║ nitāntakānta dantakānti mantakānta kātmajam achintya rupa mantahēna mantarāya krintanam
hrudantarey nirantaram vasantameva yoginām tameka danta meva tam vichintayāmi santatam ║
(I constantly reflect upon that single tusked God only, whose lustrous tusk is very beautiful, who is the son of Lord Shiva, whose form is immortal and unknowable, who tears asunder all obstacles, and who dwells forever in the hearts of the Yogis)

Thursday, April 29, 2010

State Administrative Building at Thripunithura – Agreement Signed

On behalf of the Kerala Brahmna Sabha, State Committee, V. Ramalingam, State President and representing Thripunithura Upasabha, P. S. Raman, President signed the agreement for the purchase of the proposed Administrative Building at Thripunithura on Sunday, 25th April 2010. This was held in the function organised in connection with the Student Training and Seminar – Punarjani at Hotel Renaissance Blue Waters, Cherai. The decision to purchase the administrative office was taken in the State Committee Meeting held at Thripunithura on Sunday, the 21st of March, 2010. The proposed 153 square meter office is in the 1st floor of Thripunithura Upasabha's three storied building which is nearing completion.

V. Ramalingam inaugurated Student Training & Seminar – Punarjani at Cherai, Kochi

The Student Training & Seminar – Punarjani – organized by the District Committee of Kerala Brahmana Sabha was held at Hotel Renaissance, Cherai, Kochi on Sunday, 25th April 2010. The programme had a remarkable participation from the students in the age group of 15 to 22. V. Ramalingam, State President of Kerala Brahmana Sabha inaugurated the programme at 9.45 a.m. by lighting up the ‘Nilavilakku’ in the presence of V. Krishnaswami (District President, Ernakulam), P. S. Raman (State Vice President and Central Zone President), P. Ananthasubramaniam (State General Secretary), Balu Narayanan, Navaneetha Krishnan (both State Head Quarters Joint Secretaries), P. Veeraraghavan (State Committee Member), N. Ramachandran, K. R. Chandran (both Vice Presidents, Ernakulam), R. Ramakrishnan (District Secretary, Ernakulam), Ganesh Venkitachlam A. G. (Treasurer, Ernakulam), Mohandas S., R. Hariharaputhran (both Joint Secretaries, Ernakulam District), Naganathan S. (Organising Secretary, Ernakulam) and M. Vanchiswaran (Secretary, Ernakulam City Unit).

V. Ramalingam and P. Veeraraghavan addressed the students in few words and requested the youngsters to utilize these kinds of programmes to the maximum. The sessions were handled by eminent faculties like Dr. P. R. Venkitaraman, Dr. Latha Ramakrishnan, Dr. T. K. Raman and G. Mony.

Ernakulam District collected Rs.156008 as Vishukkaneettam

The Vishukkaineettam - The Working Fund collected by the volunteers from 11 Upasabhas – was handed over to State Committee on Sunday, 25th April 2010 at Cherai. A cheque for Rupees 156008/- was handed over to P. S. Raman, Central Zone President by V. Krishnaswami, District President in a function held in connection with the Student Training & Seminar – Punarjani – at Hotel Renaissance Blue Waters. The cheque was then received by V. Ramalingam, State President from P. S. Raman.

Padmashree V. R. Gourishankar to present Dharmasreshta Award

The 5th Dharmasreshta Award instituted by Kerala Brahmana Sabha will be presented to Dr. M. Sambasivan by Padmashree V. R. Gourishankar in the presence of His Holiness Jagadguru Sankaracharya Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal of Sringeri Mutt on Sunday, 16th of May 2010 at Kalady. V. Ramalingam, State President and P. Ananthasubramaniam, State General Secretary requests the presense of all members of Kerala Brahmana Sabha to participate in the function which is to be held in Sri Sringeri Mutt at Kalady. The award carries a cash prize of Rs.10,001, a citation and a statuette.
Dr. M. Sambasivan is a phenomenon through out his life. He is a well known Neuro Surgeon who is M. S. in general surgery and also M. S. in Neuro surgery. He is Honorary Surgeon to the President of India and also Nuero Consultant for the Indian armed forces. He is the Chairman, President or Patron of more than 50 trusts and organizations. Also he was Vice Principal and Director of Department of Neuro Surgery in Medical College of Thiruvananthapuram. He has also held the post of State President of Kerala Brahmana Sabha. Dr. M. Sambasivan is a Vedic scholar and Thantri for more than a dozen temples including Karamana and Sreekandeswaram Temples and has also performed the consecration of many temples. He has to his credit many awards and appreciations for professional achievements, cultural and spiritual contributions.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Tremendous Response from Upasabhas for ‘Vishukkaineettam’

