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Golden Age Of AirTravel…. Thro ” The Lense of a Flight Attendant !!!

Natarajan1 Comment

A Lebanese photographer who worked as a flight attendant for nearly ten years has documented the behind-the-scenes life of air crew.
Lucien Samaha’s love affair with aircraft started when he was a young boy. His father and uncles worked for an airline and he spent the first ten years of his life flying first class to spend time with his family.
Samaha, who always carried a camera with him, has recently exhibited a selection of the 600 plus images he took during his time flying with TWA.

 

Team work: Crew members enjoy a mid-flight shoulder rub in 1982

Team work: Crew members enjoy a mid-flight shoulder rub in 1982


Boarding pass: Pilots and flight attendants sit on the steps of the plane in Frankfurt in 1983

Boarding pass: Pilots and flight attendants sit on the steps of the plane in Frankfurt in 1983

Light hearted: A stewardess jokes around on board a flight in 1985

Light hearted: A stewardess jokes around on board a flight in 1985


‘Flight Attendants epitomized international glamor and adventure to me. Growing up, I often dreamed of becoming one,’ he said.

High life: Samaha with his father in 1958, who also worked on airlinesHigh life: Samaha with his father in 1958, who also worked on airlines

As his 18th birthday approached Samaha, who had studied photography in high school, realized the life of luxury he had experienced for free on board planes would end.

‘I wouldn’t be able to jaunt around the world at will, for free – something I had been used to all my life,’ he said.

‘My only solution was to follow my childhood dream and become a flight attendant.’

 

On his 20th birthday Samaha was hired by TWA and began studying at the Breech Training Academy. He took photographs nearly the entire time, according to Slate.

‘I was shooting everything during that time, from fashion photography in Milan to photographing on layovers … street photography around the world,’ he said.

It was a glamorous period for flying. Samaha learned how to carve chateaubriand and how to serve caviar in first class as he worked on flights from Chicago, Tel Aviv, Rome and Paris.

Samaha, a documentary photographer who was part of the launch team for Kodak’s first digital camera and explained that he often used small cameras to help his subjects feel more relaxed.

 Sky's the limit: The moon shines over this passenger jet as it waits at JFK in New York in 1982
 Sky’s the limit: The moon shines over this passenger jet as it waits at JFK in New York in 1982

Driving seat: A first officer sits in the cockpit of a TWA aircraft in 1978

Driving seat: A first officer sits in the cockpit of a TWA aircraft in 1978

Ground crew: Drivers in Cairo wait to meet the plane in 1982

round crew: Drivers in Cairo wait to meet the plane in 1982


‘People become relaxed with a small point-and-shoot camera, and that’s my aesthetic. I like intimacy … the smaller and quirkier the camera, the better—and I feel l can take great pictures with it,’ he said.

A collection of photos from that time, entitled The Flight Attendant Years: 1978-1986, is being shown at the Lombard Freid Gallery in New York. Many of Samaha’s former colleagues on the airlines have been invited to the gallery to view the images.

His work can also be viewed at Luciensamaha.net.

Turbo: Crew pose in one of the engines in 1978

Turbo: Crew pose in one of the engines in 1978

Training camp: New recruits at the Breech Academy in 1978

Training camp: New recruits at the Breech Academy in 1978.

High jinx: Air crew celebrate Easter in Las Vegas in 1982

High jinx: Air crew celebrate Easter in Las Vegas in 1982

Arrivals: An attendant rides the shuttle bus at Cairo airport in 1983

An attendant rides the shuttle bus at Cairo airport in 1983

Going places: Samaha combined his love of air travel and photography for eight years

source::::mailonline .com uk

natarajan

 

 

படித்ததில் பிடித்தது !!! மகாபெரியவர் பாதுகை தரும் திருப்பங்கள் !!!

NatarajanLeave a comment

அது 1988ஆம் வருடம். தொழிலை அபிவிருத்தி செய்ய வங்கியில் இருந்து கடன் கேட்டிருந்தோம். கொஞ்சம் உதாசீனமாகப் பதில் கிடைத்தது. இதை தந்தையிடம் சொல்லவேயில்லை.

