A Wild Inspiration- Living Root Bridge, Cherrapunji, India

 A Wild Inspiration- Living Root Bridge, Cherrapunji, India

As a nature lover, how can I miss the living miracle of Nature? 

My trek to enjoy the nature's wonder inspired me to seek more!!

Though our journey was planned during the dry seasons at Cherrapunji, I knew I could make it easily only during that time. Though not my first experience trekking, We, 8 of us, youngsters planned the trek. Rest of the travelers planned for sight seining in cherrapuji.

I loved the walk down the steep steps leading down to a village in a valley & crossing a river walking through the iron bridge which was hanging. It would have been an exquisite sight in the monsoon as now it had little water and a blue pool with a tiny fall. 

Peoples' perceptions of things vary. Though you are optimistic, there is always this thought in our minds what if we could not make it? The day before our trek was planned, I heard several people tell me that it is going to be risky. The trek route was explained and we were given instructions not to carry much things. As nature & adventure lover, I didn’t listen to what people said. I was determined to take the trip.

The Journey:

The guy at our resort drew a map of the trek explaining the route. There were a couple of single root bridges, villages, natural pool with a double deck root bridge, Natural rainbow pool (which we didn’t go due to time constraints)

We began early in the morning (by 5:30 AM) from the resort we stayed and the driver took us to some place nearby, a 15-20 minutes’ drive. Enjoying the sun rise, we began our trek down by 6:05 AM. We were offered sticks and a guide also accompanied us. There were around 1500 steps leading down to a valley were there was a village. From that village were 2 routes. One in the right leading to a single root bridge & the one in left leading to double deck Root Bridge naturally set up in front of a small water fall. We marched towards the double deck root bridge. On the way to the double deck bridge was another single root bridge, crossing which was a small chai (tea) stall.

Now was a small climb up leading to the wonderful sight of the double deck bridge. I am not good at expressing my feelings while I look at nature. My mind becomes blank. Actually no thoughts crosses that I fail to even listen. I capture those shots in the camera of my mind. Then slowly coming to presence, I started taking pics with my friends walking around. Few walking on the root bridge, few getting in to the water falls, few enjoying the chillness of the water while my brother Ganesh Anna (Vignesh Chaithanya ji) simply seated on the huge rock near the falls and enjoying the sight calmly. The tiny waterfall had a natural pool with ample water for us to have a chill dip. The water was crystal clear. The fishes, black pricked my legs. I spent time accompanying them, and sooner they started accompanying me, softly pricking my feet.

The bed of the pool were covered with small pebbles and the crystal clear water hid the depth. The water again fell down and ran as a canal. Above this second fall is the double deck root bridge. The tree living for centuries, had created a bridge with its root, letting people cross. Nature is wonderful.

The wild Inspiration

Taking few dips standing in middle of the pool, enjoying the cold water which normalized sooner with my body, with sun shining straight at me, peeking in between the two root bridges, I had few moments of oneness with nature. There are lots of learnings from the MASTER GIVER- NATURE. Everything in Nature is a GIVER. All the Pancha Boothas: elixirs of life- Land, water, air, space and fire are all GIVERS.

The root bridge which stood in front of me, a miracle, also taught me how to be independent and strong. It built for itself crossing the river, letting out its root, strong enough and helping people walk through them. So, to help others, to be a giver, we need nothing but to be STRONG and INDEPENDENT. No one can stop you from being a Giver. The art of giving with expecting nothing in return is to be mastered from the Nature.

The root bridge dawned in me this thought to be a GIVER. Do I need to have something to give? I questioned myself? To give love, I guess I need a good heart. Rest will happen. When I am determined to be a GIVER, the universe will respond back, I thought. The nature aided the formation of the bridge by itself. Nobody helped it. The tree in itself had the capability!

Also, when I master myself, out of which I will learn to be calm, I can stay where I am peacefully. The feeling of oneness with nature will bring me peace of mind, inner peace, and fulfillment. I can be a giver and be where I am. Period.

Though we exploit nature by all means, it stays calm. It does not hurt us back. It expects nothing back in return. The SELFLESSNESS.

