Saturday, June 14, 2014

Deeksha Schedule @ Nagole, Hyderabad from 7-4-2014 to 11-04-2014



Deeksha Schedule given by Divyajanani Alivelu Mangamma Garu leading up to Pujya Sai Master Krutagnata Mahotsavam Aradhana Utsavam 12th April 2014



Half hour slots of Namam, Dhyana, Bhajana & Parayana in that order. Repeated cycle of the same. Books studied in Parayana slot were first Sri Bhagwan Bharadwaja followed by Mahatmula Muddubiddadu.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Beauty surrounding Ammagari Nilayam @ Nagole.




In in the scorching heat of May, serene evenings. Around Evening arati time@ Nilayam last month


















Jai Sai Master

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PS. click on the photos to enlarge

Essence of Srimad Bhagwatam - Pujya Ekkirala Krishnamacharya


"What the heck are you doing with your life?"! is a common refrain we
heard from our parents while growing up. At Nagole, our Guru Kutumbam
who have taken on themselves the role of being parent, mentor, friend
and philosopher, often ask, 'Why have you come here?'. 

Strange question that. Not a question that you would hear at other 'Guru' type
conventions and retreats, I guess. The idea is to remind us of the
objectives or ideals which brought us to their feet, regardless of the
circumstances which vary from person to person. Some have come here
because their spouses are devoted, others for children, others to heal
from some physical illness or mental misery. Our problems vary but after coming here the problems are solved or resolved. ie. The problem may
get a solution or more often, the 'problem' as we understand it, no
longer exists through right understanding. Then what? 

Do we then pack up our bags and head back to our lives the way we lived earlier? Or do we try to take up this thread of hope, this
glimmer of right understanding of
 i) the nature of our mind 
 ii) the nature of the universe
 iii) our relation to the universe and therefore
 iv) what is life, its goals and how to live it
and get to the crux of this new learning and understanding.....

Or even worse, we live on here in a limbo, creating more pressing 'problems' with our problem oriented thinking.

Ammagaru, Smt. A. Vedavathi garu and Babugaru (Ekkirala Dwarakanath Jnaneswar)has spared no efforts in giving us this light, the perspective in which
we are to understand Pujya Master's books and teachings. But the choice of the path is ours.

Last month, Babugaru shared with us this invaluable speech in Telugu by Master
Ekkirala Krishnamacharya garu, Master garu's elder brother, which
encapsulates the essence of Srimad Bhagwatam and the essence of what we
are learn by practice here at Nagole.



Thursday, May 29, 2014

Some of my favourite photos of Mastergaru & Ammagaru (1980s except the black and white one)

Wordless at the what this image inspires in me

Mixing food to feed us rice balls. Hidden is their tapasic power given freely to us with Love! What of our romantic love in front of This Great Expanse of Love!
Very rare photos Pujya Master and Ammagaru in the yard of their residence at Vidyanagar, Masergaru's tapobhumi (land of tapas)

HE had time for children and time for His work. No irritiation!


Mastergaru appears to be blessing some devotee bowing. Always on the go, no time for stills!

Thursday, May 8, 2014

It is raining Gifts from Heaven - Ammagaru's Songs and Bhajans

Very few know that Ammagaru is great singer, poet, musician and teacher.
The beautiful musical programme on November 9th 2014, Mastergaru's 75th Birthday, woven with Songs on Mastergaru from his divine birth, childhood to maturity written, composed and taught by Ammagaru, Divya Janani Alivelu Manga Thayaru was witness.

Smt. Adidam Vedavathi (Guruputrika) &  team singing Ammagaru's divine compositions


On popular request, these songs and bhajans sung by Ammagaru's daughter, Smt. Adidam Vedavathi and group,  have been released on Saimaster Forums/Sound Cloud and shared with us on Facebook official page 'Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja' on the grand occasion of Krutagnata Mahotsavam Aradhana Utsavam (Mastergaru's 25 Mahasamadhi Anniversary)

I have also provided some links below for convenience.