'Vishukkaineettam Brahmana Sabhakku' - the working fund mobilising programme of Kerala Brahmana Sabha was accepted by the members with great enthusiasm. The volunteers visited and accepted Vishukkaineettam from the elders of the house. "Every Upasabhas took initiative in this state wide fund collection drive and was successful by all means" - said V. Ramalingam, State President.
V. Ramalingam, State President receiving Vishukkaineettam at Mattancherry Unit

P. Ananthasubramaniam, State General Secretary receiving Vishukkaineettam at Edappally Unit

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Senior Citizens Home – Kasturi – Inauguration on April 11th 2010

A social welfare project of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Thrissur Town Unit – Kasturi – will be inaugurated on Sunday, April 11th 2010. Honourable Justice M. N. Krishnan will inaugurate the senior citizens home located in the heart of the town. This 1.5 Crore project is completed in a 30 cents of land donated by the family members of Diwan Peishkar T. V. Kasturi Ranga Iyer.
The Muhurtham for Grihapravesam is between 8.30 and 9.30 a.m. and the formal inauguration ceremony will be at 3.30 p. m. The inaugural function will be presided by V. Ramalingam, State President of Kerala Brahmana Sabha. K. P. Rajendran, Honourable Minister for Revenue will hand over the keys and Mayor of Thrissur Prof. R. Bindu will be the chief guest of the day. T. G. Kasthurirangan (Grandson of Diwan Peishkar T. V. Kasthuri Ranga Iyer), Therambil Ramakrishnan (MLA), N. Prasad (Municipal Counsillor) and P. Ananthasubramaniam (State General Secretary, Kerala Brahmana Sabha) will bless the function with their presence.

Vishukkaineettam Brahmana Sabhakku

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Dharmasreshta Puraskaram for Dr. M. Sambasivan

Dr. M. Sambasivan, a multifarious personality has been chosen for Dharmasreshta Puraskaram 2010, instituted by the Kerala Brahmana Sabha. The award carries a cash prize of Rs.10,001, a citation and a statuette. The award was announced by V. Ramalingam, State President and P. Ananthasubramaniam, General Secretary of Kerala Brahmana Sabha. The award will be presented in a function in connection with Sree Sankara Jayanthi to be held in May, 2010.

The Dharmasreshta Puraskaram was instituted in the year 2006 and Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri was the first one to receive the same in the year 2006. M. H. Sasthrikal (2007), K. V. Seshadrinatha Sasthrikal (2008) and Prof. V. Vaidyalinga Sarma (2009) were the recipients of this Puraskaram in the previous years.

Dr. M. Sambasivan is a phenomenon through out his life. He is a well known Neuro Surgeon who is M. S. in general surgery and also M. S. in Neuro surgery. He is Honorary Surgeon to the President of India and also Nuero Consultant for the Indian armed forces. He is the Chairman, President or Patron of more than 50 trusts and organizations. Also he was Vice Principal and Director of Department of Neuro Surgery in Medical College of Thiruvananthapuram. He has also held the post of State President of Kerala Brahmana Sabha. Dr. M. Sambasivan is a Vedic scholar and Thantri for more than a dozen temples including Karamana and Sreekandeswaram Temples and has also performed the consecration of many temples. He has to his credit many awards and appreciations for professional achievements, cultural and spiritual contributions.

