Awareness Talks on 'Stranger Danger in Social Media', POSH and Digital Education at MGR University, Stella Matutina College for Education and MIT

Amazing weekend 29-30 Oct 2022, when 3 of us from IBM (my proud ex-employer) Mahi team headed by Nasreen Dawood were able to address more than 500 students on the topics of

'POSH- Prevention of Sexual Harassments' at workplace', By Sunitha Bhat, Kyndryl

'Online Learning and Digital Education Trends' By Devika Mohan Kyndryl and

'Stranger Danger in Social Media' by Umasree Raghunath, Director, ATOS

at MGR University and Stella Matutina College of Education. We are also happy to be part of MIT Orientation Program on Women Safety.

Talking to students is our delight, engaging them is inspiring and motivating them is self-motivating us to give back more :-)

Balaramapuram Community Centre- Diwali Rations Distribution -22 Oct 2022

Update 22 Oct 22. Distribution of 55 bags completed at Balarampuram Community Centre today for Diwali. Thanks to all donars for timely help. We chipped in to completed the request with Dr Renuka Ramakrishnan n our families - Thanks to Raghu for doing the onground work and President Prakasam Sir for coordinating on this

Update 19 Oct 2022.

Balarampuram Leprosy Colony in Villivakkam in need of rations for Diwali. Anyone willing to contribute Rs.1000, please gpay to 9840741819 and send us a screenshot.

60 families in need. With Renuka Ramakrishnan

Life History of Mahaperiyava- Tamil Stage Play - Dheivuthul Dheivam - Oct 2022

 #kanchipuram #Sankara #Periyava #musicacademy #celebrationofkanchiPeriyava #DeviathulDeivam #elangokumanan

Thanks to my beloved friend Karpagam Kumanan , we could once again immerce in the nectar called Kanchi Sankaracharya Sri Chandrasekarendra Swamigal life story, fondly called as Kanchi MahaPeriyava.

A three day festival brought to us by Elango Kumanan Sir n team this Oct 2022 at Music Academy , with more than 100 artists on screen n probably another 100 behind the screens.v.

A 3 hours of diving deep into the life of a Mahatma, takes you through several instances of his life, the secular fabric of our Nation, the adi shankara advaitha way of living, very delicately touching on several current affairs and ensuring all of us leave the Music Academy with a sense of belonging, happiness and devotion.

A must watch ...to enjoy several aspects of our life and celebrate who we are

Motivational Talk on Gender Equality at CTTE College - Perambur

 #internationalgirlchildday2022 #genderequality #cttecollege #umasreeraghunath

It is always a pleasure addressing students and telling them real life stories to engage their attention and understanding. Diversity topics are my all time favourite and thanks to Alima Zehra for inviting me to CTTE college Perambur to address around 250 young student leaders on Gender Equality.

Yercaud Poetry Festival 26 Aug 2022- Dream Poetry - "Restore Space"

 

Poem 1 - Lost in between

Gazed did I, at the stars above

Trying to find you roaring in love

Just in a jiffy, as I closed my eyes

you disappeared into the vast skies

filling my life with emptiness and dreams

No memory to convince by any means

 

Search did I, into the cosmic rays

Felt the warmth, in the splendid ways

formless love that shined to bestow

upon my thoughts as I always know

you appeared within my spiritual quest

proving to be the aspirational best

 

Loved did I, the spaces that I adore

elements of life and ecstasy unknown

with the inner consciousness raised

everything emptied itself with love base

Is this the divine will or the space between?

For sure, Lost did I, in love left in between!!!

 

Poem 2 – Expressionless

Some creations are done for no reason

Not for a particular fashion or season

They sprang out in a true emotion

To make the same a real passion

writer in me shed a tear for unknown space

Strong woman in me, have no fear in disguise

For the few of hazards around

All I said and begot is fake profound

But to my true self and heart

I will cherish my finest art

I endeared as a professional part

Perfected with the radiances apart

Far did I fly with my thoughts galore

Wide did I travel with horizons to adore

Deep did I go with my spirits to sore

Poetry to me will never die as I adore…

This is my space, my tranquillity

Peace, Love and Harmony within!!!

 

Poem 3- Stars that never shined!!

 

Tiny silver dots in the sky

that shimmer spectacles in the night

As the canopy of night darkness lay

these pollock dots of sky shine bright

So far, so small and so uncared for

Yet, there is something significant to adore

 

Amid darkness, they shined undaunted in sky

forgotten when they fell on earth for a while shy

They were stars that withstood the test of times

waves through the strongest waves of life

Beckoning the home of hope for untravelled miles

Yet, there is something significant as they did fly

 

Powerful specked light of the tiny dots

rose amidst the merciless human rots

No amount of darkness removes the spark

for each one of them, did place their mark

Yes, they are the women stars that never shined!

Yet, the connecting dots of lives well lived!!!

Poetry Anthology: Sanatana Bharat - Azhadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav- 15 Aug 2022 - DIAMOND INDIA - UNHEARD SONGS OF OBSCURE HEROS

 

Patriotic Poems

 

Poem Title 1:  Rani Velu Nachiyar

 

The Power Queen of Sivaganga,

flowed her valour like River Ganga

Veera Mangai of South India

First Queen to wage war against British India

Ali’s Army, Feudal Lords,

Maruthu brothers, Dalit Commanders

supporting Nachiyar

with un-scattering loyalty

 training to end the common enemy

Boundless agony on tragic ends

unrelenting sacrifices till the end

Udayaal stood the spirit of the Queen

Raising the bar of the army

Loyalty and unflinching faith

Rani Velu Nachiyar

is the Name of Courage,

Nerves tightening the blood

surging her head in pride

As she reckoned to kill

as fitting reward to treasons

1780- The year marked in bold

epoch making battle of the queen

with the fully armoured British

To re-establish her land and soil

for her and her own people

The ebb and Flow of life

A Woman, A Warrior and

A Mighty Queen Called Velu Nachiyar

survived surpassing all the hurdles

Wins the destiny

Etched her name in the History

Of Mother India

As the Valiant Power Woman

remained from south of India

Called

Rani Velu Nachiyar!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poem Title 2:  Alluri Sita Rama Raju

