Suseela stared at her teenage daughter, Veena, in shock. Her mind raced, struggling to process the words that had just been spoken. She closed the door quickly, her voice barely a whisper. ‘Oh God… Why? Haven’t I suffered enough? “Amma, I am sorry. I meant to tell you earlier, but just could not find the words.” Suseela stepped closer, clutching Veena’s...
Keezh Kadambur Keezh Kadambur is about 15 min drive from Kaatumannar koil. I was excited to see the Kadambur Maaligai of Ponniyin Selvam fame. PS rasikas, I mean Kalki’s novel readers would have also been enthralled to stand at this spot where so many dramatic incidents have happened. I was hopeful, of seeing the ruins at least if not for the palace. The...
The practice of worshiping Agni (fire) as a deity has existed since ancient times. Among the five elements (Pancha Bhoothas), Agni holds a special significance. Lighting a lamp and seeing the divine in its flame is a tradition deeply rooted in our culture. The Karthigai festival is not only celebrated in temples but also in homes by lighting lamps. A key aspect of...
The phone rang. “I’m calling from The Hindu office. Is this Geetha’s house?” My heart raced with excitement. “Yes, this is Uthra, Geetha’s mother,” I replied. “We would like to interview Geetha today at 10 AM…” I was overjoyed. The Plus Two results were out, and Geetha had achieved remarkable success—she was the second-highest scorer in the entire state of Tamil Nadu...
Chinnu, Kutty Chinnu, come give me a hand,” called out Kalyani. A lean 7-year-old boy with twinkling eyes came running from the garden, where he had been plucking semi-ripe guavas from a medium-sized tree. He dropped the cloth bag with the guavas on the ground and deftly lifted the wicker basket filled with cucumbers, helping his mother place it on her head. The...
Dhanteras has given me a new perspective especially after my Kerala visit. Reading up more and more about Dhanwantri I came to know that Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi, two days before Deepavali) is also Dhanwantri Jayanthi. Dhanwantri is the God of Medicine. When the ocean was churned to get the elixir of immortality, along with other treasures, Lord Dhanwantri, a form...
Having had a fulfilling darshan at the Polla Pillayar temple my husband Senthil and I headed further down the same road to reach Kaatu Mannar Koil a little town but with great historical and spiritual importance. This is the town where sage Nadhamuni who compiled the 4000 Divya Prabandham was born. Also the birth place of Alavandar his grandson, another important...
Madras: A Journey Down Memory Lane Ah, Madras! The city where history whispers through the streets and nostalgia drips from every memory. Back in the day, Chennai was called Madras, and those were the days, my friend. Let’s take a spin down memory lane, starting with a taste of the simple pleasures that defined our lives. Cinema Royale: The most expensive ticket at...
What a wonderful view of the sky and the sea! I loved sitting in the balcony enjoying the ocean breeze and catching up on my reading. I had just finished reading a collection of short stories written by a friend which was partly spiritual. My thoughts flew back in time, more than 5 decades to 1971. I was naïve, and new to Chennai. The steel chair felt cold against my...
Urmila was running late. She needed to complete the cooking within 10 minutes and start packing the lunch boxes. One for her father in law, one for her brother in law and another for her husband. But the cooker was too obstinate and refused to open. Her mother in law Padma usually was the one who cooked everyday. Urmila usually helped her cut vegetables and her daily...