Krishna-the Nithya Brahmachari

 Krishna-the Nithya Brahmachari

 Retold By
 P.R.Ramachander

One day Lord Krishna was playing with his queen Rukmani in the banks of Yamuna. Suddenly the lord told her “Rukmani, on the other shore of Yamauna, sage Durwasa has come and he is very hungry. Please prepare good food and take it to the sage.” Rukmani immediately prepared a sumptuous food, and packed it and came back to the shores of Yamuna. Then she told her lord, “Lord, The Yamuna is in floods and there is no boat or boatman in sight. How can poor me, cross this mighty river?” Lord Krishna replied, “Dear Rukmani, that should not be any problem. Approach the river and tell the river that the Nithya Brahmachari (perennial bachelor) has asked her to give way to you. She will surely give you way”. Rukmani was surprised and asked her Lord, “Lord, who is this Nithya Brahmachari and why am I not able to see him?” The Lord replied” Of course, Rukmani, it is myself.” Rukmani was terribly surprised .She could not understand how her husband who has seven other wives could call himself, Nithya Brahmachari. Anyway she decided to obey him. She went near Yamuna and told the river, “River Yamuna, my husband, the Nithya Brahmachari has asked you to give way to me, so that I can reach the other shore.” The river immediately obliged. Rukmani crossed the Yamuna, met sage Durwasa, saluted him and served him the sumptuous food that she has brought with her. The Sage liked the food and became very happy and blessed her. Then Rukmani told him, “Sir, I am very gratified by the blessing of the sage like you. Now I have to cross back the river Yamuna and join my husband. Can you please help me do it?” Sage Durwasa replied, “Of course Rukmani, that is my pleasure and duty. Go to the river Yamuna and tell her that the Nithya Upavasi (He who never takes food) has asked her to give way to you. .She will help you” Rukmani was taken aback. She thought how this sage who has just had a sumptuous feast can call himself Nithya Upavasi. She did not bother to ask him, because he was well known for his short temper. She went near the river and told her “River Yamuna, now I have to cross you and reach the other shore. The Nithya Upavasi has asked you to give way to me.” The river obliged and Rukmani crossed the river and joined her husband. Her face showed that she was terribly confused. She approached her lord and told him, “Lord, as per your direction and I served good food and crossed back the river. I told her to give way as per the wishes of Nithya Upavasi. Strangely she did it.” Lord Krishna laughingly replied, “I know Rukmani that you are terribly confused to see me calling myself as Nithya Brahmachari and the sage calling himself as Nithya Upavasi. We both were telling only the truth. This is because we both are realized souls and do not attach ourselves to this ethereal body of ours .We both know, that we are really the souls within this body. That soul does not marry and does not take food and that is how I (my soul) am a Brahmachari and Sage Durwasa (his soul) is an Upavasi. Once you understand this simple truth, you can lead a very contended and happy life.” 

