Our wanderings and perceptions

Vanakkam Chennai! Porur lake to its brim A city famous for its hospitality (vandharai vazhavaikum) stood up on its limping feet to showcase self help is the best help, to people across the globe. Chennai-ites exhibited what they are capable of when power and communication were snatched away from them. Getting to the streets they ensured that their near and dear are safe and secure. Roads witness river flow Helicopters pressed on rescue Water everywhere in the surroundings Water logging down after 2 days A big salute to each and every soul that made sure a disaster like Chennai floods can be overcome if mankind decides to win over. Ottrumaiyai vazhvadhale undu nanmaiye Vettrumaiyai valarpadhinale vilaiyum theemaiye

Naamaarkom kudiyallom namanai anjoom  Naragaththil idar padom nadalai illom Emaappom piniyariyom panivoomallom  Inbame ennalum thunbamillai sings Thirunavukkarasar. So devotees for a very long time do believe in Siva and none other than the Easwaran temples stand attestation to this. In Kanchipuram one of the oldest temple is said to be the Kailasanadhar temple. One look at the temple from outside will capture your attention for its age-old glory. There is a huge space outside the temple where one can see children playing on the grass land.  Temple was built during the pallava kingdom and built by Mahendra varma pallavan. Reader familiar to Tamil history or Kalki's Sivagamiyin Sabhdam will know the investment of time and wealth by Pallavas on stone sculptures.  Most of the carvings here in the temple are in sandstone outstanding the times. Most of the cravings in the pillars had standing lions. The above was a Nandi on a

Piththaa pirai soodi perumane arulaalaa Eththal maravaadhe ninaikkindren manathunnai Vaiththaai pennai thenpaal vennai nalloor aruththurayul Aththa vunakku aalai ini alleen enal aame Off to catch the darshan of the Peruman who wears the half moon in his head. Took the poonamalee route from Chennai to get all the way to Kanchipuram - sanctuary for temples. Katchabeswarar along with Sundarambigai throne the temple. When we say along it is actually 'along', they give a darshan together and not in separate sannidhis. The main deity Katchabeswarar is in the form of lingam and the crown is the shape of a cone rather than normal cylindrical lingam. Katchabeswarar is made up of sand says the priest. Hence the abhishegam happened to the deities behind who are  Katchabeswarar  and Sundarambigai amman. We had the couples darshan in Velli kappu. The temple exhibits ancientness. When inquired, we came to know it dates all the way back to 7th century BC

Manamenum thoni patri madhiyenum kolai undri Sinam ennum sarakkai etri serikadal odumpodhu madhan Ennum paarai thaakki mariyum podhu ariyavonnaadhu Vunai vonum vunarvai nalgaai otriyur vudaya kovee Such is how one worships Ramanadhasamy in the form of Jothirlingam at Rameshwaram. This island is the pilgrimage place for hindus all over the country. One could see lot of devotees from the western and northern part of India while praying at this temple. Rameshwaram is the birth place of former Indian president and Indian missile man, Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam.   Our one day trip to Rameshwaram took a night to reach Rameshwaram from Chennai in bus. The final leg of travel was in the Pamban bridge which is accompanied by the rail track running along. Upon reaching the destination we had to take auto rickshaw to reach the temple area. Numerous lodgings are available near the temple as the devotees had to come over there immediately after taking a dip in the ocean and the sa