The Search

                                     My search for a particular text book for more than 2000 minutes came to an end just within 2 minutes,making me ponder over it from a few angles. 

                                      One of the text books, prescribed for the elective paper for our PG course was not available, both at the local stores and with the two popular online sellers.I had a talk with my counterparts of three colleges and the reply was that they had chosen a different elective as the book was not available and nothing relevant could be down loaded from the net.One of them even suggested me to change the elective,highlighting the advantages of the paper, they have opted.

                                 On making a request to one of my colleagues to help me through her spouse who works in an other college,the reactions were,

       Did you check in our library?
       Why can't you try with the Amazon?
       May be it's available with the Flipcart!
       Give me the name of the Publishers as many of them are known to me during my
       course of research.

                  Again, a few acquaintances were contacted with the request and two of them replied within a couple of days that the book was not available.Still, even after a week, the response is pending from the other two persons.The tenth call was to a counterpart, who told me about her ordeals on going for the same text.It was decided mutually to help each other.

                 With the frantic search for four days, while relaxing at 5.00 P.M. back at home, a thought flashed in my mind. The prescribed text being a book, related with communication skills, might also be available in the reputed Engineering College, where a nephew of me, is a faculty. He sits in his department even after the working hours,busy with his research work.On calling him,he said,'' Athai ( aunty ) I 'll call you back in 5 minutes. " But he called me back within a couple of minutes.

              The list of books of their library,being available in the systems of all their Departments, he called me in two minutes and handed the book in 2 hours.

              My Odyssey for more than 2000 minutes happily ended within 2 minutes, making me really thankful to him.

             Can this be interpreted that there is truly something to be called the 
" right time" whatever might be efforts.Had I contacted my nephew  first,the related experience and the lessons learned from the search could have been missed.

           Let us get ready to learn from any search or an experience and enjoy!

                         

                                         
                

The Andal temple

                              The majestic towers of the popular Andal Kovil of Srivilliputhur greets the devotees well in advance before they reach the town.We visit the temple at least once in a year but only during our latest visit, the grandeur of the gopuram was captured in the camera.

                             It is a matter of great joy and pride for my mother in law that the Rajagopuram of the Andal temple of her home town, Srivilliputhur is the official emblem of our state.Naturally the town happens to be the birth place of my spouse and his two sisters.The Andal Ther is very magnificent to look at on the move. Really blessed and fortunate are those, outside the town, who can make to that occasion on the day of Thiruadipooram,the birth day of the great Vaishnavite saint and composer,Andal, whose Pasurams vibrate in the dawn during the month of Margazhi.

                       An ancient Siva temple at Madarvilagam, 2 km. from the Andal temple is also worth seeing. The town of Srivilliputhur is also well known for its pure milk sweet,called Palkova.No visitor to the town returns without the Palkova.

                     

A Big Congrats

                                A big congrats to the the great men and women who were honoured with the medals, citations and cash certificates by the CM for their exemplary services, on the occasion of the Independence Day.Really, their courage and service to the state is to be lauded and they are going to be role models and sources of inspiration to the people with the similar bent of mind.

                         Mostly, the Independence Day for me,like every one is a day of joy,honestly speaking,because it is a holiday.At times, we plan for an outing or a picnic.This year the festive mood of the people could be witnessed from the crowded bus stands and traffic on the the highways with ID falling prior to the week end.

                      With no plans, today morning, sitting in front of the TV and watching the ID
celebrations in Chennai, these bureaucrats, elected people and the  entrepreneurs felicitated by the highest authority of the state  moved me and made my day.

Arul Tharum Amma koniamma

                          Arultharum Koniamman, in a sitting posture in the temple, situated in the heart of the city of Coimbatore is a powerful deity, guarding the entire region and blessing her devotees.The Kumbhabhishekam of the temple was held on a grand scale on July 11, Friday.The newly built Rajagopuram is very majestic that no passerby can cross the threshold without bowing the head.The grandeur of the Gopuram adds value to the already popular temple and one of the important tourist destinations of Coimbatore.

                    Only yesterday, the day of Aadi Ammavasai, we could make it the temple  after the consecration.This post is an outcome of the elegance of the grand tower, the Navagrahas with their consorts, rarely seen in the temples and the omniscient Goddess.

