Alter Ego Then and Now

It has been a long time since i met my best pal at college. Since our first meet at college, we have shared a lot of things, she was like me, carefree and good to all. Noori, we used to call her shortly. Till the last day at college, we have been together at the class, canteen, ground, busstop, Trainstation, train!! What not :) We watched movies together. I have been to her home a couple of times, and she has come to my home a few times. After college life, we got job at different places, and lot of things changed. But all the moments we were together were cherished. It is now six years since last day at college. Life has moved on so much,two years back she told me that she was getting married. It was a year back that Noori pinged me once to convey that she was going to be a mother. Today, i have no clue where she is, no mails, no phone :( I wish I could get in touch with her again, lots to share Noori, hope all is fine with you and your family.

Best Wishes from your dear Nith

தாமசத்தயும் பொருத்து அனுக்ரஹித்த சம்பவம்

It was a long day for us, and indeed a blessed one. We went to perform pooja for our vehicles.Srishan was excited to be on the driver seat for the first time,lot of things at his disposal! he did not know what to press, what to hit!!!

When the pooja was over, we took him out of the seat and he cried for pulling him out. So we took him on a ride around our compound, and then played with him for sometime. In the afternoon we had guests at home. Then Srishan had a good sleep for three hours, assuring that the rest of the evening would be peaceful for him. When we decided to attend Swami's Upanyasam at West Mambalam, rain was in our way, and we were not sure if the open school ground would be safe for a 22 month old!!!

Then we thought, this is after all a small hitch, and we took off. When we reached the school, the road was completely jammed and it was drizzling. I took Srishan and ran into the corridors of the school. It was somewhere near the second standard class room that I got place to stand, and most of them were also standing along the corridor. I was not sure what to do, but knew that Srishan was really hungry. So I quickly mixed his cereal, and tried to distract him from the startling crowd. He was telling dhaai dhaaai .. ( bye bye) every now and then, and i assured him that once we see his father, we can leave. I told him , it is raining as much as it rained at Govardhan, and Krishna umachi took the Govardhana giri in one finger. He was listening to my stories,and finished his dinner.

The topic was

SrI deSika stotra-s - 14. SrI kAmAsikAshTakam

Swami did start with his tempo, but people were running for shade becoz of the downpour. Then slowly they found places to sit and listen in peace as the rain slowed down.

I was quite comfortable now, and the rain which was pouring at its best, finally stopped. We got down on the ground and saw that there was some space to move around sans water. We went to a place where my husband could easily identify us. He quickly came to us. I told it was not a good idea to have come in rain. Given the rain had stopped, we could move around the ground. Then he asked me to go to the first floor, where some chairs were put up. I took Srishan to the first floor, where we safely found a place near the auditorium, and there was this UKG chair which i used for Srishan to sit comfortably.

Srishan was in his own world with slate, balpam, Notebook and Sketches.

I was helping him with few pictures now and then. When I realised that he wanted to sleep, I got up and took him. To my surprise,Swami also finished the day's session. So we quickly slipped out of the place to get his blessings at the principal's room. We also spoke to Principal, and she was very sweet. Srishan told her his name ( seeee....shaaannnnn) and she was very happy for that.

We asked her if he had passed interview answering her, so that he could an get admission in the school!!! ( :P)

After seeking Swami's blessing, we still wanted to stick to our plan and get darshan of Sri Venkata Krishnan at Thiruvallikeni. Swetha , whom we had found a new kinship with in also came with us.

We went to the temple, with the hope that it would be fag end of the day, and people would have actually be leaving. We were surprised and thrilled to see the rush as much as a normal day at Thirumalai.

"Puratassi Last saturday" was the factor!!! Then we realised that we did not have enough money to buy special ticket for all of us . With all the thAmasam we had been there, but Aacharyan Thiruvullam which was Swami kadAksham led us to have his darshan without much delay. Soon we came out and thanked the Swami who helped us.

What an apt say, Swami Desika's thirunakshatram reminding us of his words in DayAsathakam

"ahamasmi aparAda Chakravarthi"

This is a truly blessed day!!!

Apaara Karunyam, mattrum oru anubhavam

When we left for chennai by road, we thought about Thiruputkuzhi and Sriperumbudur!!! My husband said, we will go to both the temples,and then to chennai. When we approached Thiruputkuzhi, the temple was actually on the other side of the road, we had to take a right turn. Somehow, since Srishan was asleep , I was not very sure if we should take a right turn. Then we swiftly moved ahead, I thought there would be another gracious moment for that.

