Every city has its own charm.And every one who has atleast a reasonable time to spend there develops a like or dislike to wards the city, based on one's own experiences witnessed there.
Some are known to be very adpatable to which ever cities they move in, and start enjoying the city, from day one while some others are die hard fans of their own home cities only and refuse to budge in.And if the experience encountered by these die hard fans of their own cities,happens to be a bad one, they become tough in their attitude and refuse to give the city, its due credit for so many other good aspects of the city.Any way that is the interesting part of the human pscychology.
This post is not about Psychology.It is about the city Bangalooru(Formerly Bangalore)wherein i started my career with HMT INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, in Cunninghams Road,near Shivaji NAGAR about 35 years back.I had to visit BANGALORE again on an assignment i had undertaken as a consultant in the recent past. And it is now almost a month since my association with the city had been revived . The city then and the city now had under gone a sea change.Ofcourse, as it happens in any other cities, the change is happening here too..But that is besides the point.
There are still some basic qualities or characteristics of BANGALOORU which remain unchanged.
The first one is the Good, steaming cup of cofee , with a fragrance which is difficult to resist, when you step out of Contonement or Bangalore City Railway Station.
The second thing is the orderliness which you can still witness in Auto satnds and taxi stands when you wait for your turn to take a token for a prepaid auto/taxi service.
The third (and in order of ranking this should come first)is the weather. Be it hot summar or spring or winter, the weather by and large remains pleasant in BANAGALORE.The cool breeze which embraces when you take a morning stroll in the back ground of a rising Sun is an experience to be felt to be believed and can not be explained in words.Similarly the evenings also become chill right from 4 pm onwards giving relief form the oppressive heat , witneseed once in a while.
Fourth and the best according to me are the steamimg IDDLIES dipped in Hot
sambar(which will have the slight taste of Sugar as is the practice in KARNATAKA-imbibed from famous Udupi tradition)and the ever teasing Vadas
available allmost round the clock in many of the eating outlets.
I must add in same breath that the IDDLIES of Hyderabad and Murugan IDDLI Kadai MADURAI , are equal favourites on any given day.
Fifth is the courtesy still evident in the way people treat you. By nature they are soft people and if politicians keep away from playing with their temperaments on one issue or other, Bangalore will win the prize for the best courteousness.Remember that stalwards of Cricket , both Kumble and Rahool Dravid hail from this place which is the greatest evidence of soft ness and courtesy.
The city represented the place where i had started my first innings of my career.It also coincides with the start of my second innings.I am a strong believer in fate and also in the saying that events in life comes often in circles.
We go back to the same people and same cities decades after our first visit by sheer coincidence and not by any plan or design.My first innings at BANGALORE lasted for 4 months before i moved to another city of my like Kolkatta to further my professional aims.My son also had a stint of around 4-5 months before changing his academic directions. Credit in full to my daughter who made it a point to finish her MBA with IBA at Bangalore with a continuous two year stint.
My present innings at BANGALORE is also initially contracted for 4 months with a proviso to continue further if both sides agree.Unlike earlier times when i had commitments to fulfill and expectations to be achieved, i am enjoying this innings with an open mind and am prepared to take which ver way the life leads me from here.And i believe that is a great feeling, viz doing some thing to one's liking with out any strings attached to it.
I have said too many good things about Bangalore,But then to give a disaml note at the end is not my intention. However the fact remains that BANAGLORE is also falling a prey to the industrialisation and commercialisation around and the air is thick with pollution.But for that the city is still loneable one on any day!!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
welcome and send offs
Since child hood i have been always accompanying some one(Mostly my dad or my parental uncles) either to receive some one or bid fare well to some one else.When i look back down the memory lane, a few of them stand itched in memory while most of them had got drowned into oblivion.
While i had not gone thru any mental disturbances (positive or negative)due to such events of send off /welcome of late i had been experiencing some sence of happiness or sorrow whenever i go to send off some one or to receive some one.Whether it is due to age or whether it is due to the close bond of love and affection experienced, is a moot question.
My wife had her lines drawn up clearly. If it is to welcome some one, she will be inclined and if it is send off some one it will always be an emphatic no.Thus invariably i have to take the reins in my hand either to receive some one or to send off some one else.
My memories go back to my days spent in my village Asokapuri when all members from my dad down to all his brothers and their siblings who used to come to the big BANYAN tree either to receive some one or to give send off to some one. It used to be a bus called Natana Rani (translated as Dancing queen)whose drivers and conductors had the great regard and res pect for my dad and his brothers who were always known as Asokapuri mirasudars and by pet names such as Sivappaiar,bankiyer, karuppaiyar and so on.My wife who is a fan of Rajinikanth (WHILE I HAPPEN TO BE A FAN OF kamal) would still win an argument over me when it comes to any issues relating to Colour by saying that my father and her mother (who happens to be my father's elder daughter and my mother in law)are also black like Rajinikanth.Reason as to why my father is nick named as KARUPPAIYAR.
