Reminder to attend Master Shankar Kandasamy's Barathanatyam programme

A note(e-mail) from sis Jothi

Herewith we are including the e-flyer and programme (see ealier posting) for a classical Indian dance event , SHANTASIVAARPANAM, at the JOTIC Auditorium on 26 Feb 2008, Tuesday at 8pm.

Shankar Kandasamy is an accomplished Bharatha Natyam dancer from TFA KL and this is his solo in JB. He is also one of the directors of the dance section at TFA KL. The programme has been staged successfully in Penang, KL and India. Subsequently it will be staged on March 4th in Spore. Admission is by invitation. Information is on the e flyer.

Those interested can call TFA at 07-2227400 (Velasini/Julie) for further info.

Thank you very much.
Sivajothi K
Secretary
TFA JB

Shweta Baskaran's Arpanam - Sun 9th March 2008

Another Bharatanatyam event not to be missed!! Book this date: Sunday- 9th, March 2008, 7.30pm, Jotic Auditorium, Johor Bahru.

Shanta Sivaarpanam by Master Shankar Kandasamy in JB

Not to miss this wonderful solo Bharatanatyam recital by TFA's Dance Art Director and choreographer, Master Shankar Kandasamy! A magical journey by a mystical dancer that surely will captivate you!!

Note this date : 26th February 2008 ( Tuesday), JOTIC auditorium, at 8.00pm

Magnificent & Wonderful extended family!!

An Happy Modern/Traditional model family

In today's posting, I would like to introduce a wonderful and magnificent extended family of mine which I really adore, admire and awed. Mr Mogan Ramasamy and his close knit family is a contemporary traditional/moden nuclear Saivite Hindu sampradaya(tradition) followers. I would say, without any second thought, that they are amongst few families we could benchmark on every deportment of their family system. Rich in spiritual and religious practices at home and at ease with social life without compromising family values and holds comendable respect among other families. A pillar of strenght to his family members, Mr Mogan a ``verstile leader'', full of ideas and innovative thoughts, guiding not only his immediate family, but also supports in tangible and intangible ways to his close friends, relatives and subordinates. A close father/friend to his children, Purani, Nityashankaran, Dharmarajan, an adorable husband to his wife(Ms Poongkodi) and highly respected leader (General Manager) to his workers.

A rare practice seen in many husbands nowdays, he would rush back from work, cleanses himself and straight to prayer room and lead prayer session together his family members. He rarely ventures out unnecessarily, unless work commitment or family outings. He espouse family concpect that prays together, eats together and plays together - always stays together! Firm in mind but soft in approach, gives an added valueable personal character assets. They're ``fluid family unit'', adaptable to surrounding situations, move about without any hindarance or cringe when dealing or facing life's difficult challenges. They enjoy family outings, picnics, long distance travelling, sight-seeings, educational trips and nature lovers.

Mr Mogan is a rare breed among the management leaders. His insights in problem solving methodologies, handling change management concepts, creating modern systems and solutions to day to day work problems are highly recomendable to others in his capacity. He has that ability to change things from low performing to high achievings with his `deft' management manouverings techniqes . When he sets his sights on a particular work/project, the final results will always be a welcoming and heartwarming one. He cleans and gleams to glitter area under his influance and control. An asset and a shinning star from the back, he prefers a low profile image and a simple outlook! See pic above: Mr Mogan and family with Paramacharya Palaniswami - Jan 08

You simply would love this family (My model family!)

Ashram, Swami Sivananda, Swami Shanthanand & Swami Sivaprabhananda

Johor Bahru - 6th, February 2008. Location: Swami Sivananda Ashram, Bukit Kempas. A magnificent Ashram located at Bukit Kempas (near Taman Anggerik), has been for many years established in a low profile manner but spiritually charged up and magnified by presence of number of spiritual masters, in the lineage of Swami Sivanada, founder of Divine Live Society. This Ashram is culmination and vision turned reality by HH Shanthanand Saraswathi who is the founder and patron of Temple of Fine Arts International, one of the premier Indian cultural institutions in number of countries, including Malaysia. The branch institution(TFA) is located at Jalan Dapat, Johor Bahru, about 2 kilometers from JB's main city center. Most JB folks do well knew about TFA but however, not so aware about this ``Ashram''. Therefore, befittingly in this posting, I would like to dwell on this Ashram; it's major significance, importance and the `mystical' aura it projected out.

Ashram is uniquely situated on top of a hill. The only way to access to this divine sanctuary is by driving up through Taman Anggerik and park your vehicle at the corridor end of Taman Kempas, walk a 100 meter mud road and climbing up a slightly sloped roadway leading to Ashram or through some rough winding and mud-road from the back of Bukit Kempas where vegetables were grown along the hill slopes. This in itself a good ``sadhana'' for pilgrimages, devotees and general public. Nevertheless, plans of having a proper roadway is in progress.

