Saturday, July 26, 2008

Gist from weekend Barron's

Jul 14 2008:
Short lived pain, chance of recovery: FNM, FRE
Qualcomm could win big with growth in smartphones: QCOM, NOK, AAPL

Friday, July 25, 2008

Monday, July 21, 2008

My retirement account

My retirement account (401k) is currently with Schwab and is managed by their automated advisory software Guided Choice. I am still studying whether to continue with it or I should actively manage it. Primary purpose of my 401k account is not to loose the matching contribution from my company.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

US Immigration related websites

Government websites:
www.uscis.gov


Immigration news:
www.fdbl.com
www.immigration-law.com
www.immigrationvoice.org
www.murthy.com

US Investments

My stocks and options education:
www.onlinetradingacademy.com
www.stockbee.com



My favorite brokers:
www.tdameritrade.com
www.thinkorswim.com
www.scottrade.com

My portfolio:

India Investments

TBD

Konkani Recipes

Cabbage Bhaje
Biscuit Rotti
Batata Ambado,
Kadge Phodi

Our Temples

Shree Ganapati Ravalnath Mahamaya Temple, Asnoti, Karwar

Location of the temple
This Temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh, the temple is situated in Asnotivillage, about eleven kilometers to the north of Karwar. The presiding deity is Shree Ganapathi and other Deities are Shree Laxmi Narayan, Shree Ganadevi and Shree Ravalnath.

Photos of the temple
TBD

How to reach

TBD

History (as obtained from the net)
Gowda (also written as Gowd, or Gaud) Saraswat Brahmins are a Konkani (or Marathi) speaking Hindu Brahmin community in India. They are popularly referred to as GSBs.


Saraswats are people of Aryan descent who had settled down on the banks of the Saraswati River. The river Saraswati eventually dried up and this led to the migration of the Saraswats to the plains of northern India. Though the exact dates of this migration are unknown, the Rig Veda eulogies the river Saraswati was huge. It is believed that Lord Parshuram, a Brahmin, also counted as an avatar of Lord Vishnu brought the Saraswats from the northern Indian plains to Goa for the purpose of religious functions.

96 families of Goud (meaning northern) Saraswats came to the southern half of India and hence carried the appellation of 'northern' in the form of the word Goud. In view of the 96 families who formed 96 settlements in Goa - Sasashti (66) (Salcette) + Tissuari (30) (Tiswadi), they were also called as shenvis. There were further settlements in Baradesh (12 settlements) (Bardez) , Goa.

The Gowd Saraswats built many temples in Goa like the Ramnathi temple in Loutolim, and the Mangueshi and Shantadurga temples in Kushasthali and Quellosim along with people from the other Hindu castes. Muslim raids in the 14th century began to destroy their peaceful existence. However, peace was regained when Goa came under the sway of the Hindu Vijaynagar kingdom. This period lasted for about 150 years. The Portuguese, for religious and political motives annexed Goa in 1510. During the Portuguese rule, due to forcible conversions to Christianity and extreme oppression by the Jesuits and the Franciscans, the Gowd Saraswats along with their kunbi and gavde Hindu brethren fled to safer places in Canara (in Karnataka), Kerala and Maharashtra. The temples of the Saraswats were destroyed by the Portuguese; however, some courageous people carried the idols of their deities across the Agranashini river (Zuari) into the territory of the Sonde Rajas. Here, they were slowly rebuilt. The Portuguese eventually took over these territories of Antruz Mahal, but their religious zeal had weakened and the temples stood firm.

The Gowd Saraswats have sub-communities such as the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins, who were Saraswats from the villages of Kushasthali and Quellossim in Goa. They follow the Chitrapur Mutt. Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins/Balavalikar Gauda Saraswat Brahmins from Rajapur and Balavali village who follow the Kavle Mutt (Ponda,Goa), they are spread over costal Karnataka, Coorg and Kasaragod taluk in Kerala.

The Gowd Saraswats have Konkani as their mother tongue, though their generations of sojourn in Maharashtra (Marathi), Karnataka (Kannada) and Kerala (Malayalam) territories have made them experts in the major languages of their adopted provinces.

There are many many GSB families in Maharashtra [migrated from GOA during portuguese rule in the 16th century]scattered across all the major cities - who have "Marathi" and/or "Malwani/Vengurla Konkani"as their Mother toungue. GSB's from Konkan side of Maharashtra can speak Marathi & Malwani Konkani very well while those from non-konkan side speak only Marathi. GOA & Maharashtra have maximum Marathi speaking GSB's.

Thus GSB's speak Konkani, Marathi, Kannada, Malyalam.

The sub-sects of the Goud Saraswats


Shenavi and Sasashtikars
Shenavi Paiki
Bardeshkars
Pednekars
Lotlikars
Kudaldeshkar Adya Gaud Brahmins(Khanolkars,Samants,Desais,dabholkars....etc.)
Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins/Bhalavalikar Gauda Saraswat Brahmins
Rajapur-Bhalavalikars call themselves RSB's. Kudaldeshkars call themselves Kudaldeshkar Brahmins.