திடீரென்று அப்பா, அம்மா இருவரும் காஞ்சிபுரம் போகலாம் என்று அழைத்த உடன் கிளம்பினேன். பெரியவாளைத் தரிசனம் செய்ய, 300க்கும் அதிகமானோர் நின்றிருக்க, நாங்கள் கடைசியில் நின்றிருந்தோம்.
திடீரெனப் பெரியவா வழிவிடச் சொல்லி கூட்டத்தை சைகை செய்தார். வழி கிடைத்தவுடன் கடைசியில் நின்றிருந்த எங்களை அருகில் வரும்படி அழைத்தார். மெய் பதற அவர் முன் சென்று நின்றோம்.
“என்ன வேண்டும்?” என்று இரண்டு முறை கேட்டார்.
நாங்கள், “எதுவும் வேண்டாம்” என்று, பவ்யமாகத் தலை அசைத்தோம்.
மூன்றாவது முறை கோபமாகக் கேட்டார்.
உடனே “பிரசாதம் வேண்டும்” எனக் கூறினோம்.
உடனே, தனது திருவடிகளில் அணிந்திருந்த பாதுகைகளை எடுத்து, தாமரை மலரை அதன் மேல் வைத்து எங்களிடம் கொடுத்தார்.
பரதாழ்வார், ஸ்ரீராமரின் பாதுகைகளைக் கேட்டுப் பெற்றார். அது மகா புண்ணியம். கேட்காமலேயே – மகா பெரியவாளின் பாதுகை கிடைத்ததும் இதுதான் நினைவுக்கு வந்தது.
அந்த நொடியில் என் சர்வ நாடியும் அடங்கின. சர்வாங்கமும் ஒடுங்கின. மேனி புல்லரித்து, எத்தனை நேரம் உறைந்து போனேன் என்று தெரியாமல் செய்த அபார கருணை அது. பரவசமான நேரம்!உயிர் உள்ளவரை இறைவனது எல்லையில்லாக் கருணை என்னை ஆள வேண்டும் என்ற இறைஞ்சுதலுடன், அந்தப் பாதுகைகளைச் சுமந்து வந்தேன்.
தேரில் தெய்வம் உலா வந்து கொண்டிருக்கும்போது, தெருவில் இறங்கி, நாம் அந்தத் தெய்வத்தை தரிசனம் செய்யப் போகும் சமயத்தில், அந்தத் தெய்வம் தேரிலிருந்து இறங்கி வந்து நம் கைகளைப் பிடித்துக்கொண்டு கருணை செய்தால் எப்படி இருக்கும்? அந்த மாதிரியான ஒரு புளகாங்கிதம் அது.
காஞ்சியில் இருந்து திரும்பி வந்த உடன், வங்கியில் இருந்து அழைப்பு வந்தது. ‘ஏதோ ஒரு டென்ஷனில் சொல்லிவிட்டோம். எத்தனை லட்சம் வேண்டுமானாலும் கடன் தருகிறோம். வேண்டுமானால், செக்கை அனுப்பி வைக்கிறோம்’ என்றனர்.
இப்படி ஒன்றிரண்டு அல்ல; 20 வருடங்களுக்கும் அதிகமாக வாடாமல் அதே மலர்களுடன், சந்தனப் பேழையில் இருந்துகொண்டு, நிறையத் திருப்பங்களை, நானே எதிர்பார்க்காத அளவுக்கு நடத்தி வருகின்றன, அந்தப் பாதுகைகள்.”
சொல்லும்போதே அவர் குரலில் பரவசம் தெறிக்கிறது. அந்தப் பரவசம் நமக்குள்ளும் ததும்பத்தான் செய்கிறது.
~ கோவை கிருஷ்ணா ஸ்வீட் அதிபர் கிருஷ்ணன்.
நன்றி: “தீபம்“ (கல்கி வழங்கும் ஆன்மீக இதழ்)

 

நாற்பது வருஷத்துக்கு முன்னாடி காஞ்சிபுரத்தில் ஒரு அக்ரஹாரத்தின் வழியாய் காமாட்சியம்மன் கோயிலுக்குப் போய்க்கிட்டிருந்தேன். திடீரென பெரியவர் வர்றார்ன்னு குரல் கேட்டது. பரபரப்பாய் மக்கள் இங்கேயும், அங்கேயும் போய்க்கிட்டிருந்தாங்க. நானும் ஏதோ வயசான பெரியவர் வர்றார்ன்னு திரும்பிப் பார்த்தா, மஹா பெரியவா.

நான் சடார்ன்னு அந்த ஞானியின் காலைப் பிடிச்சிட்டேன். அப்புறம் அவர் அந்த இடத்தை விட்டுப் போயிட்டார். நான் ஒரு மணி நேரம் அந்த இடத்திலேயே நின்னேன். அக்ரஹாரத்து அய்யர்களெல்லாம், ‘நாங்க கூட-இவரைத் தொட்டது கிடையாது. நீ காலையே பிடிச்சுட்டியே’ன்னாங்க. நான் ரொம்பப் பயந்து போயி, கோயிலுக்குள் நுழைந்தேன்.
கோயிலுக்குள் மஹா பெரியவர் பக்தர்களுக்கு ஆசீர்வாதம் பண்ணிக்கிட்டிருந்தார். தூரத்தில் நின்ன என்னை ‘வா’ன்னு சைகையால கூப்பிட்டார்.
‘சாமி தெரியாமல் காலைப் பிடிச்சுட்டேன்’னேன்.
அதற்குப் பெரியவர் ‘ஏதோ பூர்வஜென்ம வாசம், என் காலைப் பிடிச்சுட்ட. பரவாயில்லை, என்ன பண்றே’ன்னு கேட்டார்.
‘சினிமாவுல இருக்கேன்’ என்றேன்.
‘அதனால என்ன? எங்க இருந்தாலும் ஒழுக்கமாக இரு’ என்று சொல்லி தமது கைகளை எனது கைகள் மீது வைத்து ஆசீர்வாதம் பண்ணினார்.
அன்றிலிருந்து இன்று வரை காமாட்சின்னு சொல்லும்போது, அந்த மஹா பெரியவர் என்னை ஆசீர்வதிக்கிறதா உணர்றேன்.“
~ குணச்சித்திர நடிகர் வினுசக்கரவர்த்தி
நன்றி: “கல்கி”

 

2013 is Very Much Worse than 1991 !!!!…A Wakeup Call For Indian Economy …

Natarajan1 Comment

We are repeatedly told that 2013 is not 1991, the year of near external bankruptcy which put India on the road to reform and rejuvenation. The latest to tell us this is Kaushik Basu, Chief Economist at the World Bank, and during whose tenure as chief economic advisor in the finance ministry inflation stayed stubbornly high, the fiscal deficit hit the roof, and the current account deficit (CAD) went from bad to worse.

Basu told Business Line yesterday: “The economic situation is not good. India is nowhere near potential. But the gloom is overplayed. There can be no question of comparing the current situation with the 1991 situation, when we were on the brink of a major crisis. We are nowhere near that situation now.”

He is right. 1991 was an external payments crisis when we had less than two weeks’ imports worth of foreign exchange reserves at one point. This time we have $278 billion in reserves, enough for seven months’ imports.

