shivam ” Ma nishadaprathishtam thwamagassasswathee sama Yad krownchamidunadekam avadee kamamohitham” The screaming in unbearable anguish, by one of the krowncha birds left alive and alone, after her male partner was shot down by a hunter while indulging in innocent love-making, on the banks of the Thamasa stream, inundated the sage Valmiki with immeasurable pain and along with the … Read more
“Hello! Gopaln Nair. Happy Onam.” ” Edo, Sami! I am Govindan, not Goplan Nair.” ” How does it matter whether you are Gopalan or Govindan; you are Nair alright?” ‘Hello! It may not matter to you; but it matters to my wife” “How?” ” My insurance policy is in the name of Govindan Nair” ” … Read more
Parakkattu Bagavathi of Kavassery <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< The bus travel in the morning hours, through the peripheral villages of Palakkad, with cool breeze petting and patting from all sides, is alluring, especially when the paddy fields on both sides are rich with crops ready for harvesting. There is a rhythm in the movement of women walking with … Read more
Another trip to down south and attendance at another inter-caste wedding. A big iron ‘oral’ used for de-husking paddy and pounding rice, occupies the center of the stage and a small trunk of peepul tree wrapped with yellow cloth, nearby. The girl is sweet with a graceful smile and satisfied look; the boy is nervous, … Read more
I was fortunate this year too, to attend the car festival at Perinkulam, my native village. Hei, wait a minute. How do I say that Perinkulam is my native village? I was not born there, I did not grow there nor did I live there for more than a few days. The village name which … Read more
“Holding a lamp in your hand and anxiety in your long lovely eyes, whom are you searching for, my child?” ” I am looking for my Kannan. Who are you grandpa, tottering with a weathered body and a dry stick?” “Instead of asking me who I am, ask yourself “who am I ?” “The cows … Read more
From Kasi to Kalpathy for the car festival and from there to Vaikom for Ashtami, soon after returning from the US, was a spiritually rejuvenating reward. The presiding deity of the oldest Shiva temple in Kerala, is affectionately called Vaikkathappan, father of Vaikkom or Mahadevan, God of gods. The sacred vaikkathashtami festival lasting twelve days, takes … Read more
. No sooner I landed at the place of my birth to participate in the annual car festival this year, after an unpardonable gap of many years, than I rushed to the river for a dip, before visiting the recently renovated temple of Viswanathaswamy to offer prayers. I am familiar with the … Read more
Soon after returning from the America, I proceeded to Thiruvanantthapuram for the Navarathry celebrations. I was excited to notice the remarkable progress of the Sri Durga temple close to the Sreekanteswaram Siva temple, as I happened to be a witness to its gloomy past. Kudos to the Kerala Brahmana Sabha which took over the temple … Read more
The tsunami wiped off not only happiness but all the accumulated values of the Krisnaiyuer family. Abandoning all his deep rooted trusts in traditional values, the senior, hugged and hugged, kissed and kissed on the forehead, cheeks,hands, legs, every inch of Unni’s body as if he was atoning for what he didn’t do all those years. Sharada took … Read more