[ Shaligram ]

How to select auspicious Shaligrams for Worship.

Ammonite Fossils are found all over the world but only those from the River Kali Gandaki (Gandaki Region of Nepal-Mukti Kshetra/damodar Kunda) are worshipped as shaligrama which are considered as symbol of Maha Vishnu. The epic Mahabharata has praised River Kali Gandaki. Puranas, Gautamiya Tantra and other scriptures state that the worshipable stones are only found in the Gandaki River in Nepal.

In Brahma-vaivarta Purana Lord Maha Vishnu States - " I will become a stone and will always live on the banks of the Gandaki River. The millions of worms who live in that place will adorn those stones with the sign of my cakra "

The Gautamiya Tantra states that the worshipable stones known as shaligrama shilas are only found in the Gandaki River in Nepal. Brahma tells Narada that on auspicious moments Shaligrama Shilas are formed in the holy river Gandaki.

Shaligram shilas from Gandaki river at Mukti Kshetra are mostly black, blue black and may have some white marking on them with very good noticeable feature that are pleasing in appearance. It is very rare to find white, blue, green shilas of Mukti Kshetra.

Since hydroelectricity project has been started in Kali Gandaki and certain parts of the river have been made restricted also due to Maoists interference obtaining good Shaligrams from Kali Gahdaki river has become very difficult. So due to the increase in demand ammonites fossils from River Triveni which is located in India Nepal border as well as other places are passed on as Shaligrams. Like all ammonites they also have chakra marking and some features that are similar to Shaligram, but they are not pleasing in appearance, have multiple/many charkas, holes that face each other and uneven chakras. Most of the Triveni shilas are blackish brown and may have orange colour on them. Even brown, yellow, reddishbrown, honey colour, orange, grey, White, cream,green, blue and multicolored shilas are easily available.

Shaligram shilas of Gandaki river are unique, they are more heavier and stronger then shilas from river Triveni. The types of shilas found in river Triveni are not found in the Gandaki river and vice versa. Shilas like Lakshmi Shila, sudarshana shilas, narayana shilas that are there in my web site are exclusively found in Gandaki region only. They are never available in River Triveni. For example lets compare the Lakshmi Narasimha of gandaki region which is very rare and the most commonly available Triveni Lakshmi Narsimha shila.

Fake Shaligrams are stones carved and polished using machine tools to look like shaligrama, see sample on the right, more Triveni and fake shaligrams »

According to the Skanda Purana, worshiping a smooth shila brings mantra-siddhi. Black shilas bestow fame, yellow shilas give sons, whitish shilas destroy one's sins, blue shilas increase wealth, and blood-red shilas bring diseases. Rough shilas create anxiety, uneven shilas give poverty, and fat shilas decrease one's life span. Shilas devoid of markings yield no results. If one mistakenly adores a shilas with the following qualities he will certainly get suffering: tawny coloured, uneven, broken, with one cakra, too many cakras, large cakras, a circled cakra, a broken cakra, a cakra attached to another, with a large mouth, or with the mouth turned down.

The Agni Purana mentions several types of shilas whose worship brings unhappiness and never happiness. These include a shila with a mouth like that of a snake, a broken shila, one with cakras facing each other, with a circled cakra, a shila with a producting navel, a tawny-coloured shila known as Narasimha, a shila with many lines inside the circle, and a shila unidentifiable due to its confusing markings.

Generally the best shaligrama shila is the smooth blackish one, Red & grey shilas are the worst.

Source
Re - Published -
With kind permission of Shri.C.Samarth all Text and Pictures.
http://www.shaligram.org

[ Pushkhar - The next Atmalinga after Gokarna.]

Puskhar

[ What is Gokarna - 4 D - . ]

Can you see " OM " written by the Sea.

Get rid of Pitru Dosha Offer obeisance to Pitrus at GOKARNA the Abode Of The Atmalinga

Introduction: The well-known English traveler, Fryer, who visited Gokarna in 1676, wrote: "This place is of such repute for its sanctity and meritoriousness that, for a pilgrimage hither, all sorts from the remotest parts of India come in shoals." There is also a strong belief that unflinching faith and sincere devotion to Lord Shiva at Gokarna elevates the moral plane of the worshiper.

Washed by the waves of the Arabian Sea on the west and bounded by the sacred rivers Gangavali , Aganashini and Siddeswara, Gokarna is celebrated as one of the three holiest places (Tristhali), the others being Varanasi and Rameswaram. The only Atmalinga in the country is to be found in this "Kashi of the South". The deity here is regarded as the atma (soul) or prana (life) of Shiva himself.

In 1665, Shivaji came here to worship the deity.

Importance of Pitr Paksha, Mahalay Paksha.

As enunciated in old classical astrological and religious texts, inability to get married, marital disharmony, difficulty in conceiving a child, miscarriages, bearing mentally retarded or handicapped children, death during childhood, etc., are some of the indications of suffering due to ancestors, subtle bodies.

The dark fortnight, which falls in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapad, is referred to as mahalay paksha or Pitru paksha.

The subtle tamasik yama frequencies reach the earth in higher proportions during the four Hindu calendar months (chaturmas) following the Hindu New Year day (Gudhipadva). The yama frequencies operate also in Lord Yama's region (Yamalok) with the help of the subtle Shiva and Minakshi frequencies. Since departed ancestors' subtle bodies reside in this region, one can reach the ancestors during especially this fortnight, with the help of the predominant yama frequencies. Hence, Hindus consider this fortnight to be ideal for performing rites for ancestors, believing that during this period, subtle bodies of deceased ancestors from Lord Yama's region (Yamalok) visit their relatives on earth. So if the rite of shraddha is performed on one of the days in this fortnight, then the subtle bodies of deceased ancestors remain gratified for the rest of the year.

It is widely believed that Shraddha performed at Gokarna gives mukthi to the departed soul and the best time to perform this is the Pitru paksha.

Importance of Mahabaleshwar at Gokarna

The Mahabaleshwar temple enshrines the Aatma Lingam of Lord Shiva. The holy Lingam was given by Shiva to King Ravana to make his kingdom an invincible fortress. The 6-ft tall atma linga here is enshrined in a square called Saligrama Peetha and is opened for viewing once in 40 years. Now only the tip of the linga can be seen through an opening in the peetha.

Ravana, on a request from his mother, performed severe penance and earned the atma linga that bestows invincibility from Lord Shiva and was told by the lord not to place it down at any cost. The other gods were alarmed at the powerful boon granted to Ravana. While he was carrying it back from Mount Kailash, Ganesha tricked Ravana into putting the linga down. Ravana tried but could not lift the atma linga. And there it remained down the ages, worshipped in the form of Mahabaleshwara.

Devotees also visit the shrines of Ganesha, Bhadrakali, Venkataramana and Gokarnanayaki (also known as Taamragowri). To the left of the main beach and up a hillock lies Koti teertha, where many take a sacred bath.

Varuna and Ganesha tricked Ravana into placing the Lingam here and in spite of the might exerted by Ravana (Maha Bala) the Lingam remained rooted to the ground.

Historical Importance: LEGENDS AND MYTHOLOGY

The Ramayana and Mahabharata speak of Gokarna while the Skanda Purana devotes an entire chapter to it. The twisted shape of the Mahabalesvara lingam (Mahabala meaning 'great power' and Isvara meaning 'god'), the presiding deity, is explained by a legend. Ravana, after having obtained the all-powerful Atmalinga, the very essence of the universe, from Shiva, on the condition that he would never set it down, was carrying it to Lanka.

On the way he encountered Ganesha, sent by the devas in the guise of a boy ascetic, to thwart Ravana's plans. Vishnu blocked the sun with his chakra (discus) to trick Ravana, who being a staunch Brahmin, thought it was dusk and so was obliged to perform his evening thrikala sandhya (reciting the Gayatri Mantra). On Ravana's request, Ganesha agreed to hold the lingam on the condition that Ravana would come when called thrice. Ganesha called thrice in quick succession and before Ravana could respond, put the lingam on the ground. It sank into the nether region. Ravana tried to uproot it but it only got twisted. Realizing he had been tricked when the sun reappeared, the enraged Ravana hit Ganesha on his head. The depression can be seen on the idol's head in the Maha Ganapati Temple.

