Musings

Nava Tirupati Nadai Time

2011-01-01T11:09:00.004+05:30

Srivaikuntam 0700-1200 1700-2000

Natham 0800-1200 1300-1800

Kolur 0730-1200 1300-2000

Pulingudi 0800-1200 1300-1800

Alwar Thirunagari 0700-1200 1700-2000

Then Thiruperai 0700-1200 1700-2030

Perungulam 0730-1230 1630-1930

R.T Srinivasar 0830-1300 1400-1800

R.T Aravindalochanar 0830-1300 1400-1800

Nanguneri 0800-1200 1700-2100

Thirukurungudi 0800-1200 1700-2100

A guide on Malai naatu divyadesams

2007-04-06T22:04:00.001+05:30

Here is the note that I had posted in enthralling-archa on my recent visit to Malainaatu divyadesams. This will be helpful in planning your trip. Pictures and a guide map are available in www.pbase.com/svami/december2006 . Thanks to Sri Mukund for uploading them.

Trip: We started on the evening of 27th Dec 2006 by 2695 TVC Superfast Express from Chennai and returned by 6628 West Coast on Jan 1, 2007. We covered 10 divyadesams in Kerala (except TVC).

Stay: 28th - Tiruvalla, 29th & 30th - Ernakulam, 31st - Shoranur Jn.

Details:
1. Tiruvalla – We reached Tiruvalla around 5 AM on 28th. It was Christmas season there, so we struggled a lot to find a room in a hotel. There are plenty of decent hotels as Tiruvalla is a big town by itself. Finally we managed to get a room opposite Pushpagiri hospital. The hotel manager arranged a taxi (Ambassador) for us at 6.30 AM. We had a nice sleep in the train, so refreshing up for an early start was easy for us. We went direct to Thiruvanvandur first. It is very nice to see that all Malainattu Divyadesams (DD) still have the same name what Alwars did mangalasasanam some 1500 years ago.

2. Thiruvanvandur – Take the main road from Tiruvalla to Changannur for 4 kms upto Praavinkoodu Jn. (It is actually Puraavin koodu – Pigeon’s nest). Take a right turn (heading west) and drive for another 4 kms, you will reach this DD. The temple is on the main road itself near the bus stop and is not very tough find out. Buses are plying between PK JN and this DD, but you have to wait for a long time!

3. Chengannur – Coming the way back to PK Jn for 4 kms and taking the main road to Chengannur, we headed to the famous Bhagavathi temple. After having finished that temple, we came down the hillock and had tiffin in Arya Bhavan. We then came back in the Tiruvalla main road for a km and took a left turn (heading West) to reach Chittattu (Thiru Chitraaru). The temple is on the main road itself (Just travel for ½ km). There is a sign board on the Tiruvalla main road indicating ‘Chittattu Mahavishnu temple).

4. Puliyur – We then came back to Chengannur and took the Mavelikara main road to reach Puliyur. It is also known as Puliyur Chengannur. It is 5 kms away from Chengannur. Beautiful temple. After having the sevai, we came back to Chengannur and traveled East to go to Aranmula.

5. Aranmula – Aranmula (Thiruvaranvilai) is 9 kms to the east of Chengannur on Sabarimala main road. Ask for Aranmula Parthasarathy ambalam – that is the actual name of the temple. Thrickodithanam – We had to come back to Tiruvalla via Chengannur (the direct road is in a very bad condition). We crossed Tiruvalla, reached a place called Perunthuruthi, took a right turn to cross the Level crossing, went through a place called ‘Nalukodi’ to reach Thrickodithanam (Thirukadithanam). It is 4 kms from Perunthuruthi. This place is accessible directly from Changanasseri.

6. Tiruvalla – Finally, we came back to Tiruvalla via Nalukody and Perunthurutti. The Vallaba ambalam is a km away from the Town centre. The time was 1130 as we completed this sevai. We headed back to the hotel and took some rest. We asked the same driver to take us to Alappuzha on that evening. We had sevai of Ambalappuzha Krishnar on the way back via Thakazhi. It took the whole of that evening. We took rest at the hotel. We had our plans as 28th for Tiruvalla and 29th for Alappuzha. Having finished both the temples on Day 1 itself, we had tickets booked in Venad Express from Tiruvalla to Thrissur on 29th. We went to Guruvayur on 29th, had sevai at 4 PM and took Kannur – Ernakulam Intercity to come back to Ernakulam North. We booked a hotel right opposite North station on 29th evening.

