As we complete 31 years of journey together, someone just said the traditional gift idea – The Time Piece! I wonder if it is even appropriate gift especially to Aparna, my companion in this blissful journey who made me forget time. 31 years went away in a jiffy and it would be inappropriate to use this gift idea.
Happy Anniversary Aparna
28th March 2022 – In a wedding of our friend’s son. An appropriate occasion to use this photograph
Yes, 31 years of cohabitation or rather living it up together, though ups and downs, in bliss and in challenge, in abundance and scarcity – nothing mattered – it was so easy living it up after having seen both the best and not so good moments. When one of the kids asked me how different it was on this day 31 years ago, has the love diminished, have the dreams remained a dream, given a chance what would you like to change and do things differently? I chose to answer the last question first and that has the answer to all those questions. I would change nothing at all. I will do things exactly like the way it has been done every moment of 31 years and nothing differently. That starry eyed me still remains at the core and left wondering what and where I would have ended up, had this amazing lady not chosen to walk alongside me.
When all our kids decided to get together at home to make this a memorable and special day for us and be with us to usher in midnight of 31st March, it got even more overwhelming. Each one of them make it special for us at every step, in their own ways. Ever grateful to the divine for the presence of each one in our lives. Thank you Kids! You make every moment worth living.
As always here is the song, miraculously found it while uploading some songs onto my channel. And it was Michael Matta’s tribute to his better half on their 31st Anniversary (Coincidental or Law of Attraction?). And every word is just a reflection of what I have to say. Thanks Mike for saying it for me.
कैलास राणा शिव चंद्रमौळी | शिव स्तुती मराठी | तुजवीण शंभो मज कोण तारी
March 12th 2022 – it was conclusion of the Utsava in the legendary and ancient Devalaya Kuttumuck Shri Mahadeva Kshetram in Thrissur. The Utsava that began on 3rd March (Poorvabhadra Nakshatra, called Pooruruttati in Malayalam) of Kumbha Maasa (month) and concluded on the Arudra Nakshatra (Thiruvathira Nakshatram in Malayalam) with the traditional Aaraattu (bathing of the Deity’s Vigraha in the temple pushkarni or river associated with the Devalaya.
This temple holds a special place in my heart as this was the place we came to rest enroute for a a few hours, during my 1st Pilgrimage to Shabarimala as a 8 year old boy. We brothers had severe motion sickness and were totally dehydrated and a dip in Kadampuzha Bhagavathi Temple Pushkarni did a world of good, freshening up and a localite suggested visiting and praying in this temple in Thrissur too enroute. May Bhagawan Shiva bless this noble localite for ushering us towards this amazing temple (which was not as developed as you in the pictures shared in this article. Waiting for his call to pray here again and wish it happens very soon.
The current temple structure built in Kerala Architecture style (very different from with other architectural styles in the rest of India) is believed to be more than 300 years old and the Vigraha which is much older, is believed to have been consecrated by Maharshi Khara.
The Vigraha or the Murti (Idol) – The Legend
Mahadeva Shiva is consecrated in the fierce and highly powerful Kiratha form (Hunter form) in this Kshetra. After the Khandava Yuddha (battle), Indra offers all his weapons as a gift to Arjuna for defeating him in battle, the only condition being that Bhagawan Shiva is pleased. Arjuna seeks Bhagawan Shri Krishna’s advice, who asks him to go on tapasya (penance) to please Shiva and attain divine weapons. Arjuna left his brothers for a penance, gets a deeksha mantra from Maharshi Vedavyasa and begins his penance.
Duryodhana upon learning this, sends Mukasura, who takes the form of a wild boar to kill Arjuna and for his Vrata Bhanga (breach of the penance and vows). Bhagawan Shiva as He always does appears in the form of a Hunter accompanied by 4 dogs (4 Vedas) to protect Arjuna. Arjuna shoots and arrow and kills the boar – at the same instant the Hunter also shoots the arrow. There arises a dispute between hunter and Arjuna as to whose arrow downed the boar. They end up in a fierce fight which bow/arrow, then with sword, and then wrestling. Each time brave Arjuna despite being severely injured gets upto fight again. Finally, Arjuna realised that the hunter was Lord Shiva Himself and sought his pardon. Bhagawan Shiva and Maa Parvati thereafter appear in their original form and blessed Arjuna with their darshan and grants the Pashupatastra. The battle between Kiratha and Arjuna is described well in the text, Kiraataarjuneeya.
Upon request of Arjuna and other locals, Bhagawan Shiva continues to be here in the Kiratha form and the Shiva Linga in this temple is quite big (told it was more than 4 feet tall)
The legend also has it that Tippu Sultan, the tyrant King of Mysuru attacked the temple to loot all the riches. None of the locals were prepared for this surprise attack and when they were almost at the temple, suddenly a swarm of wasps emerged and attacked the army, making them beat a hasty retreat.
The main offering in this temple is the Sahasra Kalasha Dhaara (1000 Pot water Abhisheka) to the Shiva Linga.
