Sunday, October 2, 2011

SABARIMALA

In the year 1975 there was a beautiful song coming out of my neighbours home in the morning. Until then in my home NATIONAL ECKO radio was singing only Karnatic music.

First time a Tamil song went into my blood stream and touched my brain with so much of sweetness . I asked my mother what is that song is all about. She said the song is for Sabarimala Ayyappan. He is most powerful god and you need to go to a forest to see him.

There was a invitation from them for Ayyappa puja in their home. First time I am seeing people wearing Black dhoti and were looking divine.

Immediately I was hooked to their devotional path and was sitting for the whole puja. The puja was close to 3 hrs. A kid of 5 years doing no nonsense sitting at a puja , I feel now is due to the greatness of Ayyappan.

Years passed by and I was also evoulving as a humanbeing and completed my graduation in the year 1990, it was Physics my graduation, and struggling hard to know what I need to know after my graduation.

Since we were from outside chennai, Knowing more about other options in career virtually nill, my only aim was to get a seat in M.Sc( Physics), Unfortunately for me, I didnot get seat in any good colleges.

Remember it was September 1991 and I didnot get any seat. Was in terrible depression about my future and what I am going to do next?. There was a beautiful Ayyappan temple was constructed near my home and I use to go their and pray. One day I asked him to give a seat for M.SC., If I get it I will come trekking 48 miles.

For my surprise, I got a seat in M.Sc.( applied electronic) in my college and I got admitted on 18th December 1991. See 18th December was the date and 1 st semester would have got completed in most of the college but still I joined and completed the course.

So it was 1993, I should complete my prayer and I should trekkdown to Sabarimala. I told my mother and father. My mother was very much supportive but my father does not beleive in this sabarimala cult.

Went to temple , Identified my guru and wore mala for the first time. I felt light. I was looking bright and I was really started enjoying Sanyasi hood at that point of time.

We too conduted a beautiful pooja in our home and that day was un forgottable since my mother cooked lot of food for the puja, we do not know how many people would come. When we saw lot of people coming for puja, I was panicking but my mother was able to manage it well . Infact with the blessings of the Lord everybody appreciated our food and Puja.

The D day arrived , I was about to start my journey towards Sabarimala. It was 12th January 1994 , my date with Ayyappa started. It was one of the toughest journey in my whole life.

We reached Erumeli in the evening 8 PM, I never seen such a rush in my whole life, I was asked to do pettai thullal and asked to start trekking.

First I was carrying whole lot of medicine, dresses and what not. Big luggage for such a nice trekking was a big mistake. That time I do not know I should carry a backbag, So I was carrying a Jolna bag ( Side bag).

Since Life back home was so easy , I was not able to match the speed of fellow devotees and my walking ability went for question. I was able to make upto Azhutha with difficulty. From then on I need to climb a step mountain Azhutha. There is a saying that if you climb it you will definetely cry. It happen to me since my lifestyle was so easy that the journey showed me the real life ahead .

Somehow we reached Mookuli Bhagavathy temple and from then on the journey should be smooth till Karimalai medu. But again I was into problem of not able to walk due to my exhaustion. All the devotees who came with me thought that I would not make immediately. The left me in a place and went on trekking.

I started myself and started to think about Ayyappan for the first time . I started to walk slowly but I gained speed in due course. In the whole rush of devotees , I know only Ayyappan. So It was me and him only. The talk with Lord started for the first time and I was so light and walking as if I am participating for a gold medal race in Olympics. ( exaggeration listen it) But fact.

I reached pampa around 9 PM where I met guru. He told me to ease myself and take rest. It was middle of the path and I took food and started sleeping. I got up by 5 AM,13th January 1994.

My fellow devotees came and joined with us on 13th January 1994 12 PM. So God was with me till the time I was near the holy 18 steps.

I saw the Jyothi for the firt time .

Curtain Raiser to know about the Lord Ayyappan .

Wait for more information on Lord

Swamiyae Saranam Ayyappa.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Indian premier League

After close to 6 months, I thought of writing a blog again.
This time very costly heading IPL.

I love cricket, I know cricket , I want to watch cricket. I was very happy two years back a novel idea of T20 cricket executed to perfection in India.

Terrorist threat, 26/11 aftermath , Chidambaram s reluctance to provide security for the IPL, moved this game to another continent AFRICA for a years time. Still I watched matchs since it provided me lot of entertainment.

This time its going to be in India, my favourite players are going to play and I want to watch it live.

