it. Take the case of my elder grandson. He has about 10 shoes and ten chappals. But still when he comes to our room, he would leave with my chappal on his feet. Now, I am quite particular about my foot-wear, so I would shout after him or take his chappal to him or go bare foot and take my chappal from him. He is sixteen. Sapristi, but what can one do.
For years, I have asked him to quarantine is extra shoes and chappals.
For years, I have asked him to quarantine is extra shoes and chappals.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Did anyone mention that Onam celebrations ended on September 6.
"The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu, the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali and mythologies of Hinduism related to Kashyapa and Parashurama. (Wikipedia)
Vamana seems to have been the regional God of Kerala, like Rama in UP and Krishna in UP and Gujarat, Nrisimha, Varaha, Kachapa and Matsya in Andhra Pradsh/Telangana.
"The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu, the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali and mythologies of Hinduism related to Kashyapa and Parashurama. (Wikipedia)
Vamana seems to have been the regional God of Kerala, like Rama in UP and Krishna in UP and Gujarat, Nrisimha, Varaha, Kachapa and Matsya in Andhra Pradsh/Telangana.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Son (Amitabh) giving a song performance in Zurich.
User14
Member
Delayed reply. Tell the deity about that as also how you want to worship him/her. The deity will understand. Offer the deity a basil (Tulsi) leaf, they do not like anything better than that. In case of Shiva it is a 'bael' leaf. Aegle marmelos, leaf, but that will not be available in your place.
Tulsi, Bael.
Thank you, that's a good suggestion. I think I'm going to get a flowering plant and use fresh flowers. It would have to be one that can bloom inside, because I have no garden or yard to plant it in. Maybe a jasmine. In between blooms, I'll think I'll just buy fresh flowers. Maybe expensive but hopefully worth it. Is there any price too high to pay for the love of God?
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Well, Ravana worshiped Shiva with a thousand lotuses every day. And one day when he fell short of one flower, he offered his head. No one has to go that far. As in the Satyanarayana Katha, the princess collected undigested grains from cow dung and made an offering for the deity from that. The deity accepted even that gladly. They say 'Bhav ke bhukhe hain Bhagawan", the deity hunger for your devotion. Don't offer anything, just go with bare hands only with devotion. The deity will accept that too. What can one give to one who is the Lord of the Universe?
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Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Celebrated the Kashmiri Mahalakshmi puja yesterday. It is held on a Sunday in December. Exact reason - I do not know, I have to check with my wife. We prepare thick sweet wheat tortillas. One of them that is offered to Mahalakshmi should change into one of gold. It does not happen. Our fault, somewhere or the other. But then invite the immediate family (that of my brother and son-in-law) and have lunch with them (vegetarian fare). Good enough.
One thing surely bothers me. Why do celebrations always have to be vegetarian when we are all non-vegetarian, even birthdays?
One thing surely bothers me. Why do celebrations always have to be vegetarian when we are all non-vegetarian, even birthdays?
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I think there's an injunction to not offer tulsi to Sri Ganesha.
Brb, checking...
Here it is
Why Tulsi is Not Offered to Lord Ganesha
Nyingjé Tso
Dharma not drama
Vanakkam,
Hum... Hey everyone, long time no see. Is it me or is there quite some new people in the DIR ?
So much to catch up! @__@
Aum namah Shivaya
Hum... Hey everyone, long time no see. Is it me or is there quite some new people in the DIR ?
So much to catch up! @__@
Aum namah Shivaya
Nyingjé Tso
Dharma not drama
So, last night I’m at the Sri Guruvāyūrappan sanctum for the evening puja, waiting for darshan.
A little boy who was standing next to me tugs on my hand and says “why is that closed?” (the curtain). I said “well, God is in there getting ready to let everybody see him”.
I said that when the curtain opens and we hear the bells and drums it means we get to see God and get his blessings. He (the boy, not God) looked at me quizzically. I said to his father “I don’t think he understood a word I said, because I’m not sure I did”.
A little boy who was standing next to me tugs on my hand and says “why is that closed?” (the curtain). I said “well, God is in there getting ready to let everybody see him”.
I said that when the curtain opens and we hear the bells and drums it means we get to see God and get his blessings. He (the boy, not God) looked at me quizzically. I said to his father “I don’t think he understood a word I said, because I’m not sure I did”.
Another amusing (to me, anyway) anecdote from the other night (if the extent of my life adventures is at temple, I truly have a pitifully empty life ):
My friend, the young priest (who always asks about my non-existent wife... no, I still haven't come clean) is expecting a child in August. He's growing his beard until then. I looked at him from a distance and gave a complimentary look at his beard. He came up to me later and said "I want to talk to you". I thought So I said, sure go ahead. With a desperate look on his face he asked me what I do to control and groom my beard, and what can he do for his.
He asked if he should use beard oils he's seen, but they are expensive (they are). He said it itches like crazy. I told him the cheapest beard oil is coconut oil. A tiny bit does a great job. I told him about Alberto VO5. I use all those things variously. He didn't quite get the Alberto VO5 thing, so I wrote it down for him and said it's just hairdressing in a tube. It works great for the beard. He was happy.
So I'm downstairs after prasad, in the gift shop getting incense. Who appears, seeming to hope he caught me before I left? He said "one more question, what kind of comb?" It seems like a simple thing, but actually plastic combs are the worst for beard hair. I told him to use a small wooden comb. Plastic will tear the hairs, but wood not only absorbs the oil from the dressing and conditioner, it glides through the hairs without damage. He was thrilled.
Now, I've gotten all my products on-line since they're darn near impossible to find in stores. Soooo with my next order I'm going to get him a starter kit of comb, oil and beard butter. and have it sent to him Priests don't make a whole lot of money, and with a baby on the way... I mean, he's not a monk so why shouldn't he have something to spoil himself with?
):My friend, the young priest (who always asks about my non-existent wife... no, I still haven't come clean) is expecting a child in August. He's growing his beard until then. I looked at him from a distance and gave a complimentary look at his beard. He came up to me later and said "I want to talk to you". I thought
So I said, sure go ahead. With a desperate look on his face he asked me what I do to control and groom my beard, and what can he do for his. He asked if he should use beard oils he's seen, but they are expensive (they are). He said it itches like crazy. I told him the cheapest beard oil is coconut oil. A tiny bit does a great job. I told him about Alberto VO5. I use all those things variously. He didn't quite get the Alberto VO5 thing, so I wrote it down for him and said it's just hairdressing in a tube. It works great for the beard. He was happy.
So I'm downstairs after prasad, in the gift shop getting incense. Who appears, seeming to hope he caught me before I left?
He said "one more question, what kind of comb?" It seems like a simple thing, but actually plastic combs are the worst for beard hair. I told him to use a small wooden comb. Plastic will tear the hairs, but wood not only absorbs the oil from the dressing and conditioner, it glides through the hairs without damage. He was thrilled.Now, I've gotten all my products on-line since they're darn near impossible to find in stores. Soooo with my next order I'm going to get him a starter kit of comb, oil and beard butter. and have it sent to him Priests don't make a whole lot of money, and with a baby on the way... I mean, he's not a monk so why shouldn't he have something to spoil himself with?