Quick Sunday Update....

It's Sunday early-afternoon in Hyderabad.  Amy is still in Maryland.  Krishna and I just returned home from Mass.  I must say that I was pleasantly surprised after I sat in our pew and said my prayers.  A girl from the choir walked up to me as we were sitting before Mass and handed me a "people's missal" (for lack of a better term!)  Out of nowhere, I was asked to read the First Lesson at St. Mary's (RC) Church in Secunderabad this morning!! Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4.  It felt pretty good to be in the Lord's Sanctuary once again! Alleluia!

I think I will stay close to home this afternoon...I may head over to Latitudes Gym and maybe go upstairs to the Tangerine Spa...but I sort of want to see the rest of the Ryder Cup.  I think the U.S. Team may just be in the middle of the biggest choke-job in the history of team/match-play golf!  It was so painful to watch last night...I was almost glad that all of the rain came late yesterday and the rest of the matches were put on hold on account of darkness...it was really getting ugly and out-of-hand!!

Krishna and Sangamesh and I are planning this week's Road Trip Number Two, which is planned for Tuesday and Wednesday...  We plan to go to the big Shiva Temple there...one of the twelve so-called Jyotirlinga Temples

I had never heard of it before, but, according to Krishna and Sangamesh (who is a "Pujari", or Priest, of Lord Shiva, so he oughta know!) the Srisailam Mallikarjuna Bramaramba Temple is a famous Jyotirling in Andhra Pradesh.  Here is a brief history of the temple site

(Thank you, Shaivam.org !!)

"When Kumar Kartikeya returned to Kailash after completing his trip around the earth, he heard about Ganesha’s marriage from Narada. This angered him. In spite of being restrained by his parents, he touched their feet in obeisance and left for Krounch Mountain. Parvati was very distraught at having to be away from her son, implored Lord Shiva to look for their son. Together, they went to Kumara. But, Kumara went away a further three Yojanas, after learning about his parents coming after him to Krouncha Mountain. Before embarking on a further search for their son on each mountain, they decided to leave a light on every mountain they visited. From that day, that place came to be known as JyotirLinga Mallikarjuna. It is believed that Shiva and Parvati visit this place on Amavasya (No moon day) and (full Moon day) Pournami, respectively. Visiting this JyotirLinga not only blesses one with innumerable wealth, but also name and fame and fulfils all the desires.

Once, a princess named Chandravati decided to go to the Jungles to do penance and meditation. She chose Kadali Vana for this purpose. One day, she witnessed a miracle. A Kapila cow was standing under a Bilwa tree and milk was flowing from all of its four udders, sinking into the ground. The cow kept doing this as a routine chore everyday. Chandravati dug up that area and was dumb founded at what she saw. There was a self-raising Swyambhu SivaLinga. It was bright and shining like the sun rays, and looked like it was burning, throwing flames in all directions. Chandravati prayed to Shiva in this JyotirLinga. She built a huge Shiva Temple there. Lord Shankara was very pleased with her. Chandravati went to Kailash wind borne. She received salvation and Mukti. On one of the stone-inscriptions of the temple, Chandravati’s story can be seen carved out."

Needless to say, I am really looking forward to this road trip!!