A Journey to Tirupathi Balaji

On Jan 26, 2018, I and my husband started to have darshan at Tirupathi Balaji in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara Swamy, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Lord Venkateswara is known by many other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa.

We started our journey from Chennai to Balaji by Tamilnadu Tourism bus. We reached at Tirupathi town within 3 hours. From Tirupathi, we again hired one more bus to reach Tirumala hill. This is the place where Lord Balaji temple is situated. The hill view was nice and serene.

We started at 11:30 AM for having darshan. We were having a booking for special darshan. It took less time to reach the temple. We reached the temple in nearly 1 and half hours. Many pilgrims came there. We had darshan. Sill I feel, Lord Balaji image is captured in my mind. We sat outside the temple for 5 min. We felt tranquility. We took prasadam “Tirupathi Ladoo” which is offered by the temple to every pilgrim. However, it was not crowded much on that day. We came back to our cottage by 2:30 PM.

We reached at Tirupathi town at 4 PM. After having lunch, we headed towards Tiruchanoor Town. It is 4 and a half kilometer from Tirupathi. Goddess Padmavathi temple is situated here. Sri Padmavathi is the heavenly consort of Lord Venkateswara Swamy. We took special tickets for darshan. We offered lotus flower to the goddess. The temple is an attraction for many Hindu pilgrims. We took prasadam. After darshan, we returned to Chennai and reached by 9:30 PM.

It was a pleasant journey. We were feeling good. It is a must visit place once in a life. We will visit again. 

Keep Quiet

Definition

Keep Quiet means remain silent. It is really a good ability of a person. Everyone doesn’t have this power but if they have, they will be admired.

There is one saying “the ability to speak several languages is impressive, but the ability to keep quiet is appreciated.” 

Why should we be quiet?

Whenever any argument is going on, be silent and listen. Whether you are wrong or correct, keep quiet. If you don’t want to prolong an argument, keep calm.

If you are wrong, definitely you will be quiet. But if you are correct, still you have to be calm. The other person will understand automatically and come back to you.

“Saying is easier than doing” so it’s very difficult to maintain. We will always try to prove ourselves that we are correct.

Generally, women are expected to be calm and quiet. If they react, it is taken in wrong way. One person has to be quiet otherwise argument will go long. We have to learn to be calm.

What to do for being quiet?

For remaining quiet, do meditation or prayer at that time.

From my personal experience, don’t be a part of any argument. Just leave a place, go to a calm place and engage yourself in some other work. You will forget issue for some time and another person will also come back to you. No need to prove ourselves every time. Everyone knows themselves whether they are wrong or right.

Benefits of calmness

If you are able to control yourself, you will feel relax. Your energy will be saved. It won’t become a big issue.

When to Speak?

After some time, discuss an issue. Another person will also understand the matter and you will be able to solve an issue without any argument. Sometimes “speak less” ability also helps you. Generally, fights or arguments happen with a person with whom we speak more. So speak less or whenever it is required.

Your life will be peaceful if you acquire this quality.

Recipe: Khich

Prep Time: 15 Min                                                                                                Serving: 4 Persons

We prepare Khich on the day of Makar Sankranti (January 14). It is a traditional Rajasthani sweet dish.

Ingredients:

• Wheat- 1 Bowl
• Milk-  ¾ liter
• Sugar- As per taste
• Dry fruits

Preparations:

1. Sprinkle water on wheat.
2. Let it dry for some time.
3. Grind wheat for just a second for removing the skin of it.
4. Boil wheat(removed skin) until it gets soft.
5. Cook with milk.
6. Add dry fruits and sugar.
7. Keep cooking for 15 min.

Ready.

Thought

It came to my mind so I am sharing.

You can get respect and love, just by your words and actions.

A walk at Terrace

I like the atmosphere of calmness. Last night I was walking on my terrace. After half an hour of a walk, I started to listen music on Gaana Application. I was listening songs like “Dil Diya Gallan” and “Tere Naam”. Both songs are picturized on “Salman Khan”. Dil Diya Gallan was sung by “Atif Aslam”. He is one of my favourite singer. His singing is lovely. Another song was sung by “Alka Yagnik”. She has sung this song very beautifully. I was amazed. Felt nice. After some time my Lovely Hubby joined me. We came back after one hour. :)

Beautiful Morning at Marina Beach, Chennai

It was not planned that we are going to the beach but my husband asked me to wake up and let us go to Beach.

We started at 5:30 AM. When we started, there was smoke. A festival, Pongal was falling on the next day so they were burning old met and broom as per their ritual. My husband was driving. The air was chilled, but we were enjoying. We reached there at 6:00 AM. It was dark. Felt extremely good.

