#AVIS100 - 'Happyness Conversation with Karthik and Manu' curated by AVIS Viswanathan and Vaani

Happyness Conversations from AVISInitiatives

AVIS Viswanathan and Vaani curated 'the happyness conversations': This monthly Conversation Series champions living Life fully with what is. It is sponsored and hosted by the Odyssey Bookstore in Adyar and is for anyone who wants to pause and reflect on Life.  These conversations started in 2015 and they have journeyed to 100th conversation this April 2019.

#AVIS100 was the 100th Happyness Conversation held on 13 April 2019, at Odyssey Adyar at 7 pm where ‘Manu’ and ‘Karthik’ shared their story - a story of courage, strength, perseverance and absolute acceptance of life as it is.   

Happyness Conversations with Manu and Karthik - HIV Positive couple

When they first heard the info

After a month after marriage, like every new bride Manu was expecting the good news when she went for the blood test and met her doctor.   The ‘news’ that she got was the least a woman can expect…that too when she was in the thoughts of ‘expecting’.   She felt shattered, deceived and broken when the doctor informed her that her husband (ex now) have full blown AIDS.  She felt blank and lost to the man next to her.  She was angry for this is something that she rightly DIDN’T deserve in an arranged marriage.   ‘Karthik’ was a young man with lot of passion for life and dreams about a great career and at the initial stages of life when in 1994, during a surgery, he had blood transfusion.   He was later bewildered and completely felt lost when his doctor broke him the news that he is tested HIV positive.  He went and knocked several times on the doors of the surgeon to tell him who gave him the blood, only to be facing denial and fierce fully shown the door.  That is when his company suggested taking this up legally, but he felt for what use.  What has happened has already happened.  Nothing is going to reverse his medical condition. 

Acceptance

Like all such ordeals in life, acceptance takes time.  It must overcome anger, frustration and the questioning of ‘why me?’.  Acceptance is the first vital step of life’s hardest truths.   Only when the acceptance of reality dawns on you, will you be able to face it with courage and conviction.  Then the focus shifts from the sense of lost, betrayal, depression towards a focus on the things that need to be done to ease from the situation if not to resolve it.   The fact that they are HIV is not something they can resolve.  But they can make it not create an overwhelming shadow that would snatch life out of them.   Karthik’s acceptance made him to look at what life style changes he must make, what food is good to build the immunity, exercise regime, the routine he must follow, sleep patterns, the medical needs and timely tests.  Once he was able to shift his focus on to this, life became much easier to manage.  

Anger

Genuine anger sometimes is necessary.   When Manu was able to identify her ‘source of anger’, she found it easy to make life changing decision of leaving her husband once for all and restarting her life.   In a stereotype middle class marriage, she tried to strike the conversation with her husband who only retaliated her with abuse – both physical and emotional.   She did not have the courage to inform her father, but shared the truth with her mother, who stood to her support to make the final decision of coming out of a marriage that was built on the edifice of lies and deceit.    For a moment, I felt like standing and giving her a hug there, for even to walk out of marriage needs courage and especially when you have your own vulnerabilities back home.   She decided to remove the ‘source of anger’ in her life forever. 

Forgiveness

Many a times, people advice that forgiveness is a medicine to your healing process.   When you forgive, you are no way going to change your past, but sure to do that to your future.  For you don’t need to carry the weight of garbage in your heads into your future.  Keeping the basket out of the mind is the key as Karthik said.  

Social Judgement

We live in a society that feels that it is its responsibility to be judgmental about everything around.  People go ahead with unconscious bias towards certain things like HIV, Mental Illness, Divorce, Single Parents and what not.  Many a time, even those matured souls tend to be judgmental without proper reasoning.   So Karthik and Manu were not unaffected by it.  However, they learnt not to be susceptible to this same.   When Karthik’s childhood friend, came to know of the fact and asked him if he can touch him, not only showed the lack of awareness in the society but also the need for sensitization.  Manu had experiences of people staring at her on disclosing the fact as AIDS was considered a truck-drivers, Sex workers disease and not always related to several other factors that could contribute to the same.  

