Vennamuddu Krishna

The kondaveedu fort

Temple planned by ISKCON



Venna muddukrishna

 

 

After all these years growing up in a metro city of  Kuala Lumpur, life seems to be very fast and stressful. I never knew that there is a complete silent life existing in India. Today we decided to visit the family village, our origins and our family temple given by the King of Kondaveedu centuries ago! I was all so excited and my imagination was totally different than what I saw throughout my journey starting from Guntur. The family temple is not taken care as of now though we're having few priest in the village to conduct the daily puja. Our temple is called Vennamuddu Krishna and Baby Krishna holding butter is the main deity. He is an absolute beauty and has beautiful eyes.

We've given the temple to ISKCON to develop and conduct pujas so that everyone can benefit. Here are some pics and I saw this 2 cute kids near the temple who was so curious to know who am I. They were so polite and refused to take my 10 rupee note , how adorable are they. Certainly a trip to remember through my life as I saw the reality of farming and huge farms producing jasmines!

Amaravati's Amaralingeshwara temple.



Watched these cuties so nearby :)

The bungalow/hotel.

Now that we must sleep one night out , i.e. since we have to travel to Malaysia  to my parents home , we had an alternative way of staying a day out at any Shiva temple. Therefore , we chose the Amaravati temple for a day out.  It was like an hour drive from Guntur to Amaravati and we took a van to get there. 

This is my ever first experience on seeing a village , silent and dark night. The rain season started and thank god it wasn't that bad. By 7.30 pm we reached the hotel which is 5 minutes walking distance to the temple. Truly it was more like horror movie scene, B and I never expected such scary hotel room ! :) Nothing much to blame as the people who maintain ( I mean the employees appear very poor ). It's called AndhraPradheshTourism something.... we didn't get to see any restaurant and there was not electricity in the hotel. It was really scary and lots of mosquitoes! Finally we ended up sending the working boy to get us some chapatti and curry. Now....we've been counting minutes to pass by so that next morning we could visit the temple and go home.





Beautiful village scene , so peaceful.

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning,  Monday July 8 2013 , we had good darshan of Amaralingeshwara , a unique shivalinga which kept growing so tall ! We then proceeded to the local nearby Hanuman and Shirdi baba temple before visiting the Museum and Buddha stupa which was visited by Dalai Lama. The Buddha statue is still under construction and finally after getting burnt under the scorching hot sun , we returned home at 2.30 pm. Such tiring day!

Gow dhaanam

My dear Ammakutty and Ammukutty.



Cows are considered to be purely sacred in Hinduism , thus the worship of  Kamadhenu is normal for hindu families. Cows play an important role in our itihasas and mythological stories as they are seen as mother who provides milk , thus they have lots of significance in hindu rituals. On our Amma's name , we chose to donate the cow and calf to a temple and this ritual is called Gow dhaanam. For the ever first time in my life , I witnessed and touched the cow and calf ! I was afraid of them but finally I learnt that they are so friendly. I called them Ammakutty and Ammukutty and later on we came to know that Ammakutty was pregnant! The grass and food was never enough for her. I was wondering why is she eating so much and we could never satisfy her hunger , but looks like the babykutty inside her tummy caused all moodswings for Ammakutty. Too many things to learn in India , It is INCREDIBLE INDIA !

Applying turmeric and kumkuma for Ammakutty!

That's me standing so near to the cow, I was excited of course!

June 14 , 2013

My dearest Lakshmi Amma.

The hurry burry travel plans unexpected but I managed to book a flight via MAS to Chennai. One of my most tiring trip ever , only to know that my mother in law waited to see me before she passed away.

A true legend , Samrajyalakshmi is a women of substance. She have worked hard with her will power and faced a lot of challenges in continuing her education which got stopped after her marriage. Supplied with such courage and perseverance , she stood on her ambitions to work , which is considered a big no - no in the orthodox Brahmin families in the 1960's.

She's a passionate woman with lots of talents over languages , handicrafts and a great cook herself , she have provided me the best husband one can have as she herself is the best mother in law a girl could have. Very brave and daring , she don't even think twice to point out if one makes a mistake.

I cannot believe that I have lost my loving mother in law , whom I have seen as my mom as well. I had tears when her colleagues told me that she have always felt great me being her daughter in law! I called her Amma from the day I knew her. Amma was very courageous and have always supported my dreams and steps. I wanted to dance and she let me be myself. The home was so lively , now she is no more , I feel totally lonely to be in the home where she lived. I cherish all the good and memories as I have shared the very best of my relationship with her. I miss you , I wish I can sit next to you and talk to you , I miss your caring and comforting words , your listening ears and the knowledge you had on all the things we do. The pooja's performed next to you , I miss my confidence and strength now, how I wish you come back from the hospital and lived with us for some more time :(

I know she is in a better place now but it's such a big , huge loss for us for not having her around. May her soul RIP.