Thulasi –the holy plant

 Thulasi –the holy plant

 Retold By
 P.R.Ramachander

Thulasi (ocimum sanctum) is possibly the holiest plant for the Hindus. There is a story in Devi Bhagavatam about her. Long long ago Lord Vishnu had three wives viz Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Ganga.(I have verified this in several sources) One day Ganga looked at Lord Vishnu with lot of passion, when the other two were present. A big quarrel erupted between them. When Saraswathi attacked Ganga, Lakshmi tried to separate them. Saraswathi got infuriated and cursed Lakshmi that she should be born as a plant in earth. Ganga cursed Saraswathi, that she should become a river and Saraswathi in turn cursed Ganga that she should become an ever flowing river. Lakshmi, who was loved a lot by Lord Vishnu, told her, “Please do not worry. You would be first born as a daughter of a very pious soul called Dharma Dwaja and later marry an Asura called Shanka Chooda, who would be one of my incarnations. Later you would come and join me in Vaikunta, after becoming the holy plant Thulasi.” There was a great king called Rudra Savarni, in his clan was born a great king called Vrusha dwaja. Vrusha Dwaja was a very great devotee of Lord Shiva. Because of this he banned worship of all other Gods except Lord Shiva in his kingdom. Due to non worship of Goddess Lakshmi during the Kanya (October-November) month, there was a great famine in his country. Apart from that Lord Surya, who was also not worshipped, cursed the king that he would become a wretch. This infuriated Lord Shiva. He sent his Trident against Lord Surya. Lord Surya, afraid of Shiva’s trident ran to his father Kashyapa Prajapathi for help. Since he was not in a position to help, both of them approached Lord Brahma. He also expressed his helplessness to protect Lord Surya and all of them together went to meet Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva also came there. Then Lord Vishnu pointed out that since the time of Deva’s was very much different, thousands of years have passed in the earth and Vrusha Dwaja was no more. He requested Lord Shiva to take back his trident. Then Lord Vishnu told them that in the clan of Vrusha Dwaja, two kings viz Dharma Dwaja and, Kusa Dwaja were remaining and both of them were doing extreme penance to Goddess Lakshmi, so that she would bless their kingdom .Goddess Lakshmi appeared before them and blessed them saying that she would be born as daughter to them and with this their country would become fertile and rich. Kusa dwaja married a lady called Malawathi and a daughter Veda Vathi was born to them. When Veda Vathi was doing Thapas (penance), Ravana tried to rape her. She cursed Ravana that, if he touches any lady without their consent his head will beak in to thousand pieces. She then jumped in to the sacrificial fire and died. Ravana took the ashes of the fire, put them in a box and threw it in the sea. This box was swept ashore in the kingdom of Mithila and was fond by Janaka. Vedavathi was in side the box in the form of a girl child .She was called Sita, who later became the wife of Lord Rama. Dharma dwaja married a lady called Madhawi and Goddess Lakshmi was born to them as a girl child. Since she was an incomparable beauty, they called her Thula Si (Incomparable one). Thulasi grew up in to lass as soon as she was born and left her kingdom and started doing Thapas in Bhadrinath with a wish to marry Lord Vishnu .She did Thapas in the middle of fire all round her in summer and under water in winter. She did Thapas for twenty four thousand years eating only fruits. Another thirty six thousand years eating only leaves, another forty four thousand years eating only air and the last ten thousand years without eating any thing. Lord Brahma, appeared before her and asked her what she wanted. She told him that she wanted to become the wife of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma told her, “Hey Thulasi, Lord Sudhama who was a part of Lord Krishna is now born as an Asura called Shanka Chooda.He is a part incarnation of Lord Vishnu. You would first become his wife. Later you would become the wife of Lord Narayana. While going back , a part of you would remain in this world as a holy plant called Thulasi. Any worship which does not include worship with the leaves of Thulasi, would be incomplete and would not be accepted by Gods.” Shanka Chooda at that time had pleased Lord Brahma by his Thapas and was given a Vishnu kavacha(armour) and a boon that unless the armour is removed from his body and till his wife looses her virtue(Pathivruthya) , no body can kill him, Shanka Chooda requested Thulasi to marry him and both were married. They lead an extremely happy life. This time Shanka Chooda started giving trouble to the Devas. Devas accompanied by Lord Shiva approached Lord Vishnu for a solution. Lord Vishnu gave his spear to Lord Shiva so that he can break the Vishnu Kavacha , which Shanka Chooda was wearing, When Lord Shiva and Shanka Chooda were engaged in a fierce battle, and Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Shanka Chooda and went to Shanka Chooda’s palace. When they entered the bed room Thulasi started suspecting Lord Vishnu. Then Lord Vishnu took his real form and told her, “Lakshmi, you have been doing great penance to marry me. By Now Shanka Chooda would have been killed by Lord Shiva and it is time for you to leave this body and come as Lakshmi to Vaikunta and be with me. Your body which you leave here will become a great river called Gandaki and your hair would transform itself in to a holy plant Thulasi. This plant would become the holiest among plants.” Lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi returned to Vaikunta. 