Survival and Work

The focus on the survival started after source of anger was removed.  Manu firmly tells the fact that what doesn’t kill you makes you strong.   Life has its own baggage. There cannot be any extras and you must take it the way it is.  Dealing with something that they don’t rightly deserve is not easy for it had its own ripple effects.  When Karthik had to look out for options to find a job, he had three offers in hand, which he could not join once his medical tests showed his state.   Keeping up their jobs was very important as the need for supporting the family, the need for survival and meet out the mounting medical expenditure was something very high those days.   

Few demons overruled by angels all around made their lives possible.  Karthik disclosed to his brother after 2 years of knowing of his disease and he found an extremely good support system at home from his brother, sister and uncle.   Manu had the happiness of her parents support and friends making life a bit easy for her to focus on her health and betterment.   She understood that a pill a day keeps her going.  

Understanding the disease

They touched up on the Difference between HIV and AIDS – the spectrum.   HIV is a virus and AIDS is a medical condition that happens due to the low immunity due to the virus in the body.   They gave HIV new definition as Happiness in Vast!  Manu called HIV is boring – the fear that something happens is killing than the disease as nothing happens in fact as they don’t neglect on the required life style management.  The stigma kills more than the disease and that is what they fight even today.  The journey for 25 years since 1994 for Karthik and 2007 for Manu.  Secrets that are essential to survive in the society – they do not cause harm to anyone around and they prefer not talking about it and scaring people around. 

Faith

When AVIS asked them about the faith, that kept them grounded and courageous.  Manu went on to describe her acceptance of Buddhism that changed her perspectives of life.  She found an inner strength to look at the positive side of the world.   Karthik found his calling to Shirdi Sai Baba on his visit to Shirdi from Aurangabad…and he felt a deeper connect with Supreme energy.   What ever may be the form of manifestation of the supreme energy, it is this deeper faith that keeps them going.  Living life with complete understanding of the situations is by itself a way of spirituality and this ultimate faith give it more meaning and happiness.  Above all peace within. 

Their Love Story

The last lap of the conversation went around their love story.  They took every opportunity to express their gratitude to YRGCARE and to Dr Sunithi Solomon and having Sunil Suhas Solomon during the event made it more meaningful.   This part of the conversation made it touch our hearts as they cutely described how they were pushed to talk to each other, and how Karthik proposed to Manu on the valentine’s day and how quickly things fell in place for them to get married on 9 May 2011.   Sometimes, God has his own ways of rebuilding lives.  Today they are the cutest couple I have come across in the last few years.   Their love is genuine.  They made each other’s life complete and happening. 

My interaction

I took the liberty to go and thank them profusely for sharing their story with all of us present.   Having been a social worker for the rehabilitation of the HIV positive in Tiruvallur district for last several years and having recently attended a wedding of a young couple who were tested positive at birth but found a meaning to continue with life as it is, here I found meeting this people more liberating to my thoughts and inner happiness.   I went and spoke to both, hugged Manu tightly and shared my card with her to keep in touch.  

I came home, shared story with Aishu and cried to my hearts content.  Thank you, AVIS Viswanthan, and Vaani, for this conversation will linger in my head for long.  For I felt a strong connect…somewhere of deeper reflections.