Cant believe I am lighting up fire for her final rituals for 13 days.

Remembering my Graduation :)

The day I've been longing for...........years passed but those memories do remind you of the hardship you've faced in reaching your goal. This day will be remembered forever, I personally take up the space to thank ( words aren't enough ) my mom and of  course Bee. My BFF.

Give up to be Happy.

We grew up hearing not to give up but life is not the same being an adult. Well , I've always wanted to grow up fast when I was a kid , what the hell I was thinking !! Life in England taught so many valuable lessons and meeting people from different walks of  life , life in Malaysia taught me how can I improve myself  in every aspects possibly , life in India...........you can just describe in one word - Incredible India! It's all about survival of the fittest and life in the USA taught me even more than all of the above said chapters.......... it's all about giving up.

Life is seen as paradise to many people who dream on living a life in America. It's just not a dream, it's beyond that. Life is not easy as what many people think. Many couples fail to make life after marriage not because they are in the US but it's because of  the life which demands a lot of  hard work and sacrifice. When people imagine earning in dollars is all about $$$$$ , the fact is every employee pays $$$$ taxes to the IRS.  You are responsible to keep your home clean , otherwise be ready to face charges by the Home Owner Association :)

Sometimes, giving up can make us happy in many ways. We can never be ALWAYS be right , so give up on trying to be right because being kind is nicer than being right :) Great relationships suffer due to trying to be right.

“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning.” Lao Tzu

Sometimes it's good to let go of control. First of all, there should not be control concepts in relationships , be it spouse , kids or co workers. I have seen wives/mothers who keep on nagging their husband/kids. Finally the relationship gets strained due to this. One has to understand how their behavior will impact another.

Blame - stop blaming and take full responsibility of our life. I see absolutely no point in blaming others. I cant stand it to hear mothers who curse their kids for silly reasons. Remember, being a parent don't give you the automatic right to drive over your child's life. If you cannot appreciate then do not strain the child - parent relationship by verbal abuse. Be careful with your words because once they are said, they can be forgiven but not forgotten ! Ultimately you lose peace of  mind by not giving up blaming others for mistakes they don't do.

“A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind”  Elly Roselle

Give up on limiting your goals. Once you think positively that you could do something, never look back and immediately your mind will absorb the positive energy and start working to achieve your goal. It's all in the mind set. Don't limit on what you can or cannot do.

"Change is the law of  life. And those who look only to the past or present are only to miss the future." John F. Kennedy

Give up on past. Dwelling on past can never bring us future. I myself  have been there and sometimes it hurts to think that I have actually spoilt my present due to thinking of  past. Everyone have their own regrets in life but living on the regrets are just so unhealthy. Not only we suffer stress and disturbed mind but we are spreading the negative aura around us!

Give up on trying to impress. Sometimes we just want people to recognize us and trying to impress will not really be rewarding. Take off that mask , be real and people will embrace us for what we are. After all , we don't lose being ourselves.

Finally , I've learnt giving up does make sense as an adult on certain notions in my life. I thank god sometimes I just come across wonderful souls in my life.. I am still learning !!

Fear......?

Universe is  kingdom,
Space is  salvation,
Sun is spirit,
Moon is soul,
Earth  is  shelter,
Rain is moisture,
Fire is purity,
Wind is motion and the forces emanate.....

The omnifarious light
of  omniscience,
Omnipresence is the light......

As beings and humans
Whom shall we fear ?

The mirror , the image,
The shadow  or  the omniscience ?

This is our light of  omnipotence!

Manipulation.

Have you ever been manipulated ? This just freaks me off  whenever  I come across heartless people who just do anything to gain peanuts. I know and you know the batch of  mega politicians who sit around to make $$$$ but that make sense because it's tax payers money!!

It annoys me whenever Bee and I tried taking auto's in India. The day starts on with cheaters, manipulating their meter fares (my dear desi friends should understand what exactly I mean!).
You then proceed on to purchase fruits , well I get excited to see new types of  fruits  sold on street in India. There you go, you get cheated where the seller gives you sweet tasting samples and sells off the not so good ones! Ugggh..........I have a list of  things to say.

Now, coming back on my trip to hometown KL, I cannot imagine a professional photographer tried manipulating us. We paid a reasonable amount of $$$ covering up our photo session booked couple of  years ago. Then , now...........she's split out from the studio I've booked. We lost our original copy of  receipt. We ended up getting something else.

Now, I am down with fever and just things dont seem to go alright. I managed getting hold of the lady who booked my sessions. She refused to refund back stating it's their policy on t & c that our receipt expired. You mean if someone is out of country for a certain time, you end up losing your customer.