Sorry that i have digressed a bit.TO put it simply the timings of the bus used to be punctual and all of us used to be assembled near the banyan tree atleast half an hour before arrival/departure and would be excitedly involved in some conversation or other and now in retrospect it appears that all of them were stage managed by some one senior in the family, so that the pain of parting is not felt and the joy of union is also not overtly enjoyed.
Now that long prelude and comments are all reflections arising as a result of send offs and welcomes that i have been associated with in the past one year or so..It all started last year when my son (first) and daughter(next) left for Hongkong and USA in a span of 15 days. My daughter returned first after completing her project within a record 45 days to be just in time for her betrothal.My son returned later availing his annual leave in advance for my daughter’s marriage.He left exactly a week after the marriage and returned again last week to qualify for his doctorate at EFL, Hyderabad.Having successfully qualified for the same(one of the few doctorates at his age of 26)he left back for Hongkong today by theChennai- Kualalampur flight leaving at 12.30 pm.The same flight which i took about a decade back when i first landed in Hongkong.History keeps repeating itself.
And the feelings that arise as different points of time when you come to see off different persons, or the same person keeps changing all the time.Some times you were overjoyed. Some times you had a tinge of sorrow.Some other times it is a mixed bag of feelings.And the re4ason as to why a particular person feels in a particular manner is verey difficult to decipher.But with all my experience which i narrated in the earlier part of this post my feelings were under control or well balanced..or so i thought.And this time my only thought was about the next time when i will be visiting the airport to welcome my “doctor son.” This next trip of my son one is important to me,. as important as his recent visit, for by the next time he visits i expect him to have secured one more doctorate up his sleeves besides also earmarking for him some great heights and place in the history of linguistics and phonetics .This would ensure him to look at the world and those with whom he moved with , radiating confidence and self reliance.
And then there will be suitors waiting to win his hands, provided he is in the mind set to stop his academic pursuits at that time and decide to settle in to a harmonious family life.In the process there will be sighs from those who missed out on him and there will be competition amongst eligible girls to woo him.
If that be so where is the need to feel dejected or sad??And that is the reason i was feeling high and happy when i bade him good bye for i knew that when he comes back he will be a role model in many aspects including that of a great son to his dear parents.And the fact remains that the three days fever which made him/ rather forced him to cancel his flight and settle for a flight on the next day, according to me , is an indication that “DRUSTI KAZPPU “ had already happened which means he is free of the evil looks of the envied eyes.
The point therefore is that as and when we go to meet some one or send off some one let us wish all good luck to them with full of happiness and affection which enables a positive energy to engulf both the parties.
While i had not gone thru any mental disturbances (positive or negative)due to such events of send off /welcome of late i had been experiencing some sence of happiness or sorrow whenever i go to send off some one or to receive some one.Whether it is due to age or whether it is due to the close bond of love and affection experienced, is a moot question.
My wife had her lines drawn up clearly. If it is to welcome some one, she will be inclined and if it is send off some one it will always be an emphatic no.Thus invariably i have to take the reins in my hand either to receive some one or to send off some one else.
My memories go back to my days spent in my village Asokapuri when all members from my dad down to all his brothers and their siblings who used to come to the big BANYAN tree either to receive some one or to give send off to some one. It used to be a bus called Natana Rani (translated as Dancing queen)whose drivers and conductors had the great regard and res pect for my dad and his brothers who were always known as Asokapuri mirasudars and by pet names such as Sivappaiar,bankiyer, karuppaiyar and so on.My wife who is a fan of Rajinikanth (WHILE I HAPPEN TO BE A FAN OF kamal) would still win an argument over me when it comes to any issues relating to Colour by saying that my father and her mother (who happens to be my father's elder daughter and my mother in law)are also black like Rajinikanth.Reason as to why my father is nick named as KARUPPAIYAR.
Sorry that i have digressed a bit.TO put it simply the timings of the bus used to be punctual and all of us used to be assembled near the banyan tree atleast half an hour before arrival/departure and would be excitedly involved in some conversation or other and now in retrospect it appears that all of them were stage managed by some one senior in the family, so that the pain of parting is not felt and the joy of union is also not overtly enjoyed.
