21 ஜனவரி 2012
காஞ்சி மகன் பல விஷயங்களில் எடுத்த நடவடிக்கைகள் யாவும் நம்மை இப்போதும் பிரமிக்க வைக்கின்றன
ஒரு சமயம் ஆந்திராவில் இருந்து வந்த பல வித்வான்கள் பெரியவா முன்னாள் அமர்ந்திருந்தார்கள் அந்த வித்வான்கள் எல்லாரும் மெத்த படித்தவர்கள் தங்கள் சொல்லவேண்டியதை கணீரென்ற குரலில் சற்று உரக்கவே சொல்லுவார்கள்
ஒரு விஷயத்தை எடுத்துக்கொண்டால் ஆளுக்கு ஒரு கருத்தை சொல்லுவார்கள் அதுவும் தங்கள் கருத்துதான் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளகூடியது என்று அடித்து சொல்லுவார்கள் . ஏறக்குறைய பதினைந்து பேர் ஞானநூல்களை பற்றிய விவாதம் - ஏறக்குறைய "பட்டி மன்றம்" போல் என்று வைத்துக்கொள்ளுங்களேன்.
இரு பகுதிகளாக பிரிந்து விவாதம் நடத்தினார்கள் பெரியவா அதை மிகவும் பொறுமையாக கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருந்தார் ஒவ்வொருவரும் தங்கள் கட்சியை எடுத்து சொல்லும்போது அது தான் சரி என்று நினைக்க தோன்றும்
எல்லாரும் பேசி ஒய்ந்தார்கள் இவ்வளவு நேரம் பொறுமையாக தாங்கள் பேசியதையெல்லாம் இந்த மகான் கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருந்தாரே இவர் என்ன சொல்லப்போகிறாரோ? என்று அவரது திருமுகத்தை பார்த்தவாறு அமர்ந்திருந்தார்கள் .
லேசாக புன்னகைத்தவாறு மகான் ஒரு சில வார்த்தைகளில் தனக்கே உரித்தான அந்த அமைதியான குரலில் சொல்லி முடித்தார்
அந்த சமயத்தில் மடத்தில் வேதம் பயின்று கொண்டிருந்த மாணவன் ஒருவன் மகானுக்கு பின்னால் நின்றுகொண்டு அவருக்கு விசிறிக்கொண்டிருந்தான் பெரியவா அந்த வார்த்தைகளை சொல்லக்கேட்ட அந்த மாணவன் "ஆஹா" என்று வாய்விட்டு சொல்லிவிட்டான் .
பெரியவா மெதுவாக அவனை திரும்பி பார்க்கின்றார் பிறகு பதில் ஏதும் பேசாமல் திரும்பிக்கொண்டார் , அதே சமயத்தில் ஆந்திராவில் இருந்து வந்த பண்டிதார்கள் யாவரும் எழுந்தனர் அதில் ஒருவர் மட்டும் "நாங்கள் இவ்வளவு நேரம் பேசியதற்கு மகா பெரியவா ஒரு சில வார்த்தைகளில் பதில் சொல்லி விட்டீர்கள் அதனால் நாங்கள் பேசியதெல்லாம் தவறோ என்கிற ஐயம் எங்களுக்குள் எழுகின்றது இப்போது நாங்கள் புறப்பட்டு போய் நன்றாக விவாதித்த பிறகு நாளை பெரியவாளை வந்து சந்திக்கின்றோம் என்றார் .
வித்வான், மகானிடம் காட்டிய அடக்கம் பக்தி பூர்வமானது பெரியவா அவர்களுக்கு அன்போடு விடை கொடுத்து அனுப்பிவிட்டு அன்றைய நடை முறை பூஜைகளை எல்லாம் கவனிக்க ஆரம்பித்தார் எல்லாம் முடிய இரவு வெகு நேரமாகிவிட்டது பெரியவா படுத்துவிட்டார் ,ஆனால் தூங்க வில்லை
காலையில் எனக்கொரு பய்யன் விசிறிக்கொண்டு இருந்தானே அவனை கூப்பிடு என்று மடத்து சிப்பந்திக்குக் கட்டளையிட்டார்
அவன் அழைக்கப்பட்டான் இந்த நேரத்தில் மகான் தன்னை எதற்க்காக அழைக்கிறார் ? என்று அவன் வந்தான் வந்தவனிடம் பெரியவா கேட்டார்
"காத்தால சதஸ்ல என்ன சொன்னே"?
"நான் ஒன்னும் சொல்லலியே"
அவன் அழ ஆரம்பித்தான் பிறகு சுதாரித்துக்கொண்டான்
"நான் காலையில சதஸ்ல உட்கார்ந்தது இருந்தபோது வித்வான்கள் எல்லாம் பேசினா, பேச்சு முடிஞ்சதுக்கு அப்புறம் அவர்களுக்கு பதிலாக நான் நாலு வார்த்தை சொன்னேன் , அதை கேட்டுட்டு "நீ ஆஹான்னு சொன்னே இல்லையா"
"ஆமா"
"பெரிய வித்வத் சபைல ஜெயிக்ரவங்களும் கிடையாது , தோக்ரவங்களும் கிடையாது , விஷயங்களை எல்லாரும் கற்றுக் கொள்கிறார்கள்
இரு பக்கமும் பேசியதை வச்சுண்டு நான் நாலே வார்த்தைதான் சொன்னேன் "அப்போ நீ ஆஹான்னு சொன்னதால அவங்க பேசினது எல்லாம் தப்புங்கற மாதிரியும் , நான் பேசினது தான் சரிங்கற மாதிரியும் ஆகிறது இல்லையா? பெரிய வித்வத் சபைல இப்படியெல்லாம் பேசப்டாது தெரியுமா"
மாணவன் புரிந்துகொண்டான் மகானை வணங்கி விடை பெற்றான்
Saturday, January 21, 2012
மகா பெரியவா -2
21 ஜனவரி 2012
பல வருடங்களுக்கு முன் நடந்த நிகழ்ச்சி இது ஓரிக்கையில் இருக்கும்போது சுந்தரராமன்(மடத்தில் பெரியவாளுக்கு சேவை செய்யும் சிறுவன் ), பூணூல் இல்லாமல் இருந்ததை மகான் கவனித்து விட்டார்.
நீ ஏன் இன்னும் உபநயனம் செய்து கொள்ளவில்லை?" என்று மகான் கேட்டார்.
"அதற்குத் தேவையான பணம் அப்பாவிடம் இல்லை போலிருக்கிறது" என்று சுந்தரராமன் சொல்ல, சில நிமிடங்கள் மகான் மௌனமாக இருந்துவிட்டு பிறகு ஒரு பிரசங்கமே செய்துவிட்டார் .
"இன்றைய பிராமண சங்கம், எனக்கு கொஞ்சமும் திருப்தியளிக்காததாக உள்ளது. உபநயனம் போன்ற எளிமையான, ஆனால் அதிமுக்கியமான சமஸ்காரங்களைக் கூட ஆடம்பர விழாவாக்கி விடுகிறார்கள். பட்டுப்புடவைகள், விருந்து, செலவு என்று பணத்தை வாரி வீணாக இறைக்கிறார்கள். இதனால் சம்ஸ்காரத்தின் முக்கிய அம்சத்தையே மறந்து விடுகிறார்கள். எனக்குச் சம்மதமே இல்லாவிட்டாலும் சரி, பணக்காரன் வேண்டுமானால் தன் அந்தஸ்தைக் காட்டிக் கொள்ளல் இஷ்டத்திற்கு செலவு செய்யட்டும் . ஏழை ஜனங்கள் இதை பார்த்து 'காப்பி' அடிக்கும்போது தான் கஷ்டம் வருகிறது. 'உபநயனம்' போன்ற சிறு விழாக்களுக்குக் கூட தங்களது சக்திக்கு மீறி கடன் வாங்குகிறார்கள். இந்தச் சிறுவிழா நடத்த சிறு தொகையே போதும். . திருமணம் நிச்சயமாகும்வரை கூட பிள்ளைகளுக்குப் பூணூல் போடுவதில்லை. கல்யாண சுப முகூர்த்தங்களோ இன்னும் மோசம் . ஆயிரமாயிரமாக செலவுகள் செய்து ஆடம்பர விழாக்களாகச் செய்து வருகிறார்கள். வரதட்சணை கொடுமை பல பெண்களின் வாழ்க்கையே பாதித்துள்ளது. என்னுடைய உபதேசங்கள் எதுவுமே இந்த சமூகக் கொடுமைகளை கொஞ்சமும் மாற்றியதாகவே தெரியவில்லை. எனக்கு என்ன செய்வதென்றே தெரியவில்லை" என்று சொல்லிவிட்டு மகான் சில நிமிடங்கள் மௌனத்தில் ஆழ்ந்தார்.
பிறகு தொடர்ந்தார்:
"மற்றவர்களைப் பற்றி நான் ஏன் பேசவேண்டும்? நீ ஏன் என் எதிரில் திறந்த மார்புடன் நிற்கிறாய்? இதை எப்படி நான் கவனிக்காமல் போனேன்?" சுந்தரராமனிடம் அடுத்த கட்டளையைப் பிறப்பித்தார், "உடனே போய் பஞ்சாங்கத்தை எடுத்துவா?, அதோடு உன் தோப்பனாரையும் இங்கே அழைச்சுண்டு வா."
பஞ்சாங்கம் அவர் கையில் தரப்பட்டது சுந்தரராமன் தந்தையும் அங்கே வந்தார்
பஞ்சாங்கத்தை மிகவும் கவனித்த பெரியவா " அடுத்த வியாழக்கிழமை நாள் மிகவும் நன்றாக இருக்கிறது அன்றே உன் பையனின் உபனயனத்தை நடத்திவிடு என்று பணித்துவிட்டார்
தந்தை எதோ சொல்ல வாயெடுக்க
"பணம் இல்லை பந்துக்களை அழைக்க அவகாசம் இல்லை என்றெல்லாம் சொல்லாதே, மடத்து சாஸ்திரிகளுக்கு உன் சக்திக்கேற்றவாறு பணம் கொடுத்தால் உபனயனத்தை நடத்திவிடுவார் , மடத்து உக்ராணத்தில் தேவையான சாமான்கள் இருக்கின்றன நீ பய்யன் அவன் தாயார் தவிர வேறு யாரும் இந்த சுபகாரியத்திர்க்கு அவசியம் இல்லை" என்று மகான் தீர்க்கமாகச் சொல்லிவிட்டார்
ஆனால் சுந்தரராமனின் தந்தை விடாப்பிடியாக "அடுத்த வியாழனன்று பெரியவா உத்திரவுப்படி நான் நைவேத்யம் தயாரிக்கும் கைங்கர்யம் செய்யவேண்டியுள்ளதே" என்று கூற, மகான் "அன்று நீ தவறாமல் நைவேத்திய கைங்கர்யம் செய்யப்போகிறாய் அதே தினம் உன் குமாரனுக்கும் உபநயனம் செய்யப்போகிறாய்" என்று தீர்மானமாகச் சொல்லிவிட்டார்.
அவர் மேலும் தொடர்ந்து சொன்னார்:
"உபநயனம் இதே இடத்தில் கோசாலையில் நடக்க வேண்டும் ஆனால் பசுக்களுக்கு எந்த இடைஞ்சலும் இருக்கக் கூடாது நீ பூர்வாங்க வேலைகளை விடியற்காலையிலேயே ஆரமிச்சுடு , பிறகு சந்திரமௌலீஸ்வரருக்கு நைவேத்யமும் தயார் செய்துவிடு. நான் பூஜையை ஆரம்பிக்கும் நேரத்தில் இங்கே நடக்கும் வைதீக கர்மாக்களிலும் வந்து கலந்து கொள். நான் சந்திரமௌலீஸ்வரருக்கு சந்தனாபிஷேகம் செய்யும் அதே நேரத்தில் அங்கே உபநயன முகூர்த்தம் நடைபெறவேண்டும். இப்போது உன் வேலையைப்பார்", என்று சொல்லி அவரை அனுப்பிவிட்டார்
மகான் ஒரு விஷயத்தில் முடிவு எடுத்த பின் அதை மாற்ற யாரால் இயலும்? மேலும் சுந்தரராமனின் தந்தை மடத்து ஊழியர் அவரால் எப்படி மறுப்பு சொல்லமுடியும்
சுந்தரராமன் தான் தாயிடம் சென்று இந்த விஷயத்தைச் சொன்னபோது, அந்த மாதரசி மகிழ்ச்சியடைந்தாலும் உறவினர்களை அழைக்க அவகாசம் இல்லையே , கையில் பணமில்லையே என்கிற மனக்கவலை எழுந்தது.
