Ganesh Chathurthi 2010

Vinayaka Vratha Kalpam in telugu - http://www.teluguone.com/splevents/ganesh/vinayaka_telugu.pdf

How to Make Clay Ganesh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZgSH_kp-cQ&feature=em-share_video_user

Sri Krishna Astami

The ten best foods for pregnancy

The ten best foods for pregnancy

Source: http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-ten-best-foods-for-pregnancy_10320506.bc#articlesection2

1. Eggs
2. Salmon
3. Beans
4. Sweet potatoes
5. Popcorn and other whole grains
6. Walnuts
7. Greek yogurt
8. Dark green, leafy vegetables
9. Lean meats
10. Colorful fruits and veggies

Eating for two can be a nerve-wracking responsibility, especially with all the conflicting information floating around. Is fish important – or does it contain too much mercury? Do you need meat for protein – or is it too fatty? Are eggs okay – or do they have too much cholesterol?
It's enough to make you want to throw your hands up and dive into the nearest bag of candy bars. But don't – or at least, read this first. There are lots of ways to ensure that you and your baby are getting the nutrients you both need. Here, experts discuss some of their top pregnancy foods. You don't need to like or eat them all, but pick and choose your favorites to give your pregnancy a nutritional boost.

1. Eggs

"It's amazing what you get in one egg, and for only about 90 calories," says Elizabeth Ward, dietitian and author of Expect the Best, Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, and After Pregnancy.
In addition to more than 12 vitamins and minerals, eggs contain lots of quality protein, which is essential for pregnancy. "Your baby's cells are growing at an exponential rate, and every cell is made of protein," Ward explains. "Plus, as a pregnant woman, you have your own protein needs."
Eggs are also rich in choline, which promotes your baby's overall growth and brain health, while helping prevent neural tube defects. Some even contain omega-3 fats, important for both brain and vision development. (Brands that have omega-3 fats will probably state so on the label.)
As for eggs' bad rap for cholesterol? Not warranted, says Ward. It turns out that eating saturated fat does much more damage to your cholesterol level than eating the cholesterol naturally found in food. And while eggs are high in cholesterol, they're also relatively low in saturated fat, with about one and a half grams per egg.
"Healthy women with normal blood cholesterol can consume one to two eggs a day as part of a balanced diet low in saturated fat," Ward says.
Need more convincing? Eggs are cheap, easy, quick, and versatile. When you're too exhausted to cook a full meal, a couple of hard boiled or scrambled eggs are just the ticket.

2. Salmon

Not only is salmon brimming with high-quality protein, says Ward, but it's an exceptionally good source of omega-3 fats. And unlike swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and shark, salmon has low amounts of methylmercury, a compound that can be harmful to your baby's developing nervous system.
Just remember that even for salmon and other low-mercury fish, such as canned light tuna and pollock, the FDA recommends eating no more than 12 ounces per week to avoid ingesting too much mercury.

3. Beans
Navy beans, lentils, black beans, pinto beans, chickpeas…..there are so many to choose from. "Beans contain the most fiber and protein of all the vegetables," says Ward.
You already know protein is important during pregnancy, but you may not yet realize that fiber could become your new best friend during the nine-month wait. In pregnancy, the gastrointestinal tract slows down, putting you at risk for constipation and hemorrhoids. Fiber can help prevent and relieve these problems.
In addition, says Ward, food that contains fiber tends to be nutrient-rich. This is certainly true of beans, which are good sources of iron, folate, calcium, and zinc.

4. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes get their orange color from carotenoids, plant pigments that are converted to vitamin A in our bodies, says Ward.
Although consuming too much "preformed" vitamin A (found in animal sources, such as liver, milk, and eggs) can be dangerous, carotenoids are a different story. They're converted to vitamin A only as needed, so there's no need to restrict your consumption of vitamin A-rich fruits and veggies.
Sweet potatoes are also a great source of vitamin C, folate, and fiber. And like beans, they're inexpensive and versatile. "Cook extra and save them to slice up later as a snack," Ward suggests.

5. Popcorn and other whole grains
Yes, you read that right. Popcorn is a whole grain. "People love it when I tell them that!" says Ward. Whole grains are important in pregnancy because they're high in fiber and nutrients, including vitamin E, selenium, and phytonutrients – plant compounds that protect cells.
Don't stop at popcorn though. There are lots of other whole grains out there, from oatmeal to whole grain bread to barley. Fluffy, nutty-tasting quinoa is one of Ward's favorites. "Whole grain quinoa is easy to make and is very high in nutrients, particularly protein, making it a superfood in and of itself," she says.

