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Hans India
21 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
Godankitavadhanam marks Goda Devi Avatarotsavam
Tirupati: Celebrating Goda Devi Avatarotsavam, the Department of Telugu Studies at Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV), in association with the Tirupati Sri Krishnadevaraya Satsang, organised a special Godankitavadhanam event on Monday. The event was held to commemorate Goda Devi, also known as Andal or Nachiyar, a revered female saint who is considered an incarnation that descended in the Kali Yuga to exemplify supreme devotion to Lord Vishnu. Known for her divine association with the Lord, Goda Devi is praised for adorning the deity with the very garlands she first wore herself, symbolising her deep spiritual bond and eternal connection with the divine. Godankitavadhanam was performed by renowned Sahasravadhani Dr Medasani Mohan. Demonstrating his exceptional skill, Dr Mohan answered every question posed by the Pcchakas with precision and eloquence, captivating the audience. The Pcchakas (questioners) in the programme included Prof C Lalitha Rani, Dr Yuvasri, Dr Y Subhashini, Dr C Latha, Dr C Swarajya Lakshmi, Dr Jayamma, Dr G Suhasini and Dr B Krishnaveni. Earlier addressing the gathering, Vice-Chancellor of SPMVV Prof V Uma expressed her delight that the event was conducted entirely by women scholars and practitioners, reflecting the university's commitment to empowering women in all spheres, including classical literature and spiritual traditions. Programme Director Prof Kolakaluri Madhu Jyothi highlighted that Goda Devi's devotional verses, the Pasurams of Tiruppavai, are still sung in temples during the auspicious month of Dhanurmasam, with a tradition of singing one Pasuram each day. There is also a popular belief that girls who participate in this practice are blessed with early and happy marriages. Prof Nirmala Thammareddy and Immani Deepa Venkat also spoke.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
July 12, 2025
Once, Yama was lost deep in thought even as his assistants were loudly discussing each one's job postings: some had drawn the night shift, a few friends were parted from each other and posted to different localities and still more were bemoaning the fact that they would not work together due to the posting constraints. When one of them wondered why Yama was downcast, the Lord of Death responded, 'My job appears to be at stake now in Kali Yuga. People are beginning to chant Rama nama and gaining direct access to heaven,' he replied, highlighting the power of Rama's name, said Suchitra Balasubramanian. There is nothing greater than chanting Lord Rama's name. One may have the tastiest of fruits, milk, curd and butter and yet, that sweetness pales in comparison to Rama nama. When uttered with true devotion, the efficacy of Rama nama is unparalleled. One has to only look at the lives of saints like Bhadrachala Ramadasu, who not only embraced Rama nama as a way of life but also lead a principled life. From his early years he was a true devotee of Rama, and desired to be initiated by Kabirdas, the legendary devotee, who was himself initiated on the steps of Kedar Ghat one night. Kabirdas was keen to receive the Rama mantra from the great Ramananda. To this end, he visited the mahan's ashram every day and begged to be taken to Ramananda's presence in order to place his request. However, the servitors of the ashram rudely turned him away every time. Ramananda, realising that a devotee was being driven away from his gate every day, through his extraordinary sensory ability, ventured out the very night he came to know of it. Meanwhile, Kabirdas, turned away cruelly, curled up on one of the stairs of the ghat, his mind and heart yearning for Rama mantra. Ramananda, drawn to the same steps in the same ghat, unwittingly stepped on Kabir Das, and exclaimed, 'Siya Ram'. Kabirdas quickly got to his feet and humbly thanked Ramananda, saying he had been waiting to see him and receive the powerful Rama Rameti Mantra. God always responds to those who truly seek His grace, with full faith, as experienced by Kabirdas.