GREED never leaves anyone who are greedy for more and more. Fine, she keeps forgetting that she is dealing with a lawyer. I am going to be hard. Thank god for Dato Chin's help on sorting this nuisance out.

Guess what.............this lady who operates her new photo studio near KL Sentral Monorail agreed to sell off  the package to someone else and refund our $$$.

You see...........hard earned things do not go to waste! The moral of  the entire scenario, I'm sick and tired of dealing with this kinda people. I need a break, a real break out  of  these city tricks and life! One makes a decent earning yet manipulates. The world still survives because few good ones exist if not the fact speaks about 2012.

Visiting aunty K @ Villa Scott

Once upon a time , I was a resident of  Villa Scott, running around to teach :) After 5 years, I'm back to visit aunty K. We managed taking in lunch for her. Villa Scott, brings back old memories, my hardship , my happiness and my dreams. I must thank my old car , Boboe (my car) served me well during my hard times to travel around!

Here's the view from Aunty K's balcony. The magnificent KL view, sadly the new constructions of condos , condos and condos.............blocked the view of  the King's  Palace.

From 22nd floor.

Kandaswamy Temple.

KL skyline

The Kandaswamy temple's grand view is seen from the top floors. 22nd floor and just loved the day !

Adding my wishlist + attitude = Happy Me !

I can call myself  as a big fan of  gratitude exercise. Yes, I still remember the gifts from my uncles and friends as a kid. I remember people who've been there during my toughest times. I spend a decent amount of time thinking about what I’m grateful for; I do it almost every day. There are countless documented benefits of such practices, from reducing depression and anxiety to lowering blood pressure and improving your social bonds,  according to brand new research. Also, it just feels good.

I do miss the good old days where things were just as it is. Good enough to be called best days. At times, I feel having wishes will only upset me when I dont get them or things done in the way I wanted it to be! What I'm grateful for right this moment..........?

• The good morning wake up - whenever Bee's next to me, I'm half asleep , he would wake me up and at times checks my forehead to see I'm fine or not. I know that can be soooo annoying but I'm grateful that my hubby checks me out first thing in the morning. What a beautiful way to start my day. Just like Bee, my mom checks on time to time on how I am and what I do. Done with lunch/dinner etc.
• The yoga asana - thought me to appreciate my body, mind and soul. Each movement thought me on my inner self, realizing what I'm made of, the vedic way of  seeing the body beyond the outer self.
• Food - I know I grab the quick junkfood, the cup cake when I'm down but hey, pampering myself once a while is a good way satisfying hunger cravings. Moderation is the key!
• My prayers - I take a good amount of time reading the vedic slokas ( 20 mins ) at least on special days , I'm grateful for that. My ability to connect god in my mind and heart gives me the strength to overcome the toughest hurdle which at times is my weakest point too.
• My body - at times I'm super light that I could run around doing things but there are days I feel so bloated and dull. Aging ? Err.... it's time to start back my gym once I'm back to the US. Right now, I appreciate my mood which let me write this down!

2013 , I'm going to change my approach. Instead of pointing out things that I like, I'm going to  focus on what I'd like to have in my life. Now or later !

Great hearts behind Operation Hope.

One of the most greatest thing being a human being is understanding hearts, appreciating and counting on our blessings and returning the thanks in some other form. I have always thought how the world is still surviving in the midst of  evil doings. Evil, no I'm not speaking about the departed souls but the living evil doers. Perhaps, the existence of good people is still balancing out the bad. Do you guys follow the Operation Hope ?? There's something I really want to share.

Operation HOPE is the private banker for the working poor, the underclass and the struggling middle class.HOPE is America's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to financial literacy and economic empowerment.

I'm going to share the story about a boy called Okkhoy.This is the story of a boy who not only survived, but is now the key witness in a trial that has forced Bangladesh to confront the cruel but overlooked practice of forced begging.It is also the story of strangers, half a world away, who set out to show the boy that good exists in equal measure as evil -- and who set off a chain reaction of kindness to make him whole again.

Mutilated by gang who set out  to maim him so he'd earn more as a beggar. The story of  this 7 year old boy is too common in Bangladesh and India.

Four men had surrounded the 7-year-old boy, bound his hands and feet and cracked open his head with a brick. They held him down and took a switchblade to his throat. They sliced his chest and belly in an upside down cross and in a final brutal act, they hacked him sideways, chopping off his penis and his right testicle.

