New schedule for the information sessions on Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
By Gnanaseeli
Please find out more details and new schedule for the information sessions on Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
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January 16, 2008
Places in Ancient Lanka - Polonnaruwa
Places in Ancient Lanka - Sigiriya
January 14, 2008
Happy Thai Pongal !
Wish all of you a very Happy Thai Pongal
OM,,,,,,,,,,
1)
Mudaaka raatta Modakam sadaa vimukti Saadhakam
Kalaa dharaava tamsakam vilasi loka Rakshakam
Anaaya kaika naayakam Vinaashi tebha Daityakam
Nattashu bhashu Naashakam Namaami Tam Vinaayakam.
2)
Nateta raati Bhikaram Navodi taarka Bhaasvaram
Namatsu braari Nirjaram Nataadhi kaapa Duddharam
Sureshwaram Nidiswaram kajeswaram kaneshwavaram
Maheshwaram Samaashraye Paraatparam Nirantaram
3)Samasta Loka Shankaram Nirasta Daitya Kunjaram
Daretaroda ram Varam Varebha vaktra-maksharam
Kripakaram Kshamaakaram mudaakaram yashaskaram
Manaskaram Namaskritam Namaskaromi Bhaasvaram
4)Akimcha naarti maarjanam chiram tanokti Bhaajanam
Purari purva Nandanam Surari karva Charvanam
Prapancha naasha Bhishanam Dhananjayadi Bhushanam
Kapola daana Vaaranam Bhaje Puraana Vaaranam
5)
Nitaata kaanta Danta kaanti mAntha kaantha kaatmajam
Achintya roopa mantaheenam Antharaaya Krinthanam
Hridantare Nirantaram Vasantameva Yoginaam
Tameka dantameva tam Vichintayaami Santatam
6)
Mahaa kanesha Pancharatnam AadareNa yonvam
Prajalpathi Prabha take Hridi smaram kaneshwaram
Arogataam Adoshataam Susaahitim Suputrataam
Samaahitaayurashabhutim Abhyupaithi Sochiraat
Related links
Thai Pongal (Wiki)
Thai Pongal Message
Translation,,,
1)
we prostrate before Lord Vinayaka who holds modaka in his hand with great joy, who bestows salvation, who wears the moon as a crown on his head, who is the sole leader of hose who have no leaders, who destroyed the elephant demon amed Gajasura, and who quickly destroys the sins of those who bow down toHIM.
2)
we resort to that Lord continuously who is frightening to those who are not his devotees, who shines like the rising sun, to whom all the Gods and demons bow, who removes the great distress of his his devotees, and who is the Best
among the best.
3)
we bow down to the shining Ganapathi who brings happiness to all the worlds, who destroyed the demon Gajasura, who has a big belly, beautiful elephant face, who in Immortal, who gives mercy, forgiveness and hapiness to those who bow
to Him, and who bestows ame and a well-disposed mind.
4)
we worship the ancient elephant god who destroys the pains of the poor, who is the abode of 'Om', who is the irst son of Lord Shiva (destroyer of the Triple Cities), who destroys the pride of the enemies of the Gods, who is frightening to look at during the time of the world's destruction, who is fierce like an elephant in rut, and who wears Dhananjaya and other serpants as his ornaments.
5)
we constantly feflect upon that single-tusked god only, whose lustrous tusk is very beautiful, who is the son of Lord Shiva the god of death, whose form is immortal and unknowable, who tears all obstacles, and who dwells forever in the hearts of the yogis.
6)
He who recites every morning, with devotion, these five gems about Lord Ganapathi, and who remembers in his heart the great Ganesha, will soon be endowed with a healthy life, ree o all blemishes, will obtain learning, good sons , longevity and spiritual and material prosperity.
January 13, 2008
Places in Ancient Lanka - Anuradhapura
Abayagiri Viharaya - Anuradhapura
World's Best Sandakadapahana (Moonstone) & Muragala (Guardian Stone)
Thuparamaya -Anuradhapura:first dageba in Sri Lanka
Thera Mahinda himself introduced Theravada Buddhism and also chetiya worship to Sri Lanka. At his request King Devanampiyatissa built Thuparamaya in which was enshrined the collarbone of the Buddha and is considered as the first dagaba built in Sri Lanka, after the introduction of Buddhism. This is considered the earliest monument of chronicled Sri Lanka. The name Thuparamaya comes from "stupa" and "aramaya" which is a residential complex for monks.
This chetiya was built in the shape of a heap of paddy. This dagaba was destroyed from time to time. During the reign of King Agbo II it was completely destroyed and the King restored it. What we have today is the construction of the dagaba, done in 1862 AD. As it is today, after several renovations, in the course of the centuries, the monument has a diameter of 59 ft (18 m), at the base. The dome is 11 feet 4 inches (3.45 m) in height from the ground, 164½ ft (50.1 m) in diameter. The compound is paved with granite and there are 2 rows of stone pillars round the dagaba. During the early period vatadage was built round the dagaba.
Ruwanweli saya and Lovamahapaya (The Brazen Palace)
Jethawanaramaya Dagoba
ethawanaramaya Dagoba is the highest dagaba in Sri Lanka and built in 3rd centaury A.D., by king Mahasen
Sri Maha Bodhi
Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.