His lawyer father, the late Mahadeva Iyer, initiated Dr. Sambasivan into the world of Vedic learning in 1953. "I believe there's a method in both science and religion, but unless you look for it in the Vedas and Tantra, you won't find it. Apart from faith, it requires understanding" - he says. Learning the scriptures and imbibing traditional values help raise concentration and perception, believes the doctor.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Centenary Celebrations at Sri Adi Sankara Janmabhoomi Kshethram, Kalady (1910 – 2010)

The Centenary Celebrations at Sri Adi Sankara Janmabhoomi Kshethram, Kalady – the birth place of Jagadguru Adi Sankaracharya are scheduled to be conducted during the Sri Sankara Jayanthi which falls on 18th of May 2010 in the divine presence of His Holiness Jagadguru Sankaracharya, Sri Sri Bharathi Thirtha Mahaswamigal.

The birth place of Sri Sankaracharya remained obscure till the commencement of 20th century. The then Jagadguru Sri Sri Sachidananda Sivabhinava Narasimha bharathi Swamigal, the 33rd Peetathipathy of Sringeri Guru Parampara with the assistance of Sreemoolam Thirunal Ramavarma Maharaja of Travancore traced the birth place at Kalady. His holiness then built two magnificent temples – one for Godess Saradamba and one for Sri Adi Sankara. The Kumbhabhishekams for the two temples were performed on the auspicious Magha Sukla Dwadasi in the year 1910 (21-02-1910). Thereafter Kalady grew into prominence as a paramount international pilgrim centre.

14th – 18th May 2010 – Sri Sankara Jayanthi Celebrations

19th May 2010 – Laksha Modaka Ganapathy Homam

20th – 31st May 2010 – Athi Rudra Mahayagam

21st – 23rd May 2010 – Kumbhabhishekam Celebrations of Goddess Saradamba and Sri Adi Sankara Temple

23rd May 2010 – Kumbhabhishekam by His Holiness Jagadguru Sankaracharya, Sri Sri Bharathi Thirtha Mahaswamigal of Goddess Saradamba and Sri Adi Sankara Temple

24th May – 28th May 2010 – Satha Chandi Mahayagam

Laksharchana at Sabarimala

The Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Kottayam City Unit is conducting a Laksharchana at Ayyappa Sannidhanam on Sunday, 16th May 2010. The team to participate in the Laksharchana will leave Kottayam on Saturday, 15th 2010 at 9.00 a.m. from Kottayam Brahmana Samooha Madom. Those who wish to participate in the Laksharchana at Ayyappa Sannidhanam may contact M. S. Narayanan, Convener, Saraswathi Vihar, Union Club Road, Behind N. S. S. L. P. S., Kottayam - 1, Phone: 94469 47086 on or before 15th of April 2010.

Vishukkaineetam Brahmana Sabhakku

Vishu is one of the most important festivals for the Kerala Iyers. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit to the Mesha Raasi as per Indian astrological calculations. Although Vishu - 1st of Medam - is the astrological New Year day of Kerala, the official Malayalam New Year falls on the month of Chingam.

The most important event in Vishu is the Vishukkani, which literally the first to be seen on the Vishu day. The Vishukkani consist of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles like Arisi, Pattu, Vellarikkai, Vethalai-Paakku, Kannadi, Konnappoo and coins, in an Uruli in the puja room of the House. A Nilavilakku is also placed alongside. Typical Kerala fruits and vegetables of are also arranged for Vishukkani, which indicates the prosperity. This arrangement is completed the previous night. On the day of Vishu, the custom is to wake up at dawn and go to the puja room with the eyes closed so that the Vishukkani is the first sight of the new season. Elders of the family distribute tokens of money, called Vishukkaineetam after seeing the Vishukkani. Children wait eagerly for this ritual. The elders of the family starting with the grand father or father give away Kaineetam to the younger ones. The Kaineetam consists of coins with Konnappoo and the gold from the Uruli. Earlier days, it was a custom to give Kaineetam to all the people associated with the house such as servants, field workers and land-tenants. The principle is the symbolic sharing of the prosperity and wishing happiness for all.

