The drooping head of the processional deity of Rama at Tirumala temple.

Processional deity of Rama at Tirumala temple

Processional deity of Rama, Sita and Lakshman at Tirumala temple

When i first observed Sri Rama's processional deity at Tirumala temple properly and clearly , thanks to daily live telecast of ShahasaraAlankara seva performed outside the temple , i was taken aback by the posture of Rama.His head is hanging down on his right side .Maybe the panchaloka idol was  damaged in the past but it was decided to retain  the damaged idol and worship it owing to reasons known only to TTD and the priests.
Nevertheless whenever i see Rama with Sita along with lakshman being swung in the tastefully decorated swing with 1000 lights shimmering at the  back ground , it twists my heart.Isn't Rama known for valour, courage and strength?But this processional deity of Rama at Tirumala temple with his drooping head projects dejection, weakness and mortification.

I thought maybe this is how Rama's processional deities are to be fashioned for worship.Then i observed , thanks to svbc 's daily telecast of Spiritual news which is a  around up of festivals taking place in Tirumala and temples run by TTD and across temples in Tamilnadu.None of the processional deities of Rama in any of the temples thus shown have this peculiar bent head.All the processional deities of Rama in all the temples shown this far look with head held high ,looking straight ahead and are majestic .They all project the majesty and valour Rama is known for unlike the processional deity of Rama at Tirumala.
Not only on TV but also when  i  actually visit temples across Tamilnadu i have observed that the processional deity of Sri Rama is like the processional deity of presiding deity--viz the archa form of Mahavishnu, small but with head held straight .and looking directly ahead.

However in the TTD Venkateshwara temple at Tnagar Chennai the processional deity placed in the sanctum is a spitting replica of the one at Tirumala temple!His majestic head is drooping towards his right side and his eyes gaze downwards at the floor., like as if He is ashamed of something and is pining about it.
This had me thinking.There could be some historical reasons to retain the damaged processional deity of Rama at Tirumala but why should  the same replicated in this temple which was built only a few decades back?
Sri Rama was known for his compassion and in offering succor to those who seek His refuge.Sri Rama was  also  known for his  extraordinary skills in archery  who never hesitated to use it to decimate all the wicked and,the arrogant as and  when the need arose , A  Sri Vaishnavaite acharya Sri Nigaman Desikan revered by all, has written 100slokas on Rama known as Raghuvira Gadyam which purely extols only Rama's brave deeds .

...Hence Rama means not only kindness  but also bravery.

Therefore I fail to understand  as to why TTD is persisting with using the processional deity of Rama with a drooping head .Frankly it reminds me of the hanging head of the tortured body of a God of another religion and not of the brave and majestic King of Ayodhya  who  sweetens every one's heart with his noble nature and brave deeds..

If the processional deity of Rama at Tirumala is 1000's of years old and has suffered his head being bent owing to passage of time then i think it is justified in continuing with the idol for daily worship since it represents  the continuity of the worship  of this deity since ancient times.
But if this deity was deliberately fashioned thus a century or so back under influence  and coercion of Evangelical Christians  with the backing of British rulers of India  and placed in the sanctum of Srinivasar or if it was  deliberately moulded thus and placed in the sanctum after gaining Independence under pressure of 'secular' politicians , then it is time that it is removed and a newer  ,majestic idol of Rama be placed in the sanctum since this deity is radiating weakness and invites only sympathy and not respect and reverence .In short the sight of Rama with his downwardly drooping head is a dampening sight.

If this processional deity  of Rama is not from ancient times  then it is high time that TTD replaced it with a majestic processional deity of Lord Rama , holding His head proudly and looking  straight ahead.

Processional deity of Rama at Madhurantakam temple

Processional deity f Rama, Sita and Lakshmana at Maduranthakam temple.

Processional deity of Rama, Sita and LAkshmana at Vaduvur temple.

Rama

The truth in justice Vaidyanath's judgement about forcible conversion in Tamilnadu.

When i first read about Justice Vaidyanath's candid obiter dicta on Christian institutions and missionaries i was quite taken aback.This is   off beat  in judiciary.I wondered whether he had some bitter experience in his life that made him speak so frankly about a subject viz conversions by missionaries which as still a taboo in discreet circles.Nobody dares speak about it specially those holding high offices.It goes against the very grain of 'Secularism' we are all so used to .Even i didn't  bother much about conversion activities by Christian missionaries or Love Jihad  undertaken by Muslims till i myself had terrible experience of being tried to be a forcibly converted to Christianity in September 2014 in a unique manner viz through transmitters and mobile phones  and it is still going on .So is the soft pedalling of Love Jihad.
I am a classic victim myself  of forcible Christian conversion and I am not from a ordinary background,since my grand father's[a freedom fighter and speaker of loksabha]portrait adorns the central hall of our parliament with his caste mark on his forehead nor am i  lacking in education!And i keep blogging about my harrowing experiences but does any one care?Disturbing me when i am offering my daily prayers in my house   or even in temples is going on as merrily as ever.This cabal has backing of powerful politicians who are not in the least intimidated by the facts.about me and my family background .

