Saturday, December 31, 2005

Holy New Year Eve -- Trip to Temple


Holy New Year Eve

I observed this New Year Eve dedicated to the Lord. With the New Year Eve falling on the regular Saturday, the Triplicane trip remains undisturbed. Besides these, I was thinking of going to Melmaruvathur which is famous for Adhiparasakthi Temple (Siddhar Peetam).

One of my friend (Redhy Issac) was also willing to come and hence he joined me direct @Tambaram Railway Station. I had some work in a client's house since his desktop had some issues. I was attending to the issue and then moved towards Tambaram Station.

We picked up the bus to Thirukkoiloor, which reached Melmaruvathur in about an hour and a half through Chengalput and Madurantakam etc. The temple had a bit of crowd but then it was meticulously managed by them and hence we had darshan of the Lordess in just about 25 minutes.After touring around the place for a while and having some bite at the nearby restaurant, we came to the bus stand.

The return trip from Melmaruvathur is always an ordeal. Inspite of the fact, that all buses do stop, the push and pull among the passengers to catch a seat has some acute effect. We managed to get one seat in Chennai-bound SETC bus from Tiruchi and after a while, I got the seat in Chengalput. With brief wink of sleep in the bus, now blogging, I am starting off now to visit my weekly routine Triplicane. That celebrates the Holy New Year Eve celebration.

Then comes the welcoming of New Year 2006 with the friends in Camp Road. I also undertake this occasion, to greet my readers in the following way:

Wish you all a Happy Prosperous New Year 2006!

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Code4Bill -- Unique Opportunity for Student Technologists from Microsoft

Code4Bill -- Unique Opportunity for Student Technologists from Microsoft

A contest unique in itself to get the students vested with an opportunity unique in itself with the pride of even getting the student up working in Bill Gates' Technical Assistant Team.

It looks like a time-limited contest for students.Check it out at Microsoft India Code4Bill webpage.

Security of Women Under Serious Question


[Prathiba]

Security of Women Under Serious Question

With the incident of Prathiba Srikanth Murthy getting raped and murdered by a brutal beast driver, Sivakumar, it has come to limelight that BPO organizations and the police should wake from their deep slumbers.

The more shocking thing is that the most safer, secure place of Bangalore to stage this melodrama. This is not just a blog post on some girl working in some call center. Perhaps, we need to see this issue from the perspective of Prathiba or her family. At the moment, the only thing, we can is to pray the Lord for giving mental strenght for the family of Prathiba to bear with this brutal beastly attack. The more pitiable thing is that, Prathiba's mother is a widow, having lost her husband about 5 years back. Reports claim that she is not mentally prepared to come down to Bangalore from Mysore to see her daughter's body now.

Letz observe a 2 minute silence towards praying the Lord for Prathiba's soul rest in peace and for giving her family members the mental strenght to bear the atrocity committed on her. I think the accused needs just not a treatment with IPC (Indian Penal Code) but also a public humiliation, so that offenders like him would refrain from committing such things. It is upto the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Bangalore Police to work together to ensure this.

I think, Prathiba's incident is not isolated. There were incidents like Sarika Shaw being molested and killed in Ethiraj college, Chennai about a few years back and Nirmala, daughter of a Indian Air Force office being brutally hit by miscreants claiming to be affluent and powerful potical hands.

It is high time that Government take some real initiatives along with the concerned organizations to put an end to the menace. As Gandhi dreamt and mentioned, the real freedom can be considered only when Indian Women are able to walk freely without fear of any sort even in midnight anywhere.

I fervently hope that the reader should take note of this website on National Commission for Women, which is the apex national level organization in India to protect the cause of Women. Since there are also harassment for women at workplaces, Government of India has enacted a bill to make Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention) Act, 2003. Check out the details of this Bill here.

Neyyabhishekam -- The Significance

Neyyabhishekam -- The Significance

The most significant of the Sabarimala Pilgrimage is the Neyyabhishekam, which means pouring of the sacred ghee brought by the pilgrims in thier Pallikattu(Irumudi) on the idol of Lord Ayyappa. The real essence of Neyyabhishekam is to signify the merger or amalgamation of Jeevatma with the Paramatma. After all, Jeevatma has been undergoing arduous ordeals all the way along its life suffering births, deaths and pains and the ultimate goal is merger with the Paramatma to get the supreme bliss of the Lord.