7. Vaikunta Ekadasi – We booked an ambassador for 30th and went to Trikakkara at 5.45 AM. There was virtually nobody in the Divyadesam at that time and we had sevai of Perumal until we felt contended and happy! It was a hard-to-describe-on-words sevai on that V.Ekadasi morning! Trikakkara is a suburb of Kochi-Ernakulam. We took the main road to Aluva and took a right turn after the point where Guruvayur road takes a left turn from the main road. We then headed to TKS Puram (Thiru kulasekara puram / Thiruvanjikkode) via Varapuzha toll bridge. We had sevai of Kulasekara Azhwar, Krishnar and Mahadeva (This temple is the only Thevara sthalam in Kerala). We then went to Kodungallur and reached Thirumoozhikulam via Aluva. The road to this DD is a left turn just after the right turn to the Kochi airport. In other words, if you travel North from Aluva, you will find the Airport on your right, don’t turn here and proceed straight, you will find a left turn to Thirumoozhikulam. There is an indicator board for Thirumoozhikulam temple on the mainroad itself. Take this left turn and proceed (west) to reach a small town where you have to take a right turn to a place called Kurumasseri. Once you take the right turn and reach Kurumasseri, you will reach Thirumoozhikulam DD. It was 1130 by the time we reached there. We then went to Athirappilly and Chalakkudi waterfalls near Chalakkudy and came back to the hotel around 3 PM. It was a bandh on that afternoon, so we had to stay at the hotel itself. Being an ardent fan of trains, I just spent the evening watching locomotives and train action at Ernakulam Town station with my friends…

8. Ernakulam – We started as early as 0530 AM on 31st morning and went to Chottanikkara. Had a sevai of Bhagavathi and got down at Tirupunittura on the way back. It was a very nice Krishnar temple. We came back to the hotel at 0900 hrs, vacated the hotel and boarded Parasuram Express to go to Shoranur Jn. We arrived at SRR at 1300 hrs. We booked a hotel near the station. The hotel manager was helpful in booking am Ambassador for us. He advised us to start early as the two DDs – Tirunavaya and Tirumittakkode will seem to be nearer in the map (crow’s flying distance) but will take more than 90 minutes to reach because of road condition and ghat sections. We started at 1530 hrs and went to Tirumittakkode (Panchapandava pradhishta) via Vadanamkurusshi, Pattambi and Nyaangaatri. Nyaangaatri has a famous Bagavati temple, so it is very easy to reach our DD if we reach there. We then proceeded to Tirunavaya via Pattambi, Angadi puram and Kuttipuram. It was around 2100 hrs when we came back to the hotel. It was a tiresome journey. Alternatively, you can reach Tirumittakkode by getting down at Pattambi Rly. Station and taking an auto or taxi. It is around 3 kms from there. Tirunavvaya also has a station which is a km away from the temple. The only constraint is the connecting train pattern between these two stations. We took rest on 31st night in the hotel at Shoranur and got West Coast on 1st early morning to reach Chennai at 1500 hrs on that day. We happened to have a glimpse of Tiruppur Tirupati temple on the way near Tiruppur station.

For those who are conversant with Google Earth / web-based Wikimapia, here are the locational details for some of the temples (Name – Latitude – Longitude)

Tirunavaya - 10.863851° - 75.981676°
Tirumittakkode - 10.782761° - 76.184533°
Trikakkara - 10.035312° - 76.329355°
Thirumoozhikulam - 10.187940° - 76.327280°
Tiruvalla - 9.373929° - 76.563153°
Thrickodithanam - 9.438222° - 76.562320°
Tirupatisaram - 8.208198° - 77.447269°
Thiruvananthapuram - 8.482783° - 76.943799°

Please don’t hesitate to contact me in case you have any trouble in locating any DD (or Thevara sthalangal for those who are interested in them) in Google Earth or Wikimapia. Hope this provides an overall idea for better planning. And check with the map-link which I did in MS-paint (http://www.pbase.com/svami/image/76645274). Generally all temples are open between 3 AM and 1130 AM and between 0430 PM and 0730 PM. Plan your trip accordingly. Also have enough buffer in your plans because the nadai will get closed all of a sudden for some 30 minutes and you might have to wait for some time then...

Please post your comments on any updates to the existing information.

