Og Mandino Quotes

 Was in need of some motivation today and was inspired by the following quotes by Og Mandino.

Augustine Og Mandino was an American author. He wrote the bestselling book The Greatest Salesman in the World. His books have sold over 50 million copies and have been translated into over twenty-five different languages.

Quotes:

I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.

All the gold in the world cannot buy a dying man one more breath.So what does that make today worth?

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they will not be here tomorrow. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.

Do not listen to those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious


Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence


Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.

Ameda temple

Ameda temple

The Ameda temple is located on the Thripunithura-Vaikom route (10km from Thripunithura) on the shores of Vembanad lake in Nadakkavu.

The main deity in the temple is  Sapthamathrukkal (Veerabhadran, Ganapathy, Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kowmari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi) Temples dedicated to Nagaraja and Nagayakshi are in the north-west and North east.There is a  temple dedicated to Maha Vishnu towards the North.

Story behind the temple

Parasurama on his travel once reached the place where the temple is presently situated. He stepped into the Vembanad lake  for Sandhyavandana during sunset .Then he saw a bright light at a distance and he wanted to know the source of light and he found out that it was  light is 'Sapthamathrukkal' who were travelling through the lake on the top of the tortoise.

The tortoise had become unable to travel as the water had paved way for Lord Parasurama . The place where the tortoise became standstill came to be known as 'Amaninnayidam' and later on become 'Ameda'. Parasurama decided to construct a temple at the same place where the tortoise  stopped its travel. And hence the Ameda temple came into its being.

Main Offerings in the temple

1. Karthika Pooja - Karthika of Vrishchikam is very special here. Special archana and Dwadashakshari Pooja done in this occassion.

2. Karthika Payasam - This is for child birth. Couples need to come for 12 months in a year and offer payasam.

3. Kindi Eriyal and Poovattaka Kamizhthal  - These are offered to Sapthamathrukkal for blessings fo child birth

4. Pulluvan Pattu


Visiting the temple on Ayilyam day in the month hs Kanni, Thulam,Vrishchikam and Meenam  are considered to be more sacred and important.

Pallassena Meenkulathi Bhagavathy Temple

Pallassena Meenkulathi Bhagavathy Temple

Meenkulathi Bhagavathi Temple, also known as Pallassanakavu, is one of the most famous temples in South India. It is situated in Pallassena village in Palakkad

How to reach
From Palakkad you will get get buses to Pallassena or Koduvayoor

Story behind the temple
Some merchants from Tamil Nadu came to Malabar for business and they settled here. Among them there was an old man who was a devotee of Madurai Meenakshi and he  used to travel from Kerala to Madurai regularly to visit Devi.

He was growing old but he kept going to Madurai and he he prayed to goddess Meenakshi telling that he was afraid how long he would be able to travel and visit Devi.

On his way back to home he took bath in a pond keeping his umbrella on the bank of the pond. After his bath when he tried to lift the umbrella he couldn't. He became astonished and an astrologer was brought and he found the presence of Goddess Meenakshi there.

He understood that Madurai meenakshi devi has decided to stay in this  place called Pallassena. A small temple was constructed immediately.The place is now called Kudamannu.

Temple Timings

The following are the times the temple is kept open for devotees:
 
Sunday, Tuesday, Friday
5-30a.m. to 12-30 p.m.

Mondays Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
5-30a.m. to 10.30 a.m.

Evening all days
5-30 p.m. to 7.30 pm

The main offering is Niramala.

Sree Poornathrayeesha Temple - Thripunithura

Sree Poornathrayeesha Temple - Thripunithura

 The main deity of this temple is Maha Vishnu in the form of Santhanagopala Murthy.The position of the god looks like sitting on the five headed serpent called Anantha. The two upper hands of Lord Vishnu hold Sanku and Sudarshana Chakram and the lower right hand holds the Lotus flower. The sitting position of the god is called as Poornathrayeesa. 

The word Poornathrayeesa is separated into 3 word like Poorna refer as complete, Thraye refer as three and Isa refer as iswara which refer as Lord of 3 Vedas or Lord of Knowledge. 