Bharadwaja Baba Priya Tanaya

Sainatha Jai Jai Bharadwaja Jai Jai

Pramapurushudu

Datta Datta  (written by Sri Tembe swami, composed by Pujya Ammagaru)

Jai Sai Master

Friday, April 4, 2014

Permaculture - Spirituality - Relevance to today's world


In today's post-post-modern, post 9/11, post Vietnam (or the whichever country is the lastest victim, post-existential crisis of identity, we are really so conforming and blindly West-driven (i.e.headless driven) that it is shocking. Now the West has some genuinely good things to offer us but few people take those up. My non-Indian friends agree. And if you don't agree with me, good. Let's now talk of being a bit more self-aware.
From clothing to choice of careers and homes we live in, we have moved beyond creating 'Little India's' in California or Sydney. We are creating 'Little America (as if there is only One America)' while in India!!
It doesn't occur to us that most of our current clothing (yes, trousers, collared shirts, jeans, closed shoes ...) is genuinely unsuitable to our climate or what it is costing The Earth to provide us with the granite counters and floors which cost the earth!
If you brought the ingredients from a regular store, this is inedible
We think we are choosing our own meal but sadly we are not. We are not eating baby carrots, crisp cabbage or lettuce and spinach with cubes of cottage cheese and dash of lemon, in our 'healthy' salad dinner. We are eating  nephrotoxic hard metals (http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/2/2125) and carcinogenic pesticides ( see http://indiaforsafefood.in/farminginindia) to name a few.

We believe we are educated, hard-working, ethical, aware, upstanding global citizens but we close our eyes and noses at the our own toilets and garbage and 'delegate' this personal responsibility to the less unfortunate or the nameless workers of municipal corporations.

We go to great trouble to find the one great love of our live, our future spouses. Then go to greater trouble to refrain from coffee, alcohol etc to deliver healthy babies and then promptly 'schedule' their arrival into the world as per Leaves offered by our faceless corporate giants and modern medicine. We then promptly find 'Child care' facilities with people and establishments doing so clearly as a business to make money. And our consciences are salved. If we even believe such a thing as a conscience exists. After all has it been scientifically proven? Can you see it? (sure, just like you can see the oxygen you breathe).


So what can we do about it? Should we stop eating altogether?, should we rip off our clothes and hold candle-lit dharnas at India Gate?, should we go off into almost extinct Wild with our families, eat roots and berries and live like primitives?...

On an aside, that last primitive bit is very interesting. I don't know if I can identify anything edible in a forest or make my own swiss knife and underwear!!!

What we can do, while we continue with our lives is first change our thinking, change how we do the little things (like what we first do on waking up), then our children's education, along with growing herbs and so forth to what we dream of. Discussed not so long ago by Pujya Saimaster in this unique Speech for children given at Mahanandi in Telugu.


Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja Enlightening Listeners
Mahanandi Speech by Pujya Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja Part A

Mahanandi Speech by Pujya Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja PartB

Anyone who does listen to these is missing something in life!
So that was Permaculture being discussed by Mastergaru!!!
As Babugaru (Dwarakanath Ekkirala Jnaneswar) puts it, the basis of spirituality (as in 'living life correctly') and Permaculture are the same. It all begins with the Three Ethics  of

1) Earth Care
2) People Care
3) Fair share or Return of Surplus

Unless and until we understand these completely and make that it it our  prime directive as one founder of Permaculture, Bill Mollison says, '...to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children', we do not live. We exist as parasites and the world has no Future.

________________
P. S. so many gems and all in Telugu!!! What a loss to us English speaking world. Praying for the day when these will be available in English transcript.

Sai Baba Magazine April 2014 released. What a grand issue!






This issue has got special articles by Divyajanani Alivelu Mangamma (Ammagaru). It is all the more to be treasured (i.e. read and implemented immediately and not to be stored on a shelf) because Ammagaru has written and edited them while suffering from extreme ill-health. All for our benefit.

The photo spread and design work is fabulous. Enjoy

Jai Sai Master

Pujya Acharya Sri Ekkirala Bharadwaja - Dhuni Pratishta at Sri Sai Baba ...