For more information on #thehappynessconversations and for understanding what Vaani and AVIS Viswanathan, the happynesswalas, do in the space of "Inspiring 'Happyness'"....please look up http://www.avisviswanathan.in/  and Workplace Happiness Firm http://www.avinitiatives.co.in/

Pictures courtesy:  Vinod Velayutham 

Celebrating the Memory of Smt. Sakuntala Bai....On her Birth Centenary 7 April 2019- A Tribute to the Grand Old Lady of My family

Smt. Sakuntala Bai ( 7 April 1919 -  18 July 2003)  -  Centenary Celebration Tribute 7 April 2019

I would call her our God Mother...for she had been our best woman in life...our Nanamma (Father's mother).   Like most of the children from Andhra Telugu households,  we were also raised by her.    Grand parents play a pivotal role in the raising of children in our part of the world, and we were just lucky to have had her as nanamma.   A very simple woman...with simple living and high thinking,  she was a big influence in our lives. 

Early Childhood and Education

She was born in Madras, in the then Madras Presidency with 3 brothers and a younger sister to Sri Jayaram and Smt Lakshmi Bai on 7 April 1919.   They had a very strong family connect, where her nieces and nephews are still connected and we stand by each other during all good and bad days even today.   Her brother J.C.Krishnan and J. Parthasarathy and Sister Smt. Radha Bai were of great support, help and influence on her.     In those era of British Empire in India..she went to pursue her education in Lady Wellington School & College in Chennai.   Passing 10th in those days was a great thing.

1939, she attended the Public Meeting of Sri Netaji Subash Chadra Bose and was deeply influenced by the 'Lion of Bengal's roaring speech.   She later narrated comparative stories of Freedom struggle from the perspectives of two great leaders Gandhi and Netaji.   These bedtime stories used to be creating a patriotic urge in us as children

Marriage and Children

She got married to Narayana Swamy Chettiar, a widower and a father of a 2 year old child and an Agricultural Engineer those days.  She instantly adopted the child Vimala Bai as her own daughter.   Later on, she was blessed with Sampath Kumar (*my father) and Smt. Jayalakshmi.    We grand children never knew that Vimala attai was my father's step sister until we were old enough to understand the relationships.  For she never treated any one differently.  The magnanimity of a woman who can love everyone around unconditionally is a greatest virtue of her life that we try to inject in our heads always.

Employment - In Women and Child Welfare Department of Andhra Pradesh

In the era, where women were mostly confined as homemakers,  my grand mother worked as a 'Laison Officer' in the then British Government in the 'Women and Child Welfare Department',  Her primary job included travelling and laisioning on the welfare schemes of the government and taking them to the rural villages and towns of Andhra Pradesh.   She reported on to one IAS officer of those days Smt. Jayalakshmi Rao,  and she took great pride in the work she did.  I remember her taking me to this officer's house in Taylor's Road, Kilpauk after her retirement.

Influence on our thought process

Her stories of her employment and welfare schemes, had a very strong influence in my life, as the seeds of Women and Child Welfare started from home very early.   I remember her taking my elder sister Yamini along with her to her office in the final days before her retirement and once she retired, she took over the full responsibility of raising us and teaching us several things that schools could never do. 

Being strong in thoughts and actions, loud in voicing honest opinions,  polite and respectful to elders,  friendly with neighbours, caring and loving to family and relatives and being a strong pillar of support to her children and a pedestal of strength and growth to the grand children.   She was very soft-spoken, but very strong in her convictions.   She was an ardent devotee of Sai Baba.  She used to teach my sister's small songs and bhajans that I loved listening and dare not singing.... Very good cook, who carried our meals to school and meet our teachers regularly.   She ensured she was there for all sports days and annual days.   She was our punch bag for everything in life. 

Tragedies that shook her apart and Final Days

Probably one of the worst tragedies that took the life out of her while she was alive, was the sudden passing away of our father at the age of 48, her only son, to a heart attack.   She raised above the personal loss of my grandfather in August 1977 and Vimala atthai's husband early in life.  However, the death of her son affected her like nothing else.    We had to move away from Eluru and live in Chennai and she went off with my Jaya attai to live in Hyderabad.   One side, losing her son was a havoc and other side, parting from us caused her health have a downward swill

Later on, my aunt's family moved to Chennai and she spent her final days living with them in Madambakkam and she was excited with our weekly visits,  she was super excited attending our weddings and she was fully of josh and happiness when my daughter Aishwarya was born and she was with full of happiness and mad love when my nephew Ajay was born.   Her happiness knew no bounds when all her great grand children Sai, Prajwala, Aishwarya and Ajay were born and seeing them grow.

