Vembuli Amman temple and the Seven Virgin Mothers

Yesterday was Valar Pirai(growing moon) Ekadesi,so mom wanted to light up lamps at the Saptha Kannimars(seven virgin mothers) Sannidhanam.Hence,we visited Vembuli Amman Temple for this purpose.This is a three hundred year old temple located at Pazhavanthangal near the subway.This goddess was found in a field while ploughing.She is a village deity.There are seven such grama devathais in and around the area.Sample some of the pictures from the Temple.The seven virgin mothers in the temple are Brahmini,Maheshwari,Kaumari,Vaishnavi,Vaaraahi,Indraani and Chamundi.They represent the seven chakras in the human body.The sthala vriksham is a neem tree.
What secrets do you hold seven virgin mothers.Kindly enlighten my intellect.

What a beauty SHE is.

Goddess Nagathamman at Nanganallur 4th Main Road.

Narthangai(Citron) Saadham(Rice)

I made Narthangai Saadham last night,Citron is rarely available these days so I did want to make good use of the fruit.The recipe is just like lemon rice.I tempered mustard seeds and urad dal, once this spluttered I added curry leaves and red chillies and let it cook.To this mixture I added turmeric powder and salt and switched off the flame.I added cooked rice to this mixture and finally squeezed the wonderful juice of the citron.The juice tasted amazing,to my surprise it was not all that tangy as I expected but sweet.The rice tasted great and I had also cooked kootu made of carrots and chow chow.This made a perfect side dish to the citron rice.Check out the pictures.

Margazhi Kolam

Karthigai Somavaram at Ardhanareeshwarar temple

Yesterday was the last karthik somavaram,hence mom and me visited the Ardhanareeshwarar Shiva temple at Pazhavanthangal.The temple conducted 108 sangu abhishegam for Lord shiva along with rudra abhishegam.Sample some of the pictures from this event.Above are the pictures of Ramamurthy Gurukkal and G.Sreenivasan Gurukkal who are rendering their service to the Lord. They must have accumulated enormous good karma in the process.Both of them were extremely patient with me and are really sincere in their profession.Ramamurthy Gurukkal adorns the ambal everyday,and told us that the deity there grants all one wishes for.The pic below is the picture of 108 conch shells ready for the abhishegam of the lord.Its really nice to meet such learned people in this day and age.

Glorious Lamps that were lit for Karthigai

Ardhanareeshwarar and Ashtabuja durgai Temple Visit

Yesterday we visited a Shiva temple in Nanganallur,4th Main Road called Ardhanareeshwarar Temple.Maha periyava found this lingam in the temple pond in 1962.Worshipping in this temple will promote marital harmony,because this lingam is the union of the male and female aspect.A very sincere and pious gurukkal G.Sreenivasan explained to me about the temple history.Behind the temple there is another temple dedicated to Durgai called Ashtabuja Durgai, and she is housed inside a chariot.Since yesterday was Somavara Karthigai,a special abhishegam was performed for Lord Shiva.I will try and get a picture of the gurukkal shortly.The first pic is the durga temple and the second is the Main entrance of the temple.

Lamps everywhere

In chennai its Karthigai season and there are lamps a plenty on the pavements.This seasons special are lamps made of ceramic.Take a look at the pavement selling these cuties of different varieties.

Karthigai Deepam Kolam

Red Sandal wood figurines

Marapachi Bommai drying in the sun.I have come to like these traditional toys,which are ecofriendly and have medicinal properties. They make good decorative pieces and are kept in "golu" during navaratri.

FLAMES

These are a pair of hurricane lamps in disuse at my grand dads.It served to light up my ancestral home for so many years providing light for all of us.All things come to pass.I feel sad at their current state.

She dwelt among the untrodden ways

This flower is called the butterfly pea or Shanka Pushpam in Tamil.Simply love the blue petal with a white throat.The Lord of Saturn loves to be adorned with this flower.This is my favourite flower."A violet by a mossy stone half hidden from the eye"..Wordsworth you rock.

My dad's 64th birthday pics

Today my dad turns 64.He's been my pillar of strength and a great dad .Here's wishing him a great day and a wonderful year ahead.I got him a book called "The Difficulty of being good" by Gurcharan Das.The author in this book turns to Mahabharath to answer the question why be good.I hope he enjoys it.

Friday Morning Kolam

Endangered Red Pandas at Oceans Park Hong Kong

Dessert at Hotel Asiana,OMR Chennai

What a delectable spread we had at Asiana,Chennai.

Birds at Oceans Park Hong Kong

Sea Jelly Spectacle at Oceans Park Hong Kong

Churning of the milk ocean,Vishnus Kurma avatara at Bangkok Airport

A-MA temple visit Macau

The last image seems like the chinese version of Kali.

Feng Shui in Kwun Yam Shrine Repulse bay Hong Kong

1) Mosaic Statue of Tin Hau

2)Longevity Bridge

3)God of marriage
4)Kwun Yam

More Tiger temple pics from Kanchanburi,Bangkok