HINDUNEWS INSIDE THIS ISSUE. Churning of our Inner Intelligence Sri Thendayuthapani Temple Foxtail Millet 10 Essentials for Mental Well-Being

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1 ISSUE HINDUNEWS A PUBLICATION OF THE HINDU ENDOWMENTS BOARD, SINGAPORE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Churning of our Inner Intelligence Sri Thendayuthapani Temple Foxtail Millet 10 Essentials for Mental Well-Being

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3 ISSUE HINDUNEWS A PUBLICATION OF THE HINDU ENDOWMENTS BOARD, SINGAPORE PHOTO JOURNAL 2 Event Snippets LESSONS FROM SCRIPTURES Shruti: The Vedas ஸ ர ர த ரம Churning of our Inner Intelligence த ர வ ம ப வ 12 SACRED SANCTUARIES Sri Thendayuthapani Temple Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ மநத ர 20 CULINARY 39 Foxtail Millet MIND & BODY Essentials for Mental Well-Being Self-Esteem Tipsheet KIDS ZONE Category 1 Category 2 29 GET UPDATES ON HEB S EVENTS AND FESTIVALS VIA WHATSAPP NOW! Send Sub via WhatsApp message to Save the number to your contacts list to receive the messages via WhatsApp broadcast. 40 PRODUCED BY SUN MEDIA PTE LTD 20 Kramat lane, 01-02, United House, Singapore Tel: nomita@sunmediaonline.com

4 PHOTO JOURNAL Event Snippets Aadi Utsavam The month of Aadi holds special significance in temples especially dedicated to Goddesses. Prayers are offered to propitiate the Goddesses and seek their protection and blessings. Some of the important days observed during this month include Aadi Amavasai, Aadi Pooram, Varalakshmi Nombu, Aadi Perukku and Aadi Karthigai. Devotees throng temples on Tuesdays and Fridays during this month as they hold special significance for worship of the Goddesses Aadi Friday Devotees participating in paalkudam abishegam at Sri Mariamman Temple on 28 July Aadi Tuesday a unique alankaram for Goddess Visalakshi with 108 sarees at Sri Sivan Temple on 31 July Devotees performing Aadi Perukku prayers at Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple on 3 August HINDUNEWS

5 Kids Dress to Impress Hindu Endowments Board s Hindu Studies Committee organised the inaugural Aadi Kids Talent Show at Sri Mariamman Temple on 3 August The talent show drew more than 70 children dressed as various deities. Children sang bhajans, chanted shlokas, talked about the deity they had dressed as and some even performed a monologue Children dressed as various deities and impressed the audience and judges with their performances. 2. The inaugural event at Sri Mariamman Temple drew more than 70 kids. Governance Seminar for Hindu Temples The office of the Commissioner of Charities organised a governance seminar for Hindu temples on 4 August 2018 at PGP Hall. The seminar was attended by representatives from Hindu temples in Singapore The session facilitated sharing of governance best practices by the Commissioner of Charities, Dr Ang Hak Seng. 2. Staff from the office of the Commissioner of Charities facilitating group-based discussions with seminar participants. HINDUNEWS 3

6 HEB s E-newsletter Launched To increase awareness of the activities of the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) and its administered temples, an e-newsletter was launched in August The monthly e-periodical will carry short HINDU E-NEWS A PUBLICATION OF THE HINDU ENDOWMENTS BOARD, SINGAPORE articles on HEB s events, Hindu festivals, meanings of mantras, history of temples, stories of gurus, Hindu philosophies, etc. The E-newsletter can be accessed via HEB s WhatsApp service and it will also be published on HEB s Facebook page. Interested subscribers should send a WhatsApp message with the text Sub to This number will have to be saved in the contact list of subscribers to receive messages via the WhatsApp broadcast from HEB. Celebrating National Day with Neighbours In an inaugural effort, Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple partnered with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Toa Payoh Central Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCC) to welcome 200 residents from the neighbourhood to the Temple on 9 August this year. The visit was an avenue to share with residents about the Temple and its practices, thus, deepening understanding and acceptance within the community Residents toured the Temple to understand the architecture, practices and etiquette observed in Hindu temples. 2. A Pandaram (priest) applying kumkumam (vermillion) on a young resident from Toa Payoh. 4 HINDUNEWS

7 Flag Hoisting at Sri Mariamman Temple Kodiyetram or the flag hoisting ceremony is one of the most significant events of any temple. When a flag is hoisted, it announces the onset of a festival. Sri Mariamman Temple came abuzz with festivities, signalling the onset of the Fire Walking Festival season with Sri Drowpathai Amman Kodiyetram on 13 August Procession of the deities at Sri Mariamman Temple prior to the flag hoisting ceremony. 2. The flag depicts the image of Lord Hanuman and remained hoisted until the end of the Fire Walking Festival on 28 October Maha Rudram Sri Rudram is an important hymn in praise of Lord Shiva. Chanting and hearing of the Rudram in rhythm, purifies the entire atmosphere and removes distress in humanity. Chanting the Rudram 11 times is known as Rudra Ekadasi and 121 Rudra Ekadasis constitute Maha Rudram. Sri Sivan Temple held the Maha Rudram from 17 to 19 August Volunteers from Singapore Dakshina Bharatha Brahmana Sabha assisted in the chanting of the Sri Rudram. 2. Sri Sivan Temple s Chief Priest Sivashri Chandrasekara Sadasiva Gurukkal performing the Maha Deeparthanai, marking the conclusion of the Maha Rudram on 19 August HINDUNEWS 5

8 Pavithra Utsavam Pavithra Utsavam was observed at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple from 21 to 26 August All deities in the Temple were adorned with Pavithra garlands, which are made from colourful silk threads Garlands made of silk threads or Pavithra malai used for the prayers are specially ordered from South India. There are only a handful of artisans left today who are still involved in crafting them. 2. During Pavithra Utsavam, the silk garlands are adorned on all the deities in the Temple until the conclusion of the ceremony. Celebrating the Lord s Birth Sri Krishna Jayanthi was celebrated at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on 2 September As part of the celebrations, Chief Priest Sri SK Vasudeva Bhattachariar delivered a religious discourse entitled Sri Krishna Charithram based on the life story of Lord Krishna Priests ceremoniously carrying the idol of baby Krishna to be placed in the cradle at midnight to mark the birth of the Lord. 2. Sri Vasudeva Bhattachariar delivered his talk on the enchanting stories of Lord Krishna. 6 HINDUNEWS

9 Learning Through Moral Values Project Bhakti, HEB s flagship programme that advocates moral education for children ages 5 to 16, celebrated its Annual Day on 9 September 2018 at PGP Hall. Around 200 parents of the Project Bhakti students attended a parenting talk on healthy living by Mr Balakumaran Krishnasamy and healthy cooking demonstration by Chef Rajes Project Bhakti students showing their Ganesha craft activity to mark the birthday of Lord Ganesha. 2. At the end of the healthy food preparation demonstration by Chef Rajes, parents had the opportunity to sample some of the food. 3. Storyteller Sashi captivated her audience with stories from Hindu mythology. 4. The highlight of the Annual Day was when children honoured their mothers with a paada pooja. HINDUNEWS 7

10 Vinayagar Chaturthi Vinayagar Chaturthi marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Temples in Singapore observed the festival on 13 September The various alankarams of Lord Ganesha from the temples administered by the Hindu Endowments Board are presented below Veneration of Sri Sundara Vinayagar at Sri Mariamman Temple 2. Raja Ganapati alankaram for Sri Vinagayar at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple 3. Alankaram of Sri Vinayagar with sugarcanes at Sri Sivan Temple 4. Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple s Sri Vinayagar decorated with sandalwood paste 8 HINDUNEWS

11 Purattasi Mahotsavam The month of Purattasi is of great importance as it is believed that Sri Srinivasa Perumal (Lord Venkateshwara) appeared on earth during this month. Devotees offer thanksgiving to the Lord for preserving the Universe and throng Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple for the early morning prayers on Saturdays, which hold special significance for Lord Perumal Volunteers working through the night to cut vegetables and cook a feast for devotees. 2. A series of prayers are held on Saturdays during Purattasi which include Suprabatham (invocation prayers), Komatha Pooja (cow prayer) and Thomala Seva (ceremonial garland offering). 3. Annathanam (free blessed meals) are served to all devotees at the Temple. 4. Mr Ong Ye Kung (Minister for Education; standing in blue) meeting devotees at the Annathanam. HINDUNEWS 9

