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2023 - The Year That Was

Places impact you for a variety of reasons. And the same place impacts different people in different ways. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual experiences, where every single person’s experience is unique. And personally, every spiritual experience is unique, the same person can have different deeply spiritual experiences at different places, at different times. This thought has emerged because of my own experiences over the years, but especially so this year, with different and unique experiences at various places I have visited recently. I began this year with a visit to Baroda (Vadodara) with friends. It was meant to be a relaxed trip, a touristy trip, with our sons. We enjoyed ourselves to the hilt, but the highlight of that trip was a visit to the Lakulisha temple at Pavagadh. It was the iconography of the temple that I connected with, and I spent a few hours simply lost in the details of the figures carved around the temple. There was an indefinable connect with

Navaratri Experiences-2

The 30th was officially the first day of Navaratri, and wherever I went, I could see people bringing home the Devi. It signals the beginning of a hectic week, where we have to carry out our normal routines, while making time for prayers and Parayanams, attending Bhajans in the colony, and also finding time to visit the temple. Things were further complicated with Samhith’s classes, as well as my sister’s birthday. I had to have a quick darshan at the temple before rushing off to Thane to wish my sister.

The decoration at the temple depicted the Devi as LALITAMBIKAI, at the Thirumeeyachur temple, near Kumbakonam. This temple is about 13 Kms from Mayiladudurai, on the Mayiladudurai- Thiruvarur road, and is home to 2 Thevara Padal Petra Sthalams (i.e. 2 songs sung by the saints). The main deities here are Aruneswarar and Lalitambikai, who were worshipped by Surya the Sun God at this place. The Lalita Sahasranamam is said to have originated here from the Devi herself, and hence this is considered one of the holiest temples in this area.

From Miscellaneous


Thanks to my visit to my mother’s place at Thane, I can share photos of a beautiful ‘Bommai Kolu’ with all of you.

The kolu is an elaborate affair at my mother’s place, and you can see that the whole room is covered with toys made of mud. To begin with, here are the traditional five steps……..


From Miscellaneous

The top step (the fifth) is dedicated to the Devi in her various forms. At the outset, I must inform all readers that this is not the traditional way of distributing the images on the steps. In our house, it is simply an attempt to classify the idols we have and fit them on the shelves.





From Miscellaneous
The fourth step has the main Kalasam, accompanied by the images of Men and Women made of wood, Over the years, my mother and aunt have collected enough such wooden dolls to fill a step by themselves. They put in a lot of time and effort to clothe and decorate these dolls, and the results are there for all of you to see and enjoy


From Miscellaneous
.The third step is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his various forms- the central idols are of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati and his consort Padmavati. All the other idols are of His various incarnations, and the smaller idols in the front depict the Dasavatharam.


From Miscellaneous
On the second step is the family of Lord Shiva- the central idol is one of Dakshinamoorthy. He is accompanied by images of Shiva and Parvati on the Rishabha Vahanam, and also images of His sons- Ganesha and Karthikeya. There is also an idol of Shirdi Sai Baba.
From Miscellaneous

The first step has small images of gods and goddesses, mainly Ganesha and Gowri.
From Miscellaneous


Due to lack of place on the steps, other idols have been placed all over the room – this table has been covered with images of Krishna - as a cowherd, with the gopikas, and even killing Kamsa.

From Miscellaneous



This shelf is coved with the Chettiar Bommais – the grocers and merchants, with vessels and all kind of grains.

From Miscellaneous

This one is of a snake-charmer……..

From Miscellaneous


And this one is of a king of Thanjavur - Manu Neethi Chozhan, who was famed for his justice, and who made the right judgement for anyone who rang the bell outside his palace. When his son ran over a calf while riding his chariot, the cow came and rang the bell asking for justice. The righteous king judged that his son should be run over the same way in order to atone for his deed. The Gods, who had tried to test him this way, were pleased, and returned his son alive, as well as gave him a place in Heaven.

From Miscellaneous


And finally, this one is of a group of musicians and performers.

From Miscellaneous

With this I can call an end to the first day of Navaratri. Lets wait and watch what the forthcoming days bring.........

Comments

  1. What an eloborate Golu, Golu is very well celebrate festivities at my place, Feeling very much nostalgic hehe :) and U have shiradi sai baba!

    ReplyDelete

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