Post the dip, we had a quick change of clothes and started back skipping the rainbow fall. The guide informed us that it is another 20 minutes trek to the natural swimming pool where one can see a waterfall with the rainbow falling into it. Due to time constraint & as we had elders travelling with us who were waiting for us in the resort, we skipped the trek to rainbow falls and started walking back to the starting point. The climb up was little tedious. We took a small break at the chai stall were we had our breakfast which we carried with us form the resort, had good chai and walked up the steep steps. The sight of the hills, valleys, rivers, waters, trees, fruits, and fascinating flowers gathered our attention. We took pics & selfies, groupies and slowly climbed back to the starting point. We were back by 11 AM. I totally enjoyed the trek and immediately made up my mind to take up more such treks and also to make it to rainbow falls during the monsoonJ. Hope someday I will.

We must look for means to thank nature. At the least we must make sure we don’t harm them, exploit them. 

Thiruthani Murugan Temple

Thiruthani Sri Subramanya Swami temple

This temple @ Thiruthani needs no propaganda as it is one of the Renowned abode of Lord Muruga. This is my first blog on Lord Muruga & this visit is my first visit to this temple as well. This temple is said to have 325 steps. There is also road leading to the temple.

குன்றிருக்கும் இடம் குமரன் இருப்பிடம்

As the above tamil statement, wherever there is a hill, the residing deity is Lord Muruga or Subramaniya Swami, the Son of Lord Shiva.  Lord Muruga is seen as Tamil Kadavul or Lord of the Tamil people as He has lot of things to do with Tamil.

My Trip: 

   I actually had no plans to visit this temple. We actually visited a temple at Putlur near Thivallur and as I had this long time wish of visiting this temple, IT actually happened. 

அவனருளாலே அவன்  தாழ் வணங்கி 

As a blessing We(Myself & my husband) drove to this temple and we were the gifted to have darshan of the Lord as last ones as it was closing time. The temple is like every other Murugar temple on hill top. The Lord gave us Darshan as a King in Green colored dress. As the day before our visit was the occassion of Krithikai & Shasti together we could see lot of decorations in temple. One cannot miss seeing devotees in every directing chanting "Arohara அரோஹரா " and carrying Kavadi (காவடி ) for the Lord.

The Lords consorts Valli is seen in seperate sanctum to the Lords' left & Deivanai to his right. The Praharam is small one with Adi Thanigai velam ( The old deity) placed just behind the main sanctum in the praharam. There is also Durgai in the praharam as seen in every Shivan temple.

We could see the temple painted newly and there is also a new Gopuram under construction.

The view of temple from the road

The Gopuram under construction

தடங்கல்கள் நீங்க இந்த ஸ்லோகம் சொல்வது நல்லது.

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சத்ரு சங்கார வேல் பதிகம்

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For the Pathigam you can refer to my earlier blog:

Official website of the temple:

http://www.tirutanigaimurugan.tnhrce.in/

சத்ரு சங்கார வேல் பதிகம் / Shatru Samhara Vel Pathigam

தடங்கல்கள் நீங்க இந்த ஸ்லோகம் சொல்வது நல்லது.

************

சத்ரு சங்கார வேல் பதிகம்

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ஸ்ரீ கணேசாய நம :

ஸ்ரீ குமார குருதாஸ சுவாமிநே  நம:

காப்பு

சண்முகக் கடவுள் போற்றி ! சரவணத்(து) உதித்தோய் போற்றி!

கண்மணி முருகா போற்றி ! கார்த்திகை பாலா போற்றி!

தண்மலர் கடப்ப மாலை தாங்கிய தோளா போற்றி !

விண்மதி வதன வள்ளி வேலவா போற்றி ! போற்றி !!

நூல்

அப்பமுடன் அதிரசம் பொரிகடலை துவரை வடை

அமுது செய் இபமுகவனும்

ஆதிகேசவன் இலட்சுமி திங்கள் தினகரன்

அயிராவதம் வாழ்கவே !

முப்பத்து முக்கோடி வானவர்கள் இடர்தீர

முழுது பொன்னுலகம் வாழ்க!

மூவரொடு கருட கந்தருவர் கிம்புருடரும்

முதுமறைக் கிழவர் வாழ்க !

செப்பரிய இந்திரன் தேவி அயிராணிதன்  

திருமங்கலம் வாழ்கவே !

சித்த வித்யாதரர் கின்னரர்கள் கனமான

தேவதைகள் முழுதும் வாழ்க !