The Kerala Brahmana Sabha wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous Vishu. A fund raising activity - ‘Vishukkaineettam Brahmana Sabhakku” – which is a state wide programme to mobilise working fund for Kerala Brahmana Sabha is planned this year also. The volunteers of KBS will visit you with a present – ‘Thithi/Anushtana/Utsava Calendar for Vikruthi Nama Samvalsaram’. KBS requests its members to contribute an amount that is equivalent to his or her one-day income for this cause. V. Ramalingam, State President requests to make this Vishukkaineettam programme a grand success.

Sambharam Distribution at Upasabhas - widely appreciated

Thrikkariyoor Upasabha, Ernakulam District
Thripunithura Upasabha, Ernakulam District

Friday, April 2, 2010

The Holy Grass known as Dharbham or Dharbai

Artile Courtsey: M. Subramanian, Mumbai (Camp U.S.A.)
This article is on one of the practices widely used by Indian Brahmins all over using a Holy Grass named Dharbham or Dharbai . In all the functions, auspicious or inauspicious, the performing person needs to wear a ring made of this Dharbham. But many have lost the reason of why it is to be used in the first place. What I learnt from my grandfather is proved to be correct by a Medicine Practitioner. A Doctor named Sadhashiv Rao, once visited my home.

When the talk turned to many subjects, I needed to tell him about the Holy Grass named Dharbham. When I told him about the sage and the values, he could not just believe my words. So, he took out a bunch of the Dharbham from me, went straight to the clinic to take an x-ray of his palm, by covering his hand with the Dharbham. To his utter surprise, he found that the grass absorbed bout 60% of the radiation!

When the so powerful X-ray radiation can be absorbed by the Holy Grass, why can it not absorb the ill radiations spread over the atmosphere? While chanting and reciting some Vedic phrases and versus, one needs to wear a ring made of Dharbham on his right hand ring finger. The count of leaves depends upon the function that is held viz.: for some functions related to death only Single leafed Dharbham is used; for Auspicious and daily routine a ring made of two leaves is used; for inauspicious but not death related functions, (i.e. Amavasya Tharppanam, Pithru Pooja etc.) a three leaf Dharbham ring is used. And for the Temple Prayer and Pooja, Four-leaf Dharbham ring is used. Also, when a fire ritual known as Agni Santana is performed, these Dharbham are spread all the four sides of the Agni Kundam. Also, during the Eclipse time, these Dharbham are used to cover all food items to protect these from the harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Whenever any function is held, firstly they perform a site-cleansing act known as “Sudhhi Punyaahavachanam”. While reciting the selective versus, they hold the Dharbham bunch in their hand and placing the tip point of it over the vessel containing water. Thus the recited vibration values are absorbed by water in the vessel through the Dharbham. They found that the Holy Grass known as Dharbham has the highest value in conducting the phonetic vibrations through its tip. Later, they sprinkle the Holy water at every nook and corner of the place, where the function is held.

A Dharbham without the tip is considered of no value, as the conductor-type value is lost in it. My grandfather, Late. Shri. Sivarama Iyer of Mullaivasal, fond called by everyone as Siva has given me these immense values of Dharbham and its usage. With Sanskrit phonetic sound and vibration, using the Dharbham increases its value. The usage varies according to the functions. It is really a marvel, that in those days of Vedic Era, the Sages, Saints of Hindu used to control the Magnetic path disturbances, just by simply using this Dharbham!. Apart from the above, Dharbham cannot be planted and grown every where. It only grows naturally at selective places and available almost in every state in India. Some learned scholars name it after Saint Vishwaamitra hence Dharbham is known and called as Vishwaamitra. If it is kept for a longer time, say for more than six months, then it loses it value and the power of absorbing the radiation or magnetic path control values. Dharbham cannot just be plucked straight or cut on anyday; There is a specific Slokha that is to be recited before cutting it; That too it can be cut only on the day next to Full Moon - known as Krishna Paksha Pradamai.

A Dharbham without its tip portion is not to be usedfor making a Ring like item known as "Pavithram".