She passed away after a brief illness on 18 July 2003 leaving behind great footprints that will keep inspiring us for rest of our lives

This is the story of an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life of simplicity, devotion, love and service and great thinking and influencing her family by her every day actions.

Today, we take a moment to pause and remember her deeply with love and a sense of gratitude for all the efforts she took in raising us..raising us right..giving us a sense of pride for having born as a woman. 

Love you Nanamma...today and forever.   Happy Birthday God Mother!

Voice of Victims! #PollachiCrime #FacebookTragedy #TNSexAbuse

#Pollachi #TNCrime #VoiceofVictims

Date: 14 Mar 2019

-          Written by Umasree Raghunath

Yes, I am a simple girl, my daddy’s little girl

He gave me wings to fly, not knowing he should spy

I dream to shine, believe in people, share my dreams

Trusting the other gender, silently and sincerely without qualms

I ventured out, making new friends and networking

Not understanding the brutal underground systems working

Looks can be deceptive and words can be manipulated

In the name of friendship, love and care and what not!

When I extended my little hands in search of friendship

I did not know for sure, the big shadow of a cruel perpetrator

My simple dream not just broken but tarnished for ever

The small moments of pleasure became a bane for life

Veils of perverseness of the man I believed to be a friend

Brought upon me a tragedy to unveil and an emotional end

I cried in pain, for rescue, for help and for solace

The ‘trusted’ friend with his gang of ‘trusted’ friends

Ended up treating me like a meat as I ventured onto meet!

I ended up in shame and disgust, physical and emotional pain

Media wants to show my face and give a name, and blame

Victim blaming, victim shaming, and victim destroy

Unfortunately, Is not new in this country of mine,

STOP, this game, please for heaven’s sake and hell’s end

All I did was to put my trust and go along with a friend!

Oh Mothers!  Out there!  Please feed your sons with food for thought

That ‘woman’ is not a sex toy, but a soul with blood and flesh

We are young, and we too have a dream and a life out there

Beyond this tragedy, let us live in some left out grace

Social Media fanatics – Stop searching for who we are!

We are someone’s sister, some dad’s daughter, even a teacher!

System - Refine yourself, before you advice on what we need to do!

Our families and friends can take care of us for true!

Panel Discussion on 'Be Equal' conducted at IBM Chennai on Women's Day - 8 Mar 2019 #InclusiveIBM #IBM'brassdor #LOVEIBM #BeEqual

The International Women's Day 2019 campaign theme of #BalanceforBetter is a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world.  International Women's Day (March is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.    The future is exciting. Let's build a gender-balanced world. Everyone has a part to play - all the time, everywhere. From grassroots activism to worldwide action, we are entering an exciting period of history where the world expects balance. We notice its absence and celebrate its presence.

Balance drives a better working world. Let's all help create a #BalanceforBetter

Be Equal#

Panel Introduction:

Shanthi Ramani   (Senior consultant – Banking)

Lavanya Rajagopal  ( Senior Delivery Manager – APMM GBS)

Srinivasan Sankara - CIC India Director and Location Head Chennai

1.      Gender Equal – The Workplace of the Future

a.    What is the current status?

b.    What needs to be done?

c.     How the future will be like?

2.    Go UP the Corporate Ladder?

a.    Attitude and Intellect makes way for right skills

b.    Life Style Management Gurus can be Corporate Leaders?

c.     Facilitating women’s quest for a better work life balance?

d.    Enabling the women to thread the career path by equipping them with necessary skills?

e.    How do women grow from functional leaders to business leaders?

