Chennai diaries Part_1 (Vandalur Zoo)

I would like to start Our  journey with our  frequently visited places around Chennai.

First place goes tooo...,........😀

 Vandalur Zoo (Tuesday Holiday if any public holiday falls on this day it will be working pls check before you start)

It is one of our favourite spot as we have visited n number of times......that is our family's favourite too. We have walked around ....cycled around and buggied around. Never felt bored for visiting it again n again. Both my son's visited for school field trip also.

Now coming to our visit. We start to zoo very early to avoid walking in hot sun. We get tickets and enter, to avoid long queues, these days no snacks or food or plastic allowed inside. Some special considerations for small babies and old people to carry food on non plastic box.

We can chose to walk or rent cycle or choose buggy ride. For renting cycle or electric bike we need to pay advance amount ( always have cash in hand as they don't accept card)and we should carefully park n take care of our rented vehicle during our entire visit time. Nowadays we have gpay or phonepe options. 

Small refreshments available inside zoo. Especially we never missed aavin shop inside to enjoy our cool treat icecream.

We can have nice time if we have stamina to walk around with kids. Recently they added park inside for kids to play. More than elders all kids will definitely enjoy seeing animals. Moneys,bears, chimpanzee,bengal tiger,white tiger,leopard,lion,giraffe,zebra, elephant,hippo,snakes, crocodiles,birds and so on.

There is a separate lion safari tour, we need to buy tickets separately. Previously we saw more lions in their environment..but now less.

Also,if we go around zoo in buggy we can see zoo easily especially if we have kids and elderly people with us. They stop at two three points ,if we need to have a closer look of animals,we can get down and see n take pictures.

Also there is Special enclosure for snakes and a fish shaped acquarium. We can see lot of peacocks and deers walking around  enjoying nature. Many interesting facts about animals are kept as hoardings around zoo for kids to learn more about animals.

Years Before elephant safari was there but now we miss that. My elder son and dh enjoyed that years back. 

We celebrated Our elder sons 14th birthday at zoo. He gave food expenses for zebra One day(Vandalur Zoo animal adoption scheme).https://aazp.in/adoption. 

He wanted to do that on his birthday so we visited zoo and enjoyed that day.

A small gesture to show his love for animals 

 We really enjoy every visit. On the whole it is a must visit place in Chennai with kids and family. Do you all know Vandalur Zoo is the largest zoo in India with 1300 acres space.

Navagunjara

साख्यत्व (परमात्मा से मित्रता)-Friendship with divine

During Covid lockdown i got opportunity to attend classes to know
more about Sanatana Dharma. 

I attended classes in Adhyapika training program during 2021. When we were about to
complete our course everyone got opportunity to give presentation on their favourite topics
in group or individual..

Mostly group work is preferred but intially i got no team so i selected about Navagunjara
and did lot of research through internet and collected points and prepared my presentation
but due to time constraint i was asked to join in group presentation. So Likeminded friends
joined for Aarupadai Veedu Presentation and i prepared my talk for First padai veedu.
But on final presentaion day i could not perform due to asoucham. All my friends were
supportive and they carried on presentation taking my part too.

I was very much disappointed, but to my surprise my guru Geetha Mami gave me an
opportunity to perform about my earlier sent solo presentation topic Navagunjara........
still couldn't believe and cannot forget about that day miracle.

This happened on may 2021,  but am sharing about it on my blog 2025. Because, this  year
 i got to see Golu doll Navagunjara with arjuna and we have placed order for same to 
add in our Golu. So i immediately felt like sharing it on my blog too. My presentation
 was in tamil so i have shared how i presented as below for those who cant understand
 tamil please see image of my ppt presentation in English. 

Arjuna Krishna Adbhuta Shakyam

மனுஷாளோட பிரக்ஞையில்  கனவில் கூட எண்ணிப்
பார்க்க முடியாத விஷயங்கள், தெய்வப்   பிரக்ஞையில் உண்மையாக 
இருக்கக் கூடும்.

அப்படி 9 உயிர்வகையின அம்சங்களை உள்ளடக்கிய, அந்த உருவத்தின்
பெயர் தான் நவகுஞ்சரம்.

நவ - 9 , குண் - குணம் , ஜரா -old

நவவித பக்தியில்  எட்டாவது நிலை ஸக்யம் .(ஸக்யம் - நட்பு)

"நிருத்யம் மதுரம் , ஸக்யம் மதுரம், மதுராதிபதே ரகிலம் மதுரம்"

மதுராஷ்டகதில்,

வல்லபாச்சாரியார் கிருஷ்ணனை பார்த்து, உன் நடனம் அழகு,

உன்னோட நட்பு ஒரு அழகு,

மதுரா  நாயகனே நீ எல்லாவற்றிலும் இருப்பதால் இந்த அகிலமே அழகு.