Most Judges are very learned and are very much in touch with common man's lives . Their knowledge coupled with the Independence they enjoy gives them the courage to call a spade a spade , that is to speak the truth.

What Justice Vaidyanath observed about the forcible conversion activities of Christian missionaries in Tamil nadu is true .It also true that they target women since Hindu religious rituals are male centric , leaving women without much convictions and therefore an easy prey .Missionaries brain wash women when they go to their schools and colleges for education .The brain washing starts at an early age itself .There is a craze amongst all people to send their children to convent schools so that their children will learn English,.even if the convent school is operating from a shed .There are hundreds of such  shabby and shoddy 'convent schools' all across Tamilnadu.
                                                       I came across a Devar woman who told me that when she was afraid she would meditate on Jesus because her teachers in school in a southern district of Tamilnadu said that would free them from fear!I asked her to meditate on Narayana or Rama or Hanuman as her husband is a vaishnavaite, who also frowned upon her meditating thus on a alien god.She said that she had gone too far way  mentally from Hindu gods .She was not from a poor family so as to be lured by money .She was from a respectable well off middle class family .So girls are caught and trapped in a young age .God knows how many women in Tamilnadu are outwardly Hindus but are all Christians inside!They will surely pass on their  Christian convictions and religious beliefs  to their Hindu children and have created a generation and will create a generation that will look down upon Hindu religion,beliefs, way of life and ridicules it and also make them feel ashamed of being a Hindu.The off springs of such mothers will be riddled about guilt regarding birth viewing it as  a sin whilst there is no such sin attached to births and rebirths in Hinduism , thus making Hindus celebrate birth ,yet  these internal converts will feel ashamed of being associated with Hindu beliefs!
 
The Christian gang has a terrific grip over Tamilnadu.They enjoy the backing of powerful politicians.No one can fight them .Intellectuals , Hindu scholars , Hindu religious heads or even a learned judge with independent thinking and power can never fight them .It is no wonder the truth speaking judge was arm twisted to delete part of his bold judgment within a few days of delivering it.

In name of false sense of secular values the common people themselves make it easy for other religions to make inroads .For eg the annual Adi Amman festival is taking place in my street .In this electric lights wink on and off on a board showing a cross, a gopurum and a crescent moon. Do Muslims worship idol that their sign is put up for what is essentially a idol worship where amman enshrined in the small temple be draped  in silk saree and dazzling with ornaments be offered prayers ? Are the devotees of Amman worshipping in a empty space like in a mosque or are they worshipping a beautifully decorated granite idol?So what connection is there between a crescent and gopurum? Absurd and inauspicious. How is a cross that represents a  man crucified and dripping with blood has any connection to Amman ?Isn't it inauspicious to put that symbol of torture and blood  in a Hindu festival that celebrates the valour of the mother goddess and is full of gaiety?

When i was browsing the net i came across a video in which a Hindu newly converted to Christianity boasting about his goal to construct 3000 churches across Tamil nadu .I my recent visit to Kanchipuram temple to have darshan of Athivaradhar i observed that the entire stretch of Tambaram road we travelled had churches on the raod side every quarter kilometre.It looks like as if that evangelist has nearly reached his target .He is a fit person to receive a pat , commendation and funds from Vatican.He did them proud!
In this video this man also made fun of the practise of offering silk sarees to Agni --fire  in hommamms conducted in temples across tamil nadu by priests .He showed a video of  this practise.It is true that costly sarees do go up in a blaze and become ashes in no time and does seem frightfully wasteful  but these bare chested  priests do not cover themselves with fine costly white robes with gold embroidery  and drink red wine out of costly cut glass goblet under huge shimmering chandeliers with a man in a only a loin cloth drooping from a cross in the altar  and proclaim that they are drinking the blood of Jesus.Revolting. what a macabre ritual  that smacks of cannibalism .Having such macabre rituals in their fold  on what basis are they making fun of our rituals?The wasteful ritual throwing or offering costly silk sarees into sacred fire is much better than the horrible ritual of drinking the blood of one's god or his messenger or his son.
I was aware of differences in mode of worship etc of other religions but they stood out glaringly only after the crazy multiple conversions carried upon me in 2014 and the 24 hours efforts since then to keep me occupied only about religion and sects to the exclusion of everything else in my life.

