Chapter 8: Family Perfect

Keep the delights to yourself. When it comes to family, one is bound to enjoy numerous delights just from this element alone. Sadly a number of us do not have this fortune of having a complete or an understanding. The age of darkness, Kali Yuga. My heart really goes for all these people.

I love every inch and ounce of this household I am born in. My motive is not about flaunting on what I have but in more to educate someone one who is out there, the importance and the beauty of having a family. Mum means Love, Dad means Guidance. As we start, as we grow, many many relations bind us. This is one complete attachment that can even blind us anything if pursued way too much.

Respecting your parents, treating them as an exemplary of God. A definite duty in the hindu son's righteous way of life. Mum used to say since young, breaking a family up is as sinful as breaking a temple. Just like how the temple is. From the multiple manifestations of God in the temple, they represent all your family members. From the housekeeping to the accounts keeping in the divine place, they represent the duties of the family members. ?Just like how the main sanctum houses the main deity, the household/family houses your mum and dad as one soul. In this way the family shines like a temple. Just like how a temple's importance is, the family name upholds honor of everyone else who shares the bloodline.

Ruthless I was ever since young. But whenever I give much of a thought to the teachings my mum has imparted on me, come on, doesn't it make sense ?

Smile. Embrace your Family.

Chapter 7: Song of a Lord

I have never came across this 'kannan' song ever so far. And this hidden classic was so soothing to the ears, giving out so much of assurance until my heart got captivated for the song, and for whom it is sung for. I felt active and did a small video clip ;)

Hopefully its presentable. :) Enjoy it whenever you need to.
Kindly drop me your comments. Valuable they are !
My Youtube videos are always available at Keshan69 on youtube. Much thanks!

Chapter 6 : Celebrating Theba's Graduation & restaurants

   There are many reasons to call your bestie to go out just for a meal. It can be for catching up. It can be for company. But having a good meal after her graduation is a must in the list. Theba graduated from Singapore Poly like two days ago. It was a good occasion.

I remember my own pathetic graduation night where I had to return camp. I applied for day off with my 2LT from Delta then. Let things not be like this. And the worst was, I did not even invite my parents for my graduation. Baddy right? I will definitely do the proper protocol when it comes to Bachelor's Graduation. :)

Coming back to the topic. One lesson to learn. Whenever you are choosing a restaurant, don't always go for the name. There might be a whole many outlets with the same brand. But how sure are you, that the same quality of food is assured every where. Prices are so exorbitant nowadays.

Lucky us, We got this 'Lenus'  restaurant next to Manhattan Fish Market at Bugis. The ambience was cosy. We immediately got our seating changed when we requested even though it was nearing peak hour, all thanks to this waitress, 'Moon'. Not only that, talking about the quality of the food. I would have to say, it was above standards. We capped it at 53 dollars including service/GST. But trust me for such nice experience, wholly two hours and nice food, plus good service, above standards it is.

Theba is exiting her poly life and she is entering a new arena. Life is getting very busy, tie-ing down many of us. Our days end so fast. I just wish her all the best for this new phrase. God knows when will be the bachelor's graduation, this time with our hats!

Chapter 5: Keer

Ever heard of friendships that sustained throughout the years and yet as friends, they would have met only once. Ever knew what was real trust in a friendship that placed fortunes of love in it? I was touched by an online acquaintance in such a way.

Alaigal Vaalzhi nadantheine. Karaiyil Neeyum Irunthaaye.
Unnai santhitha ganame, naan ennukul koncham siritheinae.
Senthamizh vaasam seiyum penne neeye,
un elzhuthin vannathil ennai tholeithenae.
Aannaga en idayam koncham thudikkave,
paruva kaatrum appodhu veeseyathe.Valaigalilae vizhavillaye.
Vinnum natpae allikileiyile
Un Siripinil vilasikave, un manathil idam kollave.
Antha Nilavin oliyilae un kaviye ketha en sevigal
unnai endrum maravaathe kanmani,En Pavithara Keerthaname needhaanadi.Unthan Ninanaevaal en manam ponnunjal aada.naanum sirikindreinae, en pavithara keerthaname

Nee Endrum Mangalam kolladhe

Years, if you ask me the exact count will be six years. Ever since this acquaintance bloomed to a beautiful friendship and going strong. True Friends do come across. Trueness does exist. In my life, one such person who was one of my early chapters of truth is Keer, Kits Nisha.

