If any one knows of any organization who can help with these types of projects, please let me know!We can use their help!Even relatively small acts.!

PS: About the photo, year ago a devotee in Malaysia donated 2 cows to our Sivapoomi Elderly Home. The milk of these cows serves all the elders at the home. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Malaysian donor for such generosity.

Sivapoomi.jpg

Bas Baskaran USA

On Fri, Oct 22, 2010 at 1:23 PM, Bas Baskaran wrote:

Greetings, Forty-Four year old Srikanthan was living with his wife and 3 children in Kilinochchi. Three years ago, when the war forced him out of his home, he and his family moved from place to place as refugees. And in May of last year, during a period of heavy fighting in the war, he was wounded and lost his leg in a landmine. After living in a refugee camp in Vavuniya for a period of time, he and his family moved to Jaffna where they live with relatives. Last month, when I was in Sri Lanka, I met Srikanthan. He and his family accompanied me to Kilinochchi. When we visited his old home, we saw that his house had been completely destroyed and his land was overgrown with the bushes. It was sad for his family to see. Despite the adversity he had faced, Srikanthan was determined to rebuild his life. He considered ways that he could might be able to this through self-employment. Recently he approached an American NGO for assistance to purchase a cow. Now, he is the proud owner of one dairy cow. According to him, through the sale of milk, he can receive 215 rupees a day which provides him a monthly income of 6450 rupees (after expenses). As you know, cows are seasonal (won't produce milk all year along), so hopes to purchase one more cow so that he can support his family all year-round. If any one knows of any organization who can help with these types of projects, please let me know. We can use their help. Even relatively small acts of generosity can have a signigicant impact on people back in Sri Lanka like Srikanthan who wish to rebuild their lifes back home.

Aum Shanthi, Rishi Thondunathan PS:

About the photo, year ago a devotee in Malaysia donated 2 cows to our Sivapoomi Elderly Home. The milk of these cows serves all the elders at the home. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Malaysian donor for such generosity.

The link between Man & God is FAITH...!!! That is all that keeps things moving & alive.!!!

From: SHANKAR RAJAPPA

Please read each word and enjoy the faith.

Don't miss even a single word... Too good.
..........................................................
An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.
He asks one of his new students to stand and.....

Prof:
‘So you believe in God?’

Student:
‘Absolutely, sir. ‘

Prof:
Is God good?

Student:
Sure.

Prof:
Is God all-powerful?

Student:
Yes.

Prof:
My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?

(Student is silent.)

Prof:
You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?

Student:
Yes.

Prof:
Is Satan good?

Student:
No.

Prof:
Where does Satan come from?

Student:
From...God...

Prof:
That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student:
Yes.

Prof:
Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?

Student:
Yes.

Prof:
So who created evil?

(Student does not answer.)

Prof:
Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?

Student:
Yes, sir.

Prof:
So, who created them?

(Student has no answer.)

Prof:
Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?

Student:
No, sir.

Prof:
Tell us if you have ever heard your God?

Student:
No, sir.

Prof:
Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?

Student:
No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Prof:
Yet you still believe in Him?

Student:
Yes.

Prof:
According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student:
Nothing. I only have my faith.

Prof:
Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.

Student:
Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Prof:
Yes.

Student:
And is there such a thing as cold?

Prof:
Yes.

Student:
No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student:
Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that.
There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat.
We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it .
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student:
What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Prof:
Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

Student:
You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

Prof:
So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student:
Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Prof:
Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student:
Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.

Now tell me, Professor.Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Prof:
If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student:
Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)

Student:
Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher? (The class is in uproar.)

Student:
Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain? (The class breaks out into laughter.)

Student:
Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain,sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir? (The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Prof:
I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student:
That is it sir... The link between man & god is FAITH . That is all that keeps things moving & alive.


NB: I believe you have enjoyed the conversation...and if so...you'll probably want your friends/colleagues to enjoy the same...won't you?.... this is a true story, and the student was none other than.........
APJ Abdul Kalam , the former president of India

Significance of Navarathri..!!!

