Happy 26th Birthday, Vishnu! It feels like just yesterday I was carrying a loud bundle of joy outside Agadi Hospital. Now, you’ve officially graduated from the Quarter-Century Club to what I like to call the Level 26 Boss stage. Here is my wish to celebrate the man you’ve become.
Once upon a Time
They say time flies, but in our house, it’s soared at supersonic speeds. One moment I’m dodging your jealous jabs at Didi, and the next, I’m watching you navigate airports and international universities with the poise of a seasoned diplomat. And just like that, the Quarter-Century Club which felt soooooo…. last year and today, you hit 26—a number that feels solid, grounded, and full of new momentum.
Looking back at the digital trail of wishes I’ve left for you over the years, it’s like watching a high-definition timelapse of a life well-lived. From the 15-year-old Amazing Young Gentleman that I wrote about in the past to the Coolest 20-year-old navigating the start of a new decade, and finally to last year’s 25 year milestone—every year has added a new layer to the man you’ve become.
I still chuckle thinking about the Honda Makiva blabber or the way you’d set expectations so low before an exam, only to end up scoring pretty good. With benefit of hindsight, it was your legendary academic strategy. Most kids brag about how much they’ve studied; you had the uncanny ability to convince us you’d flunk, only to end up quite on top. I’m still waiting to hear if that teacher who promised to jump off the terrace if you scored the highest actually survived your results! From those shockingly pleasant scores to seeing your picture on the University BEST board, you’ve always kept us on our toes, cheering you all the way.
A moment we always would Cherish: No ordinary feat.
Whether it’s teaching yourself the guitar (and being quite good at it, even if you aren’t Jimi Hendrix just yet!) or being humble to a fault by refusing to sign consent for your own promo photos—you’ve always had a level head on those broad gym-going shoulders. This humility (except what I am mentioning in the next line, Bro) though sometimes bordering on a fault is what makes you, YOU. You’ve gone from Bro (as you so proudly call me once saying I will be taller than you) to a man who stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his Dad.
Jokes aside, home feels a little too quiet without you. When you first packed your bags to go abroad for your studies, it felt like the heart of the home had checked in for a long-haul flight. I remember Gurudev once saying, “Let him go, he will do well, and while my head knew he was right, my heart was screaming No!”
Unforgettable Day – 2018
Waving goodbye at the airport terminal was the moment it truly hit me: the little boy who once cried after watching Taare Zameen Par was now a young man out to conquer the world. Every time you leave after a holiday, technology tries to bridge the gap, but no video call can replace having you around in flesh and blood.
It is already feels so long
As a Dad, I miss our short evening chats and the drive in the campus, the random banter, and yes, even the way you’d take me on a guilt trip just to get a trip to the beach (in Chennai).
At 26, you are no longer in need of my unwarranted advice. You’ve navigated challenges with grace, returned to your roots when the Motherland and Mother called, and showed us that generosity isn’t about age—it’s about the heart. As you celebrate the day, my prayer remains the same:
Stay rooted. In a world of constant noise, keep that Himalayan patience (perhaps inherited from Amma) and that generous heart that once gave away a half-eaten chocolate to a stranger at the gate.
May the Grace of the Divine and the blessings of Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji always light your path. Keep chasing those dreams, but don’t forget to enjoy the evening walks and the simple joys along the way.
Happy Birthday, Bro! We are incredibly proud of the gentleman you are.
Love you loads,
From all of us
Children are a promise that a parent will always have a friend. Cheers to 26 years of friendship, Vishnu!
O! Maa Annapoorneshwari! renderer of the support of compassion, the bestower of eternal happiness, the donor of gifts and protection, the ocean of beauty, the destroyer of all sins and purifier, the great goddess, the purifier of the family of Himavan, and the great deity of Kasi, grant us alms.
Maataannapoorneshwari
Bharat is a land that celebrates everything and everyone in the creation. Our Puranas ensured the significance of being grateful for everything that we possess and not possess. The celestial drama surrounding the importance of sustenance & nourishment culminates in the joyous observance of Annapoorna Jayanti, celebrated each year on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Margashirsha. Agrahayana or Margashirsha is the ninth month of the Hindu lunar calendar and the name of the month is derived from the position of the Moon near the Mrigashīrsha nakshatra (star) on the full moon day. This day honors the embodiment of nourishment, Goddess Annapoorna, a compassionate manifestation of Parvati. Her very name, derived from ‘Anna’ (food) and ‘Poorna’ (full or complete), defines her role as the divine provider.