The Hindu
29-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
June 30, 2025
It is commonly perceived that in the Kali Yuga we are living in, people tend to place rivalry, competitiveness, avariciousness and gathering of power and pelf as the topmost agenda, instead of accumulating virtuous deeds, said P. Swaminathan. Many devotees give token importance to rituals, forgetting all the good things our scriptures tell us, on how to lead a virtuous life. It is a reality in today's world that brothers are at loggerheads over property and parental responsibility, with families failing to forge the kind of bond that is not only ideal but also highly desirable for happy coexistence in this world. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata reiterate the importance of sibling bonding and virtuous conduct. Rama was to be anointed as the king when Kooni, with her narrow vision, convinced Kaikeyi to seek her son Bharata's coronation in place of the older brother. When this was conveyed to Rama, He readily agreed to obey his parents' wishes, with a smiling countenance, and left for the forests to live like a hermit for 14 years. An equally noble Bharata refused to ascend the throne and when his efforts to persuade Rama to return to Ayodhya and rule the kingdom failed, he installed Rama's paduka on the throne and remained a regent. The Mahabharata, likewise, shows how the Pandava brothers took the cue from the virtuous older brother Yudhisthira and obeyed him in toto. Reading scriptures and adhering to a dharmic way of life has been followed by kings, especially in Tamil Nadu, from time immemorial. In the sixteenth century, Varathunga Pandian and Athivirarama Pandian were ruling over the areas around Tirunelveli. The older brother was a staunch devotee of Kasi Viswanatha, while the younger one held Lord Siva as everything. Both the kings and their wives were also Tamil pundits. Once, when Athivirarama Pandian wrote a poem on Nala and Damayanthi and showed it to his older brother and his queen. Neither one minced words on criticising the work. An incensed Athivirarama decided to invade his brother's kingdom. Hearing of his fury, the older brother sent him a missive, extolling sibling bonding and dissuaded him from a disastrous path. A contrite Athivirarama travelled to Kasi to get rid of his sin.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shefali Jariwala death: Video of her feeding kids goes viral. Fans mourn, 'She was too pure for this Kali Yuga'
An old video of the late actress Shefali Jariwala feeding several kids has gone viral on Instagram, making her fans emotional. An entertainment-focused page, IPop Diaries, shared a video of the ' Kaanta Laga ' hitmaker serving food to several children and captioned, 'Shefali was a pure soul. She was very kind to her staff and their kids…' Dropping the video, the poster reminisced about how Jariwala's kindness towards her employees and their families was unparalleled. 'Shefali was a very happy, kind, jolly, and supportive woman. Her love for dogs, kids, and all her staff members is just unmatched,' the post read. In the video, the actress was seen cleaning the feet of one child and then, later, feeding them all. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 21st Century Skills Start with Confident Communication Planet Spark Learn More Undo Fans Get Emotional This touching gesture of kindness made many of her fans emotional. They flooded the comment section mourning her sudden demise and also gushing at her heartfelt gesture and generosity. 'I feel like crying, watching this. Shefali was a wonderful human being as well as beautiful,' read one comment. Another remarked that pure souls don't sustain for long in this age of darkness. 'Pure souls don't have a place in this Kali Yuga for a longer time,' read the comment. A Dream of Becoming a Mother Shefali's nurturing spirit extended far beyond public gestures. In a previous conversation with Times of India TV, the actress had opened up about her heartfelt desire to adopt a child. She mentioned that her wish to become a mother was not just personal but also rooted in a sense of responsibility and gratitude. She was deeply moved by actress Sunny Leone's decision to adopt and felt inspired to follow a similar path. After marrying actor Parag Tyagi, Shefali discussed her wish to adopt with him. He supported her wholeheartedly, assuring her that the choice between birthing or adopting was hers to make and that he would stand by her in either case. This encouragement only reinforced her resolve to embrace motherhood through adoption. A Vision for a Brighter Future Shefali believed she was in a position to offer a child a secure and fulfilling life. Her aim was to provide a warm home, a quality education, and the kind of love that every child deserves. She felt compelled to share the blessings life had granted her by giving an orphaned child a brighter future. She acknowledged that while the Indian adoption process could be lengthy and complex, she remained hopeful and was already involved in the procedure, waiting for the moment her dream would take shape. A Sudden and Heartbreaking Farewell On June 27, the entertainment industry and her loved ones were struck by tragedy when Shefali Jariwala passed away due to a severe cardiac arrest. Despite being rushed to Bellevue Multispecialty Clinic by her husband, she was declared dead upon arrival.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
June 28, 2025
The role of a guru is the highest in the world, as he is the one who takes a devotee by hand and leads him to God. Kanchi Maha Periyava was among the greatest gurus to have lived in the Kali Yuga and lakhs of devotees have been fortunate to have known him and be guided by him in their lifetime, said Damal Perundevi. He was of such a high principled and humble saint who was hailed as Jagathguru, but he always demurred saying, 'I am not the guru, the world is my guru, I am still learning so much from this earth and all the creatures that live on it.' Everyone wants to rise above earthly attachments (at some point of time in each one's life). Kapila Vasudeva discoursed to his mother Devahuti on the importance of devotion (bhakti) which leads to true liberation. He also says that to attain bhakti, one should seek the feet of an acharya, who alone can help a person develop (and grow) bhakti in one's mind and heart. The sight of a lotus blooming under the morning sun in a pond is fascinating to look at, due to the sheer lustre and freshness it emits. The same lotus, when plucked and thrown outside the pond, loses its sheen, lustre and beauty even though the sun is still beaming down upon it. Why does this happen? For the lotus, the pond is like an acharya: if one leaves the feet of a guru, the jivatma too will wilt. The stature of a guru is exalted. Lord Krishna performed so many miraculous deeds in His soujourn on earth, but He was happiest when performing the role of a jagathguru. He donned the role of a guru to Arjuna and delivered the Bhagavad Gita to the Pandava prince as a discourse on the battlefield. Likewise, Krishna discoursed to Uddhava who was inconsolable upon learning that he would be parting from Krishna. The ever merciful Lord gifted His paduka to Uddhava as an assurance that there is no parting for those who surrender to His feet.