6. Walnuts
Don't like fish or eggs, but still want to get those omega-3s which are so important for your baby's brain growth? Try walnuts, suggests dietitian Kate Geagan, author of Go Green, Stay Lean. "Walnuts are one of the richest sources of plant-based omega-3s," she says. "A handful of walnuts is a great choice for an on-the-run snack or an addition to a salad."

7. Greek yogurt
Greek yogurt typically has twice the protein of regular yogurt, making it one of Geagan's favorite pregnancy foods. And any kind of yogurt is a great source of calcium, which is vital in a pregnancy diet. If you don't take in enough calcium, the limited amount you have will go to your baby, says Geagan, depleting the calcium in your bones and teeth.
"The goal during pregnancy is to make sure you provide everything your baby needs without sacrificing your own health and nutrition," she explains. "Calcium will help keep your own bones intact while laying down a healthy skeleton for your baby."

8. Dark green, leafy vegetables
Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and other green leafy vegetables are loaded with vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as the all-important folate. They've also been found to promote eye health, Geagan says.

9. Lean meats
Meat is an excellent source of high-quality protein, says dietitian Karin Hosenfeld of North Dallas Nutrition. "Look for lean meats with the fat trimmed off," she says. "When buying red meat in particular, look for cuts that are around 95 to 98 percent fat-free." Beef and pork stand out among meats because in addition to protein, they contain choline, says Ward.
Don't eat deli meats or hot dogs, though, unless they're heating until steaming hot. There's a small risk of passing on bacteria and parasites from the meat such as Listeria monocytogenes toxoplasma, or salmonella to your baby, says Mayo Clinic obstetrician Mary Marnach.

10. Colorful fruits and veggies
Eating a variety of green, red, orange, yellow, purple, and white fruits and vegetables will ensure that you and your baby get a variety of nutrients. "Each color group provides different vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants," explains dietitian Jodi Greebel, owner of Citrition, a nutrition counseling service in New York.
Hosenfeld points out another advantage of eating across the fruit and veggie spectrum: "During the later stages of pregnancy, the baby is 'tasting' the foods you eat through the amniotic fluid," she says. "So if you expose your baby to a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables in the womb, you'll increase the chance that your baby will recognize and accept those flavors later on."

Happy Friendship Day

Happy Friendship Day

Importance of Friendship in Mahabharata

In the famous epic 'Mahabharata', Lord Krishna demonstrates the many colors of friendship - Affection, romance, brotherhood, protection, guidance, intimacy and even teasing....

Friendship is all about these and much more...

********************

A Friend is a precious gem...

Hard to find...

Difficult to part with...

and

Treasured forever...

*******************

Oats Dosa

Oats Attu

Ingredients

• 1 cup - Chana Dal (Chenaga Pappu)
• 1 cup - Moong Dal (Pesara Pappu)
• 1 cup - Urad Dal (Mina Pappu)
• 1 cup - Oats

How to Prepare

• Take a mixing bowl and place above all the dals in water and soak for 4 hours
• Take other bowl and place the oats in water and soak for 1 hour
• Mix above soaked dals and soaked oats and grind them in a mixcy or wetgrinder and prepare the batter
• Now Oats dosa batter is ready
• Place a pan on stove and prepare the dosa using above batter.
• Serve Healthy Oats Dosa with desired chutney or powder (karam podi)

Healthy Oats Dosa is ready. For a change prepare this healthy dosa. You will get more proteins.

Oats Masala Pongal

Oats Masala Pongal

Ingredients

• 1 cup Oats
• 1 cup Moong Dal
• 2 cups milk
• 2 spoons Ghee
• 5-8 Small Ginger pieces
• Salt (as desired)
• Curry Leaves (Karvepaaku)
• Peppers
• Jeera

How to Prepare

• Boil the moong dal and put a side
• Take a mixing bowl and place 1 cup of oats + 1 cup of milk + salt and soak for 30 minutes
• On stove put a cooking bowl and put 2 spoons of ghee + ginger pieces + peppers (miriyalu) + Jeera + Curry Leaves + bolied moong dal + 1 cup of milk -> Mix well and cook for some time in milk.
• Off the flame
• Place the above mixture and put it in above soaked oats
• Serve hot.

