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.