Another legend says that when Shiva returned from the netherworld after prolonged meditation, Mother Earth took the form of a cow and Shiva emerged through her ear at Gokarna. That is how the kshetra derives its name as Gokarna (cow's ear).

ARCHITECTURE AND ANTIQUITY

Kalidasa mentions the 'Lord of Gokarna' in his great work, Raghuvamsha. It is not known when the temple was first built, although it is believed that the Kadamba monarch Mayurasarma (325-345 CE) arranged for daily worship at the shrine. Visvesvaraya of Halasunadu-Kundapura built the Chandrasala and Nandi pavilions when Queen Chennammaji and her son Soma-sekharanayaka were ruling Keladi (1653-1671). The temple is a large complex of shrines and much of it belongs to the later Vijayanagara period.

This coastal town draws Hindu pilgrims, Sanskrit scholars, and beach buffs alike. Apart from its famed beaches and the Centre for Sanskrit Learning, it is home to the ancient temple of Mahabaleshwara with its Atmalinga, the Venkatramana Temple, the Ganapati Temple, and the Koti Theertha, a large temple tank where pilgrims perform their ablutions. Other must-sees in Gokarna are the enormous chariots which are dragged along the main street between February and March.

How to reach:

The Mahabaleshwar temple is located in Gokarna, a sacred pilgrimage site in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.Gokarna is a small town and most places of interest are within walking distance. You can also visit near by places of interest by an auto rickshaw.

How to perform Shraddha during Pitru Paksha

Hindu scriptures state that the mahalay shraddha may be performed everyday from the full moon day (pournima) till the new moon day (Amavasya) of the month of Bhadrapad. However, if this is not possible then it is customary to perform the mahalay shraddha on the date (tithi) of this fortnight corresponding to that of one's father's death (if applicable).

The ritual of shraddha should be performed for one's deceased father, grandfather, great-grandfather on the paternal side and the mother, grandfather, great-grandfather on the maternal side. One can also perform these rites for one's deceased stepmother, grandfather, great-grandfather, great great-grandfather, grandmother, great-grandmother, great great-grandmother, wife, son, daughter, paternal uncle, maternal uncle, brother, paternal aunt, maternal aunt, sister, son of paternal uncle, son-in-law, nephew (sister's son), father-in-law, mother-in-law, teachers, priests, friends, the Guru and disciples. The names of all those alive should be excluded from these rituals.

The table below gives the shraddha to be performed for particular individuals on various dates.

Date (tithi) of Hindu month,Name of the shraddha, Meant for whom, Specialty of the ritual.

1.The fourth (chaturthi)or the fifth (panchami) for one who has passed away during that year, during the reign of the Bharani lunar asterism.

Specialty of the ritual : Bharani shraddha to be performed.

2. The ninth day (navami)Avidhva navami*A woman ancestor who has passed away before her husband.

Specialty of the ritual : Instead of the Shraddha rituals, a meal is offered to a married woman ( suvasini ).

3. The thirteenth day (trayodashi) Balabholaniteras (its name in Gujarat, India) for Child ancestors who have passed away by Offering to crows (kakbali).

4. The fourteenth day Ghat chaturdashi is performed for Ancestors who had an accidental death.

*Avidhva navami: The ninth day (navami) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Bhadrapad is referred to as avidhva navami. On this day, the rite for the departed (shraddha) is performed for one's mother or any other woman in the family, who did not die a widow. It is customary to offer a meal to a Hindu priest (brahmin) as well as a married woman (suvasini) on such an occasion.

In these rituals, instead of deities, a class of demigods residing in heaven, described as dhurilochan (dhuri: smoke, lochan: eyes; their eyes remain half closed due to smoke) should be invoked. If possible, two brahmins in the name of deities, three for each of the three oblations offered (parvanas) during the sacred period (parva) and one each in the name of the deceased ancestor should be invited. If this is not feasible then in all five brahmins should be invited; one in the name of the deities, one each for the three oblations and one for all the ancestors.

If it is not possible to perform the mahalay shraddha on the appropriate date (tithi), it may be performed on a later appropriate date till the sun reaches the Scorpio (Vrushchik) solar sign.

Conclusion: The Pitrupaksha fortnight is a reminder of our subtle existence and the spiritual or subtle measures needed in the form of last rites (antya sanskar) and other rites like shraddha, to ensure a smooth passage from existence in the physical to the subtle planes. By focusing solely on gross sciences, many of these subtle measures are not practiced, even forgotten, especially in Western countries. This has led to significant number of the population suffering from problems created by the subtle bodies of ancestors, who suffer in inferior planes, as their smooth passage was not ensured.

Inability to get married, marital disharmony, difficulty in conceiving a child, miscarriages, bearing mentally retarded or handicapped children, death during childhood, etc., are some of the indications of suffering due to ancestors' subtle bodies. However, only Saints can tell with certainty if one is suffering or will suffer due to ancestors' souls. One can assess if one is undergoing such problems, that are not resolved despite trying various conventional methods, and take the spiritual measures to overcome these problems. The worship of Lord Datta is recommended, chanting (repeating) the Name Sri Gurudev Datta 3, 6, or 9 malas per day depending on the severity of the problem. Ultimately, though, sincere daily spiritual practice is the only way to ensure a Blissful life and passing on to heaven or higher heavens after physical death.

If You want to perform Shraadh of fore fathers at Gokarna you can do so by contacting local pundits ( Karma Kandi Brahmin).

How to reach Gokarna.

Air - The nearest airport is Dabolim Goa (Panaji) (165 km). other airports are located at Mangalore, and Belgaum. Bangalore.

Rail - Kumta (32Km)is the nearest railhead. . Connected with Mangalore and the train ride offers some very scenic vistas of the coast and western ghats.

Road-Well connected by government and private roadways who operate daily luxury and ordinary buses from Banglore(via Shimoga) -519 km., Karwar -60 km, Mangalore, Panaji and surrounding cities.

Ganesha's Grace.

Krishna Kumar A V

The Ganesha Speaks Team.

Introduction: The well-known English traveler, Fryer, who visited Gokarna in 1676, wrote: "This place is of such repute for its sanctity and meritoriousness that, for a pilgrimage hither, all sorts from the remotest parts of India come in shoals." There is also a strong belief that unflinching faith and sincere devotion to Lord Shiva at Gokarna elevates the moral plane of the worshiper.

Washed by the waves of the Arabian Sea on the west and bounded by the sacred rivers Gangavali , Aganashini and Siddeswara, Gokarna is celebrated as one of the three holiest places (Tristhali), the others being Varanasi and Rameswaram. The only Atmalinga in the country is to be found in this "Kashi of the South". The deity here is regarded as the atma (soul) or prana (life) of Shiva himself.

In 1665, Shivaji came here to worship the deity.

Importance of Pitr Paksha, Mahalay Paksha.

As enunciated in old classical astrological and religious texts, inability to get married, marital disharmony, difficulty in conceiving a child, miscarriages, bearing mentally retarded or handicapped children, death during childhood, etc., are some of the indications of suffering due to ancestors, subtle bodies.

The dark fortnight, which falls in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapad, is referred to as mahalay paksha or Pitru paksha.

The subtle tamasik yama frequencies reach the earth in higher proportions during the four Hindu calendar months (chaturmas) following the Hindu New Year day (Gudhipadva). The yama frequencies operate also in Lord Yama's region (Yamalok) with the help of the subtle Shiva and Minakshi frequencies. Since departed ancestors' subtle bodies reside in this region, one can reach the ancestors during especially this fortnight, with the help of the predominant yama frequencies. Hence, Hindus consider this fortnight to be ideal for performing rites for ancestors, believing that during this period, subtle bodies of deceased ancestors from Lord Yama's region (Yamalok) visit their relatives on earth. So if the rite of shraddha is performed on one of the days in this fortnight, then the subtle bodies of deceased ancestors remain gratified for the rest of the year.

It is widely believed that Shraddha performed at Gokarna gives mukthi to the departed soul and the best time to perform this is the Pitru paksha.