Healthy Oats masala pongal is ready.

Veg Clear Soup

Vegetable Clear Soup

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Sweet Corn
• 1/2 cup Beans
• 1/2 cup Carrot
• 1/2 cup Cauliflower
• 1/2 cup Cabbage
• Salt
• Pepper

How to Prepare:

• Take a cooking bowl and place all the above ingredients except pepper in water and boil them.
• Serve Veg Clear soup with pepper.

Marriage

Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram

SRI VISHNU SAHASRA NAMA STHOTRAM

Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthostram : Visit the below site for all 108 slokhas

http://www.srikaryam.com/VSNS/Stotram.aspx

" ... Click on the sloka to get the meaning and on the speaker button to listen the sloka from the devine voice of Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji..."

For Example:

Visvam vishnur vashatka:ro: bhu:tha bhavya bhavath prabhuhu
bhu:thakrud bhu:thabhrud bha:vo: bhu:tha:thma bhu:tha bha:vanaha

visvam = Full in all respects
vishnuhu=one who prevades
vashatka:raha=one who controls and directs (not merely pervades)
Bhu:tha bhavya bhavath prabhuhu=the master of all things in the past, future and past
Bhu:thakruth=the creater of all beings
Bhu:thabhruth=the creater of all beings. he creates all things without depending on anything else
Bha:vah=he who exists
Bhu:tha:thma: = the soul of all beings
Bhu:tha bha:vanaha = he who nourishes all beings

Full vishnu sahasra nama sthothram visit below site:
http://jetnewjersey.org/content/acharya-vaibhavam/stotrams/vishnu-sahasranama

Mango Jam

Homemade Mango Jam (fresh till 6 months)

Ingredients:

• Mangoes
• Sugar
• Ghee
• Elachi Powder
• Food Color

How to Prepare:

• Peel off mangoes and grate the mangoes
• Take a half cup of grated mangoes remove the water from it.
• Take a bowl and put it on the stove - pour 3 spoons of ghee and after it melts add above half cup grated mango. Keep stirring.
• Now add 1 cup of sugar + pinch of food color + 1/2 tea spoon elachi powder and Mix well
• Keep stirring all the above ingredients till it becomes paste ( gattipade varaku stove pina vunchali).
• Switch off the stove.
• Now delicious mango jam is ready. Let it be cool down.

How to Store:

• After the Jam is cooled down. Store it in a glass bottle and put it in fridge... It will be fresh till 6 months.
• Enjoy Bread with Delicious Homemade Mango Jam.

Vanilla Custard Fruit Salad

Vanilla Custard Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

• Vanilla Icecream
• 1/2 lit Milk
• Fruits
• Custard Powder
• Sugar

How to Prepare:

• Pour the 1/2 litre milk in a bowl and put on stove. Keep stirring till the milk becomes 1/4 litre.
• Add 2 spoons of custard powder and 4 spoons of sugar.
• Off the stove. Now add your favorite fruits and badam powder.

How to Serve:

• Take a serving glass and put 1 layer of icecream, 1 layer of custard, 1 layer of icecream and garnish with cherries or grapes...

For Healthy and Black Hair

For healthy and black hair

Ingredients:

- Garlic pottu (Elligadda Pottu) - chala pottu theesukovali...

- Olive Oil

How to Prepare:

- Put the stove in sim, take a bowl and put all the garlic pottu and fry it till it makes the black powder.

- Store that black powder in the plastic box.

How to Use:

- In 100ml of Olive oil add small teaspoon of above powder and mix well and keep this oil aside for one week and store in glass bottle.

- Apply above oil to hair and massage slighthly and leave ur hair with oil whole night and do the headbath in morning.

Benefits:

You will get healthy and black hair.

Sampoorna Sri Ramanayam

Sampoorna Sri Ramanayam Pravachanamulu

Visit this site: http://te.srichaganti.net/Ramanayam2009.aspx

Brahmasri Chaganti Koteswara Rao garu has given discourses for 42 days on Sampoorna Sri Ramayanam at Sri Sarada Peetham, Guntur (From April 10, 2009 to May 22, 2009).

With the blessings of Koteswara Rao garu - We are offering you the entire discourse in the format of MP3 for your convenience.

