Happy Children's Day !

                        We can really be proud that our country is unique among the other nations to celebrate the Children's Day on the Birth Anniversary of our charismatic Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
                 
                  The children,the symbols of joy, happiness,love, innocence and purity really deserve all the days as their days.Yet for practical reasons and celebrations, Nov.14 is ear marked for them.There is a popular saying that as God cannot be present everywhere, he created mothers to take His place.

                Similarly,God must have sent children as His substitutes,well illustrated by the meaningful adage,

                        Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum Ondru ! - God and a Child are the same !

                           A Happy Children's Day to all my dear children over the globe !

Sangadam Theerkkum Sani Bhagawan

                                   My long desire of nearly ten years to visit Kuchanoor, the seat of the temple exclusively for Sani Bagawan became a reality with a momentary decision.

                              A comfortable and pleasant drive of nearly 4 hrs. and 30 mins. took us to the abode.We started at 6 A.M. and reached Kuchanur, a very small village at 10.30 A.M. nearly 220 kms. from Coimbatore without any break.This small yet powerful and the only shrine, exclusively for Saturn is situated on the banks of a perennial channel named Surabi.
                           
                         The crows,the Vahana of Sani Bhagawan looked so cute and greeted us as we alighted from the vehicle. The people with belief, buy those crows, made of clay and baked and offer it as Parikaram. A click of those lovely flocks of birds available with almost all the vendors was missed by me, to be regretted even now.

                         The Sani Bhagawan is a Suyambu in the shape of an Achu Vellam circular in shape, broad at the bottom and narrow at the top , about 5 inches tall. The eyes, the nose and the mouth resemble the Sivan of the Kerala style.The namam fixed on the forehead, typical of the Vaishnavite traditions is surprising.A Devi is also seen along with the the Saneeswarar in the main shrine but the name could not be found.

                        Despite the day being a Saturday and a small queue, the darshan at the main  shrine and two small shrines, one each for Vinayaga and Muruga at the back and four shrines, one each for Karuppasamy, Saptha Kannigaiggal and two others in the front
took only 45 mins.

                      The abode, 20 kms. from Theni is scenic with the canal, green trees and as usual, the majestic Vinayaka on the banks of the canal.Extending the drive just by 30 kms., the religious trip becomes a pleasure trip and picnic with the landing and bathing at the enchanting Suruli Falls.