Nelson Mandela

 Nelson Mandela passed away. South Africa's previous president and apartheid fighter and Nobel prize winner has passed away. South Africans must be feeling very sad by the loss of their beloved leader.
          Born in Thembu royal family, he studied law and participated in anti colonial politics, joined the ANC.
Internationally Mandela was the joined Secretary General of the Non Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.
          Mandela served in prison for 27 years. Initially he was in Robben Island, after that Pollsmoor prison, and last in Victor Verster Prison. He was released in 1990 after the international campaign lobby. He was elected as president in 1994. He was the first black president of South Africa. He was in power as president till 1998.
          He received Nobel prize, US Presidential medal for freedom, Soviet's Order of Lenin and Bharat Ratna. He was loved by not only his country people but by the whole world. He was referred by his country people as "Madiba"(his clan name) or "Tata". Tata means Father. He was also referred as South Africa's Gandhi.
         

 

He led the peaceful transition from white only rule. He was anti apartheid icon. Let us mourn for his demise. Even  though he passed away he will remembered for his anti apartheid movements. Let us salute the great leader.

Bomb blasts at Patna

Serial blasts rock Patna in and around the prime minister candidate Mr.Modi's mega rally. The blasts took place shortly before his speech. More than 90 people injured and 5 innocent people lost their lives. The explosions took place between 9.30 am to 12.45 pm in which timers also used.
All the political leaders expressed their shock and condemned the people who were behind the explosions.
Why people using such terrorist activities? They are killing innocent people by these activities.
Bihar CM said, "it is very worrying" and it appeared to be a "deliberate attempt" to vitiate the atmosphere in the state.
President asked the nation to remain calm. Sonia Gandhi and prime minister expressed their shock.
The people should remain calm and help the police to identify the terrorists.

When terrorist stop these type of activities? By such type of activities what they are going to gain? They will gain only hatredness. Instead of such activities, they must approach the problem with warm heart so that they will gain people' support and by that they will attain the goal.




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Navaratri

October 5- October 14 was celebrated all over India as Navaratri festival. People in different parts of the country celebrate these 9 days in different ways. On the 10th day it was celebrated as Vijayadasami, when people will send their small ones to the school for the first time. Vijayadasami is an auspicious day to start learning a new concept.

Each state celebrate Navaratri in little different way.
Tamil Nadu: Dravidian state Tamil Nadu celebrates in different way by keeping 'Golu'. Women those who are keeping Golu invite other ladies in the neighborhood in the evening and gift them  'mangala porutgal' (coconut, beetle leaves, manjal and kumkum) along with some more gift. They will give 'sundal' as prasadam.

Phailin-cyclone that hits India

Cyclone Phailin was the worst ever cyclone that hits India in 14 years. More than lakh people had been evacuated and lakhs of homes damaged and the loss for the state government is more than 2000 crores.  Hats of to Odisha Government and Central Government as the valuable lives have been saved by the immediate actions taken by them. 24 people have feared dead but it was a strike contrast to 10000 deaths when a deadly cyclone hits the same state in 1999's. The minimized death toll is because of  the precautions taken by the state government. More than 9 lakh people had been evacuated, the largest in recent history.
        A cargo ship was sunk in the rough sea, lots of people have been rendered homeless, crops are under water.  But that can be managed as we, people of India join hands with the governments in the rescue opertations.

                     The truck driver is helplessly seeing the trucks condition which were hit by the cyclone.

                                                    The damage caused by Phailin.

                                               More than 9 lakh people rendered homeless.

                                         Most part of the district were heavy flooded due to the heavy rain.

Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's is a neurological disease occurs mostly above the age of 60, but some have earlier onset of the disease before the age of 50 itself.
It changes the person's personality completely different. Along with the physical ailment the mental status is also totally affected. They lose their confident level and they are unwilling to cooperate for the treatment also.
It is difficult to see how our dear ones are suffering. It is really very sad to see how they are suffering due to the physical ailment or lack of movement of their limbs.
Even though we are giving good medical treatment, we couldn't boost them up psychologically.
I need help regarding this, Please can any one suggest how we can boost up them psychologically.