Following are the different kandas:

• Bala Kanda


• Ayodhya Kanda


• Aranya Kanda


• Kishkindha Kanda


• Sundara Kanda


• Yudda Kanda

Organdi Rose Flower

Preparation of Orange color flower in my previous bunch of flowers post

What you need:

• Organdi Cloth


• Match Stick


• Broom Stick


• Green Tape

Steps to Prepare

• Cut 2 inches width of organdi cloth.
• Place the cloth in vertical direction and fold the cloth as right angled triangle and cut the edge, now open the folded area. So that you will get the piece in a square shape.
• Cut 8 pieces for big petals
• Cut 3 pieces for small petals
• Take one petal and hold the petal in diamond shape to ur front and fold as shown in the above figure. Hold to half.
• Now place the match stick at edge of '1' and roll it twice and remove the match stick. Do the same process at edge of '2'.
• Now turn the petal to other side and Place the thumb in the middle of petal and just turn sharp end to make it straight..
• Do the above process and prepare all the petals.
• Now arrange all 3 small petals in middle and 8 big petals to outer side as petals. (Note: See the correct arrangement in my previous post 'rose flower')

Now ur Organdi Rose flower is ready.

To Control Blood Pressure

Rakta Potu Adhapu lo vunche Paaniyam

Ingredients:

1. 1 spoon ginger rasam (Take a small piece of ginger and pour some water and prepare the paste. Place that paste in the cloth and press tightly and take the juice(rasam))
2. 1 spoon dhaniyala rasam - follow the same above process using dhaniyalu.
3. 1 spoon lemon juice
4. 1 glass water

How to prepare:

Mix above all ingredients in a glass water.

How to take:

Daily drink the above water, 1 hour before ur food.

Benefits:

1. Indigestion problem is solved (malabhadhakam thagguthunnadhi)
2. This will reduce too much heat in ur body. (adika vedi thagguthunnadhi)
3. B.P will be in control.

Washing Clothes Tips

Tips for Washing Clothes

1. While washing silk sarees add a little lemon juice. Color wont fade and it will give a glossy finish.

2. To remove the stain of wine from cloth -> clean that portion with cloth dipped in soda.

3. To remove the stain of henna from cloth -> dip the cloth in warm milk for half an hour and wash with soap.

4. To remove ink stain -> rub the area with a cotton bud soaked in eau-de-cologne (perfume)

5. To prevent silver fish from attacking your clothes -> keep a few kalonji seeds tied in muslin cloth in ur cupboard.

6. To remove mud and mud stains -> rub the affected area with potato stock and wash it with water.

7. To remove lipstick stains -> apply vaseline and wash with soap after some time.

8. If ur new clothes are color fading then put some salt in the warm water and dip this cloth for the 1 or 2 hours and then wash with cloth.

Health Tips

Tips for health

1.To reduce fever,

- Mix (Water+Honey+Lemon Juice) and prepare a drink. Drink 4 to 5 glasses of above drink in a day.
- Prepare a paste of (4 to 5 Tulasi leaves + Vaamu ) and make as a tablet. Take it. (This will work especially for the children)

2. To reduce cold, drink ginger tea (Just put a small piece of ginger in tea and drink that tea)

3. To Reduce Motions, take small amount of vaamu and prepare the paste (noorali)
mix that vaamu paste and pinch of salt in the half glass of water and drink it.

4. To reduce Jaundice,
1st night - take 3 peppers (miriyalu) and put them in curd. Next day morning remove those peppers from curd and prepare the paste, mix the paste in the above curd and prepare the buttermilk (majjiga) and have it.
2nd Night - 5 peppers (Follow the above process)
3rd Night - 7 peppers (Follow the above process)

5. To reduce Dandruff,
- Take vinegar in a bowl and mix 2 drops of lemon juice. Apply this mixture to ur scalp using cotton (dhudhi)
- Apply (Boiled beetroot+vinegar) to ur scalp and leave it for 1 hour do the headbath.

6. To reduce Migrane,
- Drink grape juice (baaga pandina grapes)
- Place the cabbage leaves in a cloth and tie it to ur head.
- Eat tamatoes, leafy vegetables, sunflower seeds, fishes, wheat(godhumalu) in ur day to day diet.