Importance of Mahabaleshwar at Gokarna

The Mahabaleshwar temple enshrines the Aatma Lingam of Lord Shiva. The holy Lingam was given by Shiva to King Ravana to make his kingdom an invincible fortress. The 6-ft tall atma linga here is enshrined in a square called Saligrama Peetha and is opened for viewing once in 40 years. Now only the tip of the linga can be seen through an opening in the peetha.

Ravana, on a request from his mother, performed severe penance and earned the atma linga that bestows invincibility from Lord Shiva and was told by the lord not to place it down at any cost. The other gods were alarmed at the powerful boon granted to Ravana. While he was carrying it back from Mount Kailash, Ganesha tricked Ravana into putting the linga down. Ravana tried but could not lift the atma linga. And there it remained down the ages, worshipped in the form of Mahabaleshwara.

Devotees also visit the shrines of Ganesha, Bhadrakali, Venkataramana and Gokarnanayaki (also known as Taamragowri). To the left of the main beach and up a hillock lies Koti teertha, where many take a sacred bath.

Varuna and Ganesha tricked Ravana into placing the Lingam here and in spite of the might exerted by Ravana (Maha Bala) the Lingam remained rooted to the ground.

Historical Importance: LEGENDS AND MYTHOLOGY

The Ramayana and Mahabharata speak of Gokarna while the Skanda Purana devotes an entire chapter to it. The twisted shape of the Mahabalesvara lingam (Mahabala meaning 'great power' and Isvara meaning 'god'), the presiding deity, is explained by a legend. Ravana, after having obtained the all-powerful Atmalinga, the very essence of the universe, from Shiva, on the condition that he would never set it down, was carrying it to Lanka.

On the way he encountered Ganesha, sent by the devas in the guise of a boy ascetic, to thwart Ravana's plans. Vishnu blocked the sun with his chakra (discus) to trick Ravana, who being a staunch Brahmin, thought it was dusk and so was obliged to perform his evening thrikala sandhya (reciting the Gayatri Mantra). On Ravana's request, Ganesha agreed to hold the lingam on the condition that Ravana would come when called thrice. Ganesha called thrice in quick succession and before Ravana could respond, put the lingam on the ground. It sank into the nether region. Ravana tried to uproot it but it only got twisted. Realizing he had been tricked when the sun reappeared, the enraged Ravana hit Ganesha on his head. The depression can be seen on the idol's head in the Maha Ganapati Temple.

Another legend says that when Shiva returned from the netherworld after prolonged meditation, Mother Earth took the form of a cow and Shiva emerged through her ear at Gokarna. That is how the kshetra derives its name as Gokarna (cow's ear).

ARCHITECTURE AND ANTIQUITY

Kalidasa mentions the 'Lord of Gokarna' in his great work, Raghuvamsha. It is not known when the temple was first built, although it is believed that the Kadamba monarch Mayurasarma (325-345 CE) arranged for daily worship at the shrine. Visvesvaraya of Halasunadu-Kundapura built the Chandrasala and Nandi pavilions when Queen Chennammaji and her son Soma-sekharanayaka were ruling Keladi (1653-1671). The temple is a large complex of shrines and much of it belongs to the later Vijayanagara period.

This coastal town draws Hindu pilgrims, Sanskrit scholars, and beach buffs alike. Apart from its famed beaches and the Centre for Sanskrit Learning, it is home to the ancient temple of Mahabaleshwara with its Atmalinga, the Venkatramana Temple, the Ganapati Temple, and the Koti Theertha, a large temple tank where pilgrims perform their ablutions. Other must-sees in Gokarna are the enormous chariots which are dragged along the main street between February and March.

How to reach:

The Mahabaleshwar temple is located in Gokarna, a sacred pilgrimage site in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.Gokarna is a small town and most places of interest are within walking distance. You can also visit near by places of interest by an auto rickshaw.

How to perform Shraddha during Pitru Paksha

Hindu scriptures state that the mahalay shraddha may be performed everyday from the full moon day (pournima) till the new moon day (Amavasya) of the month of Bhadrapad. However, if this is not possible then it is customary to perform the mahalay shraddha on the date (tithi) of this fortnight corresponding to that of one's father's death (if applicable).

The ritual of shraddha should be performed for one's deceased father, grandfather, great-grandfather on the paternal side and the mother, grandfather, great-grandfather on the maternal side. One can also perform these rites for one's deceased stepmother, grandfather, great-grandfather, great great-grandfather, grandmother, great-grandmother, great great-grandmother, wife, son, daughter, paternal uncle, maternal uncle, brother, paternal aunt, maternal aunt, sister, son of paternal uncle, son-in-law, nephew (sister's son), father-in-law, mother-in-law, teachers, priests, friends, the Guru and disciples. The names of all those alive should be excluded from these rituals.

The table below gives the shraddha to be performed for particular individuals on various dates.

Date (tithi) of Hindu month,Name of the shraddha, Meant for whom, Specialty of the ritual.

1.The fourth (chaturthi)or the fifth (panchami) for one who has passed away during that year, during the reign of the Bharani lunar asterism.

Specialty of the ritual : Bharani shraddha to be performed.

2. The ninth day (navami)Avidhva navami*A woman ancestor who has passed away before her husband.

Specialty of the ritual : Instead of the Shraddha rituals, a meal is offered to a married woman ( suvasini ).

3. The thirteenth day (trayodashi) Balabholaniteras (its name in Gujarat, India) for Child ancestors who have passed away by Offering to crows (kakbali).

4. The fourteenth day Ghat chaturdashi is performed for Ancestors who had an accidental death.

*Avidhva navami: The ninth day (navami) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Bhadrapad is referred to as avidhva navami. On this day, the rite for the departed (shraddha) is performed for one's mother or any other woman in the family, who did not die a widow. It is customary to offer a meal to a Hindu priest (brahmin) as well as a married woman (suvasini) on such an occasion.

In these rituals, instead of deities, a class of demigods residing in heaven, described as dhurilochan (dhuri: smoke, lochan: eyes; their eyes remain half closed due to smoke) should be invoked. If possible, two brahmins in the name of deities, three for each of the three oblations offered (parvanas) during the sacred period (parva) and one each in the name of the deceased ancestor should be invited. If this is not feasible then in all five brahmins should be invited; one in the name of the deities, one each for the three oblations and one for all the ancestors.

If it is not possible to perform the mahalay shraddha on the appropriate date (tithi), it may be performed on a later appropriate date till the sun reaches the Scorpio (Vrushchik) solar sign.

Conclusion: The Pitrupaksha fortnight is a reminder of our subtle existence and the spiritual or subtle measures needed in the form of last rites (antya sanskar) and other rites like shraddha, to ensure a smooth passage from existence in the physical to the subtle planes. By focusing solely on gross sciences, many of these subtle measures are not practiced, even forgotten, especially in Western countries. This has led to significant number of the population suffering from problems created by the subtle bodies of ancestors, who suffer in inferior planes, as their smooth passage was not ensured.

Inability to get married, marital disharmony, difficulty in conceiving a child, miscarriages, bearing mentally retarded or handicapped children, death during childhood, etc., are some of the indications of suffering due to ancestors' subtle bodies. However, only Saints can tell with certainty if one is suffering or will suffer due to ancestors' souls. One can assess if one is undergoing such problems, that are not resolved despite trying various conventional methods, and take the spiritual measures to overcome these problems. The worship of Lord Datta is recommended, chanting (repeating) the Name Sri Gurudev Datta 3, 6, or 9 malas per day depending on the severity of the problem. Ultimately, though, sincere daily spiritual practice is the only way to ensure a Blissful life and passing on to heaven or higher heavens after physical death.

If You want to perform Shraadh of fore fathers at Gokarna you can do so by contacting local pundits ( Karma Kandi Brahmin).

How to reach Gokarna.

Air - The nearest airport is Dabolim Goa (Panaji) (165 km). other airports are located at Mangalore, and Belgaum. Bangalore.

Rail - Kumta (32Km)is the nearest railhead. . Connected with Mangalore and the train ride offers some very scenic vistas of the coast and western ghats.