 

The name that brought fear

with the terror in his eyes

and the valour in his arms

Rama Raju, the Telugu Son

A National Revolutionary

With wisdom, pride, and courage

Saving his traditional forms of agriculture

taking over non-traditional guerrilla wars

Mustering the forces of tribals

As the Hero of the jungles

British thirst to quench the rebellion

unstopped manhunts chasing Raju

He left behind his lady love Sita

to embrace sacrifices to his first love India

familiar with the struggles of his Nation

The sounds of his fierce horse rides

leaving behind spiritual tutelages

sent shrills down the spines of British

Messiah, the tribals called him

The Charisma that influenced many

Educating the people of their rights

And engaging in fearless fights

touring the deadly forest terrains

taking a control of geographical plains

A rebel, truly honest to his land

Martyred tied to a tree blind

People cried beating drums

singing songs in their hero’s praise

Bows, Arrows and Spears

Continued the movement he began!

Heroes like Rama Raju do not die!!!

They live in every miniscule soil

Liberated, Free, and rightfully owned

Homages paid to the bravery and scarified

A life short- but well lived

As the one and only Alluri Sita Rama Raju!!!

The Gallant Son of Andhra Pradesh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Diaries: Visit to Matsya Narayana Perumal - Vedanarayana Perumal - Nagalapuram

 

Matsya Narayana Perumal Temple (Vedanarayana Perumal Temple) - Nagalapuram

The Matsya Narayana Perumal Temple, also known as the Vedanarayana Perumal Temple, is a historic and significant Hindu temple located in Nagalapuram, a town in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Matsya (fish) avatar, one of the ten primary incarnations known as Dashavatara.

History

The Matsya Narayana Perumal Temple is believed to have been constructed during the early 16th century by the Vijayanagara emperor, Krishnadevaraya, who ruled from 1509 to 1529 CE. The temple’s history is closely tied to the Vijayanagara Empire, known for its patronage of art, architecture, and Hindu temples.

Nagalapuram itself was named after Krishnadevaraya's mother, Nagala Devi, highlighting the king's devotion to his family and his efforts to honor them through grand architectural projects. The temple stands as a testament to the architectural grandeur and the religious fervor of the Vijayanagara period.

Significance

The significance of the Matsya Narayana Perumal Temple lies in its dedication to the Matsya avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu mythology, Vishnu took the form of a fish to save the sacred Vedas from the demon Hayagriva during the great deluge (Pralaya). This avatar signifies the protection of knowledge and the restoration of cosmic order.

The temple is particularly renowned for its annual festival known as Surya Pooja. During this festival, the rays of the setting sun fall directly on the presiding deity, Vedanarayana Perumal, illuminating the sanctum sanctorum. This celestial event is a major attraction and draws numerous devotees.

Deities

The primary deity of the temple is Matsya Narayana, also known as Vedanarayana Perumal. The idol of the deity is depicted with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish, reflecting the Matsya avatar. The deity is flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi, the consorts of Vishnu.

Other deities worshipped in the temple include:

• Goddess Lakshmi: The consort of Lord Vishnu, often depicted in a separate shrine within the temple complex.
• Hanuman: The ardent devotee of Lord Rama, a form of Vishnu, often worshipped for strength and devotion.
• Garuda: The eagle mount of Lord Vishnu, symbolizing devotion and power.

Hindu Practices

Worship and rituals at the Matsya Narayana Perumal Temple follow traditional Vaishnavite practices. Key aspects of worship and rituals include:

• Daily Pujas: The temple follows a strict schedule of daily rituals, including Suprabhatam (early morning awakening ritual), Abhishekam (sacred bath), Alankaram (decoration), Naivedyam (offering of food), and Deepa Aradhana (waving of lamps).

• Festivals: The temple celebrates various festivals with great fervor. The most notable is the annual Brahmotsavam, celebrated over several days with various religious activities, processions, and cultural events. Surya Pooja, where the sun's rays illuminate the deity, is another significant festival.

• Prayers and Offerings: Devotees offer flowers, fruits, coconuts, and other items as part of their worship. Special prayers and rituals are performed for personal and communal well-being.

• Vedic Chanting and Discourses: Recitations of the Vedas and discourses on the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other scriptures are a regular feature, emphasizing the temple's role in the preservation and dissemination of sacred knowledge.

Architecture

The architecture of the Matsya Narayana Perumal Temple reflects the grandeur of the Vijayanagara style, characterized by intricate carvings, majestic gopurams (towering gateways), and spacious mandapas (pillared halls). The temple's layout is designed to facilitate the grand rituals and processions that are integral to its religious life.

The temple complex includes several mandapas and shrines, with the sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha) housing the main deity. The outer walls and pillars are adorned with exquisite sculptures depicting various episodes from Hindu mythology, particularly those related to Lord Vishnu's incarnations.

The Matsya Narayana Perumal Temple in Nagalapuram stands as a significant religious and cultural landmark, reflecting the rich heritage of the Vijayanagara Empire. It serves as a center for devotion, learning, and the celebration of Hindu traditions, drawing devotees from far and wide to experience its spiritual ambiance and architectural splendor. The temple's dedication to the Matsya avatar underscores the importance of preserving knowledge and maintaining cosmic order, core themes in Hindu philosophy.