Sage Agasthya-some anecdotes

 Sage Agasthya-some anecdotes.
 Compiled
 By P.R.Ramachander

 Birth of Agasthya Once up on a time Mithra (Sun) and Varuna (the God of rain) happened to fall in love with the celestial nymph Urvasi. On seeing the pretty dancer, their semen leaked out of them and this was preserved in a pitcher. Out of the pitcher was born two great sages –Agasthya and Vasishta. Together they were called Maithra Varunas. Because he was born out of a pitcher, Agasthya was also called Kumbha Sambhava or Kumbha muni. He was supposed to have existed some 4000 years before the commencement of Kali Yuga and is believed to be still living in Tamil Nadu by devotees. A folk lore in the Sidha Medicine has a different story to tell. It Says that “Sage Agasthiyar was born about 4573 years prior to the commencement of Kali Yuga at a place in Gujarat. His father Bhargava (Savithru- one of the 14 Adithyas) was well learned while his mother Indumathi was from Punjab on the banks of the Indus River. They were both devotees of the Pasupatha order of the sage Rishabha Muni.” Education Sage Agasthya was supposed to be one of the very learned sages of his time. Nothing much is known as to who were his Guru etc. In many Puranas, he is being taught by Sage Hayagreeva, who was one of the incarnations of Vishnu. In fact the great “Lalitha Sahasranama stotram” and Lalitha Trishathi” were taught to him by Sage Hayagreeva at the express orders of Goddess Lalitha Tripura Sundari to Sage Hayagreeva. Sage Drona who was a teacher of Pandavas learned the art of war from his Guru Agni Vesa, who himself is supposed to have learnt it from Sage Agasthya. Sage Agasthya was the one who is credited to have written the first book of grammar of the Tamil language. He also has been credited to have found and popularized the Sidha system of medicine in Tamil Nadu. He is also supposed to be the founder of the “Nadi astrology” of Tamil Nadu. The Keralites claim, that he was the one who was responsible for teaching them the martial art of “kalari Payittu”. Marriage One day Sage Agasthya was traveling through the forest and his Pithru devathas (Manes) were found hanging upside down on forest trees. When he asked them, why this fate came to them, they replied, that since Agasthya did not have a son, they were forced to undergo this type of suffering. Agasthya promised them that he would get married. He collected all that is good from every being on earth and created a baby girl. At that time the king of Vidharbha was doing great penance to get a child .Agasthya presented the king with the baby he had created. She was named as Lopa Mudhra and brought up under great luxurious circumstances. When she reached marriageable age, Agasthya requested her hand in marriage from the king of Vidharbha. Though the king was terribly afraid of the sage, he indicated to him, that he is not willing to give his daughter in marriage to him. But Lopa Mudhra, told her father that she wanted to marry Agasthya. Since he used to walk on forests and mountains , wanting not to trouble his wife, Agasthya used to give her a micro form and carry her in his pitcher,. Due to the wish of Lord Shiva, Agasthya traveled south and settled down there. Due to the very odorous journey that he had to undertake , Lord Shiva gave a boon to Agasthya that his pitcher would be full of water always. At that time, the South India was extremely dry with small streams ,which were seasonal. Once when Agasthya had gone to take bath and Lord Ganesa took the form of a crow and overturned Agasthya’s pitcher. Lopa Mudhra along with the perennial water from the pitcher turned in to the mighty river Kaveri, which is perennial. She was called Kaveri because , she was spread by a crow(Kaa(crow) Viri(spread)) There is yet another story of Sage Agasthya’s marriage from South India. It seems there was a hunter king called Kavera near the Brahma Giri mountain ranges of Coorg. His only aim in life was to do good to his country. He did great penance to propitiate Lord Shiva. At last Shiva came in person. Kavera only wanted the good of his people . Lord Shiva blessed him with a daughter called Kaveri and told him that his wish would be fulfilled through her. Sage Agasthya happened to visit Brahma Giri. Kavera then gave his daughter in marriage to Sage Agasthya. Agasthya and Kaveri lead a very happy life there. But at that time due to the tyrannical rule of an Asura called Surapadma, the entire South India was in the grip of a terrible famine. One day while Sage Agasthya was going to take bath, there was no