GSB Mutts

Sri Goudapadacharya Kavale Mutt (Kavlem, Goa)
Sri Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Mutt (Gokarn, Partagali, Poinginim, Karnataka)
Sri Chitrapur Mutt (Chitrapur, Bhatkal, Karnataka)
Sri Kashi Mutt (Mangalore, Karnataka)

Present

There are about 0.28 Million GSBs in India and world, GSB is declining at a ratio of 14% in India and World. Extreme orthodox in the family may be the reason for this. High number of marriages with the people outside the caste led the GSB to decline like other sects in konkani speaking people.

It has been believed that there were about 0.34 Million GSBs in early 2000. Now it has been about 0.27 Million. GSB is alive in the parts of Karanataka, Kerala.

Surnames


GSB surnames include Acharya, Baliga, Bhandary, Bhat, Chitnis , Hegde, Kamat/h, Karande, Kudva, Kini, Mallya, Nayak, Prabhu, Kulkarni, Gavaskar, Rajadhyaksha, Nadkarni, Wagle, Sukhtankar, Diwadkar, Pai, Shanbhag/Shenoy, Sanzgiri, Rao, Deshpande, Telang, Wagh, Tendulkar, Pilgaonkar, Sabnis, Divekar, Pandit, Saraf, Shenvi, Shenai, Kaikini,Nayak, Keshkamat, Dhempo, Charse, Aambegaonkar, Muzumdar, Palekar, Borkar, Asgekar, Pandikar, Paldikar, Gangolikar, Kalyankar, Varde, Valavalikar, Bharne, Jakh, Khasnis, Pannavallikar, Kopalkar, Harpati, Pisurlekar, Vaidya, Havaldar, Stalekar, Koppikar, Bhandarkar, Chinnarkar, Dhonde, Rege, Mantri, Desai, Samant, Asholdekar, Kudchedkar, Kotambakar, Talwalkar, Malkarnkar, Shirvaikar, Shaldekar, Hodarkar, Baldikar, Savardekar, Salavalkar, Suralkar, Sankordkar, Kholkar, Sankar, Varti, Shisani, Kundekar. Laad, Satyavant Laad, Dubhashi, Sangdekar, Kendari (Kedari), Kantak, Tanki, Salkar, Usagaonkar, Kakodkar, Bhise, Aathvankar, Bhodse, Patkar, Bhatikar, Devnali, Kenkare, Lavanis, Aaghashikar, Adavalpalkar, Torsekar, Priolkar, Konekar, Kawde, Gunjikar, Khot, Phadnis, Aambye, Dhume, Sheveshavrkar, Chandavarkar, Kolskar, Vidikar, Chakrmani, Talgare, Salgar, Karkol, Punekar, Gokarn, Kalyanpukar, Eslukar, Galvadi, Hervadkar, Tergaonkar, Nabar . Pataavarkar, Dalvi, Dhaymode, Gadnis, Manerkar, Raganekar, Goode, Mandurkar, Nagarsekar, Salelkar, Pavse, Usapkar, Mulgaonkar, Mayekar, Karnik, Deskulkarni, Palekar, Aambye, Kolmule, Nelikar, Kaysulkar, Bastodkar, Vaishnov, Majalkar, Aauarsekar, Aajgoankar, Bhatki, Mahime, Kabadi, Redkar, Kasbekar, Prabhavalkar, Khanolkar, Dhabolkar, Madgeri, Banavalikar etc..

Famous GSB's

Dr. Vijay Mallya - Chairman, United Breweries/ Kingfisher Airlines
Vitthal Mallya - father of Vijay Mallya
K. V. Kamath - CEO, ICICI Bank
Dr. M. V. Kamath - Indian Journalist, Editor and Columnist
V. S. Kudva
Dr. T. M. A. Pai - Educationist, Banker, Huminatarian, Founder of Manipal
U Srinivas Mallya - Indian politician and Member of Parliament
Ulhas R. Padiyar
Sunil Gavaskar - world famous best cricketer so far
Ashok Saraf
Amol Palekar
Dilip Vengsarkar
P L Deshpande
Dadasaheb Rege
Madhav Mantri
Shyam Benegal
Late Bipin Warty- actor/producer of marathi movies
Priya Tendulkar-Razdan
Dilip Prabhavalkar
Madhur Bhandarkar
Rashtrakavi M. Govinda Pai(KB)
Ammembal Subba Rao Pai - Founder of Canara bank and Canara group of academia
Dr V A Pai Panandiker (Founder of Inter National Centre Delhi and Goa)
Kotacheri Manmohan Shenoi (Chairman UCo Bank 1986-1990)
Shri R V Deshpande (Former Karnataka Minister)
Late Bantwal Srinivasa Dayanand Baliga (BSD Baliga) former Chairman Railway Board
Shobha De nee Rajadhyaksha
Dr. T Ramdas M Pai Son of Dr. TMA Pai, Founder of Manipal
Sachin Tendulkar

Kuldevs of GSBs

Normally Saraswats have the concept of "Panchayatan" - worshipping 5 gods like form of Shiva, form of Vishnu, Durga, Surya, and Ganapati. Some GSB Temples still have this concept, while many have a single deity instead of five. Kuldev or kuldaivat are the deities which a set of families primarily worship. Their temples are built and maintained by these families, also called Mahajans (or Kulavis) of their respective temple.