ஒரு காலத்தில் பணத்தின் அருமை தெரியாமல் வாரி இறைத்ததின் விளைவாகத்தான் அக்குடும்பத்திற்கு வறுமை நிலை வந்தது
அழைப்பிதழ்கள், உறவினர் கூட்டம், புத்தாடைகள் இவை ஏதுமின்றி உபநயனம் நன்றாகவே நடந்து கொண்டிருந்தது. சந்திரமௌலீஸ்வரருக்கு சந்தன அபிஷேகம் நடந்து கொண்டிருந்தத நேரம் ஒரு கணவன் மனைவி கையில் பெரிய மூங்கில் தட்டுடன் அங்கே வந்தார்கள். இருவர் கையிலும் இரண்டு தட்டுகள்.மடத்து நாதஸ்வர வித்வான்கள் இனிமையான கல்யாணி ராக கீர்த்தனையை வாசித்துக் கொண்டு இருந்தனர் . வந்தவர்கள் நங்கவரம் சுந்தராம அய்யரும் அவரது பத்னியும் என்று இவர்களை அடையாளம் கண்டுகொண்டனர் , அவர்கள் இருவரையும் அங்கு பார்த்ததில் எல்லோருக்கும் வியப்பு , சாஸ்த்ரிகளும் மேற்கொண்டு மந்திரம் சொல்வதை அப்படியே நிறுத்திவிட்டார் .
அதையெல்லாம் கவனித்த சுந்தரம் அய்யர் மெதுவான குரலில் பேசலானார் " மகா பெரியவா எங்களண்டை" நாளை காலை, எனக்கு மிகவும் பிரியமான ஒரு பையனுக்கு நான் இங்கே நடத்தும் பூணூல் கல்யாணத்திற்கு எனக்கு யார் உதவி செய்ய வருவார்கள் என்று எதிர்பார்த்தேன் . நீங்கள் சரியான நேரத்திற்கு வந்து இருக்கிறீர்கள் எனக்கு உதவ முடியுமா?" என்று கேட்டுவிட்டார்
" இது எங்களுக்கு கிடைத்த பாக்யம் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும் என்று மகாபெரியவா சொன்னா செய்யக் காத்திருக்கிறோம்" என்று கூறினோம். " மகா பெரியவா புன்னகையோடு ஆசிவழங்கவே, கடைகள் மூடுவதற்கு முன்பே கடைவீதிக்கு சென்று கூடுமானவரை சாமான்களை சேகரித்து வந்தோம்" அவர் மேலும் சொன்னார்:" நாங்கள் மகிழ்ச்சியில் திளைத்தோம்" என்று. சுந்தராமனின் குடும்பத்தினர் முகம் மலர வெளியில் சொல்ல முடியாமல் பேசமுடியாமல் திணறிக்கொண்டு இருக்கா " தயவு செய்து இவற்றை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளவேண்டும்" என்று அந்த தம்பதியர் மூங்கில் தட்டுகளை அவர்கள் முன் வைத்தார்கள் .
உபனயனத்திர்க்கு வேண்டிய புதிய துணிகள் மாலைகள் பழம் வெற்றிலைபாக்கு எல்லாமே அங்கு வந்தன , அதனால் மகான் சந்திரமௌலீஸ்வரருக்கு சந்தனாபிஷேகம் நடக்கும் அதே நேரத்தில் சுந்தரராமனின் உபநயனமும் நடந்தது .
மகா பெரியவா முன்பு மடத்திலேயே உபநயனம் செய்துகொண்ட சுந்தரராமன் மிகவும் பெரிய அதிர்ஷ்டசாலி என்று எல்லோரும் வாழ்த்தினர் .
பூஜையை முடித்துக்கொண்ட மகானை, குடும்பமே கால்களில் விழுந்து நமஸ்கரிக்க, மகான் ஒரே ஒரு பழத்தை மட்டும் எடுத்து சுந்தராமனின் கையில் கொடுக்க பிறகு சுந்தரராமனின் தாயாரைப் பார்த்து "உன் மகனின் பூணூல் கல்யாணம் விமரிசையாக நடந்துவிட்டதா? என்று கேட்க, அந்த மாதரசியின் கண்களில் நீர் பெருக்கெடுக்க கைகள் உயர்ந்து மகானை வணங்கின. அன்று மடத்தில் எல்லோருக்கும் சிறப்பு சாப்பாடு
பல வருடங்களுக்கு முன் நடந்த நிகழ்ச்சி இது ஓரிக்கையில் இருக்கும்போது சுந்தரராமன்(மடத்தில் பெரியவாளுக்கு சேவை செய்யும் சிறுவன் ), பூணூல் இல்லாமல் இருந்ததை மகான் கவனித்து விட்டார்.
நீ ஏன் இன்னும் உபநயனம் செய்து கொள்ளவில்லை?" என்று மகான் கேட்டார்.
"அதற்குத் தேவையான பணம் அப்பாவிடம் இல்லை போலிருக்கிறது" என்று சுந்தரராமன் சொல்ல, சில நிமிடங்கள் மகான் மௌனமாக இருந்துவிட்டு பிறகு ஒரு பிரசங்கமே செய்துவிட்டார் .
"இன்றைய பிராமண சங்கம், எனக்கு கொஞ்சமும் திருப்தியளிக்காததாக உள்ளது. உபநயனம் போன்ற எளிமையான, ஆனால் அதிமுக்கியமான சமஸ்காரங்களைக் கூட ஆடம்பர விழாவாக்கி விடுகிறார்கள். பட்டுப்புடவைகள், விருந்து, செலவு என்று பணத்தை வாரி வீணாக இறைக்கிறார்கள். இதனால் சம்ஸ்காரத்தின் முக்கிய அம்சத்தையே மறந்து விடுகிறார்கள். எனக்குச் சம்மதமே இல்லாவிட்டாலும் சரி, பணக்காரன் வேண்டுமானால் தன் அந்தஸ்தைக் காட்டிக் கொள்ளல் இஷ்டத்திற்கு செலவு செய்யட்டும் . ஏழை ஜனங்கள் இதை பார்த்து 'காப்பி' அடிக்கும்போது தான் கஷ்டம் வருகிறது. 'உபநயனம்' போன்ற சிறு விழாக்களுக்குக் கூட தங்களது சக்திக்கு மீறி கடன் வாங்குகிறார்கள். இந்தச் சிறுவிழா நடத்த சிறு தொகையே போதும். . திருமணம் நிச்சயமாகும்வரை கூட பிள்ளைகளுக்குப் பூணூல் போடுவதில்லை. கல்யாண சுப முகூர்த்தங்களோ இன்னும் மோசம் . ஆயிரமாயிரமாக செலவுகள் செய்து ஆடம்பர விழாக்களாகச் செய்து வருகிறார்கள். வரதட்சணை கொடுமை பல பெண்களின் வாழ்க்கையே பாதித்துள்ளது. என்னுடைய உபதேசங்கள் எதுவுமே இந்த சமூகக் கொடுமைகளை கொஞ்சமும் மாற்றியதாகவே தெரியவில்லை. எனக்கு என்ன செய்வதென்றே தெரியவில்லை" என்று சொல்லிவிட்டு மகான் சில நிமிடங்கள் மௌனத்தில் ஆழ்ந்தார்.
பிறகு தொடர்ந்தார்:
"மற்றவர்களைப் பற்றி நான் ஏன் பேசவேண்டும்? நீ ஏன் என் எதிரில் திறந்த மார்புடன் நிற்கிறாய்? இதை எப்படி நான் கவனிக்காமல் போனேன்?" சுந்தரராமனிடம் அடுத்த கட்டளையைப் பிறப்பித்தார், "உடனே போய் பஞ்சாங்கத்தை எடுத்துவா?, அதோடு உன் தோப்பனாரையும் இங்கே அழைச்சுண்டு வா."
பஞ்சாங்கம் அவர் கையில் தரப்பட்டது சுந்தரராமன் தந்தையும் அங்கே வந்தார்
பஞ்சாங்கத்தை மிகவும் கவனித்த பெரியவா " அடுத்த வியாழக்கிழமை நாள் மிகவும் நன்றாக இருக்கிறது அன்றே உன் பையனின் உபனயனத்தை நடத்திவிடு என்று பணித்துவிட்டார்
தந்தை எதோ சொல்ல வாயெடுக்க
"பணம் இல்லை பந்துக்களை அழைக்க அவகாசம் இல்லை என்றெல்லாம் சொல்லாதே, மடத்து சாஸ்திரிகளுக்கு உன் சக்திக்கேற்றவாறு பணம் கொடுத்தால் உபனயனத்தை நடத்திவிடுவார் , மடத்து உக்ராணத்தில் தேவையான சாமான்கள் இருக்கின்றன நீ பய்யன் அவன் தாயார் தவிர வேறு யாரும் இந்த சுபகாரியத்திர்க்கு அவசியம் இல்லை" என்று மகான் தீர்க்கமாகச் சொல்லிவிட்டார்
ஆனால் சுந்தரராமனின் தந்தை விடாப்பிடியாக "அடுத்த வியாழனன்று பெரியவா உத்திரவுப்படி நான் நைவேத்யம் தயாரிக்கும் கைங்கர்யம் செய்யவேண்டியுள்ளதே" என்று கூற, மகான் "அன்று நீ தவறாமல் நைவேத்திய கைங்கர்யம் செய்யப்போகிறாய் அதே தினம் உன் குமாரனுக்கும் உபநயனம் செய்யப்போகிறாய்" என்று தீர்மானமாகச் சொல்லிவிட்டார்.
அவர் மேலும் தொடர்ந்து சொன்னார்:
"உபநயனம் இதே இடத்தில் கோசாலையில் நடக்க வேண்டும் ஆனால் பசுக்களுக்கு எந்த இடைஞ்சலும் இருக்கக் கூடாது நீ பூர்வாங்க வேலைகளை விடியற்காலையிலேயே ஆரமிச்சுடு , பிறகு சந்திரமௌலீஸ்வரருக்கு நைவேத்யமும் தயார் செய்துவிடு. நான் பூஜையை ஆரம்பிக்கும் நேரத்தில் இங்கே நடக்கும் வைதீக கர்மாக்களிலும் வந்து கலந்து கொள். நான் சந்திரமௌலீஸ்வரருக்கு சந்தனாபிஷேகம் செய்யும் அதே நேரத்தில் அங்கே உபநயன முகூர்த்தம் நடைபெறவேண்டும். இப்போது உன் வேலையைப்பார்", என்று சொல்லி அவரை அனுப்பிவிட்டார்
மகான் ஒரு விஷயத்தில் முடிவு எடுத்த பின் அதை மாற்ற யாரால் இயலும்? மேலும் சுந்தரராமனின் தந்தை மடத்து ஊழியர் அவரால் எப்படி மறுப்பு சொல்லமுடியும்
சுந்தரராமன் தான் தாயிடம் சென்று இந்த விஷயத்தைச் சொன்னபோது, அந்த மாதரசி மகிழ்ச்சியடைந்தாலும் உறவினர்களை அழைக்க அவகாசம் இல்லையே , கையில் பணமில்லையே என்கிற மனக்கவலை எழுந்தது.
ஒரு காலத்தில் பணத்தின் அருமை தெரியாமல் வாரி இறைத்ததின் விளைவாகத்தான் அக்குடும்பத்திற்கு வறுமை நிலை வந்தது
அழைப்பிதழ்கள், உறவினர் கூட்டம், புத்தாடைகள் இவை ஏதுமின்றி உபநயனம் நன்றாகவே நடந்து கொண்டிருந்தது. சந்திரமௌலீஸ்வரருக்கு சந்தன அபிஷேகம் நடந்து கொண்டிருந்தத நேரம் ஒரு கணவன் மனைவி கையில் பெரிய மூங்கில் தட்டுடன் அங்கே வந்தார்கள். இருவர் கையிலும் இரண்டு தட்டுகள்.மடத்து நாதஸ்வர வித்வான்கள் இனிமையான கல்யாணி ராக கீர்த்தனையை வாசித்துக் கொண்டு இருந்தனர் . வந்தவர்கள் நங்கவரம் சுந்தராம அய்யரும் அவரது பத்னியும் என்று இவர்களை அடையாளம் கண்டுகொண்டனர் , அவர்கள் இருவரையும் அங்கு பார்த்ததில் எல்லோருக்கும் வியப்பு , சாஸ்த்ரிகளும் மேற்கொண்டு மந்திரம் சொல்வதை அப்படியே நிறுத்திவிட்டார் .
அதையெல்லாம் கவனித்த சுந்தரம் அய்யர் மெதுவான குரலில் பேசலானார் " மகா பெரியவா எங்களண்டை" நாளை காலை, எனக்கு மிகவும் பிரியமான ஒரு பையனுக்கு நான் இங்கே நடத்தும் பூணூல் கல்யாணத்திற்கு எனக்கு யார் உதவி செய்ய வருவார்கள் என்று எதிர்பார்த்தேன் . நீங்கள் சரியான நேரத்திற்கு வந்து இருக்கிறீர்கள் எனக்கு உதவ முடியுமா?" என்று கேட்டுவிட்டார்
" இது எங்களுக்கு கிடைத்த பாக்யம் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும் என்று மகாபெரியவா சொன்னா செய்யக் காத்திருக்கிறோம்" என்று கூறினோம். " மகா பெரியவா புன்னகையோடு ஆசிவழங்கவே, கடைகள் மூடுவதற்கு முன்பே கடைவீதிக்கு சென்று கூடுமானவரை சாமான்களை சேகரித்து வந்தோம்" அவர் மேலும் சொன்னார்:" நாங்கள் மகிழ்ச்சியில் திளைத்தோம்" என்று. சுந்தராமனின் குடும்பத்தினர் முகம் மலர வெளியில் சொல்ல முடியாமல் பேசமுடியாமல் திணறிக்கொண்டு இருக்கா " தயவு செய்து இவற்றை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளவேண்டும்" என்று அந்த தம்பதியர் மூங்கில் தட்டுகளை அவர்கள் முன் வைத்தார்கள் .