Before me looking for itenary , My sisters son told me he wants to watch it live in the famous "CHEPAUK".

I just went to Chepauk to look at it casualy before IPL, I was dump struck after looking at the beauty of the stadium. Couple of stands are newly built and I understand the renovation is aimed at World cup next year.

The wicket looks very good from outside, Yes ofcourse How I know, how it will be during the matches. It is the headach of players.

Coming back to the plan of watching live on the stadium driven me to look for tickets. I was very happy to hear FM channel shouting that you will get free tickets for the matchs if you participate in some of the contest so on..

I never thought matchs are not only played in ground but also across all marketing medium. Even scores of other matchs are prompted in all FM channels . While driving also IPL is following you.

So the IPL fever is high every where in India. Each Indian become expert in the game. Old people from Australia started writting columns in Indian newspaper as if that they are the only ones knows much about cricket .

More than 40 years old Australians are either captaining team or coaching the teams. Most sought quality for a person to play in IPL is retiered from cricket and must know to praise all indian cities and franchise owners.

Flash news : Two more franchieses are added for next years IPL.

So again coming back to my plan of watching IPL Live , I went to the places where tickets are sold, I enquired the rate of the ticket . I can buy two portable T.Vs for the rate told by the person and I can watch it in my home comforts.It is more cheaper than watching them in Grounds.

I asked a question to myself, Am I getting exploited ? Yes ofcourse.

This game is not played , it is sold .Cricket is no more a game but a costly business.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

India

Sometimes back I read a blog concerned about the over independence to our Mother India. The person who wrote that letter was very much concerned and felt bad about the plight of today s India.

So I got my title to write something I feel like writing. From 1996 I started living in the big city called Chennai before that it was all along in a small town called Ranipet. So I am town boy then City guy.

When I sit back and think about the fear expressed by so many people that we are forgetting our culture , there was a huge change of attitude among our youngster, people look at life more easy and comfortable , above all there is no respect for elders and India is enjoying over dose of freedom.

For me above all statements looks little new since still the beauty of India is in her small villages and towns. For sure India is not enjoying a over dose of freedom instead most of the towns and villages are deprived of basis needs.

Governments says that they are providing good electricity , education and infrastructure to all at villages and towns but believe me the reality is every village enjoys good powercuts close to 20 hours per day(my assumption and my experience)(yes little bit of exaggeration).

People in city are worried about traffic, DTH offers, IPL and Recessions but on the flip side the poor people of India are worried about monsoons , Loans waiver for the farmers and above all good hospitals.

With all the problems in the villages, the villagers and towns are the backbone of India, as once said by India cricket captain MS Dhoni, Only town guys can be fearless and effective in all weathers.

I have most of my friends from Vellore who are rocking in US. I have guys from small places near Madurai TVL and far south rocking in Wipro , Infosys.

Even I consider myself little bit high in ranks compared to that of my city counterparts since I think better and implement better than my city counterparts. I fear them when I first came to this big city , now they fear me since I m better then so called city guys.

I am repeatedly telling about the beauty of towns and villages, one example is a bird (sparrow) so cute and very small in size is available in plenty in villages but I cannot figure out a single bird in chennai. It gives nice sounds and makes you feel happy when you see and listen to his sounds. In citys honk of diff cars and vehicles will tear your ear drum.

When you get up in the morning the sun lights and fresh air of your surroundings will greet you but in city mobile phone ringing will announce another busy day in offering for you.

I do not know how to conclude but I feel the freshness and progress of India depends upon the village s then cities.

The worry about the deterioration of culture is uncalled for since It never exists in villages separately but it is a walk of life.In cities only there is pseudo culture that prevailed, yes that may deteriorate.

jai hind

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Travelling .....

Its been a month since i vented out anything in Blog since i was traveling more . I decided to write about traveling .

People usually say they love traveling , a good saying i have read and still I use whenever I get a proper chance to use it. "A ship in a harbor is very safe but it is not it built for " How true it is ?

There are different ways and different reasons to travel. A travel which is for fun and with friends always rejunavate a person . A place which is close to nature always gives you moment to cherish.

But the travel which for a task is always leaves you tired if you are failed to accomplish the task and it will be more rewarding if you succeed in your task.

Most of the above sentences if you co relate with your daily experience, you can take out lot of learnings out of travel. The travel with a plan will take you for a ride and sometimes with out plan will help you to enjoy the travel.

