Karkala:

Bishop of Mangalore, Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius P. D’Souza as the chief celebrant solemnized the annual feast of St. Lawrence on Wednesday, 29 January 2014 at 10.30 am. He was joined by Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese, Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes, Vicar General of Udupi, Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa, PRO of the Udupi Diocese, Rev. Fr. George D’Souza, Rector of St. Lawrence Shrine and a number of other priests from Udupi and Mangalore Dioceses. Unprecedented crowd participated in the feast mass.

In his homily on the theme of the annual feast “Christian Families-Cradle of Faith”, Bishop Aloysius D’Souza  specially mentioned the three basic principles of a good Christian family that were put forward by the present Pope, Francis  addressing families from 95 countries of the world when they had gone to Vatican on a pilgrimage. These three basic principles are: Prayer, Faith in family and Happiness in the family.

Elaborating these three basic principles, Bishop Aloysius D’Souza said that  family prayer especially reciting Rosary by all the members of the family together fosters the sense of unity in the family. Faith is the important factor in family life. Further he said that the faith should be like the faith that was expressed by St. Paul and Christians should bear witness to the faith that they profess. Regarding the happiness in family, Bishop said that modern gadgets would not provide lasting happiness to the family members. People should find happiness through unity and togetherness where God finds a place within the family. The Bishop further said that correcting mistakes of children is an obligation of the parents. Giving the example of the Holy Family of Jesus, Joseph and Mary, Bishop Aloysius D’Souza said that Jesus should be the model for the 3 children whereas Joseph and Mary should be models for parents.

At the end of the Feast Mass, one book in Konkani titled “Sant Loresachim Dhirvim” (Treasures of St. Lawrence) and informative pamphlet on the history of the Shrine of St. Lawrence written by George Castelino, recipient of National Award for Best Teacher were released by Bishop Aloysius P. D’Souza along with the Bishop of Udupi, and Vicar General. Bishop of Mangalore also honoured George Castelino with a shawl and bouquet of flowers. Steven and Florine Mendis, proprietors of the Divine Channel and producers of the film on the life of St. Lawrence were also felicitated by the Bishop of Mangalore.

Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo honoured Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius P. D’Souza by offering him shawl and Rev. Fr. George D’Souza offered him a bouquet of flowers as a sign of respect to the Bishop of Mangalore who obliged the diocese as the chief celebrant of the solemn annual feast mass.
Earlier in the morning at 8.30 am, most Rev. Dr. Lawrence Makkuzzi, Bishop of Belthangady offered Holy Mass in Malayalam language. The Bishop of Udupi Gerald Lobo accompanied the Bishop of Belthangady to the altar. Rev. Fr. George D’Souza, Rector of the shrine welcomed the Bishop of Beltahngady and offered him a bouquet of flowers. This was the first time that a Bishop offered mass in the Malayalam language in the Shrine of St. Lawrence. Quite a large number of people attended the mass. The choir and the faithful participated in the singing.

There has been continuous flow of pilgrims to the shrine throughout the day. Masses for the benefit of the pilgrims have been arranged right from 12.30 pm till 11.30 pm including one at 5 pm in English and another at 8.30 pm in Kannada.

source: http://www.bellevision.com / Bellevision.com / Home> News / by Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle / Bellevision Media Network / Karkala – January 29th, 2014

by  K. Vijaya Kumar, Former Jt. Director of Information & Publicity

Udaya Ravi, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu’s house in Mysore (5th Cross, V.V. Mohalla), is not just a simple house but has a greater significance since Kuvempu wrote his magnum opus Sri Ramayana Darshanam sitting in his room from this home. Acharya Vinobaji during his padayatra in Karnataka (Kuvempu had great reverence to him) was eager to visit Kuvempu’s house since he had come to know about Ramayana Darshanam. When (on 25.9.1957) Vinobaji enters inside Udaya Ravi, Kuvempu records in his diary, he pronounces in Hindi three times ‘Bahut prashanth hai’ (very peaceful atmosphere).

Tarini Chidananda, Kuvempu’s daughter, in her book Magalu Kanda Kuvempu (Kuvempu as seen by his daughter), vividly describes how much Kuvempu was sentimental and attached to Udaya Ravi and the garden he had raised with various flowers and fruit plants in front of the house. Kuvempu built this house in 1937 and the then President of Ramakrishna Ashrama Swami Deshikanandaji sent a Bengali contractor, one K.C. Dham (who had migrated to Mysore and a devotee of Ramakrishna Mission) who had earned a good name as a committed person in his work.

Tarini, who spent most of her life in Udaya Ravi and taking care of Kuvempu after the death of her mother Hemavathi, writes how her father after building and living in Udaya Ravi, got married, worked in the University, wrote most of his works and breathed his last in the midnight on 11.11.1994 in Udaya Ravi.

Many of those who had visited this house, just to cite a couple of them as recorded by Tarini — a Soviet Delegation, UGC Chairman C.D. Deshmukh and his wife Durga Bai Deshmukh had expressed great appreciation of Udaya Ravi and its garden and complimented Kuvempu and his wife Hemavathi for their efforts in maintaining it so neat and tidy.

It is appreciable that the State Govt. has declared Kuvempu’s native place Kuppalli where his body has been laid to rest in Kavishyla as a memorial of Kuvempu and entrusting it to Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Pratishtana to maintain it, who have opened a Kuvempu Museum for visitors.

I recollect here my memory of 30-35 years back, when my Dept. of Information was producing a documentary film on Kuvempu, directed by Chaduranga, the noted writer, my numerous visits to Udaya Ravi to meet Kuvempu in that connection and on many several other occasions, I fondly remember the pious moments spent with the poet in his house.

Many felicitations to Kuvempu used to take place at Udaya Ravi only as the poet was reluctant to accept it and I remember one such felicitation organised by State Bank of Mysore in early eighties wherein I was made the chief guest.

I sincerely feel and as many other literary figures of yesteryears, who were direct disciples of Kuvempu, with scores of others who have high liking for Kuvempu’s literature, might also agree that Udaya Ravi in Mysore where Kuvempu spent most part of his life needs to be declared by the Govt. as a Memorial in his memory and a Museum could be established entrusting it to be run and maintained by an organisation locally, either University of Mysore or a similar body like Kuvempu Prathistana. I am sure scores of Kannadigas will support this cause.

Even now, quite a few visitors, particularly student groups on conducted tour visiting Mysore do come to see Udaya Ravi. Though inconvenient to Tarini and her husband Prof. Chidananda Gowda who reside there, do not disappoint the visitors. Besides many even in Mysore and around have not been able to see the place though they have a desire to visit.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature articles / by K.Vijaya Kumar   e-mail: kumarkv59@gmail.com / January 29th, 2014