உபனயனத்திர்க்கு வேண்டிய புதிய துணிகள் மாலைகள் பழம் வெற்றிலைபாக்கு எல்லாமே அங்கு வந்தன , அதனால் மகான் சந்திரமௌலீஸ்வரருக்கு சந்தனாபிஷேகம் நடக்கும் அதே நேரத்தில் சுந்தரராமனின் உபநயனமும் நடந்தது .
மகா பெரியவா முன்பு மடத்திலேயே உபநயனம் செய்துகொண்ட சுந்தரராமன் மிகவும் பெரிய அதிர்ஷ்டசாலி என்று எல்லோரும் வாழ்த்தினர் .
பூஜையை முடித்துக்கொண்ட மகானை, குடும்பமே கால்களில் விழுந்து நமஸ்கரிக்க, மகான் ஒரே ஒரு பழத்தை மட்டும் எடுத்து சுந்தராமனின் கையில் கொடுக்க பிறகு சுந்தரராமனின் தாயாரைப் பார்த்து "உன் மகனின் பூணூல் கல்யாணம் விமரிசையாக நடந்துவிட்டதா? என்று கேட்க, அந்த மாதரசியின் கண்களில் நீர் பெருக்கெடுக்க கைகள் உயர்ந்து மகானை வணங்கின. அன்று மடத்தில் எல்லோருக்கும் சிறப்பு சாப்பாடு
Friday, January 20, 2012
மகா பெரியவா- 1
20 Jan 2012
காஞ்சி மகா பெரியவர் ( சந்திரசேகரேந்திர சரஸ்வதி மகா ஸ்வாமிகள் )பற்றி படிக்கும் போதெல்லாம் என் உடம்பு புல்லரிக்கிறது. அவரைப்பற்றி நான் படித்ததை உங்களுடன் பகிர்ந்து கொள்வதில் பெரு மகிழ்ச்சி அடைகிறேன்.
ஸ்ரீமடத்தில் பக்தியுள்ள குடும்பம். அக்குடும்பத்தின் ஒரு வயோதிகருக்கு பாரிச வாயு வந்து, வலது பக்கம் முழுதும் செயலற்றுப் போனது. மருந்து சுமாரான பலன் குடுத்தது. பேச்சு வரவில்லை. ஞாபக சக்தியும் சரியாக இல்லை. அவருடைய மனைவி பெரியவாளிடம் வந்து கண்ணீர் விட்டு பிரார்த்தித்தாள்...."பெரியவாதான் அனுக்ரகம் பண்ணணும். அவருக்கு பூரணமா குணமாகணும்".
பெரியவா ஒரு நிமிஷம் மெளனமாக இருந்தார். அப்புறம் அந்த அம்மாவிடம் " சரி. அவருக்கு ஒடம்பு சரியாகணும்னா.......என்ன வேணா செய்வியா?"
"என்ன செலவானாலும் பரவாயில்லே பெரியவா"
"அதில்லே...........நான் சொல்லறதா வெளையாட்டா எடுத்துக்க மாட்டியே?"..........
"மாட்டேன்......என்ன சொன்னாலும் செய்யறேன்"
"சீட்டுக்கட்டு ரெண்டு வாங்கி, எப்பவும் அவர் கண்ணுல படறமாதிரி வெச்சிடு. .......கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமா நெனவு திரும்பிடும்"
பக்கத்திலிருந்த எல்லாருக்குமே ஆச்சரியம். ஒண்ணும் புரியவில்லை. விநோதமாக இருந்தது! அந்த அம்மாவுக்கோ......தன் கணவர் எப்போதும் சீட்டாட்டத்தில் மூழ்கி இருந்தவர் என்பது பெரியவாளுக்கு எப்படி தெரிந்தது? சீட்டுக்கட்டு கண்ணுல பட்டுண்டு இருந்தா ஒடம்பு சரியாயிடுமா? ஆச்சர்யமாக இருந்தது. பெரியவா சொன்னபடி செய்தாள்.
சில நாட்களில் சீட்டாட்டக்காரருக்கு நினைவு திரும்பியது! பேரன் பேத்திகளோடு சீட்டு விளையாட ஆரம்பித்து, ஒருநாள் "இஸ்பேட்டுக்கு பதிலா ஆட்டின் போடறியேடா!!!!" என்று பேரனை அதட்டினார்! ஆம். பேச்சும் வந்துவிட்டது!
இந்த சீட்டுப் பைத்தியத்துக்கு பெரியவா கொடுத்தது "வீட்டுவைத்தியமா?" அல்லது "சீட்டு வைத்தியமா?"
எப்படியிருந்தாலும் "துருப்பு" அவர் கையில்தான்!
.....மற்றொரு நிகழ்ச்சி தொடரும்
காஞ்சி மகா பெரியவர் ( சந்திரசேகரேந்திர சரஸ்வதி மகா ஸ்வாமிகள் )பற்றி படிக்கும் போதெல்லாம் என் உடம்பு புல்லரிக்கிறது. அவரைப்பற்றி நான் படித்ததை உங்களுடன் பகிர்ந்து கொள்வதில் பெரு மகிழ்ச்சி அடைகிறேன்.
ஸ்ரீமடத்தில் பக்தியுள்ள குடும்பம். அக்குடும்பத்தின் ஒரு வயோதிகருக்கு பாரிச வாயு வந்து, வலது பக்கம் முழுதும் செயலற்றுப் போனது. மருந்து சுமாரான பலன் குடுத்தது. பேச்சு வரவில்லை. ஞாபக சக்தியும் சரியாக இல்லை. அவருடைய மனைவி பெரியவாளிடம் வந்து கண்ணீர் விட்டு பிரார்த்தித்தாள்...."பெரியவாதான் அனுக்ரகம் பண்ணணும். அவருக்கு பூரணமா குணமாகணும்".
பெரியவா ஒரு நிமிஷம் மெளனமாக இருந்தார். அப்புறம் அந்த அம்மாவிடம் " சரி. அவருக்கு ஒடம்பு சரியாகணும்னா.......என்ன வேணா செய்வியா?"
"என்ன செலவானாலும் பரவாயில்லே பெரியவா"
"அதில்லே...........நான் சொல்லறதா வெளையாட்டா எடுத்துக்க மாட்டியே?"..........
"மாட்டேன்......என்ன சொன்னாலும் செய்யறேன்"
"சீட்டுக்கட்டு ரெண்டு வாங்கி, எப்பவும் அவர் கண்ணுல படறமாதிரி வெச்சிடு. .......கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமா நெனவு திரும்பிடும்"
பக்கத்திலிருந்த எல்லாருக்குமே ஆச்சரியம். ஒண்ணும் புரியவில்லை. விநோதமாக இருந்தது! அந்த அம்மாவுக்கோ......தன் கணவர் எப்போதும் சீட்டாட்டத்தில் மூழ்கி இருந்தவர் என்பது பெரியவாளுக்கு எப்படி தெரிந்தது? சீட்டுக்கட்டு கண்ணுல பட்டுண்டு இருந்தா ஒடம்பு சரியாயிடுமா? ஆச்சர்யமாக இருந்தது. பெரியவா சொன்னபடி செய்தாள்.
சில நாட்களில் சீட்டாட்டக்காரருக்கு நினைவு திரும்பியது! பேரன் பேத்திகளோடு சீட்டு விளையாட ஆரம்பித்து, ஒருநாள் "இஸ்பேட்டுக்கு பதிலா ஆட்டின் போடறியேடா!!!!" என்று பேரனை அதட்டினார்! ஆம். பேச்சும் வந்துவிட்டது!
இந்த சீட்டுப் பைத்தியத்துக்கு பெரியவா கொடுத்தது "வீட்டுவைத்தியமா?" அல்லது "சீட்டு வைத்தியமா?"
எப்படியிருந்தாலும் "துருப்பு" அவர் கையில்தான்!
.....மற்றொரு நிகழ்ச்சி தொடரும்
Thursday, November 24, 2011
நினைத்தேன் , எழுதுகிறேன்
25 11 2011
பெற்றாற் பெறின் பெறுவர் பெண்டிர் பெருஞ்சிறப்புப்
புத்தேளிர் வாழும் உலகு – திருக்குறள்.
கணவனைப் பேணிக் காப்பதில் சிறப்புடையவளானால்,அவள் சுவர்க்கத்தில் பெறும் சிறப்பை இங்கேயே பெற்றுவிடுவாள் என்பதற்கேற்ப வாழ்ந்த என் கிரிஜாவே , நீ வாழ்ந்த போது, என்னை எல்லா விதத்திலும் மிக நன்றாக கவனித்துக்கொண்டாய். வீட்டுக்கவலை என்றால் என்ன என்று எனக்கு தெரியாதவாறு எல்லா பொறுப்புகளையும் செவ்வனே செய்து வந்தாய்.
நீ என்னை விட்டு பிரிந்த இந்த நாலு வருஷத்தில், வீட்டு பொறுப்புகளை நானே கவனிக்க வேண்டிய கட்டாயம் வந்த பின் தான் உன் அருமை எனக்கு தெரிய வந்தது என்பது இல்லை. ஆனால் நீ எவ்வளவு பெரிய சுமையை எவ்வளவு திறமையாக,எவ்வளவு அனாயாசமாக, கொஞ்சம் கூட முகம் சுளிக்காமல், 32 வருடங்கள் சுமந்து என் வாழ்க்கையை பிரகாசமாக ஆக்கினாய் !
கிரிஜா, நீ இல்லாமல் நான் வாடும் இந்த நிலையை ஆண்டவன் ஏன் எனக்கு கொடுத்தான் ? நம் குழந்தைகள் சுதா, சுபா, மாப்பிள்ளைகள் சந்தர்,மகேஷின் அன்பும்,ஆதரவும் நம் அருமை பேரன் பேத்திகள்,தனுஷ், சுகோஷ்,மஹதி,தர்ஷிணி இவர்களின் கொள்ளை பிரியமும்,மழலையும்,கொஞ்சலும் தான் என்னை வாழ வைத்துக்கொண்டிருக்கின்றன.
நீ இல்லாவிட்டாலும், நீ எப்போதும் என்னுடனேயே தான் இருக்கிறாய்.எப்போதும் இருப்பாய் .
பெற்றாற் பெறின் பெறுவர் பெண்டிர் பெருஞ்சிறப்புப்
புத்தேளிர் வாழும் உலகு – திருக்குறள்.
கணவனைப் பேணிக் காப்பதில் சிறப்புடையவளானால்,அவள் சுவர்க்கத்தில் பெறும் சிறப்பை இங்கேயே பெற்றுவிடுவாள் என்பதற்கேற்ப வாழ்ந்த என் கிரிஜாவே , நீ வாழ்ந்த போது, என்னை எல்லா விதத்திலும் மிக நன்றாக கவனித்துக்கொண்டாய். வீட்டுக்கவலை என்றால் என்ன என்று எனக்கு தெரியாதவாறு எல்லா பொறுப்புகளையும் செவ்வனே செய்து வந்தாய்.
நீ என்னை விட்டு பிரிந்த இந்த நாலு வருஷத்தில், வீட்டு பொறுப்புகளை நானே கவனிக்க வேண்டிய கட்டாயம் வந்த பின் தான் உன் அருமை எனக்கு தெரிய வந்தது என்பது இல்லை. ஆனால் நீ எவ்வளவு பெரிய சுமையை எவ்வளவு திறமையாக,எவ்வளவு அனாயாசமாக, கொஞ்சம் கூட முகம் சுளிக்காமல், 32 வருடங்கள் சுமந்து என் வாழ்க்கையை பிரகாசமாக ஆக்கினாய் !
கிரிஜா, நீ இல்லாமல் நான் வாடும் இந்த நிலையை ஆண்டவன் ஏன் எனக்கு கொடுத்தான் ? நம் குழந்தைகள் சுதா, சுபா, மாப்பிள்ளைகள் சந்தர்,மகேஷின் அன்பும்,ஆதரவும் நம் அருமை பேரன் பேத்திகள்,தனுஷ், சுகோஷ்,மஹதி,தர்ஷிணி இவர்களின் கொள்ளை பிரியமும்,மழலையும்,கொஞ்சலும் தான் என்னை வாழ வைத்துக்கொண்டிருக்கின்றன.
நீ இல்லாவிட்டாலும், நீ எப்போதும் என்னுடனேயே தான் இருக்கிறாய்.எப்போதும் இருப்பாய் .
Friday, August 12, 2011
Avaniavittam
13th Aug 2011
The significance of rituals during Avaniavittam
We usually start Avaniavittam with the recital of Kamo Karshia Mantra. There is not anyone in earth who has not sinned knowingly or unknowingly( manasa, vacha, karmana). Kamo Karshia mantra eliminates all types of sins and purifies us. Avaniavittam is not just a thread changing ceremony ; instead it is an unexplainable auspicious function. Only we the Brahmins get an opportunity every year to perform this holy ritual.
We conduct Kandarishi Tharpanam and Pithru Tharpanam to show our gratitude to our Devadas, Gurus, Navagrahas, our forefathers,all pitrugal and also all living things and nonliving things and Rishis who have given us the Upanishads and vedas , itihasa Puranas, Dharma Shastra , Ayurveda, Yoga ,Siddha, Vedic Mathematics etc.We do these Tharpanam not only to get their blessings but also for the good of the world.