3.    Staying Relevant

a.    Equipping for a changing IT world

b.    Skills to create value in the industry

c.     Source Industry Information-  Technology, Business, Organizations, Tech Forums and Social Media

d.    Re-Invent Yourself

4.    A Peep into the Positives

a.    Celebrating ‘BeEqual’ at IBM

b.    Remembering the best we have

c.     Thinking Digital and Equal Opportunities

d.    Take Challenges- Aspire for Growth

e.    Tread the Technical Path and Be the best

 

#TravelDiaries: Weekend Gateaway to Tirchy from Chennai - Tirchy-Samayapuram- Tirupattur- Srirangam -

Weekend Gateaway Trip from Chennai to Tirchy:

When you have friends who are like extended family, your trip become all the more enjoyable!  We had multiple purposes on this trip to Tirchy in Feb 2019.  

To spend a weekend with my best friends Manasi and Uday and meet up with Siddharth who is invited as Chief Guest to Jamal Mohammed College in Tirchy and also make use of this opportunity to visit the temples in and around Tirchy.

Chennai - Tirchy - Jamal Mohammed College -  Sri Ayyappan Temple -  Sri Nachiar Temple -  Vakkaliamman Temple -  Uttamar Kovil -  Samayapuram Mariamman Temple -  Tirupattur Brahma Temple -  Sri Rangam Ranganathar Tirukovil - Chennai -   2 Days - 600+ Kilometers - 7 beautiful temples and 1 temple of learning - Happy Times with Close Friends!

1. Sri Ayyappan Temple

The Ayyappan Temple is located at Cantonment,Tiruchirappalli. Sri Ayyappan statue is 50 feet tall and magnificence appearance located towards the east.

2. Periya Nachiar Temple

Azhagiya Manavalan Perumal Temple (also called Thirukozhi or Nachiyar Koil) in Woraiyur, a suburb Tiruchirappalli.

3.  Vakkaliamman Temple

At a distance of 5 km from Trichy Railway Junction, Sri Vekkali Amman Temple is an important pilgrimage centre dedicated to of Goddess Parvathi. It was the seat of early Cholas situated in Woraiyur.

The presiding deity in this temple is found facing towards north. It was believed by the ancient kings that Gods and Goddess facing north will bless the kings with victory in the battle. Hence all the ancient kings used to pray Vekkali Amman before leaving to the battle field.

The sanctum of the temple houses the idol of Vekkali Amman. The major feature of the temple is the absence of roof over the sanctum. The idol of Vekkali Amman is seen in a seated posture. She is seen holding a trident, udukkai, a rope and Akshaya patra in her four hands. The temple has a golden chariot which is 9.75 ft high, made of 10.5 kg of gold and 25 kg of silver. 

The temple is conducting the Sarva Chandi Homam for the past 23 years in the month of Avani (August / September), 5 day festival in Chithirai (April-May), Panguni Poochoridal (March-April), Mango abhisheka on the last Friday of Vaikasi (May-June), Navarathri in Purattasi (September-October), Fridays in Thai (January-February) and Fridays and Tuesdays in Aadi (July-August) witness important celebrations in the temple.

Here devotees write their wishes on a sheet of paper, place it at the feet of Amman and then tie it at a trident at the Sannidhi. Devotees complete their worship after their wishes are fulfilled. 

