I thought that my welcome post to the new year will be my 100 th post.But like Tendulkar, whose disappointment has become the disapppointment of India in particular and the world at large,my posts have numbered just 98, missingthe land mark just by a whisker.One major diffrence however between me and Tendulkar is that there are not many who are disappointed and that includes me too!!
Coming back to the welcome message for the new year 2012, my memories go back to another of those nail biting moments of the yester year Viz 2010 decemeber, while we were having a count down for the arrival of the year 2011.
My son had just stepped into Hongkong and was enjoying the warmth and friendship of a dear host there, counting at the same time the days and hours for his stepping into another innings of his chosen career at HK Baptist university.My daughter was going thru one more dilemma(perhaps the last in the disturbing year 2010)as to whetherto proceed on a trip to US on an official visit or to call it quits, since her day of betrothal was encroaching on the project work that had been entrusted to her.(or vice versa)
As far as my self was concerned, i was counting days to my last full fledged balance sheet to be completed in time (as 2011 was my year of retirement in the capacity of an employee)and with out any major issues as things were not looking rosy then.Both on personal front and on official front there were anxieties, loose ends, unanswered questions and so on and so forth.There were also property matters hanging in balance to be attended to.
Then collectively we decided. We will march ahead. We will attend first to the duties and responsibilities and then look for rewards to flow through.Even if there were no rewards the sense of discharging duties diligently , not withstanding personal limitations and pressures all around, mattered a lot to
all of us,Then we saw the coins fitting in at proper places as if guided by a super power.
THE admission into university on the appointed date of my son, followed by an accomplishement by my daughter of having completed her project in overseas amidst all odds as per the schedule (I was recollecting a similar fete achieved by my son earlier in EFL when he completed and submitted his thesis racing against time )and my completion of my tenth annual report of the bank in a row just in time to be ready for the marriage of my daughter all followed
in quick succssion.I bowed and bowed to the grace of almighty and thanked for having given us all the courage and determination to travel in the chosen paths with grit and confidence.
While the first half was a race against time, a period full of relationships and a need to balance as if walking on a razor blade, the second half after the grand event of my daughter's marriage was a welcome relief.My daughter soon settled into her matrimonial life , as if she was taylor made for that role since birth (this is another surprising element about all women!!). My son who flew in and gave a reliefr as if a refreshing breeze to be by my side and to support me during the days of marriage, went back, leaving behind his warmth and affection to enable me to pull along.And the office had suddenly become calm and quiet and each day took me a step closer to my retirement.And once again it was a "thani kudiththnam" of sorts for my wife and me and we were actually blessed to have it after a hectic period of events lasting for allmost an year.
And then the final day at office. the fare well and retirement .The words spoken and not spoken, the love and affection shown and the gifts that were poured in all pointed out to the accomplishment to satisfaction.Then the last two months after the retirement.I had started using this time to do what all i
was longing to do.Reading of my favourite authors, responding to every one of the emails that i rceived(notwithstanding the name that i got in the process as Vetti payal),listening to some great music, spending some quality time with my near and dear and visit to the temples which i always had been planning but
always had been postponing for want of time...
Thus the year 2011 which started with anxieties on allmost all fronts had turned out personally for me to be an year of grace, contentment and happiness.And as the dawn visits with the chanting of thiruppavai and thiruvembavai, ushering in the new year 2012 , i feel much more at ease, comfort and peace of mind. And i wish every one the same or better levelo of peace, grace, comfort, happiness and health as the new year 2012 ushersin.
CHEERS ALL THE WAY
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
sholingur-108 divya desanagal
As a great believer in almighty, i have had some experiences in life which are rather strange and difficult to believe.
However when such things take place in life, the onlything that can explain all these, is the power of almighty.
I do not want this post to be mistaken as a sort of one more preaching by a believer to a non believer. Rather this is simply a record of proceedings and connecting events of the past to the present and admiring the sequence behind the same.