first Christianity --Why should i leave worshipping my clean shaved tall and majestic Vishnu /Narayana  adorned always in shimmering silk dhoti, a gold crown and body covered with diamond and golden ornaments to a  shaggily bearded  man in a loin cloth clad ?Why should i take  leave of Vishnu Narayana who always looks at me with bright eyes and pleasant all knowing smile to a man whose eyes are glazed  and head is always drooping? Why would i want to trade off my god Vishnu who is always radiating happiness , splendour , strength and bravery and thus infusing me with energy  and confidence to a man whose entire body language projects weakness  and misery and glo om?
Second Islam  why should i bargain my wonderful feeling of satiated happiness when i bend before the gorgeously dressed and adorned moorthy of Vishnu and Sri Devi and Bhu devi and Mahalaksmi enshrined in the sanctum of temples with the scent of tulsi, camphor , kumkum , sandal paste , fragrant smoke with only the divine idols before me for bending before rows upon rows of smelly bent backs of mass of women praying in groups in a hall ?The very thought revolts me.When at home i derive satisfaction only if i light a oil lamp at front of images of gods and recite few slokas in front of the images in Sanskrit as against reciting prayers in alien language like Arabic in front of nothing.

To me a place of public worship always meant a temple with idols consecrated within a small sanctum within the temple .I do not visit my place of worship to stare into empty space , vacuum and nothingness as is the case in mosques.I go there to fix my mind on the beautiful, sacred and divine  forms wrought out of black granite ,who are deemed to be the  replica of Supreme Brahman and His consort.I go  to  temples, my place of worship to  seek blessings from the stone images/idols  as they  have an intangible spiritual aura around them .Will i trade off this concrete visual treat  for abstract space?Impossible.

Next is the sectarian change i was forced to follow.I have no problems with Hindu gods on the whole .each have their own place, name and fame,but i belong to a sect that i am used to since birth and am quite proud of .Hindu religion is very liberal and gives the choice to its adherents who are all its members owing to taking birth in it to worship and meditate on the personal favourite god from eitherVishnu and his avatars or from the family of Siva or both .Probably this choice is given because the Vedic rituals to be followed by all sects   are one and the same.
My choice is Vishnu and his avatars.why should i be  arm twisted to worship some elses choice when i have already made my choice way back in my youth itself ?.

Regarding the Amman or shakthi sect--I am a deep devotee of Mahlakshmi who is part of the trinity of shakthi sect but am unlike them since i also worship Vishnu.I cannot imagine a mother goddess as my only  protector I need the father figure of Vishnu to protect me.To me my mother goddess is a gentle, delicate and beautiful person like Lakshmi who does not bear weapons , and who does not go around slaying the wicked .She only blesses her devotees with wealth and softens Her consort.The slaying of the wicked is the job of Maha Vishnu Lakshmi's husband.This set  up is what i have been used to .So i can only accept a father figure like god punishing the wicked and not the mother goddess.
Regarding saivaites ,Siva also has all these valorous qualities etc like Narayna.when i go to temple the majestic form of Vishnu with a smile hovering around his mouth is what revives me and not the  huge black slab of stone that is enshrined in siva temples as the archa form of Siva .This is also abstract , it is a symbol and not the actual form .Why would i trade this abstract and symbolic form of worship though very much within Hindu fold to worshipping the exact form of Supreme Brahman-Sriman narayana as towering idol bearing sanku and chakra and gadha as his weapons, with large eyes , aquiline nose, smiling lips and huge limbs? .

Thiryt sixth Birthday Remembrance of Vidat Venkatesan on 14.8.19 [ 14.8.83 to 27.7.2007 ]

Photo taken on October 2006

Photo taken on March 2007

                                           14 th August 1983 to 27 th July 2007

National integeration!

The debates in the parliament in the wake of the announcement of revocation of article 370 and bifurcation of J&K threw up a lot of information which were hitherto unknown to me.It was for the very first time that I came to know that several states in North East India also have laws that are similar to the 35 A which prohibits  citizens from other states to purchase property in some of the N.Eastern states.It bars us from enjoying rights that is granted equally to all in rest of India.It shocked me.
When I did LLB we were taught only some of the main articles of the constitution .The plethora of laws like 35A etc which are a curious and unconstitutional exemption to fundamental rights guaranteed to every citizen was never taught  to us .Hence i was totally ignorant of the existence of such laws which i think  only those specialising in constitutional law may know of .