Road-Well connected by government and private roadways who operate daily luxury and ordinary buses from Banglore(via Shimoga) -519 km., Karwar -60 km, Mangalore, Panaji and surrounding cities.

Ganesha's Grace.

Krishna Kumar A V

The Ganesha Speaks Team.

Customer Care

In case you need assistance the preferred way to contact us is by sending an email on predictions@ganeshaspeaks.com. Furnishing your order id(For eg. 31269) in the email will result into you getting faster response.

In case of urgency you can call Karnavati at - 0091-79-65221416(10:00 AM - 6:00 PM IST on weekdays only)

Alternatively you can contact us at our address given below :-

SiddhiVinayak Astrology Services Pvt. Ltd.

"Adarsh Complex", 3rd Floor,

Behind ASIA House & Pizza Hut,

Swastik Char Rasta,

Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India - 380009.

[ What is Gokarna - 4 C - . ]

I visited Gokarna for a second time and found it more interesting than my first visit.
I purchased a guide book in Kannada and found it difficult to translate it to English.
You may find it strange in case you do not understand Kannada.My request to you is to take the meaning from your friend who knows Kannada.
Many interesting things are said in the Guide book on Gokarna.
It is said that it is five meters over the sea level at Sea level.
In case there is a earth quake there will be no Gokarna.
This hasn't happened in thousand years.
This is because Lord Shiva lives here.
You can believe it or leave it.
Sage Parasurama has re created Gokarna submerged earlier.
There is proof of this available in Gokarna.
The Atmalinga Will be White in color in Treta yuga.(Sri.Rama' time)
It will be Yellow in color in Dwapara yuga.(Sri.Krishna's time)
This will be Black in color in Kali yuga.(Our time)
In 1983 it was opened all around the Atmalinga to see the bottom of the Atmalinga but they could not see the bottom as it had gone very very deep in the ground by over 6 feet and there was a warning written on copper plates all around not to risk going further to explore the bottom.
There are 3 Atmalingas. One in Puskar belonging to and worshiped by Bramha,the second in Saligram belonging to and worshiped by Vishnu and the third in Gokarna which is of Lord Shiva worshiped by him.

Customer Care.

In case you need assistance the preferred way to contact us is by sending an email on predictions@ganeshaspeaks.com. Furnishing your order id(For eg. 31269) in the email will result into you getting faster response.

In case of urgency you can call Karnavati at - 0091-79-65221416(10:00 AM - 6:00 PM IST on weekdays only)

Alternatively you can contact us at our address given below :-

SiddhiVinayak Astrology Services Pvt. Ltd.

"Adarsh Complex", 3rd Floor,

Behind ASIA House & Pizza Hut,

Swastik Char Rasta,

Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India - 380009.

[ What is Gokarna - 4 B - . ]

The name Gokarna from the Geographical shape resembling the ear of the Cow.

[ What is Gokarna - 4 A - . ]

Lord Ganapathi as a Bramhin Boy and above his form after he was banged by Ravana.

The boy with his arms stretched is Ganapathi,at his feet next is the over 6feet tall Atmalinga's small picture taken in 1983 when it was opened all arond to go to the bottom.

[ What is Gokarna - 4 - . ]

Edited close up picture of Lord Ganapathi.



This is a photo of Lord Ganapathi standing as he was at the time of Ravana banging him on his head.
He is standing away facing west at a distance of thirty five feet from Atmalinga and his mother Goddess Parvathi is standing.
Lord Ganapathi was feeling shy of having made the Atmalinga out of it's shape by Ravana because he kept it on the ground asked his father Lord Shiva to pardon him.
He fell on his stomach at the Atmalinga saying so and prayed in several ways.
Lord Shiva having seen everything praised Lord Ganapathi for his intelligent efforts in planing to see that the Atmalinga doesn't reach Lanka had done what pleased Lord Shiva granted a boon that henceforth all or any pooja if performed by anyone on earth or heaven must be done only after doing Lord Ganapathi's pooja if not no pooja would have any effect over anything.
Thus any pooja performed from that day anywhere is done only after the pooja performed to Lord Ganapathi.

[ What is Gokarna - 3 - . ]

The Gopura over Lord Shiva's Atmalinga at Gokarna.

According to ancient history Kubera was the King of Lanka and when he came to know that Ravana was going to attack his kingdom he quietly left everything and left to start his own Kingdom elsewhere.Thus Ravana when he came to Lanka found immense wealth and even the " Puspaka Vimana " the Flowery Aeroplane which could fly on the thinking of it's owner any place any time.
His mother was once worshiping Lord Shiva's Linga made by her using sand on the beach,perhaps near her palace.Strong waves washed away the Linga she was worshiping.The loss of the Linga she was worshiping made her Cry.Ravana who was perhaps near by heard her cry and after knowing the reason promised her he would bring the Atma Linga worshiped by Lord Shiva himself.He then left to Kailash the home of Lord Shiva and had a second thought as to why he cannot take the entire Kailash.
His strength was more than a trillion elephants and he tried to lift the Kailash with his twenty hands.Kailash starting shaking and Shri.Parvathi asked Lord Shiva as to what was happening.Lord Shiva told her that one of her Devote was trying to play and he just pressed his toe on the place he was sitting and Kailash stood very firm.
Ravana's hands were caught under the great weight of Kailash and he could not take it out.
He did not bother but started praying to Lord Shiva in the tune most liked by him.
Lord Shiva who loves his devotees more than anything presented himself and removed his hands caught under Kailash and took away all the pain.
Sage Narada who is always present in any place that would become a problem knew that Ravana would ask for Atmalinga.Sage Narada who knows all knew that Lord Shiva would give his Atmalinga without a second thought and that Ravana thus would be more powerful than any God if he worshiped or poss ed it, he prayed before Goddess Saraswathi, the Goddess who is responsible for our learning,knowledge and memory to make Ravana to forget what he would ask Lord Shiva.The power of Goddess Saraswathi made Ravana forget what he wanted to ask Lord Shiva when Lord Shiva presented himself befor Ravana and asked him what he wanted,Ravana was confused and not remembering about his wish to get Atmalinga for his mother he asked Lord Shiva that he wanted to take Goddess Parvathi with him to his place.Lord Shiva told Goddess Parvathi to go with him.
Goddess Parvathi told Ravana that she will go with him on the condition that he will not get any bad thoughts on the way.Ravana agreed and they left for Lanka.
On the way to Lanka Goddess Parvathi felt tired and hungry and told Ravana that she would rest and he can get some thing to eat for her.
Ravana after making Goddess Parvathi to sit under the tree by name " Kadamba" and entered the forest in search of fruits to eat.Here he met the daughter of the King Mayasura a beauty he had never seen and immediately he fell in love with her due to the power of Lord Vishnu who made it possible as other wise Ravana would normally never forget his promise to Goddess Parvathi that he would not get his mind on such thoughts,which was his promise to her.
Ravana returned deeply disturbed by seeing the beauty of Mandodhari in the forest met Goddess Parvathi and gave her fruits. Goddess Parvathi seeing the face of Ravana wanted to know why he was so sad.
Ravana told Goddess Parvathi about Mandodhari and requested her to help him marry Mandodhari.Goddess Parvathi blessed him and said your wish will be true but you have broken your promise that you will not get such thoughts on our way to Lanka so I am going back to join my husband Lord Shiva and youcan return to Lanka.
Ravana begged Goddess Parvathi not to go and when she was not prepared to listen to him he threatened her and tried to take her forcibly.Immediately Goddess Parvathi showed her most brutal form which made Ravana shiver with fear and told her to join Lord Shiva.
Ravana was now coming to fight with Mayasura father of Mandodhari but Sage Naradha intervened and there was no fight and Ravana married Mandodhari.
Ravana returned to Lanka with Mandodhari.
Lanka meanwhile was praising Kubera and his famous city Alakapuri.Ravana felt humiliated and wanted to take revenge and loot Kubera's kingdom and started his preparations to go to war with Kubera.
Ravana's mother told him that Kubera was the best devote of Lord Shiva and it was on acount of Lord Shiva's blessings that Kubera could do what he had achived.She also told him that if he had only brought Atmalinga instead of Mandhodari and had worshiped Atmalinga he could have done better than Kubera.
The moment Ravana heard the word Atmalinga he remembered his previous venture and Lord Shiva's gift of Goddess Parvathi and decided to bring Atmalinga to Lanka and rushed towords Kailash.
At the foot of Kailash he started his meditation nonstop praying to Lord Shiva to give him the Atmalinga.Lord Shiva known for his generous gift of any sort to his devoted devotees prayers was pleased to grant him his Atmalinga and told him that those who worshiped it would get anything that they wished but when he is taking it to Lanka he should never place it on earth and if it was done it would firmly get rooted on earth and would never even return to Kailash,having said so Lord Shiva disapeared.
Sage Narada saw this gift of Lord Shiva to Ravana and he could imagine the problems that would come if Ravana worshiped it at Lanka.
Sage Narada went to Lord Vishnu and together they planed to see that Ravana would fail in his endevover to take Atmalinga to Lanka.
They went to Lord Shiva's son and explained and requested him to help them in their plan and told him to some how make the Atmalinga to be placed on the ground.
Ravana carying the Atmalinga went towords south his place Lanka and was crossing a serious of hills in the westren borders of Karavali at Vindya Mountain the place that had come from the bottom of the ocean.He was nearing the shores of Gokarna.Ganapathi saw him and he took up the form of a bramhin cowheard and was standing near the sea shore.Lord Vishnu made his Sudarshan Chakra so big and made it look like evening by covering Sun.
Ravana was a firm mediator of Sandyavandhana the evening time you pray Gayitri Mantra daily.He was not knowing how to do his Sandyavandhana as he needed both the hands to pray and he had Atmalinga wich he could ot keep anywhere.
He saw Ganapathi in the form of a Bramhin Boy and requested him to hold the Atmalinga so that he could do his Sandyavandhana.Ganapati agreed and holding the Atmalinga told him it was very heavy and if he found it was not possible for him to hold it he would call him three times and if he failed to take it before the third time he would call him he would place it on the ground.Ravana had no choice but trust him and gave the Atmalinga and went to do his prayers.Ganapathi was waiting till such time he could call him three times when it would not be possible for him to come.
Exactly at the expected time he called Ravana three times and as Ravana came running to take the Atmalinga the third call was over and Ganapathi placed it on the ground.
Ravana banged his powerful first on Ganapathi's head and Ganapathi's head had a big dent on top and his stomach went down to his knees.
Ravana used all his powers and tried hard to pull it from the ground but it had rooted very firmly on the earth.Ravana got furious and throw the four decorated objects on Atmalinga to East,West,North and South and shouted Oh Lord Shiva you are Mahabaleshwara and at that time Lord Vishnu removed his Sudarshanchakra and Sun was shining all the Devata's started laughing at Ravana.
Ravana felt disgraced his face crest fallen he went back to Lanka.
Lord Shiva came down to Gokarna saw the twisted shape of his Atmalinga and Ganapathi, all the Devatha's were present as also Goddess Parvathi.Lord Shiva told all those present that hence forth he should be worshiped only after his son Ganapathi's worship and all those who worship his Atmalinga at Gokarna would get their desires fulfilled and would have his blessings,also he would reside in Gokarna to see his Devotees for ever.Ravana came to Gokarna with his mother and worshiped Atmalinga with his complete devotion and surrendered at the Atmalinga.Lord Shiva presented himself to Ravana and told him not to get disheartened and that his Atmalinga had to be placed on earth for the benefit of his devotees and his attempt was only towards that and people will praise you for your effort and disappeared.
Thus Gokarna has become a famous place where you get your desires fulfilled and reach heaven after your life on earth.
Om Namashivaih,Om namashivaih,Om namashivaih.