7. To reduce Headache,
- Take warm water in a bowl and mix mustard(aavaalu) powder , Take a turkey towel, dip in above mixture and put that towel on ur head.
- Boil some water and mix ginger paste. Keep a side this mixture for 2 to 3 mins and Drink it hot.

8. To reduce Stomach Pain, Mix one spoon of jeera+one spoon of sugar and eat it. Your pain will be reduced immediately.

9. To reduce Leg Kracks (Kalla Paggullu), Kakarakaaya+pasupu mixcy chesi aa paste ni kaali madimalaku apply cheyyali.

10. To control diabetes, Eat 1 spoon of menthula podi daily for 8 weeks continuously.

Rose Flower

Preparation of Yellow Rose in my previous(post) bunch of flowers

Items you need:
1. Krape Paper/Duplex Paper
2. Broom Sticks
3. Green Leaves ( Readymade leaves are available in stores. We can prepare our own green leaves using green duplex paper )
4. Fevicol
5. Green Tape
6. Match Stick(Aggi Pulla)
7. Thread

Steps to Prepare a rose flower:
1. Cut a small piece of stiff card in a petal shape in different sizes 1 small and 1 big. (One end is Cone shape and other end is Sharp)
2. Now take the krape paper and fold it of the above size and place the stiff card on folded paper
3. Cut the paper along with stiff card.
4. Now prepare all the petals by repeating step 2 and step 3.
5. Take a match stick and take a single petal and turn it, so that lighter color is up and darker color side down. Place the match stick at the end of the cone side. Roll the cone side of petal 2 to 3 rounds and remove the match stick.
6. Now turn the petal i.e., hold the petal with darker side with 2 hands at 'a' and 'b' where rolling ends in the vertical direction and strech your hands in opposite direction so that petal will expand. Note: Krape paper has some elasticity property)
This will give natural effect of petal.
7. Repeat step 5 and step 6 to prepare all the petals (Small and big petals)
Note: We have to prepare only one petal at a time. (Donot prepare the 2 or 3 petals at a time)
8. Now take a broomstick of desired size (this is for stem) and dip one end of broomstick in fevicol upto 1 inch and paste a small waste krape paper to the broomstick. So that it will look like bud inside the flower.
9. Again apply a small amount of fevicol on above pasted krape paper and take a small petal and take a small petal and apply some fevicol at the sharper end and roll it on broomstick.
Take 2nd petal and place the petal at the end of the 1st petal and paste to broomstick.
Follow the same process for 3rd petal but 3rd and 1st petal will coincide.
10. Now fold 3 petals tightly along with broomstick and tie a thread by putting a knot so that flower will be stiff and clear.
11. Repeat Step 9 and Step 10 using 7 or 8 big petals and paste around the small petals.
Note: Paste big petals - one petal inside of next petal...
12. Now take the green tape and hold flower and roll the green tape tightly onto broomstick upto 1 inch, So that no thread or broomstick is not seen.
Now place the green leaves and roll the green tape along with leaves. Roll the green tape till the end of the broomstick.

Now, One Rose Flower is ready...............

Note: If you want your flower to be more thicker then increase 1 or 2 more layers of petals.

Bunch of flowers....

Roses , Jasmine, MarrieGold, 2 color flower...

Coming Soon........How to prepare these flowers... Stay Tuned

3 ROSES

3 Roses and 3 Leaves.... made of the color papers.

What we need:

-Color Paper (green and red)

- Zig-Zag scissors

- Glue/Gum

How to do:

Leaves Preparation :

- Cut the green paper into leaf shape using normal scissor and then cut the outline using zig-zag scissor. (Note: if there is no zig-zag scissor then we can use normal scissor and cut into small zig zags, but we should be very careful and it takes time to cut neatly)

- Prepare 3 leaves by following above process.

Roses Preparation:

- Cut the red color paper into small strips.

- Turn the strip as shown in the above picture. At one end of the strip put some glue and turn the strip and rotate on the glue as flower. (Spiral movement)

- Prepare 3 roses by following above process.

Final Placement:

- Place 3 leaves on one another as shown in the picture and stick them together.
- Place some glue on the end of leaves and Place the roses on them and stick them.

Now, the above arrangement can be used for decorating corner of frames.

For Ex: See the 1st picture.

Hibicus Plant

Happy Mothers Day

Lakshmi Devi

Hanuman - Tanjore Painting

Hanuman - Tanjore Painting

This hanuman picture is in the temple near my home town Machavaram.