Anger- Vethathiri Maharishi's view

Anger is the character which spoils one's happiness. Great sages like Thurvasar and Vishvamithirar lost their power because of their anger.

Vethathiri Maharishi's view:
When we can't get what we wish, or when we face obstacle we get anger. If the anger is not shown properly then it became as vengeance. When one can not express his anger it become as sorrow.
If we forgive the person, who makes us angry, then that anger wont become as vengeance.
But we can not be polite in all places and with all other persons. For example we have to show our anger when the servants are not doing the work properly. Or when our children are doing something wrong, we should be angry upon them. We have to show our anger to them, but it should not affect our health. That means we have to act as if we are angry about their deed, but it should not be the real anger.

A thought

For the past years whenever  we switch on the tv or open the morning news papers, we used to see 'Bomb blast in India, blast in Pakistan, Suicidal attack in USA, Terrorist activity in Kenya" like this. People killing each other in the name of religion, country, caste and so on. 

For the past few days terrorists are attacking a mall in Kenya, in protest against some countries. Not only that some tech terrorists are attacking the net works of their enemy countries and hack their enemies websites, causing the industries or institutions a lot of official and economical damage.

Some people are threatening with bio weapons.

Not only terrorist activities, violence against women are also very common.

Why human who are so proud that they are having sixth sense who are above the animals behaving like this. 

We are not seeing animals having vengeance against the same species. They are not planning to kill their same species. 

But We the human beings, the so called civilized people, are planning, to kill our fellow human beings. Why we don't have the love, affection, humanity towards other human beings. Why we are always trying to cheat other people?

Those who are planning the terrorist activities in the name of religion, not thinking that all the religions are preaching about  love, tolerance, and humanity.

When the day will come when we open the morning news paper we are not seeing a single episode of violent activities?  In my dream I am always dreaming of that golden day when people are treating others with love, respect and humanity. Hope the day will come soon. 

Vekkaliamman -Woraiyur

The second temple I visited last month was Arulmigu Vekkaliamman temple.

This is one of the temples I like to go when ever I get a chance to visit Tiruchirappalli. Some how the I am attracted to this deity, and I feel very light hearted when I am in front of the Amman.
This is also one of the ancient temples in Tiruchirappalli.
The main aspect of this temple is there is no roof for the main sanctum where Devi statue is situated.
Another main aspect of this temple is 'prayer papers'. The devotees write their problems on the prayer paper which are sold at the temple, place the prayer paper on the feet of the Goddess and hung them on the Trishul in front of the Amman statue. It is a belief that  once a devotee had done this, then his/her problem will be taken care of and he/she will be relieved from the problem.

History of this temples falls in the Chola period for whom Woraiyur was the capital. The people living nearby considering this Amman as one of the guardian deity.

The roof of the main sanctum was constructed many times, but it is believed to be burnt by the Amman itself. Also the position of leg of the Amman also different from other Sakthi Sthals. It shows the energy level of the Amman.

The temple facing north, which is consider to provide victory, so the Chola kings used to offer prayers before proceeding to the battle field.

May the Goddess eradicate the evil and protect the good ones.

Thiruvanaikaval kovil-Akilandeswari with Jambukeshwarar

Last month I visited two temples at Tiruchirappalli, both are very ancient temples.

The first one is  Jambukeshwarar - Akilandeswari temple.  The temple is in Thiruvanaikaval which is just 3 km away from another very famous and ancient temple for God Vishnu, Srirangam. These two temples located on an island formed by river Cauvery.

History of the temple:
Once Devi Parvathy was making fun of Lord Siva about his penance for the betterment of human being. So Lord Shiva sent Parvathi to earth from Kailash as a punishment. She came to Thiruvanikaval and made a lingam with sand in the river Cauvery(Ponny) and worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva at last gave dharshan to  Parvathy and gave her updesa. So this temple is one of the Updesa temples.
This place is one of the pancha boothas -water.

As Parvathy worshipped shiva at this place even now the pandit who is doing poojas at the Amman temple(archagar) dresses like woman and do pooja to KoMatha(cow) and Lord shiva. This is a very famous ritual at this temple every day.