[ What is Gokarna - 2 - . ]

Lord Shiva's Atma Linga is installed here by Sri.Ganapathi.The Linga has changed it's shape when Ravana tried to lift it.The shape is as shown in the silver model kept in the temple donated by a devote.
Gokarna means the Ear of the Cow,the shape it resembles in it's geographical map.
This place has it's attraction as a Hindu place of worship from an unknown period of time.The name has been mentioned in Ramayana and Mahabharatha.
This place has been mentioned as very superior and equal to Rameswara and Kashi.
The Dharma and Karma performed at this place bestows on the performer unending success and highly beneficial good results.
It is even mentioned that Sri Rama,Shri Sita and Sri Laxman came to this place to worship and pray to Shiva's Atmalinga to get rid of the sin in killing Ravana.
The ancient scriptures have mentioned that Pandavas and Kauravas also did the same rituals to get rid of their sins for having killed each others relatives in the war they both had faught to win the Kingdom of their father.
Even in BC 660 to 664 time Emporor Sri Harsha has mentioned the place in a Drama that he has written by name " Nagananda ".
British Traveler Bukanin has described this place beautifully in his travelogue.

[ What is Gokarna - 1 - . ]

A view of the " OM Beach " of Gokarna.

You have to visit Gokarna to know what it is like. Approximately 600 K M from Bangalore by road,this holy Town is hidden, down at the Sea level between the Arabian Sea on two sides and several mountains on the other two sides.

[ Visit to Gokarna on 17,18,19 &20th Sept 2008.]

[ I saw what I could't believe.]

My home 25 years ago now a home of Snakes and fully uninhabitable.

Sri Yellamma Goddess,family deity of the owner who built the mill before NTC took over paying few lacks of Rupees now worth several Crores of Rupees.

The Temple for Yellamma which I designed and was built by the New Mill Building contractor.

The Board that made all it said during my period as General Manager.

The Gate that sent tons of yarn of every type of Synthetic yarn never made by other NTC mills in the group to which this mill belonged.

The huge Humidification plant for the new Mill with 12,000 Spindles still inside rusting.

The medical center run by the mill for rural sick at the rural mills of the village of Tolahunse.

Acrylic yarn Reeling machines and High Twist Polyester yarn twist setting building.

The new block built in 1982 with brand new machines rusting inside.

[ Yallama no more Yummy.]

You don't need any Text to say why it's not Yummy.The NTC has shut the gate to open perhaps for the Building Cartel to take over at the appropriate time and even Goats or Sheep's don't dare enter,it's a Jungle inside with venomous Snakes everywhere.

[ Visit to G o k a r n a - Govt Guest House.]

If you want to visit Gokarna plan your visit to go by road from Shivmoga taking NH 17 which as of now is simply wonderful to drive with ever green forests on either side of the road.The problem is there is only one Hotel much farther from Gokarna and at Gokarna there is no good well maintained Hotel or Restaurant,but you have a Govt Guest House at Jog Falls which looks very attractive but it is not available just like that,good rooms will never be allotted to ordinary folks and the authority who does it is not on the spot.It is Govt Guest house built from Tax payers money for Tax collecting authorities.The picture above has no sign board at the place as Govt Guest House.The Gate is kept Locked so no car other than a Politician or a Bureaucrat car enters.There is no office at site.
This is KARNATAKA TOURIST arrangement.

[ The Begining from the End. -1-]

After ten long years I have to remember all the good things that have happened in my family. I have not mentioned and I do not remember anything unwanted that has come to us.
Yes few friends have left me, few have let me down, few have told big lies and may be few have cheated me but nothing big or small have befallen my family.
All these ten long years of my life with my wife have been like a duet song the singers being me and my wife.
I can sing but God has taken away all my teeth and the Dentist has given me another set, if only all the body parts can be replaced with no surgery like the false set of teeth it would be so great indeed. !!!.
Singing with false set of teeth is possible but that needs another gift from God, a good voice which I do not posses. My wife had her tonsils removed even before she reached her teens and you can't sing with tonsils trimmed.
My children don't sing but make every one sing and dance to their tune including me and my wife.It is however a feather in our cap that they can do it. Both are also great writers and readers,I wonder how they can do such a thing but who cares for my wondering things such as:
My Son with his wife going over seven seas with his wife in a land he had never seen.
My Daughter completing her Masters in Archeology in a very Big city she had never seen staying alone in a girls hotel.
My Daughter going alone over seven seas to study from a tropical land to a freezing cold land in winter and seeing snow fall, which she wanted to see staying in South India.
My Son and daughter getting married with out any botheration to me or my wife in any way.
My Son getting a GOLD MEDAL in his final year of Engineering Graduation.
My Son & Daughter Securing a FIRST CLASS through out every year up to their final year of Graduation from the very first year at school to final year of their graduation.
My Son & Daughter both having such good command over English Language both in speaking & writing.
My Wife for putting up my tempers, tantrums back to back.
Myself being called as "SIR" by my seniors in my profession.
These are few of the things that I can say and many that I can't say.