Now that long prelude and comments are all reflections arising as a result of send offs and welcomes that i have been associated with in the past one year or so..It all started last year when my son (first) and daughter(next) left for Hongkong and USA in a span of 15 days. My daughter returned first after completing her project within a record 45 days to be just in time for her betrothal.My son returned later availing his annual leave in advance for my daughter’s marriage.He left exactly a week after the marriage and returned again last week to qualify for his doctorate at EFL, Hyderabad.Having successfully qualified for the same(one of the few doctorates at his age of 26)he left back for Hongkong today by theChennai- Kualalampur flight leaving at 12.30 pm.The same flight which i took about a decade back when i first landed in Hongkong.History keeps repeating itself.
And the feelings that arise as different points of time when you come to see off different persons, or the same person keeps changing all the time.Some times you were overjoyed. Some times you had a tinge of sorrow.Some other times it is a mixed bag of feelings.And the re4ason as to why a particular person feels in a particular manner is verey difficult to decipher.But with all my experience which i narrated in the earlier part of this post my feelings were under control or well balanced..or so i thought.And this time my only thought was about the next time when i will be visiting the airport to welcome my “doctor son.” This next trip of my son one is important to me,. as important as his recent visit, for by the next time he visits i expect him to have secured one more doctorate up his sleeves besides also earmarking for him some great heights and place in the history of linguistics and phonetics .This would ensure him to look at the world and those with whom he moved with , radiating confidence and self reliance.
And then there will be suitors waiting to win his hands, provided he is in the mind set to stop his academic pursuits at that time and decide to settle in to a harmonious family life.In the process there will be sighs from those who missed out on him and there will be competition amongst eligible girls to woo him.
If that be so where is the need to feel dejected or sad??And that is the reason i was feeling high and happy when i bade him good bye for i knew that when he comes back he will be a role model in many aspects including that of a great son to his dear parents.And the fact remains that the three days fever which made him/ rather forced him to cancel his flight and settle for a flight on the next day, according to me , is an indication that “DRUSTI KAZPPU “ had already happened which means he is free of the evil looks of the envied eyes.
The point therefore is that as and when we go to meet some one or send off some one let us wish all good luck to them with full of happiness and affection which enables a positive energy to engulf both the parties.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
DOCTOR -U MADE US PROUD
It was a wait of more than 15 months.
A thesis which was submitted with a record speed in a span of 15 months had to wait for another 15 moths to get its share of honour.
Yes. there is a time for every thing and during the interugnum, one has to only keep trying and leave the results to the time and destiny, or in short to GOD.And sincere attempts and the passion for the perfection never lets anyone in dismay.
It was Feb 14th and the whole world was celebrating the Valentine day. It was a day of celebration. The air was already filled with joy of the lovers and happily married couples.It was smelling sweet and i was waiting to join the celebrations, not with a view to CELEBRATE THE VALENTINE DAY BUT TO celebrate another one of those life time attainment.
LET me not prolong the suspence. The occasion represent the day of VIVAVOCE for my son in respect of his thesis submitted in Non 2010 at EFL, Hyderabad.He flew from Hongkong to CHENNAI on 12 th early morning hours and left for Hyderabad on the morning of 13th(An unlucky number for most , and a lucky one for him ..strange coincidences...he started his journey to this Phd some time back in the year 2003 on another day of 13th, when he entered Loyola).
I still recollect and remember the gleam in his eyes when he got the admission, after a hectic 9 month period when he was in and out of two colleges at cHENNAI AND Bangalore in quick succession for his own valid reasons.How valid they were is proved beyond doubt on this day.And the observation of one of the principals when he chided mefor backing my son with a cryptic comment that an year's loss would turn out to be an irreparable one was haunting him than me and he did every thing to prove that he did not waste even a second thereafter.
And it was exactly 5pm on 14/2/012.The much awaited call came from my son.As usual there was a run to the phone both by me and my wife and as sual, i gave the freedom to her to pick the receiver first.And the voice from the other end reverberated simultaneously in our ears.The voice said with claity, and confidence"You are talking to Dr Srinivas".
Our joy knew no bounds. It was a great moment. Words can not expressit.
The struggeles underrwent and the battles fought to wards this journey are matters which can fill up naother blog later.
Forthe present, thank u may dear son. you have made us proud, is suffice to say.
CHEERS ALL THE WAY TO YOU.
A thesis which was submitted with a record speed in a span of 15 months had to wait for another 15 moths to get its share of honour.
Yes. there is a time for every thing and during the interugnum, one has to only keep trying and leave the results to the time and destiny, or in short to GOD.And sincere attempts and the passion for the perfection never lets anyone in dismay.