சப்தகலை விந்துக்கும் ஆதியாம் அதிரூப

சரஹணனை நம்பினவர் மேல்

தர்க்கமிட நாடினரைக் குத்தி எதிராடிவிடும்

சத்ரு சங்கார வேலே. (1) 

சித்தி சுந்தரி கெளரி அம்பிகை க்ருபாநிதி

சிதம்பரி சுதந்தரி பர

சிற்பரி சுமங்கலி நிதம்பரி விடம்பரி

சிலாசுதை விலாச விமலி

குத்து திரிசூலி திரிகோணத்தி ஷட்கோண

குமரி கங்காளி ருத்ரி

குலிச ஓங்காரி ஹ்ரீங்காரி ஹாங்காரி ஹூங்

காரி ஈம்காரி அம்மா!

முத்தி காந்தாமணி முக்குண துரந்தரி

மூவர்க்கும் முதல்வி ஞான

முதுமறைக் கலைவாணி அற்புத புராதனி

மூவுலகுமான ஜோதி

சக்தி சங்கரி நீலி கமலி பார்வதி தரும்

சரஹணனை நம்பினவர்மேல்

தர்க்கமிட நாடினரைக் குத்தி எதிராடிவிடும்

சத்ரு சங்கார வேலே. (2)

மூரியுள முப்பத்து முக்கோடி தேவரும்

முனிவரொடும் அசுரர் கூடி

முழுமந்த்ர கிரிதன்னை மத்தாகவே செய்து

முற்கணத்(து) அமுது பெறவே

கோரமுள வாசுகியின் ஆயிரம் பகுவாயில்

கொப்பளிதிடு விடங்கள்

கோளகையும் அண்டங்கள் யாவையும் எரித்திடும்

கொடிய அரவினைப் பிடித்து

வீரமுடன் வாயினால் குத்தி உதிரம் பரவ

இரு தாளிலே மிதித்து

விரித்துக் கொழுஞ்சிற(கு) அடித்தே எடுத்(து)  உதறும்

விதமான தோகைமயிலில்

சாரியாய்த் தினம் ஏறி விளையாடி வரு முருக

சரஹணனை நம்பினவர்மேல்

தர்க்கமிட நாடினரைக் குத்தி எதிராடிவிடும் 

சத்ரு சங்கார வேலே. (3)

உக்ரமுள தாருகன் சிங்கமுக சூரனும்

உன்னுதற்(கு) அரிய சூரன்

உத்திகொளும் அக்னிமுகன்  பானுகோபன் முதல்

உத்தண்ட அசுரர் முடிகள்

நெக்குவிடக் கரி புரவி தேர்கள் வெள்ளம் கோடி

நெடிய பாதங்கள் கோடி

நிறையிலா அஸ்திரம் வெகு கோடிகள் குருதி

நீரில் சுழன்று உழலவே

தொக்கு தொகு தித்தி திமி டுண்டு டுடு டகுகு டிகு

துந்து திமி டங்கு குகு டிங்கு குகு சங்கு கென

தொந்தக் கவந்தம் ஆட

சக்ரமொடு சக்திவிடு தணிகை சென்னியில் வாழும்

சரஹணனை நம்பினவர் மேல்

தர்க்கமிட நாடினரைக் குத்தி எதிராடிவிடும்

சத்ரு சங்கார வேலே. (4)

    

  

அந்தியிற் பேய் உச்சியுறு  முனி காட்டேரி

அடங்காத பகல் இருசியும்

அகோர கண்டங் கோர கண்ட சூனியம் பில்லி

அஷ்டமோகினி பூதமும்

சந்தியா நவ குட்டிசாத்தி வேதாளமும்

சாகிநி டாகிநிகளும்

சாமுண்டி பகவதி ரத்தக்காட்டேரி முதல்

சஞ்சரித்திடு முனிகளும்

சிந்தை நொந்(து) அலறி திருவெண்ணீறு காணவே

தீயிலிடு மெழுகு போலத்

தேகம் எல்லாம் கருகி நீறாகவே நின்று

சென்னி இரு தணிகை மலையில்

சந்ததம் கலியாண சாயுஜ்ய பதம் அருளும்

சரஹணனை நம்பினவர் மேல்

தர்க்கமிட நாடினரைக் குத்தி எதிராடி வரும்

சத்ரு சங்கார வேலே. (5)    