4.  Uttamar Kovil

Lord Vishnu emerged as a Kadambha tree at this place, giving the name "Kathambanur", which later became "Karambanur". The name Karambanur is mentioned by Thirumangai Azhwar in Nalayira Divya Prabandam, in which he refers the presiding deity as "Karambanur Uthaman". The temple is commonly called "Uthamar Kovil" after the name of the presiding deity. The temple is also called Bhikshandar Kovil as the Hindu god Shiva is present in the form of Bhishadanar (a mendicant) and believed to have attained cure by worshiping Vishnu at this place. As per history, once Lord Vishnu wanted to test the devotion of Brahma. He raised as a Kadhamba tree in the place and Brahma, knowing this, started his worship practise with Thirumanjanam (ablution). The water from the ablution filled a tank nearby, which came to be known as "Kathamba Theertham". Vishnu was satisfied with the devotion of Brahma and gave a boon to Brahma to have a shrine in this place. Shiva wanted to get rid off the sin holding the cut head of Brahma and went on a sacred trip. While coming to this place, Vishnu requested his consort Lakshmi to give alms to Shiva. Shiva's grail was filled by the alms and Lakshmi came to be known as "Poornavalli" (the one who filled the grail).

5.  Samayapuram Marriamman Kovil

At a distance of 1 km from Samayapuram Bus Stand, 11 km from Srirangam, 19 km from Trichy, 66 km from Thanjavur & 317 km from Chennai, Sri Mariamman Temple situated at Samayapuram on NH-45 is one of the popular temples in the state of Tamil Nadu. 

Sri Mariyamman Temple is dedicated to Samayapurathal or Mariamman, an incarnation of Goddess Shakti. The main deity in the sanctum is made of sand and clay and hence there are no abhishekams conducted to the main deity, but instead the abishekam is done to the small stone statue in front of it.

According to legend, the present deity was at the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam, and one of chief priests of the temple believed that the idol caused him illness and hence asked it to be removed from the temple. It is a common belief that such local deities have immense powers and they must always be satisfied by proper offerings and sacrifices.

According to history, King Vijayaraya Chakaravarthi built the present day temple in 17th century. The Goddess Mariamman has enormous powers over curing illnesses and hence, it is a ritual to buy small metallic replicas made with silver or steel of various body parts that need to be cured, and these are deposited in the donation box. Devotees also offer mavilakku, a sweet dish made of jaggery, rice flour and ghee. Persons affected by Chickenpox and Smallpox come to this place, stay here and pray the Goddess for speedy recovery. Abisheka Theertham is sprinkled on them after Pooja.

6. Tirupattur Brahma Temple

At a distance of 35 km from Trichy, Sri Brahmapureeswar Temple is one of the rare temples dedicated to Lord Brahma situated at Thirupattur. While this is predominantly a Shiva temple, it is very closely associated with Lord Brahma. Devotees believed that a person can change his fate by seeking blessings at Brahmapureeswarar Temple.

The presiding deity of the temple is Sri Brahmapureeswarar in the form of a Swayambu Lingam. He is called Brahmapureeswarar since he changed the destiny of Brahma. There are seven enclosures leading to the sanctum. Every year in the Tamil month of Panguni (March-April) for three days, the sunlight falls directly on the presiding deity. It is a miracle that the sun rays cross the seven entrances and fall directly on the lingam. 

Goddess Parvathi is worshipped as Brahma Sampath Gowri, situated adjacent to Sri Brahmapureeswarar shrine. There is a separate shrine for Lord Brahma in meditative pose sitting on a lotus. The idol of Lord Brahma is magnificent 6 feet high decorated with Turmeric. The temple complex also has the Jeeva Samadhi of Yogi Patanjali, the author of Yoga Sutras. 

According to mythology, Lord Brahma once became very proud that he is the creator of the universe. He felt he was more powerful than Lord Shiva - since he had the power of creation. Seeing his pride, Lord Shiva got angry and destroyed Brahma's 5th head and also cursed him that he would lose his powers of creation. After losing his fifth head and the duty of creation, Brahma realized his mistake. He worshipped Shiva at various places to be relieved from the curse. Lord Brahma installed 12 lingams around the Bramhapureeshwarar site and worshipped Shiva here for very long time. Pleased by Brahma's affections, Shiva gave him darshan under the Magizha tree and liberated him from his punishment.

