Tirumala Tirupathi Visit

Tirumala Temple Towers

Tirumala Hill - A Natural Fortress !

This is about our visit to Tirumala Tirupathi on October 28th and 29th of 2006.

Early during the day we started from Chennai and drove down to Tirupathi. Myself, Sriram and Nana (as my sister calls; well why should i mention this ? Myself and Sriram call him Naina. Effect of Colloquialism ?/!) were travelling through the snail paced traffic from Chennai to Poonamalle. Mom could not join us as she was taking care of the Grandmother. Once we reached Poonamalle we were on the National Highway 205 and swiftly travelled through Thiruvallur, Thiruthani, Nagari, Puthur, Renigunta and reached Tirupathi crossing 150 kms.

One of the traffic constable diverting us to a ring road we had a short drive around Tirupathi town and headed to Tiruchanoor (also called Alamelumangapuram) to worship Sri Padmavathi Devi. The usual scene at the viciny crowds, shops etc. We waded throught the crowd and reached the TTD ticket office and got tickets to Kumkumarchana seva. Now we were before the temple gopuram and i was recollecting the article which i read about Rajaji's appeal for a devotee. His famous composition Kurai Onrum Illai related to this incident. Read this article to get more details http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm .

We were inside the temple and worshipped Sri Padmavati Devi with the Archagar performing the elaborate Archana with Kumkuma. It was a darshan which i will remember ever. After the worship we had our prasadams and we drived again to Tirupathi to have our Lunch. After the Lunch we went to worship Sri Govindaraja Perumal. We worshipped lord Govindaraja giving us darshan in Bujangasayanam. The temple is also called the Keezh Tirupathi. We were now heading to Tirumala.

It was a nice evening with the Sun playing hide and seek we started to climb by foot the Tirumala hill. The distance from Alipiri to Tirumala is 11 kms by foot. Sriram driving the car to Tirumala; myself and father were climbing the 7 hills by foot. It was a nice experience recapping our earlier such climbing. After the sunset and gathering of more clouds there were a few showers on our way. We climbed the hill in around 5 hours. It was an interesting experience again;

We were accompanied by all set of people like college students discussing movies, software professionals discussing Java and Oracle !, Elders discussing philosophy, Shop keepers as usual selling, beggers (also exchanging coins for Notes !) etc etc. Could not forget the person who was shouting Govinda Govinda when he was climbing.

We climbed the hill very slowly resting many times on the way. It was tough untill we reached Gali Gopuram as the steps was very slippery and we were climbing with bare foot. It was told to us that Sri Ramanuja Acharya climbed the hill on his knee as he considered that the hill as the lords Thirumeni. No wonder they termed the climb till Gali Gopuram as Muzhankal Mudichu or Knee breaking as the hill was so steep. It was unfortunate that we did not carry the camera to shoot the wildlife on the way. We met a wild deer starring at every one open in the wild ! There were small frogs, snails, beatles, insects etc on the way which my camera misses to shoot still.

There were small shrines and idols on the way. Some of the Dasa Avataram idols were opened and some were still being installed. On the way we worshipped the huge Hanuman where it was drizzling lightly. We worshipped Lord Narasimha on the way and reached the bridge and started climbing the last part of the hill. We found people doing padi puja by lighting campour on each step. We reached Tirumala after 5 hours.

After reaching up the Tirumala we had our dinner and offered our hair and got ready for the Archana Anthra Darshan of Lord Srinivasa (Lord Venkateshwara). Along with the waves of devotees we were also travelling through Q complex and reached the temple gopuram. We had an excellent darshan of Lord Srinivasa with Archagar still performing the Archana. The Temple is also called Kaliyuga Vaikuntam. Tirupathi is one among the 108 Divya Desams.

We also worshipped Varadaraja Perumal, Yoga Narasimhar, Sri Ramanujar inside the temple. Made our Hundi offering and had our prasadams. It was a swift and memorable darshan of the lord.