But here are the vital differences which make 2013 seemingly worse than 1991.

ReutersThe most important difference, however, relates not to the macroeconomy, but human feelings. Reuters
The most important difference, however, relates not to the macroeconomy, but human feelings. We react more negatively to fears of anticipated loss than expectations of gain. In 1991, we were a poor country, with a very small middle class and nothing much to lose. Today, we are four times richer as a nation, and the size of the middle and consuming classes has been growing in leaps and bounds. We have EMIs to pay, increments to chase, gadgets to buy and everyday goodies to splurge on at malls. All these are under some threat.

In 1991, the economic crisis did not matter to most Indians. Why would the aam aadmi care whether you have enough forex to pay for two weeks’ imports or not? It doesn’t impact him.

Today it does. Several hundred millions of Indians are now part of the consumption story. They buy consumer goods, eat out, buy mobikes, and shop at malls. They also had, till recently, rising incomes to look forward to. In fact, the UPA’s economic mismanagement helped foster this sense of entitlement in all classes of people – from the poor to the middle classes to everybody.

Behavioural economists will tell you that human beings are more primed to avoid losses than seek gains.

This loss aversion tendency was established by behavioural economists Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman, who noted that “losses and disadvantages have greater impact on (human) preferences than gains and advantages.”

For the aam aadmi, 2013 is therefore worse than 1991. He has more to lose this time.

Now, to this entirely human sense of impending loss, add the broader reality, and it is not difficult to see why the rupee is crashing, the market is skittish, and people are rushing to embrace gold. In many ways, 2013 looks worse than 1991.

First, in 1991, the world was not in crisis. There was the IMF to run to, and if we took the medicine prescribed, the rest of the world could absorb our new export buoyancy. The world also had surplus dollars to bring to India for investment. This time, the world is in deep s***, and there is no one to go to even with a begging bowl. We have to rescue ourselves.

Second, in 1991, due to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in the midst of an election campaign, the Congress party won enough seats to manage with just a few MPs’ outside support. This time we have a weaker government at the centre with no credibility, and which is trying to hold on to power even at the cost of economic disaster.

Third, 1991 had one restaurant owner (Rao) and one chef (Manmohan Singh) cooking up a recipe for reform: this time no one knows who is running the show, and the government has so many cooks trying to rescue the economy – and arguing with one another – that it is going steadily downhill.

Consider the number of cooks advising this government on what do: one economist is heading the government; he has a band of economic advisors under Dr C Rangarajan; the Planning Commission is stuffed with another lot of economists under Montek Singh Ahluwalia; then there is finance minister who is busy drawing “red lines” on deficits without a clue on why no one is listening to him; and we now have his chief economic advisor heading for the Reserve Bank, a bank whose outgoing boss has been in constant combat with P Chidambaram. This circus is being presided over by an economically-challenged political dispensation under Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Fourth, the political power structure is completely different. In 1991, the centre dominated the states; this time, the states are calling the shots in politics and economic issues. Today, no single economic issue – from FDI to GST to food security – can be decided by the centre in isolation. It has to carry the states. But the Congress party is particularly inept in the way it deals with the opposition. It needed a friendly BJP to get at least some of the tougher things done; or it needed a coalition of state parties to do deals with. It has neither. For the regional leaders are the Congress’ rivals in their own states; and the BJP is the Congress’ national rival. And Narendra Modi has sent the Congress running for cover.

2013 is not 1991. It may not be worse than 1991, but it will certainly feel very much worse.

source::::::R.Jagannathan in Firstpost.com  on 20 aug 2013

natarajan

வைகை பெருகட்டும் …அந்த நன்னாள் வரட்டும் விரைவில் !!!!