12 Navarathri Festival The Navarathri Festival (literally, 9 nights festival) was observed between 10 and 18 October In temples, a different alankaram (decoration) is done for the deity each day. Special prayers and cultural performances are also held in temples A traditional golu at Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple 2. Sri Ambal Siva alangaram at Sri Sivan Temple 3. Children seeking the blessings of the Goddess on Saraswathi Pooja day at Sri Mariamman Temple 4. Sri Saraswathi alankaram at Sri Mariamman Temple 10 HINDUNEWS

13 Fire Walking Festival Fire Walking Festival was observed on 28 October 2018 at Sri Mariamman Temple. Close to 4500 devotees crossed the fire pit this year in fulfilment of their vows and to offer thanks to Goddess Drowpathai Amman Sri Mariamman arriving back at the Temple after the chariot procession. 2. Volunteers preparing the fire pit at Sri Mariamman Temple. 3. Preparation of the Karagam (holy vessel) at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple. 4. Chief Pandaram K Swaminathan performs a deeparthanai prior to the Karagam leaving Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple. HINDUNEWS 11

14 The highlight of the Fire Walking Festival was Chief Pandaram K Swaminathan carrying the Karagam and crossing the fire pit. 6. Sri Drowpathai Amman s silver chariot at Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple 12 HINDUNEWS

15 Spreading Joy, Strengthening Bonds Deepavali, the festival of lights, is a celebration to dispel all negativities in life. It is also an occasion for celebrating the spirit of love and friendship. On 8 November 2018, Hindu Endowments and Advisory Boards hosted a special Deepavali Tea at PGP Hall. Mdm Halimah Yacob, President of Singapore, graced the occasion. Invited children from Jamiyah Home, Ramakrishna Mission Boys Home and Sunbeam Children s Society also got to experience Deepavali festivities for the first time. After they tried their hands on crafting a Rangoli, they boarded an open-top bus and headed to the Indian Heritage Centre for a guided tour Invited guests comprising religious and administrative heads of all 10 religions listed in the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), Singapore and members of their communities. 2. President Halimah Yacob interacting with children at the event 3. Kathak dancers enthralled the guests with their bright costumes, swirls and intricate footwork. 4. A joyful ride on an open-top bus the colourful street light-up was a visual treat for the children. HINDUNEWS 13

16 Becoming The Survivor Hindu Endowments Board s inaugural youth seminar entitled The Survivor: Overcoming your fears and challenges was held on 11 November 2018 at the Singapore Management University campus. Speaker Swami Mitrananda offered participants practical tips on maximising one s potential by practicing self-confidence and detachment techniques Swami Mitrananda has spearheaded many innovative youth empowerment programmes using tools such as outdoor experiential learning to convey the message of Vedanta. 2. Participants of the inaugural youth seminar with Swami Mitrananda Helping Hand for Students The Sivadas-HEB Bursary Awards Ceremony was held on 17 November 2018 at PGP Hall. As of October 2018, the Fund has helped more than 1460 students and disbursed $2.65 million. At the bursary presentation, 73 bursaries worth about $135,000 were presented by the Guest of Honour, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social and Family Development and Ministry of Education) Mr Thambyrajah, Registrar of Nanyang Polytechnic, offering bursary recipients tips to plan a career that will enable them to take advantage of the new jobs and opportunities that the economy will produce in the future. 2. Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal presented a total of 73 bursaries at the ceremony. 14 HINDUNEWS

17 Back to School Since 2015, HEB-Ashram has been supporting the children of residents of the Ashram with vouchers to purchase school books and shoes to be ready for the new school year. HEB-Ashram recently partnered the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) to disburse vouchers to 28 children. At the Back to School ceremony held at Clementi Primary School on 17 November 2018, Ms Indranee Rajah (Minister, Prime Minister s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for Education) presented the children with the gift vouchers Ms Indranee Rajah, who is also the President of SINDA, presented vouchers worth $180 to each beneficiary. 2. Beneficiaries who received the gift vouchers will be able to purchase school books and shoes for the new school year. Celebrating 20 Years of Service to the Community The objectives of the HEB-Ashram Family Day are: 1. to emphasise the indispensable role of family in reintegration; 2. to underscore the value of community acceptance in reintegration; 3. to nurture and harness the role of youth as anti-drug ambassadors; and 4. to promote a healthy lifestyle. HEB-Ashram Family Day 2019 Date: Sunday, 13 January 2019 Time: 8.00am to 1.00pm Venue: HEB-Ashram Halfway House, 30 Durban Rd, Singapore HEB-Ashram Halfway House takes pride to be part of the on-going effort by the government to fight against drug abuse and provide the social support for the recovering substance abusers to redeem themselves and lead a normal life. HINDUNEWS 15

18 LESSONS FROM SCRIPTURES Shruti The Vedas In the first of our two-part series on ancient Hindu Scriptures, we focus on Shruti or the Vedas which contain knowledge which has been heard by the ancient seers in their deep meditation. The Vedas are recognised as the oldest and most important Hindu Scriptures. The word Veda comes from the Sanskrit root word vid to know. It means knowledge, in general, but the knowledge in this instance means absolute, intuitive or esoteric knowledge, and not logical knowledge, either rational or empirical. The Vedas are said to be shruti which translates to that which is heard. The idea that this is intended to convey is that there is a revelation. Tradition has it that at the beginning of each cycle of creation, Brahma, the Lord of creation, would proclaim the eternal truths contained in the Vedas to the great rishis (divine seers), who would then record these revelations down for posterity. According to the Vishnu Purana, the original Veda, as revealed to the rishis, consisted of 100,000 verses, and had four divisions. However, these became obscured with the passage of time. So, in the beginning of the Dvapara Age, Sage Krishna Dvaipayana resuscitated the Vedic study, collected all materials and reclassified the work according to the four ancient divisions of Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. In order to perpetuate the study of the Vedas in the proper form, he taught them to his four principal disciples Rig to Paila, Yajur to Vaisampayana, Sama to Jaimini, and Atharva to Sumanta. As he had reclassified the Vedas, he became renowned by the name of Veda Vyasa the classifier of the Vedas. Orthodox Hindus consider that the Vedas have no human origin and are not only timeless, but also infallible. The term Veda has been applied to this body of literature which has been handed down from time immemorial by verbal transmission and is declared to be sacred knowledge. Historians are unable to agree when the Vedas were collected in their present form, and while there seems to be a consensus that it must have been no later than 300 BC, several are of the opinion that 500 BC would be more accurate. When the actual contents were written is impossible to trace, but the oldest material is considered to exist in verbal form prior to 3000 BC. The very antiquity of the Vedas makes them excellent anthropological and historical guides to the society and culture of the peoples of ancient India. But it is for their philosophical content that they are chiefly famous. They are, despite their age, not the folklore of a primitive, animistic tribe, but the work of great minds of a sophisticated society. 16 HINDUNEWS

19 Krishna Dvaipayana was also known as Veda Vyasa as he classified the Vedas into 4 divisions. Classification and Contents There are four Vedas Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva each being further divided into four classes of literary compositions: Mantras (Samhita) Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads The Vedas teach the knowledge of God and lay down work as a means to that knowledge work in this sense signifying both sacrificial rites and the performance of secular duties. Work, knowledge and devotion are thus the three subjects of the Vedas and there is accordingly such a division: the Mantras and Brahmanas together forming the karma kanda, or the portion relating to work, the Aranyakas the upasana kanda, or the portion pertaining to meditation and devotion, and the Upanishads the jnana kanda, or portion dealing with knowledge. This division into Mantras, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads is based on the principle of dividing life into ashramas, or stages, each part corresponding with one stage. According to Vedic teachings, man s life is divided into four stages. First is the brahmacharya, or student s life, when the pupil receives both religious and secular instruction, the youth is trained in self-control and the virtues of life. The Mantras are meant for him. The next stage is grahastya, or householder s life. It is important at this time to perform all the domestic rites. The Brahmanas are meant for this stage of life. At the stage of vanaprastha or retirement, one is no longer required to adhere to ritualism, but is instructed to follow the Aranyaka and engage in symbolic meditation. Finally, one enters the life of renunciation, or sannyasa, in which he is neither bound by work or desire but is dedicated wholly to acquiring the supreme knowledge as contained in the Upanishads. Mantras Constituting the oldest division of Vedic literature, the Mantras are sacred hymns and formulae praising various Gods and forming HINDUNEWS 17