It was exactly 3 years back in 2008,NOV/DEC, that i voluntarily made a vow to visit Shilingur, the twin hill temples , of lord NARASIMHA SWAMY AND LORD ANJANEYA.And that trip was with a purpose.To seek peace as i was going thru multitude of problems and tensions not only in official life but also in personal life. More than me my siblings (one at Raichur and the other at Mumbai) were equally going thru difficult periods.The single prayer was to give content and peace of mind in respective walks of life.And there were other reasons too at that time. I had an official car, and i was younger by three years and the traces of Diabetes had not been detected then.,
i remember having left at 6 am from my reidence, reaching Sholingur at 8pm and covering b0th hills (One with 1300 steps and the other with 600 steps )by about 10.30 am and returning back home by 2pm.My pryaers then went like this"
Hey almighty, fulfill the dreams that my children cherish, if they are according to Dharma, SAVE THEM OF SUFFERINGS as a result of seperation from near and dear, and walk along with thme when they are in distress and help them to overcome the same, and give me content of seeing them contended".
I also remebered having said in heart of hearts as to whether at all i can make another trip to this place my gratitude, once my prayers are fulfilled as i did not know then how long it was going to take to answer my prayers.
And then the events started taking place with perfection and discipline.My siblings got their dreams fulfilled or are in the process of getting them fulfilled and i had peacefully retired waiting on my wings to start my second innings.Definitely things have improved a lot and a sence of contentment is already pervading in every deed and act .
then came this call, as if it was the reminder from almighty itself.One of my friends just called me on Sunday the 4th, to enquire whether i am free to join with him to a trip to Sholingur on 6th as it happened to be a holiday.WITH OUT any second thought i gave my consent.
Five of us in a maruthi alto left at 5.30 am/ Roads were poor due to recent heavy rains and the journey took lamost 3 hrs to reach Sholingur, via Arakkonam and Kaveriapkkam.Thoughtfully my friends have arranged a place thru our contacts there to answer to nature's call,and to have a good cup of steaming coffee.Immediately after that we started climbing .When we went up the hill, the crowds(due to holiday) made us wonder as to whether we will have the energy to stand for 2/3 hrs and complete the dharshan.once again this contact of ours helped us in getting thru and when we stood in sanctum sanctorum i was full of happiness, bliss and contentment as HE had seen me sailing thru the worst period.I offered my humble prayers to the MIGHTY one.We got down and started clibing the hILL to Anjaneya temple an hour and a half alter at about 12 noon.The weather was friendly and comfotable.When we reached
the hill top at about 12.40 , the archagas alowed us to sit in front of Njaneay for a full three minutes. The experince is some thing which can not be described but can only be felt.The stala purana here is that Yoga Narasimha has directed Anjaneya swami to bless all his disciples who climb both hills and who reach him with pure heart and prayers.THough i was rehearsing in my mind while climbing up all the way as to what are all the prayers i should make , when we sat in sanctum sanctorum, my entire mind was filled onlyw ith a heavenly feeling and the prayers have become secondary.
After all HE knew what we should be blessed with and when .
ETHU NADANTHATHO ADHU NANRAGAVE NADANTHATHU
ETHU NADAKKIRATHO ADHUVUM NANDRAGAVE NADAKKIRATHU
ETHU NADAKKA VENDUMO ADHUVUM NANDRAGAVE NADAKKUM.
We had lunch , a homely meal at Sholingur itself, and while returning had time and enegy and the blessings to cover three more abodes of lORD INCLUDING THE 107TH AND 108TH Punya shetras which are available for oneself only after death. But out of HIS pure love for HIS devottes HE had chosen to bless them on earth itself .These two place are known as 'THIRUPPAR KADAL" and "Vaikunta nathar Koil"the former situated in a place called Thiruppar kadal itself (some 3 KMS from Kaveri patnam) while the other is situated in a place called (Iyyampaettai ...Some how Rajini's film Thillu mullu came to memory)seven kilo meters from Kaveripatnam in opposite direction.
By the time we returned homs after having dinner at the Hi way inn it was 10.30 pm and the legs which were carrying allthrough have started pleading for rest and massage.But the body and more importantly the mind was feeling more
contended and energised.
YES..HE KNEW WHEN TO REMIND US TO FULFILL THE PRAYERS AFTER HIS HAVING BLESSED US THRU.
THE SECOND INNINGS HAD A GOOD START INDEED!!
However when such things take place in life, the onlything that can explain all these, is the power of almighty.
I do not want this post to be mistaken as a sort of one more preaching by a believer to a non believer. Rather this is simply a record of proceedings and connecting events of the past to the present and admiring the sequence behind the same.