The story begins with a playful, yet consequential, game of dice between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Fueled by excitement, their friendly wager escalated until Shiva, repeatedly losing, eventually gambled away every possession, even his symbolic trident and the serpent that adorned him. Humiliated and destitute, Shiva sought the counsel of Lord Vishnu. Following Vishnu’s advice, Shiva returned to the game and, to Parvati’s astonishment, won everything back.
Shiva-Parvati Playing Dice
Suspicion turned into accusation. Parvati, disbelieving her husband’s sudden reversal of fortune, called him a cheat. The ensuing argument prompted Vishnu to reveal that the course of the game was a matter of divine will, an illusion (maya), orchestrating their moves. Shiva seized upon this revelation, dismissing all worldly possessions, including the very food that sustains life, as mere maya. This assertion deeply angered Parvati. To her, equating food with illusion was to dismiss her divine presence. To demonstrate the fundamental error in his cosmic view, the Goddess vanished from the world, adopting her form as Annapoorna.
Her disappearance brought about an immediate and catastrophic change. Nature itself came to a standstill: the seasons ceased, the land grew barren, and a devastating famine swept across the universe. Gods, demons, and humans alike suffered crippling hunger, their desperate prayers echoing through the void.
Seeing her own children suffer, compassion welled up in the heart of Parvati and she came to the earth, in Varanasi (Kashi), and set up a kitchen where she served all those who came to her for nourishment. Seeing this, Shiva took the form of a mendicant and went to her asking for alms. Parvati recognised Shiva and was happy to see her Lord. Lord Shiva finally grasped the depth of his error—that the physical body and the spirit it housed required nourishment, and that without Shakti (the feminine power, Parvati), he was incomplete. Humbled, he appeared before Annapoorna with a skull for a begging bowl and accepted alms from her hands.
Art of Living‘s Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji says, “The dancer and the dance cannot be separated, so also the creator and his creation”. Shiva lovingly told Parvati, “This world and you are verily a part of me. The world is as illusory as the dance, neither real nor unreal. One does not try to understand a dance—you simply rejoice in it”. Anna refers to ‘food’, poorna is ‘fullness’. When you eat food, you can immediately experience contentment and fullness at the gross level. Similarly, anna daana, meaning offering of food, brings contentment in the other person who receives the offering. These glimpses of fullness and contentment can be expressed through other actions as well. Whenever you taste that contentment, it takes you to a higher state of consciousness. An unfulfilled person cannot reach the higher states.
It was on the auspicious full moon day of Margashirsha that the Goddess returned to bestow her life-giving presence upon the world. Thus, Annapoorna Jayanti is observed on this day to eternally honor the deity who ensures humanity is never deprived of food.
As the divine steward of nourishment, Mother Annapoorna is traditionally depicted holding a golden ladle and a jeweled bowl overflowing with rice, seated on a majestic throne. This image is a perpetual reminder of her bountiful grace and the sacredness of sustenance.
On this special day, devotees observe rituals that emphasize purity and gratitude. The kitchen, the heart of the home’s sustenance, is meticulously cleaned and sanctified with Ganga water. Special worship is offered to the domestic stove, and devotees honor both Shiva and Annapoorna, knowing that their combined blessings ensure the perpetual flow of food and water in the household. Cooking without onion or garlic and performing acts like Annaabhishekam (offering rice to the sustainer of life) are revered ways to connect with the divine mother’s abundant energy.
अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे । ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वति||
Bow down to Mother Annapoorna, you the Eternally Complete (with the gift of Food and Blessings), You Who are the Beloved of Shankara, O Mother Parvati, Please grant me the Alms of Your Grace, to awaken within me Spiritual Knowledge and Freedom from all Worldly Desires.
Rituals & Vidhana
Devotees may observe a full or partial Upavasa (Fasting).
Many follow a simple diet that includes fruits, milk and light meals.
Upavasa is observed with a calm mind and positive thoughts.
Upavasa is broken after evening prayers.
Upavasa on this day is believed to purify the mind and bring spiritual clarity.
Puja Vidhana
Clean the Puja Area
Install the moorti or photograph of Goddess Annapoorna on a wooden Peetha.
Light a Lamp with Ghee or Sesame Oil
Offer Arghya (water) in a copper or silver vessel.
Apply turmeric, kumkum and sandalwood paste on Devi’s Moorti.
OfferFresh flowers, rice, wheat and fruits as Naivedya
Prepare Prasada – simple vegetarian food such as rice, dal, vegetables or sweet dishes.
