Poorva - An Excellent Reading on Alwars.

Here is a great book that I just completed reading. A book that can be read in 9 sittings for children and adult as well if you want to take it in small doses. Otherwise one can read in one sitting.

Though we all know that there are 12 Alwars and knew bits and pieces of information, this book explains in a simple, story like fashion the facts about all of these 12 great saints of Vaishnavism.
When you read this book, you will really be taken back in time.

Honestly I learnt a lot from this book than in the years of listening about Alwars. I should also admit that one has to read and read again to internalize the facts packed in this book, which I intend to do.

I have got a copy of the book. Also, please read the review below and I was fortunate to be in India on the day this was released and I got a book autographed by the Author.

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/10/08/stories/2007100851060200.htm

விளைச்சல் நன்றாக இருக்க

எனக்கு பிடித்த ஒரு எழுத்தாளர் கவியரசு கண்ணதாசன் அவர்கள். அவர் எழுதிய ஒவ்வொரு கட்டுரைகளும், கவிதைகளும் சிந்தனை முத்துக்கள்.

ஒரு பயிர் விதைக்கும் போது நடை பாதையில் இல்லாமல் சற்று ஒதுங்கி சந்தடி இல்லாத நிலத்தில் பயிர் செய்தால் விளைச்சல் நன்றாகவே இருக்கும். அதே போல எல்லாரும் ஒரே இடத்துக்கு சென்று குடி புகாமல் சந்தடி இல்லாத இடம் சென்று வாழ தொடங்கினால் வாழ்கை நன்றாகவே இருக்கும்.

இது, செய்யும் தொழிலிலும் படிக்கும் படிப்பிலும் கூட பொருந்தும் அறிவுரை.

Answers to the Prayers.

It is very interesting to note that many times God Answers to the Prayers right away and sometimes, the results of the prayer may not be in the time frame or what you expected. In those times, it becomes easy to Blame it on God and question His ability or even His existance !

My recent favorite writer Suki Sivam gives a very beautiful answer for those who have the same doubt. He says that if God answers your prayers, then that shows your belief in Him and in His abilities. If God does not answer to your prayers, then that shows His belief in you and in your abilities (to solve it by yourself). What a great way to put it in perspective !

Read his books. They are wonderful.

Temples passed by near Kumbakonam.

I had a great honor to visit some beautiful temples near Kumbakonam this time. There are some I could not go but passed by and heard stories of those sthalams. One temple that we passed by but could not go is called "Paadai Katti Amman" in a place called Valangi Man. You will cross this place when you go from Kumbakonam by road to Mannarkudi.
The followers of this Amman believes in a custom that is unique to this place. If someone is sick, they will pray to carry that person in Coffin (Paadai) and go around the temple, once they get cured. As much as it sounds different, even today on a specific day in a year, one can see lots of devotees following this tradition !
Also, we passed by a place called EnKaN, where there is a famous Murugan Temple. What we learnt is that there are three temples nearby - Sikkal, Ettukudi and EnKaN where the sculptor did three deities of Lord Murugan from the same stone. The story goes like, when he did the beautiful deity in Sikkal, he removed his thumb so that he cannot reproduce anywhere the same deity. Then in his dream, Lord came and asked for another temple and that is when he did Ettukudi and at that point he removed his eyes so that he will not reproduce. But when he was asked to do again, he did the temple in EnKaN and Lord gave him his eye sight. That is why the name EnKaN. More about these temples can be read in the following link.

http://www.indiantemples.com/Tamilnadu/m031.html