Hey Keer,

If you are ever reading this, I would really love to let you know that when you added me in friendster back in 2005, I thought you were a passerby, who probably was out of boredom messaging me and spamming my wall. I really did not pay much attention. And all those times that you said, you will publish a book and definitely include my name in it, I thought nothing more of it than a joke. But you swept me off my feet when you did make true those words that you mentioned and how true your friendship started appearing to me.

All those crazy chats, with lots of smiles. Your Cat Eyes that you gave me for my birthday together with the rose themed birthday card with the envelope, Tears of Love, the bangle u gave me, the sweet poems that we shared under one moon at the merlion corner with the drizzle of waters splashing at ourselves, not knowing when we will meet again, everything was perfect when we were concerned, when our friendship was concerned.

Look at how these years went by. Connecting strong in far distance. I will never fail to cherish this part of life neither I believe will you. I am not playing silver tongue, I am writing from my heart.

My ego filled head bows and salutes at you lady, my heart wishes the well for you. We share the same raasi and natachatiram. That is definitely one of the interesting note I need to put it down. I really hope I will visit you in Klang. And I will never forget your beautiful chapter in my life.

Pure as Fire, Sweet as Keer

Nothing like You, No One like You.

Sincerely,
Kannan Thurairaj

Chapter 4: Thirumanjanam

What is Thirumanjanam ?

Thirumanjanam is Abishegam. Abishegam is a Tamil term with due reference to mainly saivaite formalities. Whereas the former is a term with reference to Vaishnavaites.

In our temples, our moolavars (presiding main sanctum deity) are made of karungkal, nava-pashana (9 poison/minerals) like the one of Lord Muruga in Palani Malai. If not they will be at least in Panch-lokha.

What is Pancha-lokha?

Pancha means five. It literally means 5 metals. This is a term that is used to describe a traditional five metal alloy comprising of gold, silver, brass, and iron with copper as the main constituent.

Back to Thirumanjanam

According to a blogger's father-in-law who explained to her the meaning behind Thirumanjanam, I summarised her lines.

These vigrahas are being applied with special preparations to ensure that the medicinal benefits are extracted from these vigrahas.

Before any kind of application of eatable items, the vigrahas are cleaned with oil, soap-nut, tumeric etc. These make sure cleanliness comes in place before abishegam items like yoghurt, honey,milk is applied to our deity. These are termed as eatable. When they are being applied, there is a transfer of a metallic flavour to the applied items. These items are then collected and distributed to devotees as prasadham.

The items now with a new flavour of energy, brings in additional strength, cleanses and clears any kind of in-built deficiencies. Hence Deiveega food is never comparable to normal food. There is a different energy level.

Thirumanjanam for Sri Lakshimi Narayana

 

Another concept is, these vigrahas are usually metal and stone statues. They are still material. These statues have to be cooled  regularly in order to prevent expansion of solids which have the tendancy to deform or crack the structure. Thirumanjanam keeps the statues at optimal temperature.

Finally,

To the common man on the streets, he believes bathing God with such delicacies is to uphold his greatness and his high standing in the universe.

To the atheist, he believes we are people who waste food items over a statue. But the fact is, Hinduism is science. There is nothing right without the statutory of science involved.

To a devotee, bathing God and adorning him with vaastram, jewellery is like treating him like our child with love.

Chapter 3: Henderson Block 96

Henderson Block 96. Some people would just love the number and the meaning it gives if it is inversed. Yet I just love the above-mentioned place for a different reason. The place where my interesting childhood took its start. As a 3 month year old infant, my parents entrusted me to the hands of my paternal grandparents.

