Young Colors Of India

I created this on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day of India depicting colors of Indian Children - different culture, different tradition, but one goal - "TO MAKE INDIA THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON THE PLANET".

Proud to be an Indian

-Jai Hind

The Power And Greatness Of Gayathri Mantra

He who stops chanting Gayathri Mantra for 3 generations seizes to be a Brahmin.  He cannot enter Brahmanism thereafter. That is the power and richness of Gayathri Mantra.   Gayathri Mantra is like a spark which should not be ignored.  A spark is not useful by itself, but gets immense power when it becomes a fire.  At the time of Brahmopadesa during Upanayanam, the Brahmin boy (Vatu) is bestowed with this spark by narrating the Gayathri Mantra into his ears by the Guru.  Through this narration, the spark enters the mind of the Vatu and remains there for ever.  It the duty of the Vatu to keep the spark ignited at all times.  That is done by reciting the Gayathri Mantra regularly.  In order to realize the power of this mantra, the feeble spark has to become fire and then a mighty flame.  This is possible by chanting Gayathri Mantra many many times.  

The Gayathri Mantra purifies our mind and the inner soul.  It is our responsibility to keep the mind clean and fresh.  In order to keep the body and mind pure, it is important to completely eliminate junk food.   The power of Gayathri Mantra could be realized only when the magical mantra resides in a purified non-contaminated mind.  Once you have started chanting Gayathri Mantra, it is important to stop eating junk food and outside food. 

"Sahasra Paramadevi Shatha Madhya Dasavara", means -  It is extremely auspicious to chant this mantra 1000 times (1008 precisely),  it is good to chant 100 times (108 precisely) and it is wise to chat atleast 10.  There is a difference between auspicious, good and wise.  Do chant 100 to 1000 times on Sundays and other holidays if you do not have time during the weekdays. 

Trikala Sandhya Vandhanam is a must for all Brahmins.  Chanting 10 Gayathri Mantra each time will enable you to chant 30 times daily.   Prathah Sandhya at dawn is the time when life is rising.   The mind is peaceful during that time. Sayam Sandhya (Dusk) is the time when we have completed our day job.  The mind is relaxed during this time too.   Madhyanmigam (noon) is the time when the position of the sun is at the center (on top of our head).  If you notice carefully, our mind is relaxed during this time too.  So, chanting Gayathri Mantra during these three periods gives the maximum benefit to our inner soul.

The Gayathri Mantra unifies the power of all Veda Mantras.  It gives the power to other Mantras too.  If it is not chanted,  there is no point in chanting other Veda Mantras.  We have heard about hypnotism in this material world.  Through hypnotism the mind is manipulated and controlled.  One who hypnotizes gains absolute control over other's mind.  Gayathri Mantra is the tool to hypnotize your mind in order to attain Moksha or Mukthi.  It is self-hypnotism.  It enables you to control your anger and greed from this materialistic world and helps you attain the real Moksha.  The more you blow this spark, the more bigger it becomes which gives better enlightenment.  When the fire becomes a mighty flame,  it becomes very difficult to diffuse it.  That is the time you attain Moksha.

In Sandhyavandanam, Argyam and Gayathri are the most important ones.  The importance of Argyapradhanam is described during the Kurukshetra war.   It is said that during war time, due to lack of water, the soldiers did Argyapradhanam using sand.   Such is the importance of Argyam.   So, while performing Trikala Sandhyavandanam, it is very important to perform Argyapradanam and Gayathri Mantram.  It is the karma of every Brahman. 

Kanchi Mahaswami describes the importance of Gayathri Mantra in a beautiful way.  When someone is affected by fever which is an indication of a problem in our body, it is important to take medicine to get cured.  Similarly, when we are born in this materialistic world, we are engulfed with another form of fever, the fever of greed and ego.  The only medicine prescribed for this fever is Gayathri Mantra.  It takes long time for us to get rid of the fever of greed and ego.  That is why one should continue to chant Gayathri Mantra for ever.

While other Mantras might need regular practice and hard work to understand, Gayathri Mantra is fairly easy and needs no physical exercise to practice.  It has been made easy for everyone to practice at ease.  All you need is little water for Argyapradanam.   Gayathri Matru Roopaya - The Vedas depict Gayathri in form of mother.  We would not have been what we are without our Mother.  She is the most merciful and most lovable for all of us.  Gayathri Mantra is given similar status equal to our mother. 