Well! Pouring of Ghee on the Lord represents the Power of Lord Vishnu. Pouring of Water on the Lord (Jalabhishekam) stands as a worship for Lord Shiva (Shivashakti).  The combination of Vaishnava and Saiva powers is revealed in this Holy Abhishekams.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Operation Duryodhan

Operation Duryodhan

India TV Group (AajTak), a prime private television news channel brought out to limelight many cases of MPs accepting bribes from people for asking questions in the Parliament. Those deemed to be representatives of the people, who were sent to the Assembly purely to represent and fetch welfare for the constituency of the people and state they represent, were in fact, also getting bribes and illegal gratification for questions to ask in the parliament.

It was  very bold venture by India TV Group (AajTak News Television Channel) to send their reporters to different MPs on the pretext of people's unions, giving them cash and other compensations and simultaneously clipping snapshots in mobile cameras.

Check out this URL on DNA India for a detailed coverage.  NewsKerala describes this as second incident in the Indian Parliament history. Check this out at thier article.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Good News for Pilgrims to Sabarimala

Good News for Pilgrims to Sabarimala

State Bank of Travancore, an associate branch of State Bank of India family has recently commissioned a new ATM right at Pampa. That should provide a great help for pilgrims in need of cash, while in the pilgrimage. Check out this news link from  SBI in the News, which is actually published in CMLinks Page.

With a subscription from BSNL CellOne, you are never away from a simpler communication route, since BSNL has strong BTS (Base Tranciever Stations) right at Pampa too, as this story in The Hindu, describes.

 

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Ayyappa (48-day) Observation -- Rules and Restrictions

Ayyappa (48-day) Observation -- Rules and Restrictions

One of my friend was suggesting me this -- "Why can not you put up some kind of blog post or an article summarizing the 48 day observation rules to be observed. Well. I had a small pocketbook and a couple of PDFs circulating in the emails.

Most of the rules normally are hearsay from our elders to us. As my friend suggested, today since I was relatively free, just thought I would update it as bullet points, so that future Ayyappa Swamis  can immensely benefit from the same.

While my pocket books are in Tamil, I am attempting to compile the same in English. Should you find discrepancies, share your thoughts and observations as comments.

Most of the rules and observationary regulations are purely for our own control and development -- to streamline our day-to-day chores.

  1. All round the work time, keep your mind only focused on the Lord. Even the work you do is being instrumented by the Lord. Dedicate the same to the Lord.  Perhaps, Bhagavad Gita too shares a similar thought.
  2. Avoid the enemies like Lust, Anger, Greed and Seductive Attraction.
  3. Avoid gambling, smoking, alcoholic drinks and non-vegeterian dishes.
  4. Ensure that you don't hurt anybody either verbally or by action.
  5. When you meet a peer, who is in the 48-day observation, treat him on par Lord Ayyappa. Tell him Sharanam and offer pranams to him. There is no age, degree or other demarcatory restrictions in this whatsoever.
  6. Your Guruswamy is on par Ayyappa. Service to your Guru is service to the Lord Himself.
  7. The spirtual observation that you are on, you need to offer the fullest possible respect to Lord Ayyappa. There is no place of ego clashes in this whatsoever.
  8. Just because you are on the observation, your family members need not incur additional work burdens either physically or fiscally or otherwise. In the same vien, ensure that your family members do not obstruct or disturb your observation in any way. Let them understand the full depth of the observation.
  9. In the unforeseen circumstance of having to encounter a birth or death in the near family relationship, surrender the mala  to Lord Ayyappa photo. Wait for that year. You are eligible for the yatra from the next year.
  10. You can humbly surrender to the Lord each time as Kanni Samy and with that reverence, if you worship the Lord, He bestows in you all His divine blessings.
  11. With the spirtual observation on, you are being treated on par Lord Ayyappa. You need to preserve that respect you recieve and surrender unto the Lord. All people would offer Pranams to you, for this reason. There is no reason of gaining a superiority or ego because of this. You are just a relay server. Just think of the Lord and surrender those pranams to Ayyappa and seek His blessings for the people too.
  12. All women, including your spouse are now on par your mother. Treat them with this vision.
  13. Self Beautification is prohibited during the observation. This include:
    1. Oiling Hair
    2. Shaving
    3. Oil Bath
  14. As far as possible, eating and dining out can be avoided. In the worst inevitable case, follow strict vegetarianism.
  15. A Tulasi leaf with you can help you ward off lot of evils.