It was exactly 3 years back in 2008,NOV/DEC, that i voluntarily made a vow to visit Shilingur, the twin hill temples , of lord NARASIMHA SWAMY AND LORD ANJANEYA.And that trip was with a purpose.To seek peace as i was going thru multitude of problems and tensions not only in official life but also in personal life. More than me my siblings (one at Raichur and the other at Mumbai) were equally going thru difficult periods.The single prayer was to give content and peace of mind in respective walks of life.And there were other reasons too at that time. I had an official car, and i was younger by three years and the traces of Diabetes had not been detected then.,
i remember having left at 6 am from my reidence, reaching Sholingur at 8pm and covering b0th hills (One with 1300 steps and the other with 600 steps )by about 10.30 am and returning back home by 2pm.My pryaers then went like this"
Hey almighty, fulfill the dreams that my children cherish, if they are according to Dharma, SAVE THEM OF SUFFERINGS as a result of seperation from near and dear, and walk along with thme when they are in distress and help them to overcome the same, and give me content of seeing them contended".
I also remebered having said in heart of hearts as to whether at all i can make another trip to this place my gratitude, once my prayers are fulfilled as i did not know then how long it was going to take to answer my prayers.
And then the events started taking place with perfection and discipline.My siblings got their dreams fulfilled or are in the process of getting them fulfilled and i had peacefully retired waiting on my wings to start my second innings.Definitely things have improved a lot and a sence of contentment is already pervading in every deed and act .
then came this call, as if it was the reminder from almighty itself.One of my friends just called me on Sunday the 4th, to enquire whether i am free to join with him to a trip to Sholingur on 6th as it happened to be a holiday.WITH OUT any second thought i gave my consent.
Five of us in a maruthi alto left at 5.30 am/ Roads were poor due to recent heavy rains and the journey took lamost 3 hrs to reach Sholingur, via Arakkonam and Kaveriapkkam.Thoughtfully my friends have arranged a place thru our contacts there to answer to nature's call,and to have a good cup of steaming coffee.Immediately after that we started climbing .When we went up the hill, the crowds(due to holiday) made us wonder as to whether we will have the energy to stand for 2/3 hrs and complete the dharshan.once again this contact of ours helped us in getting thru and when we stood in sanctum sanctorum i was full of happiness, bliss and contentment as HE had seen me sailing thru the worst period.I offered my humble prayers to the MIGHTY one.We got down and started clibing the hILL to Anjaneya temple an hour and a half alter at about 12 noon.The weather was friendly and comfotable.When we reached
the hill top at about 12.40 , the archagas alowed us to sit in front of Njaneay for a full three minutes. The experince is some thing which can not be described but can only be felt.The stala purana here is that Yoga Narasimha has directed Anjaneya swami to bless all his disciples who climb both hills and who reach him with pure heart and prayers.THough i was rehearsing in my mind while climbing up all the way as to what are all the prayers i should make , when we sat in sanctum sanctorum, my entire mind was filled onlyw ith a heavenly feeling and the prayers have become secondary.
After all HE knew what we should be blessed with and when .
ETHU NADANTHATHO ADHU NANRAGAVE NADANTHATHU
ETHU NADAKKIRATHO ADHUVUM NANDRAGAVE NADAKKIRATHU
ETHU NADAKKA VENDUMO ADHUVUM NANDRAGAVE NADAKKUM.
We had lunch , a homely meal at Sholingur itself, and while returning had time and enegy and the blessings to cover three more abodes of lORD INCLUDING THE 107TH AND 108TH Punya shetras which are available for oneself only after death. But out of HIS pure love for HIS devottes HE had chosen to bless them on earth itself .These two place are known as 'THIRUPPAR KADAL" and "Vaikunta nathar Koil"the former situated in a place called Thiruppar kadal itself (some 3 KMS from Kaveri patnam) while the other is situated in a place called (Iyyampaettai ...Some how Rajini's film Thillu mullu came to memory)seven kilo meters from Kaveripatnam in opposite direction.
By the time we returned homs after having dinner at the Hi way inn it was 10.30 pm and the legs which were carrying allthrough have started pleading for rest and massage.But the body and more importantly the mind was feeling more
contended and energised.
YES..HE KNEW WHEN TO REMIND US TO FULFILL THE PRAYERS AFTER HIS HAVING BLESSED US THRU.
THE SECOND INNINGS HAD A GOOD START INDEED!!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
30 days into Retirement
To the few readers of my blog an apology at the outset for the blank post which appeared in this blog on 30/11/2011.
