Lament

I weep for my loss

I weep for yours

I weep for those things

We may never see again

I weep for the Royal Bengal Tiger

Striped, striding, strong and sure;

I weep for the life giving Paalaar river

Wide, winding and wondrous pure

I weep for the Banyan,

Pulled down to make way

For the convenient, useful

Four- lane Highway

I weep for lives that might have been

I weep for dreams undreamt

I weep for a childhood spent in joy

Running free with hair unkempt

Temple for each Brother

During my recent visit to Sabhari Mala for the Prathista Day, I had the opportunity to visit the Four Temples dedicated to Sri Ramachandramurthy and his three brothers Lakshmana Swamy, Bharatha Devan, and Shatrugna Devan. While Rama was the Avatar of Shrman Narayanan himself, the three brothers are embodiments of the divine objects associated with Vishnu. In this sense, Lakshmanan is Adhi Seshan, the 1000 headed serpent which forms the bed on which Shri Vishnu is in Anantha Sayanam. Bharathe and Shatrugna are the embodiments of the Conch and Disc. Thus worship of these four brothers is a hoilstic worship of Vishnu. 

Nalambala Pradhakshinam 

The idols of Sree Rama, Bharatha, Lakshmana and Satrughna which were adored by Sri Krishna during the Dwapara period are installed and consecrated at Thriparayar, Irinjalakuda, Moozhikulam and Payyammel respectively. A pilgrimmage to these four temples on a single day during the holy month of Karkadaka will shower the blessings of health, well-being and all round prosperity. 

At the top of this Blog you will find the Gopura Vasal of all these temples. Gopura Dharsanam Kodi Punyam!

River in the Backyard!

I was in Kerala on on 16th May conducting a "Communication Skills" Program for the executives of MIL Controls (India) Limited. MIL Controls is a leading supplier of Control Valves to various industries, particularly the energy sector. The valves manufactured by them are high precision contrlo instruments that are pivotal in any boiler installation or any other application where there is a need to control the flow of any substance in terms of pressure, volume or heat. Originally a joint venture between Best & CRompton and Masonelian (India) Limited, in 1997 it became a part of the KSB, a German  groupwith international brand in pumps and valves.

The factory is built on a sprawling 23c acre piece of land right in the middle of "God's Own Country", Kerala at Meladoor  (Male-uh-Door(OO as in Room) about 4 kms from Mala. Though Meladoor is in Thrissur district, it is nearer to Aluva which is just 14 kms away.

I stayed at their guest house at Aluva in a place called Periar Gardens, adjacent to the banks of the river Periyar. In fact from the garden at the rear of the Guest house I had a pleasant view of the wide periyar river.

Look Back! You are the Ocean!

A new wave was born in the ocean. It rolled about and splashed here and there, generally communicating its happiness to the other waves. The waves rolled on and approached the distant shore. Suddenly, our Wave sees a rock looming large in the horizon.

It looks on petrified and starts screaming. Another wave nearby asks what the problem is. Our wave says, 'Hey! See that Rock? We're going to crash and die!!!' 

The other wave says, 'So what? Look back you are the Ocean!" 

A Different Perspective

Pillar Rocks View Point  is one of the familiar view points in Kodaikanal. It is a regular “sight seeing” spot. A nice view of the 

valley and particularly a peculiar rock formation resembling three Pillars can be vie

wed from a circular platform protected by steel railings. A small rivulet rushes down the valley from this point, making a pretty tinkling sound as if of laughter.

 

But if you want to eschew the beaten track and decide to tread a different path, let me guide you to a spot a little distance above on the same road. You are now in the Pine Forest. As soon as you enter the Pine forest area through the gate start moving to your left. You will enter the forest area. On your right a small stream  gushes by. Follow the stream up to a point where you can cross it by stepping across! Then follow the forest track as it winds through the woods. While you are doing this enjoy the serenity and majesty of nature. Realize that you are but a small speck in the grand design.