கண்டவிட பித்தமும் வெப்பு தலைவலி இருமல்

காமாலை சூலை குஷ்டம்

கண்டமாலை தொடைவாழை வாய்ப் புற்றினொடு

கடினமாம் பெருவியாதி

அண்ட ஒணாத ஜுரம் சீதள வாத ஜுரம்

ஆறாத பிளவை குன்மம்

அடங்காத இருபக்து  மேகமுடன் நாலு லக்

கத்தில் எண்ணாயிரம் பேர்

கொண்ட பல நோய்களும் வேல் என்(று)  உரைத்திடக்

கோ என்ன ஓலமிட்டுக்

குலவு தினகரன் முனம் மஞ்சு போல் நீங்கிடும்

குருபரன் நீறணிந்து

சண்டமாருத கால உத்தண்ட கெம்பீர

சரஹணனை நம்பினவர் மேல்

தர்க்கமிட நாடினரைக் குத்தி எதிராடிவிடும்

சத்ரு சங்கார வேலே. (6) 

மகமேரு உதயகிரி அஸ்தகிரியும் சக்ர

வாளகிரி நிடதவிந்தம்

மா உக்ரதர நரசிம்மகிரி அத்திகிரி

மலைகளொடு மதனம் சுமவா

ஜெகமெடுத்திடு புட்ப தந்தம் ஐராவதம்

சீர்புண்டரீக குமுதம்

செப்பு சாருவபௌமம் அஞ்சனம் சுப்பிர

தீப வாமனாதி வா

சுகி மகாபதுமன் அனந்தன் கார்க்கோடகன்

சொற்சங்கபால குளிகன்

தூய தக்கன் பதும சேடனோடு அரவெலாம்

துடித்துப் பதைத்(து) அதிரவே

தக தகென நடனமிடும் மயிலேறி விளையாடு

சரஹணனை நம்பினவர்மேல்

தர்க்கமிட நாடினரை குத்தி எதிராடிவிடும்

சத்ரு சங்கார வேலே. (7)

திங்கள் பிரமாதியரும் இந்த்ராதி தேவரும்

தினகரரும் முனிவரோடு

சித்ரபுத்திரர் மௌலி அகலாமல் இருபதம்

சேவித்து நின்று தொழவும்

மங்கை திருவாணியும் அயிராணியொடு சப்த

மாதர் இரு தாள் பணியவும்

மகாதேவர் செவி உறப் ப்ரணவம் உரைத்திட

மலர்ந்த  செவ்வாய்கள் ஆறும்

கொங்கை களபம் புனுகு ஜவ்வாது மண வள்ளி

குமரி தெய்வானையுடனே

கோதண்டபாணியும் நான்முகனுமே புகழ்

குலவு திருத்தணிகை மலைவாழ்

 பங்கயக்கர குமர

சரஹணனை நம்பினவர்மேல்

தர்க்கமிட நாடினரைக் குத்தி எதிராடிவிடும்

சத்ரு சங்கார வேலே. (8)  

மண்டலம் பதினாலு லோகமும் அசைந்திட

வாரிதி ஓர் எழும் வறள

வலிய  அசுரர் முடிகள் பொடிபடக் கிரவுஞ்சம்

மாரி  எழத் தூளியாக

கொண்டல் நிறம்  கொளும் அசுரர் அண்டங்கள்  எங்குமே

கூட்டமிட்(டு)  ஏக அன்னார்

குடல் கை கால் உடல் மூளை தலைகள் வெவ்வேறாகக்

குத்திப் பிளந்தெறிந்து

அண்டர் பணி கதிகாமம் பழநி சுப்பிரமணியம்

ஆவினன்குடி ஏரகம்

அருணாசலங் கயிலை தணிகைமலை மீதில் உறை

அறுமுகப் பரமகுருவாம்

சண்டமாருத கால சம்ஹார அதிதீர

சரஹணனை நம்பினவர்மேல்

தர்க்கமிட நாடினரைக் குத்தி எதிராடிவிடும்

சத்ரு சங்கார வேலே. (9)