Web

2007-03-17T13:44:00.002+05:30

The following are also mine:

http://www.wdp4.blogspot.com/ (Tamil blog)
http://www.wdg4.blogspot.com/ (On Railways)
http://www.yam1.blogspot.com/ (Musings - 2)

Standards of English

2006-12-16T22:22:00.001+05:30

It is a very sad situation that our standards of English are in. I see lots of aspiring young graduates who want to place themselves as an 'officer' in any one of the upcoming BPOs and Call Centres. The important thing that they lack is basic English communication. On an average, if you ask a person to write a paragraph on any current issue, you will end up in finding a dozen mistakes in it. Honestly, how many of us know that can and able cannot go together in a sentence?

Are we aware of the correct usage of may, might, will, would, shall, should, can, could, must and ought? It might not necessary for our Indian conditions. However, when it comes to an email to a person in UK or in the US, it makes a world of difference.

Are you aware of the fact that the passive voice of "Please open the door" is "Let the door be opened? I can see so many sentences with Please and Let going together...

And there is no such thing as:
* Thanking you
* Kindly do the needful

What is the difference between "Please open the door" and "Kindly open the door"?

People -- Good English and communcation techniques come only with practice. If you bunk your English classes at College, aim for scoring only 40 in that paper (because that will not count for the percentage calculation), then forget high-paid jobs in BPO lime light. And if you think that the crap that we speak as 'accentuated' English is good English, go and watch BBC or CNN.

It will not matter if you have excellent subject knowledge. You must have sound English vocabulary to market it!

MTC rocks!!

2006-11-15T08:08:00.001+05:30

Question: How to cheat general public and extract more money?

Answer: Issue a public statement that 75% of the services run are 'white-board' buses and convert 90% of the existing white-board services as 'M' routes.

It all started with short suburban services. Eg. M1 between Velachery and Tiruvanmiyur. Then it got extended to renaming all 'cut-services' as 'M's. Eg. M54H between Saidapet and Porur. Innovation played its role and most of the services were extended overnight. Eg. Regular 54H was made to run between T.Nagar and Vellavedu. Here is the cheat -- Now, there is only a few odd 54H services between TN and V.Vedu that run on unearthly hours and all the others run as M54H!

This is how MTC is grinding chillies on the heads of general public.

MTC sucks!

1330

2006-08-28T22:08:00.001+05:30

The crowd patiently waits for the door to open. There are slight murmurings here and there, but for which there is a pin-drop silence. An occasional 'Haaai' pierces this silence. This intrusion is frowned upon by those who are drowned in their work. As the clock draws its hands to 1330, a subtle impatience is observed among the crowd. There are no stampedes, but planned entries into the doors. The clever mind looks out for the crowd pattern and paints a quick sketch of how one can make inroads into those who are near the doors. Exactly at that moment, a person comes out from somewhere near the Scouts den at the ground floor and opens the doors. The only sound that can be heard is of the chappals and shoes that climb three steps in a gallop with two legs and a body over them.

The obvious next worry of the person stands near the second floor gates. Your identity card. It costs a gold mine if it is forgotten -- 'Your' seat! A sharp mind works out the plan to display it from a manageable distance and have the attendance recorded. The last hurdle in the race is the Seat. The only way to overcome this hurdle is to indorse it to a friend. Clever minds always pass on the burden of getting an appropriate seat to a friend. A shrewd mind will order for a turn of duty and a cunning mind will come late on the turn-day.

Wonder what this is all about?? Well, it is the story that happens at Kesari High School in Royapettah, Chennai where Prime Academy conducts classes for the CA course. The situation given above applies for Weekend Costing class by 'R(ocket). Sivakumar. This is followed by Pattabhiram's MAC and MP Vijayakumar's Accounts. 1400 - 2030. Six hours and thirty minutes of lectures spanning three important subjects in the course. Just before a person admires and gets drowned in Rocket Sir's Relevant Costing problems and his references to questions that appeared in 1931 CPA exams, it would have been time for MAC. As you appreciate the fine concepts of Capital Budgeting, you would see lots of anxious faces waiting at the corridor for MPV's class. MPV's classes begin at a point where one would have lost hopes of clearing CA exams after being astonished at how Rocket Sir has ALL problems that text books have published from Raja Raja Cholan's era to date, in his human C drive, and after wondering that how a human can complete the syllabus that is for Financial Management (that of course, is covered by Pattabhi with ease). MPV's fluency in accounts combined with the step-by-step approach to any problem, assures one that 40 in accounts is guaranteed provided it is augumented with hard work. The crowd that comes out after 2030 will rush for the night services of 45B, 21G, 27D and 29C at V.M.Street bus stop.