NatarajanLeave a comment

பரிபாடல் போன்ற சங்க கால நூல்களில், வைகை நதி பெருக்கெடுத்து ஓடியது பற்றி, சொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதைப் படிக்கும் போது, தற்போதைய நிலை கண்டு மனம் வேதனைப் படுகிறது. அழகர் ஆற்றில் இறங்கும் காலத்தில் கூட, சொட்டுத் தண்ணீர் இல்லாமல், லாரி தண்ணீரை ஒரு குட்டையில் நிரப்பி, விழா கொண்டாட வேண்டிய அவலம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது என்றால், இது யார் செய்த தவறு?
நம் வீட்டில் திருமணம் உள்ளிட்ட சுபநிகழ்ச்சிகள் நடக்கிறதென்றால், நாலு பேருக்கு தானதர்மம் செய்வது வழக்கம். மதுரையில் மீனாட்சியை மணமுடிக்க, சிவன் சுந்தரேஸ்வரராக வந்த போது, ஊருக்கே நன்மை செய்தார். குண்டோதரனின் தாகம் தீர்க்க உருவாக்கப்பட்டது தான் வைகை ஆறு. ஒரு ஊரில் ஆறு இருந்தால் மட்டும் போதுமா… அதை எப்படி பாதுகாக்க வேண்டும் என்பதை உணர்த்தவே, ஆவணி பூராடம் நட்சத்திரத்தன்று, சிவன், ஒரு கூலி ஆளாக, வைகை கரையை அடைக்க வந்தார்.
மதுரையில், அரிமர்த்தன பாண்டியன் ஆண்டபோது, மாணிக்கவாசகர் அவனது அமைச்சராக இருந்தார். நாட்டின் படை பலத்தைப் பெருக்க, குதிரைகள் வாங்கி வரும்படி பணம் கொடுத்து அனுப்பினான் மன்னன். சென்றவர் வழியில், திருப்பெருந்துறை என்னும் ஆவுடையார் கோவிலை அடைந்தார். அங்கே, ஒரு குருந்த மரத்தடியில், சிவன் குருவாக தியானத்தில் அமர்ந்திருந்து, மாணிக்கவாசகருக்கு திருவடி தீட்சை அளித்தார். அதன்பின், சிவனடிமையாகி விட்ட மாணிக்கவாசகர், குதிரை வாங்க கொடுத்திருந்த பணத்தை, கோவில் திருப்பணிக்கு செலவு செய்தார்.
விஷயம் மன்னனுக்கு தெரிந்து, மாணிக்க வாசகர் அழைத்து வரப்பட்டு, கடுமையான தண்டனைக்கு உட்படுத்தப்பட்டார். சிவன், வைகையில், வெள்ளம் பெருக்கெடுத்து ஓடச் செய்து தன் திருவிளையாடலை நிகழ்த்தினார். மன்னனுக்கு ஆச்சரியம், திடீரென இந்த வெள்ளம் எப்படி வந்தது என்று! இருப்பினும், ஊரைப் பாதுகாக்க கரைகளை உயர்த்த ஆணையிட்டு, “வீட்டுக்கு ஒருவர் பணிக்கு வர வேண்டும்…’ என, உத்தரவிட்டான்.
வந்தி என்ற முதிய சிவபக்தையின் வீட்டில் யாருமில்லை. அவள் புட்டு விற்று பிழைப்பவள். அவள் வீட்டுக்கு, கூலிக்காரன் வடிவில் வந்தார் சிவன். அவள் சார்பில் கரையை அடைக்க, புட்டை கூலியாகப் பெற்றுக் கொள்வதாகக் கூறினார்; அவளும் சம்மதித்தாள்.
வேலைக்குப் போன இடத்தில், வேலை செய்யாமல் படுத்து விட்டார். சோதனைக்கு வந்த மன்னன், வேலை செய்யாமல் தூங்கிக் கொண்டிருப்பதைப் பார்த்து, பிரம்பால் முதுகில் ஒரு அடி அடித்தான். அந்த அடியின் வலி, மன்னன் உட்பட உலகில் உள்ள அனைத்து உயிர்களின் மீதும் விழுந்தது. மன்னன் பயந்து விட்டான். உண்மை வெளிப்பட்டதும், மாணிக்கவாசகருக்கு மரியாதை செய்தான் மன்னன். வைகையில் வெள்ளம் கட்டுப்பட்டது.
இத்திருவிளையாடலின் மூலம் சிவன், ஆறுகள் பாதுகாக்கப்பட வேண்டும் என்பதை, வலியுறுத்தி, அதற்காக, அடியும் வாங்கியிருக்கிறார். ஆனால், நாமோ… ஊரில் இருக்கும் குப்பையை எல்லாம் வைகையில் கொட்டி, ஆற்றை அசுத்தப் படுத்துகிறோம்.
ஆவணி பூராடம் நட்சத்திரத்தன்று, மதுரையில் புட்டுத்திருவிழா நடத்தப்படுகிறது. வெறும் திருவிழாக்களை நடத்துவதால், எந்த பலனும் ஏற்படப் போவதில்லை.
“சிவனே… அன்றொரு நாள் நீ, சுந்தரேஸ்வரனாக வந்து, வைகையை உற்பத்தி செய்தாய்; கூலியாளாக வந்து வைகையைப் பாதுகாத்தாய். நாங்கள் இடையில் செய்த பெறும் தவறால், வைகைத்தாய் பெருக மறுக்கிறாள். இனி, இவ்வாறு செய்ய மாட்டோம். உன் அருளை வாரி வழங்கி, வைகையில் ஆண்டு முழுவதும் தண்ணீர் ஓட அருள் செய்…’ என்று, மனமுருகி கெஞ்சிக் கேட்க வேண்டும். நமது கூட்டுப்பிரார்த்தனைக்கு சுந்தரேஸ்வரரும், அன்னை மீனாட்சியும் நிச்சயம் செவி சாய்ப்பர்.
வைகை பெருகி, நிரந்தரமாக ஓடும் அந்த நன்னாளுக்காக காத்திருப்போம்.

source :::::dinamalar …weekly supplement

natarajan

படித்ததில் பிடித்தது !!!….” No Cheque , only Cash !!!”