Significance of Navarathri
by K.K. Arumainayagam

Hindus observe the Navarathri pooja for nine nights in the Tamil month of Puraddathi. Navarathri means nine nights. It is also called 'Sakthi Valipadu,' means prayers to Sakthi, the consort of Lord Shiva. Hindus from time immemorial worshipped Sakthi, the divine mother. Bharathi, the great poet and an ardent devotee of 'Parasakthi' said that one could get more blessings if he or she surrenders to 'Ambikai' the divine mother.

Navarathri Pooja starts with 'Kumbam', which is placed to invite Shakthi to make abode on it by chanting manthrams. Kumbam means a pot of water adorned with a husked coconut and mango leaves representing the deity. Since the pooja is offered to Kumbam during Navarathri it is also called 'Kumba Pooja.'

During Navarathri (Nine nights), the first three nights are dedicated to goddess Durga the next three days to goddess of wealth Lakshmi and the last three days to goddess of knowledge Saraswathy. Durga is worshipped to get her blessings for strength. Lakshmi for wealth and Saraswathy for education.

In mundane life one needs these three elements to live a good life. The tenth day falls on the lunar day Thasami, and it is called Wijeyathasami. It is an auspicious day. Small children are introduced to their first alphabet on this auspicious day. Hindus start new ventures on this day with the belief that it would bring success.

There is a puranic story connected to Navarathri. A powerful demon called 'Mahisasuran,' who made others suffer by his cruel acts. When his cruelty became unbearable, people prayed to Sakthi to save them from Mahisasuran. Sakthi took the form of Durga and killed the demon. Since Ambigai annihilated Mahisasuran, she is called 'Mahisasuramarthani.' A religious observance in the name of 'Manampoo' is performed in temples to mark this event.

Navarathri Pooja is observed in temples, houses, schools, offices and workshops.

On the Wijeyathasami day many cultural programs such as religious speeches, music and dance are arranged specially at schools and Hindu religious organisations for moral, material and spiritual uplift.

The inner meaning of worship of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy is to attain the supreme bliss that is the atma (soul) to unite with the 'Paramathma.'


Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2010 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

In Hinduism the Supreme Lord is represented by Maheswara and His power is represented by His consort Sakthi. Sakthi is the embodiment of power..!!!

Saraswathy Pooja for knowledge and wisdom
by Chelvathamby Maniccavasagar

In Hinduism the Supreme Lord is represented by Maheswara and His power is represented by His consort Sakthi. Sakthi is the embodiment of power. She is the supreme power by which the world is made to function. Such Saraswathy Pooja or Navarathri Vizha is called Sakthi Worship.

In one of his poems T.S. Eliot has described the predicament of man with all the progress and success he had made in science and technology finds inventions and endless experiments bring us knowledge of motion, but not of stillness."


Goddess Sarasvathy Goddess Mahalakshmi Goddess Durga
It is Sakthi which stirs Lord Shiva to motion and speech. Shiva is the word, it is Sakthi which moves to words.

The union between them is represented by the image of Shiva is Ardha Nariswara, half man and half woman. Even in Kanthapuranam Lord Muruga is considered to be Gnana Sakthi and His consorts Theivanai and Valli are Kiriya Sakthi and Ischa Sakthi

Threefold aspects
Of the many Gods in the Hindu Pantheon none is revered more than the Mother Goddess. God as Mother Supreme in Her threefold aspect as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy is worshipped by Hindus for nine days and is called Navarathri in of September according to the Hindu calendar.

Goodness, strength, prosperity, knowledge and wisdom are indeed very essential for a man's progress and success in life.

When a man is young he should have good health and strength.

He should also have wealth as well as knowledge and wisdom. In fact, Goodness reveals love, while prosperity brings happiness and finally knowledge leads the way to truth and God realisation.

In the Navarathri pooja, Goddess Mother Parvathi in Her aspect as Durga is first worshipped for three nights for the destruction of evil nature in man.