You can say that a person is doing a course in Prime Academy if a majority of the following apply:
1. The time is around 5 PM or 8.30 PM
2. The student has two long-size notebooks and a small text book
3. The student shows a green/yellow colour ID card to the conductor instead of the monthly pass
4. The student has a Telugu friend or an Oriya friend who says 'I am going to write my exams in Machilipatnam or Berhampur'
5. Hangs around Radhakrishnan Road McRennett or Sanskrit College Hot Puff bakery shop with a hurry to grab a samosa or a veg puff
6. You often hear something like, 'Ayyo I missed the Chain holding sum yesterday' or 'Has Mani got a seat for us today?'
7. The spotting place is near Jammi Buildings

Interesting quotes (Guess whose is what):
1. "Mind you, this is the toughest problem you can ever solve. It involves a step in simplex method which is actually a complex one"
2. "Having worked out three problems on Buy-or-make, let us pick up a problem that is given in the annexure. Question no. A-5. This one actually involves Principle No. 17B and a couple of other principles that we have discussed today"
3. "Take this into a chart of two parts. Down arrow, down arrow"

Some of my happiest days in my life have been gained at Prime Academy.

Trip to Thiruchirappalli

2006-04-17T22:04:00.001+05:30

Made a trip to Thiruchirappalli (TPJ for railfans) on saturday. Took the Friday Rockfort and reached there an hour late due to a late running HWH-TPJ in front of us. Covered the following temples:
1. Brahadambal - Gokarneswarar - Pudukkottai: Amman is popularly known as araikkaasu amman. She is very powerful in retrieving lost / misplaced articles. The popular naivedhyam is jaggery (vellam). Very nice and calm rcok-cut temple on the outskirts of Pudukkottai. This is the official temple of the King and Queen of Pudukkottai palace.
2. Sathyamoorthy & Sathyagireeswarar temples - Thirumeyyam: Divyadesam for Sri Vaishnavas. Special mention required for the idol of Thirumeyyar (Ranganathar posture) - One must see His idol (moolavar) -- no words can explain the beauty...the fierce face of Madhu and Kaidaba, the face of an afraid Bhoomadevi, teeth of Adhisesha, the idol of Narada, Yama and Chithragupta, the wings of Garuda - Overall, an enthralling experience. Divyadesa Perumal Sri Sathyamoorthy has a prayoga chakra (like in Uraiyur, Thiruvellarai and Thirukannapuram)
3. Thiruvaramboor - Erumbiappar
4. Thiruvanaikkaval - We witnessed the Go-poojai at 12 Noon. The gurukkal wore a saree and performed pooja in front of Jambukeswarar sannidhi. The beauty of Goddess Sri Akilandeshwari in the natural ghee lamps is beyond words. Diamonds in the jewellery gifted by Sri Adhi Sankara to pacify the ugram of Amman were glittering like stars in the sky.
5. Srirangam - Will be covered in a separate post as a continuation to my Blog # 1.
6. Samayapuram - Very peaceful and excellent sevai of Sri Mariamman. The uniqueness of this Mariamman is that you will feel as if an elderly lady is sitting there and not that you are actually seeing an idol.
7. Anbil - Sundararaja Perumal - In my view, this body-builder Perumal is the most handsome of all Perumals. Visited a Sivan temple nearby (Anbilaalandhurai) - Sung by Sundarar. The idol of Sevisaaitha Vinayagar is worth seeing.
8. Maanthurai - Beautiful Siva temple - Nice place to spend an evening. Good place to do meditation.
9. Thiruvaasi - Fairly big temple on the Salem Road. Excellent one.
10. Uraiyur - Panchavarneswarar temple - Gives the palan of worshipping all the five panchabhootha sthalams.

