Gauri pooja is performed in many homes during the 10 day ganesh chaturthi festival. Jeshtha and kanishtha are believed to be twin sisters of lord ganesha.

They visit their brother for two days during the 10 day festival...these sisters are also forms of goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati. They are the bestowers of progress and prosperity. Many different varieties of idols are available in the market but... in my friends home...these "mukhavate" as they are known are 100 years old...handed down from generations ...its now 3rd generation where the pooja is performed yearly with all the devotion. They are made up of brass...every year they are polished and decorated...and adorned with jewellery..and of course lot of fresh flowers and yummy naivedyam of "puran poli" etc...

Another friend celebrated gauri habba on the previous day of ganesh chaturthi...which we call "haratalika pooja" and in this festival gauri is parvati mother of ganesha...

Fascinating to see each region in India celebrating different cultures with same thought..

Banana and Walnut Cake.....

This is one sure shot receipe and healthy too...its eggless and no maida !! and yummy too...

very yummy !! I got it from a friend few years back and just tumble upon it today morning..

1 1/2 cups wheat flr

1 cup oats

1/2 cup sugar

2 t sp baking powder

1 t sp cooking soda

1/4 cup walnuts

in another bowl...

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup oil

1 t sp vanilla essence

1 cup bananas mashed

Mix all the dry ingrediants ,then add them to the bowl of milk and oil mixture. Do not beat too much... just mix till its moist...then add this mixture to a pre greased tray...you can also pour the cake mix into paper cups or greased muffin mould...Bake at 200 C for 20 mints.

enjoy !!

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं

विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम I

लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिहृदधयानगम्यं

वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम II

मेघश्यामं पीतकौशेयवासं

श्रीवतसाङ्कं कौस्तुभोदभासिताङ्गम I

पुणयोपेतं पुन्दारीकायताक्षम

विष्णुं वन्दे सर्वलोकैकनाथम II

The one who is reclining on a serpent has a lotus at his naval. He is the greatest of the Gods.He is the one on whom the universe is resting. He is as expansive as the sky. He is the colour of the monsoon cloud. ...with Lakshmi as his consort. He is the lotus eyed. He is the one on whom yogis meditate in their heart. Who is the remover of the fear of death....the Lord of the universe.

The one wearing bright yellow dress and shree in his heart. He is the one wearing kaustubh mala..he has the conch..the discus....I worship him.

He is sitting under the shade of a Parijata tree on a golden throne...his face is like a full moon...he who has got four hands...and Srivatsa in his heart and has Rukmini and Satyabhama by his side....

भूः पादौ यस्य नाभिर्वियदसुरानिलश्चन्द्रसूयौ च नेत्रे

कर्णावाषा शिरो द्यौर्मुखमपी दहनो यस्य वास्तेयमब्धिः I

अन्तस्थं यस्य विश्वं सुरनरखग गोभोगिगन्धर्वादैत्यैः

चित्रं रंरम्यते तं त्रिभुवनवपुषं विश्नुमीशं नमामि II

He ....whose feet form the earth ... his nabhi ..naval is the sky and his breath is all the air around. The sun and the moon are his eyes , the ears are the directions, and the head is the heaven. His face or mouth is fire. His stomach form the oceans.

Inside him is all the universe...including sura, nara, gandharva, daityas, deities, celestials, humans, birds, cows, serpents...He is the charming one...He is the greatest . He is Lord Vishnu who is every body of three worlds and in whom is the universe and I bow to him.

After the preface , in Mahabharata proper, the thousand names start...but traditionally
in parayanam there are certain dhyanasloka which are chanted.
ध्यानम
क्षीरोदनवत्प्रदेशे शुचिमाणिविलसत्सैकते मौक्तिकानाम
मालाक्लुप्तासनास्थः स्फटिकमणिनिभैर्मौक्तिकैर्मडिताड्गः I

शुभ्रैरभ्रैर्रदभ्रैरुपरि विरचितैर्मुक्तपीयूषवषैः
आनन्दी नः पुनीयादरिनलिनगदाशन्खपाणिर्मुकुन्दः II

The ocean of milk on a glorious throne of gold adorned with dazzling jewels and pearls as resplendent as crystal gems...that sand of the ocean which is glittering like gems. And he is having shower of nectar , because of which he is in great joy...bliss...may this Narayana who is Lord Mukunda with his mace and conch which is subduing the enemy ...sanctify us ...lift us.

After Bheeshma having answered the questions...

Preface to Vishnusahasranama concludes with these verses...

यतः सर्वाणि भूतानि भवन्त्यादियुगागमे I

यस्मिन्श्चा प्रलयं यान्ति पुनरेव युगक्षये II


तस्य लोकप्रधानस्य जगन्नाथस्य भूपते I
विश्नोर्नामासहस्रं में शृणु पापभयापहम II


यानि नामानि गौणानि विख्यातानि महात्मनः I
ऋषिभिः परिगीतानि तानि वक्ष्यामि भूतये II



From where all the creatures are born and where all the creatures are sustained and where all the creatures will be dissolved during pralaya ....that is Mahavishnu. That supreme Lord of the world Oh King... says Bheeshma..his 1000 names listen to me carefully...they will remove your sins and all fear...

These names ...various glorious attributes of the lord...they are being sung again and again...so listen with attention...for i say this for the benefit of the mankind.



Parashar Bhattar says rishis like Narada , Sanat Kumara have sung these names with great love. And Vyasa has gone to vedas and collected these like a bee collects honey from various flowers. And has strung it in a Namavali and given it to us.



This is where the preface comes to an end.

After addressing the last question first Pitamah Bheeshma comes to the question of ...what is the supreme goal?

To this he says...he who is supreme radiance , supreme ruler, supreme Brahman.. he is your supreme goal.

And finally he answers the first question...who is the supreme God?

पवित्राणां पवित्रं यो मंगलानां च मंगलम I

दैवतं देवतानां च भूतानां योऽ व्ययः पिता II

He is the most purest , holiest of the holy, he is the most auspicious of the auspicious, he is the God of all Gods, of all the creatures he is the undecaying father, he is the origin, holy rivers are holy because of him, he removes spiritual ignorance. He says having done the churning of all the shastras and having deliberated on them again and again...what is the firm conclusion? meditate on "Narayan Hari".

Parashar Bhattar says anything which is pavitram is pavitram because of bhagvat sambandha....whatever is pure is pure because of it is related to the lord...otherwise what is pure?....