We were sitting on the coast side. We were talking with each other. Nearly we sat there for one hour. Water was flowing. Waves were coming and going. The place was very calm. By that time, we were looking at the sky. We saw a group of birds was flying. I think I had seen a group of birds after a long time. In childhood, I had seen at my home but it’s difficult to find in Metro cities. I was amazed to see birds. I and my husband were observing that these birds are also having togetherness. One bird was leading and other birds were following. It was a nice to look at them. Likewise, nearly one hour got over. Then we moved to the roadside. We strolled for some time. Many vendors were there. They were selling many juices like Aloe Vera juice, gooseberry juice, soup, and fruits. I like Morning so much so I was feeling very nice. Whenever I go in the morning, I used to have gooseberry juice so I and my husband took gooseberry juice and soup. We liked too much. The taste was delicious. Even that vendor behaviour was positive.

Many Old age persons, young ones, kids all were there. Some of them were doing yoga. Beach is the nice place to do yoga. Some of them were jogging. Some of them were walking. We had seen trainers. They were providing training to kids in various areas like karate, jump, Meditation, and yoga. I and my husband were looking at kids and thinking these kids have started everything at the early age only. Anyhow, it is helpful for making strong their muscles so that they would be good at any sport.

We had seen one old man. He was feeding birds(pigeons). Lots of pigeons were there. I loved that moment. 

After some while, we were back to home. We arrived at the home at 8:00 AM.

We felt fresh and cool. It was a pleasant, delightful and memorable morning

Believe in giving your 100%

I used to say this statement and even I follow this principle so I decided to write on this.

We should try to give our 100 % every day means we should do our best. We should give our complete energy in any kind of work which we take in our hand. Giving energy means we want to finish and succeed in any task. We should commit our self to any task what we are doing. We do daily many tasks in personal and professional life both.

There is a saying "what we get out of each day that depends on what you put in. And that is up to you." If you are performing a task with energy, the output will be also very positive. If you are performing a task with less energy then there will be a chance of fail or output won't be as per your desire. It is natural, if you are giving bad input, you will get bad output. Sometimes it may possible, you are working with full energy, you get fail but you will not feel any regret. When you do your best, you achieve success.

Why we should give our 100%

It is true that we must give our efforts to finish a task. I felt that if you give your 100% for one year, you will get the benefit for at least next 2 year. So do work with full enthusiasm, the result will be good.

What are the examples

You are writing a blog, keep doing this work. If you give your 100% energy then you will be able to complete within one day with good quality otherwise it will prolong.

One more example, you are preparing for an examination, give your full energy for clearing it. It may possible you won’t get success but you will be happy since you have tried your best.

What prevents you from giving your 100%

Sometimes it may possible, you are working but if you are not getting outcomes then you will be little dull. You will stop doing work. But we should keep continuing without expecting anything. You will get outcomes. Even I am also getting lesson not to give up. Keep continue and do your best.

Togetherness, Loneliness and Solitude

Today I am writing about togetherness, Loneliness and Solitude. Well, all three words are very simple but have a great meaning.

Togetherness is a most important aspect of life. It means you are united with another person. You are working together with understanding. It gives us security, strength and much-needed support. It encourages us to love one another. If we are together then we get success.

One example, when a husband and wife having collaboration in their life then their level of confidence would be very high. They get success in every aspect of life.

One more example, we are definitely getting money for what work we are doing in projects. But if we are not having any good understanding, bonding, togetherness with other members then it would be very difficult to successfully launch a project. That’s a reason teamwork capability is expected from an employee which is a good virtue of a person. When team members work in collaboration then they get success in projects and professional life.

So togetherness is vital in personal and professional life both.

Loneliness is a painful and negative state of a person where he feels alone.

When you are surrounded by others but if you are not able to communicate then it is known as loneliness. You are not bonding with other person or that person is not able to understand you that condition also explains loneliness.

We see many examples in daily life where we can feel that they are together but they are alone in real because somewhere some bonding is missing among them.

Just imagine if they are having good or best collaboration, best togetherness, best understanding then they will be very confident in life. They can cheer in life. They can enjoy in life. It will bring lots of happiness and peace. That’s a reason togetherness plays a very important role in different aspects of life.

Loneliness is not good for a person because it kills you from inside. A person will feel like he is unnoticed or unwanted by others. He is rejected by them. It leads to depression and loss of self-esteem also. So to overcome this, don’t feel yourself lonely because in this world everyone feels lonely. Keep engage yourself in a work which you like the most. Talk freely with a person with whom you feel comfortable. Listen to music and smile. J

On the other side, Solitude is the positive state of mind. It is chosen by a human being. When he wants to live alone willingly for accomplishing a goal or relaxing mind then solitude is chosen by him. Sometimes people just sit alone at the calm place or they go in nature for getting solitude. It is a lovely feeling where he will feel quite fresh.