Random notes:
1. No big difference in a year.
2. Good flow of water in both Kaveri and Kollidam - Kollidam bridge in the trunk road is closed!
3. Welcome showers in Srirangam and Samayapuram. The rain actually brought down the heat.
4. Lalgudi road is in a very bad shape. Salem Road has improved.
5. Lots of new shops in Thillai Nagar and Woriyur areas.
6. Woriyur still not changed to Uraiyur

Rail notes:
1. Rockfort got an ED WAP-4 upto VM and an orange liveried GOC WDP-2..probably 15503.
2. Return MS Rockfort got a single GOC WDM-2x all the way through.
3. Spotted the only GOC jumbo hauling Mangalore-TPJ Exp. Looks ugly - repaint required.
4. Spotted two GOC WDM-2xs MUed on their short-hoods on Road 2. Wonder why.
5. Heard a really melodious twin tone in the AJJ WAM-4 6P that hauled the HWH-TPJ from Pf4 on day 1.

Never Ending

2006-04-14T20:55:00.001+05:30

There are some never-ending songs...(I will keep adding to the list):

1. "maraindhirundhu paarkkum marmamenna
azhagar malai azhagaa indha silai azhagaa endru
maraindhirundhu paarkkum marmamenna"

2. " aadaadha manamum undo?

nadai alangaaramum azhagu singaramum kandu

aadaadha manamum undo?"

Inputs are welcome...

An Evening Surprise

2006-03-29T22:01:00.001+05:30

Rarely we come across a situations when we think, "what a co-incidence!". Consider this:

One fine morning in my office...was discussing about a topic in Tamil literature with my friend, Deepa. She has some in-depth knowledge on works in Tamil literature. We had a reference to Nandi-k-kalambagam during our conversation. Nandi-k-kalambagam was written by a poet whose elder brother was a king (The famous Nandivarman - a very rare name ofcourse!!). The (jealous) poet requested the king to be seated on a throne made of thatch. The first 99 stanzas praised the king as a warrior. He penned his 100th stanza in a very cruel fashion that it was something like, "I have praised you so much...but you do not wish to give me a share in your kingdom...why don't a fire set on you?". The king's thatched throne caught ablaze immediately and he died. She indicated that people do not generally read that piece of poetry because it is a belief that it will casue quarrel among brothers in a home.

Now comes the interesting part...on the very same evening, there was a heavy traffic jam on the way back home. I happened to get down the bus a stop before my usual stop; took a different route. I was truly astonished to see a name board in front of a wedding hall that read 'Nandivarman weds Deepa'. Isn't it something...

Bangalore

2006-01-09T14:12:00.001+05:30

I am jealous of one pride thing that Bangalore has - autorickshaws. Just for two reasons:

1. They charge the price shown in their untampered meters (maximum scandal is rounding off to the higher rupee).
2. They switch off their engines when they are sure it will take more than 30 seconds for the signal to turn green.

When compared to their Chennai counterparts, I find the following prevalent in Chennai:
1. Government -
- regulations not implemented
- most of the autos are owned indirectly by some Govt. officials

2. Auto drivers -
- Got used to the 'demanding' techniques
- Stand culture (not willing to work)

3. Public -
- Used to share auto culture
- Asking the driver to quote a price for the ride instead of sitting inside the auto and asking them to turn the meter on.

I do not see an end to this vicious cycle, do you?

12

2005-12-18T07:06:00.002+05:30

There are a few things that come to my mind when I think of the Chennai December season...I have jotted my musings:

1. December season is primarily an exhibition of new Nalli, Rangachari and Kumaran silk sarees for ladies. I cannot remember any instance where I counted the number of ladies talking about kutcheri more than those advertising their sarees.

2. For their other halves, December kutcheris are predominantly travel diaries of their trips to their son / daugher's house in Boston, (somewhere in) California or New York...People from Andhra will have New Jersey and San Jose in addition. Occasionally Niagara and Grand Canyon might come and go -- just to give us a clue to which part of the US of A, they have been!

3. I understand that speaker-sets have taken a toll on delivering a quality output to the audience.

4. It is obvious and a well-known secret that there are two heads in the canteen for every half-head inside the sabha. I cannot forget the taste of the badam halwa of Arusuvai arasu in the Parthsarathy Swami sabha canteen.

5. December season is a haven for auto drivers. It is a prestige symbol to come in an auto instead of the old Premier Padmini or Fiat.

6. The Hindu always carries a full fledged feature on December 1. The Cinema / Movies / Miscellaneous section will consume more than half of the Page 3 (City / Regional) for the entire season.

7. S.Ve.Sekar's Vaal paiyan and Mahabarathathil mangatha, Crazy's Crazy thieves in Palavakkam will be staged in Rani Seethai Manram.