Avaniavittam is followed by Maha Gayathri Jabam with pranayamam the next day, during when we acquire cosmic energy - the energy of the Universe and blessings from all devadas. It protects us from all diseases( mental and physical ) and all evils and also improves our health and gives us ability to have magnificent visions.
The Maha Sankalpam , the self introduction,is done before the sacred thread is changed. It tells the Deavadas, who is doing the pooja, where it is being done, nakshatram, month, date etc.,for what purpose it is being conducted, etc. According to our Mythology, there are 14 worlds like our earth in this universe. That is the reason the rishis introduced the detailed introduction. If you carefully observe, we realise how small we are in this universe. What we thought to be a big house or a big town will seem too small to even speak of. There is nothing to feel egoistic or proud about.
The Sankalpam is mainly to make our ego vanish and to make us feel humble and love everyone.
Coming to the Sankalpa Mantras, let us first understand the Hindu Cosmic cycle:
!
Mahayuga= Sum of 4 Yugas ( Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali ) = 4,320,000 Years
1000 Mahayugs = A kalpa and it is a daytime of Brahma
The Kalpa is ruled by 14 manus in succession. The reigning period of one manuvantra is 71.42 mahayugs ( 1000/14 )
There is equivalent night time of 4,320,000 Years.
The Day -night of Brahma constitutes one Brahma day ( 8.64 billion years ).
360 Brahma days constitute one Brahma year while 100 Brahma years represent the lifetime of Brahma which is the life of Cosmos.
Brahma is supposed to have completed 50 Brahma years and is in his 51st Year. That is why this period is called the Dviteeya parardhe - in the second half of Brahma's life.
We are presently in the Sveta- Varaha Kalpa in the reigning period of Vaivaswatha
-the 7th Manu.
The actual Sankalpa mantra and its meaning runs like this :
"dviteeya parardhe" - in the 2nd half of Brahma's life.
"Svetavaraha Kalpe "- in the Kalpa of Svetavaraha
"Vaivaswatha Manuvantare" - in the reigning period of Manu vaivaswatha
" Kaliyuge" - in this Kali yuga
"prathame padhe "- in the first quater of this yuga
"Jamboodveepe"- this denotes the place where the ritual is performed - India was known as Jamboodveepa
"Bharata Varshe, Bharata Kande "- in the land of Bharat
" Sakhade Mero , Dakshine Parsve"- to the south of Meru mountain,
"Asmin Varthamane Vyavaharike "- in the current period now reigning
Prabhavadi Shasti Samvatsaranam Madye"- among the cycle of 60 years starting from Prabhava
".....nama Samvatsare"- the name of the year in the 60 year Hindu calendar
".....Ayane"- Dakshinayane ( Aadi to Margazhi), Uttarayane ( Thai to Aani )
".....Ritou"- denotes the 6 seasons of rirus- Vasantha, Greeshma, Varsha, Sharadh, Hemantha and shisira
".....Mase" - the tamil month
".....Pakshe"- either Shukla Paksham or Krishna Paksham )
".....Subha Thithou"- one of the 15 days between Pournami and Amavasyaya - From Prathama to Pournami or Amavasya
".....vasara yuktayam"- the day of the week -from Bhanu ( Sunday) to sthira ( Saturday )
".....Nakshatra yuktayam"- the day's star or Nakshatram ( from Aswani to Revathi )
May God bless us all on this Auspicious Occasion of Avaniavittam
Sugavanam
Extracts from a handout given by Tamilnadu Brahmins Association , Tiruvanmiyur during the Avaniavittam function today.
The significance of rituals during Avaniavittam
We usually start Avaniavittam with the recital of Kamo Karshia Mantra. There is not anyone in earth who has not sinned knowingly or unknowingly( manasa, vacha, karmana). Kamo Karshia mantra eliminates all types of sins and purifies us. Avaniavittam is not just a thread changing ceremony ; instead it is an unexplainable auspicious function. Only we the Brahmins get an opportunity every year to perform this holy ritual.
We conduct Kandarishi Tharpanam and Pithru Tharpanam to show our gratitude to our Devadas, Gurus, Navagrahas, our forefathers,all pitrugal and also all living things and nonliving things and Rishis who have given us the Upanishads and vedas , itihasa Puranas, Dharma Shastra , Ayurveda, Yoga ,Siddha, Vedic Mathematics etc.We do these Tharpanam not only to get their blessings but also for the good of the world.
Avaniavittam is followed by Maha Gayathri Jabam with pranayamam the next day, during when we acquire cosmic energy - the energy of the Universe and blessings from all devadas. It protects us from all diseases( mental and physical ) and all evils and also improves our health and gives us ability to have magnificent visions.
The Maha Sankalpam , the self introduction,is done before the sacred thread is changed. It tells the Deavadas, who is doing the pooja, where it is being done, nakshatram, month, date etc.,for what purpose it is being conducted, etc. According to our Mythology, there are 14 worlds like our earth in this universe. That is the reason the rishis introduced the detailed introduction. If you carefully observe, we realise how small we are in this universe. What we thought to be a big house or a big town will seem too small to even speak of. There is nothing to feel egoistic or proud about.
The Sankalpam is mainly to make our ego vanish and to make us feel humble and love everyone.
Coming to the Sankalpa Mantras, let us first understand the Hindu Cosmic cycle:
!
Mahayuga= Sum of 4 Yugas ( Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali ) = 4,320,000 Years
1000 Mahayugs = A kalpa and it is a daytime of Brahma
The Kalpa is ruled by 14 manus in succession. The reigning period of one manuvantra is 71.42 mahayugs ( 1000/14 )
There is equivalent night time of 4,320,000 Years.
The Day -night of Brahma constitutes one Brahma day ( 8.64 billion years ).
360 Brahma days constitute one Brahma year while 100 Brahma years represent the lifetime of Brahma which is the life of Cosmos.
Brahma is supposed to have completed 50 Brahma years and is in his 51st Year. That is why this period is called the Dviteeya parardhe - in the second half of Brahma's life.
We are presently in the Sveta- Varaha Kalpa in the reigning period of Vaivaswatha
-the 7th Manu.
The actual Sankalpa mantra and its meaning runs like this :
"dviteeya parardhe" - in the 2nd half of Brahma's life.
"Svetavaraha Kalpe "- in the Kalpa of Svetavaraha
"Vaivaswatha Manuvantare" - in the reigning period of Manu vaivaswatha
" Kaliyuge" - in this Kali yuga
"prathame padhe "- in the first quater of this yuga
"Jamboodveepe"- this denotes the place where the ritual is performed - India was known as Jamboodveepa
"Bharata Varshe, Bharata Kande "- in the land of Bharat
" Sakhade Mero , Dakshine Parsve"- to the south of Meru mountain,
"Asmin Varthamane Vyavaharike "- in the current period now reigning
Prabhavadi Shasti Samvatsaranam Madye"- among the cycle of 60 years starting from Prabhava
".....nama Samvatsare"- the name of the year in the 60 year Hindu calendar
".....Ayane"- Dakshinayane ( Aadi to Margazhi), Uttarayane ( Thai to Aani )
".....Ritou"- denotes the 6 seasons of rirus- Vasantha, Greeshma, Varsha, Sharadh, Hemantha and shisira
".....Mase" - the tamil month
".....Pakshe"- either Shukla Paksham or Krishna Paksham )
".....Subha Thithou"- one of the 15 days between Pournami and Amavasyaya - From Prathama to Pournami or Amavasya
".....vasara yuktayam"- the day of the week -from Bhanu ( Sunday) to sthira ( Saturday )
".....Nakshatra yuktayam"- the day's star or Nakshatram ( from Aswani to Revathi )
May God bless us all on this Auspicious Occasion of Avaniavittam
Sugavanam
Extracts from a handout given by Tamilnadu Brahmins Association , Tiruvanmiyur during the Avaniavittam function today.
Monday, July 04, 2011
Amavaasai Tharpanam - a different experience
4th July 2011
Suba moved from Pune to Pallavaram(Chennai ) by end May 11 and I came to Pallavarm to spend a few days with her by the 2nd week of June . While coming here , I forgot to bring the Amavasai Tharpanam book, Dharpai, pavithram etc. The Amavaasai fell on 1st July and I had two options. Go to Tiruvanmiyur and get these or manage locally. I decided to choose the 2nd option as I thought it was not worthwhile to travel 32 Km's just to fetch these things.In fact till 29th June , I did not bother much as I thought I could manage these things easily.
On 30th June, I went to the nearby Pillaiyar Koil and enquired with the Gurukkal there as to where I could get the pavithram, Dharpai etc. I was shocked to get an answer that these things are not available at Pallavaram and that one has to go to Nanganallur or T Nagar to get these ! Fortunately, he came to my help by making the Pavithram and Koorcham himself and gave them to me along with a few dharpais. So, one problem solved.
Suba did not have the sandhyavandanam book ( which will have the Tharpanam Mandiram ) .Being new in this building, she was not knowing many brahmin families and the one or two brahmin families she knew also did not have the book. So , I searched the net to get the Mandirams. But due to some BB problem, I did not succeed. Then I suddenly remembered that some two years back, I had downloaded the Mandirams in Suba's laptop. Luckily the file was in tact. So the 2nd problem also solved.
On 1st July morning,Suba realised that she did not have the எள். Luckily, grocery shop is very closeby and Suba got it within a few minutes.
Finally, I did the Tharpanam successfully, but when I wanted to do Brahma Yagnam, I found that the mandirams for the same was not available in the file and unfortunately, I could not access the net as there was no power. So, what to do ? I rang up Magesh ( who was at Pune ), asked him to chant the Brahma Yagnam mandiram over the Mobile and I did the puja here repeating the mandirams ! Namaskarams to my forefathers and fore-mothers.
Thus ended my Amavaasai Tharpanam - a different experience !! And what an experience. Being in Chennai, for a moment,I felt as if I was in China !
Suba moved from Pune to Pallavaram(Chennai ) by end May 11 and I came to Pallavarm to spend a few days with her by the 2nd week of June . While coming here , I forgot to bring the Amavasai Tharpanam book, Dharpai, pavithram etc. The Amavaasai fell on 1st July and I had two options. Go to Tiruvanmiyur and get these or manage locally. I decided to choose the 2nd option as I thought it was not worthwhile to travel 32 Km's just to fetch these things.In fact till 29th June , I did not bother much as I thought I could manage these things easily.
On 30th June, I went to the nearby Pillaiyar Koil and enquired with the Gurukkal there as to where I could get the pavithram, Dharpai etc. I was shocked to get an answer that these things are not available at Pallavaram and that one has to go to Nanganallur or T Nagar to get these ! Fortunately, he came to my help by making the Pavithram and Koorcham himself and gave them to me along with a few dharpais. So, one problem solved.
Suba did not have the sandhyavandanam book ( which will have the Tharpanam Mandiram ) .Being new in this building, she was not knowing many brahmin families and the one or two brahmin families she knew also did not have the book. So , I searched the net to get the Mandirams. But due to some BB problem, I did not succeed. Then I suddenly remembered that some two years back, I had downloaded the Mandirams in Suba's laptop. Luckily the file was in tact. So the 2nd problem also solved.
On 1st July morning,Suba realised that she did not have the எள். Luckily, grocery shop is very closeby and Suba got it within a few minutes.
Finally, I did the Tharpanam successfully, but when I wanted to do Brahma Yagnam, I found that the mandirams for the same was not available in the file and unfortunately, I could not access the net as there was no power. So, what to do ? I rang up Magesh ( who was at Pune ), asked him to chant the Brahma Yagnam mandiram over the Mobile and I did the puja here repeating the mandirams ! Namaskarams to my forefathers and fore-mothers.
Thus ended my Amavaasai Tharpanam - a different experience !! And what an experience. Being in Chennai, for a moment,I felt as if I was in China !
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Happy Birthday
25 1 2011
Dear Girija/Amma
We'll always remember that special smile,that caring heart,that warm embrace,you always gave us.
You were always there with us through good and bad times,and that made a lot of difference.
We'll always remember you, dear Girija/Amma because there'll never be another one to replace you in our hearts, and the love we will always have for you.
Happy Birth Day to you
Sugavanam ,Sudha, Suba
Dear Girija/Amma
We'll always remember that special smile,that caring heart,that warm embrace,you always gave us.
You were always there with us through good and bad times,and that made a lot of difference.
We'll always remember you, dear Girija/Amma because there'll never be another one to replace you in our hearts, and the love we will always have for you.
Happy Birth Day to you
Sugavanam ,Sudha, Suba
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Remembrance
25 11 2010
My Dearest Girija
I am sitting here in my room, looking at your picture.
Wondering why you couldn't be a part of my future.
Uncontrollable tears stream down my face,
while my heart beat starts to race.
Asking God why he took you from my life,
it was more painful than stabbing me in the heart with a knife.
I still needed you here
you were the one to make everything so clear.
You needed to be here to play with your wonderful grand kids.
They would have been happier getting the warm hugs from you
you are a part of me and I am a part of you
when you died a part of me died too.
I never knew how hard it was to loose someone you love
until the day you went to heaven above.
Even though I can't see,
I know you are up there watching over us
.