Priest is doing ko pooja dressing like a woman

The name for Thiru-Aanai-kaa

Two shiva ganas (Shiva's deciples) Malyavan and Pushpandanta were always fighting for one thing or other. During one fight Malyavan cursed Pushpandanta to become as an elephant and the later cursed the Malyavan to become as a spider.

So they came to Jambukeshwaram in the form of elephant and spider and started worshiping Lord Shiva. Daily the elephant brought water from river Cauvery and do abishekam to the lingam. The spider spun the web to protect the lingam from sun light and prevent the dry leaves falling on the lingam. But in the morning the elephant saw the web and destroy that thinking that is a dust, and cleaned the lingam by pouring water as abishekam. This happened for some days and one day the spider got angry and crawled to the elephant's trunk and bit the elephant till death by killing it self . Since the elephant(aanai) worshiped this holy(thiru) place which situated in the forest (kaa), this place is called as Thiru aanai kaa or Thiruvanaikaval.

In the next birth the spider born as Chola king (Chengot) and built 70 Shiva temples and this temple is one among them. Remembering his enmity with the elephant the king built the main sanctorum for Lord shiva in such a way that not even a small elephant can enter that sanctorum. 

Jambukeshwaram:

The another name for this place Jambukeshwaram and the God is known as Jambukeshwarar. The reason for this name is another myth.

Once Sage Jambu munivar got a very rare white jamun fruit and offered to Lord Shiva. Shiva ate that and spit the seed. The Jambu Munivar ate that seed as it came from the God, and one tree was started growing on head.  The sage prayed to Lord that he should take his abode under that tree. After some time Parvathy Devi came to earth and built a lingam under that tree and Lord Shiva take his abode under the same tree. So this place known as Jambukeshwaram. 

Gokulashtami

Today is Gokulashtami. Birth day of Lord Krishna. Krishana was born in Mathura, for Devaki and Vasudeva to kill his uncle Kansa who was known for his cruel deeds . After birth he was taken to Gokulam, by his father to be brought up in the safe hands of Nanda and Yasoda.

The reason for that was Kansa was killing all of Devakis' children immediately after birth by believing the prophesy  that Devaki's 8th son will kill Kansa.

Krishna grew up in Gokulam along with his brother Balaram and returned to Madura to kill his uncle with the aid of his brother.

Celebrations:
Hindus celebrate Gokulashtami or Janmashtami by fasting and staying up till midnight(When Krishna was believed  to be born inside the jail). After midnight devotees share sweets and sing devotional songs. In some temples Bhagavat Gita will be read by Pandits.

In Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai and Pune Krishnashtami or Gokulashtami is known as Dahi Hundi celebrated with great enthusiasm. During his early child hood Krishna believed to take the butter and butter from the pots which were hung high by the Gokulam ladies. As the remembrance of that incidents young people form human pyramid to break the earthen pots(by the top most person) which contains buttermilk.    

In Manipur it is one of the most significant festival celebrated in two temples.

In Uttarpredesh where many places which are associated with Lord Krishna, like Mathura, Gokulam and Virindavan this festival is celebrated with great zeal. People from all over India came here to celebrate this festival at the birth place.

In Dwaraka(Gujarat) where Lord Krishna was believed to establish his kingdom, it is celebrated by visiting Dwarakadish temple.

In Odissa, Puri and West Bengal it is celebrated by fasting and reciting Bagavat Geeta.

In Kashmir during this day kite flying is one of the important occasion.

People all over India celebrate Krishnashtami with great enthusiasm, and most people go to ISCON Temples to celebrate this day.

Mother Teresa

Yesterday(26th August) was The great woman Mother Teresa's birth day.
"By blood I am Albanian. By citizenship I am Indian. By faith I am a catholic nun."
Even though she was small built, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, was entrusted with the proclaiming God's love of humanity, especially the poor people. She was a soul filled with love for Christ. Her original name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She lost her father at her early age, but brought up by her mother with love and care. She left her home at the age of eighteen to join the nunnery. She received education and was sent to India to teach. Her name was changed as Teresa and she was decided to help the poor in India. Mother Teresa and her helpers built homes for orphans, nursing homes for lepers, and hospitals for the terminally ill people. Her missionary was spread all over the world and help poured from the people all over the world.

She was awarded Padmashri Award by the Indian Government in 1962 and was awarded Nobel peace prize in 1979.

