AWAKENINGS

Our First PM Nehru's US visit during Kennedy's Presidency. Compare this with the present MODI'S US state visit.   Quote:   As Galbraith wrote in his diary, “Nehru simply did not respond. Question after question he answered with monosyllables or a sentence or two…The president found it very discouraging. …"   After Kennedy told Galbraith “it was the worst state visit” of his presidency and also felt that Nehru seemed more interested in talking with Jackie than with him…” It was equally distressing to know what Jacqueline Kennedy said about Nehru about Nehru’s behaviours during his state visit.   Jackie:   “If Nehru is not the Prime Minister of India, I would have slapped him on his cheeks for his misbehaviors !”   This was Nehru who introduced India to US as Snake Charmers only leaving many cultural feats of India.  

From June 21 to June 24 – US State Visit – First at UN Headquarters at New York to lead 9th Annual International Day of Yoga and then  to White House Washington DC.   From June 24 to June 25 – Modi’s Egypt Visit was on the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Modi’s Egypt visit is his first official visit as PM and the last visit by the Indian PM earlier was in 1997 – After a gap of 26 years, Modi’s visit happened.   When a leader undertakes a state visit, the head of state of the destination country acts as the former's official host throughout the duration of the trip. Such a visit always includes a state reception by the host for the guest. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden had honoured PM Modi   with a state dinner.   A state visit is usually reserved only for ‘closest friends and allies.’ It, therefore, signifies the highest expression of friendly bilateral ties between two sovereign nations.  How is a state visit different from...

PM Modi's Yoga event at the UN has created a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people from diverse nationalities/ ethnicity participating in Yoga together ON THE 21ST JUNE 2023 IN THE LAWNS OF UN.   Fact is India s soft power is capturing minds in world now.   Michael Empric, Guinness World Records official adjudicator, presented the certificate to Ruchira Kamboj, India's permanent representative to the United Nations.    "Today there was a Guinness World Records title attempt for most nationalities in a Yoga lesson. The mark to be was 140 nationalities. Today in New York, at the UN, they have 135. It is a new Guinness world records title," Michael Empric said.  

  Andal / Bhudevi Jayanthi – July 22, 2023.   Andal Jayanti, is the celebration of Bhudevi’s birthday and is dedicated to Andal or Bhudevi   who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. This day is also known as Aadi Pooram.   Aadi Pooram is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor during the Tamil month of ‘Aadi’. It is believed that the Andal comes to the Earth on this auspicious day, to bless the devotees.   She is one of the twelve Alwars elevated as a Goddess after uniting with Lord Vishnu.   She is renowned for her steadfast devotion for Sri Ranganatha (Lord Vishnu).   Thiruppavai and the Nachiyar Thirumozhi are two of Her literary compositions praising Lord Vishnu.   LET US ALL BE BLESSED BY ANDAL ON HER AUSPICIOUS BIRTHDAY.

Vysar Purnima means the Birth Anniversary of Vysa Muni .   Gautama Buddha was believed to have given his first Sermon at Sarnath on this very auspicious day.  Hence this day is also celebrated as Buddha Purnima .   Even Jains observe this day as as Treenok Guha Purnima.   Above all, Lord Shiva is recognised as the very first guru in the yogic tradition.   It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared as a yogi to the saptarishis, or the seven sages, in the Himalayas on this day to explain the teachings of yoga. Shiva is also revered as an Adiyogi for this reason.   As the name suggests, the day is specifically dedicated to Guru, both spiritual and academic ones, as they bring one from darkness to light, from ignorance to enlightenment.   Saptarishis was taught by Lord Shiva and they distributed knowledge of Shiva to the whole world.   “Gu” means darkness and “Ru” means dispelling. “Guru” means One who dispels darkness -...