Many Kuldevs/Kuldevatas are in Goa. However, during early Portuguese persecution, many GSBs and Saraswats fled from Goa along with their Kuldevs to nearby states like Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala. Hence, besides Goa, there are many GSB Temples in Karnataka (South & North Canara), in Maharashtra (Konkan side like Malwan, Vengurla, Savantwadi, Kudal, Ratnagiri, etc.), in Kerala (Purakkad, Cochi, etc.).

The Popular kuldev's of Gouda Saraswats are:

Kuldevtas located in Goa :

1) Shri Mangesh Maharudra (Mangeshim/Priyol, Ponda, Goa)

2) Shri Shantadurga (Kavalem, Ponda, Goa)

3) Shri Navadurga (Madkai, Goa)

4) Shri Mahalakshmi (Bandiwadem/Bandora, Ponda, Goa)

5) Shri Nagesh Maharudra (Nageshim, Bandiwadem/Bandora, Ponda Goa)

6) Shri Mahalsa Narayani (Mardhol, Ponda, Goa)

7) Shri Ganapati Khandola (Khandola, Goa)

8) Shri Kaveri Kamakshi Rayeshwar (Shiroda, Ponda, Goa)

9) Shri Ramnath Shanteri Kamakshi (Ramnathim, Ponda, Goa)

10) Shri Shantadurga Ravalnath (Mulgaon, Goa)

11) Shri Devaki Krishna Ravalnath Bhumikadeo (Marcela, Ponda, Goa)

12) Shri Lakshmi Narsimha (Veilinga, Ponda, Goa)

13) Shri Damodhar (Zambavalim, Goa)

14) Shri Shankleswari Shantadurga (Gotna, Veiling, Ponda, Goa)

15) Shri Vijayadurga (Kerim, Ponda, Goa)

16) Shri Saptakoteshwar (Narve, Goa)


Kuldevtas located in Maharashtra :

1) Shri Navadurga (Vengurla, Redi, Maharashtra)


Kuldevtas located in Karnataka :

1) Shri Kundodari Mahamaya Chamundeshwari (Shedgeri, Ankola, Karnataka)

2) Shri Aryadurga (Ankola, Karnataka)

3) Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mahamaya also known as Nagoa Mahamaya (Ankola, Karnataka)

4) Shri Ganapati Mahamaya (Shirali, Karnataka)

5) Shri Katyayani Bhaneshwar (Aversa , Karnataka)

6) Shri Asnoti Ganapati Ravalnath (Asnoti, Karnataka)




Shifted Kuldevta Temples During the Portuguese Rule :

1) Shri Ramnath Shanteri Kamakshi (Kumta, Karnataka)

2) Shri Kaveri Kamakshi Rayeshwar (Kumta, Karnataka)

3) Shri Mahalsa Narayani (Kumta, Karnataka)

4) Shri Shri Lakshmi Narsimha (Moolki, Karnataka)

5) Shri Devaki Krishna Ravalnath (Kagal, Karnataka)

6) Shri Mahalsa Narayani (Moodabidri, Karnataka)


The Above Kuldevtas are of the Shenavi, Bardeshkars, Sasashtikars, Pednekars, Shenavi Paiki, Lotlikars and of the Goud Brahmins of Karnataka

The Kudaldeshkar & Rajpur Saraswats Kuldevtas are different than those of the above :

1) Shri Sharvani-Mahadev Maharudra Vetal (Goa)

2) Shri Ravalnath (Valawal, Kudal)

3) Shri Vetal or Vetoba (Goa & Maharashtra)

4) Shri Kaleshwar (Nerur,Sindhudurg Dist,Maharashtra)

5) Shri Aadinarayan (Parule,Taluka Vengurla,Maharashtra)

6) Shri Narasimha (Narasinghe, Karnataka)

7) Shri Bhavani-Shankar (Kavle Mutt, Goa)

8) Shri Durgaparameshwari (Montimaru, Karnataka)

9) Shri Durgaparameshwari (Bantakal, Karnataka)

10) Shri Durgaparameshwari (Mogeru, Karnataka)

11) Shri Adishakti Mahalaxmi (Laxmipura, Karnataka)

12) Shri Bhagvati Vana devi (Goa)