-Translated by Krishnan, Hosur

Winning And Being Successful

Winning and being successful are not one and the same.   The difference may not even be subtle.   Winning could be a short-term achievement, but being successful might need more than one wins with a mark of difference.

Today, I heard that the country's badminton pride, Sania Nehwal gifted her silver medal winning racquet to Modiji.  While I see no negative intent in she doing this and we should be proud of her achievements as a fellow citizen,  there is a key learning for high achievers here.

Winning and being successful are two different things.  You may win competitions through hard work, regular practice and devotion.  You may even see big and momentary successes.  If you want to create a legacy around you,  you need to do something different.   It has to be noticeable.  It has to be different.  So different that it creates visibility.

If that visibility can create a future that is secure even after you stop winning or stumble, you probably have created a mark for yourself.

India Has Lost Her Son - A People's President - Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam

 

I don't have the age and maturity to appreciate Kalamji.    I had the rare opportunity to see him in person when he visited a school near Hosur, Tamilnadu.  

The man who envisioned a developed India in 2020 is no more.   He orbited the sun 84 times and then reached heaven.   Our country has lost the most beloved president of all times.  So, how can I describe Dr. Kalam.  The following would be minimal to describe him

Great human-being
Great Statesman
Beloved friend
Excellent Leader
Great philosopher
Eminent Scientist
Down-to-earth person
Highly respected
Extremely hardworking
Loved by All
Excellent Orator
Postive Thinker
Writer
Poet
Social Reformer
Highly knowledgeable
Very skilled
Passionate
Above religion and politics
Very humorous
Highly spiritual
Very Strong
Affectionate
Visionary


I was listening to his interview he gave at Wharton School of management.  According to him any leader should demonstrate 6 traits

1.  A leader must have "Vision"
2.  A leader must be able to travel in an unexplored path
3.  A leader must know how to manage and own failures 
4.  A leader must have courage to take decisions
5.  A leader should have nobility in management and be transparent
6.  A leader should demonstrate Integrity

Dr. Kalam believed in youth power.  He had a dream.   Dream to see our country flourish,  dream to see our children prosper, dream to see technological and social advancement.   A dream where every citizen in this country could leave peacefully with love.

Jai Hind!

-Krishnan
 

IMPORTANCE OF GOAL SETTING

The following instrument would be very useful for goal settings.  It could be given to anybody who would like to set some SMART goals in life and identify methods to accomplish them.

GOAL SETTING

My goals for the year (Specific, Measurable, Accurate, Realistic, Time bound)

 

It is important that I achieve these goals because:

                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                      

Steps I need to take to achieve my goals:

1

2

                                                                                                                                          

The skills I need to be successful in the process:

 

                                                                                                                                          

How will I know when I have achieved success:

                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                      

The quote or person who inspires me to stay motivated:

                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                      

Costly KSRTC and BMTC - Down Down Bangalore!

I boarded a Volvo A/C Bus from Thiruvanmiyur Jayanthi to Kannagi Salai (near Triplicane).   For a distance of about 10 kms,  I was charged Rs 15/-.   For the same distance between Madivala to CV Raman Nagar in Bangalore, by a similar Volvo Bus,  they charge Rs 70/-.   The quality of the bus is same.   That is 5 times more in Bangalore than Chennai.   KSRTC and BMTC are minting money and cheating people.   This is none less than robbery.   The IT people in Bangalore could afford to pay that much but this is affecting non-IT  people.    The government has to reduce this imbalance.   I like the Chennai-model here.   Will the BMTC authorities take action and do something about it ?

Blog-A-Second

I feel completely disengaged and dejected today.   I hope writing this blog would take off some of the hard feelings and mental stress in my mind.  It happened last year to me when my manager called me to give me the bad news.   I was expecting a promotion and I hoped it would happen, but for the bad news that was opened up in front of me.   I felt horrible, broken, down and dis-engaged that day.   I was unable to talk to my own family members that evening.   I remember the saying, "If your mind is filled with commotion, then talk it over to someone whom you trust and feel close to your heart,  that commotion would reduce, it would de-stress you a bit".   That is when I decided to blog my feelings.   The blog came to me as my trusted companion and I could vent out all my feelings, share my opinion - good or bad.   You can read that blog here https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140729180255-239933340-your-career-development-is-in-your-hands?trk=prof-post