I miss you more and more everyday
and all I can do is pray.
In my heart you shall forever remain.
Sugavanam
My Dearest Girija
I am sitting here in my room, looking at your picture.
Wondering why you couldn't be a part of my future.
Uncontrollable tears stream down my face,
while my heart beat starts to race.
Asking God why he took you from my life,
it was more painful than stabbing me in the heart with a knife.
I still needed you here
you were the one to make everything so clear.
You needed to be here to play with your wonderful grand kids.
They would have been happier getting the warm hugs from you
you are a part of me and I am a part of you
when you died a part of me died too.
I never knew how hard it was to loose someone you love
until the day you went to heaven above.
Even though I can't see,
I know you are up there watching over us
.
I miss you more and more everyday
and all I can do is pray.
In my heart you shall forever remain.
Sugavanam
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Maharashtra and Vinayagar- Part 6 ( concluding part )
22 9 10
Today being the Chaturdasi day, it is the day of Visarjan ( Immersion ). The Ganesh utsav which starts on Chaturthi day ends on Chaturdasi when the Lord is immersed in water.
The reason for immersion is a way of saying goodbye to the Lord who descends down on earth from Ganesh Lok to partake in the festivities. We invoke Him and He willingly comes and stays with us. So when the time comes, He returns to His abode. This is marked by the ritual of immersion.
In Pune the main immersion procession concludes at the banks of the river Mula near the junction of Lakshmi Road/Tilak Road.
The immersion procession of the five important Ganapatis, known as the manache Ganapati is a visual treat in itself. These five Ganapatis which are among the oldest in Pune, get precedence over hundreds of other Ganapati idols in the procession/immersion function. The first of these five Ganapatis, The Kasba Ganapati leads the procession in Pune and is the first Ganapati to be immersed.
*The Kasba Ganapati immersion procession is unique in many ways. The procession of this Ganapati alone is more than half a Km long and there are series of bands, Silambaattam, folk dances, and what not. It is a treat to hear and watch more than 60 persons beating the huge drums in a highly rythemic fashion .
* The Tambadi Jogeshwari Ganapati comes second after Kasba Ganapati. This is amongst one of the Ganapatis that Tilak had started for the cause of social uprisement. Now the mandal is 107 years old. The idol of this Ganapati is unique that resembles the elephants of Africa and is always kept in a silver palkhi.
* The Guruji Taalim Mandal established in 1887 is the third manacha Ganapati. This was the first mandal in Pune to celebrate its 100 years even before Tilak started Ganesh festival for social awakening.
* The Tulshibaug Ganpati was installed in 1901. As Tulshibaug was the biggest market place in Pune at that time, traders from various places used to come here. It was thought that the message of independence movement could be spread by word of mouth through these traders at that time. This was the first mandal to present a moving tableau way back in 1952.
* The Kesari Wada Ganapati is the fifth Ganapati of honour in Pune. Lokmanya Tilak had established the idol of Ganesh for this mandal in the year 1893.
* While the above 5 ganapatis are immersed in the daytime itself, Sriman Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati procession takes place after 8 pm as the chariot in which the Ganapati is taken will have beautiful decoration with jewellary which will glitter under thousands of serial bulbs in the night.
The immersion function was initially over by midnight in the earlier years . Now a days with more and more Ganesh pandals coming up every year, it takes two full days for the function to get over. This is inspite of the fact that many pandals choose to have immersion from the 5th day of festival itself( to avoid the rush on the Visarjan day )
Elaborate arrangements are made by the city police for ensuring a smooth procession and many roads are closed for traffic for the whole day today.
We, I, Magesh, Suba, Sughosh and Mahathi had a wonderful view of the procession of the five important Ganapatis today. We left our home at 1030 am and after parking our car about 1 km before Lakshmi Road walked to Lakshmi Road .
As the procession had just started at the other end of Lakshmi Road ( about 3 Km's away ), we decided to walk the stretch to meet the procession on the way.
What we saw then was unbelievable. We have heard of Red Carpet welcome when a VIP visits. Here on Lakshmi Road it was also a Red Carpet Welcome for the Ganapatis coming in that route for immersion , but it was a different kind of Red Carpet .Yes, it was Red Carpet of Rangoli.
In the middle of the road, Red Carpet Rangoli was put for a width of about 3 feet and on both the sides and inside the Carpet area, various excellent designs of flowers etc were drawn in white Rangoli. At junctions of four roads, very big round Rangoli Kolam were drawn ( each Kolam would be about 30 feet diameter and more than 10 different colors had been used in each kolam ).
When we were walking in the Lakshmi Road , we could see this Rangoli taking shape in the last stretch of the road. Hundreds of girls and boys were engaged in this marvellous hand work and it was a visual treat to watch the Rangoli being put with such expertise and precision that when somebody sees this from a distance, he/she will easily take it to be a real Red Carpet with beautiful borders and designs inside it . ஆயிரம் கண் போதாது இதை கண்டுகளிக்க.,
Then came the procession in the order mentioned above. We had excellent darshan of these Ganapatis and enjoyed the drums and other dances. After seeing these five Ganapatis, we walked back for some distance and then took an Auto to our Carpark by another road ( Lakshmi Road was full of people) and returned home by 4 30 pm ( after having lunch in a hotel ).
Today was a very satisfying day as we could see a number of our beloved God Vinayagar idols in eyecatching procession. One must see atleast once in his/her life time , the Visarjan procession in Pune .
During the procession, the following are chanted by the devotees.
(This chanting is to be said in the same manner as we say -
Namah Paarvatipathaye..... HaraHara Mahaadeva )
Ganapati Bappa ...... Moriya ( Oh father / Lord Ganesha.... Moriya* )
MangalMurthy......... Moriya* ( That which purifies both internally as well as externally is auspicious (mangal). An image bringing auspiciousness is thus Mangalmurti )
Pudhchya Varshi ...... Lavkar yaa ( come again speedily next year ).
* Moriya Gosavi was a 14th century saint of the Ganapatya sect. He was a great devotee of Ganesha. The word Moriya in "Ganapati Bappa Moriya" is attributed to him. This depicts the inseparable relationship between God and a devotee."
Ganapati Bappa ........ Moriya
MangalMurthy......... Moriya
Pudhchya Varshi ..... Lavkar yaa
OM GANESHAYA NAMAHA
Today being the Chaturdasi day, it is the day of Visarjan ( Immersion ). The Ganesh utsav which starts on Chaturthi day ends on Chaturdasi when the Lord is immersed in water.
The reason for immersion is a way of saying goodbye to the Lord who descends down on earth from Ganesh Lok to partake in the festivities. We invoke Him and He willingly comes and stays with us. So when the time comes, He returns to His abode. This is marked by the ritual of immersion.
In Pune the main immersion procession concludes at the banks of the river Mula near the junction of Lakshmi Road/Tilak Road.
The immersion procession of the five important Ganapatis, known as the manache Ganapati is a visual treat in itself. These five Ganapatis which are among the oldest in Pune, get precedence over hundreds of other Ganapati idols in the procession/immersion function. The first of these five Ganapatis, The Kasba Ganapati leads the procession in Pune and is the first Ganapati to be immersed.
*The Kasba Ganapati immersion procession is unique in many ways. The procession of this Ganapati alone is more than half a Km long and there are series of bands, Silambaattam, folk dances, and what not. It is a treat to hear and watch more than 60 persons beating the huge drums in a highly rythemic fashion .
* The Tambadi Jogeshwari Ganapati comes second after Kasba Ganapati. This is amongst one of the Ganapatis that Tilak had started for the cause of social uprisement. Now the mandal is 107 years old. The idol of this Ganapati is unique that resembles the elephants of Africa and is always kept in a silver palkhi.
* The Guruji Taalim Mandal established in 1887 is the third manacha Ganapati. This was the first mandal in Pune to celebrate its 100 years even before Tilak started Ganesh festival for social awakening.
* The Tulshibaug Ganpati was installed in 1901. As Tulshibaug was the biggest market place in Pune at that time, traders from various places used to come here. It was thought that the message of independence movement could be spread by word of mouth through these traders at that time. This was the first mandal to present a moving tableau way back in 1952.
* The Kesari Wada Ganapati is the fifth Ganapati of honour in Pune. Lokmanya Tilak had established the idol of Ganesh for this mandal in the year 1893.
* While the above 5 ganapatis are immersed in the daytime itself, Sriman Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati procession takes place after 8 pm as the chariot in which the Ganapati is taken will have beautiful decoration with jewellary which will glitter under thousands of serial bulbs in the night.
The immersion function was initially over by midnight in the earlier years . Now a days with more and more Ganesh pandals coming up every year, it takes two full days for the function to get over. This is inspite of the fact that many pandals choose to have immersion from the 5th day of festival itself( to avoid the rush on the Visarjan day )
Elaborate arrangements are made by the city police for ensuring a smooth procession and many roads are closed for traffic for the whole day today.
We, I, Magesh, Suba, Sughosh and Mahathi had a wonderful view of the procession of the five important Ganapatis today. We left our home at 1030 am and after parking our car about 1 km before Lakshmi Road walked to Lakshmi Road .
As the procession had just started at the other end of Lakshmi Road ( about 3 Km's away ), we decided to walk the stretch to meet the procession on the way.
What we saw then was unbelievable. We have heard of Red Carpet welcome when a VIP visits. Here on Lakshmi Road it was also a Red Carpet Welcome for the Ganapatis coming in that route for immersion , but it was a different kind of Red Carpet .Yes, it was Red Carpet of Rangoli.
In the middle of the road, Red Carpet Rangoli was put for a width of about 3 feet and on both the sides and inside the Carpet area, various excellent designs of flowers etc were drawn in white Rangoli. At junctions of four roads, very big round Rangoli Kolam were drawn ( each Kolam would be about 30 feet diameter and more than 10 different colors had been used in each kolam ).
When we were walking in the Lakshmi Road , we could see this Rangoli taking shape in the last stretch of the road. Hundreds of girls and boys were engaged in this marvellous hand work and it was a visual treat to watch the Rangoli being put with such expertise and precision that when somebody sees this from a distance, he/she will easily take it to be a real Red Carpet with beautiful borders and designs inside it . ஆயிரம் கண் போதாது இதை கண்டுகளிக்க.,
Then came the procession in the order mentioned above. We had excellent darshan of these Ganapatis and enjoyed the drums and other dances. After seeing these five Ganapatis, we walked back for some distance and then took an Auto to our Carpark by another road ( Lakshmi Road was full of people) and returned home by 4 30 pm ( after having lunch in a hotel ).
Today was a very satisfying day as we could see a number of our beloved God Vinayagar idols in eyecatching procession. One must see atleast once in his/her life time , the Visarjan procession in Pune .
During the procession, the following are chanted by the devotees.
(This chanting is to be said in the same manner as we say -
Namah Paarvatipathaye..... HaraHara Mahaadeva )
Ganapati Bappa ...... Moriya ( Oh father / Lord Ganesha.... Moriya* )
MangalMurthy......... Moriya* ( That which purifies both internally as well as externally is auspicious (mangal). An image bringing auspiciousness is thus Mangalmurti )
Pudhchya Varshi ...... Lavkar yaa ( come again speedily next year ).
* Moriya Gosavi was a 14th century saint of the Ganapatya sect. He was a great devotee of Ganesha. The word Moriya in "Ganapati Bappa Moriya" is attributed to him. This depicts the inseparable relationship between God and a devotee."
Ganapati Bappa ........ Moriya
MangalMurthy......... Moriya
Pudhchya Varshi ..... Lavkar yaa
OM GANESHAYA NAMAHA
Monday, September 20, 2010
Maharashtra and Vinayagar- Part 5
20 9 10
There are many important Ganesh temples in Maharashtra. Among them, the AshtaVinayagar temples around Pune have a special place.
Ashtavinayaga temples are eight popular Lord Ganesha temples. The term ‘Ashtavinayaga Yatra’ refers to the pilgrimage or yatra to these eight ancient holy Ganapati temples around Pune. These Ashtavinayaga temples have eight distinct forms of Ganesh idols. The form of trunk of each Ganesha idol is different from one another. Some of the Ashtavinayaka are Swayambhu Ganpati murtis (self-existent).
There is a tradition or ritual of visiting these eight Ganesh temples in serial order mentioned in the Shastra. The Yatra starts with Moreshwar of Moregaon, and goes on through Siddhitek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar, Ranjangoan, and then again Moregaon. Visiting Moregaon for second time concludes the Yatra.
Brief details of Ashtavinayaga temples:
Mayureshwar or Moreshwar Temple: Located along the banks of Karha River in Morgaon village in Pune District, Lord Ganesh is known as Mayureshwar or Moreshwar. Ganesha is here depicted as riding a peacock. It is believed that Lord Ganesha appeared in this form to destroy a demon named Sindhu. Morgaon village is located in Baramati Taluk and is around 55 km southeast of Pune city.
Siddhivinayak Temple: The idol of Ganesha at Siddhivinayak Temple is unique as it has a right turned trunk. This famous temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh is located at Siddhatek. It is believed that Lord Vishnu prayed to Ganesha before fighting demons Madhu and Kaitab. Ganesh is named Siddhivinayak here because it is believed that Lord Vishnu achieved success because he prayed here. Siddhatek Village is located on the banks of Bhima River near Karjat in Ahmadnagar District. It is south east of Pune city.