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சினிமா தயாரிப்பாளர், காலம் சென்ற சாண்டோ சின்னப்ப தேவர், 40 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன், ஒரு வார இதழுக்கு அளித்த பேட்டியில் சொல்கிறார்:
நான், சொந்தப்படம் தயாரிக்க சினிமாக் கம்பெனி துவங்கினேன். நடிகர், நடிகைகளுக்கும் மற்ற தொழிலாளர்களுக்கும் சம்பளம் கொடுக்க, “காசோலை’ தர வேண்டும். அதுநாள் வரை, எனக்கு வங்கியில் அக்கவுன்ட் கிடையாது. அதனால், புதிதாக, என் பெயரில் ஒரு கணக்கு ஆரம்பித்து, கணிசமான ஒரு தொகையையும் போட்டு வைத்தேன். காசோலை புத்தகம் கொடுத்தனர்; வாங்கி வந்தேன்.
ஒரு வாரம் கழித்து, எனக்கு பணம் தேவைப்பட்டது. என் பெயருக்கு, காசோலையில் எழுதி கொண்டு வங்கிக்கு சென்றேன். ஆனால், என் கையெழுத்து சரியாக இல்லை. நான் பள்ளிக்கூடம் போய் படிக்காதவன். என் பெயரை எப்படி எழுதுவது என்று, மற்றவர்கள் சொல்லிக் கொடுத்து தான் கையெழுத்து போட்டு வந்தேன். என் கையெழுத்தையும், என் உருவத்தையும் பார்த்து சந்தேகித்த அவர்கள், என்னை ஒரு ஓரமாக உட்கார சொல்லி, போலீசுக்கு போன் செய்து விட்டனர்.
போலீஸ் வந்து என்னை விசாரித்தது…
“நான் தான் சின்னப்பா. சினிமாவில் நடித்திருக்கிறேன்…’ என்று சொல்லியும், அவர்கள் நம்பாமல் மிரட்டினர். பின், எனக்கு தெரிந்தவர் களின் நம்பருக்கு போன் செய்து, அவர்கள் என்னைப் பற்றி சொன்ன பின் தான் விட்டனர். நம் பணத்தையும் போட்டு விட்டு, இந்த அவமரியாதையா… என்று, கோபம் வந்துவிட்டது. கணக்கை முடித்து, முழுப் பணத்தையும் எடுத்துக் கொண்டு வந்து விட்டேன்.
இதுவரை, எத்தனையோ படங்கள் தயாரித்து விட்டேன். இந்திப் படங்களும் தயாரிக் கிறேன். ஆனால், யாருக்கும், காசோலை கொடுப்பதில்லை. நேரடி சம்பளம் தான். எனக்கு, வங்கியில் அக்கவுன்ட் இன்று வரை கிடையாது… என்று, கூறியுள்ளார் சின்னப்ப தேவர்.

source :::::Dinamalar ….Sunday Supplement

natarajan

 

Mahatma Gandhiji”s Meeting with Mahaperiavar ….Way Back in 1927 !!!!

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Mahathma Gandhi was touring the South India in the latter half of 1927. He had heard about the Sage of Kamakotipeetam and wished very much to meet him. The sage was camping at palghat [Pallakad] at the time in the course of his vijaya-yatra. The Mahatma Gandhi went there on the 15th October, 1927. The meeting took at place on that day at Nellisseri village, palghat, Kerala.

His, Holiness received the Mahatma in the cattle-shed situated in the backyard of the camp. It was a unique experience for the Mahatma. Here was an authentic successor of Sankara, dressed in a piece of’ ochre cloth made of khadi, and seated on the floor. The Acharya too appreciated the occasion provided for getting to know, at first hand, the leader of the nation who had adopted voluntarily the mode of a simple peasant’s life. At the very first sight, the Mahatma was drawn to the Perfection Incarnate that was seated before him. The atmosphere was surcharged with spiritual silence. After a few moments the Acharya spoke in Samskrit and invited the Mahatma to take his seat. Gandhiji offered his obeisance and sat near the Acharya. He said that, as he was not used to speaking in Samskrit, he would use Hindi if that was permitted, and that he could understand what is spoken in Samskrit. So, the conversation took place without the need for an interpreter-the Acharya spoke in Samskrit, and Gandhiji in Hindi.

This was purely a private interview; there were no reporters; and except for one or two attendants of the math, no one was present. The conversation, which took place in a most cordial atmosphere, lasted for over an hour.

On taking leave of the Acharya, the Mahatma gave expression to the immense benefit he had derived from this unique meeting. How profoundly he was drawn to the Acharya will be evident from an incident that occurred during the interview. It was 5.30 in the evening. Sri C. Rajagopalachari who had accompanied the Mahatma had been waiting outside, went inside the cattle-shed and reminded the Mahatma about his evening meal; for the Mahatma would not take any food after 6 P.M. The Mahatma made this significant observation to Sri. C. Rajagopalachari: “The conversation I am having now with the Acharya is itsclf my evening meal for to day” As the Mahatma was leaving ,after a very fruitful interview, the Acharya gave him a pomelo fruit with his blessings. The Mahatma received it with great reverence, remarking that pomelo is a fruit which he liked best

Later in the evening, Gandhiji addressed a public meeting in Coimbatore. Some people in the audience were eager to know about the interview Gandhiji had had earlier with His holiness. Gandhiji replied saying that they discussed points of mutual interest, that the interview was a private one, that because of this, news paper reporters were not present there and that there was no point in his disclosing the details of the interview. Nothing more was known about this historic meeting.

A request was made to His Holiness in November 1968 for a message of the Seminar on The relevance of Mahatma Gandhi to the world of thought held at the University of Madras. Out of his abundant grace, Jagadguru, the preceptor of the World, sent a message in which he recalled the meeting in 1927 with Gandhiji the Father of the Nation and paid the following tribute:

“We wish to place before this Seminar one of the’ many things which Gandhi and I we discussed when we met at Palghat, Kerala in the last Prashava year. Before Gandhiji arrived at Palghat there came the news of the assassination of Sraddhananda of the Arya Samaj. Referring to this incident Gandhiji remarked as follows:

“I have an apprehension in my mind that assassination of this kind would occur more often than now [in the coming years] Let not there arise in me hatred even in a small measure against the present assassin. There arises a desire in me that I should able to embrace with love even so cruel a man who commits a heinous crime, as this one, an atatayin. But it is extremely difficult to cultivate such heartfelt affection. Yet I shall make an honest attempt in this direction.”

All that we wish to point out is that, in this world it is very rare even to hear about such a feeling expressed”.