20 sacrificial prayers and chants and often expressing the loftiest sentiments that man can feel for his deity. With a total of more than 20,000 verses, the Mantras are divided into Samhitas; one for each Veda. The Rig Samhita is a collection of nearly 10,500 hymns in praise of different Gods. The prayers and chants contained in this Samhita were the basis of the earliest practical form of religion in ancient India. The Samhita of the Sama Veda contains hardly any independent material, all its verses except 75 being taken directly from the Rig. It is important because it specifies the melodies and metres for the chanting of the hymns. The Samhita of the Yajur Veda consists not only stanzas taken from the Rig, but also of original prose formulae to be uttered by special priests involved in the manual work of a sacrifice. The Atharva Samhita is mainly a collection of songs, spells and chants for such diverse purposes such as obtaining success, healing of diseases, restoration of harmony and exorcism of evil spirits. But there are certain hymns of rare beauty that celebrate the power and omniscience of God and the beneficence of Mother Earth. Brahmanas In comparison with the Mantras, the Brahmanas are concerned with practical everyday things, with elaborate details for the proper conduct of sacrificial rites and with specific duties and rules for the conduct of ceremonies. They also explain the purpose of these rites. The Brahmanas are mainly prose texts and also contain myths, old legends and verses celebrating the exploits of kings famed in the priestly tradition. Aranyakas These are forest-treatises; books of A handwritten manuscript of the Rigveda in Devanagari instruction to be given in the forest, or writings meant for wood-dwellers. Although considered part of the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas are for all purposes, quite independent of the Brahmanas. They may simply be regarded as a supplement and a corrective to the Brahmanas. The Aranyakas resemble the Brahmanas in language, style and even content. Like the Brahmanas, they deal with rites and ceremonies, but unlike the Brahmanas, they do not rest in them. They are more concerned with the significance of the rites and of the mystic meaning of the Samhitas. They regard as essential the truths that the rites symbolise and that therefore the grand performances are not ends in themselves. In occupying themselves less with the outward symbol and more with the inner reality, they come close to the chief and central glory of all Vedas the universally admired Upanishads. The bulk of the Aranyaka literature is old, though not nearly as old as the Mantras, but certain portions may belong to a period later than 1000 BC. Much of the Aranyakas have been lost in the 18 HINDUNEWS

21 passage of time, and in most cases, only the Upanishad portions of these marvellous books remain. Upanishads As the concluding portions of the Aranyakas, the Upanishads are the doctrines of secret knowledge. The name is derived from the Sanskrit root upa which means near, ni which means down and shad meaning sit. Thus, it literally means to sit down near someone and is applied to doctrines that may be imparted to a son or a trusted disciple seated near the teacher. The central subject of this portion of the Vedas is the knowledge of God. Since they brought to a close each of the Vedas, as well as to present the essence or conclusions of the Vedas, the Upanishads came to be spoken of as Vedanta the anta or end of the Vedas. It is generally accepted that the most important Upanishads were written between 800 to 500 BC. The Upanishads contain deep speculations of a philosophical character and revolve around the twin concepts of Brahman and Atman, i.e. the Universal Soul (the Absolute) and the individual self. How many Upanishads once existed is not known. About two hundred and fifty are present, although the traditional number given is one hundred and eight, and these vary in length between a few hundred to many thousands of words, some in prose, some in poetry, some a combination of the two. Who wrote them? No one knows. The rishis whose insight they embody remain abstract and impersonal. Of the many Upanishads, sixteen were regarded as genuine and authoritative by the great commentator Sri Shankara. He wrote elaborate commentaries on and quoted lengthily from them. These sixteen, partly no doubt because of their intrinsic value, but mainly because of Shankara s commentaries, are considered the principal Upanishads, and together, they constitute the primary scriptures of Hindu philosophy. They are Isavasya, Kena, Katha, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Chandogya, Brhadaranyaka, Aitareya, Taittiriya, Shvetashvatara, Mahanarayana, Kausitaki, Kaivalya, Jabala and Nirsimhatapani. While each Upanishad may emphasise a certain idea or take a certain perspective, what is remarkable about them is their essential homogeneity. The Upanishads mildly rebuke the great emphasis placed at that time on ceremonial rites and succeeded in introducing a new dimension into the religious quest of India a quest for knowledge which would make the entire universe understood. The Upanishads form the first of the three great works that constitute the pillars of Hinduism. Om bhur bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayaat Rig Veda, Mandala 3, Hymn The Gayatri mantra, also known as the Savitri mantra, is a highly revered mantra from the Rig Veda, dedicated to Savitra, the Sun deity. Swami Vivekananda translates the mantra as follows: We meditate on the glory of that Being who has produced this universe; may He enlighten our minds. Conclusion The Vedas are said to be the root of dharma (righteousness). Other scriptures are considered HINDUNEWS 19

22 SHRUTI - VEDAS (PRINCIPAL SCRIPTURES) 1000 TO 500 BC * RIG VEDA SAMA VEDA YAJUR VEDA ATHARVA VEDA KRISHNA YAJUR VEDA SHUKLA YAJUR VEDA MANTRAS OR SAMHITAS BRAHMANAS ARANYAKAS UPANISHADS KARMA KANDA (RITUALS) & UPASANA KANDA (WORSHIP) JNANA KANDA (KNOWLEDGE OF GOD) Note: *The division of the Vedic Literature into the fourfold Veda was the work of the Sage Vyasa to 500 BC represents the period in which the Vedas were actually reduced to writing. They were present in verbal form hundreds of years earlier. The oldest material was composed before 3000 BC. valid only if they accept the authority of the Vedas. Sri Sayana, the great Vedic commentator, defines the Vedas as a book which reveals the knowledge of supernatural methods for the achievement of the desired object and avoidance of the undesirable. But the portion of the Vedas dealing with prayers and rituals, immensely important though it has been for the practical religion of India, is any more of great relevance. The Vedic Gods have faded into the background, many Vedic sacrifices are no longer part of the ceremonial rituals of today, and Vedic cosmology has been drastically demythologised. Yet, the Vedic religion lives on in sufficiently modified form to justify the claim that it is an ancient form of living Hinduism. Not only are portions of the ancient scriptures used at ceremonies, particularly at the rites of birth, marriage and death, but also millions of Hindus begin each day with a Vedic prayer to the rising Sun, the famed Gayatri Mantra: Let us meditate on the all-surpassing splendour of that brilliant Savitra; may He brighten our intellect. On the other hand, the knowledge portion of the Vedas, represented by the Upanishads, is the foundation upon which Hinduism stands. However, what cannot be denied is the tremendous impact the Vedas have had on Hinduism and the Indian culture, and this is best summed up by the authors of The Cultural Heritage of India: The whole life of a Hindu, from conception up to the last funeral rite, has to be sanctified by the recitation of Vedic mantras. From this fact, it may easily be conceived how profound has been the influence of the Vedas upon this great and most ancient of civilised nations of the world. 20 HINDUNEWS

