JaiBholenath

Om Sarva Mangal Manglaye Shivay Sarvaarth Sadhike
Sharanye Trayambake Gauri Narayaani Namostu Te


Kaama hara Kailasa Mandira Soma Surya nala vilochana
Kaamitaprada Karunisemaga Sadaa Sumangalava

ShivaShakti

Here's a nice picture of Shiva and Parvati in dancing pose (it's a sample poster actually). Also the "Ardhanareeshwara".
I saw a wedding invitation with a picture of Shiva and Parvati on it. There was something very nice about it. I liked it a lot.

Freeya vidu, jollya iru

I envy people who go about living without thinking or analysing much. They don't introspect and take things as they come. I find it hard to do that. It's as if I am always... well, suspicious. No, cautious and restrained.
I am not a friendly person as most people who know me can tell. I find interacting with human beings almost a challenge. I don't enjoy meeting new people and making friends. I am not comfortable with most people. And with the few people, it takes a lot of time to be relaxed in their presence.

I don't talk unless I have to. The idea of small talk is as strange to me as rocket science. Sometimes I don't even acknowledge a person when I meet them the second time. I wonder why I don't do that. It's so rude of me but I don't mean to be rude. Either I don't remember their names or don't know what to say. Or sometimes when I say something, I find that that person doesn't remember me. Now, that's awkward. It's exactly these situations that I dread.

My friend tells me, 'Freeya vidu, jollya iru'. Live freely, Love fully, says an email forward. Hmm.. I will learn to do that.

Sharanagathi

I was talking to my cousin about a commitment that I had backed out of. I got cold feet and I was trying to rationalize. He asked me, 'Do you trust in God?'. I said, 'yes', not very confidently. He said, 'Then you should have gone ahead with it. While moving forward if you think you may fall, you will certainly fall.'

On another occasion I remember he said, 'Draupadi called out to Lord Krishna when she was being disrobed in the court of the Kauravas. He didn't come to her rescue instantly. He took sometime, why? Initially she tried to save herself. Only later did she lift up both her hands and called out to Him. When she lifted both her hands and in full faith remembered the Lord, He immediately came to her rescue'. That's the kind of faith we need to have. Full and complete.

Inside the main temple of Tirupati among the crowd I try to stand on my toes to catch a glimpse of the Lord. I find it annoying that some people who are in front of me are blocking my view by not only being taller than me but also raising both their hands and shouting, 'Anaatha rakshaka', 'Venkatesha', 'Govinda' etc....
I found it annoying until I realised that's the way we should approach Him. In complete surrender as if to say nothing is in my hands, I leave it to you. I am nobody without you.

Very Wise

ಮಾಡಿದವರ ಪಾಪ ಆಡಿದವರ ಬಾಯಲ್ಲಿ.....
ಕೊಟದು ತನಗೆ bachitidu ಪರರಿಗೇ.

Powerhouses Of Knowledge

Here are some people I admire, other than the Swamijis of all the Madhwa Mathas.
1) Vyasanakere Prabhanjaacharya
2) Brahmanachar
3) Vishnudas Nagendrachar
4) Chaturvedi Vedavyasachar
5) Anandatirthachar Nagasampige
6) Vijayeendrachar

All of them in the list are men of exceptional knowledge and have excellent oratory skills. Listening to their lectures on Acharya's works is one of the most fulfilling things I have done in my life. I urge everyone who is interested in the spiritual/religious topics to listen to their lectures.
www.vyasamadhwa.org has an very good collection of archived upanyasa by Prabhanjacharya.
I am disappointed that www.uttaradimath.org which had the section 'SatyatmaVani' with lectures of Poojya Swamiji has removed the audio links. I hope they bring it back soon.
I am convinced that one who hasn't heard and enjoyed Acharya's lectures has not made the best use of his or her stay on earth.