 

Thus softened and cleansed you are ready for the majestic panorama of the green valley spread out below you as you reach the end of the path and come right up to the edge of the cliff face. Take a look at the valley from a different perspective. On your left you will glimpse the Pillar Rocks clearly demarcated and majestic in their height and splendor. 

A Hidden Paradise

I am now in Kodaikanal at the Sterling Lake View Resort. We left Chennai on 2^nd May by surface. While it cannot be denied that the new four lane highways coming up everywhere are a great comfort for the traveler, I could not help but notice the total devastation that the construction activities of these highways leave in their 

wake. Trees are uprooted en mass, all human settlements are evacuated leaving behind a perfectly featureless landscape that stretches plain and uninteresting on either side of the long road running towards infinity. I did miss the pleasure of viewing the constantly changing panorama

 of scenes and settings. And on this spic and span world, the sun beats down with its hot and unmerciful rays! 

At last we climbed the hills and on attaining Perumal Malai, breathed the cool fresh air of Kodai! Somehow, Kodai still retains its pristine splendor among the Hill Resorts in India. But arguably not for long! Deforestation has laid bare what must have once been verdant slops. Now they are brown and covered with patches of cultivated land and newly constructed buildings. Is Kodai going the way Ootacamund has gone?

 

We were in Sterling Valley View at Attuvanpatti till yesterday. Our room in the resort commanded a fabulous view of the Vilpatti Valley.

 

As we are regular visitors to Kodai in May, we generally avoid the usual “sight seeing” spots. Our favorite haunt in the evenings being the lakeside. My wife and I invariably take a brisk walk around the star shaped lake while the children are busy cycling or riding horses. This time we are accompanied by my wife’s sister, Usha  and her husband, Ramkumar.

 

Our sensibilities thus jaded by a surfeit, we craved for variety. Even the usual jaunt to Berijam lake was declared as not qualifying! We were, therefore, quite happy when Selvam, a local boatman and Ram’s good friend suggested we make a trip to Mannavanoor.

 

The road to Mannavanoor runs above Kodai lake. As we drive upwards on the winding road, Kodai lake can be glimpsed on our left. The road runs through thick forest land. The sylvan atmosphere ensures that the tree covered slopes are home to the Gaur, the elephant and a few leopards! We were not able to see even the Gaur herds that are a regular sight on this route. En route we passed Poombarai village another scenic locale.

 

About thirty kilometers away from Kodai on the Munnar road, Mannavanoor is a breathtaking sight! The Mannavanoor valley is almost a hidden delight. The valley floor is carpeted with emerald green grassland and down below at the deepest point is a  kidney shaped lake glistening like diamonds set amidst emeralds. We had a glimpse of this paradise from a view point before the road descends into the valley.

 

The descent to the hollow takes us through Mannavanoor village. The original settlers in this place were a group who had fled the wrath of Tipu Sultan and had made their way via Munnar to this spot where they settled down to a life in the forest. Later post 1819 and the establishment of Kodai by the British as their summer retreat, Mannavanoor was discovered by British surveyors who thereafter laid the road that connected the denizens of Mannav

anoor and Kavunchi (a hamlet situated further inside the valley) to the outside world! Now, the government has established a Central Wool Research Farm here and the entire valley is reserved for sheep and cattle grazing. The absence of tourists and crowds coupled with its scenic beauty makes it a popular shooting location. We were able to see the magnificient sets being erected for the movie Adhavan for a Surya/Nayantara dance number. We marveled at the extradinary attention to detail and exorbitant expenditure for put

ting in place a set that would be torn down almost immediately and would figure on screen for hardly two to five minutes!

 

A brisk walk is needed to reach the lake from the road. The unsullied waters of this small water body reflect the surrounding mountains and trees perfectly. The place is an ideal picnic spot. As the location is still not well known and the drive through thick jungle is a bit daunting, mainstream tourism is yet to reach Mannavanoor. A few people like us come here in their own vehicles with guides. Perfect silence and virgin landscape are the rewards for the efforts to reach this heavenly place. An ideal spot where we can practice the kingly art and science of doing nothing!