Recipe- Suji (Rava) Handvo

Prep Time:- 30 Min.                                                            Serves- 3 Persons                                                                

Yesterday I had prepared Suji (Rava) Handvo. The taste was delicious. So here is the recipe to prepare Rava Handvo.

Ingredients:

1. Suji (Rava)- 6 Bowl (You can prepare 3 handvo)
2. Curry Leaves- 6-8
3. Salt- to taste
4. Curd- 2 cup
5. Coriander Leaves- as per need
6. Baking Soda- 1 Tsp
7. Mustard Seeds- 1Tsp
8. Oil- 6 Tsp

Preparations:

1. Mix Rava, curd and water to make a little thicker consistency batter in a Pan.
2. Keep aside this batter for 20 minutes.
3. Put a Pan, add oil. Then add mustard seeds and curry leaves.
4. Pour this oil into Batter.
5. Take two ladleful batter in another pan and add little baking soda and coriander leaves.
6.  Put Kadai to heat.
7. Add little oil and pour ladleful batter (mixed with soda) into kadai. If you don’t use oil then it will stick to kadai base.
8. Cover and allow cooking on a very low flame.
9. When the base turns crisp and golden brown, flip over.
10.  Allow another side to become crisp.
11.  Serve hot with sambar or sauce.
12.  Repeat this method for preparing other two handvo.

Ready.

Note:-

1. If sambar is little sweet then the taste will be very good.
2. Sambar should not be vegetable sambar but it should contain only tomato, onion and green chilly.
3. Add little lemon juice also for sourness in sambar.

Live: What is a Dedication

Today I was looking at my landlord aunty and I was feeling, she is a too much-dedicated lady because she is so much dedicated towards her children and work.

I thought to write about Dedication.

Dedication means you are dedicating yourself towards any goal, task or work. It can be anything. When you are connecting intellectually or emotionally towards your task or you are binding yourself towards any work at a great level then this is known as dedication.

When you are dedicated then you won’t be just good at the task but you would be best. You will devote yourself completely without worrying anything.

Let us take one example, a mother is dedicated towards her children. She never thinks about herself. She does work endlessly. She just wants that her children be happy always. So Mother is a good example to show the meaning of dedication.

Another example, suppose you want to create a garden at your home then definitely time and energy are required for planting trees. But if you are focused and dedicated to planting trees then you would be able to do. You will not worry about time and energy.

One more example, we work at the office. We work there with dedication. We perform our duties honestly.

Another Meaning of dedication can be like you are honest towards performing duties at your work or goal.

Dedication is commitment also. When you are committed to any work then it shows your dedication only.

Dedication brings success in life. Definitely, if you are doing work with full energy then you will get success in your life. It may possible you get failure but you won’t leave but you will work till you don’t achieve your goal.

Recipe: Sundal

Prep Time- 10 Min Serves- 2 Persons

In South India(Tamil Nadu), it is a snack item. As my husband was wishing to have this so I prepared. It is a tasty, light snack. You can have at tea time.

Ingredients:

• Chickpeas - 1 bowl
• Salt- ½ tsp
• Dry Red Chilly- 1
• Curry Leaves- 5-7
• Mustard- 1 Tsp
• Grated coconut- 3 Tsp

Preparations:

1. Boil chickpeas in a pressure cooker. For boiling perfectly, you can do in evening itself. Just take 2 whistles and keep aside. Again boil in the morning till chickpeas don’t get soft. You can add a little salt and baking soda also for making them soft.
2.  Take Pan, add mustard seeds, curry leaves and dry red chilly.
3. Add chickpeas and some salt. Cook for 2-3 min.
4. Add grated coconut powder and switch off the flame.

Ready.

Living:- Habits of a successful person

Today I was reading some articles about success so I came to know that we should acquire some good habits in our life. Good habits give lots of happiness, success, smiles, prosperity in life.

Here are some habits of a successful person which we should follow.

1.       We should be Goal oriented. Every successful man has some certain goals and he accomplishes those goals in a defined time. We should decide in the night only what we have to do next day.

2.       We should be a good learner. Daily we should learn something or write something because we don’t know when this knowledge will help us.

3.       We should be health conscious. We should watch out for our diets, how much we are having. Do exercise, yoga and meditation also.

4.       We should do prayer also. Prayers give us a different level of confidence. Problems will come in life but solutions would be also possible for them.

5.       We should wake up early in morning. If we wake up early in morning then our tasks will also get completed soon and we feel fresh.

6.       If Failures come to life then don’t get depressed but try to get lessons and not to repeat those mistakes again in future.