After having our break fast we were now heading back again to Tirupathi by car. We took some time to take some photos of the hill and scenic beauty. Amazed with the beauty of the Nature and fully charged with the positive energy of the temple we were feeling great after surrendering our self to the lord.

We had our Lunch again at Bhimas and returned back to Chennai. The weather still being cloudy we drived back home in heavy rains between Tiruthani and Thirumalisai. We reached home with our minds still filled with the Lord.

Mohan Raman V

Google Tirumala Tirupathi to know more about the temple !

Separation of Grandma

This is about my Grand Mother (Nappinnai). She passed away few days back. Not being able to attend her funeral in India; was spending time to at the apartment in Cairo. I being her most loved Grand child (May be it is i was her first Grand Child) lamenting about my inability to take part in her funeral. A short writing on her life which is all what i could do to her with a heavy heart.

Who is Nappinnai. It is easy to say that she is my Grandma but to me, she is like Jhansi ki Rani who lived her life successfully overcoming the struggles she had to face. she is from a orthodox Hindu Vaishnavite family. Having lost her father at a young age; she was bought up by her mother, elder sister and uncle. She was trained in Music by one of her sister's husband (I can still remember about her praises and her opportunity to learn music from him.) She got married to Venkataramanujam (My Grand father) and lost him as he died of sickness at a young age. With my father at the age of 2 and without her husband she had to face the life. The Challenge begins.

She had to come back to her mother (Kamala) and elder sister (Lakshmi Thayar Amma) for getting education and to make up her living. She completed her studies and was working as a music teacher to start with. Her elder sister who was also an widow showed her how to overcome the situation. Later she started working as a school teacher in the Egmore Girls High School. The School which had educated and developed a lot of personalities. She was successful in educating my father along with her elder sister till he graduated and took up employment.

She worked as a teacher for her full term. She stayed in a women's hostel to complete her last year of service without getting a voluntary retirement when the family had to shift to Ooty due to my father's profession which shows her stamina to face life. I would bet that she was successful even though of all the ailments and the suffering she had to face. We enjoy the fruits of the tree the she has grown.

Her Separation is pain full for the entire family, relatives and her friends. Pray and wish she rests in peace.

Mohan Raman V

Sunday and Working

It is certainly not new that i am working at office on a Sunday. Though It is odd for me to work at office these days on a Sunday.

What do i do on Sundays ? Well, nothing much to be frank. Getting up Late, nice coffe with the Sunday News Paper (whats the difference; It is known the supplements are generally different and interesting) , tv shows on top 10 counts of Tamil Cinema, Morning Cinema/ Visiting a temple/ Visiting the beach, Family Lunch prepared by Mom etc etc. The most interesting sundays being the days with the cricket match; were the entire family is glued to television. A Celebration if India wins. It reminds the questions asked by mother even from the very first over " Has India won the Match ?".

After begining to work; i was introduced to working on Sundays. Though i did not regret; it was odd. From being the days i used to visit the Bank to make transactions on the family account; i was making transactions for the customers who opted to use the Sunday Banking feature of the new generation Private Banks. Customers visiting the Bank on their casuals; taking time to chit chat with the staff; reading the magazines at the Bank; etc etc.

Now after starting to work as a IT Banking Consultant and now on a assignment at Cairo, Egypt; again i am working on a Sunday. The odd thing for me (may be for a lot more) is that the weekly off is Friday and Saturday and working on Sunday when most of the world is enjoying their day off !!!

Mohan Raman V

Its Me Again from Cairo, Egypt

Hi folks !!! It has been a long time, got busy with work.

Now at Cairo,Egypt on a Project. A place for tourists and i am here on Project ! Well the people here are good; to say not very different from Indians in the way of thinking and their hospitality. They have a long history like us (Indians). The City with the one of the Wonders of the World "The Great Pyramids of Giza". I have to say about the Nile. Having studied that the Egypt is a gift of Nile. It is no doubt why it is told like this. The entire history of Egypt is evolved around this river. It can be told that there is no Egypt without the Nile.

You can read about Nile from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile

Mohan Raman V