When we go to a temple, after the aarati the priest comes round giving us prasaadam. It may be something tasty to eat, tulsi leaves, kunkumam, vibhuthi or just a few drops of water (teertam). Whatever we receive, be it to apply or eat, be it tasty or otherwise, we accept it with great love and reverence. In fact you must have heard many people say that temple laddu (sweet) or puliyodarai (savoury) tastes the best! This is more because when it is accepted with unconditional love, it tastes very good. Also whatever we receive in a temple as prasaadam, we share with everyone around, whether we know them or not. In life too, our culture tells us to accept everything as the Lord's prasaadam. Whether it is people or things or situations, whether they are easy or difficult, if we accept everything as His prasaadam, life becomes easier and happier for us. Even in difficult situations we can remain calm and most of the time, the world around and our own lives become beautiful. We learn to share all we have and we learn to make ourselves and all around us happier. This is an idea that is unique to our culture. Dear children, if you can learn to live life like this, you will have a secret of happiness and success that you can share with the whole world!

Dear Children, One of our daily duties is to say, at least thrice a day, the sacred words "Sarve janaaha sukhinau bhavantu" - May all be happy. God is everywere and so, naturally, He is in all beings and things. When we remember this, it becomes easy for us to wish happiness for all. Also, in our culture, we are encouraged to remember all the things, beings and situations that have made our life possible. When we forget how many have contributed to our success, we may take all the credit for it and become arrogant. Many of you know that the fist two people to reach the top of Mount Everest in the Himalayas were Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. This is indeed a superb achievement which got them world renown and a permanent place in history. But do you know that they had with them 12 climbers, 40 Sherpa guides and 700 porters! But for their help, is it not more likely that Hillary and Tenzing would have been at the bottom rather than the top of the peak? As soon as they reach the top, Hillary planted the American Flag on the ground and rejoiced at having "conquered" Mount Everest. At the same time, do you know what Tenzing did? He knelt down, bent over in prostration, placed his forehead on the ground and addressed the mountain, "O Mother, forgive me for placing my feet on Your head!" What a beautiful culture we belong to!

Lord Krishna's Flute

Dear Children, You must have seen the beautiful sight of young Lord Krishna playing His flute. Even when He is not playing it, it is safely tucked in His waist band, never leaving Him. Be He at play with the gopa boys, or minding the cows or picnicking by the Jamuna, He keeps His flute always by His side. Do you know what Lord Krishna's flute stands for? The flute in Lord Krishna's divine hands stands for each one of us. The flute has eight holes, using which divine music is brought out by the player. So too, we have eight parts of our personality - the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin (at the level of the body), the mind and intellect and the ego (which makes me think that I am different from others). So we can be compared to a flute, of which God is the player.

The temple has a deep significance, of which many people are not aware. It is said that structurally the temple represents the human body. Just as I say that in my body there is the heart (mind or intellect) in which the Lord resides, deep inside the main temple structure is the GARBHA GRHA, the sanctum sanctorum, wherein the Lord's idol presides. The temple itself represents the physical body and the GARBHA GRHA is its heart, wherein we experience the presence of the Lord. Prasaada does means just something that is edible. The real meaning of Prasaada is equanimity, purity, cheerfulness, bliss, joy and peace. We should take all that we get in life - good and bad - as the Lord Prasaada. - Mahatma Gandhi.