During the last years of her life, despite her poor health Mother Teresa continued to govern her missionaries which includes 4000 sisters spread over 123 countries with 610 foundations and respond to the needs of the poor and the church.

On September 5 1997, her earthly life came to an end. By late 2003 she was beatified, third step towards sainthood.

I hope I could follow at least 5%  of her love to the poor, service to the poor. 

Post which is so touchy

While I was going through face book, I saw one of my friend's post which is so touchy, I wanted to share here. I am writing this in my friends words.


"I was walking around in a Big Bazar store shopping, when I saw a Cashier talking to a boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years old..

The Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll. Then the little boy turned to the cashier and asked: are you sure I don't have enough money?''

The cashier counted his cash once again and replied: ''You know that you don't have enough money to buy the doll, my dear.'' The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.

Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. 'It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much . I wanted to Gift her for her BIRTHDAY.

I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.' His eyes were so sad while saying this. 'My Sister has gone to be with God.. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister...''

My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: 'I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.' Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me 'I want mommy to take my picture with her so my sister won't forget me.' 'I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.' Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly..

I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. 'Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?''

'OK' he said, 'I hope I do have enough.' I added some of my money to his with out him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.

The little boy said: 'Thank you God for giving me enough money!'

Then he looked at me and added, 'I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me!'' 'I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose. My mommy loves white roses.'

I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind.

Then I remembered a local news paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the news paper that the young woman had passed away.. I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial.

She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever...

The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

Please DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE."

Anger- damages it cause

This is the incident I read in a book about how anger damages one's live.

Father bought a new car, parked outside the house and went inside to call his wife. When both husband  and wife came out, the father saw that his child was scribbling something on the side of the new car. He got so wild that he stuck his child's hand with a stick. The blow was so strong that the child's finger got cut. Seeing that both the parents took the child to the nearest hospital. Since the traveling time is more between the house and hospital, the surgeon told the parents, they couldn't stitch back the finger, so the child lost one finger.
When the parents were allowed to see the child, the child asked the father, "Daddy, whether I will get back my finger?"  The father couldn't answer his child's question. He felt so bad  and left for home. After reaching home, he just gone near the new car, and saw the child's scribbling. The child had written on the side of the car, "Daddy, I love you". He started crying and just put his hand on the scribbling and saw that the letters were fading away. Then only he remembered that the car's paint was unscratchable.
He couldn't control his guilty feeling,  went inside and committed suicide.  The child lost both his father and finger.

This incident narrates us, how anger spoils one's life. This must teach every one of us what are the evil effects of anger.
The second lesson we learnt from this incident is, we should not end our life, for the mistake we did. We must live and face the damage, and try to rectify the life we changed.

Articles I read

Today  I read two ariticles in a Tamil magazine.  Eventhough it was a old magazine today only I had a chance to read those articles. The magazine name is 'Pudiya Thalaimurai'

The first one  is about the rescue work conducted by Indian army on Uttarakhand flood hit areas. The article described the situation at which the rescue work was conducted. The area is a hilly area, (the great Himalayas), due to the heavy flood the bridges were collapsed, roads were vanished. There is no proper route to reach the stranded people. But knowing that people are rendered homeless, without food and clean water for drinking, suffering by severe cold, the army people reached the suffering people (which is a himalayan task under that climatic situation) in minimum time, provided the people food and basic medicines and shifted them to the safest place. It was the one of the massive rescue work conducted by Indian army in the very bad climate. The army people least bothered about their life, (they lost choppers in the rescue work) saved more than 50,000 people. 

Hats off to the INDIAN ARMY.

The second one is about building a underground sand storage dam.  In Thiruvarur(Guruvadi village) the collecter had ordered to build a underground sand storage dam, which helps to improve the underground water level of that area.  The result is, the underground water level is increased to 5 feet.

In Tamil Nadu the underground water level is going down very drastically due to the very poor rain fall in the last year.  To improve the water level some measures has to be taken very urgently. Consulting agricultural department, water resource department, village administrative officers, the collecter had built this dam.' This is a starting one. Many such dams will follow ' says the officer.

It is a welcoming news, as frist step has been taken to preven the loss of underground water level.