 

On the way back we passed by a Mahalakshmi Temple situated on a promontory overlooking a valley a short distance before Poomparai. The location amidst majestic mountains and green valley gave a primitive and powerful aura to the temple in the twilight. But as the doors were locked we had t o be satisfied with a Darshan of the Shikara.

City of Nawabs

Avadh or Oudh (if you are British) , as the region around Lucknow, the current capital of Uttar Pradesh, was known in historical times, was ruled by Nawabs claining their origins from the Persians. Basically Shias, they have given to Lucknow a reputation for high aesthetics, poetry and courtesy. The city is also known as the City of Nawabs. The Hindi spoken here has a lilt and poetic resonance which is found even in the colloquial speech of the commoners. The people, too, are very polite and courteous.
As witness, on our way from the airport, the succession of indigent men about town, who courteously, politely and elaborately gave us directions to our destination which were apparently wrong. The words "Aisa Karo..." i.e. "do like this.." were followed by a complex series of instructions to go straight, turn left...right and so on, which took us almost a kilometre away from our destination. But the courtesy and desire to help was touching. Suffice it to say that it was sheer luck that helped us to locate our hotel!

In the evening we decided to visit some of the more important sights in Lucknow. The chief among these are the two Imambaras. The larger or Bada Imambara was constructed by Nawab Asaf Ud Daula. This is essentially a Dharga or Prayerhall surmounted by spires and turrets. The intricate architectural work has made it a pleasant sight to view.

The Imambara is accesed through a wide gateway through which the broad frontage of the edifice may be glimpsed. On entering the complex we walk across a pathway surrounded by pleasing lawns and fountains.
On the right hand side as we proceed to the Imambara is the Jumma Masjid a splendid mosque with domes, tall towers and minarets.

The main chamber of the Imambara is a line of Dhargas of various renowned Imams or muslim religious leaders. AS our companion and unofficial guide M. Feroze was well known to someone in the Shia Waqf Board he got us through the guards everywhere by flashing a symbol written by ball point pen on his right palm. This acted as our passport every where including the Bhul-Bhulaiya or intricate of maze of passageways above the nain chamber. Those who enter the maze after a strenuous climb up a narrow and steep flight of stairs would find it very difficult to come out. The trick is to keep going up till you come to the terrace and locate the only stairwell that leads directly down to the ground floor.
By the time we came to the terrace there was quite a wind which swirled and picked up small grains of sand with which we were buffetted as we attempted to crosss the terrace. The view of the Jumma Masjid from the arches in the terrace of the Bara Imambara was impressive in the quickening darkness of dusk.
It started raining then and we had to run to our car. We, then, left for the Chota Imambara via the Rumi Gate amidst rain and wind.

The Chota Imambara as the name indicates is a smaller structure. But it has a beautifully constructed dome on top and there hung in it innumerable chandiliers and lamps, exquisite in design and workmanship. The hierloom or crown and otherr costly jewels are not the originals about copies made from the originals which are now in England.
After we enter the decorative archway there is a metal image of a flying fish surmounted on metal arch. This would turn continuosly and act as a wind vane, pointing out the direction of the wind. There is also statutte of a lady holding an iron chain attached to a metal rodon top of the entrance arch effectively acting as a lightning rod. The complex hasa centre aisle which runs almost the whole length from the gateway to the edifice. There is a canal in the middle of the aisle and lawns around it.
We also looked into the stables where there are two pure white horses with not a blemish on them. One of them a stallion was standing while the other was on its side, resting. These horses, presented by Sanjay Khan, actor to the Imambara, are used in ceremonial processionns at the time of the Urs festival of the Hazrat Immams.
Lucknow is also famous for its Chikan Work clothing. We visited the Lucknow Chikan Emporium which was highly spoken of by the locals.