8. Special sale of all unsold audio casettes at Sankara Hall in this CD/DVD world.

9. A typical kutcheri will be 2 hours inside the sabha, three hours in the canteen, one hour getting down / getting in the auto (or parking the vehicle), and travel time of two hours.

10. A comparision will definitely be made between all 'new' singers and M.S or Ariyakkudi.

Anyway, I am okay with all these fundae, as long as it gives some business for Chennai junta and renders some service and upkeep to the ever-vibrant Carnatic music.

Regards
Aravi.

2030

2005-11-18T01:20:00.001+05:30

There is one significance I always attach to 2030 i.e. 8.30 PM. It stems from the 8.30 PM of one chilly night of March 2005. A whole train of events took place on that day after 6 PM. Here it goes…

Venue: Nagarkovil Bus Stand
Time: 5.45 PM
Day: Saturday

"So, is there no other go?" I asked the indifferent time-keeper for the tenth time. He said, "No". That meant that I (and my gang) have to wait for another 30 minutes to catch the bus to Tiruvattar. I cannot wait anymore because of the anxiety that was getting built up in my mind. The only concern of mine was that I have to come all the way to this place to visit Tiruvattar if we were to miss it this time. All the other divyadesams (except Thirukkurungudi, Nanguneri and Thiruthangal) have been covered. The left out three were for the next-day's business. All set to a plan to catch Podhigai at Srivilliputtur on Sunday. I pushed the minutes-hand of the clock to see whether it is 6.15. It was taking its own time to reach that mark – The bus then came at 6.10. Happy to see a bus that had the board I am looking for – Kulasekaram. I got into the empty bus to see that it got started only at 6.40. It took the picturesque Nagarkovil – Thiruvanathapuram main road (NH-47) on its way at the beginning. It was all okay until it reached Thakkalai.It was there the panic started. It branched off to a hilly road and was then climbing hills passing through the Padmanabhapuram palace on the way. It was getting darker every minute and the bus was heading towards somewhere in Gujarat or Rajasthan!

Tiruvattar is a temple in Tamilnadu that follows Kerala tradition in every aspect – from architecture to day-to-day activities. I was pretty sure that when temples are generally closed for sEvai by 8 PM, these temples would be closed a bit before. As usual, things were not going smooth inside the bus – people were concerned about where to stay because chances of having a hotel in Tiruvattar were very remote. I sat alone in a three-seater with my bag beside me…thinking of only one thing – Will that happen? Will I see Him? Or will he shut His doors bang on the face like how he did to Thirumangai Azhwar at Indhalur? My mind then justified Azhwars ten pasurams (nummai thozhudhOm…) that scold Him for having His doors shut – not allowing a fellow traveller in.

The bus seemed to have crossed all the villages and towns in Kanniyakumari district by 7.30 PM. We reached a hilly town called 'vErkiLambi' at 7.40. The bus then took a sharp left turn into what seemed like a main road. It picked up speed (so did the clock in my wrist and the clock in my mind) and cruised along the main road – milestones of that state highway had the countdown for Tiruvattar. It was 7.58 when the bus finally jolted and came to a halt at Tiruvattar Bus Stand. I checked for the road leading to the temple. My friend and I ran through the road leaving the rest of the gang behind! We took the 'right' right turn at the end of a road, only to find that it was climbing uphill!! A store-keeper at the solitary way-side store gave a cry in Malayalam, which I bet, resembled like, "the temple is closed, don’t run!" 8.02

Adding to the woes, the temple complex was on a small hillock. We had to climb a plight of stairs to reach the main entrance. Enthusiasm has spared none…We were stopped at the door by a keeper who asked us to remove our shirts and deposit our bags with him. That was done in a flash of a second. The temple was different from the normal Tamilnadu temples that I have seen – it took sometime for me to locate the Perumal sannidhi. 8.05. I convinced myself that I had entered the temple – this will count as visiting a divyadesam, at least technically! 8.10