”
[Courtesy Bhavans Journal]

The conversation that took place is now for you to read. 
Excerpts from “A Succinct Biography” 

The details of the conversation between the great men remained a complete secret, since no one else was allowed inside. Even till long after Gandhiji’s demise, the Acharya did not reveal anything about the conversation, in spite of the repeated requests of ardent, interested devotees. But later some details came out. About a year after the return of His Holiness to Kanchi, after the prolonged tour on foot, for six years, a letter was published in the name of a Professor Swaminathan, in an issue of Statesman (Calcutta). The professor was then editing the works of Mahatma Gandhi. The letter contained some details about the conversation between the Acharya and Gandhiji. The letter was perused by His Holiness. Sri Neelam Raju Venkateseshayya, (then editor of Andhra Prabha) had often entreated the Acharya to narrate details of the conversation between the Acharya and Gandhiji in 1927. But the Acharya Swami, once (years ago) told Sri Seshayya, “You have been always asking me about my talk with Gandhiji. None except the two of us knows anything about our talk. Now Gandhiji is no more. Suppose,I reveal the details of our conversation, will it not give rise to a doubt about its truth in the minds of Gandhiji’s followers?”. Sri Seshayya felt that a great secret of dharma had been revealed by the Acharya. In the letter published in the Stateman giving some details regarding the conversation between the two great men , it was stated that Gandhiji had informed SriKishore Lal Masurvala, a resident of Gandhiji’s ashrama and Srimati Ganga Ben Vaidya, about some of the details of his talk with the Kanchi Acharya. In the middle of June1985, Sri Venkataseshayya was summoned to Kanchi. When he reached Kanchi, His Holiness asked him to read the letter published in the Statesman and then said to him, “Now that some parts of the talk that transpired between Gandhiji and me have been published, I shall comply with your repeated requests concerning the same”. (The conversation between His Holiness and Sri Seshayya was in Telugu language and it has been translated into English)


A=Acharya, G=Gandhi

A : “I appreciate your pointing out about a good thing to mankind. Energy isessential for leading a righteous life. Danger only will result by leading a life based onphysical entities bereft of religion.”

G : “Yes, I do understand”.

A : “Our Bharat is one of the very ancient countries of the world. Our country isendowed with old, excellent learning and with an ancient culture. In the past, peoplefollowed the social dictum of Varnashrama Dharma, they were engaged in the activitiesassigned to them, and thereby protected their dharma and enjoyed happiness in the worldand in the next”.

G : “Modern society is different from the society of the past. Will it be possible togo along with the ancient ideals of social life?”
A : “ The quality of cold water is different from the quality of hot water. If both get mixed they will loose their natural characteristics and become useless. Society of course will not be uniform. For instance take a mango tree. It has several branches. In these branches flowers blossom and mangoes emerge at different times. But the tree is only one. Society is, like the tree, only one. Even as the different branches and the trunk combine into tree, all castes together form society. Nowadays, politicians enter the fields of religion and society and try to make in roads into them and to change them. And this had weakened our religion, and altogether changed the smooth running of the world”.

G : “I concur with the opinion of your Holiness”.

A : “What is the necessity for the removal of untouchability?”

G : “Among the people of Bharatadesa, besides Hindus, there are Muslims, Christians, and also some other religionists. Hence it seems to me that untouchability needs to be removed, what does your Holiness think about entry of the untouchables in totemples”?

A : “Temples are sacred places. They are intended for those who believe that God is enshrined in the Sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The Agamas extol the sacred nature of the temples. Those who do not have faith in the Agama Shastras and those who do not accept the principles enunciated by the Agamas in connection with the purity and sanctity of the temple are decidedly unfit for entering our temples”.(Later after a talk between the two for more than twenty minutes over other problems, almost towards the end, the conversation turned on to the murder of Swami Sraddhananda).

A : ‘I suppose, you know about how Swami Sradddhananda has been killed by a Muslim recently”.

G : “Yes. In the present condition of our land how can we attain unity amidst Hindus and Muslims”.

A : “In case a Hindu kills you or me in the future, can we hate the entire Hindu community on that count?”(In the letter of Sri Swaminathan published in the Statesman(1985), he has hinted that Rajaji expressed to his friends, the prophetic remark of His Holiness immediately after the assassination of the Mahatma).


source::::www.periva.proboards.com

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Message From Mahaperiavar on 15 AUG 1947….

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MESSAGE GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS PUJYASHRI CHANDRASEKHARENDRA SARASWATHI MAHASWAMIJI on 15 AUGUST 1947 – Independence Day

On this happy occasion when our country Bharat has attained Independence, the people of this ancient country must pray whole heartedly and with one mind to Sri Bhagavan. Let us all pray to God to vouch safe to us strength of mind and energy to engage ourselves more and more in attaining spiritual knowledge. It is only by the grace of Almighty that we can safeguard the freedom that we have achieved and also help all the living beings on earth to lead a happy life.

It is worthy to note that luckily the Chakra of Bhagavan, who is the embodiment of Dharma, has its place in the centre of our National Flag. This Chakra reminds us of the moral values enjoined by Emperor Ashoka, who is historically famous as Devanampriyaha. Further, the Chakra makes us contemplate on the spiritual discipline imparted by Bhagavan Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. That Dharma which shines in the form of a Chakra is clear from Lord Krishna’s reference to the Chakra as “Evam pravartitam chakram” in Verse 16 of the III chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. Also in Verses 14 and 15 of the same chapter Bhagavan avers that ” The human body originates from food, food grains grow because of rains, rain showers because of performance of Yajnas(Vedic Sacrifices), these Yajnas are prescribed in the Veda and that the Veda has emanated from Brahman who is in the form of Akshara(Sound recorded as letter of the alphabet)”. Thus, the Dharma Chakra explains to us that the supreme Brahman is manifest in Vedic sacrifices. May this Independence, dawning with the rightful remembrance of Emperor Ashoka, grant us such fruits as Aram(Dharma or Righteousness) Porul(Wealth), Inbam(Happiness) and Veedu(Moksha – deliverance), by the grace of God.

