First 3D printed Lord Ganesha displayed at Bangalore Metro Station in India

Starting today, citizens of Bangalore can treat themselves to a very distinctive display of Lord Ganesha. For the first time in India, a 3D printed AshtaVinayaka idols are being displayed at M.G Road Metro Station's "Rangoli – Metro Art Centre". The display will be available for public viewing from 28th Aug to 7th Sept 2014.

Lord Ganesha is a widely worshipped deity in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Ganesha is widely revered as the god of beginnings, the deva of intellect and wisdom and honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies. Ganesha has the head of an elephant and a big belly, which make him very easy to indentify.

The project is initiated by Bangalore based Altem Technologies, a pioneer in professional 3D printers in India and a strategic vision partner of Stratasys. It was also awarded the India SME 100 Award for 2013-14 in the IT/ITES segment.

The 3D-printed Ganesha consists of 8 idols, inspired by temples in MaharashtraLike Ashtavinayaka, Siddivinayaka, Dagdusheth Halwai etc. All the idols were created exclusively through professional 3D printers, which are capable of capturing every intricate detail in the idol. The Ganesha models are created by 3D scanning the idols & then printed in Stratasys FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) & Polyjet technology based 3D Printers.

The installation spans 6 feet in height and 5 feet in width, and is an endeavor by Altem to create awareness about the possibilities of 3D printing amongst the public.

Mr. Prasad Rodagi, Founder Director of ALTEM Technologies said, "Lord Ganesha is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, and as the god of intellect and wisdom. Being the god of beginnings, he is worshiped at the start of rituals and ceremonies. 3D Printing is a technology used right in the beginning of the engineering design cycle to overcome flaws in design & development of new products. Invariably, any product takes 3D Printed form before taking its commercial avatar. Additionally, an idol of Ganesha is one of the most intricate idols in India, which can give the viewer can excellent idea about the possibilities of 3D Printing. Hence, Lord Ganesha is being 3D Printed in this scale for the first time in the country on the occasion of Ganesha Chathurthi."

"We wanted to showcase this unique experience to tech savvy Bangaloreans & also Ganesha devotees under one roof. Enthusiasts can explore technology behind it, while devotees can get a glimpse of the 12 avatars of the deity & take a mini Ashtavinayaka pilgrimage from this art gallery!" says Mr. Srinivas Shastry, Technical Director at ALTEM Technologies.

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Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi With Kids

Lord Ganesha, the Hindu god is characterized by numerous attributes, his elephant head being the most noticeable. Known as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, he is also the deva of intellect and wisdom. Ganesha is also invoked as the advocate of learning. Traditionally, prior to school starting children pray to Lord Ganesh for any obstacles to be removed. As the god of beginnings, he is also honored at the start of every religious ritual and ceremony.

Ganesh Chaturthi is the festival that honors Lord Ganesha. A ten day festival is held where clay sculptures of the god are installed in temples and homes. On the last day there are grand celebrations, street parties and feasts as the idols are taken to sea to be immersed in water.

Due to his elephant head many kids are attracted to the plump, sweet loving god. My husband tells me stories about when he was a child and how he would go sit at the clay makers shop next door to his house. The clay maker would let him help mold the ears and other simple parts. As evening struck my husband would plead and beg his mom to take home one of the Ganesh Idols. Even to this day my in laws always remember my husbands childhood antics surrounding the festival.

Celebrating these festivals with young kids doesn’t always have to be an elaborate affair. You can do arts, crafts and other simple activities to involve them. Here are some fun ideas to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with your little ones.

Make a Ganesh Idol out of clay (or playdoh)

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Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 Moorti Sthapana Puja Muhurat Time

Ganesh Chaturthi a really great festival is celebrated all over the world with equal joy and passion. It is the festival which is enjoyed by everyone marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. Ganesh Chaturthi is a great festival is one of the main festivals of the world. This year the grand festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is going to be celebrated on 29^th of August 2014 on Friday. Today on the demand of our readers we are presenting some of the useful information in form of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival 2014, Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 Time, Happy Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 Murti Sthapana Muhurat Time 2014, Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 Puja Vidhi, Happy Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 Puja Muhurat Time in USA, Happy Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 Muhurat Time in UK, Muhurat Time in Canada, New York, London, Spain, Australia, Singapore . All the information is being stated below.