The pOthi swami of the temple (bhattar) asked us the stay clear of the prakaram as the daily ritual of SrivEli was about to take place. I later understood that having sEvai of the SrivEli was the highlight of a trip to any Kerala based temple! 8.20. The bhattar then inquired us about the visit – he also told that we were technically late as the temple was officially closed for the day. He then gave us a (brilliant) idea that they would be actually opening the doors of the garbagraham to take the SrivEli vigraham back to the sannidhi. Another bhattar objected to this idea. 8.25. He was right – normally people are not allowed after the doors are closed. Then the first bhattar spoke in Malayalam that I understood every bit of it, "paavam ivaa vErkiLambi vazhiyaa vandhirukka! ivALukkellaam idhu divyadesamaakkum! ivaaLa sEvikka vittaa namakku puNNiyamakkum!" He then took us all into the main prakaram / sannidhi, opened the sannidhi doors and we had an excellent sEvai…No words can explain the beauty of 20' Perumal reclining from right to left (opposite – like YadhOkthakaari) with a lotus flower in His hand, so big that we can see Him only through three doors like Thiruvananthapuram. His left hand which He was stretching freely, sure, gave a message, "I am here for devotees!". We were then offered Perumal prasadams – sandanam and flowers. 8.30. An unforgettable 8.30 in my life – the one that gave a bonus darshan in a Kerala-type temple.

This 8.30 reinstated the fact in me that a patient and calm mind waiting, deserving and yearning for the right thing will definitely reap its rewards at the right moment. A Magical 8.30 (2030).

The Number Three

2005-11-16T23:38:00.001+05:30

There is a popular saying, "oru dhadavai thappinaa mooNu dhadavai thappum"...Number three has always fascinated me in this regard. There are many instances where I had felt it. This one still has a big impact in me.

He is known popularly in His town as Devarajan. Vaishnavites call Him Varadarajan...Acharyas fondly remember Him as PEraruLaLan. I have always been fascinated by the narrations of the famous Garudasevai at Kanchipuram. I personally wanted to go and take part in that festival...It happened in the year 1997. The scorching sun of May was sleeping..the grand procession started exactly at 4 AM. Mesmerised by the kudai, the vaahanam and the Perumal, I forgot the fact that we didnt have sEvai of moolavar until after I boarded the Kanchipuram II Passenger. Miss # 1.

Mid-2001-- Not this time - as I made up my mind as my father's friend was planning a trip to Kanchipuram in a van. He had made arrangments for a Thirumanjanam at UlagaLandha Perumal Kovil. It was noon when it got completed. We went to Thirupputkuzhi. Alas, the road we took on our way back - NH4 was closed for construction...it was reduced to 2 lanes...Heavy traffic jam created a havoc and we managed to get back to the town only by late evening. This meant that we had time for only one small temple - as we had to travel another hour and a half to Chennai. I had sEvai of Ashtabujam Perumal before returning back. Miss # 2.

Mid 2003 -- Not this time - I was determined. I am the travel organisor this time! I AM planning the trip! What else - Take the Padappai route instead of S.V.Chathram route; Going straight to Devarajan sannidhi and then covering the remaining 14 divyadesams...no more misses and half-hearted returns. We went to the temple sharp at 7 AM as planned. I was literally running through the fifth, fourth and third prakarams after entering the temple. Climbed the stairs three-at-a-time. There I was - just one more turn and I can see Him!! There he was - a bhattar with a rope in hand to stop me from entering the second prakaram because it was time for Thiruvaaraadhanam. He said it might take another one hour to finish. All other gang members voted in favour of visiting Ashtabujam and YadhOkthakAri sannidhis before coming back to Hasthagiri (Yes, it was based on this assurance that I turned back). We were coming out of the temple's fourth prakaram when a bhattar who was selling prasadams called us and asked why were we going back!! When we told him that it is time for thiruvaaradhanam - he said, "ennadhidhu - thirumbi pOrEL? seekkaram mEla pOngO - adhellaam pathu nimishathula mudichiduvaa" (What is this? Are you going back? Go fast - they will finish it in ten minutes)...We went racing back to find a tall Gentleman in excellent alankaaram with all five aayudhams, coming out of Yaaga fire, clad in white silk vEshti with a mischievous smile of victory that he upheld the tradition of number three!

I can get defeated by this manner any number of times as far as I get my reward of THAT mishievous smile. There is one question which is still unanswered - How did the bhattar who was selling prasadams know that we didnt have a sEvai?

Aravi.

Moments of Surrender

2005-11-16T04:45:00.001+05:30

There are moments when people surrender before the Lotus Feet of Perumal. This does not mean physical surrender before the bali peetam. This is an emotional surrender where a person surrenders all his worldly wishes and wants before Him in token exchange for His blessings. This is an involuntary surrender. This might or might not happen to a person. It is truly based on the expectations that you have!