There are three stripes in our National Flag. They are of dark green, white and orange colours. These colours seem to indicate to us, that military strength for protection from enemies and evil, wealth for welfare and prosperity, and knowledge for the sake of proper administration are essential for the nation. It may be remembered that dark green is the colour of Durga – the Parasakti who is the mother protector, Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity is of orange colour(golden hue) and Saraswathi the source divine of all knowledge is white in colour. It is a happy coincidence that the colour of the three Shakthis(Goddesses of Power) are seen in the three stripes of the National Flag.

For long, the Indian Nation has strived hard for winning freedom. By the grace of God, by the blessings of great men, and by the unique sacrifice of the people, independence has been won. Let us all pray to the Omnipresent God to shower his grace so that with the hard won freedom, our country becomes prosperous, is rid of famine, and there are no social skirmishes and the entire nation lives in an atmosphere of amity and kindness.

Now that freedom has been attained by the nation, all of us must also try to develop Independence. If we understand ourselves fully we may consider ourselves as independent. We are not capable of controlling the senses. We are unable to suppress desire and control anger, which always troubles us. Whichever thing in whatever measure we obtain does not lead us to contentment. Worldly sufferings cause worry to us. The mind gets confused on noticing these sufferings. What is the way out of all these? we must try to control, albeit gradually the mind which has been functioning vigorously for such a long time. Once the mind is set at rest, we will not be in need of anything. That state of mind which ensures complete freedom is what we must attempt to achieve.

Every day atleast some time should be set apart for practising the control of mind and bereft of other thoughts, we must meditate upon God. Then gradually, the mind will become calm, whereupon we will have the mental power to subjugate desire and anger. Spiritual knowledge will accrue fast for him who practises such meditation. Only these who attain such true spiritual knowledge can truly be independent citizens.

Any woman other than one’s wife must be respected as one’s own mother. We must regard other living beings as we would regard ourselves. Even at the risk of death, truth alone must be spoken. Petty social feuds must be averted totally, Every one must strive for improving his knowledge and his spiritual attainments and move with others in an atmosphere of kindness. We must sincerely wish that all people should live happily and peacefully.

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha

SOURCE:::::www.periva.proboards.com

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A for Adarsh B for Bofors C for CWG Scam !!!……

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Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy has a new line of attack for the ruling party: using English alphabets from A to Z to mark the scams that surfaced during the Congress and UPA rule in the country. So, according to his interpretation, here are the new uses of the alphabets:

“A- Adarsh scam

B- Bofors scam

C- CWG scam

D- Devas-Antrix scam

E- Employee Guarantee Scheme scam

F- Fodder scam

G- Ghaziabad provident fund scam

H- Harshad Mehta stock market scam

I- IPL scam

J- Junior Basic Trained Teachers’ recruitment scam

K- Ketan Parekh stock market scam

L- LIC Housing scam

M- Madhu Koda scam

N- Non-banking financial companies scam

O- Oriental Bank scam

P- Punjab State Council of Education, Research and Training scam

Q- Quest for gold scam

R- Ration card scam

S- Satyam scam

T- Telecom 2G scam

U- UTI scam

V-Volkswagen equity scam

W- West Bengal telecom scam

X, Y, Z

Protest and be dead,

We will cheat money even out of a pig’s bread.”

source ::::::INDIA TODAY online….14 aug 2013

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Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/adarsh-scam-bofors-scam-subramanian-swamy-new-attack-congress-india-today/1/299494.html

Virgin Mary and Child Jesus Painting Recaptured in a Bubble !!!!

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It must have been holy water that made Madonna and Child appear in the form of a giant bubble.
Jenny Heller, 44, captured the phenomenon – blown on a beach by a teenage boy – while snapping away with friends on holiday in Dunwich, Suffolk.
It was only when she arrived home in London and downloaded the photographs onto her computer that she instantly recognised the artwork of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, painted by Guido Reni in 1628.

It must have been holy water that made Madonna and Child appear in the form of a giant bubble. Jenny Heller, 44, captured the phenomenon, blown on a beach by a teenage boy, while snapping away with friends on holiday in Dunwich, Suffolk

She told the Mail: ‘A family nearby had a giant bubble making machine and they were blowing bubbles


It was only when she arrived home in London and downloaded the photographs onto her computer that she instantly recognised the artwork of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, painted by Guido Reni in 1628

Artwork of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, painted by Guido Reni in 1628

‘When I downloaded the photographs I never thought we would see something divine as there was so much wind and it wasn’t obvious what the image was.

‘But once I saw the photograph on the screen I recognised it immediately to be Madonna and Child in a giant soap bubble. It is extraordinary.’
source:::::Larisa Brown in mailonline.comUK…photo :::Jenny Heller

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What One Man”s Dedication Brought in !!!

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Sri Valli-Teyvanai Samedha MuruganMarch 20, 1968: It was a dark day indeed for the priest at the Ratnagiri Hill Temple, located between Vellore and Arcot about a hundred miles from Chennai. Three months had gone by since he was last paid, and his patience was running out. “How much longer must this go on?” he thought to himself. He was in a particularly sour mood this morning and decided to not perform his obligatory daily worship service in the main shrine of the temple.

Rathinagiri Bala Murugan Adimai:

What One Man’s Dedication Brought !!!

Pl read further ….

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Rathinagiri Tavatiru Balamurugan Adimai in 1968

 
About this time, Satchidanandam–a 27-year-old clerk–strolled into the temple for his usual morning worship. When he saw the condition of the main shrine, he was shocked. Not only were the lamps and incense not lit, but also fresh flowers and sacraments had not been gathered and prepared. Nor had the puja implements been cleaned and set out.