It was Feb 14th and the whole world was celebrating the Valentine day. It was a day of celebration. The air was already filled with joy of the lovers and happily married couples.It was smelling sweet and i was waiting to join the celebrations, not with a view to CELEBRATE THE VALENTINE DAY BUT TO celebrate another one of those life time attainment.
LET me not prolong the suspence. The occasion represent the day of VIVAVOCE for my son in respect of his thesis submitted in Non 2010 at EFL, Hyderabad.He flew from Hongkong to CHENNAI on 12 th early morning hours and left for Hyderabad on the morning of 13th(An unlucky number for most , and a lucky one for him ..strange coincidences...he started his journey to this Phd some time back in the year 2003 on another day of 13th, when he entered Loyola).
I still recollect and remember the gleam in his eyes when he got the admission, after a hectic 9 month period when he was in and out of two colleges at cHENNAI AND Bangalore in quick succession for his own valid reasons.How valid they were is proved beyond doubt on this day.And the observation of one of the principals when he chided mefor backing my son with a cryptic comment that an year's loss would turn out to be an irreparable one was haunting him than me and he did every thing to prove that he did not waste even a second thereafter.
And it was exactly 5pm on 14/2/012.The much awaited call came from my son.As usual there was a run to the phone both by me and my wife and as sual, i gave the freedom to her to pick the receiver first.And the voice from the other end reverberated simultaneously in our ears.The voice said with claity, and confidence"You are talking to Dr Srinivas".
Our joy knew no bounds. It was a great moment. Words can not expressit.
The struggeles underrwent and the battles fought to wards this journey are matters which can fill up naother blog later.
Forthe present, thank u may dear son. you have made us proud, is suffice to say.
CHEERS ALL THE WAY TO YOU.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
sleep and thereafter
The famous tamil poet Thiruvalluvan said in one of his couplets that Sleep is akin to death and the difference is that one is a temporary death, as one can wake up to the present world after sleep, while in death, the person wakes up in a different world.
I wish it becomes so easy to appraoch the cocept of death in the aforesaid manner so that it reduces the pain which arise as a result of death to the near and dear.Lot of things have been wriiten about life and death and also about life after death. Especially the Hindu REligion is strongly founded on the concept of Rebirth after death. Right now there are umpteen programmes in Tamil TV world dealing with this subject(First credit goes to VIJAY TV , which has started the programme titled :PUNAR JENMAM:.other tvs known for their copy right credentials have followed with serials like Bairavi and Sivasankari with out loss of time.Women folk will find it engrossing to remain glued to their seats, till such time they are woken up by the burning smell from the kitchen.
The post is not intended to give publicity to these TV shows.It has a different purpose. The killer decease CANCER had consumed one more life in the last week.The victim was my cousin's daughter at USA, who had left behind her German Husband and a daughter of 7 years old besides her parents (both of whom are senior citizens) to mourn her death.It was exactly six months back when i lost a friend of mine , who was suffering from cancer for decades ,In the case of my niece, the decease was more benevolent in the sence it took her life within 6 months of its identification.World, we calim had advanced by leaps and bounds.I am however yet to come across osme one, atleast in my experience, who had been totally cured of the killer decease.This is where the helpless ness of humanity is often broughtinto galring light.Despite the himalyam achievements that the Human race can claim for itself, it becomes a hapless victim in such circumsatances.
When i went to console my cousin and his wife , i was shocked to see them silently sitting side by side, in a sofa, iN a spacious home at Nungambakkam
waiting for the news of delivery of death body to the near and dear who were waiting at US , 74 HRS after the death had struck,for want of completion of various formalities at US, as my niece lived in one place, died in a hospital else where and the body had to cross one more state inbetween.
DEATH ITSELF IS CRUEL.TO WAIT FOR HAVING A GLIMPSE OF THE BODY FOR HOURS TO GETHER ADDS TO THE AGONY.NO WORDSOF SOLACE CAN BE APT AT THAT MOMENT.
I simply sat witht hem for an hour,pressing their hands alternatively and left .At times silence can be a better communicator than words.This is one such time .
MAY THE DEPARTED SOUL REST IN PEACE....
I wish it becomes so easy to appraoch the cocept of death in the aforesaid manner so that it reduces the pain which arise as a result of death to the near and dear.Lot of things have been wriiten about life and death and also about life after death. Especially the Hindu REligion is strongly founded on the concept of Rebirth after death. Right now there are umpteen programmes in Tamil TV world dealing with this subject(First credit goes to VIJAY TV , which has started the programme titled :PUNAR JENMAM:.other tvs known for their copy right credentials have followed with serials like Bairavi and Sivasankari with out loss of time.Women folk will find it engrossing to remain glued to their seats, till such time they are woken up by the burning smell from the kitchen.