It was planted on a high terrace about 6.5 m (21.3 ft) above the ground and surrounded by railings, and today it is one of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world. This wall was constructed during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha, to protect it from wild elephants which might have damaged the tree.
Ath Pokuna (The Elephant Pond-Anuradhapura)
The Elephant Pond so named because of its gigantic size is equal in area to six modern Olympic swimming pools joined together. The pond may have been built to store water for the large congregation of Buddhist monks at the monastic complex of Abhayagiri.
January 12, 2008
Places in Ancient Lanka
Video clips of Archaeological sites, Ancient Ruins & Places, which have historical and religious significance in Sri Lanka, will be uploaded on to the web. We think this valuable clips will be very useful for children for improving their knowledge about SL.
Gigantic stupas, palatial structures made of stone, all bear muted testimony to the epic history of this island in the Indian Ocean. History of sri lanka spans over a period of 2000 years, which is livid with many a colorful incident of regency and their doings. Times of wars, events of religious significance, coups and trysts with foreign elements color the odyssey of chequered history of "serendib" as sri lanka was known then. If one ponders over the above, it would seem that "serendipity", which means all that pertain to the island of "serendib" is unique, unparalleled due to the fact that it's history being an epic itself. As the time went by, winds of change swept across this isle establishing many a new monarchy and this made new kingdoms while deserted ones were eaten by wildness. There are many places of archeological importance in sri lanka today and this being the result of before mentioned.
Regents of ancient times were in the practice of establishing new domains of kingdom each time Polonnaruwa, Kandy and etc. Each time the Kingdoms changed the former ones crept into obscurity Making way they were ascended to the throne. This led to a number of kingdoms throughout the island of sri lanka at various periods of time. Many monuments pertaining to Buddhism and Hinduism, monuments built for aesthetic, medicinal purposes and for no other reason but to showoff the mightiness of the rulers were erected during the time of kingdoms like Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Yapahuwa, and Kandy etc.
During the periods of kingdom many a monarch paid homage to Buddhism by constructing temples, where "Dagabas" (a colossal structure of globular shape containing relics of lord Buddha), "Stupas"(a structure like dagaba, but containing bodily relics of monks), "Vatadage" (a circular shrine enclosing a small stupa) "Vahalkade" (a stony frontispiece featured on the four cardinal points-east, west, north and south of a stupa) "Sala" (Assembly halls) "Pasada" (Monastic residences), moonstones (a flat semi circular stone found at entrances), "Muragal", which act as guardians of the gates (columns carved in stone to the shapes of serpents, goblins or warriors), "Sellipi" (Writings carved on Stone) and "Bithu sithuvam" that still shine in pristine glory (Colorful frescos done with paint made out of plant extracts and soil, which were done on stone and plaster) were adorned by.
Apart from temples, archeological excavations done find that ancient sri lanka boasts of a well regulated irrigation system. Many tanks and canals are what is remnant of this network of reservoirs nowadays. Tanks like Tissa wewa, Minneriya, Girithale, Parakrama Samudraya stands in testimony to a glorious past where many acres of land in the dry zone were irrigated and many a cultivation took place. Ruins of many ponds have been found when Archeological excavations have been done in the citadels of Ancient times. (Eg. Kuttam Pokuna )
Other sites of historical and religious importance are aplenty, especially in the central and north central areas of the island. These include monuments dedicated to Hindu deities and to other gods, demigods, who are revered locally. Ancient Devales (shrines) of historical significance built in honour of gods and goddesses like "shiva", "pattini" play a major role in religious activities of the locale. Many of these sites are conserved by the project of "cultural triangle" by the department governing all Archeological sites (Department of Archeology).
The island of serendib is, thus studded with places of historical importance that speaks of a time when kings and knights fought, made peace and excelled in activities that brought fame to their motherland, in short testifies a time where "children of the lion" reigned supreme.
January 01, 2008
SRI LANKAN AID Fundraising Dinner
By Margaret Leighton
In the summer of 2007, I traveled to Sri Lanka as a volunteer with the student-run NGO Sri Lankan Aid, bringing relief to remote areas of the Island. In many regions devastated by the 2004 tsunami, reconstruction has been slow or non-existent due to the ongoing civil war. A small group of students who are motivated to make change for a better world, Sri Lankan Aid volunteers travel to areas larger groups often do not reach. We rebuild schools, bring donations of medical equipment, and strive to work in partnership with local communities to meet their urgent basic needs. Deeply moved by my experiences last summer, I will be returning to Sri Lanka in February to develop further programs in these areas.
A small group with a small budget, we depend on donations. The funds raised at this dinner go directly towards projects in Sri Lanka. The dinner will feature 5-star food, and will include a presentation about Sri Lankan Aid. Seats are by tax-deductible donation: we encourage all to give until they feel comfortable, but suggests a minimum contribution of $60. Please make reservations by January 15, at 665-6074, or m.leighton@gmail.com.
When: Saturday, January 19, 2008: 6:00 PM
Where: 213 2nd Avenue East (Unitarian Church)
THANK YOU for your SUPPORT!
External Links:
www.srilankanaid.com
www.srilankanaid.com/leap
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