The 12 small shrines of Lord Shiva situated in the Bramhapureeshwarar temple complex are Sri Bhramapureeswara, Sri Pazamalainathar, Sri Pathalaeswarar, Sri Sudharaneeswarar, Sri Thayumannar, Sri Sabthagereswarar, Sri Kalathinathar, Sri Jambukeswarar, Sri Kailasanathar, Sri Arunachaleeswarar, Sri Ekambreswarar and Sri Manduganathar.

Brahmotsavam festival, Maha Shivarathri, Kathigai, Navarathri and Vinayaka Chathurthi are the major festivals celebrated here. Mondays and Thursdays are the most favored days for getting darshan.

The Kailasanathar temple is another temple located in Thirupattur, which is around 1 km from Brahmapureeswarar temple. This temple contains the jeeva samaadhi of sage Vyagrapadha.

7.  Srirangam Ranganathamswamy Tirukovil

At a distance of 1 km from Srirangam Railway Station, 9 km from Trichy Railway Junction, 62 km from Thanjavur, 145 km from Madurai & 327 km from Chennai, Srirangam is well known for Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple which is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines of Lord Vishnu. The temple is considered the first among 108 prominent Vishnu temples and also one of the popular Tamilnadu tourist places.

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the most famous temples in South India, constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture. Built across an area of 156 acres, this temple is dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Hindu deity, Lord Vishnu. This temple lies on an island formed by the twin Rivers Cauvery and Kollidam. Though the temple existing since 2nd century BC, the archaeological inscriptions are available only from the 10th century CE. 

This temple is also known by other names such as Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam and Bhogamandabam. It has seven enclosures formed by thick and huge rampart walls which run around the sanctum. Apart from the 7 enclosures with massive walls, the temple complex has 21 very colorful sculpted gopuras, 50 sub shrines, 9 sacred pools and a golden Vimana (dome) over the sanctum sanctorum of the presiding deity.

This temple is the biggest functioning Hindu temple in India. The vimana over the sanctum of the temple is made up of gold and so is protected by an electric fence. The 236-feet Rajagopura (tower) is the tallest temple tower in India. There is also a royal temple tower, which covers a base area of 32500 sq. ft and has a height of 196 ft. It also comprises a hall containing 1000 pillars. Intricate sculptures are the most attractive part of the hall. The Hall was built during the Vijayanagara period (1336-1565). The second enclosure contains the shrine of Ranganayaki, an incarnation of Goddess of Lakshmi.

Jamal Mohammed College 

Best Place for Vegetarian Food in Tirchy for Lunch : 

Chellammal Manpaanai Samayal

28 Officers Colony Renganathapuram | Opposite to Goverment Hospital, Puthur,, Tiruchirappalli 620017, India

+91 98653 56896

https://manpaanaisamayal.com/

Thanks to Google maps we managed to reach Manpaanai samayal and after entering there we realized it is worth of such a Struggle. Traditional food which will not be available in normal hotels are available here and everything is served in Clay Pot – And everything is more tastier than we expect. The secret is everything is not only served in Clay Pot, but also ‘Cooked’ in Clay pot.  

Love Thy-Self :-)

I looked upon the mirror

To see my new me!

The endangering fears

The shed and un-shed tears

Have rotten-ed my face

disturbed my aging grace

Yet, the big gleaming smile

That took me every extra mile

I looked again

To see my new I!

Self-confident or boastfulness?

Dreaded I

Admired Myself

without going overboard

Engrossed with inner beauty

The eyes shined abode

I opened my arms 

to the otherwise resisting changes

I felt free within

for there are no strings attached

Unlike my usual-self

surrounded by all others

I am at peace with myself

Not letting others rob my charm

or bring in susceptible qualms!

Stopped trying to fit in

and feeling good in my skin!

Where the struggle ends

and redemption begins!

My happiness, my priority

No one's business entity

I let not my reins under someone's rule

and frown like a lost fool

Went through darkness

to see my stars

Went behind sun-rays 

to tan off my scars

I am finally open

in thoughts and deeds

to fall in love all over again

This time, with just myself!