The post is not intended to give publicity to these TV shows.It has a different purpose. The killer decease CANCER had consumed one more life in the last week.The victim was my cousin's daughter at USA, who had left behind her German Husband and a daughter of 7 years old besides her parents (both of whom are senior citizens) to mourn her death.It was exactly six months back when i lost a friend of mine , who was suffering from cancer for decades ,In the case of my niece, the decease was more benevolent in the sence it took her life within 6 months of its identification.World, we calim had advanced by leaps and bounds.I am however yet to come across osme one, atleast in my experience, who had been totally cured of the killer decease.This is where the helpless ness of humanity is often broughtinto galring light.Despite the himalyam achievements that the Human race can claim for itself, it becomes a hapless victim in such circumsatances.
When i went to console my cousin and his wife , i was shocked to see them silently sitting side by side, in a sofa, iN a spacious home at Nungambakkam
waiting for the news of delivery of death body to the near and dear who were waiting at US , 74 HRS after the death had struck,for want of completion of various formalities at US, as my niece lived in one place, died in a hospital else where and the body had to cross one more state inbetween.
DEATH ITSELF IS CRUEL.TO WAIT FOR HAVING A GLIMPSE OF THE BODY FOR HOURS TO GETHER ADDS TO THE AGONY.NO WORDSOF SOLACE CAN BE APT AT THAT MOMENT.
I simply sat witht hem for an hour,pressing their hands alternatively and left .At times silence can be a better communicator than words.This is one such time .
MAY THE DEPARTED SOUL REST IN PEACE....
kolaveri vs kodvasri
By now the whole world had been on its feet dancing to the tunes of Kolaveri.
Whether by merit or by sheer coincidence or because of the good times or by a sheer combination of all three put togther the song had been termed as major hit and the originators of the song themselves have already admitted that they never expected this song to be come so popular.
Any one who is in CHENNAI by now would have been bored to the hilt after seeing the copious appreciation and the Hype that the nmedia has created for this song.There is in fact a tough competition maongst channels as to which channel should be the first to telecase the live show exhibition of song and its creators.
Dhanush, the author, Anirudh, the music director and Ishwarya, the director of the movie NO 3 ALL have appeared in various TV programmes to the extent that they themselves would have become tired by the frenzy that the song had created. THANKFULLY Shruthi hasan has been given a rest ,whther by choice or due to some other reason is not yet known.The fact that celebrities like Amitabh bachhan had paid tributes to this song added to the popularity.
Except a show in JAYA tv, where in the anchor Baski and the host of participants including Deva and NEELU were wondering as to what is so big about the song to woo such praise and appreciation, every other TV was vying with each other to find new meanings in to the song which even the composer or the writer would not have even imagined.
And there were TVs and newspapers trying to bring a rift by claiming that the Dhanush jodi is trying to steal the show at the expense of Anirudh who only is responsible for the greatness of this song.And there were stories that SONY had got the copyright for this song for a song much before its popularity and had made fortune by selling CDS at premium prices much to the dismay of the those responsible for the song.What the gullible public is not aware is that Anirudh himself is related to Dhanushjodi in the sense that he is the son of Ravi Raghavendar , brother of Latha rajnikant.
Thus there were songs which got appreciation much more than they desrved and there weree also songs which were more valuable , which went unnoticed ...the statement is equally true of its authors.My intention in this blog post is not intended to either praise this song or to throw dirt on the song. Already my friends have gone on record that those who do not apprecaite the song obvoiusly belong to the older generation where as the song is the heart throb of the new generation.Even thogh i pretty well knew that even maongst the younger generation there were many who were not vey enthused about the song, the purpose of posting this in my blog is more singular and focussed.
Yes, Suddenly my blog which had only a hnadful of visitors/readers had been frequented by many and the reason is simple. Possibly Kodvasri, my nickname(invented by my son) and kolavery (invented by Dhanush) sound moreor less or look more or less similar with the result the search engines work over time to direct the audience of Kolaveri to my site.
Of course i can guarantee that my blog will not cause any irreparable damage to my visitors. AT THE SAME TIME I CAN also pity with them when they approach my blog with great expectations and end up seeing some thing which they were never prepared for.
So be cool my friends..My blog is running for the past 18 months and is a senior to Kolavery blog. So if not for nay thing me and my blog may be excused for its seniority.And next time whne you spell Kolaveri, be sure that you do not type Kodvasri.The blogs are miles apart by their contents and focus.