This video has been released just a few hours ago and what a treat it is. Mastergaru's Aradhana utsavam is on April 12th  and as per tithi (Indian Calender) on the 6th (that is just day after tomorrow).  What a treat it is to see Master in this clear video and attune our minds for the coming days. I saw Mastergaru as a child and do not remember him clearly. O mind! be ready to receive the Master.


   

 

Monday, March 10, 2014

" Life is a drama......." - Pujya Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja - SaiMaster

Pujya Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja's own handwriting.

Radish Harvest for Divyajanani - Mastergaru Kalyana Utsavam March 6th 2014





Super Radish production under DJ aka Babugaru's direction @ New Garden, Nagole


Babugaru (Dwarakanath Gnaneswar Ekkirala) harvesting a radish.


Babugaru (Dwarakanath Jnaneswar) discussing the bumper harvest using Permaculture garden design and techniques with a farmer client.

At work on the radish recipe



Friday, February 7, 2014

Sai Baba Magazine (Telugu) Jan 2014 issue

A New Year and beautiful new issue of Sai Baba Magazine gifted to us.  See the contents below.


 Tajuddin Baba on the Left page below. Mastergaru's message to us on the occasion of New Year on the right below.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Sankranthi 2014 with Divyajanani Alivelu Mangamma

Mastergaru as a boy for this bhogi! The pot of milk overflowing with blessings for us :-)
Ammagaru blessed us with her beautiful smile



Babugaru offoring flowers and bhogi pallu to Master

Ammagaru just before singing a melodious bhogi song.


Teerthacharan's (in yellow), Mastergaru's grandson, sweet fingers playing the mridangam.
Those who were fortunate to witness this beautiful, joyous celebration

Monday, January 27, 2014

Campfire Evening with Babugaru @ Nilayam



Babugaru winding down the day after the heavy PDC ( Permaculture Design Certificate Course) with Music and Meditation with the kids. Add a campfire at the entrance to Nilayam. Symbolic. What else do you need?






String Music in front  of the Fire

Sunday, January 5, 2014

One step at a time

Looking through my Facebook messages, I saw how the New Year brought a spate of resolutions in some, a lot of jadedness this year - questions such as, 'So what's new about it?' and so forth. Here at Nagole, there was the big bang of brand new PDC (Permaculture Design Certificate Course) conducted by Babugaru (Ekkirala Dwarakanath Jnaneswar).

So is Permaculture different from spirituality? Why do we need to garden? Why do we need to 'forego' some of the conveniences others take for granted and change our lifestyle? And what does that have to do with again Spirituality? .. Such Qs have been well answered in the whole of last year's discussions and talks by Babugaru and for those of you who are interested, I will be blogging more on that soon.

In terms maintaining 'Bhavana' (devotion) and learning to be aware of the rare and precious great presence "sannidhi' we living in every day, there is a great, great deal we have learn. We go about our chores and complaints and comments. All the while 'Mahatmas' are there. We wouldn't dream of doing this if we were in the same room as them. Like a piece of iron in front of a magnet, in their presence, all our senses and mind are alert and attuned and everything of the noise and chaos of the regular world & life is simply tuned out. And we pray and bow to Baba & Master & Ammagaru as say, ' You are omnipresent and omnicient. What more can I tell you of my woes. Indeed in your presence I feel I have none.'

Yet, when we are in the next room or even a few houses away, we revert to our normal selves and say, ' So & so said so & so and did so & so. Therefore I am angry or upset or inconvenienced. We forget The Presence. And all the benefits it has brought us.

From 1st January to 8th Feb, 2014 we have usually had a deeksha. This year, Babugaruconsidering the inexplicable low spirits everyone was in, recommended that we start again afresh with just one activity a day. Everyday we listen to 'Vishnu Sahasranam' (and such others in succeeding months) and one speech of Mastergaru every morning. A time was fixed so that the group's thought process would evolve in a similar fashion.
As Master has said repeatedly, once we are in the presence of the Sadguru, we need to keep uplifting ourselves again and again with our own effort  in order to be able to utilize their Presence.