All glories to Krishna Katha Desh Bhakta Vrnda !

On Nrsingha Caturdasi day, Gaura Nitai deities in Trivandrum wore the dress stitched by HG Rasanidhi Krsna Dasa and cloth sponsored by HG Parama Karuna Krsna Dasa and Rasesvara Gopala Dasa. Thank you, dear Vaisnavas ! All glories to you !!!

Upanayanam

We performed Upanayanam for Gauranga last week . As smarthas, we do upanayanam for sons at a young age. Gauranga is 6+ and therefore we thought it ideal to conduct his upanayanam now.

Upanayanam means to look upwards - the process where the vatu is introduced formally to knowledge of Brahman. The boy is given yajnopaveetam (yajna-upaveetam) and is expected to enter brahmacaryashram !!! Upanayanam is supposed to be starting point for learning brahma jnana.

brahmano hi pratisthaham amrtasyavyayasya ca

sasvatasya ca dharmasya sukhasyaikantikasya ca

"I am the source of Brahman which is immortal, does not perish, eternal and is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness.", says Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.

Musings about an air crash

Yesterday, on 22 May 2010, an Air India Express flight from Dubai to Mangalore crashed on landing at the Bajpe Airport in Mangalore. A tragic incident which led to news channels hovering over like vultures at the site and "creating" news alongside reporting it. While this circus goes on in news channels, the relatives of the departed ones find it difficult to mourn the departure of their loved ones in peace. Thanks to information revolution.....

The flight had 166 travellers including passengers and crew. The captain had supposedly flown more than 10,000 hours and the co-pilot 3650 hours. By no means were they lacking in experience. Moreover, the same pilot had landed in this runway many many times - safely. One mistake was all it took.

Reports say that 159 perished, most bodies charred beyond recognition, forcing authorities to conduct DNA tests to identify people.

7 people escaped - miraculously. They live to tell the story ! All of them - say the same thing - Thanks to God !!!

Which brings me to the sobering thought:

'rakhe krishna maare ki
maare krishna rakhe ki'

If the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna wants to protect someone, nobody can kill him and if Krishna wants someone to perish, no one can protect him.

Some simple truths are easier to understand in the face of tragedies like yesterday's air crash.