The Lord of Beginnings

Slokam of the Month

GajaananaM bhuutagaNaadisevitaM

Kapittha jaMbuu phalasaarabhaxitam
UmaasutaM shokavinaashakaaraNaM

Namaami VighneshvarapaadapaN^kajam
Salutations to Lord Ganesha who has an elephant head, who is attended by the band of his followers, who eats his favorite wood-apple and rose-apple fruits, who is the son of Goddess Uma, who is the cause of destruction of all sorrow. And I salute his feet, which are like lotus.

Temple of the Month

The Arumugamangalam Vinayagar Temple is an ancient temple built around 2 B.C. This temple is located in the Arumugamangalam Village in the Tuticorin District. The history of the Ayirathen Vinayagar in the temple dates back to the Brahmins residing on the banks of the Narmada. Once upon a time a Pandiya king named Komaravallabhan performed a Yagna. Large groups of Brahmins migrated from the Northern part to participate. It is beleived that Lord Vigneswara took the form of a Brahmin and helped conclude the grand Yagna. After completion the Brahmins decided to stay back and the King installed the diety around their settlement. The temple was later developed by various rulers including Ukrama Pandiyan, Rayar and Tirumalainayakar
Village location link http://www.aarumugamangalam.com/main/temples.htm

Orkut Community http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=19581591

Story of the Month

Kubera is the King of Yakshas (Nature spirit). He is the son of Sage Vishrava. Kubera performed severe austerities for a thousand years in reward for which Brahma gave him immortality and made him the guardian of all treasures (Nidhi). Once Kubera invited Shiva and Parvati to dinner with the intention of showing off his riches. Shiva and Parvathi denied the invitation asking Kubera to feed their son Ganesha instead. Kubera laughed at the suggestion saying "I can feed a thousand children like this". Ganesha went to Kubera's palace in Alakapuri and sat down to eat. He started eating all that was placed in front of him and did not stop until there was nothing left in the Palace of abundance to feed him and he said "You promised my parents that you will feed me. Now I have to eat you up as I am still very hungry" Hearing this Kubera ran to Kailas and pleaded with Shiva to save him from Ganesha. Shiva asked Kubera to serve Ganesha a handful of rice with humility. Upon doing that, Ganesha's hunger was quelled as was Kubera's pride.

On the lighter side

Pillayar and I remember a real life incident told by my mom. And everytime its left the audience with peals of laughter. This is one of the many stories from my mom about her childhood days in Kallidaikurichi. My mom had two friends who were sisters (lets say their names were Vijaya and Gomati). And everyday they used to come back from school together. One of the days, Vijaya realized that the younger one was nowhere to be seen. She called out for Gomati but no response. She searched in school. It was empty albeit the peon. She decided to scan the entire route that they take for home, before parents blame the elder for not taking care of the younger one. On the way back there was this Pillayar temple. She stood there with tears in her eye, memories of her sister in ther mind's eye and she prayed ernestly, "Pillayar Pillayar, Please let me find my dear sister Gomati. If you do this for me I will marry you." The gist of what ensued is that Gomati was found and Vijaya was so scared that Pillayar might appear insisting her to marry, that she didnt take the route to school through the temple for years to come.