The benefits of such dams are:

• The cost of building such dams are very less.
• There is no maintance cost for such dams.
• Since the dam is underground, evoparation of water is less.
• It can be build using sand and availabe cement storage bags.
• It is eco friendly.
• It helps to improve the underground water level.

Thanks to the magazine 'Pudiya Thalaimurai'.

Lakshmi Narasimhar temple, Parikkal and Bakthajaneswarar temple, Thirunavalur

On Tuesday my family visited the most famous and ancient temples near Villupuram.

The first one is Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Parikkal. Lord Narasimha is known for his anger, but here in this temple he is graceful, as both Swamy and Thayar are embracing each other. This is the only ancient Vaishnava temple in India, where both Swamy and Mother are embracing each other.

The devotees, those who are not having good health, for whom their debts are not returned by the borrowers, for those who are facing obstacles in marriage and those who are affected by black magic will come here pray the Lord.  It is a belief that their obstacles will be removed once they pray wholeheartedly at this sannithanam.
Devotees perform abishekam, once their wishes are fulfilled. They also offer vasithira(cloths) to the deities.  We feasted our eyes with the alankaram(decoration) on that day. Swamy and Thayar were looking like a newly married couple on that day. We couldn't express our feelings by words. The pattar (priest) who did the alankaram and archana did justice to his work.
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
History of the temple: The history falls back to 1800 years. It was built by Vasantharaja who ruled Viruthachalam. From the inscriptions on the wall we came to know about the contributions by Pallavaking Koperuchingan, Thiru puvanam Chakaravarthy Konerimai Kondan and Rajaraja Cholan. It was renovated by Pallava and Chola kings.


The second temple we visited on that day is Shiva temple at Thirunavalur. The name of the temple is Sri Bakthajaneswarar temple. This temple is just 2 to 4 km from Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar temple, Parikkal.

It is the birth place of one of the 63 Nayanar, Sundaramoorthy Nayanar.  It is one of the Thevara Shivasthalam. In this temple Lord Shiva is worshiped in the form of Linga. It is the temple for the star Pooradam.
The Ambal Manomani Thayar is very beautiful. It is belief that Ambal will fulfill the wishes of the devotees who prayed here wholeheartedly.
There is a separate Varadharaja Perumal Sannithi in the temple. 
We can see the inscriptions which denoted that the history of the temple falls back to 1000-2000 years. We can see the contribution by many kings.

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.  and 4.30 p.m to 8.00 p.m.
The sad point is the temple needs more fund for renovation and maintenance.

Contra climate in India

India is suffering by the contra climates in its regions.  One side, northern part Uttarkand is facing heavy rains and on the other hand southern part Tamil Nadu is suffering by drought.
So far over 15000 stranded in Kedarnath and Govindghat, and the death toll is 150. Rivers Ganga and Yamuna are flooding above their danger level.  Many people left homeless, many villages remain under water.
Army has been deployed for the rescue operation.

Contrarily Tamil Nadu is facing drought. With less rainfall in the past mansoons it is facing acute scarcity of water. One of the main reservoir Mettur dam is having less storage of water (lowest in the last 23 years). Due to this Kuruvai sagubady (cultivation of short time paddy crop) will be affected. Most of the districts which are benefited by river Kaveri are facing very acute shortage of even drinking water.  Underground water level is also reduced dangerously.

What is the solution for these conditions?

My town Namakkal

Namakkal is my native town which is situated in Tamilnadu, India.
 Spiritually it is famous for the Anjeneya  temple.

Lord Narasimha and Namagiri Thayar temple is also worth seeing. Namagiri Thayar and Narasimha swamy are very famous.  The temple is a ancient cave temple, in which Narasimha swamy is carved very beautifully in stone.
 
Industry wise it is famous for poultry and lorry building.

 Truck and lorry building started from 1956, is one of the most important industry in Namakkal.
 Historically Namakkal is famous for its fort .  The name Namakkal derived from the single rock in the center of the town.  Its historic value starts in the least  from 7th century. There is a fort on the top of the single rock which was built by Ramachandra Nayakar, who ruled Namakkal in the 16th century. Once it was captured by TippuSultan. He used this fort to escape from British rulers.