Happy Bal Ganesh Chaturthi Date 2014

In this year the great festival of Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 is going to be celebrated with lots of fun and enjoyment on 29^th of August 2014 on Friday.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 Murti Sthapana Time in India

The important questions arising about the Ganesh Chaturthi Murti Sthapana and Puja Muhurat or Time in different states of India i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, , Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, , , Jharkhand, Karnataka, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, , Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand. The Murti Sthapana of Lord Ganesha is to be performed between 9.33 and 11.06 on that particular date all over India. If we discuss about the Lord Ganesh Murti Sthapana Time 2014 in other countries specially In the UK or in the USA then it is also be to be ascertained as in accordance with the time zone.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 Vrat Puja Vidhi in India USA UK

The Puja Vidhi of Ganesh Chaturthi is very unique. The Puja is done only during Madhyana. It is the general perception from the side of all the big scholars that there was birth of Lord Ganesh during this great time. On the other side there are some protocols related to the Puja Vidhi of Ganesh Chaturthi. As one of the most common one is that one should not get to see the Moon on this very auspicious day,Some times one doesn’t have to do it for two consecutive days. Now if we talk about the immersion time of Lord Ganesh idols, it is all done within 10 to 12 days of the starting date of the festival. It is all about with exact information of Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 at the same time.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 Puja Muhurat Time in India

Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Muhurat 2014 in India is starting from 11.05 to 13.37. The total duration of the Puja time as well as Muhurat is of 2 hours and 32 minutes. This Muhurat is called Madhyahana Puja time. There are two more dates such as Chaturthi Tithi which will be beginning on 29^th of August at 2.09 followed by the ending of Chaturthi Tithi ending at 3.42 on 30^th of August 2014.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2014 | Puja Time Muhurat on Ganesh Chaturthi in USA, UK

If we discuss about the Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Time in USA and UK then as we know that these two countries have different time zones than us. So in accordance with that The Puja Muhuart time in the USA will be from 1.35 to 4.07 on the same as above mentioned date followed by 18.35 to 21.07 in UK. Thus we can also calculate the Murti Sthapana time in these two countries such as from 0.03 to 1.36 in the USA followed by 17.03 to 18.36 in UK.

Reference:- http://goo.gl/HY0mdD

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5 Life Traits To Learn From Lord Ganesha

We are in that time of the year again when we welcome the most beloved God – Ganpati Bappa with a lot of zeal and fervor all over the country. Ganesh Chaturthi marks the beginnig of the 10 happy long days of festival. During this festival devotees bring home the Ganpati idol, worship it with a lot of love and devotion and there is an assimilation of family members and friends.

There’s also feasting on mouth watering sweets, decorating the house, songs, dances, family gatherings and an exciting time of festivities.

But this is not all there is to the festival!

This is also a time to reflect on several attributes and techniques of Lord Ganesha. These techniques will help anyone who instills them for living a better quality of life.

So on this Ganesh Chaturthi, I decided to list down some of the most amazing traits of Lord Ganesha that show us why Ganpati Bappa is the most adorable Hindu God and why we should follow his stature.

Wisdom
Ganesha has a big head, this signifies the capability to grasp and understand things in a better way. It urges a person to think big and seek more knowledge and have a better understanding of the things that life has to offer. This helps in gaining wisdom and brilliance required for achieving excellence in life.

Good Listening

One of the most eminent features of Lord Ganesha is that he has large ears. Because of this, he is also named as ‘Surpakarna’. His large ears make him a good listener; this is an important quality that has to be instilled in each and every person. Being a good listener helps one to analyze a situation or a person in a better way without being judgmental. By being a good listener, you can build affectionate and long lasting relationships with your family members and friends.

