Our wanderings and perceptions

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 t...

More than a movie, watching Baahubali was an experience for us. Its one of a kind from the Indian film industry. S.S.Rajamouli's imagination is believable and film shows us the reality of his dream. The battle sequences are well captured leaving no stones unturned. For reader familiar to viyugam in battles this is a treat to watch. We had read the Chakraviyugam in Mahabharata and in the recent Shiva trilogy by Amit but this movie takes you right into the viyugam. Outstanding performances by all the actors and specially spell-bound by Sathyaraj. Never thought these well known actors would dish out such a presentation. The sets are so real and the scene where the statue is erected just happens before our eyes. Wonderful translation by Kargy, makes you enjoy it like a Tamil movie. We have some of the best technicians in our country says this film. Kudos to every one responsible for Baahubali. Waiting eagerly for the next and the concluding part.

Uruvai aruvai uladhai iladhai maruvai malarai maniyai oliyai karuvai uyirai gadhiyai vidhiyai guruvai varuvai arulvai guganey Yes Murugar comes in all forms and showers us with his blessings from his mountain stays. We went on the trial in the Porur Kundrathur road to visit the mentioned 3 temples. First was the Kovur Sundareswarar temple reminding as very much of the Othandeeswar temple in Thirumazhisai. Reached there in 3.5 kilometers from Porur junction. This is very old temple and a Bhudhan-sthalam.  Gopura darisanam kodi punniyam is what ones feels looking at the Sundareswarar temple gopuram. The lord resides here along with his Soundarambikai amman.  When we went in, the a team was singing  prayers to the easwaran. The temple has under gone renovation and is maintained well This picture has the steps that leads to the top of the gopuram Pandhal at the temple entrance getting removed. Outside ...

Ganpati Bappa Moriya Agle Baras tu Jaldi Aa Mere Mann Mandir Me Tum Bhagwan Rahe Mere Dukh Se Tum Kaise Anjaan Rahe Mere Ghar Me Kitne Din Mehman Rahe Ho Mere Dukh Se Tum Kaise Anjaan Rahe. The Marathis in Mumbai and Pune enjoy Ganapati festival the most with the lavish pandals and visarjans. This write is on the enrout to Pune from Mumbai via the Mumbai-Pune express highway.  This was a one day official visit for us so maximum we got do was witness the modern day Indian high way that express, on the journey in bus. Dry lands and hills were all that we could see through out this journey. The hills were carefully covered with iron nets to avoid land slide and resulting huge stones from falling on the path of the express highway. As this is a mountainous region, hills form the fence for this 6-lane highway.  This highway makes it possible to travel to Pune from Mumbai in just 2 hours.            ...

Malarodu malar ingu magizhnthaadum pothu Manathodu manam ingu pagai kolvatheno Madham ennum madham oayattum Dhesam malar meethu thuyil kollattum These words of Vairamuthu rewinds our memories back to Manirathnam's movie - Bombay. Bombay now know as Mumbai is not just a terror struck place, India's money market, largest cosmopolitan city of the country but also has its own heritage. One such place is the Sion fort. Sion area is in the center of Mumbai and mingles with both the old south Mumbai and the industrialized northern part. Sion fort stands on a small hillock bearing history to pre-independence days, built by British east India company. Children throng the fort over weekends.. View from the top of the fort.. This fort can be easily reached being just 500 meters away from the Sion railway station. What we see if a worn away structure. A path way leads us to the fort. No restoration has been done so one can see ruined wall and s...