மச்சம் குதித்து நவமணி தழுவ வந்தநதி

வையாபுரிப் பொய்கையும்

மதியை முத்தஞ்செயும் பொற்கோபுரத்(து)  ஒளியும்

வான்மேவு கோயிலழகும்

உச்சிதமான திருவாவினன் குடியில் வாழ்

உம்பர் இடர் முடி நாயகன்

உக்ரமயில்  ஏறிவரு முருக சரஹணபவன்

ஓங்கார சிற்சொருப வேள்

அச்சுத க்ருபாகரன் ஆனை   முறை செய்யவே

ஆழியை விடுத்(து) ஆனையை

அன்புடன் இரட்சித்த திருமால் முகுந்தன் எனும்

ஹரி கிருஷ்ண ராமன் மருகன்

சச்சிதானந்த பரரான ஈசுரர்தந்த 

சரஹணனை நம்பினவர்மேல்

தர்க்கமிட நாடினரைக் குத்தி எதிராடிவிடும்

சத்ரு சங்கார வேலே. (10)

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Vekkaliamman Temple, Trichy

Vekkaliamman Temple, Trichy

Vekkaliamman , Goddess Shakthi here is seated in Woraiyur without any roof on her top. Be it hot sun, or rain, she has the Sky as her roof. Trichy being a very hot city in Tamilnadu, she mostly is seated enjoying the heat of the sun.  She is believed to be more powerful goddess. The temple is a small one. Though there is no roof top for the Goddess, a Mandapam kind of temple is raised around the goddess.

There is a rectangular Arch at the very entrance and to you left you will find small sanactums (or Sannidhis)  for various Gods like Vinayagar, Murugan, Karuppannasami (who is the security God of the villagers/the area), Hanumar. after the darshan of all these deities, you can join the queue to have the darshan of the Goddess. There are also free as well as paid darshan.

People bring garlands, sarees, lemon garlands and the same is being offered to the goddess. We really enjoyed watching the goddess wearing different colors of saree within our darshan. We also enjoyed the Aarthi as we went during the evening arthi time I guess 6 PM.

People write letters to the goddess on an yellow paper which is placed in the sactum & is being tied before her. It is believed that the needs of the people are being addressed by the Goddess. I believe it as quite a stress buster for people and also a communication to the God.

One another thing I noticed as the highest offering is people pay for the Chariot & the Goddess comes around the sanctum in the evenings.

Note: You will have to take the bus from Chatram Bus stand that goes via Woraiyur. From the bus stand of Vekkalaiamman temple, You can take an Auto or walk to the teample which must be less than 1KM. we enjoyed the walk to the temple. There are lots of shops on the way and in front of the temple

From the Bus stop before you go to the temple, you will have to cross the Famous Nachiyar temple where Lord Renganathar comes ones in a year, gives his ring to Nachiyar & get caught by Renganayaki Thayar. Its a wonderful festival to be enjoyed.

Further reference:

http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=795
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vekkali_Amman_Temple

Coorg or The Kudagu

Coorg

Coorg or the Kudagu is a district in the state of Karnataka,India where the famous south Indian river Kauvery originates. You can plan a short trip over a weekend or a long weekend of 3 or 4 days to Coorg.

The beautiful flower blossomed with rain drops on it

If you planning to start from Chennai, you have Kauvery express during night, which will pick you after your dinner @ 9 PM and drop you at Mysore for your breakfast. From Mysore, you will have a 2-3 hour Journey to Coorg

Always pre-book vehicles for journey & also your accommodation while you travel to any such hill stations. Always include Jerkins, Umbrellas, socks, shoes, Sweaters, Mufflers in your packing in addition to your usual dresses.

The climate:
The season is during the months of June to August, when it rains in Coorg.
We visited during the month of July and during the month of July, the climate is very cool and quite unpredictable. Within few moments, there is rain and the next moment there is mist everywhere. It drizzles on and off and the movement of the wind along with the drizzle make it a lively thing to watch. It is like a wave  in the air. There were only few minutes of sun shine seen.

Tala Kauvery:
Thala cauvery is the origin point from where the holy river Kauvery starts her journey.
The walk from the place where the Cab dropped us to the thala cauvery temple was awesome. Actually all we could see were white mist. We couldn't even see the person standing at 3 foot distance. In few moments it started raining. In the cool climate we sheltered in the nearby shops where the owner made us Garama garam Pakodas (Hot Pakodas). Had them accompanied with ginder Tea.. Wow! a nice experience..!!

Once the rain receded a little we walked to the temple. It was a beautiful temple with a shrine over the origin point. few people took a holy dip besides the rain. It must have been shivering. The monument of the bell at the entrance attracted my attention. We went around the temple enjoying the drizzle and returned back to our Cab.