[ All for Good ]

The mill under the control of the contractor was soon made out of his control by a contractor known to me and was going smoothly.
I was planning to make it still better by another expansion plan and had made my own letter to the proper financial institute.
However everything was upset by the Chairman and his own plans.
I was not paid my salary for over seven months and my hotel expenses were paid by the contractor.
I slothfully end this adventure my last, with a loss of Rs.60,000.00 due to me.There are many others also like me.
I do hope good sense will prevail and the mill will work better hence forth.

[ Time to roll up my Sleeves.]

I woke up next morning early and after my morning blah blah and prayers had my breakfast and was getting ready to go to meet the Chairman when the General Manager of the mills called me from the Reception Counter and wanted to come and meet me and take me to the mills,he met me and after seeing him I was sure that I would be in deep shit.We had tea and came down from my room.The good old Trax had came to pick me up from the hotel.
The Driver whom I had known smiled on seeing my face and was perhaps wondering why this man has come to eat the money that was his and others in the mills,I just said how are you son and sat in the Trax.
I told the Driver to take me to meet the Chairman,he said he was not knowing as to where he has gone and it's better I go to mills first and meet the Chairman when he comes there the General Manager also was of the same view.
I told him that is fine with me and we were driving along the 7 KM country road when he told me that the Chairman is coming and stopped the TRAX at the road side.I met the Chairman and gave him a Hug and we had a chat on the road.He told me to meet him in the evening at the place where he would discuss things with his followers daily.
I went to the mills with the General Manager and saw the machines and men.The men few of them were glad to see me but I was disappointed to see the conditions of the machines.
Around mid day the Chairman came with his two Directors and we all sat in the Offices I had made for him when I was there previously.The Chairman after few rounds of discussions on mill working told me that the entire yarn production of the mills was rejected by the contractor who was running the mill on conversion basis.
The contractor had purchased six months production by paying post dated cheques for each month.
The mill had in turn deposited all the six months cheques in a local bank and had drawn 75% of the total amount and paying interest on that amount.The amount being already spent by the mills.
Once the present serious problems facing the mill was explained to me with about 4 or 5 Directors sitting with a gloomy face,I told all those present at the meeting that with in the earliest possible time I would solve the problem if there was no interruption in my work. They were having no choice as I told them I would walk away once I found any pin picks in my work.However the Chairman said that they have to have some one t take care of the mills technically if I have to have that option of walking away.I said that was not a problem if that person would keep away from my path.I even sang the song indicating that I have come here to:
Jeena yaha marna yaha iske shiva janah kaha".
The Chairman laughingly told " Nahi Nahi Aap Tho Jeena Idhar Marna Nahi ".
I was not interested in any more talk and kept quite.
The Chairman said he had to inform the Yarn conversion contractor about my appointment and I may have to meet him at his office as soon as I could.So ended the day and I was now back at the mills to take control of the mess.

[ My Lost Adventure.]

During my stay at a textile mill in a corner of Maharastra where I was was the one to see the mill come up from foundation to production,I had appointed a young qualified textile technologist* as the Spinning Master who telephoned to me that I must talk to the Vice Chairman of the mills since he had a urgent message for me.
I telephoned to him and we exchanged few pleasantries after which I told him that I had phoned as per the news given to me.
Yes,I was eagerly awaiting for your call to inform you that the mill you built and set is in very bad shape and the Chairman has told me to inquire if you would go over here to make things set once again.
I told him that I would be willing but on my terms which were:
1] As I would be coming alone I must be given a Hotel stay of my choice.
2] The period of my absence to be treated as leave.
3] That I would work with out any interference.
4] I would work as I wanted on my time frame.
5] My salary would be the same as before.
6] Transport to work must be a car exclusively for me.
All the above to be approved by the Board of Directors on my Joining.
With out a thought he said we will do what you say,just please come.I told him that I would talk to the Spinning Master* and report soon.
I told my wife and daughter that they would have to manage for sometime till I would come back,which might be few months.
This was not a big thing for my wife as she was good at managing to all things and I don't remember what my daughter had said.
I left for that God blessed place soon.
I took a train to the shortest place from the railway station to the God blessed place and my Spinning Mater* was waiting for me in a taxi,I threw in my baggage and we left for the God blessed place.I asked the Spinning Master* as to what happened to the mill Trax.He said the Chairman had taken it.It was always his personal work first.The son of a xitch wanted to become a MLA at all costs.
Though I was aware of this I went there to see the destruction after my construction like a doctor visiting a sick patient.
After reaching the God blessed place I checked in to the Hotel which had opened during my previous stay.This was the only well maintained mill.When I checked in to the Hotel they asked me an advance of Rs.2000/= [ since I told them that I would be staying on monthly basis.]
I told them I am staying as the Guest of the local textile mill.
They replied we know that and that's why we are asking.I told them that I would be paying after 30 days only and showed them my credit card,after seeing my credit card they said that will be fine.
I was wondering what would be my loss in this adventure ?.
My last Lost Adventure.

[ 43 - Rest is Best at Bangalore.]

We left Miraj with out any Grudg and left for Bangalore for rest at last and fast.Our daughter was happy with our arrival.
For a few months it was only rest and it was also best for my health at sixty plus.I was able to have my health check up and my daughter and her friend were helpful in taking me to a good Hospital for a complete Executive Medical Check Up and advice on my medication that was needed.My daughter insisted that my wife also should get hers done.
The diagnostic reports were fine [ touch wood ] but the Doctor's could have done better than machines,they hardly inquired our previous medical records or medical reports or even questioned on any chronic problems.They looked at the reports standing and said everything is fine and said made a face to get lost.
I do not remember how I spent my days going around all places that was my favorite hunt in Bangalore the Brigade Road,where I miss the good old KHOSHY'S with a JUKE BOX, the BASCOS with a cool ambiance for a bottle of BEER and a good view of the road to see any one going down the road etc,etc.
However there was a feeling that I often remembered to having a feeling that I may have to work to keep my savings which had already depleted considerably due to my frequent unemployment's which were all avoidable.Most of the time I spent was in keeping my car in good condition and clean in all areas and the Tyre of each wheel clean and shining.
As a sentimental feeling I maintained my son's first 0.50 CC Moped called Hero Majestic which was a gift to my son when he secured a First Class in his Final High School Examinations and which he did maintain for a short period be four he got his 150 CC. Suzuki as his build and weight was not suitable for this 50 CC poor Hero Majestic which he called Hero Pathetic.I kept this also clean and in running condition and I was also using this for quite some time.
The next was my daughter's 1.50 CC Moped with Gear drive Called Hero Puck which she was insisting on getting only this Motor Bike for going to her collage as going by Bus was very tedious I maintained this motor Bike and used this also for some time and fell down also with my wife sitting on the pillion once, I refused to sell both the motor bikes for a good price.
However time was on my head weighing heavily and I was under depression and confused regarding my future some how due to depression,boredom and helplessness I did not bother on my seventy's as I did not expect to see those due to what I was thinking in my mind in my early sixty's the deadly diabetes.
My rest was getting restless and rusty,with out any action there was only deep emotion all due to natural effects of chronic boredom.I was just watching the calender and the days left in the month day after day.
I never thought that I would see the inside of a textile mill to hear the sound of machines a music for my ears.It was not so for long now.
I received a telephone call one day and then I was back to square # 13.

[ 42- My Life & Wife at Miraj.]

