blowing candles on birthdays.

[Guest guest]

Most of us are following the western culture by blowing candles on

birthdays.

A learned upanyaasakar observed: " On birthdays we wish long life for

the

person whose birthday is being observed. In our Hindu tradition we do

that by lighting a lamp and not putting it out. " We always LIGHT

lamps in front of God or on special occassions

and we try to re-light it or put more oil(we do have two or more at

any

time, so we light one that need oil or 'thiri' while the other lamps

are still burning).

 

I am reproducing what I read this morning in the Parade magazine

(dated

October 12, 2008)and this comes as part of the Sunday Star Ledger in

Ask Marilyn column:

 

quote**************************************************

Is it safe to eat birthday cake after kids or adults blow all over

it?

—Chuck Cooper, Mulberry, Fla.

Only if you don't mind possibly catching whatever contagious illness

they may have. This unwelcome prospect is why restaurant-industry

standards have been developed for those familiar food-bar shields,

commonly known as " sneeze guards. "

 

Cleanliness-conscious hosts may want to provide cupcakes for guests

who

prefer their cake " unshowered " by enthusiastic partygoers.

 

unquote**************************************************

 

I have a comment to make on ill persons visiting the temple, not

seriously ill, but with cough and cold. They are spreading the cold

virus by not cupping their mouths or covering with a cloth when they

cough. Just imagine how many persons they are infecting with their

ailments! If they are doing Bhagavan Kainkaryam, then they have to be

very careful not to use the same hand to do HIS Kainkaryam.

 

vachika: dosha: Kshantavya:

 

adiyen

Lakshmana dAsan