Ballaleshwar Temple: Lord Ganesha shrine at Pali in Raigad District known as Ballaleshwar Ganesh Temple is named after Ballal, a staunch devotee of Vinayaka. It is believed that Ganesha appeared here to save his devotee from irate villagers. Pali is around 115 km west of Pune city.
Varad Vinayak or Mahadcha Shri Varadavinayak Temple: Located in Mahad in Raigarh District, Lord Ganesha is believed to have given darshan to Gruthsmadh here who performed penance to get rid of sins. He was granted what he wished and therefore the Varad Vinayak here is known as one who fulfills wishes. A lamp named Nandadeep at the temple is burning constantly since 1892. Mahad is around 25 km southwest of Karjat.
Chintamani Vinayak Temple: Chintamani Ganesh Temple is located in Theur in Pune District. It is believed that Lord Ganesha took the form of Chintamani to get back the precious Chintamani jewel of Sage Kaptila from demon Guna. Another legend has it that Brahma’s mind once underwent turbulence and he called upon Ganesha at Theur to help in keeping his mind in calm. Theur or Theyoor is located 20 km south east of Pune city.
Girijatmaja or Girijatmak or Girijatmaj Temple: Located in Lekhan Hills or Lenaya Parvat or Lenyadri, it is believed that Girija (Goddess Parvati) performed intense austerities for 12 years at the present Girijatmaj Lenyadri Temple to beget Ganesha as her son. One has to climb 283 steps to reach this shrine, which is surrounded by beautiful hills. The Ganesh temple is part of a Buddhist Cave temple. It is located around 150 km north-east of Pune city on the Pune-Nasik Highway
Vighneshwar or Vighnahara or Vighneshwara Temple: Located on the banks of the Kukdeshwar River in Ojhar or Ozhar in Pune District, Vighneshwar Temple represents the form of Ganesha taken to destroy demon Vighnasura. This beautiful temple is located on Pune – Nasik Highway (NH 50) near Junnar and is around 80 km north east of Pune city.
Mahaganapati Temple: Located at Ranjangaon, Mahaganapati Temple is believed to be the spot where Lord Shiva worshipped Ganesha before fighting demon Tripurasura. This is also the most powerful idol of Ganesha as it is depicted having several arms. Ranjangaon is located on the Pune-Ahmadnagar highway and is around 55 km east of Pune City.
All these eight temples can be covered in 2/3 days. Try to spare time to visit these temples during your next visit.
There are many important Ganesh temples in Maharashtra. Among them, the AshtaVinayagar temples around Pune have a special place.
Ashtavinayaga temples are eight popular Lord Ganesha temples. The term ‘Ashtavinayaga Yatra’ refers to the pilgrimage or yatra to these eight ancient holy Ganapati temples around Pune. These Ashtavinayaga temples have eight distinct forms of Ganesh idols. The form of trunk of each Ganesha idol is different from one another. Some of the Ashtavinayaka are Swayambhu Ganpati murtis (self-existent).
There is a tradition or ritual of visiting these eight Ganesh temples in serial order mentioned in the Shastra. The Yatra starts with Moreshwar of Moregaon, and goes on through Siddhitek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar, Ranjangoan, and then again Moregaon. Visiting Moregaon for second time concludes the Yatra.
Brief details of Ashtavinayaga temples:
Mayureshwar or Moreshwar Temple: Located along the banks of Karha River in Morgaon village in Pune District, Lord Ganesh is known as Mayureshwar or Moreshwar. Ganesha is here depicted as riding a peacock. It is believed that Lord Ganesha appeared in this form to destroy a demon named Sindhu. Morgaon village is located in Baramati Taluk and is around 55 km southeast of Pune city.
Siddhivinayak Temple: The idol of Ganesha at Siddhivinayak Temple is unique as it has a right turned trunk. This famous temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh is located at Siddhatek. It is believed that Lord Vishnu prayed to Ganesha before fighting demons Madhu and Kaitab. Ganesh is named Siddhivinayak here because it is believed that Lord Vishnu achieved success because he prayed here. Siddhatek Village is located on the banks of Bhima River near Karjat in Ahmadnagar District. It is south east of Pune city.
Ballaleshwar Temple: Lord Ganesha shrine at Pali in Raigad District known as Ballaleshwar Ganesh Temple is named after Ballal, a staunch devotee of Vinayaka. It is believed that Ganesha appeared here to save his devotee from irate villagers. Pali is around 115 km west of Pune city.
Varad Vinayak or Mahadcha Shri Varadavinayak Temple: Located in Mahad in Raigarh District, Lord Ganesha is believed to have given darshan to Gruthsmadh here who performed penance to get rid of sins. He was granted what he wished and therefore the Varad Vinayak here is known as one who fulfills wishes. A lamp named Nandadeep at the temple is burning constantly since 1892. Mahad is around 25 km southwest of Karjat.
Chintamani Vinayak Temple: Chintamani Ganesh Temple is located in Theur in Pune District. It is believed that Lord Ganesha took the form of Chintamani to get back the precious Chintamani jewel of Sage Kaptila from demon Guna. Another legend has it that Brahma’s mind once underwent turbulence and he called upon Ganesha at Theur to help in keeping his mind in calm. Theur or Theyoor is located 20 km south east of Pune city.
Girijatmaja or Girijatmak or Girijatmaj Temple: Located in Lekhan Hills or Lenaya Parvat or Lenyadri, it is believed that Girija (Goddess Parvati) performed intense austerities for 12 years at the present Girijatmaj Lenyadri Temple to beget Ganesha as her son. One has to climb 283 steps to reach this shrine, which is surrounded by beautiful hills. The Ganesh temple is part of a Buddhist Cave temple. It is located around 150 km north-east of Pune city on the Pune-Nasik Highway
Vighneshwar or Vighnahara or Vighneshwara Temple: Located on the banks of the Kukdeshwar River in Ojhar or Ozhar in Pune District, Vighneshwar Temple represents the form of Ganesha taken to destroy demon Vighnasura. This beautiful temple is located on Pune – Nasik Highway (NH 50) near Junnar and is around 80 km north east of Pune city.
Mahaganapati Temple: Located at Ranjangaon, Mahaganapati Temple is believed to be the spot where Lord Shiva worshipped Ganesha before fighting demon Tripurasura. This is also the most powerful idol of Ganesha as it is depicted having several arms. Ranjangaon is located on the Pune-Ahmadnagar highway and is around 55 km east of Pune City.
All these eight temples can be covered in 2/3 days. Try to spare time to visit these temples during your next visit.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Maharashtra and Vinayagar- Part 4
19 9 10
Lalbaugcharaja Ganpati is the most famous Ganesh Pandal in Mumbai.
“LALBAUGCHA RAJA (The Emperor of Lalbaug)” is the name of the popular Ganesh Idol of “LALBAUGCHA RAJA SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV MANDAL”. The Mandal, formerly known as “SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV MANDAL, LALBAUG” was founded in the year 1934, at its existing place.
This Mandal will celebrate cool Ganeshotsav in 2010. The Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal has built an air-conditioned waiting enclosure for devotees who throng the mandal to get the darshan of the Lord and wait for hours. This is the first of its kind in Mumbai. This will be a great help for lakhs of devotees who wait for hours in queues stretching up to kilometers.
Lalbaugcharaja Ganpati, will have its replica for Ganesh Chaturthi 2010 in Pune. It is the great news for Pune devotees who throng Mumbai to have darshan of Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh every year.
Lalbaugcharaja Ganpati is the most famous Ganesh Pandal in Mumbai.
“LALBAUGCHA RAJA (The Emperor of Lalbaug)” is the name of the popular Ganesh Idol of “LALBAUGCHA RAJA SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV MANDAL”. The Mandal, formerly known as “SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV MANDAL, LALBAUG” was founded in the year 1934, at its existing place.
This Mandal will celebrate cool Ganeshotsav in 2010. The Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal has built an air-conditioned waiting enclosure for devotees who throng the mandal to get the darshan of the Lord and wait for hours. This is the first of its kind in Mumbai. This will be a great help for lakhs of devotees who wait for hours in queues stretching up to kilometers.
Lalbaugcharaja Ganpati, will have its replica for Ganesh Chaturthi 2010 in Pune. It is the great news for Pune devotees who throng Mumbai to have darshan of Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh every year.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Maharashtra and Vinayagar- Part 3
18 9 10
I am today writing about one of the famous Ganesh temples in Maharashtra
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple in Pune, is a temple dedicated to the Hindu God Ganesh. It is the most famous Ganapati Temple in Pune.The temple is located a short distance from the historical Shaniwar Wada fort, which was administrative headquarters of Peshwas of Maratha Empire. The temple is very popular in Maharashtra and is visited by lakhs of pilgrims every year.
Devotees of the temple include celebrities and Chief Ministers of Maharashtra who visit during the annual ten day Ganeshotsav festival.The main Ganesh idol is insured for a sum of Rs 1 crore .
This temple was founded in 1893 by Dagadusheth Halwai, a sweetmeat seller who became a wealthy businessman. Halwai had lost his son the previous year, and at the request of his guru built this temple.
The Halwai Ganapati Trust carries out philanthropic work from the donations received, and is one of the richest in Maharashtra. The trust operates an old age home called Pitashree at Kondhwa in Pune. The home was built at a cost of 1.5 crore and opened in May 2003. In the same building the trust provides housing and education for 40 destitute children. Other services provided by the trust include ambulance service for poor and health clinics in tribal belts of Pune Dist.
Every year during Ganes Festival, this Temple trust erects a a very big Pandal of various themes, many a times a replica of famous temples and forts, and in this pandal( generally called Mandal here ), the Lord Ganesh is worshipped for ten days. Laks of people make it a point to visit this Mandal to seek the blessings of Vinayagar.
This richest Ganapati mandal in Pune is leaving no stone unturned to ensure maximum security for its devotees. Of the Rs 31.50 crore income, they are spending a sizeable sum on security of the several lakhs of devotees visiting every year .
As a precautionary measure against the threat of a bomb in a coconut, the Mandal will have a conveyer belt to move the traditional offerings of coconuts out of the Pandal in just 11 seconds. This way they hope to avert major disaster if bombs are planted in coconuts. For your information, over 70 lakh coconuts were offered last year to Dagdusheth Ganpati by devotees during the 10 days of the festival. About a lakh coconuts were returned to the devotees in the form of prashad,while the rest were sent for auction.Dagdusheth Ganapati's income last year from coconuts alone was Rs 28.03 lakh!
A bagging cone will be placed at the end of the 50-feet-long belt to fill the coconuts in a jute bag for faster disposal.
"Next year we will prepare a portable coconut conveyer so that the coconuts can be directly carried to the tempo parked outside," the designer of the conveyor belt, Savgaonkar, said.
I am today writing about one of the famous Ganesh temples in Maharashtra
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple in Pune, is a temple dedicated to the Hindu God Ganesh. It is the most famous Ganapati Temple in Pune.The temple is located a short distance from the historical Shaniwar Wada fort, which was administrative headquarters of Peshwas of Maratha Empire. The temple is very popular in Maharashtra and is visited by lakhs of pilgrims every year.
Devotees of the temple include celebrities and Chief Ministers of Maharashtra who visit during the annual ten day Ganeshotsav festival.The main Ganesh idol is insured for a sum of Rs 1 crore .
This temple was founded in 1893 by Dagadusheth Halwai, a sweetmeat seller who became a wealthy businessman. Halwai had lost his son the previous year, and at the request of his guru built this temple.
The Halwai Ganapati Trust carries out philanthropic work from the donations received, and is one of the richest in Maharashtra. The trust operates an old age home called Pitashree at Kondhwa in Pune. The home was built at a cost of 1.5 crore and opened in May 2003. In the same building the trust provides housing and education for 40 destitute children. Other services provided by the trust include ambulance service for poor and health clinics in tribal belts of Pune Dist.
Every year during Ganes Festival, this Temple trust erects a a very big Pandal of various themes, many a times a replica of famous temples and forts, and in this pandal( generally called Mandal here ), the Lord Ganesh is worshipped for ten days. Laks of people make it a point to visit this Mandal to seek the blessings of Vinayagar.
This richest Ganapati mandal in Pune is leaving no stone unturned to ensure maximum security for its devotees. Of the Rs 31.50 crore income, they are spending a sizeable sum on security of the several lakhs of devotees visiting every year .
As a precautionary measure against the threat of a bomb in a coconut, the Mandal will have a conveyer belt to move the traditional offerings of coconuts out of the Pandal in just 11 seconds. This way they hope to avert major disaster if bombs are planted in coconuts. For your information, over 70 lakh coconuts were offered last year to Dagdusheth Ganpati by devotees during the 10 days of the festival. About a lakh coconuts were returned to the devotees in the form of prashad,while the rest were sent for auction.Dagdusheth Ganapati's income last year from coconuts alone was Rs 28.03 lakh!
A bagging cone will be placed at the end of the 50-feet-long belt to fill the coconuts in a jute bag for faster disposal.
"Next year we will prepare a portable coconut conveyer so that the coconuts can be directly carried to the tempo parked outside," the designer of the conveyor belt, Savgaonkar, said.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Maharashtra and Vinayagar- Part 2
16 9 10
The 10 day Ganapati festival in Maharashtra starts on the Vinayaga Chaturthi Day when the public welcome the Lord in a grand manner. Here is a report on how Ganapati was welcomed in Pune.