23 ஸ ர ர த ரம ஸ ர ர த ரம என த வடவமப ழ ய ல ள ள க ர ஷ ண யஜ ர வ ததத ல ஒர க ற ப டட அதத யப யதத ற க (4-வத கப ணடம, 5-வத அதத யப யம ) வ ப த வழகக ல ள ள ப யர. ய ஜ ர வ ததத ன 100 ( சப வககள எனற) க வ ளக ள ல ம இவ தத யப யம கப ணப ட வதப ல இத சதர தப ர யம எனற ம ப யர ப ற றத. சத என ற ல ந ற. அதன ல 37 ப கக கள ம 130 யஜ ஸ கள ம உள ளன. ச ய ய ள நட ய ல ள ள வ த ப கக யதத ற க ப க எனற ம உவ ரநட ய ல ள ள வ த ப கக யதத ற க யஜ ஸ எனற ம ப யர. ஸ ர ர த ரதத ல 47 யஜ ஸ கள வதப டககதத ல ம ம ட வ ல ம நமஹ எனற வசப ல வல உட யவ. இதனப வல வய இவ தத யப யதத ற க ச ர ககமப க நமகம எனற ம ஒர ப யர உணட. அநத ணர கள க ழ ப கசவசர நத ச வல ஙகதத ற க நர ரப டல ச ய ய ம வ ப த இநத ர த ரதவத அதன ஸ வரஙகள டன உ ரகக உச சர ப த ஓர ஆன ம கவ ர நத. நமஹ எனற வசப ல நமஹ எனற வடவமப ழ ச சப ல ல ற க வ ப ற ற எனற வ ப ர ள க றல ப ம. மற ற ம அச சப ல ல ற க ள வ தப நத ததத வம அடஙக ய ர ப தப கக க ற க னறனர. ந என ற ல இல வல எனற வ ப ர ள ம ம என ற ல மம எனற வசப ல ல ன வ ப ர ளப ன எனத, எனன ட யத எனற எண ணதவதக க ற கக றத. அதனப ல நமஹ எனற Extracted from: ர ர த ரம உச சர கக ம வ ப த எனன ட யத இல வல, எல ல ப ம ஆணட ன ட யத எனற வ ப ர ள. இபவ ப ர ள உண ணதமப ன வசப ல ல ப க ய நமஹ என வதசவசர தத ஆணட ன ன த ர நப மதவதச வசப ல ல ம வ ப த அத இனன ம ஏற றம ட யதப க றத. ஸ ர ர த ரதத ன மற ற வமப ர ஏற றம நமச ச வ ய எனற ஐநவதழ தத மந த ரம இநத மத ந ல க ள ல ம ம ர ல ம ம க உயர ப கப ப சப ட க னற ஒனற. அநத மந த ரம ஸ ர ர த ரதத ல நட ம யதத ல ம ஸ ர ர த ரம சற ற றகக ற ய யஜ ர வ ததத ன ம யதத ல ம இடம ப ற ற ள ளன. ஸ ர ர த ரம பற ற இத ர உபந டதங கள ல ஜப ப ல உபந டததத ல சதர தப ர யதவத ஜப த த ல ஒர ன சப கப ந வல ப ற வ ன என வத யப க ஞவல க ய ம ன வர அவர ட ய சர டர கள கக உபத ச கக றப ர. க வல ய உபந ஷதத ல எ ன சதர தப ர யதவத அதத யப னம ச ய க றப வனப, அ ன தர ய னப ல, கப ற றப ல, ஆனமப ப ல த ய ம ப ட ததப டட னப க ற ன எனக றப ர. நப ரப ய ண த ர த தர ர த ரதவத சக ணப ப ரம ம உ ப சன எனற ம, க வல ய உபந ஷதவத ந ர கக ணப ப ரம ம உ ப சன எனற ம க ற க றப ர. HINDUNEWS 21

24 Churning of our Inner Intelligence By Sneha Shashi Kumar A sudden wave of peace struck us, as we stood speechless in front of the huge temple complex of the Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The rising sun continued to pour its glory from behind, forming a halo around the temple tops in the wee hours of the morning. The pond in front of the temple structures appeared like a painting attempted by the pool of water in order to capture the beauty of the Khmer architecture. As we walked further in order to capture a glimpse of the biggest religious monument in the world, what really caught my attention were the awe-inspiring details that were well depicted on the temple walls. Certainly, this was a monument that was built by talented artists of the Khmer kingdom over generations together and one can only wonder about the efforts that would have gone behind the genius architecture. The stories portrayed on the walls depicted teachings that would have influenced the way of life of the people in that period. One of the stories on the temple walls that drew my attention is the famous scene of the Samudra Manthan taken from the ancient Hindu scripture of Shrimad Bhagavatam. This carving has a group of Devas (Gods) holding the tail of a serpent on one side while the head of this serpent is held by a bunch of demons from the other side, with each group 22 HINDUNEWS

25 making efforts to pull the snake towards their respective side. While this depiction might sound quite strange and unimaginable, is there a deeper meaning behind this? What is its relevance in our day to day lives? During the course of our lives, many questions regarding our purpose in this universe might arise and our ancient sages used stories to depict the highest truth which are relevant even today. The story of the Samudra Manthan was one such story that is beautifully depicted in the scriptures. I got a chance to contemplate upon this, post my visit to the Angkor Wat and the teachings revealed through this story are wonderful! Samudra Manthan literally means the churning of the ocean and the highlight of this story is a tug of war between the Devas (Gods) and the Asuras (demons) to establish their dominance over the world, which happens through a thousand headed snake named Vasuki in an ocean. One might wonder why a tug of war? The story begins with Lord Indra, the king of Devas. While riding on his elephant mount, Lord Indra came across Sage Durvasa who gifted him a garland of certain significance. Lord Indra casually put the garland on the trunk of his elephant. The elephant threw it off without realising its importance. This agitated the sage who in return cursed Lord Indra and the Devas to be bereft of all powers. Owing to this curse, the Devas started losing out in most of their battles with the Asuras. The Devas approached Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu asked the Devas to churn the ocean and bring out the sacred nectar that will help them to regain their strength. Since the Devas had lost all their powers, they considered it wise to seek the help of the Asuras who were powerful in order to churn the ocean. As depicted in the carving at Angkor Wat, the snake was coiled around the Mount Mandala, with the head of the snake held by the Asuras and the tail-end held by the Devas as they turn and churn up the water during the tug of war. Lord Vishnu incarnated as a huge tortoise with its shell acting as the pivot for the mountain. During the ensuing tug of war, a lot of things came out as a result of the churning. The first thing which emerged was a pot of poison, which was swallowed by Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva held the poison in his throat, not allowing it pass down further. The poison was HINDUNEWS 23

26 A mural in Angkor Wat depicting the Samudra Manthan scene showing Mount Mandala being held in place by Kurma (tortoise) avatar of Lord Vishnu, the Devas on the right and Asuras on the left. followed by a series of treasures, including Kamadhenu (the wish fulfilling cow), Goddess Lakshmi and finally Lord Dhanvantari carrying the pot of immortal nectar. The Devas were instructed by Lord Vishnu to focus on the sacred nectar alone and not to get distracted by the other treasures that come out of it. And the story goes on where Lord Vishnu disguised himself as Mohini, a beautiful female damsel in order to delude the demons and distributed the nectar among the Devas in order to ensure protection of the world. What does this story mean? Who are these Asuras? Who are the Devas? What does Lord Shiva represent? Shrimad Bhagavatam has beautifully depicted this as the constant tug of war that goes on between the good and bad within us. The Devas represent the good within us and the Asuras depict the negative tendencies in us. And where is this war happening? In an ocean, which is in the consciousness of a human mind. Snake represents awareness. The thousand headed Vasuki is a representation of a state of awareness that is thousand-headed. The incarnation of Lord Vishnu as a tortoise symbolises the withdrawal of our senses into ourselves (just as the tortoise withdraws itself into its shell) in order to contemplate on our own journey of life. When we live a life of awareness and when we contemplate upon our own lives, what we begin to see is our own flaws which is represented as poison. Lord Shiva is the representation of consciousness; and when we submit the flaws in us to the supreme, we 24 HINDUNEWS

27 become pure. In a state where all our flaws are surrendered to the supreme, all the facets of our consciousness begin to blossom, which is represented by the various treasures that emerged from the ocean the fruits or siddhis (powers) that one receives after severe penance. Most of us tend to get distracted with the fruits of our spiritual practices and instead of focusing our attention there, we should be focused on experiencing true liberation. The immortal nectar represents spiritual enlightenment or liberation, which when given to the wrong hands can cause destruction. Hence, it was given to the Devas, who in turn would work for the benefit of the whole cosmos. This story of Samudra Manthan urges all of us to go on a journey of self-exploration, churn the inner intelligence and to consciously discover the distorted layers of love within ourselves with a focus on experiencing true bliss, blossoming and spreading our true fragrance! Treasures from churning the ocean included Chandra (Moon God), Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth), Apsaras (celestial dancers), Kamadhenu (the wish-granting cow), Airavat (seven-tusked white elephant), Ucchaihshravas (seven-headed flying horse), Kaustubha (a divine gem), the Parijat tree (bearing fragrant, non-wilting flowers) and the Sarnga bow. HINDUNEWS 25