one to care of Kaveri. So he turned her in to water and placed her in his holy pitcher. Lord Ganesa took the form of a crow and upturned the pitcher. The water which came out of the pitcher became a stream and then a very great perennial river called Kaveri.. Humbling of Vindhya Mountain The greatest mountain in India always was Maha Meru , which literally touches the sky. The Sun and Moon were supposed to go round that mountain. The Vindhya ranges which are in the middle of India got very jealous of this state of affairs and started growing taller and taller. A stage came when the Sun and the moon were not able to travel to the South. So Indra requested Agasthya to do some thing about it. It was at this time that Lord Shiva decided to marry Goddess Parvathi . People all over the world started traveling to Himalayas to attend Lord Shiva’s marriage. Due to this earth started tilting north wards. God Shiva had to stop this so he requested Sage Agasthya (whom he thought as equal to all people on earth) to travel towards the south, so that the great penance he did will balance the earth. Unwillingly Sage Agasthya traveled to south. On his way he was forced to cross the Vindhya mountain., which was extremely tall. Sage Agasthya requested the Vindhya Mountain to become tiny so that he can easily cross it. The Vindhyas acceded to the request of sage Agasthya. Sage Agasthya requested the mountain to be tiny till he came back to North. The mountain agreed to this also. But sage Agasthya settled in south of India and never went back. Killing of Vatapi. After his marriage to Lopa Mudhra, she wanted Sage Agasthya to dress himself in finery and be well ornamented. Since he loved her dearly and since he did not have any wealth to buy the dresses and ornaments, Agasthya is supposed to have approached a king called Srutharva. Unfortunately that king did not have excess wealth to share and so in turn Agasthya approached King Bradhnaswara and Rich man Trasadasyu . Both of them expressed their inability to pay the money required by Agasthya. Then Agasthya was directed to approach, a very rich Rakshasa called Ilvala. Ilwala was living in Manimalpathan along with his brother Vatapi. Once Ilwala had approached a Brahmin sage o bless him with a child. Since the Brahmin sage refused, Ilvala and Vatapi became very angry at Brahmins. Whenever any Brahmin came to their house., Ilwala used to offer them a feast. Vatapi used to take a form of a sheep and this sheep was cut , cooked and served to the Brahmins by Ilwala. Once the Brahmin has eaten his food, Ilwala used to call “Vatapi come out”. Then Vatapi used to come out tearing the stomach of the Brahmin. The same drama was unfolded before Sage Agasthya. However, When “Ilvala called “Vatapi come out”, Agasthya fondling his stomach, told “Digest , Oh Vatapi”. Vatapi was digested. Ilvala gave sufficient money to Agasthya. Why Agasthya drank the entire sea? When Vruthrasura was troubling the devas, very much, Devendra waged a war against him and killed him by using deceit. Two of his generals of Vruthrasura , Kalakeyas however escaped. Indra requested Agni and Vayu to chase and destroy them. However Kalakeyas went deep in to the sea and hid there. Every day after sunset they used to come out and used to cause lot of trouble to the great sages, Devas and Men .Devas approached Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu told them that the only method of catching them was by drying the sea and the only one who was capable of doing it was Agasthya. The devas approached Agasthya for help. Agasthya readily agreed and drank all the waters of the sea and made it dry. Kalakeyas were killed. The drying of ocean, lead to famine .Devas again approached Vishnu. Vishnu told them that a king called Bhageeratha would come and fill up the ocean with the water of the Ganges brought from heaven. How Agasthya got a golden bangle? Once Sage Agasthya reached a very huge empty forest. When he walked deep in to the forest he saw some Gandharwas and Apsaras dancing there. Suddenly from their midst a great soul came out. It ate a corpse which was lying there. Then that soul perambulated and saluted Sage Agasthya. He told him as follows, “ I am Swetha the son of the great king Vidarbha belonging to the Treta Yuga. I ruled my country for a long time, without doing any charity came to this forest and did Tapas here. Then I left my body and reached heaven . But in heaven I was feeling the pangs of hunger and when I approached Lord Brahma told me that this is because , while in earth, I have not given anything