I have started composing series of articles on the title "Itharkuthane asaipattaai Sampath Kumara", inflenced by me favourite author balakumaran,and i had chosen to represent the feelings in a language which is near ande dear Viz Tamil.After tyoing the first episode, in tamil transliteration(Thanks to GOOGLE)I copied and pasted to my blog and thoght that the contents have in fact appeared therein , only to recieve a call from a close friend at Singapore who remarked jovially, that i don't do anyhting after retirement is known to him but the same need not be said in such a great style in blog. Then the friend went on to say that nothing appeared in blog when only i realised that my first chapter on retirement, published on completion of one month of satisfactory!!retirement did not find the light of the day.
Then it struck me, perhaps the all too pwerful almighty had decided to spare my few readers from the agony of going thru my blog posts on retirement and hence the post disappered.
But "Vidhi valiathu"-Destiny is strong " and hence i have come out with a vengence with my post in English.Perhaps this is not too satisfying to me as the pun and the earthly feelings which i thought i brought in my mother tounge is appeared to be missing in this.SOME ONE SAID, during my Personal effectiveness programme thise days that "Drinking Coke thru straw is akin to kissing one's girl friend thru another man's mouth."I am remided of the same when ever i try to express some thing in a language which is alien to me.
Any way to make things short and sweet this to welcome the beginning of the new month as a pensioner after having completed 30 days "pensionship".During this period there were several calls. some of them with true concern as to what i do after the retirement, some of them with a sort of pun as to what i can do now,now that i am retired, some of them enquisitive as to whether i am with holding my pursuits and keeping them a sa secret and some of them offering suggerstions as to what i should do next, and some of them even referinng me to few greener pastures.
I must admit that i look like a child lost in the Exhibition grounds.The child is lost in light and colour and the fun and frolick.It has not even relaised that it is a lost child.It would be the parents of the child who wouldbe running from pillar to post in their anxiety for the safety of the child.
I am exactly in that position. I am enjoying every thing around me while those around me are anxious as to what next.
I can assure that the child in me is safe and secure and dispassionate and innnoscent. And that would mean the child will find its way in its own style.Till then let the new found happiness and peace engulf the child...
(Will be continued)
I have started composing series of articles on the title "Itharkuthane asaipattaai Sampath Kumara", inflenced by me favourite author balakumaran,and i had chosen to represent the feelings in a language which is near ande dear Viz Tamil.After tyoing the first episode, in tamil transliteration(Thanks to GOOGLE)I copied and pasted to my blog and thoght that the contents have in fact appeared therein , only to recieve a call from a close friend at Singapore who remarked jovially, that i don't do anyhting after retirement is known to him but the same need not be said in such a great style in blog. Then the friend went on to say that nothing appeared in blog when only i realised that my first chapter on retirement, published on completion of one month of satisfactory!!retirement did not find the light of the day.
Then it struck me, perhaps the all too pwerful almighty had decided to spare my few readers from the agony of going thru my blog posts on retirement and hence the post disappered.
But "Vidhi valiathu"-Destiny is strong " and hence i have come out with a vengence with my post in English.Perhaps this is not too satisfying to me as the pun and the earthly feelings which i thought i brought in my mother tounge is appeared to be missing in this.SOME ONE SAID, during my Personal effectiveness programme thise days that "Drinking Coke thru straw is akin to kissing one's girl friend thru another man's mouth."I am remided of the same when ever i try to express some thing in a language which is alien to me.
Any way to make things short and sweet this to welcome the beginning of the new month as a pensioner after having completed 30 days "pensionship".During this period there were several calls. some of them with true concern as to what i do after the retirement, some of them with a sort of pun as to what i can do now,now that i am retired, some of them enquisitive as to whether i am with holding my pursuits and keeping them a sa secret and some of them offering suggerstions as to what i should do next, and some of them even referinng me to few greener pastures.
I must admit that i look like a child lost in the Exhibition grounds.The child is lost in light and colour and the fun and frolick.It has not even relaised that it is a lost child.It would be the parents of the child who wouldbe running from pillar to post in their anxiety for the safety of the child.
I am exactly in that position. I am enjoying every thing around me while those around me are anxious as to what next.
I can assure that the child in me is safe and secure and dispassionate and innnoscent. And that would mean the child will find its way in its own style.Till then let the new found happiness and peace engulf the child...
(Will be continued)
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