    Suryan         Usha Devi, Saya Devi
    Chandran     Rohini
    Chevvai       Sakthi Devi
    Budhan       Gnana Devi
    Viyazhan     Thara Devi
    Velli            Shukkruthi
    Sani            Neela Devi
    Rahu           Himshika
    Kethu         Chitralekha
           

                  There are separate shrines for Vinayakar, Murugar and Adhi Koniamman. Festivals galore throughout the year, the main one being the Car Festival, celebrated in the month of Masi.Let us be a part of the celebration and get the blessings of the Devi Koniamman.

Gods Do Listen To Us

                            Gods do listen to us and help us, wherever and whenever possible is known to all of us.At times it is quite explicit.For the past two decades, I fervently wanted to take part in the Perumal Koil car festival,Ther Vizha at our hometown Sattur. That was only a dream till last week.This year, it was firmly decided by me to to  worship the Satthurappan with his consorts, Sridevi and Poodevi in the Ther at any cost.

Sathurappan,Venkatesa Perumal

                     Initially the festival was scheduled on Thursday,July 12. The day,being the middle of the week, some constraints in availing leave from work, left me to do nothing but lament.

                      It is really a miracle that Sattur Venkatesa Perumal must have listened to me. For reasons unknown, the Car Festival was rescheduled on Saturday, July 12, a week end, facilitating our trip from Coimbatore to Sattur without any hassles of Casual leave.
Started from my workplace at 4 PM on Friday, July 11, and halted at Madurai.Next day, early in the morning, we worshipped the Subramania Swamy and Deivanai in Thiruparankundram and reached Sattur at 10 AM to pull the Ther at 11 AM.The next day, on Sunday, we visited the famous Andal temple at Srivilliputhur and also our family deity Matha Angalaparameswariamman temple.

                    Later we could also make a darshan and get the blessings of the powerful Muthumariamman of Perumaldevanpatti, a village 8 kms off Srivilliputhur.The village is proudly called as Kutti Punjab, as nearly 800 people from the village were and are defending our nation, safely with the blessings of Muthumariamman of their hometown.
 for nea
               My spouse and mother in law could also extend their stay for a fortnight at Sattur to complete some works kept pending at our ancestral home for more than seven decades.

             A big thanks to Venkatesa Perumal for helping us to accomplish several tasks in a single trip,only by rescheduling the day of His Ther Thiruvizha.

                       Gods do listen to us, don't they?

Salutations to the Divine Woman, Dr. Catherine Hamlin

           Let me dedicate this Women's Day, March 08 to the Divine Lady, Dr. Catherine Hamlin, an Australian Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, settled in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, dedicating her life to the service of the underprevileged women suffering from Obstetric Fistula, an injury caused during child birth.

      The credit of coming to know about this great soul,Dr. Catherin and the physiological
problem of our poverty stricken sisters in Africa goes to my favourite daily, The Hindu, which in turn happens to be the main window to me for a glimpse of the the world around me.A chance reading of the article about the noble and unselfish task of Dr.Catherine  with her husband, Dr.Hamlin, a New Zealander in Africa stirred my heart.

    The highly commendable humanitarian gesture of such kind hearted women should often be highlighted while magazines list the powerful women of the world in the corporate sector,political front,films and fine arts etc.

  As God cannot be present everywhere, it is said that he created mothers.

 Yes, Divine mothers like Dr. Catherine Hamlin,actively serving the downtrodden even at
  the age of 90  are the living Gods of Earth.

  It is certain that the nominee is sure to be the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
 

Super Suruli Falls

                                On seeing the Suruli Falls at close quarters, the thought "What is this Falls, so small, compared to the various Falls of Coutrallam " flashed in my mind.But only after the water started hitting my head like rocks, the force of the Falls was apparent, seeming more vibrant than the other Falls.

                           Starting from Coimbatore at 5.30 A.M.,We reached the Suruli Falls at a distance of nearly 270 Kms.On the way, there was a halt at Kuchanoor just 30 Kms. before Suruli,to pray to the Sani Bhagawan.Landing at Suruli around 1 P.M.,to our joy there was not much crowd, enabling a bath to our heart's content.The Falls is accessible only after walking through a greenery for 15 mins.from the parking lot.

                   Suruli Falls is actually the Suruli river, originating from the Meghamali. It is a two tier Water Falls.It is said that the Falls is perenial and it is emerging as one of tourist attractions of the Theni District.This scenic Falls is at a distance of 56 kms. from Theni and about 120 kms. from Madurai.