When we approached Sriperumbudur, we went into the town, but got stuck at the traffic , and it was already 8.30 pm :(

Hoping to have a darshanam of Emperumanaar, every second at the traffic jam looked like a dissapointment for us, rather the eagerness increased. We took a U turn, hoping to come out of the place, and then took the NH, and the road that connects from chennai to Sriperumbudur, This time there was no traffic, and we reached the temple in 5 mins. We ran quickly, with Srishan almost awake. It was paramaanandham for us to find that the temple was open, due to Navrathri, Thayar had Unjal Sevai and we reached to get her blessings and prasadham. Then the bhattar of Emperumaanar Sannidhi opened the door for us, and we had the immense blessing of Thamugandha Thirumeni. With all the content in mind, and tears in eyes, we left to Chennai.

காவிரி ஸ்நானம்

கிருஷ்ணா ஜெயந்தி கொண்டாட ஒரு அருமையான சந்தர்ப்பம் கிடைத்தது. நாங்கள் மைசூர் சென்றிருந்தோம். அங்கு காவேரி நதியில் நீராடிவிட்டு கரிகட்டா என்ற சிறிய மலைக்கு சென்று வெங்கடேச பெருமாளை சேவித்து விட்டு பின்னர் ஸ்ரீ ரங்கா பட்டணம் சென்று அரங்கநாதனை தரிசித்தோம். ஒரு பக்கெட் நீரில் குளிக்க அடம் பிடிக்கும் ஸ்ரிஷன் அன்று காவேரியில் குதித்து விளையாடினான். உடல் நடுக்கம் எடுத்த பின்பும், போதுமா என்று கேட்டால், இல்லை என்று தலை ஆட்டினான். எனக்கு சிரிப்பு தான் வந்தது. இதற்காக நான் காவேரி அருகில் வீடு வாங்க முடியுமா?

Our trip to Melkote

This is not the first time we had a darshan at Melkote, but it was special because we had been on the auspicious day of Chithirai Thiruvadhirai - The birth Star of Swami Ramanujar. The previous trip was indeed memorable as we had been to Thondanur and Saligramam as well, since it is special due to the blessings of Swami Mudaliandan who had been to Saligramam and Swami Ramanujar who had been to Thondanur.

On our previous Utsavam trip to melkote, it was the fourth day of 10 day Utsavam, and we could attend the goshti where they recite the hymns sung by Azhwars each day. On the final day of the Utsavam, being the Saattrumurai, Thirumanjanam, Purappadu ( Swami blesses the people around the temple going through the streets) and other recitals.

This time, Srishan was the highlight, I have been telling him since morning, that we were going to Melkote to prostrate before Ramanujar ( Thamar Ugandha Thirumeni - One who was idoled by his most beloved disciples ) He was overjoyed, in first place becoz we were taking him out, so he could see traffic, lot of trees, and things of interest. Half way through, he slept in the car seat. We took the Nice road, and cut down our time on traffic by almost half an hour. We started by 12 noon and reached by around 3.15. Srishan woke up, and so I fed him with some cerelac. He also did his usual routines. Then we went inside the temple to find the Thirumanjanam over, and alankaram done. The goshti was there, and around 250 to 300 people. We got the thirumanjana theertha prasadam and also Swami's blessings. Srishan was startled seeing too many people around, but delighted with the prasadams he got. One of our relatives also recognised us and spoke. Then we had a close darshan of Ramanujar. Then we went to have lunch, around 4 PM. Though it was quite late, we had good lunch( Thadhiyaaradhanai) at Vanamamalai Mutt. The highlight was Swami Akkarakani Srinidhi serving us all. I was telling Srishan that he is the one whos CD we play daily to listen to Poorvacharya Stotra Mala. Then we came back and saw that the sannidhi was closed. Srishan had walked inside the temple as a full pradakshinam, and was even more delighted on climbing the steps to the sannidhi of Pillai Lokacharyar. We could not stop him from doing that , he kept on insisting that we hold his hands when he climbs. At one point of time, We just left him, and saw that he was trying to climb the steps on his own. He was too enthusiatic to climb. The next event was Purappadu at around 7 pm. It would be too late for us to return to bangalore, so we left around 6.30 pm. Reached by around 10pm.