Hope these small tips would help you a great way in getting up with the Spiritual observation for Lord Ayyappa to get His complete blessings.

Girivalam

Girivalam

Of late, you can observe in Chennai so many travel agencies that are advertising about Thiruvannamalai Girivalam. Perhaps, just I thought, I can get some basic info about this for the benefit of all readers worldwide.

Giri means the hill or the hillock and Valam means circumambulation. Basically, Girivalam places an emphasis on the circumambulating the divine hill which hosts the Lord's temple and the thousands of the Siddhas and Sages who are penancing towards the Lord to invoke His divine blessings.

Girivalam is normally observed during the Full Moon Day (Pournami, in Tamil/Sanskrit).

Girivalam is not restricted only to Thiruvannamalai, though much hype has been given to that temple. Well! Though this religious topic need not be too much dragged into controversies, I would like to mention about the following significant temples that support Girivalam:

  1. Thiruvannamalai Arunalacheswarar Temple
  2. Sholinghur Narasimhar Temple
  3. Chennai Singaperumal Koil

If you are not able to attend the Girivalam, you can try attempting Girivalam at any of the hillock temples and perhaps the following list should be able to guide you:

  1. Madurai Thirupparankundram
  2. Palani Murugan
  3. Polur Parvathamalai (somewhere near Thiruvannamalai itself)
  4. Thirukachur (near Singaperumal Koil)
  5. Rockfort Trichy
  6. Ratnagiri Trichy
  7. Kundrakudi Trichy
  8. Karur Thaan Thondri Malai

These details were compiled from various advertisement pamplets that the travel agencies distribute and a search in Google revealed the Agasthiar website, which also stipulates certain regulations to be observed, while practising Girivalam.

Friday, December 09, 2005

'Deepam' Festival

'Deepam' Festival

The most renowned festival in the world dedicated the Lord Arunachaleswar of Thiruvannamalai, shortly called as Thiruvannamalai Deepam  is observed on December 13th this year. 

Significance of Thiruvannamalai

Four places gain significance in getting the salvation (moksha). They are of the following order:

  1. Being born in Thiruvarur
  2. Passing the last days of the life @Kasi or Varanasi
  3. Worshipping @Chidambaram
  4. Mere thinking of Thiruvannamalai

Thiruvannamalai also earns the pride of being the Theyu or Agni Sthalam. Agni forms one of the five components that comprises the universe. The five components are:

  1. Bhoomi (Earth)
  2. Water
  3. Fire (Agni)
  4. Air (Vayu)
  5. Sky or the Ether

Significance of Karthigai Deepam

The Deepam festival is celebrated in the Tamil Month of Karthigai (roughly falls during the November-December) every year.  It begins on the Uttradam day and goes for about 9 days thereon.  The Deepam festival also coincides with the Pournami (Full Moon Day). At dusk of the same, a light is also lit in the hillock nearby.  You can witness large chants of "Annamalai Hara Haro Hara" that keep reverberating through the entire temple town of Thiruvannamalai.

For some years, even satellite television channels like Sun TV, Jaya TV organize direct telecast of the festival, so that all users worldwide get the glimpse of the divine festival right from thier desktops (using TV Tuner) and setTops/cable connections (Televisions).

Pancharatra Festival

The Deepam festival also coincides with the Pancharatra Deepam that is observed in all Sri Vaishnavite temples worldwide. The dates too, roughly coincide about the same like the Thiruvannamalai Deepam.

Feel free to check out my humble preparation about all 276 Siva Temples, accessibility and other details over here: http://vdeepakkumar.netfirms.com/starttenkasi/index.html

Tips for Effective Use of Credit Cards

Tips for Effective Use of Credit Cards

Credit Cards is indeed a very valuable resource. It can be rightly called as a double-edged sword, since it is as useful and powerful and if you misuse it, it is equally deadly. A few tips can make your credit card really serve you excellently.