Whether by merit or by sheer coincidence or because of the good times or by a sheer combination of all three put togther the song had been termed as major hit and the originators of the song themselves have already admitted that they never expected this song to be come so popular.
Any one who is in CHENNAI by now would have been bored to the hilt after seeing the copious appreciation and the Hype that the nmedia has created for this song.There is in fact a tough competition maongst channels as to which channel should be the first to telecase the live show exhibition of song and its creators.
Dhanush, the author, Anirudh, the music director and Ishwarya, the director of the movie NO 3 ALL have appeared in various TV programmes to the extent that they themselves would have become tired by the frenzy that the song had created. THANKFULLY Shruthi hasan has been given a rest ,whther by choice or due to some other reason is not yet known.The fact that celebrities like Amitabh bachhan had paid tributes to this song added to the popularity.
Except a show in JAYA tv, where in the anchor Baski and the host of participants including Deva and NEELU were wondering as to what is so big about the song to woo such praise and appreciation, every other TV was vying with each other to find new meanings in to the song which even the composer or the writer would not have even imagined.
And there were TVs and newspapers trying to bring a rift by claiming that the Dhanush jodi is trying to steal the show at the expense of Anirudh who only is responsible for the greatness of this song.And there were stories that SONY had got the copyright for this song for a song much before its popularity and had made fortune by selling CDS at premium prices much to the dismay of the those responsible for the song.What the gullible public is not aware is that Anirudh himself is related to Dhanushjodi in the sense that he is the son of Ravi Raghavendar , brother of Latha rajnikant.
Thus there were songs which got appreciation much more than they desrved and there weree also songs which were more valuable , which went unnoticed ...the statement is equally true of its authors.My intention in this blog post is not intended to either praise this song or to throw dirt on the song. Already my friends have gone on record that those who do not apprecaite the song obvoiusly belong to the older generation where as the song is the heart throb of the new generation.Even thogh i pretty well knew that even maongst the younger generation there were many who were not vey enthused about the song, the purpose of posting this in my blog is more singular and focussed.
Yes, Suddenly my blog which had only a hnadful of visitors/readers had been frequented by many and the reason is simple. Possibly Kodvasri, my nickname(invented by my son) and kolavery (invented by Dhanush) sound moreor less or look more or less similar with the result the search engines work over time to direct the audience of Kolaveri to my site.
Of course i can guarantee that my blog will not cause any irreparable damage to my visitors. AT THE SAME TIME I CAN also pity with them when they approach my blog with great expectations and end up seeing some thing which they were never prepared for.
So be cool my friends..My blog is running for the past 18 months and is a senior to Kolavery blog. So if not for nay thing me and my blog may be excused for its seniority.And next time whne you spell Kolaveri, be sure that you do not type Kodvasri.The blogs are miles apart by their contents and focus.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
KODAVSAL=ABODE OF LORD SRINIVASA
This is my first post in the blog in the new year 2012 .it is quite surprising to me (and quite a relief possibly to my followers of the blog who are small in number!!) that despite the time available at my disposal,in the post retirement saga , i had not posted a blog for the last 26 days.
Then it struck me that there is a time for every thing. And only when it strikes the chord in you, you tend to execute a thing,though thoughts and plans may be in the mind for quite some time.
And the time has come now, after visiting my native place(In quick succession , twice in a fortnight-on 7th JANUARY earlier and again on 26th JANUARY(yesterday)to pst this blog.
Kodavasal,(also referred to as Kudavasal)a place which is supposed to me my native as per records(as is true to many whose roots are now shifted far away)
enteases me when ever i go there(Whether it be in short intervals or after a lond time).May be the genes within me, or may be the beauty of the lord Srinivasa there, may be the still green paddy fields which are a treat and comfort to the eyes which got exhausted after years of living in Concrete jungles, or may be a combinaton of all these factors propel me to this palce like a Magnet which attracts the Iron.
The place has a sthala purana which is quite impressive and intersting at the same time.The sthalapurana has all the box office ingredients of a present cinema/Only difference is that one is real and the other is fantasy/
Lord Srinivasa is blessing his devotees with his consorts Boodevi and Sridevi in this temple which is sitauted just behind the Kodavasal bus stand, hardly 3 minutes walk away.Kodavasal itself is well connected from Kumbakonam with buses plying to Thiruvarur/NAGAPATNAM every once in 30 minutes or so,Besides there are buses from Kumbalonam via oppikiappan koil too.