My wife and myself enjoyed our stay at the hotel and also the food at many of the restaurants in the area. Daily I would come to the hotel in the mill car self driven as no driver was available to me but there were a dozen working round the clock for the the big fat pigs.My wife would be ready and after I got fresh we would dine at a different hotel daily.After a week we just started to have room service.
Sunday being my weekly holiday I would go up to our quarters to make arrangements for minimum comforts needed for us to stay.The mill had no furniture or even ceiling fans in the bed rooms.Everything was fixed after the company Secretary was informed to have this and that done.
We started our shop without a cooking gas and stove using electric heater to cook our food.Sometimes later I got the gas and the we had to buy the bed and bed sheets.The furniture supplied was not sufficient and few things we had to buy.
The quarters was on the first floor of a big 3 storied building.Above our floor we had a good family and a cute little baby fond of my wife.
The owner of the building was living on the ground floor and there was a big garden all around the house.
There was no TV or Phone.
My car given by the mill was a Fiat and was floating on petrol giving just six kilometer per liter and the mill was paying for petrol.
The mill was over 70 years old and the mill was taken over by my employer when the money payable for the cotton purchased was not paid by the previous management.
My son or daughter could not visit our place as my stay at the place was short.The place was good but not the sons of bitches who got me there and my hurry to get out of my previous place made me quit the place that suited us.
However even if things were perfect I could not continue in that place as my daughter had to complete her finals for Graduation.
My daughter was having one or other things bothering her in her studying and she was constantly reminding my wife that it was very difficult for her to concentrate on her studies and she must have my wife there.
My wife went to check up her problems and stayed for over a month and I found it very problematic to manage the house and work as also to cook my meals at night.Lunch was not a problem but to go home after 7 or 8 PM and cook was a problem and to go out for eat very tiresome.
The place I worked as a CEO was a shit.
The Employer was as I found out was just wanting to know if I did anything to his satisfaction.
The mill had a long history of persons who had come and left without notice be it a person with reputation in the industry or with distinguished academic qualifications.
My first contact with the workers union representatives was very cordial and it was their first greetings and wish that I stay to improve he mills.I inquired with them as to why the mill was so bad.
The main reason that they said was a procession of mill managers who had left the mills unable to bear the harassment of Mill Management.I told them now it is the other way and I would be harassing them.They said time will tell.
I did not give much thought to what a workers leader told me,my only thought was how am I going to set right this mill which had everything wrong in every place and in every machine and even the machine that was used to set right the machines in every place was itself not calibrated for over 2 or 3 years.
The immediate concern of the management was machine utilization for want of tubes on which the yarn is formed on spinning machines.
My task was to improve the machine utilization.
I had a inventory of the tubes done and found it was as per norms.
Than where are he tubes ?.
The mill was out sourcing the yarn on tubes to be unwound.
This sort of a arrangement is against the Law.
I visited the place away from the mills and found lot of tubes with yarn unwound at the bottom due to spinning defect.
I sent the spinning master to visit the place and see the tubes are unwound machine wise with machine Nos marked along with each lot and set right the defect.I had to force him on this job as going to that place was not his daily job.
There was improvement in machine utilization.
The mill also had another small mill and here also I took care and told the Mill Manager who had to report to me to see that my problem is solved as we were sending yarn tubes there also.He being from my college was helpful.
This took about 2 months and there was some satisfaction to the pigs.
The next was absenteeism of workmen due to bad working conditions.
The management wanted dismissal on this ground,in a unlawful way.
I took care to this and dismissed many with proper procedure.
This made the workers union very seriously unhappy.
Labor trouble was brewing up slowly but strongly,my action built bad emotions.
The work at the mill on working condition was very slow but getting better.
The management wanted Action plans on product diversification for both mills.
I prepared several plans and told them to implement it along with my action plan for improving working conditions and quality with suggestions on other improvements.
Then came Deepavali and Bonus issue and this was a serious matter.
There was a wage dispute on other labor matters settled in Courts but not implemented.
This was a serious matter with the Managing Director getting arrested for contempt of court orders and labor leaders going serious on these matters.
The most unlawful of Public Limited Company was in full force,of that being there being no Managing Director for the mills.
The mill was run by 2 Pigs on Money Power.
The Pigs thought of a plan to appoint a Old man working as Maintenance Manager under me and he was to be appointed as Managing Director.I was told not to worry as he would be still working under me and the arrangement was to avoid the Pigs getting hand Cuffs.
Mill was facing lot of Labor problems and strikes.
My work was uninterrupted,the Old man the proposed MD was a nice old honest man but highly inefficient.He had joined on some outside political support.
I had told him and the Spinning Master to get a Machine Speed Indicator fixed on a Brand New Machine.This was not done after repeated instructions by me.
This being neglected by both the officers made me to tell them get it removed to day and send it for fixing it or do not enter the mills tomorrow.
The good old man shaking walked in to my office and gave his resignation letter.
I was surprised and told him to take it back as there was a proposal to make him the MD of the mills.Reluctantly he took it back.
In the evening the two Pigs came to the mills and the elder Pig was furious on my actions but was Cool.
He asked me why the Old man's resignation affair was not informed on phone at least if not going over to their place 7 KM away to report personally.
What ever I said did not satisfy the Big Pig.He told me to meet the Company Secretary who told me to submit my Resignation.
My wife and myself had our Honey Moon Completed at this place.We were back home to guide and help our daughter who was wanting our presence badly.

.

[ 41 - Enter the Boiler Room ]

We were just under 100 KM from my previous place and arrived at the new place and after dumping our bag and baggage at our quarters, we took up a room in a hotel and informed my big employer that I would like to meet him and then take up my assignment.
He said he would be sending his vehicle to my hotel and that I can report to the mills and meet him in the evening.
A big car arrived and I went with my wife to report to the mills, the Company secretary met me and he called the Spinning Mater and told him that I was the new CEO. The look on the Rat eaten face of the Spinning Master was not so friendly however looks are not the face of ones qualities. I went around the mills which had also a good quality control lab and good staff after a visit to the Lord Ganesh place of worship which was inside the mills ever since it was built by the previous owner more than 70 years back and was happy it this place maintained very well.
I spent the whole afternoon visiting various dept's again and again and rested in my new office a drably looking room and was busy making it look like a office till evening.The arrival of my employer was heard with blowing whistles by security personal.
I went out of my office and saw the two faces of the hefty figures emerging out of their cars one after another.Not a soul was present to see them or salute them signifying their presence perhaps as a dreaded visit most unwelcome.
Some time later I was called and went to see them sitting in two chairs not big enough to hold them and their belly protruding out like a balloons from inside their Kurtas.
The discussions were very cordial and I was happy with the meeting they told me that they both (brothers )would be visiting the mills in the late noons only as they have to be in their office about 7 KM from the mills their main business was buying and selling cotton the offices of the mills were well kept like in a " Boiler Room ".

[ 40 - Visit to Gondavali ]

