STORY - ~ INDIA - Mysore Excursions : Srirangapatna Mysore : Masjid-e-Ala

The Masjid-e-Ala or Jama Masjid in Srirangapatna is another tourist
attraction in the city. The mosque is located near the Bangalore Gate
of the fort. Tippu Sultan built this masjid in 1784 after he ascended
thethrone of Mysore. It is said that he performed the first imamath
himself. The mosque has lofty minarets that touch the sky these
minarets stand on a high platform and has an open court in the front
and a covered verandah. The minarets are double storied and octagonal
in shape with pigeonholes surmounted by domes thatadds to the grandeur
of theentire structure.
There is a huge prayer hall, the Mihrab on the western side. There is
an inscription that mentions all the ninety-nine names of Allah.There
is a flight of about 200 steps leading to the top of the minarets from
where one can have a splendid view of the surrounding area. Persian
scriptures done in fine calligraphy and intricate ornamentation
decorate the walls and ceilings of this Juma Masjid.
Dariya Daulat Palace Srirangapatna | Masjid-e-Ala in Srirangapatna |
Other Attractions In Srirangapatnam | Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

STORY - ~ INDIA - Mysore : Tourist Attractions in Mysore : Brindavan Gardens Mysore

One of the most visited places in Mysore by locals and by tourists is
the famous Brindavan Gardens.Located about 19kms from the heart of
Mysore these beautiful gardens are laid out below the Krishnaraja
Sagar dam built across the river Cauvery. These gardens are famous for
theilluminated dancing fountains that come to life after sunset. The
Krishnaraja Sagar Dam (KRS) (known as Kannambadi to the locals) itself
is a superb example of excellent engineering and itself is a tourist
attraction in Mysore. Sir M. Vishveswariah, one of India's finest
engineers, built it in 1924.
He used 'surkhi' a mixture of limestone and brick powder instead of
cement. The dam was among the first in the world to have automatic
sluice gates. The dam is named after the then Maharaja of Mysore
SriKrishnaraja Wodeyar who financed the dam. The damis 3 kms long and
is locatedat the confluence of the rivers -Cauvery, Hemavati and
Lakshmanathritha. Thelake that is formed by the dam is one of the
largest inIndia. The dam is a multipurpose project conceived by Sir M.
Vishveswariah for supplying water to the agricultural lands of Mandya
and Mysore districts and for ensuring power supply to the
Shivanasamudra project.
Sir M. Vishveswariah is often called the architect ofmodern Mysore and
"the father of planning in India".The gardens were designedby Sir
Mirza Ismail another important and progressive Diwan of Mysore. Spread
over an area of 150 acres, the Brindavan Gardens is considered one of
the best gardens in India. The garden not only been meticulously laid
out and has beautiful lawns and shrubs, but has thousands of fountains
in different shapes and sizes that are litwith colorful lamps and
areset to pleasant music.
The best time to visit the gardens is after sunset when all the bright
colourful fountains come alive and seem to dance with joy to the
accompanying music. This is a sight worth beholding as the entire
garden is transformed into a fairyland. The Brindavan gardens remain
illuminated from 7.00pm to 7.55pm from Monday to Wednesday and from
7.00pm to 8.55pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

ISLAMIC ARTICLE :- ~ In Generosity, Be Like a River

In generosity and helping others, be like a river
In compassion and grace, be like the sun
In concealing other's faults,be like the night
In anger and fury, be as if you have died
In modesty and humility, be like the earth
In tolerance, be like the sea
And either appear as you are, or be as you appear
Received from oral tradition of Rumi, paraphrased by Kabir Helminski.

Praise going up, blessings coming down

Of course there are many types of dhikr . Dhikr means praising Allah,
remembering Allah. SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi is a good one, but even
something as simple as saying, "Thank you, Allah" when you finish a
meal is atype of dhikr.
When we have dhikr always on our tongues, we have this constant
connection with God, even as we go about our daily routines. When
things are going well, or when things are hard, we have this lifeline
to Allah, this constant stream of praise going up, and blessings
coming down. Our spirits are lighter, our hearts happier. We are
grateful for everything we have, because we remember thatevery single
little blessing – good health, the comfortable beds we sleep in, the
orange juice we hadfor breakfast, even our beating hearts and the
breath in our lungs – comes from Allah.
Dhikr is a guide to excellent character, and a light that keeps us on
the path to Paradise.
We covet what we think about
Here's another important point. I am the editor of IslamicAnswers.com
, whichis a common-sense advice website for marriage and family
issues. One type of common question I get is from a young person who
is madly in love with someone who is unavailable. Maybe the
unavailable person is already married, or is not interested, or the
parents do not approve, but it's clear that the match is impossible.
One thing I tell such a young person is, stop thinking about the
object of your desire. When the thoughts come, push them away.
Absolutely do not spend your time gazing at photographs of him/her,
reading old emails, dwelling on what-ifs, and fantasizing, because
that will only reinforce your obsession, and keep the unavailable
person in your mind.
What we think about, we come to desire.
With dhikr, we are using this principle for good. By constantly
praising Allah, we keep Him in our minds and hearts. The more we do
so, the more we come to desire His love, His forgiveness, and His
presence. The more we think about Allah, the morewe want to please
Him. It becomes a beautiful cycle of remembrance and blessings,
reinforcing each other.
That's why Allah described the believers as,
"Who remember Allaah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their
sides." [3:191]
"…and the men who remember Allaah often and the women who do so – for
them Allaah has prepared forgiveness anda great reward." [33:35]
"O you who have believed, remember Allaah with much remembrance. And
exalt Him morning and afternoon." [33:41-42]
The living and the dead
There is a very powerful hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in which he said,
"The example of the one who remembers his Lord (God) in comparison
withthe one who does not remember his Lord is thatof the living and
the dead." [Sahih al-Bukhari; 11:208, Muslim; 1:539]
I could write an entire essay about that one hadith, but I'll just say
that the essence of life is our need for Allah. Without Him, our
hearts would not beat, the rain would not fall, there would be no food
on our tables, and no joy in our hearts. When we remember Allah we
prove that we are spiritually alive. We acknowledge our need for the
One God, and we acknowledge His favorsupon us.
Conversely, if we do not remember Him, it's as if weare spiritually
dead. That's why the famous classical scholar Shaykhul Islam ibn
Taymiyyah said, "The example of dhikr to the heart is that of fish to
water."