to any body. He told me to visit this forest daily and eat a corpse lying there to satisfy my hunger .He also told me that when I complete eating 10000 corpses, I would be able to see you and with your blessings get rid of my perennial hunger in the heaven.”, Thus saying he presented Sage Agasthya with a golden bangle. Agasthya blessed him. How Sage Agasthya cursed king Nahusha? Devendra killed Vruthrasura by deceit. Because of this a sin engulfed him and he was forced to hide in the earth. At this time a king called Nahusha completed the performance of one hundred Aswamedha Yagas. Because of this he got the position of Indra. Once he started ruling the devas , Nahusha started misbehaving with every body. He wanted Sachi Devi , the wife of Indra to live with him as his wife. Sachi Devi did not like this at all. She sought the protection of Brahaspathi, the teacher of all devas. Nahusha called Brahaspathi and threatened him.. Then Brahaspathi told Sachi Devi that he was helpless and advised her to find out her husband Indra. Sachi Devi told Nahusha that she was willing to obey his whims but she would like to see her husband who was hiding in earth first. Nahusha agreed to this condition. With the help of Goddess Parvathi , Sachi Devi found out Indra. Indra said that unless he gets rid of his sin, he would not be able to come back but he told her to do a trick to get rid of Nahusha. Sachi Devi went back and told Nahusha, that she will receive Nahusha provided he comes to her house in a palanquin carried by the Saptha rishis(Seven very great sages).. The Saptha rishis included Sage Agasthya. Since Nahusha was the king of devas, his order had to be obeyed by them. Since Agasthya was short and fat he was not able to walk fast and the palanquin tilted at his end. Since Nahusha was in a hurry to reach Sachi Devi’s house, Nahusha kept on ordering them, “Sarpa, Sarpa(Fast, fast)”. This infuriated Sage Agasthya and he cursed that Nahusha would indeed become a Sarpa(snake). Nahusha then craved for forgiveness of Agasthya. Sage Agasthya told him that Nahusha would get salvation on seeing his descendents , the Pandavas in the forest. How Agasthya helped Lord Rama? During his sojourn in the forests Lord Rama along with Lakshmana and Sita is supposed to have visited the hermitage of Agasthya and stayed there. They also took his advice as where they should live in the forests. During the war with Ravana in Sri Lanka, Lord Rama fought with Ravana for a long time and was tired and was not able to kill Ravana. At that stage the devas sent sage Agasthya to advice him. Sage Agasthya then taught Lord Rama, a prayer to Lord Sun called Adhithya Hrudaya. Rama chanted this prayer and got the ability to kill Ravana. How Agasthya cursed the king Indra Dhyumna? There was a very great king called Indra Dhyumna in the Pandya dynasty. This king was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Once when Agasthya came to visit him, the king was so drowned in his devotion to Lord Vishnu, that he did not see or show hospitality to Sage Agasthya. Sage Agasthya cursed to him to become an elephant for 1000 years. This elephant was called Gajendra. At this time another sage called Devala cursed a Gandarwa called Huhu to become a crocodile because he disturbed his penance. Once the Elephant got in to the river in which the crocodile was living. The crocodile caught hold of the feet of the elephant. After a very long time , the elephant called Lord Narayana, who came and killed the crocodile. He also removed the curse on Indra Dhyumna and gave him salvation. How Agasthya cursed Thataka? Thataka was the daughter of a Yaksha called Sukethu. She was born to him because of the blessing of Lord Brahma. She had the strength of 1000 elephants. She married another Yaksha called Sunda and a son Mareecha was born to them .In a quarrel with Agasthya ,Sunda was killed. Thataka and Mareecha became very angry and attacked the hermitage of Agasthya. Agasthya cursed them and they became Rakshasas. Later they were killed by Lord Rama and both of them attained salvation. How Agasthya turned a Vaishnavite temple to that of Shiva? Agasthya when he arrived from the northern parts of India was a shaivite. He along with his wife reached a place called Kutralam in Tamil Nadu. There was a temple for Lord Vishnu in Kutralam. Agasthya being a shaivite was refused entry in to the temple. Agasthya by his miraculous powers converted the statue of Vishnu in side the temple to Shiva Lingam and demonstrated to the people that Shiva and Vishnu were the same one God.  