  • Report stolen cards to the Banking institution or the ViSA/Master Card Helpline (if travelling internationally) at an earliest.
  • The card is yours. Only you are authorised to use it.
  • Sign the card in the back panel, as soon as you recieve it.
  • The PIN number used for Telephonic Query/ATM Query needs to be written down in your mind and not in papyrus (paper) products or somewhere else.
  • Transact your Credit Card to reputed websites, with only good reputation and with proper SSL arrangments. The website should also not bother about storing your credit card info. For that matter, the card number should be keyed in at the payment gateway page.
  • At ME(Merchant Establishments),
    • Ensure that the card is yours after it is returned back from swiping.
    • Ensure that the card is swiped only once. In case of suspicion, alert the banking institution at an earliest.
  • Credit Card Billing
    • Preserve your charge slips/Transaction slips till the Credit Card statement is delivered and cross check the same.
    • Do not blindly pay the credit card bill. Certain credit card companies have the habit of pushing up the bill by unwanted debits like that insurance and this insurance which mostly would be unsolicited.

A Nice website on 'Sri Vaishnavam'

A Nice website on 'Sri Vaishnavam' -- TRSIyengar.com

Just casually clicking around the webpages and I came across this nice website called http://www.trsiyengar.com , managed by one Sri. TRS Iyengar, from Matunga, Mumbai, as a service to the Lord and Sri Vaishnavites across the globe.

The website is really well-organized with articles on Astrology and things needed for real life stuff. The webmaster also seems to be organizing a free matrimonial application. I have'nt gone through the application in full though.

Margazhi Celebrations Begin

Margazhi Celebrations Begin

The music month of Margazhi Celebrations is sweeping in. This time, Western Hemisphere, celebrates as Seasons and Christmas also. The most significant for the Margazhi is the recital of Thiruppavai, which is authored by Andal.

You can check out full details of Margazhi from this URL in DivyadesamOnline and letz chant the appropriate stanzas of Thiruppavai daily to get the blessings of Andal and Thiruvarangan.









Useful Links for Margazhi:
  1. Full Thiruppavai at my Sri Vaishnava Divyadesams homepage.
  2. Thiruppavai in Real Audio: http://www.geocities.com/rmvenkat/index.html
  3. Events in Chennai for Margazhi: Check out BharatKalachar website.

Andal Thiruvadigale Sharanam
Azhvar Emperumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Sharanam

Necessity of Basic Education and Driving it throughout our Nation, India

Necessity of Basic Education and Driving it throughout our Nation, India

Education should be a basic necessity and right of everyone and this is being inspired and emphasized by almost all the top personnel in India. But the fact remains that there are children who can not support themselves of even thier preliminary education and the sad feature is that there are significant number of dropouts in school and child labour for poverty reasons.

I came across this website called AshaNet which seems to have a noble mission of supporting these challenged children. Check out thier website.

Also, I think, a lot of people can help by going to thier My Merchandise page and help them get funds for thier noble projects and educatonal services.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Thirup Padip Pattu

Thirup Padip Pattu

The 18 steps of Sabarimala, which we have discussed sometime ago, is very sacred.

In fact, there is a song called Padippattu, which describes each and every step.

Check out this URL http://muthiah.com/Devotional/Ayyappan/engpadipaattu.htm, which gives the Thirup Padip Pattu.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

Rain lashes Chennai and Tamilnadu

Rain lashes Chennai and Tamilnadu

The melodrama of incessant rain, that has been happening through the previous month continues. Yesterday and Today, the Met Department of Chennai announced that the weak cyclonic depression located about 300 Kms from Chennai and expected to cross the coasts between Chennai and Masulipatnam (AP) sometime tomorrow morning.

Whilst no cyclonic threat remains for Tamil Nadu coasts, the places would continue to recieve incessant and nonstop rainfall. As of today's morning,



  • Nanmangalam Lake breaches. No motor vehicles past Kovilambakkam from Medawalkam - Madipakkam direction.
  • Velacherry Lakes breaches. Route from Velacherry - Madipakkam cutoff.
  • Tamil Nadu Fire Brigade and Rescue Services vehicles have been stationed at Kaiveli (Velacherry - Madippakkam Junction), to tackle water emergencies.