Travel to newer location means adjustment to newer location and forgetting comforts of used location . The food plays a major role in making your trip happy.

For a good vegetarian traveling to newer places will be definite nightmare since without food you cannot survive. I am not advocating for Vegetarian foods but level of adjustment need to be made to adopt is a key.

When it comes to traveling by air, Most of the people are very comfortable so to say they feel happy to say that i flew by air. But people like me want to step out of the aircraft since the journey never was so happy and fear of height makes me to think un wanted things in life.

You know one thing I love to say that i flew by air today. But I hate to fly. This statement will take many of my friends by surprise. The turbulence , the stories or films I saw (mostly un understandable English (US) movies) and fear of heights will make me to sit in a aircraft like rat in the snakes mouth. To my surprise the googling gives me a different picture about air travel, one of the most safest form of travel and less accidents compared to that of road,train or sea travel. This data s are datas but when flight takes off , I am missing my feet.
The flip side is a beautiful clouds, the grandmother stretch s her leg when I am in earth looks very close but not like a grand mother. The evening Orange light from the Sun pierce through cloud and makes you to think great about the mother nature.

Ofcourse sea from top looks awesome, the waves of the sea looks still from the top and your most lovable city and the places your feet touched looked from top angle gives you a feeling , how nice the creations and creators are.

Conversation with fellow travellers gives you the information that most of them are hate to fly but love to say I flew today.Compulsions some times , requirements sometimes and no options some times makes a man fly .

Some of us use to it , most of us live with it and all of us cherish it .

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Arts ....

When a country or place is in peace, arts and culture thrives .. I read this sentence in some books. I felt the trueness of the sentence several times and the place I am living is known for peace. For your information Chennai never had any trouble because of Religion,Caste and politics in this 25 years of my presence in the city.

I am not here to write about Chennai but about arts. When I want to get out of my tensions, I prefer to hear a good music. The music makes me happy and makes me to think positive as well.

Infact I am not a person who knows what is what in music, I am an average listener. This average listener also gets lot out of music. We all know music never had barriers. This is true to large extent as far as I am concerned.

My knowlege in Hindi is very limited infact I have no Knowledge in Hindi but lot of songs went into every cell of mine. My body soul and even my blood vein got energy from a good song . I never knew the meaning of the songs sung by Great Mohd Rafi, Kishorekumar and ofcourse Mukesh. But their golden voice made me to forget the whole world. I have a huge collection of Hindi music. Which makes me more energetic positive thinking and happy man after it goes deep into my ears. It is pleasure hearing music.

When the music of some other language makes me to be more happy my own Tamil music makes me to love everything around me. Infact Mr.Ilaiyaraja s music makes me to jump and makes me to love my own language.

I learnt to know the meaning of song and the richness of the langauage from my Mother. She likes Tamil verymuch, so she describes the content of the song with simple examples and that practice made me to listen to the language along with music.

Some times the camparison coming out on a song is behind imagination. Crying of a Cloud is rain , this is an example was given by some poet. It looks simple but a poet needs imagination and necessary words to built a quality poetry.

So the place makes art to grow and it is true too. Infact my house is also calm and peaceful, then why I am not singing or playing any instrument .
Well You should be blessed to sing . May be on my rebirth god should bless with some artistic ability.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Computer ....

When I was thinking about the next blog, I was wondering what to write, Since my thought process went blank. I want to write a thanks giving blog.

Yes I got a spark, I need to thank somebody who really changed my life.The Machine changed so many lifes, I am one among them. The life which was dull,not having color, not having direction to the life with full vibrance, fun filled above all into a meaningful journey by a machine .

The Machine is computers. I remeber a advertisement . The man, machine and the legend. It holds good for me, the man is me , the machine is computer and legend is ofcourse computers.It all started way back in 1990, When I completed my graduation in Physics, there was a information about a machine which was slowly getting into prominence.Infact my cousin was the one first joined in Graduation in Computer Science from Regional Engineering college, Every home in our family take him as a role model and it ignited fire in me.

I want to learn computers but I m not so intelligent or hardworking like my cousin but I started learning computers after my graduation, it was on DBASE III plus, COBOL, Wordstar and Lotus 123. It was fun learning and I do not know why I am learning computers.I felt it was so easy and why it requires intelligence.

Then came my post graduation where I completly immerssed me in Physics and applied electronics then computers. I forgotten or the interest I had was disappered. To be frank, I started loving nothing but sitting ideal and dreaming big with out doing anything to make it big.