28 த ர வ ம ப வ த ர வ ம ப வ மப ண க கவ சக ரப ல இயற றபவ ற றத. வ ளங க வத எம ப ப ய எனன ம வதப டர வமப ழ. அதன இர பத ப டல க ள ல ம ப ட ட ன இற த ய ல வர வதப ல அத வ இதற க ப ப ய ரப ய அம நதத. ப ணகள வநப னப வநப ககச ச ல ல ம வ ப த த ஙக வ ள எழ பப ம கப டச த ர வ ம ப வ ய ல வர க னறத. ஆத ய ம அநதம ம இல ல ப அர டவ ர ஞ சப த, ச வல ப கன, த ல வல ச ச ற றம பலத த ஈசன, அததன, ஆனநதன அம தன, வ ணண கக ஒர மர நத, வ த வ ழ பவ ப ர ள, ச ன, ம னவனப பழம, தர யப ட ம க ததன எனற பல வ றப க இவற வனக க ற தத ப ப ட நர ரப ட ச வப ர மப ன டம அட ய ர கள வ ணட வத த ர வ ம ப வ வ ளக க க றத. பன ந ற நத மப ர கழ மப ததத ல கனன ப ப ணகள வ ப ழ த ப ல ர தற க ம ன எழ நத, ஒர வ ரவயப ர வர த ய வல ழ ப க டடமப கச வசனற வ ப ய வகய ல நர ரப ட இற வன ன ப கழ ப ட வழ பட வத த ர வ ம ப வ ப ப டல க ள ல க ற ப ட க ன ற ர மப ண க கவ சகர. த ர வ ம ப வ என த மப ண க கவ சகர த ர வண ணப மவல வய தப ச கக ம வ ப த ப டப ப ற றத. ச வன கக த த ர த த ண ட ப ப வத ய ரமப கக க டக றத த ர வ ம ப வ. த ர வ ம ப வ கக ச ச றப ப க ஓர ஆணட ல ந கழ ம பனன ரணட த ங கள ல மப ர கழ த த ஙகள ச றபப ட யதப க நம ம ன னப ரப ல ப ரப டடப டட வர க னறத. அதத ஙகள ம ழ வத ம இற வழ ப ட ட த த ஙக ளப கவ ம ன னப ர க ளப ல ஏற ற க வகப ள ளப டடத. மககள ஆணட ல ஓ ரப ணட த வர கள கக ஒர ந ள எனற ம, வத ர க ள ன வ ட யற கப வல வந ரம மப ர கழ த த ஙகள எனன ம ம ர ப க ப ன ற றப டட வர க னறத. அதனப ல மற ற நப ட கள வல ல ல ப ம எவ வ ற இர ப ன ம, மப ர கழ த த ங கள ல ப ர ம ப ல ம எல ல ப மககள ம வ ட யல ல எழ வத ம, நர ரப ட வத ம, த ர க கப ய ல வசனற வழ பட வத ம ஆக ய ஒழ ககம ட ய ர க ளப ய இர ப ர. 26 HINDUNEWS

29 த ர வ ம ப வ ய ல ச வப ர ம ன ம ல ள ள அ ள ல ப பகத ச ச றபவ ய ம கப ணக வறப ம. வத ர கள ம ப தத ம னற வகப ட ய னர என த ஒர வழககம. எண ண றநத வத ர கள யப ர கக ம தவல னப க வ ளங க ன ச வப ர மப வன என த ச வ சமய வகப ளவக. அததவகய அவனத ப ர ம ய த ர வ ம ப வ ய ல ம க வ ளககமப க உ ண ர ம ட க னறத. ஒன த சதத கள ள ஒர வ ரவயப ர வர த ய வல ழ பப வதப கவ ம. எல வல ப ர ம க ட இற வன ப ழதத ம வ ப ர டட ப ப ட வதப கவ ம வசப ல ல ய ப டல கள இவ எனவ ம சப ன றப ர க ற வர. ஒ ள வ ப ர நத ய நர ணட கண கள ய ட ய ப ண ண, ம தல ம ம ட வ ம ல ல ப த அப ய வ ப ய வசப த ப ழம ப ன இற வன நப ஙகள ப ட வதக வகடட ம உறஙக க னறவனவயப? உன கப த ஓச ப கப த வல ய கப வதப? மகப வத ன ட ய ந ட ய ச ல ம ண நத த ர வட கவ ள நப ஙகள ப கழநத ப ட ய ப ழதத ப ப டல க ள ன ஒல வசனற த ர வ னகண க டட அ ள வல வய எஙகள வதப ழ ஒர தத, வ ப ர ம அழ த, உடம ப மறநத, மல ர ந வறநத பட கவகய ன ம த ர நத ப ரண ட வ ழ நத, இந ந லதவத ஒனற கக ம ஆகப த ள வ ப ல ம ர சச தத க க டநதப ள. இத அ ள தனவம. எனன வ யபப! ஆத ய ம அநதம ம இல ல ப அர ம ப ர ஞ வசப த ய யப ம ப டக க டவடய ம ப ளதடஙகண மப வத ளர த வயப வனவச வயப ந னவச த ன ம த வன ப ர கழல கள ப ழதத ய ப ழ த த ல வ ப ய வ த ப ய க க டடல ம வ ம ம வ ம ம ம ய ம மறநத வ ப தப ர அம ள ய னவமல ந னற ம ப ரண ட ங ஙன ஏத ன ம ஆக ள க டநதப ளஎன ன எனவன ஈத எம வதப ழ ப வசவல ப ர எம ப ப ய - த ர வ ம ப வ ப டல 1 HINDUNEWS 27

30 SACRED SANCTUARIES Sri Thendayuthapani Temple Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, also known as Chettiars Temple, is one of the oldest temples in Singapore and was built in 1859 by Nattukkottai Chettiars. Chettiars Temple Society, the management body of Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, also administers the Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple located at Keong Saik Road. The main deity of this temple is Lord Sri Thendayuthapani. At the entrance of the main sanctum, there are smaller shrines for Lord Jambu Vinayagar and Idumban. In 1878, View of the inside of Sri Thendayuthapani Temple during the 1960s. 28 HINDUNEWS

31 two separate sanctums were built for Lord Sundareswarar and Meenakshi Amman. The temple has a 75-feet tall Rajagopuram which was consecrated in A marriage hall with a dining facility was also added during the redevelopment. Consecration ceremonies were also held in 1996 and Origins of the Temple The Chettiar community is deeply rooted in the Hindu tradition, especially in the Saiva Siddhantha. Members of the community are very devoted to Sri Thendayuthapani, also known as Lord Muruga. However, it was not until 35 years after their arrival in Singapore that they constructed a proper temple in honour of Sri Thendayuthapani. Prior to the construction of their temple, members of the Chettiar community visited and offered their prayers at the Sivan Temple (now relocated to Geylang East Avenue 2) and at Sri Mariamman Temple located at South Bridge Road. As such, they formed strong associations with these temples. Prior to 1859, a Vel (spear), a representation of Lord Muruga, was installed under a tree at Tank Road where the Chettiars offered their prayers. The Vel was installed below a Peepal (arasa maram) tree at the bank of a tank (pond). Fresh water from the hill where the Central Park is now located, emerged as a waterfall and filled the tank. The location was ideal for the establishment of a temple. The Chettiars took their bath there before offering their prayers to the Vel. The railway line nearby also provided an excellent form of transport to and from Malaya where they had also established their businesses. The tree had to be uprooted when the government acquired the land for the redevelopment of Tank Road. The site where the Vel was located now forms part of the slip road that leads to River Valley Road and Clemenceau Avenue. CM Turnbull, in her book entitled A History of Singapore records that the Nattukkottai Chettiars built the Subramaniam Temple (a popular name given to the temple by non-chettiars) in Tank Road in The slab stones found at the temple indicate that the temple was consecrated on 4 April The land where the present temple currently stands was purchased from the estate of Mr Oxley, the first Surgeon General of Singapore. The temple in its original form was a simple structure. At the entrance to the temple, two HINDUNEWS 29

32 Simple façade of the Temple in the 1970s The 75-feet tall Rajagopuram is reportedly one of the tallest in South East Asia. 30 HINDUNEWS