Thriveni sangamam

Very few Kilometers down below Thala Kauvery is Thriveni Sangamam where there are 2 other streams joining hands with the holy Kauveri. I took a holy dip here and had darshan of the Lord at
Bhagamandala temple. The temple was clean and we had the prasad. Walking back to the cab, took some pics and started back to our hotel.

Raja's Seat
This place is quite a garden with a seat where the late King of Coorg had sat to enjoy his leisure and see the sunset & sunrise. The view from this place is awesome as down below you can see the hills, the green valleys, plateau, agriculture fields, the zigzag roads and the vehicles moving in them. Often the mist covers the beautiful sight for all you see is white mist blocking the sight. You will have to wait for them to clear and enjoy the nature.

Kids can enjoy a small ride in a toy train here.

Abbey's Falls

Abbey's falls is overflowing in the month of July- August. Though you cannot take bath here, the sight of the fall overflowing gives overflowing joy to the eyesight & the mind. The walk to the fall from the main road, listening to the buzzing sound quieten the mind out of all the thoughts and the snowy white water rejuvenates every cells. I had goose bumps having the sight of the falls. It rained 4 times in the 20 minutes time I spent there. This On & Off rain with its drizzles made me long for something hot to drink & I enjoyed the Coffee of Coorg in the coffee shop on the main road.

Dubare & White water rafting

We also enjoyed white water rafting near the Dubare forest. The dubare forest is famous for the elephants, but it was closed that day. We enjoyed watching river Kauvery flowing amidst the trees near the forest. what a lovely sight. I would have stayed there for even longer. My thoughts went several centuries back as described by Amarar Kalki in his novel, "Ponniyin selvan". How rich and prosperous the river had been in the past. It was a feast to my eyes & I will say as one among the best moments of my life

Few of us planned and enjoyed the White water rafting. The rafting was a good experience. Post my earlier experience in river Ganga, I was quite comfortable to jump  and plunge in to the water. There was water roaring at some hurdles and the entire journey of 5 kms was totally enjoyable with greenery set as boundaries running parallel to us. The river was wide and we also saw the Nisargadhama Bamboo forest as one of the banks of the river.


The walk
 Aah!!.. I always like to go on a walk in hilly places to just feel the climate, environment and enjoy nature. The walk was quite pleasant in the evening and we stopped at some places having fun touching the "Touch me Not" plant which was abundant all through the region we walked.

Tips for Packing:

In addition to the dresses you carry for the stay, carry the below items
1. Always carry an umbrella as the climate at coorg is unpredictable.
2. Jerkins/ sweaters, Mufflers
3. Socks, Gloves
4. Appropriate Footwear as it also rains and your shoes may get soaked, have  a pair of sandals too
5. 2 pairs of extra dresses  if you have plans of getting holy dip @ Thala Kauvery and Triveni sangamam

THE TEST

The Test

Hi pals. writing this blog after quite some time. Had been busy for sometime

(Below is a quick consolidation of my readings & subsequent thought processes)

There lived a girl who was so pure at heart, very kind, generous, more helping, more available for others, spent time for others, took the priorities of the ones she loved as her own. Laughed with them, safe guarded them from any hurdles, any pain, cared for them & loved them as thyself. Life is always beautiful to her.

God smiled! He planned a test!

 HE gave her more hurdles in life. She still wanted to help and be good. She did. But God also gave a test which made her realize and understand the true colors of people. Whom she had loved so far turned to be the ones who were using her for their own personal gains. When she realized this, she backed off. Started giving a little space. A gap. This annoyed them that they started reacting harshly. They started blaming her for being SELFISH.

      She was astonished, terrified. After all the things she did for the ones she loved, she was given the name, "SELFISH"?. She then realized that "SELF RESPECT" is more important than anything else. This test made her realize that she can have her own priorities. They wanted her to be their slave. The test impacted her.

When she asked for her RIGHTS, she was denied. She was insulted. She was thrown out. No one wanted her anymore. She had a CHOICE. The change she wanted to make was within her. She understood that the cannot change anyone but herself. She changed in a good way. Not at the cost of forsaking her integrity. For her INTEGRITY is everything. She actually pitied the poor souls who threw her away, who used her, who insulted & hurted her. She smiled. She simply thanked GOD. Lesson well learnt. She did not stop loving people. Instead she started being more careful this time & started loving the people who really needed her love & care. She understood that revenge is not the solution. Life is too short to waste your time on revenge. She started spending productive time with ones she loved.. This is a wonderful thought process which makes people to CHOSE between the good & bad. At the end of every test only the GOOD wins. Even failure is a SUCCESS if you CHOSE it for a GOOD CAUSE.