“Where is the priest?” he thought to himself. “Why is he not performing the morning puja?” Satchidanandam could not help feeling a special concern for the welfare of this particular temple. His father, Kandaswami Mudaliar, had initiated the construction of the 156 steps leading up to its entrance in 1936 and orchestrated its kumbhabhishekam (major consecration) in 1938.

Although young Satchidanandam was discouraged by what he saw, he still circumambulated the shrine and stood before the Deity to pray. As he began to commune with the shakti that he felt emerging from within the shrine, he fell into a swoon. The experience took him by surprise.

Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. As he leaned against a pillar for support, his body quivered with bliss as his head filled with a golden light. Just as he was about to merge into a sea of oneness, Lord Muruga appeared before him in His etherial body. Although the presence of this legendary God was powerful, He vanished almost as soon as he appeared–like a bolt of lightening.

Slowly, young Satchidanandam settled back into a calm and peaceful physical consciousness. He knew it would take some time to fully digest what had just happened. For now, however, he was aware only of a mighty determination to restore this neglected temple to the state of its original elegance and beauty. At that very moment, the transformed young man took a vow to never leave the Ratnagiri Hill Temple until it had been fully renovated.

Tavatiru Bala Murugan Adimai
Thus began the work that was to be his life’s mission. The residents of the nearby village of Kilminnal stopped calling the young man “Satchidanandam.” Instead, they referred to him as Balamurugan Adimai–or just “Swamiji ” for short.

In the 36 years that have passed since the clerk-turned-holy-man took his vow to do this work, he has not left the temple precincts even once, and his life has been one of exemplary simplicity and austerity. Aside from worshiping and meditating three times daily–at 4:30 in the morning, 12 noon and six in the evening–he remains fully available as a servant of the God that appeared before him during his one unforgettable life-changing experience. Most of his time is spent fully immersed in the supervision of temple construction and the hosting of guests. At 9:00 pm he retires to his room for meditation and sleep. His few personal needs are easily met.

Swamiji is an expert in working with people. He takes special care to become knowledgeable in every aspect of temple construction so that, whether he is talking with sthapatis about stone work or silversmiths about metal crafting, he can negotiate knowledgeably on even the smallest details of their work. He even becomes actively involved with the supervision of photographers and journalists who come regularly to publicize the progress of the on-going renovation.

The neglected Ratnagiri Hill Temple, for which songs were composed and sung by Saint Arunagirinathar in the 14th century, was originally only 200 square feet in size. Today, due to the inspiration and hard work of Balamurugan and the people who help him, it covers more than 30,000 square feet.

Over time Swamiji has also become a spiritual guide and social leader for the residents of Kilminnal. Besides catalyzing their mystical and religious inclinations, he also provides assistance of a more practical sort. So far, he has built a school, a hospital and a number of roads; and provided much-needed water to the area by digging wells and constructing massive tanks for water storage.

It’s no wonder the local people love him and gladly volunteer their time and energy to lift large, heavy granite stones to the hilltop for the temple construction. In 1987, Swamiji began building his school for the youth of the surrounding rural areas by first constructing the Ratnagiri Nursery, which

opened with two teachers and 18 students. Through the years that followed, he constructed additional buildings to provide classroom and library space for education in a variety of fields including math, science, language, literature and computer science.

Sample of Rathinagiri Tavatiru Bala Murugan Adimai’s handwriting .

Today, Swamiji’s school campus includes ample kitchen and bathroom facilities, a large conference hall, several libraries and 24 classrooms. It employs 43 teachers and 12 staff members and provides education for 900 students. The hospital, which Swamiji began constructing in 1988, now has 26 staff members and makes medicine available at subsidized rates to local residents. Monthly eye camps sponsored by the hospital provide poor villagers with cataract operations, free of charge. Medical specialists from Chennai visit every Sunday. The Accident Relief Center, aided by State Government and run by the hospital, provides a fully equipped mobile van–the first of its kind in the Vellore district–for emergency outcalls.
Rathinagiri Tavatiru Balamurugan Adimai today

Rathinagiri Tavatiru Balamurugan Adimai
The future of Kilminnal and the Ratnagiri Hill Temple look bright as long as 64-year-old Balamurugan Adimai is around. Although one might assume that the continued improvement, maintenance and management of the temple, school and hospital facilities that have already been created might constitute a full-time job, such might not be the case for the ever-vibrant Balamurugan.

If the past provides any indication of what the future might bring–which usually it does–there should be good reason to assume that more dynamic creativity can be expected from Balamur ugan Adimai.

1968: Satchidanandam enjoys a vision of Lord Muruga. Local villagers name him “Balamurugan.”
1970: Balamurugan begins his service. A well is dug for the temple and nearby village of Kilminnal. The main Ratnagiri mandapam (worship hall) and an entrance Ganesha shrine and mandapam at the base of Ratnagiri Hill are constructed.
1973: Two more temple mandapams and a large marriage hall are built. Six staff buildings and eight guest cottages are also constructed.
1974: An ornate temple entry arch is erected, and electricity is installed to provide night lighting for the temple.
1975: A five-story rajagopuram (main temple tower) is completed. Two 8,000-liter water tanks are installed for use by local residents. A large dining hall and kitchen are built.
1978: A post office and police station for Kilminnal are constructed. Ten staff buildings and four guest cottages are added to the temple.
1988: The long-term construction of a school for local youth begins. A 25-bed hospital is completed.
2003: A separate building for computer training is constructed for the school. Science and library annexes are also added.
Courtesy: Hinduism Today magazine July/August/September 2004  and murugan.org

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Visit http://www.Ratnagiri.org official website of Rathinagiri Bāla Murugan Tiru Kovil