Soma Purana

Yesterday it looked like the world was ending. Today, it looks so peaceful, sunny with not a trace of clouds. However that was deceptive, I found out. Drove Neeraja to Trenton train station for her SEPTA Philly train. I had to make three U-turns because the 3 different routes that I am familiar with were all closed at some segments due to flooding. Finally, I reached the train station an hour later (usually 20 minute ride). But all that was for nothing. There were no trains (even though the website said they had started Trenton-Philly trains). The return trip took an hour also. Every low-lying area is simply flooded everywhere...

This week has been quite significant in two rayespects. On February 23, Tuesday, at around 2:00 PM I was working in my office at home. Suddenly, I saw my huge and heavy table shaking somewhat violently as if a giant is physically shaking it. My wife and daughter were home downstairs and I went down to ask them whether they felt anything. My daughter was asking my wife why she was shaking the sofa. That is when I realized it was an earthquake. Read about it on http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/08/earthquake-dc-explainer During the weekend, the great hurricane Irene a landfall in NJ on early morning of Aug. 28, 2011 Sunday. I was particularly concerned with what Irene would do to our solar installation. Fortunately, nothing too damaging happened at our house. One 30 foot tree fell; other than that there were small damages like broken tree branches. Read about the hurricane at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Irene_(2011)

I read the following biography of Sri Hiriannaiah at http://rajchat.info/vasudeva_kutumbukam/7_two_exemplary_officerst.html. Sri Hiriannaiah also belonged to Bobburkamme sect and most probably our family is related to his family, exactly how I don't know but may learn in the future. What was interesting is the propensity of descendants of Sri Kalappa to pursue law and serve in justice profession. The entire biography is copied from the above source. " Sakleshpur Hirianniah (S. Hirianniah for short) was born on 24th of June 1877 in Sakleshpura which is a taluq headquarters town in Hassan district. The taluq is situated in the high mountainous area of the Western Ghats, The mountains are covered by tropical forests where grow teakwood, rosewood, sandalwood and other tropical trees, and there is very heavy rain during the monsoon months. The ground under the trees are covered by all sorts of plants and creepers an