Lord Srinivasa is facing north to bless Guberan(Lord of wealth )at this temple/Cutting details short the purana is as under. Lord srinivasa, in order to perform his marriage was in need of money(it proves that in those days it is the male who has to spend to win the hands of female!)and he has borrowed the same from Lord Guberan.Guberan had a passing doubt as to whether Lord Srinivasa will be able to repay his debts.(One may recall that Lord Srinivasa at Thirumala is still only paying interest in debt and principal repayment is yet to start!!!). Here is where lord Srinivasa at Kodavasal acts smartly and differently.He ensures the copious repayments of money i all its forms on a continuous basis and Lord Gubera finds it even difficul to account or store them.Then he relaises his mistake and prays to Lord to bless him.Sice the direction of Kubera is north, Lord Srinivasa in this temple faces North and bless him.Lord is in Kalyana thirukkolam(Marriage attire)and so also his godesses.Since the lord and his wifes are in Kalyana thirukkolam all those who come to this temple with a prayer for marriage will be blessed accordingly by Lord Srinivasa.Since Lord has given this boon, Goddess Boomadevi on her part has blessed devotees with DhanyaM/Nilam ,thereby meaning that those who pray for well being,shelter and food will be blessed with accordingly.Seeing this Goddess Sridevi has woved to bless her devotees to this sthala with SANTHANA Bhagyam,(Blessings for child birth).
Thus this sthala fulfills all prayers leading to a happy married life with wealth, and good children.
I had been to this place in 2009 during samprokshnam when the whole temple got a face lift with contributions from all devotees (Including us who belong to Rayar family, a family title bestowed on our ancestors by King Krishnadevarayar who was instrumental in fulfilling dreams of a brahmin in whose dream Lord Srinivasa appeared and directed for building a temple herein).the place Kudavasal also had another great trait, in the sence that this represents the mouth of the pot in which the Amirtham (FROM PARKADAL)was kept which spilled to this place.In 2010 I was accompanied by my brothers and sisters.IT WAS an occasion filled with great memories ,love and affection and above all a great sence of oneness with the lord.2010 , EXACTLY AFTER AN YEAR my brother left the earth to join the heavenly abode.In 2011 i had been alone to this temple to pray for the marriage of my daughter which went along with grace and beauty in June 2011 .In the first week of January 2012, self and wife went along with a friend;s family to pay our prayers to the lord and yesterday we had been to the temple along with my daughter and son in law/sambandhis to pray for the next auspicious event to take place in the home smoothly.
Trip was exactly for a day and it was hectic. Due to tight office shedulef my daughter the trip was planned for 26th Jna, a declared public holiday which even MNCs can not deny to Indian citizens.We reached Koyambedu, to board a bus at 10 pm (after some anxious moments of traffic jam which enabled us to reach only at 9.50 pm despite ourleaving home 2 hrs in advance)and reached Kumbakonam at 6am.thanks to our earlier visit in first week of January 2012, during which itself i have blocked the rooms at Andavar ASHRAM and also booked a car, right from landing at KMU till departing by Rockfort express at 7.55pm, everey thing went as meticulously as possible with grace of God.In the morning we had also finished dharshan at Lord oppiliappan koil(Where we initially planned to perform the marriage of my daughter which was later shifted to CHENNAI due to exigencies),Thirunageswaram and Garba rashambigai temple.
By the time we finished our day's itineary and boarded the Rock fort , with hot tiffin purchased and packed minutes before the train departure from Krishna bhaan,(oppposite to station)ready for consumption, our hearts and minds were alreay full with peace, content and happiness.
Of course,I missed my son as it is the third or fourth occasion that me, my wife, and my daughter had been to temple but he could not accompany us, as he was earlier away in Bombay and later , now at hONGKONG.But then i firmly believe, as reiterated in the initial para of this blog, that there will be a time for every thing and we should wait for the same, leaving the rest to HIS MAJESTY.I surrender unto HIM in totality.
May the blessings of Lord Srinivasa be bestowed with out limit on every reader/non reader of this blog and their families.
Then it struck me that there is a time for every thing. And only when it strikes the chord in you, you tend to execute a thing,though thoughts and plans may be in the mind for quite some time.
And the time has come now, after visiting my native place(In quick succession , twice in a fortnight-on 7th JANUARY earlier and again on 26th JANUARY(yesterday)to pst this blog.
Kodavasal,(also referred to as Kudavasal)a place which is supposed to me my native as per records(as is true to many whose roots are now shifted far away)
enteases me when ever i go there(Whether it be in short intervals or after a lond time).May be the genes within me, or may be the beauty of the lord Srinivasa there, may be the still green paddy fields which are a treat and comfort to the eyes which got exhausted after years of living in Concrete jungles, or may be a combinaton of all these factors propel me to this palce like a Magnet which attracts the Iron.