Kacha –Devayani

 Kacha –Devayani
 Retold by
 P.R.Ramachander
Kacha was the eldest son of Brahaspathi, the son of Angeeras. He was an extremely handsome boy. His father was the Guru (teacher) of all devas. When he was a young lad, the fight between Devas and Asuras was continuing. Devas had a complaint that Shukra the Guru of Asuras was protecting the Asuras in a better way. Shukra had got the knowledge oh Maha Mruthyunjaya Mantram from Lord Shiva and he was using it to bring it to life all dead Asuras. The devas also wanted to learn that mantra. Kacha volunteered to help them. He went and approached Shukra as a student. Shukra accepted him and started teaching him. Shukra had a very pretty daughter called Devayani. Devayani and Kacha being of the same age became very close friends. The Asuras were looking at this happening with lot of suspicion. They justifiably thought that Kacha’s intention was not to simply gain knowledge but learn the Maha Mruthyunjaya Mantra from Sage Shukra. So when Kacha had gone to the forest to graze the cattle of Shukra’s household, they killed Kacha and made an wolf eat him. When Kacha did not return, Devayani started crying. Since Shukra loved is daughter very much, he chanted the Maha Mruthyunjaya Mantra to bring back Kacha. Kacha came back to life in the stomach of the wolf, pierced it and came out. The Asuras were very unhappy at the turn of these events. So when next day, Kacha went to take bath in the river, they killed him, burnt him and mixed his ashes in the sea. Again the same thing happened. To please his darling child Devayani, Shukra brought back Kacha to life using his mantra. This infuriated the Asuras. So next time when they hold of Kacha, they killed him, burnt him and mixed the ashes with an alcoholic drink and gave it to their teacher Shukra. Shukra unknowingly drank the drink. This time when Shukra chanted the Maha Mruthyunjaya Mantra, he came to life in the stomach of Shukra. It became evident that if he comes out, Shukra will die. Then Shukra taught the Maha Mruthyunjaya mantra to Kacha who was within his stomach. Kacha came out of the stomach of Shukra and brought back his teacher to life by chanting the mantra. Once it was over, Kacha told his Guru that he wanted to go back. At this time Devayani requested Kacha to marry her, since she loved him .But Kacha told that since he came out of the stomach of Shukra, he was like a son to him and Devayani was like a sister. Devayani cursed Kacha that, the mantra that he has learnt would not be effective, if he chanted it. Kacha also cursed Devayani that she would not get married to son’s of any devas. Kacha went back happily and taught the mantra he had learned to others. Later Devayani married a king called Yayati. Shukra, who got into trouble because of alcoholic drink, forbade, all Brahmins from drinking it. 

Mook poi-The first video children's story from Raja Thatha

Video  of Raja Thatha  telling   a story to his grand daughter

(With a humble  request from Thatha   to send it to  as many  homes with little  children as possible)

Once upon a time there  was a boy called Raja   in a small hamlet called Chelakkara  in Kerala. His infanthood was spent in  hearing stories mainly from his father and so many mamas and Mamis in the village  . As soon as he started  reading, he became an voracious reader. His father   used to subscribe to a Tamil magazine called  Ambulimama and  Raja read those stories with lot of interest. Possibly when he was about ten years old he started  telling stories to other children.  The children of the village used to flock around him to hear his stories. He seemed to have an inexhaustible  collection of stories with him.  Fate   decided to take him to Secunderabad for school studies,. He became  initially an avid   reader of all the folk tales, Vikramadhithan Kadhai,  Madanakamarajan kadhai  , Brihath kadha manjari   and  later hundreds  and thousands of novels . When he visited his village   during vacation , he was in great demand  for telling stories, Raja Anna became , Raja Mama , the story teller to his nephews and his cousin brother’s children .He continued this with his children  and then to  his grand children. Soon Raja Mama became  Raja Thatha and his darling daughter Mrs.MeeraVenkatesan  made him write all the stories he  remembered and created an extremely popular   web site. Possibly  Raja  Thatha was becoming  old   and so  his daughter Meera   wanted to him  to leave   his treasure of stories in the spoken form to  his children , his grand children  and to  the very large number of admirers and fans as an invaluable inheritance . The first of the stories has been uploaded  as a video. More will follow. I am sure each of them will accept this great treasure  with joy  and shed tears of joy .Rajja THatha wants to thank Meera   who made it possible  and Yamini for acting as a listener. I hope all  of you would enjoy seeing it and then show to your children and  also recommend it to your friends.

