A passionate teacher turned Digital Marketer.
At Thiruporur Murugan Temple, (our Kula deivam koil) a quick walk around the praharam of the main sanctum reveals a treasure that many devotees might easily overlook. Among the beautifully arranged utsava murthis stands a bronze, Upadesa Murthy, where Lord Muruga is seated on the lap of Lord Shiva, imparting the profound meaning of the sacred Pranava Manthiram, “Om.”...
I will take the house,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I looked at the broker. He had already spoken at length about Pallavaram—how it was an upcoming suburb, how families preferred it, how safe it was, how convenient it would be with St. Mary’s School nearby, and the bus stop and railway station within easy reach. His words had washed over me earlier, but...
What can we watch now?” asked Skanda, as we settled comfortably on the sofa—him with the remote, and me simply looking forward to a happy afternoon with him. “Your choice,” I replied, fully aware of his taste. He chose a Thor movie. Fantasy. Mythology. The age rating said 13+. I protested mildly. “You’re not even 12 yet!” “Don’t worry, paati… I’ve watched lots of 13+...
Just like filter coffee, the age-old idly has its own secret sauce recipe. Each family guards its little secrets for that spongy, fluffy malligai poo idly. And heaven help the poor soul who gets it slightly wrong—looks of disdain, even pure disgust, follow. “கல் போல இருக்கு…” or “மொழுக்குனு இருக்கு…”—the harsh verdicts of hardcore idly connoisseurs on the efforts of...
Those days, families that had a phone, a landline, were considered truly elite. As a child, I remember our black rotary phone. It had a shrill ring that could be heard even two houses away. That sound itself felt important… like news was arriving. Calling outstation relatives wasn’t simple. We had to book a trunk call. Then came the wait. And when the call finally...
My mother fondly narrates this story about the origin of my name. When I was born—yet another girl—her grandfather apparently said, “Kannagiyin pen Manimegalai aagattum.” And that is how I was named. Her younger brother is named Ilango, after Ilango Adigal, the author of Silapadhikaaram. So in our family, we have Kannagi, Manimegalai, and Ilango—three names drawn...
Vanaja was running late. Breakfast was done. Lunch was packed. But Tiger still needed his morning walk before she could drive to school. Venkat was glued to an early morning office call, so help was out of the question. “Tiger… come. Let’s go down.” Tiger, her jet-black Labrador, sprang up from his favourite spot near the swing — the perfect vantage point to watch...
I have always had a soft corner for lesser-known temples. The quieter they are, the closer they seem to the divine. There is something deeply comforting about sitting in a prahāram without the hum of crowds or the shuffle of hurried feet — just a hush that settles around you so gently, it stirs something within. A stillness so complete that you feel like breaking...
It was a Pradosham evening. Around 5 pm, we parked our car at the temple entrance. The first act, as always, was to offer our respects to Surya Pillayar—a magnificent, towering form of Ganesha, striking in both scale and presence right at the entrance. From there, we walked barefoot into the ancient Kaameswarar Temple at Madavilagam, Kalkulam village, carefully...
Saint Thirugnanasambandar, the child prodigy and the boy saint who is one among the Naalvars (the four great Saivite saints) is considered as an avatar of Lord Murugan by learned scholars. Thirugnanasambandar has performed many miracles, but the one associated with Thirumarugal touches the heart in a deeply human way. Thirumarugal is a quiet, unassuming village...