33 The new and spacious ardha mandapam accommodates hundreds of devotees during major festivals such as Thaipusam. raised platforms, like those found in Chettiar households in Tamil Nadu, were erected. It had an alangara mandapam and an ardha mandapam. The alangara mandapam was used to house the decorated deities on special occasions while the ardha mandapam was the centre hall leading to the main sanctum. The main sanctum was dedicated to Lord Muruga in the form of Sri Thendayuthapani. The Jambu Vinayagar and Iduambar sanctums were constructed on the sides of the main sanctum. A dining hall with a courtyard, called the Kaarthikai Kattu, was used for serving food on Karthikai and special occasions such as Thaipusam. The Kaarthikai Kattu, erected in 1859 was demolished about 122 years later in 1981 to make way for the Chettiars Wedding Hall. Festivals Every year, six important festivals are celebrated with great pomp and grandeur, which are Thaipusam, Laksharchanai for Sri Meenakshi Amman and Sri Durgai Amman, Navarathri, Skantha Shashti and Thiru Karthigai. On Guru Poojai and Karthigai (an auspicious day falling on every month), Annadhanam (free blessed meals) are served to the devotees after prayers. Temple in Literary Works The earliest recorded works about the temple are by Sadasivam Pandithar, a Jaffna Tamil. His poems that were published in Singai Nagaranthati and Chitrakavikal in 1887 give some description about the temple. His works also became the forerunner to Tamil literature in Malaya and Singapore. Notable among other literary works on Lord Thendayuthapani are by RMR Ramanathan and RKM Meyappa Chettiar. Kavignar Kannadhasan, a Chettiar and a distinguished poet has also composed songs in praise of the Lord Thendayuthapani when he visited the temple in the late 1970s. HINDUNEWS 31

34 Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple Administered by the Chettiars Temple Society, Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple is located at the junction of Keong Saik Road and Kreta Ayer Road. Built in 1925 and located in the bustling commercial area of Singapore, the temple attracts hundreds of devotees of all races. A unique facet about this temple is that it has 3 Lord Vinayagar deities in the main sanctum. Vinayagar Chathurthi is a major festival celebrated grandly at the temple. The temple is also part of the annual Thaipusam festival. It is the holy Vel (spear) from this temple which is taken in a silver chariot procession to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple for Thaipusam, unto which milk offered by devotees is poured. Between Thursday and Sunday every week, devotees throng the temple to circumambulate the main sanctum 108 times to fulfill their vows and seek Lord Sithi Vinayagar s blessings. Many non-hindus also pay homage at this temple. Muthu Palaniappan Chettiar wrote about the temple s history and the Lord Vinayagar being worshipped in the temple in his book (see red box below): Early Years In 1920, the government acquired the temple land as part of the hospital extension plan and gave a sum of money to the Nagarathars. The Nagarathars subsequently bought the current land and built the temple. During the construction of the new temple, the Nagarathars found the Vinayagar idol at the old temple near the hospital in poor condition. Thus, they decided to bring a new black stone Vinayagar idol from India. As per the religious Agamas (procedures), the old idol was to be immersed at sea. But, few Nagarathars felt that it would be a breach of promise made to Thiru Ponnambala Swamigal. Hence, the Nagarathars decided to install the new Vinayagar idol as the main deity and at the same time, the old one was also installed in front of the main deity in the sanctum. A Nagar deity and a Rama Namam were also installed in the sanctum next to the Vinayagar idol. In addition, the Nagarathars installed a holy Vel symbolising Lord Muruga. This new temple was called Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple as it was located at the Sepoy Line (army quarters). A Saivaite from Chidambaram Town (Tamil Nadu) Thiru Ponnambala Swamigal came to Singapore as a soldier with the Indian National Army (INA). He was a family man and he brought with him a Vinayagar idol for his daily worshipping. When he had to return to India, he did not intend to bring with him the Vinayagar idol. Thus, he wished to hand over the Vinayagar idol he worshipped to Singapore Nagarathars. Not able to decline Swami s request, the Nagarathars built the temple and installed the Vinayagar idol. 32 HINDUNEWS Extracted from Muthu Palaniappan Chettiar s book about Temple s history

35 Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple as seen today. As part of tradition, the holy Vel from this Temple is ceremoniously brought to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in a silver chariot for the Thaipusam festival. HINDUNEWS 33

36 After the new temple was built, the Nagarathars started the practice of having a silver chariot procession, bringing the processional deity of Sri Thendayuthapani to Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple the day before Thaipusam. The chariot procession started from Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road and passed through Market Street, a prominent business vicinity of the Chettiars, before reaching Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple. In the evening of the same day, the silver chariot would return to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple with the processional deity and the holy Vel. The Nagarathars who were doing pawn brokerage at Kittangis (warehouse shops) had with them several idols for their personal daily worship. Mr Pichappa Chettiar was well-known in the community at that time. He also served as the trustee of Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. He donated his Vinayagar idol to the Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple when the government acquired the Kittangis that were functioning at Market Street. It was this idol which was also installed as the third Vinayagar idol in the Temple s sanctum. Recent Developments The Nagarathars conducted the last three consecration ceremony for the temple in 1973, 1989 and In the latest redevelopment, a 5-tiered Rajagopuram was added and side walls of the old temple were removed to create an open concept inner prakaram (corridor). A multipurpose hall with a 110-seating capacity was also constructed. Vinayagar Chathurthi is one of the major festivals celebrated grandly at the temple. Special prayers conducted on Tamil New Year, Deepavali, Thiru Karthigai, Pongal are performed first at this temple before being conducted at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. 34 HINDUNEWS The Temple now boasts an open-concept prakaram for circumambulation around the main sanctum.

37 ப த க ப ப ப வசப தன மற ற ம வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ ப ன த யப தத வ ரகக ச ல ல ம ம கபப வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ மநத ர வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ வகப ய ல ம கவ ம ப ன தமப ன இநத சமயக கப ய ல க ள ல ஒன ற க ம. வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ வகப ய ல சகத வழ ப ட ட ற க ம கவ ம ப யர ப ற ற ப ன தத தல மப க ம. வட இநத யப ல ம கவ ம வ ப ற றப ட ம வழ ப ட ட த தலங கள ல இத வ ம ஒன ற க ம. ஆணட வதப ற ம ச மப ர 800,000 பகதர கள வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ வகப ய ல கக அனவனய ன அர ள வ ணட நத தங களத கப ண கவககள ச ச ல தத க னறனர. வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ மவல க கப ய ல ஜம ம நக ரதத ல ர நத 40 க வல ப மர டடர வதப வல ல உள ள, கட ரப என ம நக ரதத ற க அர க ல இமயமவல ய ல அவமநத ள ளத. ச மப ர 5200 அட உய ரம ள ள த ப க டமவல ய ன உசச ய ல உள ள க க க கப ய ல இத. வகப ய ல ன ப ரப ண ரல ப ற ப ரப ணதத ன பட, ரத ன கர சப கர என ர வ டட ல அனவன வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ ப றந த ர. மப தப ன இவவ ல க வ ற வறப ர நர ணட நப டகள கக க க ழநவத ப ற க ட க க மல ப ழநத வநதனர. த ய வ க அம சம ந ற நத இகக ழநவத ப றகக ம ம தல ந ள இரவன ற, ரத ன கர க ழநவதய ன வ ர ப தத ற க மப றப க எத ய ம ச ய யமப டவடன எனற ப ரப ர ததவன வசய தப ர. HINDUNEWS 35

38 க ழநவதப ர வதத ல அனவன வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ, த ப க டப என அழ ககப ப ற ற ர. அவர ப ர மப ள ன அவதப ரமப க அவன ரப ல ம கர தப டடதப ல, வ ஷ ணவ எனற ம அழ ககப ட ட ர. வ ஷ ணவ கக 9 வயத ந ரம யத ம, அவர கடற கவ ர அர க கட ம தவம வமற வகப ள ள தநவதய டம அன மத க ட ட ர. தநவத மற கக ம ட யவ ல வல. த ப க டப ப ர மப ள ன ரப மப அவதப ரதவத ம கவ ம தர ரமப க வழ பட ட ர. ரப மர தமத பட கள டன ச த ய த த ட க க ண ட கடற கவ ர ஓ ரமப க வநதவ ப த, அ ரத கணகள ஆழநத த யப னதத ல இர கக ம த ய வ க அம சம வ ப ர நத ய ப ண ண ன ம ல வ ழ நதத. ரப மவ ர உணர ந த த ப க டப ரப மப டம அ வ ர தனத க ண ரப க ஏற ற க கப ணடதப கக க ற னப ர. அதற க ரப மர அ ப டம இநத த ய வ கப றப ல அவர தமத மன வ யப ன ச த க க மடட ம க ண னப க இர கக உற த ப ணட ர ப தப க அற வ த த ர. இர ந த ல ம கல ய கதத ல அவர ம ண ட ம கல க அவதப ரம எட ககபவ ப தப கவ ம, அபவ ப த அ வ ர த ர ம ணம ச ய த வகப ள தப கவ ம ரம அ ள த த ர. அத சமயதத ல ரப மர த ப க டப டம மப ண கக மவல ய ல அவமநத ள ள த ப க டப மவல த தப டப ல உள ள க க ய ல தவம வமற வக ள ள மப ற க ற சவசன ற ர. அனவன அ ர கள ந ரப த த ர ய ன வ ப ழ த ரப மர ரப ணவன வ ற ற கப ண தற கப க வநப னப வமற வகப ண ட ர. இநத வதப டர ப ந ன வ க ற வதற கப கவ ந ரப த த ர ய ன ஒன த நப ட கள ல, வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ ப ன த க க ய ன அசல ப ன ம கபப 36 HINDUNEWS