Love and attention were the most of what I got from everyone ever since then. My two aunts, commando uncle who was not around most of the time, my quiet sporty uncle, my grand-parents, together with my best friend kenny. All of us packed in the 3 room flat.Even if you go to the flat today, there is still this old scent of air that is trapped within the walls and the mosaic tiles of the kitchen that will take you to ancient times.

The place where my mum married into, the place where my dad celebrated his 21st, the venue where kenny, my grandpa, grandpa's brother all passed away.

The many many deepavali gatherings where more than 300 visitors came (of course not at the same time!), where serious talks took place, where active chats took their times, where taava biscuits were dipped in milo. The sound of pounding the betel nuts and the grinding of chilli with the ammi kallu, the rounding of thosai maavu with the aatu kallu. The place where I can have mangoes by using gala kambu by hitting the fruit. Everything is in my memory. A place where 5 generations placed their foot in.

It is a place which I would never want to lose. Unfortunately, I have to. Owing to Government plans. In another 2-3 years time, this place would have became history.

Once a place full of indians in every storey that knows of my family. A stroll down the henderson market, you have to answer, " I am fine.. how are you " at least to more than 5 people. That much of relatives and family friends we had at this place.

Today most of their senior members have passed on, their children living in different parts of Singapore. Some with kids, some even turned to grandparents.

Our next door's neighbours were our relatives, my grandmother's brother whom she apparently had a relationship that turned sour which caused a rift in both families.

Such like this, there will be countless stories that can be re-traced in the place where a legacy has been created if you ask any of the corncerning parties. Happy or disturbing news, all of them evolved to be histories of a place I grew up in, in the comfort of love.

Running through the corridors of the long block, playing catching from storey to storey. Hide and seek, cycling, shouting at the peak of our voices. Going to the mosque nearby for free porridge during Ramadan month, celebrating kaarthigai by lighting the lamps out side the corridor, on the floor where traditional kolam is drawn with white paint.

I left my grandparent's home to my very own home which was in Yishun a the age of 6. It was the time I had to step into Kindergarten and my grandparents said that I will not study If I were to be there.

Hence after, I was allowed to return back only during June and December vacations. My life was a part of Henderson. It was the best place. The very very best place!

Henderson Block 96... I will miss you.

Vaaranam Aayiram

I chanced upon the title for my exisiting blog. Before this title actually came up, I decided to name my blog as Cafe Smile. LOL. Second thoughts were already there before the confirmation and how weird it sounded. I did a google search on this name. Pathetically, results were superb in the adverse manner. My initial idea of blogging is to actually share how my life is to other people and ensure that they are connected to me. Well, this was the main reason, young teenagers were drawn to the idea of blogging. But now, after gaining a maturity in life, the art of writing appeals to me than the need to broadcast my life. Nobody is obliged to hear your whims and fancy. They have their plentiful own. Before you can guess, that’s exactly the weapon your foes need.

How well a writer I am? I am not fit to answer this question. Whatever comes from my blog, it is written in the virtual inkof Kesh’s life. How will I even judge my work. Maybe I need to corrected on my grammar and vocabulary usage.

Vaaranam Aayiram. I derive the (may not be literally right) meaning as thousand dreams. A couple of you may think this title is because of Surya’s twist turning movie in his entire cinema life. Yes, there is this connection but I am using it only for the publicity purpose in a hope that this blog will get famous. Partly thanks to actor Surya.

At the end of the movie, actress Simran would quote the title to links in literature. And whose literature are we talking about? The woman who sang in the praise of the Lord, the poetic woman, Sri Aandal Aalwar. She was a woman who had a thousand dreams of Sri Arangan whom she eventually got married to. She sang praises of the Lord in poems. Thirupaavai. Sri Krishnar, being my ishta devatar, this was a reason why I pickedthis title. Vaaranam Aaiyiram is a sigificant thirumozhi that details Sri Aandal Aalwar describing of her dream which is being married to Sri Kannan to her friends. I too have a thousand dreams untold, which I am describing to you all indirectly by this blog.

Not only that, I want to compass four parts into my blog. Faith, Friends, Community, Travel. These shall be the four. I will let my writing do the explaination.I require your utmost support and invaluable comments for my blog.