Our wanderings and perceptions

Its been 10 days since Swathi lost her life but the impact refuses to go away. It will take a long time for the wound to heal and scars to disappear as the damage runs deep. Having grown up in Chennai and passed a life similar to that of Swathi its very difficult to accept, leave alone digest this incident. Having commuted via the same suburban train at 6am in the morning to attend classes in T.Nagar at 7am; having taken up job in software industry and commuted alone in odd hours; having walked to the suburban railway stations - never felt in-secured or scared as it feels in the last one week. Traveling in the train, crossing the Nungambakkam railway station since this incident, one can see this fear reflecting in the eyes of everybody in the ladies compartment. Tamilnadu and especially Chennai is known for its hospitality. So how did this happen here? Have we become insensitive? Just when these questions were hanging around, we just saw over the weekend how public chased a car w...

Election - a festival? Yes! Like any other religious fest or cricket tournament in our country election too carries lot of pomp and richness . Crores of rupees are spent on Ganesh Pandals and match tickets while government spends money in setting up free and fair elections. Ganesh Chathurthi or deepavali or kumbhmela, be it IPL or Chennai Open, we participate and enjoy the festival. Similarly participate in democracy through elections and experience the feel of your right.  Election is not a duty so not enforced on us like how one can stay out of a festival celebrated by their own family. How to forget a day off from work. Vote early and relax for the rest of the day. After all democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people"

எல்லாஞ் சிவனென்ன நின்றாய் போற்றி எரிசுடராய் நின்ற இறைவா போற்றி கொல்லார் மழுவாட் படையாய் போற்றி கொல்லுங்கூற்றொன்றை உதைத்தாய் போற்றி கல்லாதார் காட்சிக் கரியாய் போற்றி கற்றா ரிடும்பை களைவாய் போற்றி வில்லால் வியனரணம் எய்தாய் போற்றி வீரட்டங் காதல் விமலா போற்றி -திருவாசகம்-மாணிக்கவாசகர் Thiyagarajaswamy temple in Thiruvottiyur is famously known as Vadivudaiamman temple. Thiyagarajar has given away this temple popularity to his sakthi as this is part of the tri-sakthi temples to be worshipped on a day as per the famous vadivudai kodiyidai thiruvudai . The vadivudai amman resides here and bestows her devotees. There is separate sannidhis for Suryan/Saneeswar in the entrance left side before Annadhana mandapam. There is separate sthalam for Kalatheeswarar and there another Sivan before Garden area.  Only place with statue of Ahgapadamurthi - all three body of the Lord is on single leg. Twin Pillaiyar is seen in the pillars of the Amman temple. Thi...

 உற்றாரை யான் வேண்டேன்; ஊர் வேண்டேன்; பேர் வேண்டேன்; கற்றாரை யான் வேண்டேன்; கற்பனவும் இனி அமையும் குற்றாலத்து அமர்ந்து உறையும் கூத்தா! உன் குரைகழற்கே கற்றாவின் மனம்போலக் கசிந்துருக வேண்டுவனே! sings Mani cavasagar . Thiruvarur thaer azhagu -   Car is the epitome of beauty .   Thaer Thiruvizha always gathers huge crowd every time its held in each temple. People across ages want to get a glimpse and be a puller too if possible. Chennai famous for various temples still has population engrossed in bhakthi. The recent temple car festival of Mallegeshwarar temple in Muthialpet, Chennai saw people gather early the morning. The Thaer came around the Mada Veedi streets with devotees pulling it through across ages. Houses along these streets came forward to donate food, cool drinks to all the devotees in huge quantities.   This ensured many family in the vicinity managing the Sunday without cooking food at home :)  Siva Siva!

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 wa...

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 t...