Siva's family members (disciples and devotees of Shanthanad Saraswathi), students of TFA and devotees often serve and attends prayer sessions, which are conducted daily here. Another important point that need to be highlighted here is the notable presence of an unassuming ``sanyasin'' or monk of ``HH Swami Sivananda's order or lineage (parampara).

A low profile ``sanyasin'' but an important pillar of strength - Reverend Swami Sivaprabhananda, is a resident monk living and serving in this ashram. Swamiji was initiated in the holy order of Sanyasa by HH Shanthanand Saraswathi, a life time vow to remain celibate, live a pure life, renouncing worldy desires(detached) but continuing to carry out vision and mission of Swamiji's predecessor. Reverend Swamiji stays in a ``kutir'' (small living hut beside the ashram) modeled that from Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh, Himalaya,India.

Plot of land on top of this hill holds a block of strong wooden chalet' modeled structured raised house for future `` health care center for the sick and destitute s''. It also consist of medical section. Right on the very top of the hill there is neat and simple covered shade structure which provides umbrella function to few magical gems. These ``gems'' emanates ``wonderful magical lights'' . These out poring lights become source of attracting aura or the mystical part that pulls in devotees. The main sanctum consist of ``Sivalingam'' , a smaller ``Lingam'' and a``Stupa'' - mystical Buddhist ``graha'' that shaped like a ``Meru''. At the very back of the sanctum is a huge portrait of HH Swami Sivananda.

We could see 3 linkages of important elements of function when visiting this ashram. First function element, a divine place of worship that sets our inner mind calmer and realign ourselves that we have to leave at times a portion of our worldly affairs and be detached. Charge up with positive energy and off we go to face another challenging worldly affairs positive and confidently.

Second function element is the enhancing our character refinement through regular worship, devout and sincerely. As we're consistent and regular prayer with ``bakthi'', it cushions our karmic situations that we face daily and therefore being refined and controlled in manageable level.

The third function element is service. As we grow more mature and stable in our prayers and consistent in our action, naturally the urge to serve and give comes spontaneously. When we posses these three elements, we become wholesome, humble, caring; speak goods words about others, loving; be a giver than a receiver; we like to serve than beings served, face every life karma with a ease and understanding; never a complainer, but a problem solver.

More on next posting..........

Contact information:

tfa_sg@templeoffinearts.org
tfakl@pc.jaring.my
JB - 07- 2227400

Tribute to Ms Yogeswari(TFA's Carnatic vocal & veena teacher)

In today's special posting, I would like to take an oppurtunity to pay a ``little tribute'' to TFA - Singapore's and Johor Bharu's music teacher - Ms Yogeswari Ramalingam. I had in my earlier postings, described her tireless efforts and wonderful contributions towards improving musical knowledge of her students, thus setting a higher bar on their musical apptitude accomplishments at a very basic level. Her teachings stresses the importance of proper basic foundation skills mastering, both for veena and vocal. Her direct approach to correct each discrepency in her students deliveries, personalized coachings, cajoaling and well intended demands, only the best of efforts from her students.

Unlike any other skills trainings nature/type, cultural skills such as Baratha Natyam, carnatic vocal, veena, sitar, etc, are few of the known most demanding subjects/skills to master. It needs very close monitoring, personized coachings, tremendous amount of patience, plenty of practicing, keen interest, a guru-diciple relationship (student-master) at every level and grace of God/s to really peak and reach the base of beginning as an ``initiated performer''. Thereafter, more learning are intensified and finer refinements are soughted towards perfection to become an accomplished master.

Teacher, herself, talented, gifted and came from a well established system of musical linage masters. Right from the beginning, her father Pandit Ramalingam, was her first ``Guru'' for carnatic vocal. So, the talent is already in her blood. She studied veena from number of accomplished veena teachers in India. She draws her inspiration from HH Shanthanand Saraswathy, founder patron of Temple of Fine Arts International. In HH footpaths, she extends her service by providing fulltime, tireless efforts in teaching veena and vocal subjects to students in Singapore and Malaysia.

She frequents to Johor Bahru to teach Carnatic vocal and veena on every Thursday and Friday each week at the Temple Of Fine Arts(Johor Bahru), located at Jalan Dapat (behind Hyatt hotel). She is our inspiration and her act of selfeless service, giving in her best to her students, strict, yet with joyful nature. Her presence adds another ``precious jewel'' of quality teachers/gurus in TFA's chest. We pay our tribute and respect to her service, contribution with much love and gratitute. In return to her selfless service, we therefore pledge to increase our efforts, train harder and sincerely to be better students. `` From bottom of our hearts we say, ``Thank You, Teacher''.

INDEED A DIVINE TEACHER/GURU!