Humility

Ever wondered why the mighty Lord Ganesha has a tiny mouse (mushak) as his vehicle?

This reflects the humility, love and respect that Lord Ganesha has for the smallest of creatures. This teaches us an important lesson of being humble and grounded irrespective of how powerful or wealthy you are.

Endurance

Just like all the other features of Ganpati, his big and round stomach also has an important meaning. Lord Ganesha’s stomach signifies his magnanimous nature. This is the reason why he is also called ‘Vighnaharta’. Vighnaharta signifies a person who takes away all the negativity and problems.

This portrays Lord Ganesha’s ability to endure and manage every kind of obstacle that comes in the path of life. This is a vital trait that we can definitely benefit from if we strive for gaining more courage and bravery in the face of adversities.

Leadership

One of Ganesha’s most popular names is ‘Vinayak’. Vinayak refers to a person ‘without a leader’.

You must be your own leader!

Just like Lord Ganesha, a person who is independent and has good leadership qualities has the power to accomplish anything he / she dreams of. People who motivate themselves have the power to conquer any hardships that may come their way. This makes them the leasers who also have the power to influence others through guidance and empowerment.

Awaken yourself by adopting these inspiring and amazing traits of Lord Ganesha. If you look towards Lord Ganesha in any hardship, then your first step in to inculcate his traits.

Enjoy the joyous festival of Ganesh Chaturthi and move towards becoming a better individual.

Ganpati Bappa Morya!!!

Reference:- http://goo.gl/QiyQfL

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Why Lord Ganesha Rides A Mouse?

Ganesh Chaturthi is coming up and it happens to be one of the most awaited celebration of the year. The elephant headed God is revered in every Hindu household, irrespective of regions and cultures. Ganesha is denoted through a lot of symbols such as the elephant head, big belly and riding a mouse.

Most people are often curious as to why would a huge God like Ganesha would ride such a small rodent. In fact, there is a very interesting story about Ganesha having a mouse as His mount. We all know that Lord Ganesha is known as the remover of all obstacles and the one who blesses every being without discrimination. The story of Ganesha riding a mouse also shows how and why Ganesha deserves to be worshipped before all other Gods and Godesses.

You will be surprised to know that the mouse which Lord Ganesha rides was actually a demi-God in its previous birth who was cursed by a sage. Read on to know the complete story of why Lord Ganesha rides a mouse.

The Story Of Kroncha According to the Ganesha purana, Lord Ganesha's mouse was actually a demi-god in his previous birth and his name was Kroncha. 

At the assembly of Lord Indra, Kroncha accidentally stepped on the toes of Muni Vamadeva, who was a learned saint. Muni Vamadeva thought that Kroncha had done so intentionally and grew enraged and cursed Kroncha to become a mouse. Terrified, Kroncha fell to his knees and pleaded for mercy. This subdued Muni Vamadeva's anger. He said that his curse could not go in vain, but that Kroncha would meet Lord Ganesha and become his vehicle. That way he would also become worthy of worship even by Gods. 

And so it was. Kroncha was transformed into a mouse by the curse of Vamadeva Muni and fell into the hermitage of Maharshi Parashar.

Kroncha's Terror 

Kroncha, however, was no ordinary mouse. In fact, he was as big as a mountain and frightening to all who beheld him. He caused a hell lot of trouble and destroyed everything in his path. He became another name of terror for all the people on Earth.

Ganesha's Mount

At this time Lord Ganesha was invited to Rishi Parashar's ashrama and was being taken care of by him and his wife Vatsala. Hearing of the gigantic mouse and the terror it created, Lord Ganesha decided to confront Kroncha. Ganesha unleashed one of his weapons: a pasha (noose), which he sent flying in the direction of Kroncha. The pasha was so radiant its light filled the entire universe. Pasha chased the mouse and looped around his neck and brought Kroncha to Ganesha's feet.

