Sravan Purnima (Avani Avittam)

The full-moon day of Avani (July-August) marks the auspicious start of Chaturmas, a four (4) month period of penance and austerity. In ancient India, it was a period of heavy rains; students who lived in gurukuls (ashramas) could not move about freely. Hence this was the time to learn by heart all the earlier lessons, and start further studies. This was done after changing the sacred thread (Yagyopavit), and chanting the Gayatri Mantra.

Menfolk of many communities, including brahmins, kshatriyas and vaishyas of South India, observe the festival of Sravan full moon, or Avani Avittam when the star Avittam is in ascent. After doing japas, the new yagyopavit is worn. Gayatri Mantra (named after poetic metre in which the mantra is composed) is recited before sunrise and after sunset. It is believed to develop spiritual and mental energy and give protection from harmful negative forces. Invoking the sun god, the mantra repeatedly prays for protection from the sins of the mind, of the lips and of the body.

The Legend
The demon Medhas worshipped Brahma, and became powerful. He attacked the sun, and tried to capture his thunderbolt. It was then that Surya, the sun god, recited the
Gayatri Mantra, invoking Varuna with a handful of water. Reciting the mantra before sunrise, at noon and after sunset, he was saved from the demon by mantras of great power and spiritual energy.

Description
Menfolk gather at rivers, ponds, or beside wells, for a bath, and then the new yagyopavit is dipped in turmeric and saffron. Japa is done, Gayatri Mantra is recited by the group, Vedas are recited and the old sacred thread is replaced by the new one. Tarpan or prayer is done for the gods and seven great rishis.

The Gayatri Mantra consists of three lines from Rig-Veda (II.62.X), namely:

Om bhur-bhuvah-svah
tat savitur-varenyam
bhargo-devasya dhimahi
dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
(Om).

This has been variously translated, but its general meaning given by Max Muller is as follows: "Let us obtain (or according to Hindu tradition, let us meditate on) the adorable splendour of Savitri (Sun), May he arouses our minds." All Hindu sacred books of later times proclaim these to be the most holy lines of the Vedas. For example, the Manu Samhita the most authoritative of books on sacred law (Dharma Sastra) says:

"Prajapati also milked out of the three Vedas the letters a, u, and ma, together with the words bhuh, bhuvah, svah. Prajapati also milked from each of the three Vedas one of the portions of the text called Savitri, beginning with the word tat...."

The three great imperishable particles preceded by Om and the Gayatri out of over one thousand hymns and 10,500 verses of the Rig-Veda are selected as the supreme credo and prayer for a Hindu. The Gayatri Mantra japa is done during the sacred thread ceremony. It is a part of everyday prayer and japa. It is chanted together at mass prayers and all major events and ceremonies.

Nokia presents dust proof phone "Nokia 103"

Nokia has one of its cheapest phones ever presented. The Nokia 103, with a 1.36 "display with a resolution of 96x68 pixels, a substance-free housing, an FM radio and 3.5 mm jack for headsets, and costs 25 euros in the shop.

The Nokia 103 runs on S30, the platform used for cheap Nokia phones. The phone measures 107x45x15mm, evident from the fact sheet. Although the 3.5 mm standard headset jack allows the phone must be loaded with Nokia's own 2mm charger, standard chargers will not work on the new phone.

The Nokia 103 has a substance-free housing and a 1.36 "screen with no support for displaying colors. The battery has a capacity of 800mAh, which allows the phone to the nearly four weeks should insist on standby. Nokia claims a talk time of eleven hours.

This is the cheapest phone out of the lineup from the Finnish manufacturer. It is significant that the manufacturer cheapest model features include an FM radio and a substance-free housing.

Nokia seems concerned with enhancing features of the cheap phones. Thus UnwiredView published a manual of an unannounced phone with a new version of the S40 platform. The Nokia 306, which given his name in the Asha-line is going to fall, as will innovations include support for multitouch on the touch screen and a notification bar that can be pulled down.

TAMIL NEW YEAR

The Saka New Year day is heralded on the First dayof the month of Vaisakh, or Chitra around the middle of April. It is a day of thanksgiving and prayer. The new almanac (Panchang) is read on this day. Astrologers note the ascendant planet and signs of the Zodiac, and predict fortunes, crops and events of the year feasts, fasts, festivals and family events are planned for the year.

THE LEGEND
In the ancient text of the Vishnupurana, the king of the year is the planet in ascendance, and ministers are the stars. The blessings of the ruling planet are sought to bring good fortune for kings and commoners.

In most parts of the country, the New Year is the harbinger of spring, when nature is at its most joyous and colourful with promise of new life and prosperity.

DESCRIPTION
Early in the morning, a kolam (alpana) of red ochre and rice flour is drawn outside the front door. After the traditional oil bath, a fresh kolam can be drawn. This is followed by readings from the panchang. This can be done at home by calling a priest, or by going to a temple. Tarpanam in the memory of departed parents is done by the head of the household in many communities. A refreshing drink of diluted yoghurt is offered to all. Some special dishes made on the New Year's day are payasam, panakam, kosumbari and pachadi with six flavours of life: sweet, bitter, sour, hot (pungent), salty and astringent.

Vishu, New Year's Day in Kerala
Vishu occupies a unique place among various festivals and social celebrations in Kerala. Whereas almost all festivals are associated with some religious occasion, Vishu is significant by itself. Unlike other occasions, it is observed quietly and solemnly, without feasting, festivity, pomp and show.

Vishu is observed every year on the first day of the Malayalam month Medam (mid-April), generally 14 April.

