Tirupathi Pilgrim trip

Our Tirupathi pilgrim trip started by Pondy to Tirupathi passenger train on 18 Nov'11. I started off from my Cuddalore at 1.00 p.m. and caught the train at the Villupuram rail station. We, a group of 5, reached Tirupathi at 11.00 p.m. Took rest at the Railway waiting hall. Got up by 3.00 a.m. Took bath and then started off in an auto rickshaw to Alamel Mangapuram by 4.30 a.m. Lucky to have Suprabatha darshan of the diety. By 6.00 a.m. we started off in an auto rickshaw to Alipiri, the starting point of the foot path to Tirumala. Finished our walk up the hill by 1.00 p.m. Had the free lunch provided by the Devasom and deposited our luggage in the locker. Had bath and proceeded to the Vaikuntam Q Complex by 4.00 p.m. We waited for some 3.5 hours and our queue to be opened. Had darshan of the Lord Venkateshwara by 9.00 p.m. and came out by 9.30 p.m. Bought the Rs.100 token for 4 additional laddus and then went for the queue to get the laddus. By 10.00 p.m. we completed our pilgrimage of the Lord. Came back to the amenities hall, had food and vacated our locker. It was now 11.00 p.m. Caught the bus downhill and came to the Tirupathi Rail Station by 12.30 p.m. The train from Tirupathi-Pondy starts by 4.00 a.m. The train was found parked. We hoped of taking some precious sleep on the train. So, we bought the tickets and boarded the train. The train has 8 coaches and we went into each and every compartment to get a seat to sleep on. But ill luck for us, each and every seat has already been occupied by the people. Atlast there were only two seats vacant on the whole of the train. We managed to sleep on it and we found other three upper berths meant for keeping the baggages. We climbed and laid ourselves to rest by 2.00 a.m. Got into deep slumber and we never knew when the train started off from the Tirupathi Rail Station. At around 7.30 a.m. we awoke when the train was halting at the Arakonam Rail Junction. Got down from the sleeping board and finished the morning routine. The train started off after a 40 minute hiatus. We reached the Villupuram rail station by 1.00 p.m. Then caught the bus to Cuddalore. Reached home by 2.30 p.m.
On the whole it was a journey  little over 48 hours. Such is the quickest of my Tirupathi trips in my life time.

Lakshmi Narashimar temples

Having taken holiday from office since a week back, few travel plans are on the cards which is quite pending for some time. Me and my colleague Mohan Babu had the plan to visit the three Narashimar temples situated in Abhisekapakkam, Poovarasankuppam and Parikkal.
We two started off on his bike early in the morning of 24/Dec'08. The climate is so cold with the breeze giving us chilling tunes for the few early hours. We had gone ready for it with the helmet and apron to safeguard ourselves from the fog. Though the worst roads amidst the villages gave the extra heart burns and thrills, this is a way we have got used to live eventhough ours is a nation making forays in every field be it software or space science.



First is the Laskhmi Narashimar temple in Abhisekapakkam situated near Thavalakuppam in the Pondicherry region. This is quite near for us at some 11 kms from my place and we reached there at about 8 a.m. The above pic is the West facing Raja Gopuram of the temple.

The temple tank is full of water and gave a nice treat casting the reflection of the early morning moments.


Bakthimaan Shri Mohan Babu avargal, giving the good pose for my camera. !!


This is the path leading to the temple. Photography is not allowed inside the temple. So could not photograph inside the temple. After this temple we got to Poovarasankuppam, which is about 30 Kms from this temple. In the middle we had a stop at a place called Kariamanikkam and had a tasty breakfast of Idli and Puri.


This is the Lakshmi Narashimar temple situated in Poovarasankuppam. Though this temple is one of the great ones, little aspect is given in terms of the tidiness for it. Quite at the front entrance is the banners of the political parties which is spoiling the aesthetics which is needed for a temple of this magnificence.
The next temple is situated at Pariakkal. We travelled upto Panruti then to Madapet junction catch the Nationan Highways passing through Villupuram-Vridhachalam while turning to left side then travel about 4 Kms then take a right turn and travel on the narrow roads to reach this temple.


This is the Parikkal Lakshmi Narashimar temple.


Its Mohan Babu and me.
Renovation activities were taking place at this temple. The old wall made of granite stone dates back to 800 years. During those times, painting of the wall with white lime paint is done which has actually spoiled the originality synonymous with that of a granite wall. Now work has been taken up to remove those painting off the wall to maintain originality and also prevent corrosion due to the paints. We happened to have a talk with the people involved in this work. The removal of the painting involves sandblasting which is done by blowing of the common river sand with compressed air. This blows out the paint particles off from the granite wall and the wall behind us in the picture is what you see is the original finishing achieved once the sandblasting is done. Once the renovation work is over we should get the gift of aesthetic looks of the granite stones.
We then reached Cuddalore at about 12.30 p.m. The total journey clocked to 130 kms and we had a satisfied darshan at all the three temples. Since it is not a festival day the crowd is not there so we were able to complete our trip within 7 hours.
The next travel is to the famous hill shrine Tirupathi. I shall be coming out in the next article shortly...
Bye
Wishing you all a happy new year 2009.

Ramalingeshwar temple @ Nettapakkam in Pondy

My company is situated in the Nettapakkam region of Pondicherry. Though I am working here for the past 10.5 years I had not got the opportunity to visit the famous Shiva temple situated some 3 kms away from my factory.

I was once regular to the Prodhoshanam event to Shiva temple in my town Cuddalore, but nowadays since I often get back home little late I am missing to make it to the event which ends before 6.30 p.m.

On 12-Sep (my wedding day), I was about to catch my bus after leaving from office. Just happened to see my colleague Murugadoss who is also awaiting for bus.
Murug: "Hey, Today is Prodhoshanam and I am going to the Shiva temple, R u coming?"
So I got along with Murugadoss to go to the Ramalingeshwar temple in Nettapakkam. Thanks that I just got the time to make to this famous temple.



The Southern entrance of Ramalingeshwar temple.
The specific about this temple is that the presiding deity Lord Shiva faces West. His Consort faces the Southern direction. Usually in all temples the Deities face the East.




The milk abishekam is being done to the Nandhi on the Prodshanam time.



Murugadoss (My colleague in blue shirt), left no time to take the opportunity to lift the Deity.