The foot-tapping rhythm of drums, tasha' and cymbals and chants of Ganapati Bappa Morya resounded throughout the city on Saturday the 11th Sep 2010 as Puneites welcomed Lord Ganapati into their homes, societies and mandals on the first day of the Ganesh festival.
The festivities started in the morning with the processions and consecration of the five important Ganapatis, Kasba Ganapati, Tambdi Jogeshwari, Guruji Talim, Tulshibaug and Kesariwada. Students from 20 countries, giving the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the whole world is one family), participated in the procession of Kasba Ganapati, which was also accompanied by the Prabhat brass band and a team of drummers of the Samartha Pratishthan.
The Tambdi Jogeshwari procession was accompanied by Nagara players, New Gandharva brass band and drummers of Shivmudra. The drummers of Shivgarjana, attired in white salwar-kurtas and red bandhani phetas, accompanying Guruji Talim mandal, caught the eye with their performance.
When the procession reached Bajirao road, there was an impromptu jugalbandi' between the Shivgarjana team and the Samartha Pratishthan team accompanying the Jilbya Maruti mandal. This interesting duel continued for about 20 minutes before both the mandals moved ahead, mindful of the traffic jam on Bajirao road and Laxmi road.
The consecration of the famous Dagdusheth Ganapati took place at 11 am and devotees thronged the pandal for the darshan' of the jewellery-decked idol.
As the day progressed and consecration of household Ganapatis was completed, members of other public Ganesh mandals started preparations for their processions in the respective areas. trucks decorated with flowers were kept ready along with brass band teams and drummers to welcome the god of wisdom.
Children and adults alike were dressed in finery and flocking to buy the best Ganesh idol. Women in colourful sarees were busy minding the durva,' aarti thaali' and all the accessories required to welcome the deity home.
The city streets wore a crowded look till late in the evening as the processions of smaller mandals continued. Areas near the Pune municipal corporation and Sarasbaug were particularly crowded as many idol makers had put up their stalls at these places.
The 10 day Ganapati festival in Maharashtra starts on the Vinayaga Chaturthi Day when the public welcome the Lord in a grand manner. Here is a report on how Ganapati was welcomed in Pune.
The foot-tapping rhythm of drums, tasha' and cymbals and chants of Ganapati Bappa Morya resounded throughout the city on Saturday the 11th Sep 2010 as Puneites welcomed Lord Ganapati into their homes, societies and mandals on the first day of the Ganesh festival.
The festivities started in the morning with the processions and consecration of the five important Ganapatis, Kasba Ganapati, Tambdi Jogeshwari, Guruji Talim, Tulshibaug and Kesariwada. Students from 20 countries, giving the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the whole world is one family), participated in the procession of Kasba Ganapati, which was also accompanied by the Prabhat brass band and a team of drummers of the Samartha Pratishthan.
The Tambdi Jogeshwari procession was accompanied by Nagara players, New Gandharva brass band and drummers of Shivmudra. The drummers of Shivgarjana, attired in white salwar-kurtas and red bandhani phetas, accompanying Guruji Talim mandal, caught the eye with their performance.
When the procession reached Bajirao road, there was an impromptu jugalbandi' between the Shivgarjana team and the Samartha Pratishthan team accompanying the Jilbya Maruti mandal. This interesting duel continued for about 20 minutes before both the mandals moved ahead, mindful of the traffic jam on Bajirao road and Laxmi road.
The consecration of the famous Dagdusheth Ganapati took place at 11 am and devotees thronged the pandal for the darshan' of the jewellery-decked idol.
As the day progressed and consecration of household Ganapatis was completed, members of other public Ganesh mandals started preparations for their processions in the respective areas. trucks decorated with flowers were kept ready along with brass band teams and drummers to welcome the god of wisdom.
Children and adults alike were dressed in finery and flocking to buy the best Ganesh idol. Women in colourful sarees were busy minding the durva,' aarti thaali' and all the accessories required to welcome the deity home.
The city streets wore a crowded look till late in the evening as the processions of smaller mandals continued. Areas near the Pune municipal corporation and Sarasbaug were particularly crowded as many idol makers had put up their stalls at these places.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Maharashtra and Vinayagar- Part 1
15 9 10
We all know that Ganesh Chathurthi is celebrated in a grand manner in Maharashtra. Some details on how it all started ....
n 1894, as a protest to a law passed by the British that prohibited Indians from gathering in public places, noted leader of the Indian Freedom struggle, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, initiated a drive to convert the worship of Lord Ganesha as a large scale public event.
What began as an endeavor to propagate a feeling of unity among citizens has now transformed itself into a massive cultural and social affair. Ganesh Chaturthi is singularly the most important religious festival for the whole of Maharashtra. Meticulously decorated pandals with mock ups of places of historical importance, or depicting religious themes or contemporary events mushroom all over the city where devotees throng to pay homage to the Elephant God.
The more mellowed down version of the same involves the head of the family doing a puja within the premises of the residence itself, with other family members in attendance. A popular food preparation during the time of Ganesha Chaturthi is Modak — rice dumpling stuffed with coconut, dry fruits, jaggery, etc. A number of cultural events involving song and dance, dramas, are organized alongside events with a social cause, such as blood donation camps, free medical check ups, etc. On the eleventh day, serpentine processions carry the idol for immersion—a ceremony known as ‘Visarjan’—chanting the name of the Lord and inviting him to arrive early the next year.
We all know that Ganesh Chathurthi is celebrated in a grand manner in Maharashtra. Some details on how it all started ....
n 1894, as a protest to a law passed by the British that prohibited Indians from gathering in public places, noted leader of the Indian Freedom struggle, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, initiated a drive to convert the worship of Lord Ganesha as a large scale public event.
What began as an endeavor to propagate a feeling of unity among citizens has now transformed itself into a massive cultural and social affair. Ganesh Chaturthi is singularly the most important religious festival for the whole of Maharashtra. Meticulously decorated pandals with mock ups of places of historical importance, or depicting religious themes or contemporary events mushroom all over the city where devotees throng to pay homage to the Elephant God.
The more mellowed down version of the same involves the head of the family doing a puja within the premises of the residence itself, with other family members in attendance. A popular food preparation during the time of Ganesha Chaturthi is Modak — rice dumpling stuffed with coconut, dry fruits, jaggery, etc. A number of cultural events involving song and dance, dramas, are organized alongside events with a social cause, such as blood donation camps, free medical check ups, etc. On the eleventh day, serpentine processions carry the idol for immersion—a ceremony known as ‘Visarjan’—chanting the name of the Lord and inviting him to arrive early the next year.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Chennai Airport Improvements
9 9 10
I came to Pune on 6th Sep night by air.
When I entered the Chennai Airport on that day to take the flight to Pune, I could not believe my eyes. Though I was a frequent flyer before my retirement in 2004, I would have gone to Chennai airport only on a few occasions after 2004.Everytime I went there, I could see some developments taking place. This time however, there was a marked improvement and the airport has become very big ( compared to what it was six years back )
In those days,I remember that after getting out of the car just at the entrance gate, I had to walk only a few meters to the check in counter. On Monday, I had to walk for more than 5 mins to reach the check in counter! The waiting lounge has also undergone a vast change and I was wondering whether it was the same airport that I used to visit in those days.
The other improvement I could notice was in the operations side. Effective 1st Sep.,various steps for ontime departure of the flights have been introduced at Chennai airport- like passengers should report two hours prior to the sch dep time., the check in counter should be closed half an hour before the dep time,boarding should be completed before 15 mins etc- so that the flight can take off on time. Earlier, there used to be no discipline in adhering to the time schedules, as a result almost all the flights used to take off 10/15 mins behind schedule ,thus affecting the subsequent flights at the departing as well as at the destination airport.
The new initiative is a welcome one.In the 90 mins that I was at the airport, I could see that almost all the flights ( 7/8 ) took off on time. My flight in fact took off 5 mins earlier to the scheduled dep time !
On the minus side, earlier I used to take a cup of steaming coffee for Rs 5/- inside the airport.Now it has gone up by 5 times. May be a part of the cost of development is recovered this way !!
I came to Pune on 6th Sep night by air.
When I entered the Chennai Airport on that day to take the flight to Pune, I could not believe my eyes. Though I was a frequent flyer before my retirement in 2004, I would have gone to Chennai airport only on a few occasions after 2004.Everytime I went there, I could see some developments taking place. This time however, there was a marked improvement and the airport has become very big ( compared to what it was six years back )
In those days,I remember that after getting out of the car just at the entrance gate, I had to walk only a few meters to the check in counter. On Monday, I had to walk for more than 5 mins to reach the check in counter! The waiting lounge has also undergone a vast change and I was wondering whether it was the same airport that I used to visit in those days.
The other improvement I could notice was in the operations side. Effective 1st Sep.,various steps for ontime departure of the flights have been introduced at Chennai airport- like passengers should report two hours prior to the sch dep time., the check in counter should be closed half an hour before the dep time,boarding should be completed before 15 mins etc- so that the flight can take off on time. Earlier, there used to be no discipline in adhering to the time schedules, as a result almost all the flights used to take off 10/15 mins behind schedule ,thus affecting the subsequent flights at the departing as well as at the destination airport.
The new initiative is a welcome one.In the 90 mins that I was at the airport, I could see that almost all the flights ( 7/8 ) took off on time. My flight in fact took off 5 mins earlier to the scheduled dep time !
On the minus side, earlier I used to take a cup of steaming coffee for Rs 5/- inside the airport.Now it has gone up by 5 times. May be a part of the cost of development is recovered this way !!
Sunday, August 08, 2010
சந்தோஷம் என்பது என்ன ?
8 8 2010
சந்தோஷம் என்பது என்ன ?
1. குழந்தையை மடியில் வைத்திருக்கும் போது அது தன் பிஞ்சு கால்களை அப்படி இப்படி ஆட்டும் போது, அதன் மென்மையான மலர் பாதங்கள் நம் மீது படும் போது ஏற்படும் சிலிர்ப்பா ?
2. 2 (அ) 3 செ. மீ நீளமே உள்ள அதன் பூ விரல்களால் நம் விரல்களை பிடித்துக்கொள்ளும் போது ஏற்படும் உவகையா ?
3. Vijai TV Super Singer 3 ன் selection round ன் முதல் சுற்றிலேயே qualify ஆக முடியாத நம் பாட்டை கேட்டு சொக்கி (!) நம் மடியிலேயே அழகாக தூங்குகிறதே அந்த ஆனந்தமா ?
4. தனக்கு தெரிந்த மொழியில் ஆ, இ, உ என பேசி, தன் தேவையை ( பசியா, தூக்கமா, Jatti ஐ மாற்ற வேண்டுமா ) தெரிவிக்கும் அதன் அறிவை கண்டு வியக்கும் போதா ?
5. குழந்தையை மடியில் வைத்திருக்கும் போது அது நம் மேல் urine போய் விட்டு, ஒரு சிரிப்பு சிரிக்குமே, அந்த கள்ளமில்லா சிரிப்பை காணும் போதா ?
6. அழுது கொண்டிருக்கும் குழந்தையை நாம் தூக்கி கொண்டதும் அதன் அழுகை மறைந்து, நம் support கிடைத்து விட்டது என்ற நிம்மதியில் நம்மை பார்த்து சிரிக்குமே அந்த சிரிப்பிலா ?
7. சமயத்தில் நமக்கு சமமாக பேசி நம்மை திக்குமுக்காட வைக்கும் அதன் திறமையை
காணும் போதா ?
என்னை கேட்டால் , இந்த ஏழுமே மிக பெரிய சந்தோஷம் தான்.
சந்தோஷம் என்பது என்ன ?
1. குழந்தையை மடியில் வைத்திருக்கும் போது அது தன் பிஞ்சு கால்களை அப்படி இப்படி ஆட்டும் போது, அதன் மென்மையான மலர் பாதங்கள் நம் மீது படும் போது ஏற்படும் சிலிர்ப்பா ?
2. 2 (அ) 3 செ. மீ நீளமே உள்ள அதன் பூ விரல்களால் நம் விரல்களை பிடித்துக்கொள்ளும் போது ஏற்படும் உவகையா ?
3. Vijai TV Super Singer 3 ன் selection round ன் முதல் சுற்றிலேயே qualify ஆக முடியாத நம் பாட்டை கேட்டு சொக்கி (!) நம் மடியிலேயே அழகாக தூங்குகிறதே அந்த ஆனந்தமா ?
4. தனக்கு தெரிந்த மொழியில் ஆ, இ, உ என பேசி, தன் தேவையை ( பசியா, தூக்கமா, Jatti ஐ மாற்ற வேண்டுமா ) தெரிவிக்கும் அதன் அறிவை கண்டு வியக்கும் போதா ?
5. குழந்தையை மடியில் வைத்திருக்கும் போது அது நம் மேல் urine போய் விட்டு, ஒரு சிரிப்பு சிரிக்குமே, அந்த கள்ளமில்லா சிரிப்பை காணும் போதா ?
6. அழுது கொண்டிருக்கும் குழந்தையை நாம் தூக்கி கொண்டதும் அதன் அழுகை மறைந்து, நம் support கிடைத்து விட்டது என்ற நிம்மதியில் நம்மை பார்த்து சிரிக்குமே அந்த சிரிப்பிலா ?