Chant Annapurna Ashtakam, Annapurna Stotra.
Perform Aarti
Distribute Prasada
Adishaktyatmaka Shree Annapoorneshwari Amma Temple, Horanadu, Karnataka
Narasimha Jayanti marks the appearance of Bhagwan Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Bhagawan Vishnu, the day He took birth as half-human and half-lion form, symbolising the balance of power and wisdom. Celebrated on Shukla Chaturdashi in the month of Vaishakha (2nd Month of Hindu Calendar) under the Swati Nakshatra, this day honors the divine balance of power and wisdom. It is a testament to the victory of Dharma over Adharma and the unwavering faith of a devotee.
Roots of Conflict: Hiranyakashipu’s Vengeance
Hiranyakashyipu, was a daitya king of the asuras. Daitya is a race of asuras in Hindu mythology, descending from Kashyapa and his wife, Diti. As per Manusmriti, though Daityas are considered good, they are placed below Devas:
तापसा यतयो विप्रा ये च वैमानिका गणाः । नक्षत्राणि च दैत्याश्च प्रथमा सात्त्विकी गतिः tapasa yatayo vipra ye ch vaimanika ganah । nakshatrani ch daityasch prathama saattviki gatih [Ascetics & hermits, Brahmanas, celestial beings, & Daityas represent the first state partaking of Sattva.]
The story begins with Daitya king Hiranyakashipu. Driven by the death of his brother, Hiranyaksha (slain by Vishnu’s Varaha avatar), the king embarked on a path of vengeance. He performed rigorous Tapas (penance) to please Brahma, seeking a way to bypass mortality.
While he was away, Indra and the Devas attacked his kingdom. However, as pre-ordained Maharshi Narada intervened to protect king’s pregnant wife, Kayadhu. In the sanctity of Narada’s ashram, the unborn child, Prahlada, received Ateendriya Shikshana (transcendental instruction), planting seeds of supreme devotion to Vishnu within his soul. The unborn child in Kayadhu’s womb was heavily influenced by the Satvik (Sentient and virtuous) atmosphere and got subjected to Ateendriya Shikshana (Transcendental instruction) of Maharshi Narada.
Maharshi Narada blessing Prahlada with Ateendriya Shikshana
When due, Kayadhu delivered a baby boy and he was named Prahlada and like Maharshi Narada’s ordainment while in his womb, Prahlada turned out to be an ardent devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu.
Invincible Boon
Pleased with his penance, Brahma granted Hiranyakashipu a complex boon. The king asked that he not be killed:
By any human, god, or animal.
By any weapon.
During the day or night.
Indoors or outdoors.
On the earth or in the sky.
Believing himself immortal, Hiranyakashipu unleashed a reign of terror, usurping Indra’s throne and demanding the world worship him as the supreme being.
Hiranyakashipu gets Boon from Brahma
Clash of Faith and Ego
Hiranyakashipu’s greatest torment was his own son. Prahlada remained an ardent devotee of Vishnu, refusing to acknowledge his father’s supremacy. Enraged, the king attempted to execute Prahlada multiple times, through poison, fire, and trampling elephants, but the boy remained unscathed, shielded by divine grace.
Despite all the powers at his disposal, his son Prahlada’s devotion to Bhagwan Vishnu (his mortal enemy and killer of his brother) was tormenting Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu became very livid at his son’s devotion to Vishnu and decides to kill him. Every attempt made by him to kill Prahlada was foiled by Bhagwan Vishnu who is known to be protective of His devotees. Hiranyakashipu was enraged even more when Prahlada refused to acknowledge him as the Supremo and on the contrary counters him saying Bhagwan Vishnu was Supreme and he will not bow to anyone other than Vishnu.
Devas who were chased away from the devaloka approached Bhagwan Vishnu for a solution. Vishnu promises that at the appropriate time he would reincarnate and save the world from evil Hiranyakashipu reestablish Dharma. Meanwhile battle of establishing supremacy between father and son continued in the palace of Hiranyakashipu. Incensed by this defiance, once during the twilight prayer time, Hiranyakashipu asks Prahlada pointing to a pillar on the threshold of the courtyard, if Vishnu is omnipresent, is Vishnu present here. With utmost calm, Prahlada replies, He is in the pillar as He is in the smallest Twig. This reply enraged Hiranyakashipu. He took his mace out and smashes the pillar with it. With a tumultous noise the pillar breaks open and to protect his Devotee Prahlada, Bhagwan Vishnu appears in the form of half Human-half lion, Narasimha (Nara = Human; Simha = Lion). All the situation for anhiliating the Evil Hiranyakashipu, in compliance with the boon he had, the time has arrived.