39 த ப க டப க னற ன ம ல உள ள வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ ளப கம அநநப டட ல ப ழ ம மககள இ ரப மப ய ணதவதப பட கக ம வழககதவத வமற வக ண ட ள ளனர. கப ல ம வசல ல ச ச ல ல, அனவனவயப பற ற ய ம ல ம ல கத கள வ ள வநதன. அத வ ப னற ஒர கத ய ஸ ர த ரர ட யத. அனவன வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ ய ன மர த ஆழநத பகத வகப ணட ஒர பகதர ஸ ர த ரப ப ர. அவர ஒர ணட தர. அவர தற வ ப வதய கத ரப ல இர நத 2 க வல ப மர டடர வதப வல ல ள ள ஹன ச ல எனற க கக ரப மதத ல வச தத வந த ர. ஒர ம ற அனவன அவர ம ன ன ல, ஒர இ ளம ப ண ண ன உர வதத ல கப டச தந த ர. பணடப ரப எனற ஒர வ ர நவதப வடகக மப ற ஸ ர தப டம வகடட க கப ண ட ர. அவ ர நத ஆணட கள மற ற ம பகதர கள கக உ ண ள கக ம ச றபப வ ர நத. ணட தர அவர க ரப மம மற ற ம அர க ல ள ள இடங கள ல வச கக ம மக கள வ ர நத கக அழ த த ர. அவர ப ரவ ந த என பவர ய ம வ ர நத ற க அழ தத ர ந த ர. அவர ம கவ ம ச யநல ம வ ய ந தவர. ப ரவ ந த ஸ ர தப டம ல ப ரப கபவ ச, மன சஞ சலதவத ஏற பட தத னப ர. எவ வ ற வ ர நவதப ப ர தத ச ய ய த டடம டட ள ளப ய? தவற கள ந கழநதப ல அதனப ல ஏற படகக ட ய வ வ ளவ கள வதப ய மப? எனகவகட ட ர. இதனப ல க வல ய ற ற ணட தர அமர நத ர கக, த ய வ க அம சம வ ப ர நத ய அநதபவ ண ம ண ட ம அவர ம ன வதப னற, அவனதத ஏற ப ட கள ம நடநவதற ம, அதனப ல அவர க வல ப ட வ ணட யத ல வல எனற க ற மற நதப ள. அவர ப க கள தத பட ய பணடப ரப எனற அநத வ ர நத ம கவ ம இன தப க நடநத ம ட நதத. HINDUNEWS 37

40 ப ரவ ந த அநத த ய வ கபவ ண ண டம இயற வககக மப றப ன சகத கள இர ப வதக கணட வ யந த ர. ம ல ம, அபவ ண ண வமற வக ண ட வசப த கக ம ட வ ச ய த த டத தப டஙக னப ர. மகப ஸ ர வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ தற வ ப ழ த ம னற ப ணட யப க கப ணப ட ம க க 9 மப தஙகள கக ப ப ரவ ந த அநத மவல க ள ல, அநத மப யம ந ற நத ப ணவ ணத த ட அவல ந த ர. வ ர டம ர நத கப ண ர ம ப த ஓட பவ ப க ம வ ப ழ த, த வ அ ர கள ஒர அம ப ப ம ய ல ச ல தத, அவ டதத ல இர நத நர ர ற ற ப ர க யத. அவ வ ற வ வ ளநத ஆற ற ன ப யவ ர ப ணகஙவக ( ப ணம : அம ப ) ஆக ம. ப ணகஙவக ஆற ற ல க ள ப தப ல, ஒர ப ன அவனதத ப ஙகள ம கழ வ ப வ ப கக வதப ட, அனவன த ய வதத ன அர வ ளய ம ப றல ப ம என அன வர ம நம ப க னறனர. அதற க ப றக வ ஷ ணவ த வ அத கவர எனற இடதத ன அர க ல உள ள கர ப ஜ ன எனப ட ம ப த க ப ப ந ற நத க க ய ல தஞசம அவடநத, 9 மப தஙகள கக ம வமல ப க கட நத ம ப ப ந த ர. ம ல ம அதன ம ல மப க ஆன ம க அற வ மற ற ம ஆற றல கள ப வ ற றப ர. ப ரவ அ வ ர கணட ப ட தத வ ப ழ த அவர ட ய தவம கவல நதத. ப ரவ அ வ ர வகப வல ச ய ய ம யற ச ததவ ப ழ த, வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ மகப கப ள ய ன உர வதவத வமற வகப ள ள வ ணட ய கட ட யம ஏற படடத. அனவன த ய வதத ன இநத உர மப ற றம தர ப ர எனற இடதத ல ள ள ப ன தமப ன க க ய ன ப ய ல அர க ந கழநதத. அனவன த ய வம ம கவ ம ஆகவ ரப ஷதத டன வ ர ன தல ய த த ணட த த ர. இறகக ம தர ப ய ல, ப ரவ தனவன மனன கக ம பட அனவனய டம வ ணட க கப ண ட ர. ப ரவ ம கத அட வதற கப கவ அவர த தப கக னப ர என வத அனவன த ய வம அற நத ர ந த ர. அவர வ ரவ கக மற ப றவ எனற கப ல சசக கரதத ல இர நத ம கத அ ள த த ர. ம ல ம, ஒவவ ப ர பகதன ம, அனவன த ய வதத ன தப சனம ப ற றப னனர ப ன த க க ய ன அர க ல ர கக ம ப ரவ நப தப ன வகப ல கக ம தவறப மல ச ன ற ல மடட ம பகதர கள அவர கள ட ய ப ன த யப த த ர ய ன பலன ப ப ற வ ர கள எனற ரதவதய ம வ ரவ கக அ ள தத அர ள ப ல த த ர. அவதவந ரதத ல வ ஷ ணவ ப த வ தனவன ம னற ச ல ஙகள ட ய (தவல கள) கல ல ப க உர மப ற றம ச ய த வகப ண ட ர. ம ல ம எனவறனவறகக ம மர ளப த தவதத ல தனவன ஆட ட தத க வகப ண ட ர. 38 HINDUNEWS Source: Wikipedia Tamil

41 CULINARY Foxtail Millet By Chef Devagi Sanmugam Foxtail millet (also known as thinai, korra, rala, kangni, navane, kakum) was once used as a staple cereal in ancient India. After the introduction of subsidised rice scheme in India, farmers switched to rice farming and soon only the rural areas were consuming foxtail millet. The good news is that, foxtail millet has made a huge comeback! Foxtail millet helps to lower blood glucose levels and improve insulin response in the body. Foxtail millets decrease hunger, slows down the rate of digestion and release sugar slowly in your blood. It has low Glycemic Index (GI) and is a rich source of magnesium and phosphorus. Foxtail millet is also low on allergenic, gluten free and high on antioxidants. Foxtail millet was mostly used for making porridge or chapatis in the olden days. Today, this millet is being used for making cookies, cakes, salads almost anything that can be made from it. The addition of foxtail millet to recipes gives a nutty, crunchy taste. Foxtail millet can also be substituted for rice in some recipes. Lemon Foxtail Millet Rice (Elumichai Thinai Satham) This is an ideal one-dish meal that can be brought to the office or even a picnic. It keeps you hunger free for at least 4 hours! Ingredients Foxtail millet Water Gingelly oil or olive oil Split white gram Mustard seeds Raw peanuts Onions, sliced Ginger, minced 200g 500mL 2tbsp 5g 5g 80g 80g 30g Preparation time: 15 Minutes Cooking time: 30 Minutes Serves: 4 Green chillies, sliced finely Curry leaves, shredded Turmeric powder Carrots, coarsely grated Freshly squeezed lemon juice Salt Coriander leaves, chopped 2pcs 2 sprigs 5g 50g 2-3tbsp to taste 30g HINDUNEWS 39

