PANCHAAMRITAM 102
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PANCHAAMRITAM 102
Pancha is five in Samskritam, Amritam is nectar
Amavaasya, Kali Yugaabda 5108, Vyaya Margazhi 5 (December 20, 2006)
ONE
Though the family structure has been changing, the family and a spiritual bent of mind would be two critical factors in caring for elders, Peter Whitehouse, Director Integrative Studies, Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, U.S., said while delivering the Eighth E.S. Krishnamoorthy Memorial Lecture on November 12 in Chennai titled, `Whose life is it anyway? Ethical issues in caring for elderly people'. The programme was organised by the Neurosciences India Group. Prof. Whitehouse said, as opposed to the western notions of a highly individualistic family, it was the eastern model of the "self, embedded in relationship with others" family and community, which would play a crucial role in taking care of the aged. Based on a report in THE HINDU, November 13, 2006.
TWO
Nearly 5000 Chennai policemen - that is 1/3 of the city police force - are observing Vrat to go to Sabarimala. Sabarimala devotees are called Ayyappa Swamis. Police Ayyappa Swamis say that they are happily observing the Vrat, since a respect is earned from the public as well as from their bosses. Further, they say that it gives lot of mental peace and they are rejuvenated. Based on a report in THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, December 16, 2006.
THREE
The wedding of Shri. George Wanderword of USA with Smt. Elena Patrona of Russia was performed at Agra, Bharat, on November 19 in true Hindu style with chanting of Vedic mantras. 62 year old George and 53 year old Elena are meteorological researchers. It was when George was in Russia on an assignment, that he fell in love with Elena. On an earlier visit to Bharat 4 years back, he was impressed with the Hindu marriage rituals and hence opted for a Hindu wedding, says George. DINAMANI November 21, 2006.
FOUR
Shri. Nikunj Bhai Soni has so far donated blood 98 times. His desire: to donate upto 150 times. Now, more about Soni: one leg of this Hindu activist of Karnavati (Ahmedabad) had to be amputated following a gun shot injury in police firing during the Navnirman agitation in 1974. It was during that surgery that he faced a lot of trouble arranging blood. Then and there he decided to donate blood during rest of his life. His handicap did not deter him from his resolve to serve society.
From RASHTRA DEV, Hindi fortnightly of Bareily, December 15, 2006.
FIVE
It was the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June) in the year 1323 CE. The residents of Srirangam (one of the 108 Vasihnavite Divya Deshams) had assembled in the temple to celebrate a festival for Lord Aazahgiya Manavalan (Vishnu), when a washerman came running to convey the news that the Sultanate forces from Delhi had camped at Kannanore (now Samayapuram) and were planning to attack the Srirangam temple the next day. They wanted to seize the utsava idols, which they believed was made of `aparanji' gold (a very high grade gold). Pillailokacharya made quick decisions. He ordered the elders, women and children to cross the Kaveri river and run away into the forests. After constructing a stone wall in the sanctum sanctorum, to protect the main deity, he placed the utsava idols in a closed palanquin and fled Srirangam. Twelve thousand residents of Srirangam, mainly youth, under the leadership of Sudarshana Acharya and his two sons, formed a human chain blocking the entry of invaders, giving Pillailokacharya time to take away the idols to safety. All these 12,000 Hindus were massacred. Vedanta Desika smeared blood over his body and lay amongst the heap of bodies pretending to be dead. Meanwhile, Pillailokacharya had travelled hundreds of miles to reach Jyotishkudi near Aazhagar Koil in Madurai, where he hid the idols in a cave. But he had fallen ill in the process and died chanting the name of the Lord but not before getting a promise from his disciples that the deity would be restored to His rightful place. It was 48 years later, in 1371 CE, that Kambanna of Vijayanagara Kingdom restored the Lord to the Srirangam temple. To recall the sacrifice made by Pillailokacharya and to celebrate his 800th birth anniversary, the Kinchithkaram Trust organised a week-long festival from November 8, 2005.
Based on a report by Shri. T.A. Narasimhan in THE HINDU, November 18, 2005.