DESCRIPTION
It is believed that the fortunes of the entire year depend on the nature of the object first seen on the morning of Vishu. To ensure an auspicious start, a number of auspicious objects are collected on the previous day. In a circular vessel of bell metal called 'uruli' about two cups of raw rice are placed. A newly washed good quality cloth is folded and kept on the rice.

The auspicious objects including betel leaves and nuts, yellow flowers, golden yellow ripe cucumber, a mirror, yellow flowers of the Konna tree (Cassia fistula) and a grantha or religious book of palm leaves are arranged decoratively on the folded cloth. A coconut is broken in halves. Each half is filled with oil and a wick is placed inside.

The coconut is placed with the other objects. When lit all the other objects are illuminated. A bell metal oil lamp is kept lighted at one side of the 'uruli'. The entire arrangement is called "Kani".

Before dawn on Vishu day one of the family members (generally a senior member) awakes and lights the lamps, and looks at the Kani. Then she or he awakes the others. One by one young and old see the auspicious "Kani". Great care is taken so that no other object is seen before seeing the auspicious "Kani". This is followed by the giving of gifts. The eldest member of the family distributes a few gold or silver coins to the younger family members.

The first day after the new moon in the month of Chitra, in end-March, or early April is the start of the New Year in Karnataka. It is believed that on this auspicious day Brahma created the world. Vishnu took his first avatar of "matsya", a fish, and rescued the world from flood waters.

Houses are cleaned and decorated with mango-leaf torans, and kolams. After the ritual morning bath, new clothes are worn. The family gathers for puja, an offering of "bewu bella" a special pachadi of neem flowers and jaggery is made to the deity and is then distributed as prasad. Youngsters do namaskar and receive the blessings of elders. There is a traditional feast.

In the afternoon, an elder member of the family reads the new almanac, predicting special events and festivals.

In many communities, on the day after Ugadi, there is a grand feast of vegetarian or non-vegetarian delicacies.

Ugadi - Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
New Year day, the Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka is celebrated on the first day after the new moon of the month of Chitra, which occurs during end-March or early April.

The auspicious day is ushered by the cleaning and decorating of houses. New clothes are bought for the family, kolams are drawn, and mango-leaf torans adorn the doorways. After bath and puja a special pachadi (Ugadi pachadi) is offered to the deity, and distributed to the family and to all visitors on that day. The many flavoured pachadi symbolizes acceptance of many facets of the New Year. It also has medicinal and digestive properties. In the afternoon reading out of the new almanac is done in a temple or a meeting place. The auspicious and ominous portents during the coming year are read out, together with predictions of rainfall, crop production, earthquakes or floods. Ugadi day marks the start of the auspicious Vasanta Navaratri or nine days of the spring festival.

Rama Navami, A Festival of Indian

Rama Navami is Hindu (Indian) festival, celebrating the born of Lord Sri Rama. According to the legend, Sri Rama was born at after noon. Sri Rama is the epitome of perfection, the uttama purusha, to meet all his responsibilities towards both family and topics. Rama was the first son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. Continue below…

The birth of Sri Rama, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, is observed every year on the navami (the ninth day) of the bright half of the month of Panguni. Ramanavami celebration gives us all an opportunity to invoke the divine grace of Sri Rama and imbibe the ideals and values of the "Maryada Puroshothama" into our own lives. Fasting, prayer, and chanting of the 100 names of Sri Rama helps devotees to cross to the shore of ultimate reality, hence the name of Rama is described as a taraka, or boat. The prayers on this day help to revive our latent powers to deal with the negative forces in the life, the disappointments and frustrations. To many devotees, the name of Rama is an unfailing panacea to cure all ills. The name of Rama is also compared to a wish-fulfilling tree (Kalpa Vriksha). Hence the name must be always repeated or recited. Tulsidas has said that uttering the name of Rama is like placing a jewelled lamp on the tip of the tongue. It gives light both within and without.

The Legend

The great epic Ramayana has taken the story of Rama to many countries. It embodies in the character of Rama the highest ideals of human life. In the epic, poet Valmiki asks sage Narada if he had ever met a "sthitha pragyna", or an awakened soul of perfect harmony. Narada describes Rama as such a being. Rama is generally depicted as a warrior king. He carries a bow, and has a quiver full of arrows for defending the righteous and upholding the dharma.

The birth of Rama is described by Valmiki thus: "Then after the expiry of six seasons and on the completion of the twelfth month, on the ninth lunar day of the month of Chaitra, under the star Punarvasu with the Sun, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus at Aries, Libra, Capricorn, Cancer and Pisces and when the Moon with Jupiter entered the Zodiac sign of Cancer, Kaushalya gave birth to the great and auspicious Rama with mighty arms, rosy cheeks, and scarlet lips, the joy of Dasaratha and the adored one of all people. On his fair body were all the auspicious signs of a divine being."

The Festival

It is a day of fasting and meditation. There are readings from the Ramayana, devotional songs to Rama are sung. Lectures on Rama's life and teachings of the Ramayana help spiritual and moral evolution of people. Offerings are made of panakam, buttermilk, kosumbari, vada and payasam, which are distributed as prasad.

In temples, there is special puja to Rama and recitation of the Ramayana. The deity is taken in a procession to enable all to receive blessings. In the "akhanda deepa" puja, the deity is brilliantly lit with garlands of oil-lamps which burn throughout the day and night. Devotees invoke the deity seeking strength to face a calamity or deal with a crisis.

Ramanavami comes at the and of the Vasanta Navaratri the spring festival of nine nights. A fast is observed on all nine days or on the first and last day.

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