My work at the mill from start to finish took nearly two years and now the mill was producing a small quantity of around 600 Kg of 1/60's Polyester/67, Cotton/33, blended yarn and trail marketing of the yarn was being done after a function of a Lorry Load of the material which was dispatched to Bombay.
The trial marketing was done by me through a reputed yarn selling merchant known to me.The entire marketing process was explained to the Chairman and his good friends who were Directors of the mills.
A director was also sent to Bombay to understand the marketing procedure and meet our yarn merchant at his office.I had informed the yarn merchant to explain the system of marketing of yarn in detail to this Director who was a professor in the local college.He returned back with some knowledge, some confusion and some doubts.
I was all the time trying to get the feed back on yarn acceptance in the market on the quality and was trying to improve the product.
Our mill entry in to the market spread quickly and the near by market to our mill was a big center for the yarn that we were trying to sell in a distant market and the cost of transport was to our disadvantage.However being also in charge of Marketing for over 25 years, I knew this is only a short term loss and my aim was to improve quality and consistency in quality as utmost importance for long term gain I did not wish to sell to any unknown selling agent.As most of the trade was in the hands of unscrupulous agents of a known particular community.
This was one of the reason to doubt my integrity by the Director who was sent to Bombay for in depth study of yarn selling system that was widely prevalent.
As my integrity was under secret scrutiny by few Directors, I contacted my friend at the nearby textile mill center and told him to be on the look out for a job else where.
My friend was already on the look out for a person like me not knowing my wish to have a change when my mill was doing great after the news of my yarn acceptance in Bombay.
My friend told me to contact a mill Managing Director who was near by.I was planning to go when my 60th birth day was on the cards.
Arrangements were made at the Holy Center " Gondavali " for pooja and " Abhishek " to our family " Guru " Sri Gondavali Bramhachaitanya Maharajs " padukas on the date of my birth day. We had to go by road only to this Holy center. We had to pass through the offices of this my would be employer to reach the center Gondavali.
We took of a day earlier by Taxi after breakfast and reached the center Gondavali halting on the way near the offices of my would be employer and thought of meeting him on my way back.
We reached Gondavali and the Chief Trusty Sri.S.B.Damble had made all the arrangements including serving of extra sweet for Lunch at noon.The pooja was performed with extra arrangements befour the " Samadhi Mandhir " of our beloved Sri Gondavali Bramhachaitanya Maharaj ".Myself and my wife performed pooja to the " Padukas " actually used by the Maharaj during his life time of over 80 years and this one of his several " Padukas ". After the pooja we took the blessings and rested in the special Room provided for us.We attended the evening pooja and prayers as also the final Arati to " Tulasi " and had a very large serving of the Prasad in the late evening and rested for the day.
The next early morning we left Gondavali to return again after paying our respects to Sri.S.B.Damble and leaving our donation with him.
On the way returning from Gondavali, I had to stop for Lunch at the place where the offices of my would be employer was located. After Lunch I phoned to the Managing Director of the mill who wanted to meet me and discuss on my terms of contract. He invited me and sent his lead vehical to take me to his office.I met the person and he saw me and said that I can now finalise the terms of my contract with his brother who was sitting in the next room. It was just a few minutes of talk and the contract was ready for my approval.This was as a Chief Executive Officer of the mills with better pay and perks than what was in my hand. I was told to sign the contract and was given the same.A copy was with them. Armed with the contract and 30 days to report for my new job as CEO I came back and contineuwed my work.
Now it was my son who had to visit us and see his,Mom his pet and daddy his Gut with his pretty little, sweet darling, his classmate, sweet heart, our family friend's daughter now his [admired by us] wife.
He arrived by bus from Bombay at a city famous for " Sri Mahalakshmi " and it's name was Kholapur 70 KM from my place.We myself and my wife went to that place a day earlier and stayed in the old Kholhapur Maharaja's palace Hotel called "Shali Palace Hotel".The next day we traveled to our place.
My son with his wife were staying with us and they saw a few places around and also visited the mill I built and was operating cool.
Few days later the Director who was sent to Bombay and the mill scretary a high school drop out had a meeting with me and their talk once again was something like you do what you want but show us that the mill is making profit.
That was a writing on the wall that my actions in marketing was in my own interest to make money for myself.Few days later I explained how the money that was to be spent on the setting up of the mills was spent on other non profit and non returning investment done out of the project santioned amount and told them to think about it and talk to me.
That was my final meeting.
My son wanted to go back to Bombay and Goa being only 107 KM from my place I suggested that he travel by road to Goa the land a dream to all Indians and people all over the world and enjoy even the road to Goa from my place which was very picturesque to the eyes,his face gave a big grin as usual on my surprises for him since a baby,he jumped with joy and he was off to Goa the next day dreaming of travel to Bombay by Sea,which he had not done.
The next day after a brief talk with the Director who was always suspicious of me was again singing his song of profit and selling.
I just kept my keys on the table told him to inform the Chairman that I would not be enjoying their company from the next day and left the mills.
The next day it was my last day at the God Blessed place,I told my wife that we are going to relocate and she was very happy to leave the place so had her things including mine packed and ready to leave.I made a list of fixtures furniture's and other articles including spoons gave it to Land Lord gave my house keys and told him to give it to mill people after they settled the dues of house rent obtain the signature that every article belonging to mill is received and then hand over the keys to remove all the articles and lock it up and keep the keys.My wife and myself soon were in the new place staying in a Hotel provided by my new employer.
Now I was nearer to my Holy place " Gondavali "

[ 39 - Home Alone ]

All went well at the hostel where my daughter stayed but the stereotype food and rules at the premises was not to my child's liking.
She took a decision to stay in our house and conveyed her desire to my wife.All mothers like daughters are more caring than their own self to a extent.So she took my permission and left for Bangalore to arrange a comfortable secure stay to my daughter.
She took maximum care to inform my tenant downstairs and arranged her friends daughter staying fortunately just opposite to our house to sleep in our house during nights and making sure everything is fine she and returned to joined me.
We used to talk to her on phone weekly and she was happy for over a year till she completed her first year graduation in First Class.
Now it was her desire to study for her tests in GRE and TOFEL examination and this study required maximum efforts, hard work, intelligence and undisturbed from any other worry on daily needs for her maintenance.
She was working hard and was informing us her progress and assuring us not to worry about anything.

[ 38-My life & wife at Ghadinglaj ]

I moved in to a two bed room flat after staying for 15 days in a Govt Guest House and eating rotton food from a foot path hotel.
The break fast and dinner was a stuff that I had never taken in my life and the Lunch was equally so at the village.I had no choice except to call home service.My wife was ready to come but we could not relocate our child from her college.
Our child was a brave heart and understood our predicament and was prepared to stay in a hostel.
A good hostel near the college was located and our child moved in to the hostel and our house was locked.The ground floor was rented and there was no problem from outside interference.
My house was fully furnished with all equipment and nothing was needed.My wife had to only buy groceries and stuff needed for her cooking and I used to get the best eats in the god blessed place.Our house was surrounded on all sides by temples and was near a river.The Land Lord's ( House Owner ) wife was a good friend of my wife.My wife was quite happy where ever she was as long as I was with her.Soon my mill Chairman's wife and other Lady's made my wife's time at the place worth while.
Each Friday there would be a farmers market near our house and my wife having seen a farmers market long back would welcome Fridays.Long chillys my favorites and crisp small diameter green very long cucumbers a favorites of my son would make me remember him and I would be woundering what he would be doing at Bombay.With his new job and wife.
My daughter would like everything her mother gave her and never made any demands.My wife's Rasam ( a south Indian curry with out any vegetables ) was her most delicious stuff to be eaten with cooked white rice with Ghee.
Our house owner was a farmer and his wife had to cook several dozens of jowar roti's for the workers and we had eaten thous roti's several times.My wife also learnt how to make them but hardly made them as it was good only at some time and was not a daily need in our diet.
My visit to most of the places was only with my wife on Sundays and it would be to a temple.There was only one good hotel for Lunch or Dinner and a good cinema theater screening hindi and Marati films,we some times would go if we felt like eating out or would go if we liked the movies.We soon came to know many respectable persons in the town.To my utter surprise I never heard a single person talking good of my Chairman.Even few Directors of the mills his college mates were making sour faces if I referred his name in any context.
My daughter's Summer holidays was approaching and she wanted to come to our place to see how we both were doing.There were no direct bus or train to my place from Bangalore and it was a 12 hour journey and our child could not come alone.
Fortunately my brother was staying mid way and his son also had a holiday for summer.It was so arranged that the journey would be from Bangalore to my brother's place and the next day from his place to very near the border and we would pick them up from there.
On the day of my daughter and my brother's son arrival we were late at the border but not very late the bus had arrived only about 15 minutes early.Even than I was tensed and was cursing myself not finding my daughter near the bus.A quick search and I saw her standing near a phone booth and my brother's son inside the phone booth.A gave a sigh took a deep breath and slowly went to them and hugged them.We all came back to my God's own Village.
My brother's son stayed for few days and left my daughter stayed till her summer vacation was coming close to end.I think she enjoyed seeing some wonderful places all around the place and the famous Historic Mahalaxmi temple at Kholhapur,the only temple of its kind in India and my mills surroundings where she went singing the song from the film Sound of Music.
She soon went back all alone in a private Bombay to Bangalore Bus which we stopped at a station on the high way to take her to Bangalore safely.We came home and missed her charming face but both were afraid to cry.
I was now 59 years of age but still I was a tough nut to crack,a nut not in the right place any where anytime and at any age but not now as I say this.