In fact, Durga is considered to be Samhara Sakthi. Durga's Vahanam or vehicle the Lion, is the symbolic annihilator of Evil. Durga destroys the evil forces or tendencies which are hidden within a man.

Man's endeavours
The next three nights are dedicated to Mahalakshmi to attain or seek material and spiritual welfare. She is the protective and sustaining power of Lord Vishnu and the Goddess of Wealth. Wealth has to be obtained by man's endeavours to lead a Dharmic way of life.

During the final three nights the Mother Parvathi is worshipped as Saraswathy. She is the creative power of God and is worshipped as the Goddess of Learning. She is depicted seated on a white lotus draped in a white saree playing the Veena, indicating that she sings the melody of life.

Saraswathy's appearance connotes purity. The white swan is a symbol of perfection. She is worshipped for knowledge and wisdom which will guide and lead men to the final goal of liberation.

Special ritual
The 10th day is called Vijaya Dasami and special and colourful rituals are observed in temples. Life is a constant battle, a war between good and evil, light and darkness, knowledge and ignorance, truth and falsehood, immortality and death. As such, to a world lost in error, beset by illusions of time, weighed down by conflicts and contradictions, trials and tribulation the Saraswathy Pooja or Navarathri Vizha will undoubtedly bring peace, happiness, harmony, unity and prosperity among all communities.


Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2010 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

The Mahadeva Ashram in Kilinochchi was a thriving ashram headed by 85 yr old Ganeshanatha Mahadeva Swami! A Home for Orphans & Elders.!!!

SENT BY.............Bas Baskaran from CHICAGO,USA

The Mahadeva Ashram in Kilinochchi (Vanni Region) was a thriving ashram headed by 85 year old Ganeshanatha Mahadeva Swami. The ashram was home for orphaned girls and boys plus many elders.

Three years ago, during the peak of the War, the ashram was destroyed and the residents (children and their caretakers) were forced to abandon the ashram. Over the ensuing years they moved several times and eventually scattered to many different locations. In May 2009, at the end of the war, Swami came to live in Vavuniya. During the time that Swami was living in Vavuniya as a refugee, The Colombo Ramakrishna Mission Swami sent a car for him to come to Colombo and stay at the Mission. But, Swami refused, as he was determined to go back and rebuild his ashram in Kilinochchi.

Last October I visited Swami in Vavuniya. He told me of his wish and prayers to return to Kilinochchi and rebuild the ashram before he leaves the body. At that time it seemed, to me, an impossible task.

With the grace of God and the determination of Swami his prayers were answered and the Mahadeva Ashram in Kilinochchi has been rebuilt. While in Sri Lanka last month my mother and I chartered a bus and took kottam children and some elders, a total of 60 people, to visit Swami. Some of the displaced children have been reunited and daily pujas are being performed. Our kottam children sang bhajanas and received Swami’s blessings.

As I departed I expressed to Swami how moved I was by his fulfillment of rebuilding the Ashram. Swami, looking into my eyes with great sadness replied, "yes, we can rebuild the buildings but we can never bring back the lives that were lost during the war".

I am enclosing some photos for you to enjoy.

Aum Shanthi,

Rishi Thondunathan

A Short History of the Mahadeva Ashram
Mahadeva Ashram was founded by Vadivel Swami. When Vadivel Swami was a young man, he went to Yogaswami and asked to be initiated a sanyasi. Yogaswami sent him to Vethantha Madam where he was initiated by Mahadeva Swami into Sanyasa (Vethantha Madam was one of Kadaitswami’s other lineages). In 1952, Yogaswami told Vadivel Swami "Go to Kilinochchi ... much work to do there." After that, Vadivel Swami came to Kilinochchi and established the Mahadeva Ashram. Ganeshanantha Mahadeva Swami is the successor to Vadivel Swami. In 1983, Gurudeva visited the Mahadeva Ashram.

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