 The most important festival is Vrishchikoltsavam celebrated in the month of November to December for 8 days. The ritual called Kanikka edal is celebrated during the 4th day of the Vrishchikoltsawam festival. During this ceremony elephants were decorated with ornaments and the people used to offer to god in a golden pot kept on the raised stage. Large numbers of devotees visit to temple during this ceremony 

Childless couple come and pray here and there is a strong belief that they have children thereafter.On the back side of Sreekovil, there is a small window from where devotees can get a close look at the idol of Santhana Gopala Moorthy of Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple. Devotees can also have a look at the idol of Lord Ganapathi on the extreme south side of the temple

Stay happy after Marriage

Stay happy after Marriage


To stay happy in marriage may seem like a difficult task sometimes when both person are of different nature. If you follow some simple tips you can be happy all the time.

1. Always be open- Be expressive, express all your views, emotions and share everything. Rather than talking the issues to some one else always raise your issues or thoughts to your partner


Communication is the main thing in any relation.Dont expect your partner to read your mind

2. Accept each other- Magnify and understand the positives in each other, try to point out the negatives, try to change it. If not possible just accept it.

3. Spend quality time together

4. Clarify about the goals or ambition - Each of us have a vision of our life. Know fully about your partner's goal, support him/her for achieving the goal

5. Never underestimate your partner.

Our Guruvayoor visit

We have visited Guruvayoor temple many times before and had prayed. But this visit was special in many ways. Usually we go there stand in the queue and pray and come back.

But this time I learnt a lot of things and thought would share these.

The temple is open form 3 am in the morning till 1.30 and then from 4.30 till 9 pm. Men should wear mundu or dhoti and women saree or salwar. Mobiles are not allowed inside the temple.

No words to describe the feeling in the morning of  Nirmalyam darsan accompanied by Jnanapana, Narayeenyam and HariNamaKeerthanam sung by our singer P.Leela.

If you have a plan to visit Guruvayoor the best would be to see all poojas and stay back there a day. There are good hotels/lodges near by.

There are special queues for ladies and senior citizens. You can consult the temple authorities for this. The best moments are during the Deeparadhana time(6.30 pm) and the Attazha sheeveli time(8.30 pm).

It is believed that a trip to Guruvayur is not complete , if one does not visit Mammiyur temple.This temple  has Lord Siva as the main deity and there are shrines for Parvati and Vishnu ,  Ganapati, Muruga and Ayyappa. You cannot enter the temple wearing Pants/Churidars.

You can do different offerings like Thrikkai Venna, kadali pazham, palppayasam etc, be sure to check the timings when you can get the prasadan after Pooja.

You can chant Jnanapana, Narayeenyam and HariNamaKeerthanam, Vishnu sahrasanamam or any Krishna sthuthi that you know.

Ladies perform Adi Pradhakshinam and gents Shayana Pradakshinam as Vazhipadu. 

We saw the tall idol of Maraprabhu in front of the Sreevalsom guest house beside the statue of Guruvayur Kesavan. This is the biggest terracotta idol in Asia.

There is a story behind this.
 
While chanting Vishnu Sahasra namam, Poonthaanam mispronounced the word ‘Amaraprabhu’  as ‘maraprabhu’ at the temple, and the Sanskrit scholar Melpathur laughed at him for it. Then a voice was heard from the temple  that ‘I am also the Marapabhu’! Maraprabhu means the Lord of all trees.Thousands of different types of herbs were used in the construction of this idol.
  

Barfi

A film worth watching for many reasons, this is Barfi. 

When the film started and saw that Ranbir is dumb, we thought would be film be boring without speech. But no, this thought never came to our mind later because of the impressive performance of Ranbir.

When you leave the theatre you surely will feel a feeling of joy.The beauty of Darjeeling is shown beautifully in the movie.Though the central characters are with disabilities, the director doesnt want us to sympethise with them, but we envy them since it is filled with positivity.

There is a beautiful message in the movie. It is not fare to love someone with mental calculations.Even with so many imperfections we can live a perfect life if there is LOVE.The primary factor in any relation is LOVE. The film is like a fairy land and Barfi finds joy in the simple things.

I liked the title song too which was little different' picture shuru...'

Kudos to all team members.