Channel url

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaonzWDdGZZswJaJ8U_-4gw

Video url

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht3fczP6Ee4

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New proposal for Hindu Birthday celebration -Comments invited.

New proposal   for  Birthday celebration  -Comments  invited.

       Generally all of us  are attracted  by  the   way   the westerners celebrate   their birthday. Even though we consider  putting out a lamp is a evil omen , we do blow the candle. Even though we know that  cake contains eggs  , We try not to bother about it . We prefer to sing in chorus   the happy birthday song  , which has been taught   to  us by   the westerners. My friend Sri. P.R.Chandran chanced upon a  birthday celebration advocated by the Balagokulam, which is trying to spread  the Hindu culture  among   the children in USA (http://www.balagokulam.org/teach/other/celebratingbirthday.php

)   and wanted  me to translate it .I have made minor  modifications  and not given the very exact neaning  but the  simple meaning which may appeal to our kids .

I.Lighting of the lamp

     The celebration begins  with the lighting of the lamp   by  the birthday boy(girl) , with assistance of elders if need be.

  Then birthday boy(girl)  along with all guests  pray   to the lamp by reciting  two slokas.(It can be recited in Sanskrit  or English

1.Shubham karothi kalyanam  , Aarogyam   dhana SAmpada ,

SAthru budhi vinasaya  , Dheepa jyothi namosthuthe

I salute  the flame of the lamp  , for performance of good deeds,

For health, wealth  , riches and for destruction of enemies

2.Dheepajyothi  Parabrahma , Dheepa jyothi Janardhana ,

Dheepo  harathe may paapam  , sandhya dheepa namosthuthe

The flame of the lamp is the divine Brahman,

The flame of the lamp is  Lord Vishnu  ,

The lamp will destroy my sins , I salute this lamp of dusk.

II.Chanting of Gayathri by the Birthday boy(girl). (If the elders either feel that the boy without upanayanam   or girls  , should not recite Gayathri, then they can recite  the simple English meaning  only)

Gayathri Manthra

OM  Bhoorbuvasuva  Thath savithur varenyam  ,

Bhargo devasya  dhemahi  , dhiyo yona prachodayath

Om The earth ,  the astral world ,  the world of thinking   have chosen the Sun,

Who is the God of wisdom  on whom we meditate   and let  him illuminate my intellect

III.Cutting  of sweet  and distribution

     Instead  of the cake  we can  fill up a  pretty  vessel   with   Sweets like  Kesari/Halwa   etc  give a top coating   eith sugar as they dp  to the cake , write  Happy birthday/Shubha Jamothsava/Magizhiyana  Piranthanal   and request   the  birthday  boy(girl) to cut it , While  his friends and  well wishers  wish him a happy  birthday  by singing the following slokas either in Sanskrit or English.(Another option is to   make Kutti   of the favourite filling  of the birthday boy or girl  in the shape of a cake   and proceed as above . But then it may not be possible to cut it )

1,Om Tryambakam yajamahe

Sugandhim pushtivardhanam

Urvarurkamiva bhandhanam

Mrityor mukshiya yama-mrtat.