I had tears watching this boy talking in CNN's Operation Hope. It's a sad fact that no amount of humanitarian aid will prevent this type of  crime from happening. It will take an extended and massive "police action" by military forces. Eradicate hunger campaigns and the like, are all warm and fuzzy but have proven to be very inefficient and ineffective. All we can do is pray for victims like this boy faraway and I truly wish that I could contribute something direct or indirectly for a worthy cause, drawing a smile on someone's face. I can feel their hearts. By the way, the accused (scums that cannot even be compared to animals! ) are set free on bail by the Bangladeshi judicial system.
In midst of this absolute horror and evil from one human towards another there is the equally gripping warmth and compassion of the total opposite. Maybe all is not lost when the the actions of the heartless can be mended by those who ask for nothing in return. I believe that the world is  surviving with the help of  god in the form of  human beings. Thank you to the doctors who've treated this boy with great hearts! I smiled when this boy said he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up so that he could treat poor people like him! I pray the almighty god gives strength and speedy recovery for this little child.

JEALOUSY

Just had to share this !

Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value. Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point - that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you. There is only one alternative - self-value. If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved. You will always think it's a mistake or luck. Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within. Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences. Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security. Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them. ~Jennifer James

Finally Bee's back !

That's almost 100 days, the longest ever duration being faraway, finally Bee's back to KL. It's been a hectic week and getting ready to fetch him by 3am at KL Sentral is no easy job.

Golden words

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering,
known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation...…a sensitivity and an understanding of  life that fills them with compassion,
gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.................
– Elisabeth Kübler-Ross


Came across the simplicity of  this statement.Typically.......I just want to extend this !

Varalakshmi Vratham 2012

 

 

This year I am blessed with a chance of performing the Varalakshmi Vratham at my mom's place ( July 27th 2012 ). Total marathon of running around the KL and Brickfields , I should thank my Bee for gifting me with a precious piece of long garland :) You know what I mean and yes , we took great effort to decorate ambaal in our altar. Overall, I wouldn't say it's a grand day but we managed completing the pooja traditionally, that what matters above all! Thanks to Amma for being there and guiding me.Here , some feast to the eye!

 

Cutest Ganesha ever :)

With the latest technology, Ganesha chats in Apple notebook:)

Kinda tensed Ganesha updating his reports to customers :P

Romantic walk again!

2010 and 2011 was one of the most memorable years. Despite good and bad, we've understood what relationship is all about  and that we need our "time together". Currently , this is our heavenly place we love holding hands and walking together!

Trashing Out

Most  of  us will definitely go through a phase of  life thinking of  the past. After all,  we are just human beings , we cannot be super extra ordinary without any emotions, be it good or bad. The question that always ticks on my mind is 'how long should I hang on to the past' ? I know it's going to be "FOREVER THE GOOD AND NEVER THE OTHER".  The first half is done without any efforts but think about the second half.

Sometimes, we will never get an answer for the questions we search for. The toughest thing on earth is being able to live with oneself ! I know this is so absurd but self consoling works most of the time. I think I have started to count on my blessings than the problems I've faced, like I said the second half of the phrase takes a lot of determination.

I have had very good memories growing up and hardly any bad. People always loved us, respected my parents, laughed together, cried with us, and so life was good. People I met later in life were different; they didn't love us as much, didn't care for my parents much, no laughing or crying together and life was a little rough.

From time to time pride comes in between demanding self dignity or worse yet self pity comes in between suggesting aloofness and indifference. Lately I feel there needs to be an end to such "dangling references" and so I have started the process of "trashing out" to clear the system. What good is it to hold on to the past that brings fresh tears and a broken spirit? It will only reprieve the joy of present, and the peace of future.

Unless we help ourselves to do the 'spring cleaning' , we cannot live in an healthy environment. I strongly believe that you would agree that renting a space in our mind and heart for the trash of the past makes does no good. It's time to trash out the garbage of life and travel light to seek fresh air and build a happy home.The karma train may arrive late but it will never miss it's  journey.

Thanksgiving 2010

We had the longest drive ever for this year's Thanksgiving weekend. It was continuous tiring days completing the chores at home. Despite cooking a night earlier, I was challenged with totally useless work on the day of travel which again was wasted of course.

I'm not blessed like other Indian ladies who could easily win help or favors from other men on earth :) All my hardwork will go to dogs , though I do it in pain ! My London stay , my working life , my search............. even anything current has no value. Finally I managed tolerating the pain and awaited for everyone to start almost at 3pm. Such a tiring drive, we reached Las Vegas at 3am.

Okay now the challenges are........how are we gonna spend the next few days. Each time travelling out is never a relaxation for me , in fact travel means extra pain, extra work and extra time waste. I wish I could drive my life. I miss those days when I was a princess on my own , lived in my dreams , lived in my reality , the very strong willed , proud to take help , the very hardworking girl. I miss those days where I earned my living , I searched my job. I am proud to say that I never lived on other men's mercy. Everything in this world is very easy to be attained as long as we have no self respect and dignity.

Food for soul!