Thus, Kroncha asked for forgiveness and Lord Ganesha accepted him as His mount.

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REASON BEHIND WORSHIPPING LORD GANESHA WITH LEFT SIDED TRUNK

Lord Ganesha is a God of good luck and auspiciousness. He is worshipped for blessings of wisdom, wealth, health, fertility and happiness.He is called Vighneshwara as he dispels problems and removes obstacles. He is a deity who removes all the bad qualities, instils good qualities and confers peace on the devotees who meditate on him. He is the master of the intellect and the discriminating power in man.

God of Beginnings

Ganesha is invoked before commencing any activity as he is the God of Beginnings. When Goddess Parvati demanded Shiva to give her son the most important position, Lord Shiva blessed Ganesha by saying,”You shall be worshipped first in any rites and rituals. Other Gods will be worshipped only after your worship”. Thus , Lord Ganesha is worshipped to mark the beginning of all auspicious occasions.

Trunk of Ganesha

Hindus worship Ganesha at home by offering prayers and conducting rituals to his statue. When they buy statues of Ganesha, they make sure that the trunk is curved to the left and not to the right.

The trunk of Ganesha is usually curved or twisted. The shape of the curved trunk symbolizes OM or the primordial sound.Ganesha uses his trunk to destroy the obstacles and turn them into opportunities for growth.

Householders worship Left curved Trunk Ganesha – Why?

Left curved trunk – Grants Material Success

-The trunk facing left is considered to be the direction of victory or success. It stands for material gains and prosperity.

-In most households one can see Ganesha idols with trunk facing left. The position of Ganesha`s trunk holds a symbolic meaning. The trunk curved towards the left is called Vamamukhi. Vam means the northern direction or the left side. The cooling chandra nadi or Moon`s channel is situated in the left trunk of Ganesha. It bestows tranquility, bliss and success in worldly pursuits.

-Left Trunk Ganesha are kept at homes for eradicating doshas relating to vaastu. Left trunk Ganesha is called Vaastu Ganesha.

-Left trunk Ganesha is believed to face Gouri, his mother. This brings in auspicious and positive vibrations at home. Ganesha`s trunk should face the direction of his mother Gouri for good benefits.

-The left curved trunk of Ganesha usually holds sweets or modak. This signifies prosperity and abundance. It helps in the fulfillment of desires and wishes. It is called Idampuri Vinayaka.

Right curved trunk – Grants Moksha

-The right curving trunk stands for salvation or moksha. This form of Ganesha idols need to be worshipped as per Vedic norms and tradition. Right curved trunk Ganesha statues are usually worshipped in temples and religious places. It is called VaIampuri Vinayaka.

-Right curving trunks of Ganesha have pingala nadi or Sun`s energy flowing through it. This helps in the quick fulfillment of goals and achievements. But if due ritualistic worship is not done regularly then it burns away the results coming on the way.

-Hence householders avoid worship to such forms of Ganesha at home and choose to worship the left trunk Ganesha idols.

Ganesha forms with left curved trunk:

Out of 32 forms of Ganesha, 17 have left curved trunks.They are:

Taruna Ganapathi, Vira Ganapathi, Dvija Ganapathi, Sidhi Ganapathi, Ucchhishta Ganapathi, Vighna Ganapathi, Lakshmi Ganapathi, Maha Ganapathi, Vijaya Ganapathi, Nrithya Ganapathi, Urdhva Ganapathi, Varada Ganapathi, Kshipra Ganapathi, Uddanda Ganapathi, Trimukha Ganapathi, Sinha Ganapathi, Durga Ganapathi.

Ways to worship left trunk Ganesha:

When one worships Ganesha with sincere devotion, one obtains the blessings of Sidhi and Ridhi. Sidhi and Ridhi are the two divine consorts of Ganesha who stand for success and prosperity.

