I attended the Ther (annual chariot festival ) at Ganapathy temple yesterday with my mother, and met a few relatives and friends 🙂 Also managed to to Ganapathy mantra 1000+ times (counting on fingers ..without my chanting Rudraksha was a bit difficult at times.. as we’re all walking..and much was going on.. )
It was amazing, spiritual and absolutely festive as ever. This time around I was able to focus more on the different aspects (forever studying and decoding the intricate ritual aspects and their meanings.. much of it is not usually taught in schools..except to Brahmins who are training to be Hindu Priests).
So here are the tons of photos. You can see full explanations under each photo in my facebook album.. (it’s my intention to preserve the meanings, and share that with those interested).
Om Maha Ganapathy Nama!
-Manivannan
Hi all, here is the infographics I have created to show  Retrograde motion of all the planets – their  Zodiac positions & dates.
Notes:
Mercury has 4 retrograde periods in 2016, with the 4th one just starting in late December.
Venus makes No retrograde motion in 2016 (compare to Mars that had no retro motion last year in 2015).
A total of 5 planets will be retrograding at the same time between 28th April to 8th May (of course some of them start or end their retrograde motion before or after these dates..). Those planets are Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn & Pluto.  We can expect quite a lot of challenges at that time.. as normally we only  get 4 planets retrograding at one point or other.  That said, next year in 2018, there will be a few weeks where 6 planets will be retrograding !
I’ll type up the actual dates for all the planetary retrograde motions (same info on graph..but typed here) in a few days so come check again soon.
I have used data from `American Ephemeris 2000 to 2050′ Â (2nd ed. ACS Publications).
Stellar wishes
-Mani Navasothy
Some photos of the waxing Moon (taken last night on 28th June’15) and  Jupiter almost conjunct Venus (taken this evening 29th June’15). I will try to take photos of the Jupiter-Venus conjunction over the next few days (wish us astro-photographers clear skies).  🙂  -Mani Navasothy
Just by chance I happen to glimpse a bright `star’ from my bathroom window..almost at low horizon in the west..and I knew instantly what it was..so ran out to garden with my Digital SLR ..and started clicking.. and then I looked to the SW sky and saw an equally bright object and knew ..that’s gotta be Jupiter.. Of course both were confirmed by me using my SKy-eye app on the mobile..(by pointing it / centering on object). So here we are..:-)
This blog shows 2 photos. Here are a few photos I took just hours ago (5th May 2015.. around 22:17hrs GMT) from my garden in South London area…in between fast moving clouds, using my DSLR (sony DSC-HX300).
This shot was taken (hand-held) using the 3D viewable function of the DSLR.
This shot was taken using the `superior auto’ function (low light).
It’s notable that currently  Jupiter is at 13’41” Leo, and Venus is 27’17” Gemini.  These two planets are of course called the beneficial planets..  So to capture them both in one frame is a great thrill for me.. 🙂  (no trickery..  it’s why I didn’t even stamp a `copyright’ note on the photo..  lest anyone thought I `graphixed’ it 🙂
-Mani Navasothy
ArchAngel Cometh! Â Â Here’s a rather quick bit of graphics I did recently.. (bridge, clouds, Temple Pillars).. Â I Â decided to add an old art work I did (The Angel). Â Â So.. how many of you believe in Archangels? Do you work magically with them.. such as Raphael, Gabriel, Michael or Uriel? They are called upon to protect the elemental quarters in the `Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP). Feel free to share…. Bright Blessings – Mani#
-Mani Navasothy
