Day 82. Legacy -19

I had authored a book –Living and Leaving Gracefully, way back in 2008 that carried a perceptive foreword from  Dr. T C Nair( then Member, SEBI). I am, therefore, always keen to locate instances of graceful behaviour, more so from persons of power.

One such very eminent case came to my notice by sheer accident. I got a WhatsApp forward early last week  reading—"In the court of justice, both the parties know the truth, it is the judge who is on  trial.”(Justice J R Midha of Delhi High Court on his farewell speech). This quote intrigued me to delve deeper.

Then I came across the full farewell function on YouTube. (See link given below). I suggest you to watch it, ASAP. It will be an invaluable investment of 1.29 hours of your life. If you cannot spend that much time, see from 1.00 to 1.28  hrs.(just 28 mts.) where the speech of the Lordship is given.( Further It will not be possible to do full justice to the function in this brief write up, hence the above suggestion).

Speaker after speaker showered rich encomiums on the retiring judge. That is normal in such functions. But what is interesting to note is the wonderful human qualities of the retiring judge highlighted by the speakers. They include-

1.     First and foremost, his pleasant/soft demeanour

2.     Amount of thought that goes into his each judgement

3.     Concern/compassion for the victim of the cases

4.     Passion to “unearth the truth” in the matter

5.     Spiritual/meditative outlook that drove him

6.     Humility par excellence

7.     Smiling face

8.     Polite to one and all, never losing cool/patience at any time

9.     Philosophical and humanitarian approach

10. Concern for animals, especially stray dogs

11. Humble/ simple in dealings

12. Work for common good

13. Believing in the existence of a higher reality

14. Acting based on the quote “To  thine  own self be true’

15. Non- confrontationist outlook … list goes on.

The farewell speech by the Lordship was full of humility, wisdom and a sense of satisfaction that he could contribute in the cause of truth and justice. His judgements  have become landmark references for future- thereby leaving rich legacies . His insistence -guidelines- that accidental victims should be compensated early, has now come as a ruling/Law that in Delhi such victims are paid within 90 to120 days, which used to take 5 to 10 years before!!! ( That is real contribution to humanity at large).

He strived to see that such payments are made early like in UK and Canada. In one case he cited due to these steps, payment was made on the 13 day  of the accident !( Can we  even dream of such a situation happening anywhere in the country?)

Those are landmark judgements  for the country which will serve the victims all over the country if implemented with vigour. His judgements on caring for stray dogs was repeatedly mentioned by speakers. He also stated that in his retired life he intends to devote more time to his 4 pet dogs—as also  stated by Ratan Tata on one occasion, which the Judge also cited. His prayer to the God is indeed heart touching .. he prayed that  God should now help him to reach his spiritual goal in this life itself.

He ended with 2 to 3 quotes, one was… “I expect to pass through this world but once; if, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to my fellow being, let me do it now; let me not defer, nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again”. Stephen Grellet.   ( This I had also cited in my book- Making a Difference-2005).

• All in all, listening to  this  farewell function on the net enriched me immensely, that joy I am sharing by reproducing my thoughts gathered form it.

Be happy. Be safe.

        ॐ तत् सत्

      8 AM

      NB:

1) All retiring persons should be able to leave with that grace and satisfaction as depicted in the above.2) We need more such noble persons in all fields 3)YouTube link of the function-https://youtu.be/ShF-OQuIMCc

Day 81. Legacy- 18

 Sri Venkateswara Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati  Andhra Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga.

 Hence the place has also got the name Kaliyuga Vaikuntha and the Lord here is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. The temple is also known by other names including Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple. Venkateswara is known by many other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa.

Tirumala Hills are part of the Seshachalam Hills range. The hills are 853 metres (2,799 ft) above sea level.

The temple is constructed in Dravidian architecture and is believed to be constructed over a period of time starting from 300 AD.The first temple at Tirumala Tirupati was built by King Thondaiman, Tamil ruler of the ancient Thondaimandalam. He is said to have built the original Gopuram (tower) and the Prakhara in the 8th century.

The Garbagruha (Sanctum Sanctorum) is called AnandaNilayam. The presiding deity, Venkateswara, is in standing posture and faces east in Garbha gruha.

The temple follows Vaikhanasa Agama tradition of worship. The temple is one of the eight Vishnu Swayambhu Kshetras and is listed as 106th and the last earthly Divya Desam

It is the richest temple in the world in terms of donations received and wealth.

 The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily (30 to 40 million people annually on average), while on special occasions and festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots up to 500,000, making it the most-visited holy place in the world.

 In 2016, it was reported that 27.3 million pilgrims visited the temple.(wiki)

What one can say about the temple and its riches? Words are incapable of doing that. 

One has to visit to experience it in person. 

Lord Venkateswara is ever waiting to bless all the devotees.

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ तत् सत्

8 AM

Day 80. Legacy-17

Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a Hindu navaratna temple located at Dakshineswar. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, a form of Kali, otherwise known as Adishakti Kalika.

 The temple was built in 1855 by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and a devotee of Kali. The temple compound, apart from the nine-spired main temple, contains a large courtyard surrounding the temple, with rooms along the boundary walls.

The garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum) houses an idol of goddess Kali, known as Bhavatarini, standing on the chest of a supine Shiva, and the two idols are placed on a thousand-petaled lotus throne made of silver.

There are twelve shrines dedicated to Shiva along the riverfront, a temple to Radha-Krishna, a bathing ghat on the river, a shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni.

 'Nahabat', the chamber in the northwestern corner just beyond the last of the Shiva temples, is where Ramakrishna and Maa Sarada spent a considerable part of their lives.