Two things amazed me in this trip!!! We were blessed to be there on Swami's thirunakshatram and Acharya purushas were serving and showed their humility

http://picasaweb.google.com/chudamani.ravi/ThamarugandhaTirumeniOnChitiraiThiruvdhirai2010#

Try to follow them - Emberumanaar Utsava kondaattam

10 Principles Koorathazhwan

FALL IN LOVE WITH GOD

Pray with sincerity humility and gratitude for atleast 15 minutes a day.

RESTRICT FOOD CONSUMPTION

Eat anything only after offering it to God.

MEDITATION

Meditate on the beauty of God, at least thrice a day,

atleast a minimum of 3 minutes each time. Chant Sri Vishnu

Sahasranamam (the 1000 Holy Names of Lord Vishnu) once a day.

RESPECT FOR ALL THAT IS HIS

Strive to lead a life in which you will never hurt

a fellow living being for any reason.

MONEY

Earn to live, educate, support and serve and not for

the sake of pursuing materialistic desires.

CHARITY

Donate however little it may be to noble causes.

Feeding the needy is the highest form of charity.

CONTENTMENT

Be happy and content that you are His. Thank your preceptors at least

once a day for blessing you with this awareness.

ABSOLUTE FAITH

Place complete trust in the supreme LORD. Do not go against His way.

SELF – CONTROL

Strive to live a life free from selfish desire and anger.

Always adorn a peaceful smile; it will work on others and on you too

Stack building

http://www.youtube.com/user/chudamaniravi#p/a/u/0/3utpXsWAJtc

SRISHAN building stacks

Bugs here and bugs there

After Darisanam of Thiruvengadamudayaan at Thirumalai, we came down and went to Govindarajapatnam, and had the blessings of Govindarajar. Since the time was 6pm already, we decided not to proceed to bangalore, and instead stay there overnight, and then drive the next morning. So we took a room at the Srinivasam Complex there, and stayed that night. When we checked in , it was already 10.30 pm, so we thought we could sleep until 5 am and then start. We had shock after we switched off the lights. In few minutes, my son who was in deep sleep started to cry like he had seen a monster :( We were wondering what could be the reason. I thought he might have had dreams about the head shave, and frightened. We switched on the lights and saw that he was crying with his eyes closed. Then we saw bed bugs all over his bed. We took him out of the bed and thoroughly searched him all over, and made sure he did not have any on his body. Then we removed the bed spread and saw that there were more bugs. I was reminded of the MUMMY movie, I felt really sad for taking this decision to stay there for which my toddler was suffering. Then we took him to another room where we applied odomos and i put him on the lap and made him sleep. I had to sit for the rest of the night and wrap him in towel, to keep him away from bed bugs and mosquitoes. It was a very horrifying experience which I hope doesnt happen to anybody else.

Back home we took out all our luggages carefully and kept them on the veranda, searched them thoroughly before putting the clothese to wash. People going to stay in such places, beware of bed bugs!!!!

Blessings came in bundle

Offlate I was not getting any time for blogs. But i thought this was worth a blog, as i experienced it myself. When we started to come to chennai, it was already 7.45 am and we wanted to reach before 2pm as the VIPs of the inauguration of Assembly were coming on the same day. To make things worse, my son could not digest the milk he had in the morning and threw up. We had to change his dress and then make him feel comfortable, after all he was a toddler. He had 1 idli and then after some play he slept. Thanks to the car seat my Sis in law has given me, he could sleep comfortably. We were crossing Sriperumbudur around 12.15pm, my husband asked me if we could try a chance to worship at the temple there. We changed our course to the temple, and reached in 2 mins. There was absolutely no crowd, i was surprised, as it was a saturday. Then we found that the temple was almost closed, and there was one small portion of the door open. We still did not leave hope, and wanted to check if the sannidhis were open. So we rushed in. For me, it was like a dream. I have been showing Ramanujar's photo to my son, and he used to recognise it, and say aaaa aaaaaa. He says that for every other thing though. The grill was locked, but there came a person from inside, he opened the grill for us, and the Swami incharge of the sannidhi asked us to wait a minute. He then pulled the screen and let us have the blessings of Emberumaanar, which was when i got tears in my eyes. My son was asleep when we had just reached the temple, and as i had taken him on my hands, he had woken up, wondering where he was, pointing to Gopuram and Dwajasthambam and a lot of other things which he usually keep pointing. This time, he was in joy, and when i asked where is Emberumaanar, he pointed his finger to the Moolavar, and then we felt so blessed. We then came back with prasadam and realised what a timing it was, that Ramanujar gave us that drive to go and seek his blessings. Indeed in bundle!!!