நாம் தேர்ந்து எடுக்கும் பொருட்கள் நம் குணத்தை காட்டும், ஆனால் நாம் தேர்ந்து

எடுக்கும் நட்பு நம்மையே காட்டும்.அப்படி பகவான் கிருஷ்ணனை தன் நண்பனாக

கொண்டு ஸக்ய பக்திக்கு உதாரணமாக திகழ்ந்த அர்ஜுனனின் கதை இது.

இந்த கதை சரளா தாசர் எழுதிய மகாபாரதம் கதை பதிப்பில் கொடுக்கப்பட்டிருக்கு.

பூரி ஜெகநாதர் ஆலய கோபுரத்தில் நீல சக்ரா இருக்கு. அதுல 8 நவ குஞ்சரங்கள்

மேல் நோக்கி கொடியை பார்த்தபடி  அமைக்க பட்டிருக்கும்.  

ஒரு நாள் காட்டில் அர்ஜுனன் நடந்து  போகின்ற பொழுது, அவர்  முன்னே விசித்திர  -
உருவம்  என்று சொல்லமுடியாமல் அது கொஞ்சம் இது கொஞ்சம் சேர்ந்த ஒரு உருவம்
வந்தது.இயற்கையோட சிருஷ்டியில் இப்படி ஒரு உருவம் இருக்குமா என்ன? அவர் 
இதுக்கு முன்னாடி பார்த்ததே இல்லை. ஆனால் அப்படி பார்க்காததால் அப்படி ஒன்று
இல்லை என்று ஆகிவிடாது.அவனோட மனதில் ஏற்பட்ட பயத்தால் உடனே அந்த
உருவத்தை தாக்குவதற்காக தன்னோட வில்லை எடுக்கும் போது அந்த உருவம்
தன் கரங்களில் சக்கரம் ஏந்தி இருப்பதை  கவனித்தார்.உடனே அவர்  தன்
மனக்கண்களில் பகவான் கிருஷ்ணனின் உபதேசத்தை எண்ணிப் பார்க்கிறான்.

“மனித மனம் ஒரு  எல்லைக்குள் அடங்குவது ஆனால் பிரபஞ்சம் எல்லையற்றது”

அப்படிங்கறது நினைச்சு பார்த்த உடனே தன் வில்லை கீழே வைத்துவிட்டு, தன்

முன்னால் நிற்பது பகவான் ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணர் என்பதை உணர்ந்து நமஸ்கரிக்கின்றார்.

Nava-9,Gunja-Bouquet of flowers-here it looks like bouquet of nine creatures.

பல ரூபங்களின் வழியாக பகவான் தன்னோட மகிமையை , அர்ஜுனன் மூலமாக

நமக்கு உணர்த்த விரும்புவது என்னனு பார்ப்போம் .

இந்த உருவம்  பார்ப்பதற்கு,சேவல் தலையும், யானை, புலி, மான் ஆகியவற்றின்

கால்களுடன் நின்ற நிலையில், நான்காவது காலுக்கு பதில் தாமரை அல்லது ஒரு

சக்கரம் ஏந்திய ஒரு மனித கை, கழுத்து மயில் கழுத்தாகவும்,

காளையின் திமிலொடு, சிங்கத்தின் இடுப்பு கொண்டு, வால்

நாகப் பாம்பாகவும் இருந்தது. 

பகவத் கீதையில் krishanar ,

 படைத்தலைவரில் நான் ஸ்கந்தன் - அவர் சேவல் கொடியுடையவன் -மயில்

வாஹனன்", விலங்குகளில் நான் சிங்கம் பாம்புகளில் வாசுகி, வீரத்தில்

சிறந்து விளங்கும் ஆண் மகனை காளையொடு ஒப்பிடுவர். கிருஷ்ணன்

அர்ஜுனனை purusarsabha அப்பிடின்னு கூப்பிடுறார், யானைகளில்-  

ஐராவதம்,மனிதர்களில் நான் அரசன்.

புலியும்,மானும் எதிரெதிர் குணாதிசயத்தை உடையது . 

ஒரு மான் ஆனது மனிதனைப் பார்த்து பயந்து ஓடிவிடும், ஒரு புலியை

கண்டால் ஓடாமல இருக்குமா?  ஒரு சமயம் பிருந்தாவனத்தில் கிருஷ்ணர்

கண்ட காட்சியானது அவரை வியப்பில் ஆழ்த்தியது , மானும் புலியும்

நட்புடன் அமைதியாக நடந்து செல்வதை பார்த்தார்,  ஆனா மனிதர்கள்

மட்டும் தான் ஒருவருக்கொருவர் வெறுப்பும் பகையுணர்வு காட்டுகிறார்கள்.

