Another Long Walk

Another Long Walk

Yesterday, the 23rd of Jan 2007 my wife Vijaya and I went to Thiruvanmiyur to witness the Athirudra Maha Yagyam being performed there. This is performed under the blessings of Sri Saibaba Swamygal of Puttabarthi. For 11 days started on 20 Jan.

As we entered the South Avenue road we saw a huge crowd of men and women (women outnumbering men easily). We had to walk nearly 700 metres to reach the Homa Gundam. Very elaborate arrangements have been made and there were hundreds of Sai volunteers in white uniform to help. It was fabulous to see many old women as volunteers. The day's main Homam was over by this time (11:15AM) and so we were able to have darshan of the Gundam rather easily.

There were any number of usual shops on both sides of the road selling Sai trinkets. The entire road was full of Sai pictures and photos, a very satisfying sight.

From there we walked to Arun's house to see our granddaughter Sowmya. The child greeted us with her trade-mark BIG smile - whatever tiredness we felt, vaporised - thazhal athu kanda mezhgu athu pola - with her bewitching smile. We had a fantastic time with her.

We left back reluctantly for our house, walking to the bus stop and then at Mandaveli walking from the bus stop to the house. Today also we must have walked over 5 km.

Rajappa
24 Jan 2007 at 09:20

Comments

Dr. MUTHULAKSHMI REDDY

Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy The road from Adyar Signal to Thiruvanmiyur signal (in Chennai) is called Lattice Bridge Road (LB Road); this English name was re-christened as Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Road long back, but the old English name only prevails now. Who is this Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy? In the princely state of Pudukkottai there lived Narayanaswami Iyer who married a devadasi by name Chandramma - this marriage created a sensation that time. To this couple, eight children were born out of whom four died as infants. Muthulakshmi was one that survived (born: 30 July 1886). M's sister Nallamuthu, learned English, went on to study in UK, became a Professor in QMC, Chennai, and later its Principal - the first Indian principal of QMC. Muthulakshmi went to a school in Pudukottai till the age of 13; later she studied at home tutored by teachers. She passed matriculation in the year 1902. She started dreaming about becoming a graduate. Bur her father, with meagre pension could not send her ...

Anna Centenary Library, Kotturpuram

ANNA CENTENARY LIBARARY (அண்ணா நூற்றாண்டு நூலகம்) is a newly established State Library of Tamilnadu. It was declared open on 15th Sept 2010. Located in Kotturpuram, Chennai. This last Sunday, 1st May 2011, we hit upon the idea - we will go and see this library. No serious reason, but a sudden whiff of fancy. Vijaya, her old classmate and friend Mrs Prema, and I left house at 3-30PM. A bus upto Madhya Kailash, and an auto thereon, left us at the gates of this huge, beautiful building at 4 PM. From the outside, it was immensely impressive and imposing - maybe of 9 or 10 floors, exquisitely constructed. As we walked the lawns to reach the Main Entrance, the interest in us was bubbling. (Caution: Handbags, Cameras are strictly prohibited. Even waterbottles are not allowed inside the halls.) There is a 5-feet bronze statue of Mr CN Annadurai, in whose name and honour this library is built. This is the Tamilnadu Chief minister Mr M Karunanidhi's pet project and he, as usual, has ov...

Sri Sita-Rama-Anjaneya Temple, Pathakota.

Earlier i wrote about the SitaRama Anjaneya Koil at Pathakota, 17 km from Hosur, on the banks of Pennaiyaru. We two and Savithri went there on 17th Jan 2013 (read here). After I came to Bangalore, I told about this koil to Ashok and Neeraja and they too were keen to have the darshan of Rama and Anjaneya. On 26 Jan 2013, Ashok asked me suddenly at 4-40 PM if we can go there that time. I consulted Savithri over phone and she said yes. We four left house at 5-15 in car, went to Hosur. Savithri was waiting near GRT and joined us. We reached the temple by 6.40 PM. First we went to the full-flowing Pennaiyaru and lost ourselves in the serenity and beauty of the river. The scenic beauty oof the river is breath-taking. 15 minutes later we entered the temple. Built in 1932 for Sri Anjaneya only, this temple now has Sri Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana idols installed. We had a wonderful darshan of Sri Rama and Anjaneya. Then we left Pathakota, for Sri Chandra Sudeswarar koil on a hillo...

My Musings

Search This Blog