7. சமயத்தில் நமக்கு சமமாக பேசி நம்மை திக்குமுக்காட வைக்கும் அதன் திறமையை
காணும் போதா ?
என்னை கேட்டால் , இந்த ஏழுமே மிக பெரிய சந்தோஷம் தான்.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Garib Rath Chennai to Delhi
19 7 10
When I decided to book my ticket to Delhi, I had a lot of choices. To fly, to travel by the popular Tamilnadu or GT Express, or to choose the prestigious Rajdhani Exp ( R in short) or the Duronto Exp( D in short ) the new train introduced by Mamta or the Garib rath( G in short )
As the airfare was over Rs 4000 one way, I decided to travel by train. Since I have already travelled by all other trains ( in same sector or in some other sector ), this time I decided to check out the G .
G is a service introduced by Laloo Prasad in 2005 , mainly for the middle class to enable them travel in AC comfort on long journeys. It was a very good idea and became a very popular train in no time.
R and D are also basically AC trains and these three trains are the fastest between Chennai and Delhi, covering the distance of 2176 KM's in 28 hrs and 10 mins. ( TN Exp takes about 33 hrs and GT about 36 hrs.). But the difference lies in the Fare. For R and D, you will have to pay Rs 2000 for Chennai- Delhi for 3 tier AC sleeper whereas it is only Rs 892 in Garib Rath. Same distance, Same comfort ,but less than half the fare. Isn't it a good deal ?
What are the differences ?
In R & D , the breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee/tea , snacks and water are served free. The bedding is free. You get a newspaper free . In G the bedding is provided at Rs 25 extra. ( I found many people carried their own bedding and did not avail of this facility). You will have to pay extra for the meals, water, paper etc. But you get all the items sitting in your seat.
For a person like me who prefers home food always, it did not matter whether the food is served free or on cost. So, all I had to spend extra was Rs 25 for the bedding ( I did not want to carry too many luggages ), Rs 6 for the newspaper and Rs 15 for three cups of coffee.
The journey ( left Chennai on 17th mor at 6 10 am reaching Delhi yesterday mor at 10 30 am. ) was quite comfortable.The temp was maintained well and it was pleasantly cool all thro. The train was running to time from Chennai to Delhi and arrived at Delhi just 10 mins behind sch ( waited in the outer for the platform to become ready ). There were no unwanted visitiors in the compartment, water for the toilet was availble from the beginning to the end of the journey.
The minus points were - the maintenance of the toilets were very poor and in many toilets, the latches were not working properly. The compartment was not cleaned anywhere enroute. ( Usually in TN or GT, small boys will wipe the floor clean and get a few rupees given voluntarily by the passengers).
But overall, it was a comfortable journey at a much reduced fare.
P.S The senoir citizens do not get the 30% concession in G ( since the fare itself is low )
Next time you have an opportunity, travel by G . It is time saving and money saving.
When I decided to book my ticket to Delhi, I had a lot of choices. To fly, to travel by the popular Tamilnadu or GT Express, or to choose the prestigious Rajdhani Exp ( R in short) or the Duronto Exp( D in short ) the new train introduced by Mamta or the Garib rath( G in short )
As the airfare was over Rs 4000 one way, I decided to travel by train. Since I have already travelled by all other trains ( in same sector or in some other sector ), this time I decided to check out the G .
G is a service introduced by Laloo Prasad in 2005 , mainly for the middle class to enable them travel in AC comfort on long journeys. It was a very good idea and became a very popular train in no time.
R and D are also basically AC trains and these three trains are the fastest between Chennai and Delhi, covering the distance of 2176 KM's in 28 hrs and 10 mins. ( TN Exp takes about 33 hrs and GT about 36 hrs.). But the difference lies in the Fare. For R and D, you will have to pay Rs 2000 for Chennai- Delhi for 3 tier AC sleeper whereas it is only Rs 892 in Garib Rath. Same distance, Same comfort ,but less than half the fare. Isn't it a good deal ?
What are the differences ?
In R & D , the breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee/tea , snacks and water are served free. The bedding is free. You get a newspaper free . In G the bedding is provided at Rs 25 extra. ( I found many people carried their own bedding and did not avail of this facility). You will have to pay extra for the meals, water, paper etc. But you get all the items sitting in your seat.
For a person like me who prefers home food always, it did not matter whether the food is served free or on cost. So, all I had to spend extra was Rs 25 for the bedding ( I did not want to carry too many luggages ), Rs 6 for the newspaper and Rs 15 for three cups of coffee.
The journey ( left Chennai on 17th mor at 6 10 am reaching Delhi yesterday mor at 10 30 am. ) was quite comfortable.The temp was maintained well and it was pleasantly cool all thro. The train was running to time from Chennai to Delhi and arrived at Delhi just 10 mins behind sch ( waited in the outer for the platform to become ready ). There were no unwanted visitiors in the compartment, water for the toilet was availble from the beginning to the end of the journey.
The minus points were - the maintenance of the toilets were very poor and in many toilets, the latches were not working properly. The compartment was not cleaned anywhere enroute. ( Usually in TN or GT, small boys will wipe the floor clean and get a few rupees given voluntarily by the passengers).
But overall, it was a comfortable journey at a much reduced fare.
P.S The senoir citizens do not get the 30% concession in G ( since the fare itself is low )
Next time you have an opportunity, travel by G . It is time saving and money saving.
Friday, July 02, 2010
Sports in school.
I go to Hindu Sr Sec school Adyar everyday in the evening to bring Dhanush home.
The school has over 2000 students studying from LKG to Plus 2. This school is one of the very few schools in Chennai with a big playing ground. It has two big Cricket nets, one basket ball court , one throw ball court and one volleyball court, apart from a huge open ground for athletes sports and which can be doubled up for a football or Cricket ground.
I generally stay there for about 45 mins till Dhanush says Ok to leave after playing with his friends and I observe that not many students are keen in utilising the excellent facility of playing. Within 10 mins of school closing, more than 1600 students will leave for their home. About 200/250 students will be whiling away sometime eating snacks and chitchatting with their friends before they also return home. There will be about 25/30 students practising Basketball, about 10/15 girls practising throw ball and about 100 students of smaller classes ( including Dhanush ) running around the ground and playing merrily with their friends.
I do not know why the majority of students skip the opportunity of some physical exercise. Is it because of the study load or general lack of interest or lack of encouragement from school / parents?
This again throws some light on why India is not shining in most of the sports inspite of more than 120 cr population.
The school has over 2000 students studying from LKG to Plus 2. This school is one of the very few schools in Chennai with a big playing ground. It has two big Cricket nets, one basket ball court , one throw ball court and one volleyball court, apart from a huge open ground for athletes sports and which can be doubled up for a football or Cricket ground.
I generally stay there for about 45 mins till Dhanush says Ok to leave after playing with his friends and I observe that not many students are keen in utilising the excellent facility of playing. Within 10 mins of school closing, more than 1600 students will leave for their home. About 200/250 students will be whiling away sometime eating snacks and chitchatting with their friends before they also return home. There will be about 25/30 students practising Basketball, about 10/15 girls practising throw ball and about 100 students of smaller classes ( including Dhanush ) running around the ground and playing merrily with their friends.
I do not know why the majority of students skip the opportunity of some physical exercise. Is it because of the study load or general lack of interest or lack of encouragement from school / parents?
This again throws some light on why India is not shining in most of the sports inspite of more than 120 cr population.
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Wrapping the school notes
2nd June 2010
Recently, Sudha was busy wrapping the notebooks and books of Dhanush. As I was seeing the act, my memories went back to my school days.
In those days, the newspaper used to be the main source of wrapper. The earlier year's calender papers( and many times the same year's calender papers also !) served the purpose.After wrapping, we used சாதம் for pasting the edges ! Then we used to cut white papers with scissors into shapes of rectangle, diamond etc to use them as labels.
Now a days, the children get laminated brown sheets for wrappers and cello tape is very handy for pasting the edges. Transparent plastic sheets are also available which are used for covering the text books. And you get self sticking labels with attractive cartoons or simply with the school name printed . All of these make the job of wrapping very easy and once the work is over, the books and notebooks present an excellent look and highly tempting to use them !
I understand that some schools supply ready cut wrappers to suit a notebook. All you have to do is to wrap it and remove the paper covering the gummed edges and stick the wrapper to the notebook. The job is over in less than a minute !!
Some people take the part time job of wrapping the books and notebooks (in the month of May ) at Rs 5/ per notebook or book. With both the parents going for jobs in many families, naturally there is a heavy demand for such persons . A thriving business indeed .
In my days, We had to go to shops and buy the note books and books ourselves. Many a times, a shop will not have stock and we may have to visit a no of shops or a no of times to get a book. Sometimes we might have to request our relatives at Chennai to buy the book and send it to us. Now a days, the school takes the responsibility and all you have to do is to remit the cost to the school and take delivery of the notebooks and books on the appointed day.
This is a win win situation for both the students and the school. The student gets the notebooks and books at a reasonable rate and without having to runaround for purchasing the same. The school is benefited that it will get commission for all the purchases from the notebook printers and the book publishers. And this is classic example of how we can benefit by avoiding the middleman.
Recently, Sudha was busy wrapping the notebooks and books of Dhanush. As I was seeing the act, my memories went back to my school days.
In those days, the newspaper used to be the main source of wrapper. The earlier year's calender papers( and many times the same year's calender papers also !) served the purpose.After wrapping, we used சாதம் for pasting the edges ! Then we used to cut white papers with scissors into shapes of rectangle, diamond etc to use them as labels.
Now a days, the children get laminated brown sheets for wrappers and cello tape is very handy for pasting the edges. Transparent plastic sheets are also available which are used for covering the text books. And you get self sticking labels with attractive cartoons or simply with the school name printed . All of these make the job of wrapping very easy and once the work is over, the books and notebooks present an excellent look and highly tempting to use them !
I understand that some schools supply ready cut wrappers to suit a notebook. All you have to do is to wrap it and remove the paper covering the gummed edges and stick the wrapper to the notebook. The job is over in less than a minute !!
Some people take the part time job of wrapping the books and notebooks (in the month of May ) at Rs 5/ per notebook or book. With both the parents going for jobs in many families, naturally there is a heavy demand for such persons . A thriving business indeed .
In my days, We had to go to shops and buy the note books and books ourselves. Many a times, a shop will not have stock and we may have to visit a no of shops or a no of times to get a book. Sometimes we might have to request our relatives at Chennai to buy the book and send it to us. Now a days, the school takes the responsibility and all you have to do is to remit the cost to the school and take delivery of the notebooks and books on the appointed day.
This is a win win situation for both the students and the school. The student gets the notebooks and books at a reasonable rate and without having to runaround for purchasing the same. The school is benefited that it will get commission for all the purchases from the notebook printers and the book publishers. And this is classic example of how we can benefit by avoiding the middleman.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Telephone contact/ Personal Visit
2nd June 2010
"If everyone goes through the log on their mobile, I am sure everyone must be speaking for about a minimum of 30 min a day (I am using my mobile for about 120 min a day !!!). But still we are feeling that there is lack of communication within family"
This is an excerpt from Vasu's recent mail. It is true that most of us do not talk to others in the family as frequently as we would like . You ask anybody why they are not talking , inspite of telephone tariff coming down so steeply, the ready answer we would get is that " I don't have time ". Everybody , including the person making that excuse knows fully well that it is a lame excuse.
The real reason is that everybody has his/her own priorities and they stick to it. A person may talk 100 times with person X in the family but not even once with person Y. Because he thinks that Y is not important enough to talk to.
Same is the case with persons visiting a place. "A" may visit a place "B" but he/she will not meet / talk to others living in the city. It is definitely not the question of time since during the visit, "A" might have visited a no of persons and might have gone to a no of places. Only that the person does not have time to visit the family members. What does that mean ? The person simply thinks that the persons he is not visiting are not important enough to visit.
And so how do we take it ? I follow this policy . பேசினால் / வந்தால் சந்தோஷம், பேசவில்லையா / வரவில்லையா OK., என்ன நான் சொல்றது? Correct தானே ?
"If everyone goes through the log on their mobile, I am sure everyone must be speaking for about a minimum of 30 min a day (I am using my mobile for about 120 min a day !!!). But still we are feeling that there is lack of communication within family"
This is an excerpt from Vasu's recent mail. It is true that most of us do not talk to others in the family as frequently as we would like . You ask anybody why they are not talking , inspite of telephone tariff coming down so steeply, the ready answer we would get is that " I don't have time ". Everybody , including the person making that excuse knows fully well that it is a lame excuse.
The real reason is that everybody has his/her own priorities and they stick to it. A person may talk 100 times with person X in the family but not even once with person Y. Because he thinks that Y is not important enough to talk to.
Same is the case with persons visiting a place. "A" may visit a place "B" but he/she will not meet / talk to others living in the city. It is definitely not the question of time since during the visit, "A" might have visited a no of persons and might have gone to a no of places. Only that the person does not have time to visit the family members. What does that mean ? The person simply thinks that the persons he is not visiting are not important enough to visit.
And so how do we take it ? I follow this policy . பேசினால் / வந்தால் சந்தோஷம், பேசவில்லையா / வரவில்லையா OK., என்ன நான் சொல்றது? Correct தானே ?
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