“pāṇḍavānāṁ dhanañjayaḥ”-amongst the Pandavas I am Arjun

இதுலேர்ந்து நமக்கு என்ன தெரியறது 

அனைத்து ஜீவராசிகளிலும் பகவானை உணர்ந்து , கருணையுடனும் நட்புடனும்

இருந்தால் பகவானின் நட்பு நமக்கும் கிடைத்திடும் என்பதில் ஐயமில்லை.

அது சக்ய பக்தி.

கடைசியாக ,கந்தனின் திருப்புகழை பாட இருந்த என்னை, ஸக்ய பக்தி பத்தி பேச
செய்தவரும் அவரே,கந்தனைப் பற்றி பேசினாலும்,கிருஷ்ணனை பற்றி பேசினாலும்
பகவானை பற்றி பேசுவது மட்டும் அல்ல, அவரை நம் சிந்தனையில் நினைப்பதே
பெரும் பாக்கியம்,ஏனென்றால்  பகவான் சர்வ வ்யாபி ஆனவர் ,அவர் இன்றி ஒரு
அணுவும் அசையாது.சர்வவ்யாபி ஆன அவருடைய அருளைப் பெற  நாம் அனைவரும்
நம் குரு, ஆச்சார்யர்கள் காட்டிய வழியில் செல்வோமாக .

Thank you.

`

Gowri Ganesh 2025

From my childhood days I have always loved Ganapathi pooja. From visiting temples to putting thoppu karnam (for 108 times) in aim of our dreams desire gets sanctioned by him. Ganesha is always close to my heart my favourite idol I frequently worshiped.

During ganesh chaturthi I used to visit Trichy rockfort Temple. Those golden childhood memories are still green in my mind. Me n my sister alone used to climb steps that faster even our parents may not accompany all the time.... missing those days.

This year got to know new customs from one of my neighbour as they celebrated Gowri Pooja yesterday, they follow a custom of inviting Maa Gowri before ganesha chaturthi every year. I could feel a close connection between ganesha birthday story and this custom. Felt as a special message from ganesha himself. Because Maa Parvathi who gave birth to Lord Ganesha, first in human face ,later Lord Shiva angrily axed Ganesha head and later regretted replaced with an elephant head.

Also I remember how a giant 32 feet Viswarooba Vinayagar procession celebrated in my in laws town Nagapattinam that day. Few links for your view.

https://nagaitemples.blogspot.com/2012/09/2012-1.html?m=1

https://nagaitemples.blogspot.com/2024/09/2024.html?m=1

My Ganesha drawing 1996

Elder son 's Ganesha 

Younger son's Ganesha

Both me and sons always when we wanted to draw and colour, we chose Ganesh special god multiple times, we still have those first drawings. Both my elder son Sukarman and younger son Mithran draw it seperately. Mithran got even praise prize in school for his creativity. I still have my school days drawing Ganesha copy and one after marriage, both are very good,maintained.

Both my son's helping making kozhukattai 

Without pooran dumpling it wouldn't be completely told. Always my son's come to help prepare that kozhukattai especially they interested in closing the pooran in the choppu😊 younger wants to finish his task that day by rolling mani kozhukattai as well. His favourite always. We all did learn from my grandmother Akilandaam patti and my mother. Our tricks and patham expertise all their😌s.

Few years back we visited Ganesha exhibition @chromepet Radhanagar organised by a Ganesha devotee, a must visit place, where thousands of Vinayagar were displayed for a week after Vinayagar chathurthi.Kids were excited to see many so many forms and sizes of Ganesha ji. We were not allowed to take pictures inside but captured those moments in hearts.I just clicked one in the entrance.

During Navaratri festival we engage kids who visit our Golu with spot instantaneous quiz to count number of Ganesha in our home golu, we offer a special gift for active participation of kids.For their surprise every year the count multifold.

Happily carrying Ganesha ji

In the end I want to mention the tradition happening in my native place Manakkal Agraharam. It is a 😍 village near Lalgudi with a Shiva temple and perumal temple. children from those streets gather and visit house ask for small. donation to prepare their Lord Ganesha celebrity version and they prepare a lord Ganesha take it as procession in our streets and we do pooja when they bring it lot of small children also bring theirs in separate teams. Multiple such will be brought with all music instruments played. It is done in such a way even elders will like to join them. It is admirable act by the village children. Every year it is done with dedication and devotion. We take our archanai thattu to them when they come before our house. They will do all similar to Gurukkal, deeparathanai and return us Prasad. Jai Ganesha.🙏🕉️

Ganesha is more powerful and holds some special importance in everyone of our lives in unique ways. One need to enjoy his omni presence without expectations,as he is always ready to shower his bountiful blessings on us.His Rupam signifies various tatvams that we can practice every day.

Kovai Diaries!!!!

During this summer holidays we visited coimbatore with family to attend a marriage at annai katty. It happened in a resort so we booked our tickets and planned our stay in tai farm.