Be yourself, for your integrity is everything. Let go of the ones who mistreated you, insulted you, used you and those still keep doing the same. The world has many more who still need your love, who is ready to love you for the real one you are. This is not so easy. So, LET GO, SMILE & MOVE ON. This needs  lot of COURAGE. To stand up for oneself, to raise the voice when somethings seems BAD/ UNTRUE in a situation. Believe, the one who keeps the test(GOD) is always supervising you. HE is watching. No one can escape from his eyes. SPIRITUALITY calls it KARMA. So, keep doing your good work.

 Few points highlighted as the pattern of God:

1. Until and unless you PASS a test, God keeps on giving the same question paper. May be the situations be different, but the lesson out the test is going to be the same.
TRUTH & the LIE:
The LIE keeps soothing you to sleep while the TRUTH slaps you to wake up. Those who wakes up & responds positively SUCCEED. Some keep sleeping again even after so many slaps.The same test continues.

2. Change is the changeless law of nature. Everything and everybody changes. We grow, evolve & die. The great empires which have risen & fallen stands evidence for this. We need to leave something POSITIVE behind us for the rest of the people.

3. One thing that we have control of in our life is our "CHOICES". We are what we want to be. How we RESPOND to all the tests of God. This one make HIM judge our character.

You agree/ disagree, your thoughts, comments, experiences all are welcome! Please pen down the same below.

Iss pyar ko Kya Naam Doon?

Iss pyar ko Kya Naam Doon- The incomparable

This is one serial that went viral and still is viral in the world of small screens.I guess this serial was dubbed in every Indian language. Excellent team working on wonderful script, portrayed by the awesome chemistry of the duo made this a great Hit.  It is the rugged stubborn character of the Hero- Arnav and kind, fight for the righteous, unyielding character of the heroine- Khusi, their understanding of one another makes it more interesting. This was not only about the "romance in the air"  but lot more about the true love which was" TRUST and UNDERSTANDING", the importance of family values. One thing I liked about the serial is absence of lot of vengeance. Except for the Villian Shyam who played his role perfectly to give more life to the episodes teaches the goodness cannot be appreciated without the darkness or evil that happens in our lives ;)

Things to learn from IPKKND:

I wanted to write this post for quite a long time. When ever I feel bored or when ever I feel down or depressed the one thing I do is watch Khushi & Arnav ( Arshi, as they are called together). Doing this brings my energy levels back.

Every time I watch the episodes I get to learn a lot of things that one can incorporate in to my life. Apart from the romance that the serial carries beautifully, there are messages in every episode which we can learn as we live with the characters.

Few of which I learnt:

1. Be yourself. Never change yourself for anyone. Its your life, your rules. Never fear and change yourself for the situations that you encounter in your life (From Khushi)

2. Live every moment with Joy. Never worry about the future nor regret the past ( From Khushi)

3. Don't take anything that happens wrong to your heart (Seriously) and don't take the praise and good name that you gain to your head (From Khushi)

4. Try to understand the pain of others. The pain is same whoever undergoes it. Only that when we undergo it we actually feel the pain & think that's the worst part

5. Always have Hope. Think best is yet to come (Khushi tells this by praying to Devi Mayya;))

6. Have a conversation with God regularly ( I love this habit of Khushi). She looks lunatic at times. of course she looks crazy, but she is TRUE. There were reviews like the character is mad. But we people are mad at times too. Aren't we?

7. Stay calm. Never explain yourself to someone who is not ready to listen. There is no use. They will soon realize their mistakes and come back. Silence is the best answer (Things between Arnav & Khushi in the earlier stage)

8. Be confident, strong & have no fear when you know you are correct. Need not bother what others think of you (as Khushi)

9. How to handle your enemy. Sometimes we need to blend with our enemy to know his motives and moves. But stay smarter than your enemy. (Khushi did it to save Arnav)

10. How to value the relationships of the one who truly love you and there may be more. You may add on more in the comments below..!