In such a case ,in which, i who had some legal training in one of the best law colleges in this country[Delhi univ] am unaware of such laws won't the knowledge of ordinary citizens in this matter  be even worse ?It seems that it is only politicians who legislate and govern who seem to be fully aware of such laws that make a mockery of rule of law.

Were we all kept in dark deliberately of such dis integrating laws whilst a lot  ado was made  in  celebrating 'National integration Day'  annually for decades together?

Some of the parliamentarians spoke about  these laws that are similar to 35 A in a hushed manner like as if they were all top secrets and a sacred and untouchable topic  in the manner in which article .35A,&370 was spoken about ,earlier!

Is  this the true picture of the democratic republic of India and the sacrosancy of Rule of law that we keep boasting about when several states have laws granting special status to them that go against our constitution and the rule of law ?
When we celebrate National integration day are we celebrating the national integration of only the states of North and south with which we are all very familiar with?

Can a house divided against itself stand?

If our constitution ,with its emphasis on rule of law is to be cherished and, respected as a sacred document governing our institutions and our daily lives ,then no state in India should enjoy Special status.

The vexatious problem of illegal immigration from neighbouring countries mainly Bangladesh , coupled with having long borders with a belligerent and powerful neighbour like China breathing down on its  back ,waiting for a opportune moment  to gobble them up  could be the reason behind such laws.
Then it must be ensured that the illegal immigrants do not come into India and those already in donot acquire landed property in the north east .Instead of ensuring that, is it fair to prevent  the genuine citizens  of India from acquiring property in these states ?
By revoking 35 B etc etc which confers special status on  several states in North East it will settle once and for all the ownership controversies over these states  . By revoking all these unconstitutional special status ,all theses states will come under the Indian constitution like other states in India  and the people of those states will start feeling that they belong to India and that  their destiny is tied with India and its people. It will not only put a full stop to separatist movments in these states but also make it clear to China that all these states belong to India . It would also send a clear message to China , that henceforward it must stop laying frivolous , false,fallacious and forcibile claims over our land and our people and that its  meddling in our internal affairs will not be tolerated .

This special status is serving only the special purpose of widening any contact  or integration of such states with India.
Another reason bandied about is that people of such 'sensitive states' are basically tribals whose way of life should be preserved!I see a lot of North Eastern men and women in the streets and hotels , and shops of Chennai .They are all  attired in modern western clothes .The women use make up and style their hair.They appear to be quite supercilious.None of them look like the  ill clad Jarwa or  bare bodied Senithelese tribes of Andaman islands.They all speak good English.They all seem to be well educated  i am sure it is , owing to spread education in nearly whole of North East  -thanks to the vigorous activities of Christian missionaries who may be even looking for  a pat on their back or even a Padma award from Indian state for civilizing its headhunters and adivasis .

Since the cannibalistic tribals and other animist tribals have all been nicely converted to the 'highly civilised' Christian fold decades back, just what is left of their unique ancient way of life that the Indian state has to strive to preserve and protect by granting them special status?Just whom is the Indian state protecting in North east from being engulfed by rest of India,Is it a section of Christians? Do we all look like as if we are raring to leave our comfortable cities so as to settle in  such  un developed places?
It is high time that special status granted to some of the North Eastern states are also done away with and they all be brought to the main grid so that  they start feeling that they all belong to India with the same rights and duties as the rest of us.Only then the feeling of being alien to India  and of being a foreigner amidst Indians would go.Only then we can  celebrate National integration in the true sense.

Revocation of article 370.

I first visited Kashmir in 1982.It is a picturesque place which is incomparable to any other nature's beauty spots elsewhere in India.Some of the tourist spots in and around Srinagar show case nature's artistic handiwork at its best.Phehalgam  a village near Srinagar topped the list .

There are innumerable  tall snow capped mountains [Himalayas] in North as well as verdant hills with scenic spots  like Ooty and Kodaikanal in South, yet that one spot in Phehalgaun that has a small yellowish velvety green meadow with snow capped smooth  mountains criss crossed by gurgling streams and dainty little water falls at its background is simply a class of its own.