We salute and respect,
Him who is naturally scented,
Him who looks after his devotees with mercy,
And him who has three eyes.
And pray and request,
To move us away from the catch of death,
Like the cucumber separated from its stalk,
And firmly put us in the path of salvation

2.Sathamanam Bhavathi

Sathayu Sathendriya  Purusha  ,
Ayusvendriya prathishathi

Let Him live  hundred percent for hundred years ,

Let all  his faculties be alive  for  that  life of hundred years

Janmadhinam ithi Priya sakhe  ,

3.Sam   thanothu   thet sarvadhaa mudham,

Prarthayamahe   bhava SAthayushi  ,

Easwara   sadhaa   thwaam cha rakshathu

Punya karmanaa   keerthim aarjaya  ,

Jeevanam   thava bhavathu   Sarthakam,

Swasthysthu   yjey kusalamasthu,

Kruthi  kousala sidhirasthu ,

Aiswaryamathu  , Balamasthu  ,

Rashtra Bhakthi sadathu  .

Vamassadeiva  bhavathani   sudheepthosthu,

Ayushyam thoubya thaam

OH dear friend, Your birthday has come now  ,

And  please accomplish with peace  all time happiness,

Let God   always  protect   you,

Let your life be meaningful always and forever.

Let   you be healthy  , let you be happy

Let you have ability   to carry out your actions,

Let you be wealthy  , Let you be strong  ,

Let always devotion to country be there  in you  ,

Let the God of your clan   lighten  your life ,

And let your life be without fear

4.Jevema SArada ssatham

Please live  and see hundred autumns

5.Shubha  thava janmadivasa   sarva mangalam  ,

Jaya jaya jaya   thava  Sidha sadhanam

Sukha  , santhi samrudhi   chira jeevanam

Let  your birthday  be illuminating  ,Wish you all  auspiciousness ,

Victory , Victory  , victory  be the property you have earned,

Let pleasure , peace  , plenty  be for a long  time be yours.

       

HIdimba Devi the Rakshasi who married Bhima

HIdimba Devi   the Rakshasi who married  Bhima

      When the Kauravas lead by   Duryodhana  try to burn the Pandavas along with their mother  Kunthi(The aunt of Lord Krishna)  , they escaped and wandered all over   the forests of their kingdom.  Once they approached a place in the forest without knowing  the Existence of a Rakshasa  called Hidimba and his sister  HIdimbi (Hidimba devi) . Hidimba who was a man eater   wanted to eat  Bhima and when he saw that  Bhima   was Standing   guard  to the other Pandavas and his mother , He compelled his sister to assume the form of a pretty women and sends her to  attract Bhima and bring him before him so that he could eat him.  But Bhima   declined the advances of  Hidimbi and infuriated  Hidimba attacks Bhima and is killed by him. Since  Hidimbi , fell in love with BHima and had taken an oath to marry any one who  defeats her brother Hidimba  ., She begged  Kunthi to  allow her to marry BHima. Kunthi agreed to that  provided   that Bhima will leave  her once she  becomes a mother of BHima’s child.  She was told that she could carry BHima and wander   all over  during day time and return him to the pandavas   when night sets in.  Hidimbi(Hidimba Devi  ) married  BHima agreeing to the condition. Within a  year a son was born to her and Kunthi named him as  Ghatothkacja( One with head like pot). The pandavas then leave   from there   and after killing Bhakasura   reach   the Kingdom of Panchala and all of them married   Draupadhi, the Panchala  princess  .  Afterwards when  the Pandavas   get established    in their own capital city of Inbdraprastha  , they decided to do a fire sacrifice called Rajasuya , But since Yudhishtra was at that time without a son  , the fire did not get lit in the fire place  and since Bhima had a son, Sage Vyasa  prayed Gods that  all Pandavas were essentially one   and Ghatothkacha was their son   and conducted the fire sacrifice . Ghatothkacha  later helps the Pandavas  in the Mahabharatha war and is killed in the battle. Hidimbi then goes back to the forest    and is made  a Goddess   of the forest people there .

        HIdimbi is worshipped   in her temple  in Manali of Himachal Pradesh  . Near to her temple there  is a temple to her son  GHatothkacha in the form of a tree   and there is a temple dedicated to his son also in Manali , There are  also other small  temples dedicated to Hidimba Devi all over Himachalas .During the Dasara festival the HIdimba chariot escorts  The Chariot of Raghunath   on the Lanka Dahan day  .People believe that Dimapur of Assam is named after  Hidimba   and is the corruption of the  nama Hidimbapur.