One earns the grace of the Lord by simply offering fresh blades of Durva grass, rice flakes, modaks, and ladoos. Ghee lamps can be lit with offering of flowers to gain benefits of wealth, fulfillment of heart`s desires and divine blessings.

Mantras to be chanted to invoke Ganesha
“Om Shri Ganeshaaya Namaha”
“Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha”


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This Clay Ganesha Stands 6 Feet Tall

HYDERABAD: Though the government is trying to make Ganesh festival as eco-friendly as possible, idols made out of iron and plaster of paris are on for sale in different areas of Hyderabad.

However, B Lakshman Lal of Himayat Nagar chose to make a difference by selling clay idols. One might wonder what is so special about it. The clay idols are six feet tall, unlike the ones worshiped at homes, which are less than one feet.

“Last year, a lot of people have come to me asking for clay idols of big size and I lost a lot of business, which is why I got them made specially this time,” he said.

The common notion among people is that idols of that size, when made of clay are more prone to damage when compared to the ones made of materials like plaster of paris.

“When made with local mud, the idols tend to be delicate and are easily breakable. But the mud used here is brought specially from Calcutta,” he said. “Even the skeleton of the idol is made from bamboo sticks, which is 100 percent environment friendly,” he said.

Speaking about sales, Lakshman said, “I have ordered around 24 clay idols this year, and so far, I managed to sell eight. However, I am hoping the sales will be good next week before the festival.”

Around `370 crore are being invested by the Government and other organisations like Japan International Cooperation Agency in conserving the Hussain Sagar lake, the ultimate destination for most of the idols in the city.

Reference:- http://goo.gl/Zntl1B

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Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple At Mathura

The city of Mathura contains the famous Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple.  This temple is the birthplace of  Lord Krishna, who is believed to be the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This temple is actually a prison cell belonging to Kansa, who was the uncle of Krishna and King of Mathura.

Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple at Mathura Janmbhoomi Temple that is currently managed by the followers of the Vallabhacharya sect is the most visited temple in Mathura. Located in the eastern part of Mathura, not far from the Yamuna River, the temple is architecturally very interesting. According to historians, the prison cell, popularly known as Garbha Griha in the temple premise is the exact place where lord Krishna was born. The stone walled cell is reminiscent of the cruelty of King Kansa. Many statues and sculptures of the bygone era were found on excavating the site. During the excavation work various things were recovered that confirm this story. The articles that were recovered include utensils, some old figurines, and a rock platform that were commonly seen in the prisons of that period. These articles are displayed in a museum. Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple shares a common wall with a mosque, due to which there is heavy security in the temple. The present temple was built in the 20th century. A stone slab is present in the temple that symbolizes the original site where Lord Krishna was born.

Main gate (entrance) of Krishna Janmabhoomi The city of Mathura Being the birth place of Lord Krishna, Mathura is one of the most sacred destinations of India. As the legend goes, Mathura was founded in the Treta era by Shatrughna, the younger brother of Lord Rama and later was under the royalty of King Kamsa, the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna.
The city of Mathura Being the birth place of Lord Krishna, Mathura is one of the most sacred destinations of India. As the legend goes, Mathura was founded in the Treta era by Shatrughna, the younger brother of Lord Rama and later was under the royalty of King Kamsa, the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna.

Shatrughna killed the demon Lavanasura who has tormented everyone.  Lavanasura was the son of Madhu, the pious demon-king after whom the city of Mathura was named.  Madhu’s wife and Lavanusara’s mother was Kumbhini, a sister of Ravan. Lavanasura was the holder of the divine Trishula (Trident) of Lord Shiva, and nobody was able to kill him or prevent him from committing sinful activities.

