The joyous celebrations of Sri Nrisimha Jayanthi were conducted with great fervour on May 10/11, 2025 at the Sri Andal Rangamanar Kovil, Bheemana St., Abiramapuram ( near my home). The jayantotsavam included all regular rituals such as “Homa Sankalpam”, “aavaahanam” , “Agni Pratishta” and various yagnya havis and dravya offerings accompanied by 24/108/1008 mantra japamContinue reading ““ApAmArjana Stotra Japa Homam”: Highlight of the Sri Nrisimha Jayantotsavam: May 10 and 11, 2025 @ Sri Andal Rangamanar Kovil, Bheemana St. Abiramapuram, Chennai :”
Tag Archives: Religion
A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Tirukannapuram (Part-7)
Early next day from my base-camp at Mayiladuthurai, my pilgrimage continued on to the holy temple town of Tirukannapuram. This visit of mine to this sacred Divya Desam was of very special significance to me personally, since it was precisely where the 5th and very last destination in a customary pilgrimage known in Sri VaishnavaContinue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Tirukannapuram (Part-7)”
A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Therezhundhur Kambar Medu (Part-5)
Half a kilometre to the southern side of the Therezhundhur Temple, is the memorial to the great Tamil poet Kamban. It is called Kambar Medu . This spot, I was told by a local villageman there who was kind enough to give us a tour of the memorial, was once full of shabby encroachments andContinue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Therezhundhur Kambar Medu (Part-5)”
A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Therezhundhur (Part-4)
At Terezhundur, the Perumal temple which is of the Sri Vaishnava Vadakalai sampradaya (to which I may add that I proudly belong), is apparently supported by Sri Ahobila Mutt). This I could recognize easily in the distinctive (Sri Sannidhi) shape of the “tirumann” forms that adorned the temple walls and concourses all around the precincts.Continue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Therezhundhur (Part-4)”
A magnificent fake Papal Epistle and “śmaśāna vairāgya”
‘What is Truth?‘ asked jesting Pilate and would not pause for an answer! Perhaps that’s why an epistle purported to have been issued by Pope Francis began surfacing today on the Internet and was forwarded to me this morning by a friend of mine . The Papal Epistle is eloquent , moving and is indeedContinue reading “A magnificent fake Papal Epistle and “śmaśāna vairāgya””
I can mourn my country’s History but I can’t ever redress it …
One of the most thought-provoking Op-Eds I’ve read in a long , long time ! The history lessons that I was always made to learn back when I was in school and university spoke glowingly about 2 magnificent achievements of the Indian National Congress Party soon after Independence : 1. The “reunification 500 of PrincelyContinue reading “I can mourn my country’s History but I can’t ever redress it …”
Temple festive palanquin carriers … “Sripaada thaangeegal” … Is it right to compare them with “poor Kolkata manual riskshaw-pullers” of bygone times?
Many are the cousins and nephews and nieces, aunts and uncles of mine in America and New Zealand … first and second generation immigrants who have lived abroad for many decades now . Although geographically we live on two ends of the planet, thanks to WhatsApp we all still manage through frequent messaging interactions toContinue reading “Temple festive palanquin carriers … “Sripaada thaangeegal” … Is it right to compare them with “poor Kolkata manual riskshaw-pullers” of bygone times?”
“For the skeptical souls, there is no happiness either in this world or the next”…. Says the Bhagavath-Gita
I chanced to read the below quote of the famous English philosopher Bertrand Russel. When I read it I found it truly so thought-provoking that I could not resist the urge to share it online with many of my dear friends and family who are thoughtful souls too . One of them is a veryContinue reading ““For the skeptical souls, there is no happiness either in this world or the next”…. Says the Bhagavath-Gita”
A conversation on “Kamban’s Ramayana” with Sri. Indira Parthasarathy – (Part 1 of 4)
The well-known Sahitya Akademi, Sangitha Nataka Akademi, Padma Shri awardee, distinguished scholar, novelist, playwright and a doyen of classical Tamil literature, Sri. Indira Parthasarathy (aka “Eepa” in Tamil) was being very kind to me when he shared with me a very fine essay in English on Kamba Ramayana which he told me (in a WhatsappContinue reading “A conversation on “Kamban’s Ramayana” with Sri. Indira Parthasarathy – (Part 1 of 4)”
“kaarpanya dosham”: Acedia of Arjuna and the cowgirls in “Tiruppaavai” – Part-1 of 3
The pursuit of spiritual progress often means ploughing a lonely furrow. It can very often mean journeying through landscapes of dark, mental desolation. Trying to connect — and furthermore to also remain strongly connected — with one’s own divine self can be a very trying and frustrating religious experience indeed. Practitioners of “saadhana” or spiritualContinue reading ““kaarpanya dosham”: Acedia of Arjuna and the cowgirls in “Tiruppaavai” – Part-1 of 3″