Thiru Eengoi malai

Thiru Eengoi malai

Thiru Eengoi Malai is yet another temple of Lord Shiva, who is seated on a hill top. After the darshan of Kadambar@ kulithalai in the morning, Ayer Malai Sokkar in the afternoon, we took rest in Gunaseelm in my Uncle's home and it was adhoc plan as we did not plan earlier. I would say it was the wish of the Lord Himself.

As I stated in my earlier post, it is still in practice that people take darshan of Kadambar in the morning, Sokkar of Ayyer malai in the noon and Maragathacheleswarar in the Evening. I was surprised to see that even the pooja happens for these temple in the respective times only. For Sokkar of Ayer malai, we had to wait for the priest who came around 11 am and opened the temple. Like wise the Thirueengoi malai was opened only for the evening darshan.

Thiru Eengoi Malai view from the foothill

The Steps leading to the hill top

Temple:

 The Lord Shiva of this temple is called Maragathachaleswarar and the goddess parvathi is called Maragathambigai.This temple is said be more than 2000 years old. This temple is located near Musiri, Tiruchirappali. All the three temple I mentioned are within 10 km circumference. The Steps of these temple look just like stones simply assembled. They have been painted in red & white. I would say there may be around 400 to 500 steps to the hill top.

The Ambal & Shivan sannadhi Gopurams

The main entrance leading  of the temple

Our trip:

We (Me & my cousins) started from Gunaseelam after a small nap followed by refreshing and a hot tea from my uncle's hotel @ gunaseelam. We left gunaseelam by 4:50 PM. we reached the temple by 5:15 PM. We can have a quick glance of the hill from the main road. There is also Lalithambal Peedam adjacent to the temple which we missed visiting that day.

As soon as we reached the foot of the hill, we parked our car and we could see a Sannidhi of Rishi (supposedly Bogar, correct me if I am wrong). Then starts the steps to climb up the hill. The steps were small unlike the ones in Ayer malai and we could see the hill top, it gave us a small happiness that we would be able to reach the top soon. We carried water with us. Left the slippers in the car.

We halted in between just to feel the breeze and atmosphere. The sight from around 300 steps was nice but it would have been lovely if we had water in the river Kauvery. I really felt sad and something was bothering me since then. I simply closed my eyes and imagined how beautiful it would be if there was water flowing in the river. It will be a feast to the eyes. The sight also had Ayer malai in straight line. The opposite bank had Ayer malai and in this bank of Kauvery is Thiru Engoi malai.

I sincerely prayed Lord Shiva that soon I see water flowing though the river and all green scenery around this place. Now I must not forget mentioning about the 100s of Lorry on the river beds. It looked like toys arranged in a straight line from the hill top. Those were for looting the sand from the River. I mention it as looting because there must be norms for taking sand. Also, why has human race become this greedy that we are ready to fore sake anything(even basic needs) for our Luxury?

The view from half way through the hill top

Water is a basic need, a necessity. Its an elixir of Life. Without water, we all will die. We already have exploited many of the resources. We may leave nothing for the future generations. I request all those who read this blog to save water. Have some social responsibility. We came empty handed in to this world. But we exploit every resource available here and make a mess out of this world before we leave. Remember, we take nothing back... Still, why is that we dance as though everything is ours?
Its all HIS. Thinking deeply, we will definitely get the answers. (I turned Sentimental & of course spiritual)

Getting back to our climb up, we saw few people whom we saw in Ayer malai return back with the prasadam after darshan. Hope they also made the trio darshan on the same day. The Majestic Gopuram invited us and the compound wall was as of those in palaces. entering the sanctum, we gave the fruits for the God and had the darshan of Maragatha Lingeshwarar or the Maragathachaleshwarar. We sang songs in praise of the lord . To left of the God was the goddess Maragathambigai. We also sang songs in praise of the goddess.

I cannot miss mentioning the sannathi of the Tamil God Murugan, who was in the form of Bala Dhandayuthapani as in Pazhani. Still in my eyes, we sang several songs in his praise. Came a round about the temple, got the prasadham, felt the divine bliss and started climbing down the temple. Before we got down, the temple priest got down quickly. As it was dusk, it slowly started becoming dark and there were only few lights that were on the steps down the hill.

Special thanks to the Lord by Whose grace we had a wonderful day!
அவனருளாலே  அவன் தாழ்  வணங்கி !!

A special thanks to my cousins by whose support this trip was possible!

For further details refer:
http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=841