Love Thyself! 

First poem of 2019 after a candid conversation in office with my boss, Kumaran M Sundaram !  

#Traveldiaries : Our Visit to 10th Jothirlingam- Trimbakeshwar temple near Nashik

Trimbakeshwar Temple, Nasik

·        Trimbakeshwar Temple is one of the holiest and sacred place for Hindu pilgrims and is revered as a one of the 12 jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva - Within a distance of around 32 kms from Nashik is Trimbakeshwar Temple at the foothills of mountain called Brahmagiri

·        The Trimbakeshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (Self manifested lingams of Shiva popularly known as the Dwadasa (10th Jyotirlinga) of Shiva. There are accounts of Lord Rama having made the Yatra at Trimbakeshwar.

·        The porch of the temple is decorated with beautifully carved and decorated pillars and arches. The temple walls are intricately sculpted with floral designs and figures of various Gods and Goddesses.

·        The temple is unique in various aspects which makes it one of its kind in the country. There are 2 idols of Nandi in the temple, one in the courtyard and  the other inside the temple room in front of the sanctum. The sanctum has three “Lings”, of the size of a thumb, identified as Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh - the creator, the organizer and the destroyer. They are placed in a square space positioned at the three corners of a triangle. 

·        It is also the only Jyotirlinga where the Lingas are in a hollow space beneath the floor. There is a huge mirror placed strategically such that the devotees can get a clear view of the lingas. Since there are three lingas, the place is known as Trimbakeshwar. 

·        One more amazing aspect is that they are always submerged in the water of the Ganges naturally.

·        This temple is built by Shri Nana Saheb Peshawa in 1755-1786 AD took almost 36 years to complete it. It is built with black stone and the Shivlingam is said to be emerged naturally. The temple is bordered with around 20-25 stone feet wall in height. There is a big hall whose roof is in dome shape from inside. The sanctum is not big and houses the main Shivlingam and three lings residing in hollow structure. We were able to see all three miniature lingam only through the mirror which I mentioned earlier.

·        On the left side of this temple along the outer bordered wall, there are series of compartment built in continuation each having a miniature Shivlingam. There are around 32 such compartments out of which only four had Shivlinga. In all of them the Nandi Idol is damaged and none of the 32 structure is in the complete shape. Though the whole temple is built out of black stone but the roof top of sanctum sanatorium is made out of white marble 

·        While approaching Trimbakeshwar, 20 km from Nashik on the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar road, we spotted the Anjaneri Mountain, it is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.  From the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar road, one has to take a diversion from the Anjaneri Phata towards the Anjaneri village, from where it takes around 2 hours to reach the Anjaneri plateau on foot. Here you can visit the Anjaneri fort and the Temple of Anjani Mata, the mother of Lord Hanuman.

Kushavartha

·         Just a 5 min walk away is a sacred pond called "Kushavarta" which is from where river Ganga takes here route to the rest of India. 

·        As per Hindu mythology one gets rid off of all its sin's if they takes bath here. Story has that, Sage Gautam forced river Ganga to stall within the enchanted grass area he made and puts a vow on her. This he done so to take a holy bath in this water and to get rid of his sin for killing a cow. 

·        Sheemant Rao Sahib Parnekar built the temple around the stalled water at this place which we are seeing today. The walls inside all along the hall is inscribed by various Idols, and in all corners are some small temple. The most important fact of this pond is that it is the starting point of Kumb Mela which happens once in a 12 yea. Saints all over the world come to this place on the occasion of mela to take a holy bath.

·        Since Godavari (Ganga) flows from here and reaches at Ram Kund so both are considered pious. 

·        Another attraction of this place is the Bhramagiri Hill, which is the origin of the river Ganga and is named here as Godavari. To reach the top of the hill one needs to go through some 700 steps and usually needs 4-5 hours to cover.