Now when I hear Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam saying dream and win in your life, I remember whatever I dreamt that time taking a shape. The above sentence is for lighter vein. I was into pharmaceutical marketing and I was loosing myself in this materialistic world and forgetting the machine Computers..

A day came in my life through one of my friend called Mr.Ranjit, When we were having discussion about future , He told me that now Y2K catching up and if you do Mainframes course you can fly to United States.

So Stage is set for me, I resigned my job and got money from my parents and started doing a course in Mainframes. I learnt nothing other than dreaming big about US. The land of opportunities .

I started playing games, I started interacting with computers through Windows, I started using mouse, I started using Windows Word. This skill sets are enough to go to US ? No way. But the lazy heart will never understand it capabilities.

I applied for a job in CANADA, where i said I posses skill set of mainframes and even cleared my interview with ease . I started learing COBOL, I started learing JCL, I started learing lot of things in computers. But my luck did not take to CANADA.

Ofcourse I am really not so interested to learn because it was tiresome. You know after this I started learning ORACLE, VB . I started programming too. But I was on the wrong time and dot com bust, busted my dream to become big in this IT world.

Meanwhile without my knowledge the dream machine influenced my life , when I started browsing, I started sending mails to many friends of mine who are in US.
I got into habit of chatting. This habit has tought me lot, GOOD , BAD and UGLY.
I got lot of good friends and I started learing what is happening around me.

So When I got my job in Computers, all the knowledge I aquired helped me to excel , Ofcourse I was not into hardcore coding but into marketing . It was really happy moments for me since I started earning through the machine for which I spent lot of money.

The job was secured , next my life. personal life. Yes my habit of chatting long in computers got me a special relation and that relation is special because I got my betterhalf. Yes I met my wife through net and that relation made me a happy person today. My sincere thanks to computers.

I got my first bike on my own and it was through the money I earned through the legend. I got my first car and so on .

The man who was from no where in this society to a respectable person in the society all because of the machine called computers.

I cannot name my son Computer otherwise I would have named him.

So I can say thanks to this machine by writting a blog and that too in the machine which gave me a life.

Monday, July 20, 2009

My English Teacher

English , The language of most of the people , The language which connects most people. In India if you speak in English, you are respected.

So How I learned English ? , Have I learnt it ?. I do not know I learnt it fully but I learnt new language called English from my English Teacher.

Who is my English Teacher ? This question has got a funny answer from me . Yes the Game "CRICKET" was my English Teacher.

Since I was from a Tamil Medium form of Education, I find English very tough in my early days, yes today also some times it makes me irritated cos z , I will not be understanding exactly what is said and in what sense .

My first experience with English was from my family, in my house almost everybody can understand English and speak in English expect me.
My father was an engineer with PWD, My mother an English Teacher and ofcourse my sister was convent educated.

At home Everybody watch a quiz program conducted by sidhartha Basu at 9.00 PM in Doordarshan, I was the only one who will watch girl standing next to Quiz master then understanding what he was speaking.

Everybody try to answer and even ask me in Tamil to answer the question, I answered most of the questions but I didnot know English to understand the questions.

I was asking my dad, how to learn English, He said read THE HINDU and Read what you like most. I should thank him for giving me the tips, which helped me to learn the Language to survive in this world.

I like The game CRICKET most , So I started reading scores, bowler name and analysis in THE HINDU. I started reading without understanding meanings to start with but I developed interest to understand what was written because I loved the game cricket so much.

So How I started talking in English ? I visited my relative s house for a marriage, I found most of the people are talking in English and some of our relatives came from US were talking in English in a different way. I want to talk with Every body but i have my limitations.

Again the Game of Cricket helped my to learn to talk in English .

When I was growing up with age , Australia s Channel 9 was so famous and beaming the matches played by Australia and other teams. My English teachers emerged from the CRT in the form of Tony Greig, Riche Benaud .

Yes our own Desi Doordarshan provided Dr.Narotam puri, ML Jaishima. So my learning continued and then I was admitted a convent where I need tp pay 5 Rupees for every conversation in Tamil. I paid 500 Rupees per month .

When I was in my 12 th standard, I started reading Sports Star, Sports World, sports Week since I like them most. I love to hear the commentary for learning English .

Then came TWI , and our improved TV coverage with good analysis, I started picking up the langauage very well.

so thus I learnt English through my most loveable sport CRICKET.

I thank Cricket for being my English teacher.

Regards
Harishankar