The significant village town of Madipakkam is almost like an island now. This is about Southern Chennai. Northern Chennai shares the same plight as described in Tamil Murasu, published evening daily in Chennai. Chennai city corporation and administration has warned further that people living in low lying areas to move to places in higher altitudes to safeguard themselves.

Accelerating the fury of the nature, yesterday was also New Moon Day, which has increased the force of sea and Marina beach (Bay of Bengal) had also high tides, terrifying the people.

Please see the snapshots here: (downloaded from Dinamalar.com and combined into one panaromic image using Irfanview for easy reference)





[Chennai City under Rains]
Letz Reach out to help the Administration
Letz reach out to help the administration. I think, the best way would be contribute to either of the following funds. What do you say?
  1. Prime Ministers' National Relief fund. But ensure that you route your funds via a standard Nationalized Bank or State Bank of India, rather than using a private bank, which swallows a percentage of the amount as service charges. :(
  2. Government of Tamil Nadu -> Chief Minister's Relief Fund. This uses ICICI PaySeal powered Payment Gateway to accept online donations via Internationally valid Credit Cards. This also has a provision to issue you a Tax Rebate form, but you need to give your full address for the administration to courier you a reciept, enabling you to claim Tax Rebate.

World Disabilities Day

World Disabilities Day

World Disabilities Day is bieng observed every year on December 3. This is basically to ensure that the people with physical and/or mental challenges are not isolated from the normal course of life and they are vested with full spirit of life to enjoy and relish upon.

As I was going to the temple, I also saw a function being held by Government of Tamil Nadu in Kalaivanar Arangam, Triplicane to give awards to distinguished persons in various fields, inspite of their various physical and mental challenges.

Letz swear to treat them with equal passion and fraternity relationship and make them grow along with us.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

World AIDS (Awareness) Day

World AIDS (Awareness) Day

AIDS -- the most dreaded infection that spells terror throughout the world, thanks to its might of creating a lack of proper medication hitherto, which is the power of HIV Virus, which has diversified ways of spreading through the world. Perhaps, I came across a website called World Aids Day, dedicated for this observatory day.

While HIV/AIDS seems to be a terror, actual ignorance about HIV/AIDS seems to be more terrifying and spreading the infection and the impact further.

Background Information

HIV is the acronym of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is the virus known to cause AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). If someone is HIV-positive, it means they have been infected with the virus. A person may be infected with the virus but he is not still AIDS patient unless the virus has started creating havoc on the self defense system of his physiology.

Propagation

HIV/AIDS does not spread by the following:

  • Casual Physical Contact
  • Cough
  • Sneeze
  • Kiss
  • Sharing and Using Toiletries, Utensils and Food Items including beverages etc.
  • Mosquitoes or other insects
HIV/AIDS acutely spreads by the following vectors:

  • Unprotected Sexual Intercourses with Infected Partner
  • Nonchalant Use of Syringes, Needles in Clinics while advocating and using injections.
  • Human Physiological Part Transfusions which include Blood, Organ etc.
  • Transmission from mother to child.

Prevention is better than cure

  • Self-discipline is the only way. As the National Plege of India says 'All Indians are my brothers and sisters...' and Ayyappa devotees are expected to treat every girl in fron of them as Malikaipurathamma. This way, just like eradication of SmallPox from the world, HIV/AIDS can be etched in the pages of history.
  • Get a new syringe/infection (disposable) while attending doctor sitting proactively. Refrain or refuse the doctor's own syringes for security reasons. Again, using syringes for self medication, drug abuse etc should be condemned. Should you witness such an occasion, be proactive in bringing the issue to book and limelight at your earliest. It is the greatest service to the society you can do.
  • There is nothing wrong in discussing about eradication, prevention and asking doubts regarding the same. Perhaps it is a heinous offence to suppress the doubts and then lament on a later stage.

AIDS Care Center in Chennai/India:

  • Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society (Government of Tamil Nadu)
    Pantheon Road,
    Egmore,
    Chennai -- 600 0088.
    Tamil Nadu. INDIA.

    Telephone: 91-44-28254917, 28256891, 28255467
    TeleFax: 91-44-28255261
    24 hour BSNL Helpline: 1097
    Email: tansacs@tn.nic.in