How should i describe it? Should i call it outwordly?Or Should i say that the extraordinary beauty bestowed on this place is spiritual?I could absorb the spirituality  emanating from the lofty,imposing and fearfully tall snow capped peaks of Himalayas on my way to Badrinath.A sense that was enhanced by spotting bare bodied sanyasi's sitting in niches high on the mountain walls in yogic posture of padmaasan, in biting bitter cold .So i can best describe that part of Pehalgaun that took my breath away and has remained in my memory ever since that only visit to Kashmir , as a master piece painting of the celestials. It is a beautiful place.

The jarring note to this feeling of awe at the lavishness of nature that made me feel that i had entered the happy, gorgeous and fragrant  loka   of Indra was delivered by a group of young Kashmiri's who were sitting in a row on a ledge and asked me jeeringly in a  un pleasant and hostile manner --Kya aap Hindustan se hai?--"Are you from Hindustan?"That question was like a bucket of cold water being thrown on me.It brought me down to earth. and made me wonder .What a question ask?Is Kashmir a foreign country? Isn't it a part of India? Isn't it another state of India like so many other states?I have lived in several states in India north and in east  and have also visited many others , and the inquiries i received from them would only be as to which state i came from .No one asked me if i was from india .
That question 'Are you from India' from a batch of Kashmiris whom i always thought to be Indians stung me to the core and the memory of that painful barb never left me.

The news that the 'Special status 'that made Kashmiris think that they were foreigners to India was done away on 5th and 6 th of this month  instantly healed the numb lingering wound in me and filled me with great joy.
I was besides myself with happiness.Though i have to strictly keep off sweets i popped in several of them.I wished that my late brother hadn't kicked the bucket so soon so as to deny me the chance of sharing my joy with him .He would have been simply overjoyed at the news of revocation of article 370.We would have traded our appreciation at the boldness and courage of our PM to take such a decision as well praised the firmness of the convictions of his party in this matter.Yes, it is a very bold and courageous decision which i am sure most Indians are in consonance with.There is no doubt about it .
It is pretty well known that removing article 370 granting special status or rather granting atrocious exemptions from our constitution and laws  was one of the objectives of BJP.But they scarcely did anything about it in their first term .I was dismayed when they allied with PDP to form a govt in JK.OK that is old story.
A week back TV channels were full of news that thousands of troops  were being rushed to  Srinagar and Kashmir  and that the annual  Amarnath yatra  that was half way through was called off and that tourists were asked to leave Kashmir.The reason cited was that terrorists planned to strike and kill the yatris .
The two ex Cm's JK started to tweet lamenting at the build of troops and kept warning of dire consequences if 35 A was abrogated .Their fear was apparent.Though i had no clue as to what was the govt up to ,the fact that the two ex Cm's were expressing their fear made me rejoice.This state with its politicians and terrorists were holding entire India to ransom for decades and  terrorising us .It is time that they felt the fear.
I knew something was brewing like a sterner action against terrorists  but never expected the atom bomb that was dropped in Rajya sabha by the Home minister on 5 the august 2019 which sent me into raptures of delight .The goi made it clear that they were revoking article 370 and not merely 35 a and also that they were bifurcating the State into two.A double treat! That JK was not trisected was a little disappointing.

Then i made me wonder at the hurry in doing this.With barely two days of parliament session left , why was it so necessary to revoke and bring in the new legislation so swiftly?Why not do it in the next session? Neither Kashmir  nor the parliament.will run away in a month or so from now.That got me thinking.What provoked this quick action?Was it Trump's doing?Was it his offer to mediate on Kashmir coupled with his assertion that it was our PM who requested him to do so?This news was all around .Trump sowed the seed of suspicion that the strong and, popular leader of the largest democracy in the world voted by crores of Indians with a huge mandate was asking him to mediate on a matter considered as purely internal and at the most bilateral by succeeding govts in India.

Would a  person elected with such a huge mandate and who is also regarded as world leader take such a allegation that casts a shadow  on his name fame and character lying down?i guess he didn't and he showed it in immediate action.
In one swift move by revoking article 370 and thus joining it with rest of India , it has been made known to the world that JK and Ladakh is our property, our land and its inhabitants are our citizens and no other country can meddle in it.The message being sent out is this- 'Keep off' our country. .Deeds speak for themselves  more than words can.
In my view Trumps 'gracious' offer to mediate between Pakistan and India over Kashmir issue was the immediate cause for such a swift action.Thanks to Trump , in away he hastened the process.of clearing the doubts in the minds of people world over Kashmir.It is now truly settled once and for all that JK is very much a part and parcel of India.

In few years time if i visit Srinagar may be a bunch of young Kashmiris sitting on a ledge may ask in a pleasant and curious manner "Kya app Madras se ha'i?" Are you from Madras"?