The tension peaked during a twilight confrontation in the palace courtyard. Hiranyakashipu pointed to a stone pillar and mocked: “If your Vishnu is everywhere, is he in this pillar?”
Prahlada replied with calm certainty: “He is in the pillar, as He is in the smallest twig.”
The Divine Manifestation
Hiranyakashipu smashed the pillar with his mace. With a roar that shook the universe, Bhagwan Narasimha emerged. Vishnu had taken a form that meticulously navigated the constraints of Brahma’s boon.
Divine Manifestation
Hiranyakashipu smashed the pillar with his mace. With a roar that shook the universe, Bhagwan Narasimha emerged. Vishnu had taken a form that meticulously navigated the constraints of Brahma’s boon.
Neither Man nor Animal: He was the half-man, half-lion Nara-Simha.
Neither Day nor Night: The appearance occurred at Sandhya (twilight).
Neither Indoors nor Outdoors: The battle took place on the threshold (doorway).
Neither Earth nor Sky: Narasimha placed the demon on his thighs.
No Weapons: He tore through the demon’s chest using his claws (nails).
With the end of Hiranyakashipu, the era of tyranny collapsed, proving that no boon can protect one from the consequences of evil when faced with pure devotion.
End of Terror-Victory of Good over Evil
Om Ugra Narasimhaye Vidmahe, Vajra Nakhaye Dheemahi, Tanno Narasimha Prachodayat
Narasimha Jayanti serves as a reminder that Bhagwan resides in every atom, ready to protect those who call upon Him with a sincere heart.
Vrata and Puja Vidhana
Our Home Narasimha – Yoga Narasimha of Melkote
The observance of Narasimha Jayanti Vrata is centered on purification, self-control, and intense meditation. Devotees believe that sincere adherence to these rituals grants protection from obstacles and spiritual liberation.
Day of Narasimha Jayanti
The core of Vrata occurs on Chaturdashi. Unlike many other festivals where rituals peak at dawn, the most significant moments here happen at twilight, the hour of the Bhagawan’s appearance.
Sankalpa (Divine Resolve): Devotees take a holy bath and perform Sankalpa, a formal vow to observe the fast and worship Bhagwan Narasimha with full devotion.
Upavasa (The Fast): A strict fast is maintained throughout the day. While many observe a Nirjala fast (without water), others may opt for fruits and milk depending on physical capacity.
Shodashopachara Puja: ritual of worship consisting of sixteen specific offerings or services (upacharas). In Sanskrit, shodasha means sixteen and upachara means an offering given with devotion.
Dhyanam: Meditating on the deity and reciting a short prayer.
Avahanam: Formally inviting or invoking the deity into the place of worship or idol.
Aasanam: Offering a beautifully decorated seat to the divine guest.
Paadyam: Symbolically washing the deity’s feet with water.
Arghyam: Offering water to the deity to wash their hands.
Achamanam: Offering water for the deity to drink or wash their mouth.
Madhuparka: Offering a sweet drink, typically made with honey, as an auspicious beginning.
Snanam (Abhisheka): Ritual bathing of the idol with water or sacred substances like milk, curd, honey, and ghee.
Vastram: Offering new clothes and jewelry to the deity.
Yagnopaveetam: Offering the sacred thread.
Gandham: Applying sandalwood paste or perfumes to the deity’s forehead.
Pushpam: Offering fresh flowers and garlands while chanting the deity’s names. Narasimha’s favourite flowers are white champak (Sampige), white lotus, white marigold, red rose.
Dhoopam: Burning incense to provide a pleasant, purifying fragrance.
Deepam: Offering the light of an oil or ghee lamp.
Naivedya: Special offerings called Naivedya is special offerings prepared. We also prepare Panaka, a cooling drink (jaggery water with pepper and cardamom) and Cosambari (Cucumber with soaked moong dal)
Tamboolam: Offering betel leaves and nuts for chewing after the meal..
Twilight Puja: As the sun begins to set (the Sandhya period), the main Puja is performed. This includes offering Tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, and sandalwood paste, and reciting the Narasimha Kavacham.
Offerings and Charity
Following the Puja, it is customary to perform Dana (charity). Donating food, clothes, or grain to the needy is considered highly meritorious on this day, as it reflects the compassionate nature of the Lord toward his subjects.
Note: This Article edited and republished with better pictures and with additional information.
