AKSHAYA TRITHIYA

Today is Akshya Tritiya, extremely auspicious day.

Akshaya Tritiya which is also known as Akha Teej is highly auspicious and holy day for Hindu communities. It falls during Shukla Paksha Tritiya in the month of Vaishakha. Akshaya Tritiya falling on a Rohini Nakshatra day with Wednesday is considered very auspicious. The word Akshaya (अक्षय) means never diminishing. Hence the benefits of doing any Jap, Yagya, Pitra-Tarpan, Dan-Punya on this day never diminish and remain with the person forever. Akshaya Tritiya is believed to bring good luck and success. Most people purchase Gold on this day as it is believed that buying Gold on Akshaya Tritiya brings prosperity and more wealth in coming future. Being Akshaya day it is believed that Gold, bought on this day, will never diminish and would continue to grow or appreciate. Akshaya Tritiya day is ruled by God Vishnu who is the preserver God in the Hindu Trinity. According to Hindu mythology Treta Yuga began on Akshaya Tritiya day. Usually Akshaya Tritiya and Parashurama Jayanti , birthday anniversary of 6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, falls on the same day but depending on staring time of Tritiya Tithi Parashurama Jayanti might fall one day before Akshaya Tritiya day. Vedic astrologers also consider Askshay Tritiya an auspicious day free from all malefic effects. As per Hindu Electional Astrology three lunar days, Yugadi, Akshaya Tritiya and Vijay Dashami don’t need any Muhurta to start or perform any auspicious work as these three days are free from all malefic effects.

Significance of Akshay Tritiya

*Lord Parashurama appeared on this day.
*Ganges descended to Earth on this day.
* This day marks the beginning of Treta-yuga.
* Sudama visited Krishna at Dwaraka.
* Pandavas received Akshaya Patra from Sun God.
* Vyasadeva started composing Mahabharata on this day.
* Adi Sankaracharya composed Kanakadhara Stotram on this day
* Kubera received his wealth and position as custodian of wealth and It is said that Goddess Annapoorna Devi appeared on this day.
*The construction of the charitos for Ratha Yatra begins on the day of Akshaya Tritiya.
* In the temple of Kshira-chora Gopinatha (Remuna, Orissa) the Deities of Madana-mohana, Govinda and Gopinatha are smeared with sandalwood pulp on this auspicious day

53RD PRATISTA VARDHANTI OF PATTABI RAMACHANDRA TEMPLE, BARKUR

The 53rd Pratista Vardhanthi Mahostav & Seeta Rama Kalyanotsav will he held from 4-05-2015 to 8-05-2015 in the Holy Presence of Shrimadh Shivanand Saraswati Swamiji(Mathadipathi of Kavale Math)

RECIPE OF BONDA SHERBATH

COURTESY- NAMITHA PRABHU

Recipe
Tender coconut water along with its flesh, 1 tablespoon basil seeds soaked in water,
1 tablespoon lime juice,
some pudina leaves n sugar as needed..
Mix everytg in a bowl refrigerate n serve

RECIPE OF KANDA POHA

COURTESY- SHWETHA AMITH PAI
Ingredients 

• Pressed rice (poha) thick variety : 400 grams
• Onions chopped : 3 medium
• Salt to taste
• Sugar : 1/2 teaspoon
• Oil : 3 tablespoons
• Mustard seeds : 1 teaspoon
• Asafoetida a pinch
• Curry leaves 6-7
• Green chillies chopped 6-7
• Turmeric powder : 1/2 teaspoon
• Potato boiled : 1 inch pieces 1 medium (Optional, I don’t prefer to add this)
• Lemon juice : 1 teaspoon
• Fresh coriander leaves chopped : 2 tablespoons

Method

• Wash the poha in a colander. Poha should be moist but not mashed. Add salt and sugar and mix lightly.
• Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and when they splutter add asafoetida and curry leaves. Sauté for half a minute and add onions and continue to sauté.
• Add green chillies and mix. Add turmeric powder and mix. Sauté for two minutes and add potato and poha.
• Mix and cook till poha is heated through. Add lemon juice and mix lightly. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

RECIPE OF KARATHE GOD ANI THEEK NONCHE / BITTERGOURD AND SPICY PICKLE

COURTESY- SAIGEETHA S PAI

Ingredients to be roasted
Mustard seeds -1 tsp
Coriander seeds – 2 tbsp
Cumin seeds -1 tsp
Urad dal – 1tsp
Byadgi chilly -8-10(roasted in a tsp of oil)
Hing  paste – a generous pinch
Other ingredients:
Bittergourd – 2 (Around 2 cups chopped)
Bimbul /sorrel fruit – 2 cups
Jaggery – 2 cups (more or less)
Salt – to taste

Method:

1. Dry roast mustard seeds until it splutters on low flame.
2. Add coriander seeds,urad dal,cumin seeds and roast further.
3. Add hing and roast .
4. Add roasted chilly.
5. Cool the roasted ingredients.
6. Powder chilly at first and add the rest of the roasted ingredients.
7. Powder it with chilly to a fine powder.
8. Keep it ready.
9. Scrape the bitter gourd slightly and cut it into two lengthwise.
10. Cut into small chunks and wash it well.
11. Wash the bimbul and cut it into two.
12. Take a pressure cooker add bittergourd,bimbul,salt to taste and jaggery.
13. Add water, take 1 whistle and switch off the flame.
14. Add the roasted powder,check salt and keep it on high flame.
15. Reduce the gravy and make it thick.
16. Cool it,store it in airtight container and refrigerate until further use.

RECIPE OF GANTI(CHALK PIECE SWEET)

COURTESY- NAMITHA PRABHU

INGREDIENTS:
*. All purpose flour(Maida) 1 cup,
*. Vanaspati ghee 1/6 cup,
*. Sugar 1 cup,
*. Vanaspati ghee (or oil) for deep frying,
*. Salt.

PROCEDURE:
1. Mix Maida, vanaspati ghee, salt, water to make a soft dough.
2. Knead well and make into a thin rope. Cut then into little-finger sized pieces.
3. Deep fry in ghee/oil on a very low flame. Take out in a large bowl.
4. Add 1 tbl spoon of water to 1 cup of sugar and heat it till the sugar melts.
5. Pour on top of the fried pieces and mix well so that all the pieces get a uniform sugar coating.
6. Take out the pieces one by one and keep on a clean plate.
7. When it is cooled, the sugar syrup coating will get its white color back.

DIAMOND KIRITA SAMARPAN OF SHANTERI KAMAKSHI RAMNATH LAXMI NARAYAN DEVASTAN KUMTA

Diamond kirit for Shanteri Kamakshi Ramnath Laxmi Narayan, Kumta on the ocasion of Punar Pratista Vajra Mahotsav to be held from 19-04-2015 to 27-04-2015