42 Method 1. Place the millet in a fine hole sieve and colander and place these over a small bowl of water and wash at least three times. Discard the water. 2. Bring 500 ml of water to boil and add in the drained foxtail millet. 3. Bring it to a boil, simmer, cover and cook until done. Check to see if the millet is cooked. If not, add a small amount of water and cook until no specs of dense grain remain. 4. Turn off heat and fluff up with a fork. 5. Heat oil on medium heat in a heavy-bottomed pan and add the white gram, mustard seeds and peanuts. Allow them to crackle. Sauté until the white gram and peanuts turn golden brown. 6. Add the onion, ginger, green chillies and curry leaves. Sauté until the onion turns translucent. 7. Add in turmeric powder and carrots and stir for a minute or two or till the carrot softens. 8. Mix in the cooked millet and salt. Give it a good stir until all the ingredients have combined well and the millet gets well coated. 9. Lower the heat and cover the pan. Allow the millet to steam along with the seasonings for a couple of minutes. Adjust salt to taste, if needed. 10. Remove from heat. Drizzle the lemon juice on the cooked millet and sprinkle the chopped coriander leaves. 11. Combine lightly and serve. 40 HINDUNEWS [Photo credits for images on page 39 & 40: Chef Devagi Sanmugam]

43 MIND AND BODY 10 Essentials for Mental Well-Being Your mind is the window to your body and soul so make sure it receives proper nourishment. These are the vital components needed to ensure your mental well-being. The brain is the most powerful and complex organ in the body. Your mental health does not only control your consciousness, it determines your physical being and the way your body functions. Life is rarely as smooth sailing as we would like it to be and we often face disappointment, stress, grief and negativity. According to Adjunct Associate Professor Daniel Fung, chairman of the Medicinal Board at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), the average life expectancy of Singaporeans is about 82 years. But those with mental illness die about 20 years earlier than the general population. So how can we strengthen our mental wellbeing? Here are 10 essentials that can help boost your mental wellness. 1 Get Sufficient Sleep a Minimum of 8 Hours Daily A lack of sleep can damage your well-being and overall quality of life. Having proper sleep not only reduces stress but it also makes you more alert and aware. It improves your memory too sufficient sleep helps your brain to process and retain information long term, and solidify memories. 2 Have a Healthy Diet Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel, reduce the risk of dementia and mental decline. A healthy gut leads to a healthy mind. Having a balanced and nutritious diet is a natural defence against stress. Start your day right with a nutritious breakfast and try to maintain balanced meals throughout the day. Include foods like whole grain cereal, vegetables and fruit. 3 Keep Active 30 Minutes of Exercise Three Times a Week Exercising not only keeps you physically strong but it also keeps you mentally alert and reduces stress. When you exercise, you can think better, allowing you to be more efficient and productive. Try doing yoga, signing up HINDUNEWS 41

44 for Zumba, or go for a slow walk in the park. Exercise is good but remember that it is advised to do moderate exercise more regularly than engage in heavy workouts on an ad hoc basis. 4 Interact and Socialise Talk to Another Person for at Least 10 Minutes Daily Talking and interacting with others stimulates your brain. It allows your brain to work faster and think faster. Studies have shown that talking to someone for just 10 minutes a day can provide the same boost to memory as some brain games. 5 Pick up a New Skill or Hobby It s never too late to pick up a new skill and it might be beneficial for you. Learning new skills such as playing the piano, acquiring a new set of computer skills and playing games can stimulate brain and nerve cells, keeping your brain refreshed. 6 Engage in a Mental Workout Scrabble or Mahjong Anyone? Playing strategic and mind-stretching games not only involves memory work, but it also involves decision-making and strategising. This helps keep the brain working, preventing illnesses such as dementia. In addition, playing in groups will boost greater interaction. 7 Do Something for Others Doing community work or helping a friend or family member allows you to take the focus away from yourself. This, in return, makes you feel more empowered and included. 8 Learn How to Manage Stress Shift your Mindset and Make a List Stress cannot be avoided but you can learn how to better manage it. Setting goals and checking them off when you ve completed them helps to tackle large-scale tasks one step at a time. Positivity is key try seeing problems as opportunities that can help to reduce stress. 9 Avoid Vices such as Alcohol, Drugs and Cigarettes If you re having emotional problems, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs are not the solution. They provide only temporary relief from stress and unhappiness. Ideally, you can seek help and comfort from family or friends, or you can consider seeking professional help. 10 Laugh! Laughter can relieve tension and reduce stress. Humour activates the brain s reward and pleasure centres, generating positive emotions and relaxing the mind, which is good for your mental well-being. Laugh yourself silly and have fun whenever you can! 42 HINDUNEWS 10 Essentials for Mental Well-Being by Health Promotion Board HealthHub

45 Self-Esteem DEVELOP YOUR SELF-ESTEEM Self-esteem is shaped by many factors including how you think about yourself. Changing the way you think about yourself will change how you feel, and improve your self-esteem. The key is to become aware of your thinking patterns. Once you recognise your thinking patterns, you can work to improve your self-esteem. Activities to Develop Self-Esteem 1 Make a list of ten things you can do (e.g. play table tennis, speak Korean, sing karaoke). 3 Write down two past mistakes you ve made and what you learned from them or how you changed because of them (e.g. I used to be impulsive and say mean things to people when I was angry. Even though they may forgive me afterwards, I have still hurt their feelings. ) 2 Describe three achievements you are proud of (e.g. I worked very hard to earn my promotion or I completed a 5k run. ) 4 Describe your weaknesses or faults. Brainstorm ways to improve them. For the ones that cannot be changed (e.g. I am too short ), accept and embrace them instead. HINDUNEWS 43

46 Self-Esteem Tips 2. STOP COMPARING 1. SET REALISTIC AND ACHIEVABLE GOALS Learn your strengths and capabilities. Set goals which are not too easy (otherwise you ll get bored) but not overly challenging (otherwise you ll get frustrated and disappointed). yourself to people who are smarter, better looking, or richer than you. There are seven billion people on this planet: there will always be someone smarter, more beautiful, or richer than you. Set a realistic standard for yourself and use that benchmark to achieve your goals. 3. FORGIVE YOURSELF Everybody makes mistakes. Doing so doesn t make you a bad person. 4. ENCOURAGE YOURSELF for making positive changes. Even if things don t go exactly the way you want them to, give yourself credit for the effort, and try again. 5. TALK TO YOURSELF POSITIVELY When you notice that you doubt, judge, or say unkind things to yourself, stop. Take a few deep breaths, and focus on something more positive. 6. ACCEPT COMPLIMENTS from others with genuine thanks and appreciation. 7. EXPRESS GRATITUDE The more you focus on the good things in your life, the better you ll feel about what your life has to offer. 8. TRY SOMETHING NEW Take a cooking class, learn a new language, or try rock climbing. Don t forget to congratulate yourself for your efforts! 44 HINDUNEWS Mental Health - Self Esteem by Health Promotion Board HealthHub

47 Cut along the line Category 1 (Age Group: 5-8 Years) Rangoli is a popular Indian art form where the motifs are usually taken from nature peacocks, swans, mango, flowers, creepers, etc. Colour the following picture of the peacock using the colours indicated by the numbers. HINDUNEWS 45

48 Category 1 (Age Group: 5-8 Years) Cut along the line Name: Age: Contact number: Address: to the winners of the Kids Zone activities from Hindu News Issue : Category 1 Prize Winners: 1 st Prize: Nandhita Manikandan 2 nd Prize: S. Vishwhesh 3 rd Prize: Prathiksha Mahesh Send in your entries, complete with details by 28 February 2019 to: The Editor, Hindu News, Hindu Endowments Board, 397 Serangoon Road, Singapore HINDUNEWS

49 Cut along the line Category 2 (Age Group: 9-12 Years) In the first issue of Hindu News this year, we featured 12 out of the 24 Hindu temples in Singapore. Another 12 temples have been presented in the second installment of the quiz. Identify the temples from the images given below and write your answers in the spaces provided HINDUNEWS 47

50 Category 2 (Age Group: 9-12 Years) Cut along the line Name: Age: Contact number: Address: 48 to the winners of the Kids Zone activities from Hindu News Issue : Category 2 Prize Winners: 1 st Prize: Harshita Manikandan 2 nd Prize: Ashish Satya Swaroopan Karthikeyan 3 rd Prize: Nidhesh Madhavan Send in your entries, complete with details by 28 February 2019 to: The Editor, Hindu News, Hindu Endowments Board, 397 Serangoon Road, Singapore HINDUNEWS

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