The place has a sthala purana which is quite impressive and intersting at the same time.The sthalapurana has all the box office ingredients of a present cinema/Only difference is that one is real and the other is fantasy/
Lord Srinivasa is blessing his devotees with his consorts Boodevi and Sridevi in this temple which is sitauted just behind the Kodavasal bus stand, hardly 3 minutes walk away.Kodavasal itself is well connected from Kumbakonam with buses plying to Thiruvarur/NAGAPATNAM every once in 30 minutes or so,Besides there are buses from Kumbalonam via oppikiappan koil too.
Lord Srinivasa is facing north to bless Guberan(Lord of wealth )at this temple/Cutting details short the purana is as under. Lord srinivasa, in order to perform his marriage was in need of money(it proves that in those days it is the male who has to spend to win the hands of female!)and he has borrowed the same from Lord Guberan.Guberan had a passing doubt as to whether Lord Srinivasa will be able to repay his debts.(One may recall that Lord Srinivasa at Thirumala is still only paying interest in debt and principal repayment is yet to start!!!). Here is where lord Srinivasa at Kodavasal acts smartly and differently.He ensures the copious repayments of money i all its forms on a continuous basis and Lord Gubera finds it even difficul to account or store them.Then he relaises his mistake and prays to Lord to bless him.Sice the direction of Kubera is north, Lord Srinivasa in this temple faces North and bless him.Lord is in Kalyana thirukkolam(Marriage attire)and so also his godesses.Since the lord and his wifes are in Kalyana thirukkolam all those who come to this temple with a prayer for marriage will be blessed accordingly by Lord Srinivasa.Since Lord has given this boon, Goddess Boomadevi on her part has blessed devotees with DhanyaM/Nilam ,thereby meaning that those who pray for well being,shelter and food will be blessed with accordingly.Seeing this Goddess Sridevi has woved to bless her devotees to this sthala with SANTHANA Bhagyam,(Blessings for child birth).
Thus this sthala fulfills all prayers leading to a happy married life with wealth, and good children.
I had been to this place in 2009 during samprokshnam when the whole temple got a face lift with contributions from all devotees (Including us who belong to Rayar family, a family title bestowed on our ancestors by King Krishnadevarayar who was instrumental in fulfilling dreams of a brahmin in whose dream Lord Srinivasa appeared and directed for building a temple herein).the place Kudavasal also had another great trait, in the sence that this represents the mouth of the pot in which the Amirtham (FROM PARKADAL)was kept which spilled to this place.In 2010 I was accompanied by my brothers and sisters.IT WAS an occasion filled with great memories ,love and affection and above all a great sence of oneness with the lord.2010 , EXACTLY AFTER AN YEAR my brother left the earth to join the heavenly abode.In 2011 i had been alone to this temple to pray for the marriage of my daughter which went along with grace and beauty in June 2011 .In the first week of January 2012, self and wife went along with a friend;s family to pay our prayers to the lord and yesterday we had been to the temple along with my daughter and son in law/sambandhis to pray for the next auspicious event to take place in the home smoothly.
Trip was exactly for a day and it was hectic. Due to tight office shedulef my daughter the trip was planned for 26th Jna, a declared public holiday which even MNCs can not deny to Indian citizens.We reached Koyambedu, to board a bus at 10 pm (after some anxious moments of traffic jam which enabled us to reach only at 9.50 pm despite ourleaving home 2 hrs in advance)and reached Kumbakonam at 6am.thanks to our earlier visit in first week of January 2012, during which itself i have blocked the rooms at Andavar ASHRAM and also booked a car, right from landing at KMU till departing by Rockfort express at 7.55pm, everey thing went as meticulously as possible with grace of God.In the morning we had also finished dharshan at Lord oppiliappan koil(Where we initially planned to perform the marriage of my daughter which was later shifted to CHENNAI due to exigencies),Thirunageswaram and Garba rashambigai temple.
By the time we finished our day's itineary and boarded the Rock fort , with hot tiffin purchased and packed minutes before the train departure from Krishna bhaan,(oppposite to station)ready for consumption, our hearts and minds were alreay full with peace, content and happiness.
Of course,I missed my son as it is the third or fourth occasion that me, my wife, and my daughter had been to temple but he could not accompany us, as he was earlier away in Bombay and later , now at hONGKONG.But then i firmly believe, as reiterated in the initial para of this blog, that there will be a time for every thing and we should wait for the same, leaving the rest to HIS MAJESTY.I surrender unto HIM in totality.
May the blessings of Lord Srinivasa be bestowed with out limit on every reader/non reader of this blog and their families.
Friday, December 30, 2011
WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR 2012
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
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
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