It happened to me in Oppiliappan sannidhi on the day after a Vaikunta Ekadasi (Dwaadasi). It was the first time I was a witness for a Viswaroopa Sevai. The temple premises (and the sannidhi in particular) on that Maargazhi morning was calm and serene. The hall was filled only with chants of Oppiliappan Suprabatham and occassional cries of infants. Infact, many of us were crying for our share of the food - his aruLicheyal prasaadams. The wait of 20 minutes increased the expectations in me...Though I have seen Him once before, the temple atmosphere at that moment was very very different from the noisy evening sEvai that I had before.

A cow was brought to the sannidhi (near the thirai / screen) with its face facing us. As the clock hands rushed to the 5 AM mark, arteries were rushing blood all over my body. Some sort of looking-forward-to-an-event feeling!! It all happened in a fraction of a second. Bhattars chanted Govinda, Govinda in the microphone, the veil was lifted and boom! it was Lord Himself in a gigantic 12 feet roopam - in a real viswaroopam - dressed in a brown kabaai with golden yellow buttons (like our own dear VenkataKrishnan of Thiruvallikkeni) for the cold winter and a matching pattu vEshti. Before his abhaya hastham, it was not Bhoomi Naachiyaar and Markandeyar who surrendered themselves, there was one manushaathma which surrendered itself involuntarily just at the very sight of the Perumal. I never felt that I was standing in a temple sannidhi in the earth. It was the Paramapadham itself in front of me. A couple of drops that oozed out of my eyes still serve as an evidence for that moment of surrender.

Bhoologa Vaikuntam

2005-11-16T00:31:00.001+05:30

A strange but interesting thing happens whenever I go to have blessings of Sri Ranganathar.

Incident # 1: Myself visiting Srirangam for the first time (circa 2000). Got drowned at the very sight of the majestic walls of the temple. Entering from the East entrance of adaiyavalainjaan - the auto that we took from Thiruvaanaikkaval stop was getting into the gopurams, which I have never seen before. I just asked my appa, "Will he park this vehicle right in front of His Feet?"...Got down at Naanmugan Vaasal (South 5th prakaram). Went in with lot of excitement - a sense of pure joy in seeing Him over the Aadhiseshan. Did a saashtaanga namaskaram before the Dwajasthambam and entered the second prakaram - there He is! With a gOshti of araiyars singing the prabandham, under a simple silk kudai and without His kEdayam, with the maalai that is made based on a grammar...the uthsavar NamPerumal staging His typical Srirangaththu nadai - His smile just pulled me into the vaikuntam for a second like how a star goes into a black hole...

Incident # 2: Second time in Srirangam 2000 end - I came from Dalmiapuram with my friend after finishing an audit. I am sure That Mischievous Man would have assigned me for the D.Puram audit - just for me to have His sEvai!! I made it perfect this time - Entered only through Rayar Gopuram at first. I didnt have a full, satisfactory sEvai of that Gopuram in my first visit. Entered one prakaram by another.....Just past the Dwajasthambam - the same Vaadhyam again, same gOshti again, same nadai, same Thirumukham....just got pulled by the same Drishti. No way out from that magical moment. Nam Perumal ahead of Ranganathar...

Incident # 3: Third time in Srirangam May 2004: Wanted to cover Tiruchy based divyadesams this time. It so happened that I went there only in the afternoon. Standing in the 'paththu rooba' queue for a long time - There was a bit of curiosity at a corner of my mind - whether it is a one-off situation? Will there be a purappaadu in the noon....Just as I was thinking of this - one bhattar came running out of Chandhanu mandapam crying, " vazhi vidungO...Perumal purappadu aaga pOgardhu - appuram moolavar sEvai aagum". I am sure it was Him who gave an answer like typing in a chat window! The purpappadu happened in a grand fashion taking me out of the queue into the same magical world.

Incident # 4: Fourth time in Srirangam March 2005: Wanted to cover Pandya naatu divyadesams. How can a trip to divydesams be complete without starting at Srirangam? This time, it was clear - I am going to test it - just for curiousity sake! Went early in the morning. I made a determination to see Ranganathar (moolavar) first...How can things happen in my way if He thinks otherwise...It happened to be aadhi brahmOthsavam happening there and it was Him, the same NamPerumal with the same mischievous smile (this time - I saw it as a smile of victory).....drowning my entire mind in that same smile.....

I am waiting for my fifth trip to Srirangam. May be in Dec 2005 or Jan 2006. Let us wait and see!

Aravi.