According to Hindu mythology, Kamsa heard a divine prophecy saying that he would be killed by his sister Devkis eighth son Krishna. Hence, he imprisoned Devki and her husband Vasudeva and kept on killing their children one after another. But when Lord Krishna was born, miraculously all guards went to sleep, prison gates opened and Vasudeva carried his son to Gokul crossing the wild river Yamuna in the mid night. The divine prophecy came true and Krishna killed tyrant Kamsa and ruled Mathura for a long time. Vrindavan is the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood leaving a number of myths and legends of love and friendship behind. Click here for more on Lord Shri Krishna
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Janmashtmi Festival - The Birth Story Of Lord Shri Krishna

Birth of Shri Krishna and the festival of Janmashtmi

As we know that birth of Lord Shri Krishna is celebrated as the festival of Janmashtmi in all over the India. This festival has a great implication as it underlines the importance of Shri Krishna the eigth incarnation of Shri Vishnu.

This religious festival is celebrated in all over India at the month of August/September on the ashtami of Krishna Paksh or the eighth day(astami) in the month of Bhadon according to the Hindu calendar.

Shri Krishna was born to Vasudev and Devaki. He is an incarnation of Vishnu dashavatar. Devaki was the sister of Kansa. Kansa was a sinful ruler of mathura. During the wedding of Devki and Vasudev, there was an akashvani that eighth child of Devki will kill Kansa.

Akashvani of Kans death during Devaki Vasudev wedding

Kansa killed the first six children of Devki. Seventh was Balrama, who was saved by divine forces and eighth was Shri Krishna.

When Krishna was born in the prison, a chain of events happened, which surprised Vasudev. The gates of the cell flow open and all the guards fell asleep.

Note: According to historians, the prison cell, popularly known as Garbha Griha, in the temple premise is the exact place where lord Krishna was born.

This temple is known as Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi mandir

The stone walled cell is reminiscent of the cruelty of King Kansa. Many statues and sculptures of the bygone era were found on excavating the site. The prison cell was gradually turned into the present beautiful temple. Lakhs of devotees throng the temple during Janmashtami. The festivities and celebrations during the festival is famous all over India. Celebrations begin during mid night with the birth of Bhagwan.

He thought of Nand, his close friend in Gokul and decided to handover his child to him in order to save him from the clutch of Kansa.

On that fateful night, heavy rains which led to river Yamuna being in floods. As soon as the feet of Lord touched the river, the flow became normal and Yamuna give way for the Lord. Sheshnag, the serpent formed an umbrella to save the new born baby from rain.

He reached gokul. He kept his child next to fast asleep Yashoda and took the baby girl lying with him back to Mathura. The baby girl is believed to be the sister of Lord Vishnu.

After vasudev reached Mathura, Kansa was given the news of birth of the eighth child of Devki and Vasudev. Kansa rushed to the prison-cell and lifted the baby girl to kill her despite pleadings from Devki. But, instead of hitting the stone, the girl flew up in the air and announced that the annihilator of Kansa was born and in safe hands.

Reference:- http://goo.gl/5V20V5

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Worry And Feelings

The head worries and the heart feels. They cannot function at the same time. When your feelings dominate, worry dissolves. If you worry a lot, your feelings are dead; you are stuck in the head. Worrying makes your mind and heart inert and dull. Worries are like a rock in the head. Worry entangles you. Worry puts you in a cage. When you feel, you do not worry.

Feelings are like flowers, they come up, they blossom and they die. Feelings rise, they fall and then disappear. When feelings are expressed, you feel relieved. When you are angry, you express your anger and the next moment you are all right. Or you are upset, you cry and you get over it. Feelings last for some short time and then they drop, but worry eats at you for a longer period of time, and eventually eats you up.

Feelings make you spontaneous. Children feel, so they are spontaneous. Adults put brakes on their feelings and they start worrying. Worrying about anything obstructs action while feelings propel action. Worrying about negative feelings is a blessing because it puts the brakes on those feelings, preventing you from acting on them. Usually one never worries about positive feelings. Worries are uncertain. Worrying takes away your energy; you cannot think clearly when you worry. Offering your worries is prayer and prayer moves you in feelings. When you think you are feeling too much then you start worrying about your feelings. Let’s not worry about it and feel our food!

Reference:- http://goo.gl/KnDQAs

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