To the North east of the Temple Complex is the Vishnu Temple or the Radha Kanta Temple. A flight of steps lead to the columned verandah and into the temple where a silver throne rests with an idol of Lord Krishna and an idol of Radha. ^{( wiki)}

Pilgrims are allowed entry to the room used by  Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa, the sight of which itself is so uplifting to the mind. 

The whole  temple complex and a visit there elevate you to a higher spiritual dimension.

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ तत् सत्

9 AM

Day 79. Legacy- 16

The Chamundeshwari Temple is a Hindu temple located on the top of Chamundi Hills about 13 km from the palace city of Mysuru in the state of Karnataka in India. The temple was namedafter Chamundeshwari or the fierce form of Shakti, a tutelary deity held in reverence for centuries by the Maharaja of Mysuru.

The Chamundeshwari Temple is considered as a Shakti Peetha and one among the 18 Shakti Peethas. It is known as Krouncha Pitha as the region was known in Puranic times as Krouncha Puri. It is said that the hair of Sati fell here.

It is believed that Goddess Durga slayed the demon king Mahishasura on the top of this hill which was ruled by him. The place was later known as Mahishooru (Place of Mahisha). The British changed it to Mysore and later Kannadized into Mysuru.

The original shrine is thought to have been built in the 12th century by the Rulers of the Hoysala Dynasty while its tower was probably built by the Rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 17th century. In 1659, a staircase of one thousand steps was built leading up to the 3000-foot summit of the hill. 

At the temple are several images of Nandi (the bull mount of Shiva). There is a huge granite Nandi on the 700th step on the hill in front of a small Shiva temple a short distance away. This Nandi is over 15 feet high, and 24 feet long and around its neck are exquisite bells.( wiki)

The temple, located on a hill,  has an imposing structure and a magnificent look, which can be seen from far and wide.

Worth a visit to have a darshan of Devi and Nandi too. This is a popular picnic destination in Mysuru.

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ तत् सत्

7 45AM\

Day 78. Legacy-15

 The Jagannath Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu, at Puri ,Odisha . The present temple was rebuilt from the 10th century onwards, on the site of an earlier temple, and begun by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, the first king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.

The Puri temple is famous for its annual Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three principal deities are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars. Unlike the stone and metal icons found in most Hindu temples, the image of Jagannath is made of wood and is ceremoniously replaced every twelve or 19 years by an exact replica. It is one of the Char Dhams.

The temple is sacred to all Hindus, and especially in those of the Vaishnava traditions. Many great Vaishnavasaints,suchas Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbarkacharya, Vallabhacharya and Ra-mananda were closely associated with the temple. Ramanuja established the Emar Mutt near the temple and Adi Shankaracharya established the Govardhana Mutt, which is the seat of one of the four Shankaracharyas. It is also of particular significance to the followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, whose founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was attracted to the deity, Jagannath, and lived in Puri for many years.

The temple annals, the Madala Panji records that the Jagannath temple at Puri has been invaded and plundered eighteen times. In 1692, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb ordered to close the temple until he wanted to reopen it otherwise it would be demolished, the local Mughal officials who came to carry out the job were requested by the locals and the temple was merely closed. It was re-opened only after Aurangzeb's death in 1707.

One of the features of the temple is preparation and distribution of Prasad to large number of devotees daily.  The  prasad is prepared in earthen pots. The cooking of the prasad is a feat by  itself. Six to seven earthen pots filled with the ingredients are placed on top of the other one and the bottom one is heated. After the stipulated time the pots are removed and all the materials in different pots are cooked  well by then. This is a novel and even miraculous way of cooking, peculiar to this temple.

This year's Rathyatra, held  two days back, was a subdued one due to the current situation. The Raths were all decorated as usual and  taken to the destination with the usual pomp. Only the crowd was limited. Raths start in the morning and reaches the destination by 5.30 PM or so. First the Rath of Balarama, then that of Subhadra and finally the Rath of Jagannath move from the temple, pulled by a large number of devotees.. 

The sight is indeed so enchanting and elevating even on the net. How wonderful it will be in person? Detailed temple history should be seen from Wiki and one should visit the temple when the time permits.( Also , don't miss the nearby Sun Temple at Konark.)

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ तत् सत्

8 AM

Day 77. Legacy- 14

Virupaksha Temple is located in Hampi in the Bellari district of Karnataka, India. 

It is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. .

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, known here as Virupaksha/Pampa pathi, as the consort of the local goddess Pampadevi who is associated with the Tungabhadra River. There is also a Virupakshini Amma temple (mother goddess) in a village called Nalagamapalle, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, approximately 100 km from Tirupati.

The temple's history is uninterrupted from about the 7th century. The Virupaksha-Pampa sanctuary existed well before the Vijayanagara capital was located here. Inscriptions referring to Shiva date back to the 9th and 10th centuries. What started as a small shrine grew into a large complex under the Vijayanagara rulers.

Evidence indicates there were additions made to the temple in the late Chalukyan and Hoysala periods, though most of the temple buildings are attributed to the Vijayanagar period. The huge temple building was built by Lakkana Dandesha, a chieftain under the ruler Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Under the Vijayanagara rulers, in the middle of the 14th century, there began a flowering of native art and culture.

When the rulers were defeated by Muslim invaders in the 16th century, most of the wonderful decorative structures and creations were systematically destroyed.

The religious sect of Virupaksha-Pampa did not end with the destruction of the city in 1565. Worship there has persisted throughout the years. At the beginning of the 19th century there were major renovations and additions, which included ceiling paintings and the towers of the north and east gopurams.( wiki)

Hampi is a great tourist spot in India. One must visit the place to understand the past glory of  its rulers and people who have suffered much( though I am yet to see  the  place.

 Detailed videos on this temple is available on the net.

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ तत् सत्

9 AM