We had a very good climate and peaceful stay away from our daily busy running schedules.We woke up relaxed in a calm environment with birds chirping amidst jungle feel stay. It got reminded of me Jurassic park movie as all homes protected with electric fence bcoz tuskers often visits them. 

Somehow it was beautiful scenic feel around us. 

We attended wedding and had a pleasant stay in our cottage.

More peacocks were there near our cottage 

My elder son writing his school works enjoying cool breeze.Although many dense trees and stream nearby no mosquitos disturbed so he happily sat outside our cottage to do his work.

My younger son enjoying sitting on a hammock, that was his long time desire. As he watches most of his cartoon characters enjoy taking a nap on hammock. 

A very big banyan tree we saw near our farm stay.

A panaromic view of near by place

Panaromic view of nirvana resort -where we attended marriage.

Third day we went to PSG GRD Science Museum.Both sons enjoyed seeing working model of many science experiments with  explanation given by headphones. That experience was really amazing, we ourselves learnt many new things and I felt excited to see science experiments. I need to write about it in a separate blog. 

Later in the evening,we visited Adiyogi and dhyana linga.

Our visit to dhyana linga was so divine and we happened to be there for silent Pooja done at dhyana linga. Inside dhyana linga there was complete silence. I could feel powerful vibe inside,even my son's sat there for long time quietly. I understood silent prayers and offerings are more powerful.

We then had some refreshments in the canteen, those food were satvic and coffee really tasted excellent. We came out and saw laser show on Adiyogi that was really wonderful,we all enjoyed seeing it. After the show we started to railway station for our return journey.

We really enjoyed our trip.....way to go...........

Singaperumal Temple

 Patalathri Narasimha temple 

Living in chennai since 2001 but I happened to visit singaperumal Temple only this new year 2025.

We planned to visit on new year day. We started by 9 am and reached temple. There was heavy traffic on road. Parking vehicle was very tough as the queue started from outside road. Some how parked vehicle and joined queue for darshan. It took almost two hours to reach outside entrance of temple. Later got to know about special darshan ticket we got that entered that queue still it took further one hour to see perumal darshan and ambal darshan.

While waiting on queue my DH and younger son chanted their humming lines for perumal 

Narasimha,Narasimha, patalathri Narasimha!!

Felt blessed to visit on new year day. But both my kids got tired and if I ask them next time if we can go to singaperumal Temple they would immediately say no as waiting line and time would definitely make them reply that way.

Then we had prasadam at temple. Perumal temple is famous for puliyodharai and podi dosa we don't want to miss it .

If we visit this temple for 9 Saturdays we get blessings from perumal. "நாளை என்பது நரசிம்மருக்கு இல்லை" so if we wish to visit or offer our prayers we should never have second thoughts on it, this words written in temple are very true. Nethra darshan of perumal is very famous here. We can see nethra darshan and chant "govinda govinda" and offer our prayers to Lord Vishnu and Mahalaxmi thayar.

Also this temple is famous for girivalam.

Om Namo Narayana!!!!!!

20 years of celebrating Varalakshmi Pooja

 Varalakshmi pooja 2025

This blog is specially dedicated to Varalakshmi nombu......I got married on July 2006 and that year Varalakshmi pooja came on aadi month. As that was married year I took that vratham from my mother in law's home at Nagapattinam.

Both in my home and in laws home had practice of celebrating Varalakshmi nombu. I usually love decorating amman face on kalasam. Before marriage in my mother home we used to invite amman the day before Pooja. But in my in-laws home they do neivdhyam of sweet and ven pongal and keep ready with all alankarams and then morning before Pooja we invite amman to our home. 

This year Aug 8th 2025 we celebrated nombu at our home. Below is the picture of ambal alankarams before and after Pooja.

As my kids had school I did pooja earlier in the morning and did neivedhyam before my kids started to school. All Poojas have preperation list of to do things as usual and we need to do with utmost care to get divine blessings for our family.

Praying ashtalakshmi's on this auspicious day give us plentiful of happiness and satisfaction.

That afternoon and evening invited few friends for thambolam. Next day performed punar pooja in the morning. Later that night we used to keep ambal inside our rice container. On Sunday morning everyone in our home worship ambal once they wake up and thank her for this year pooja and request her visit every succeeding years to bless our family with good health and prosperity 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 

Resin Art by Anu_part 2

 I enrolled for a basic resin art class with penkraft. I got all my supplies Ready for my basic Resin Art course. Immediately started watching videos and completed my course.

Above materials I got and couldn't wait to start my art work. First I started with mdf canvas board work. 

1.Mdf canvas board:-

I mixed my resin and hardener 2:1 ratio

Then mixed with needed colours and poured one by one on my canvas board. Later I used hair dryer to blow and blend colours. I really felt excited to see colour mixing and wondered of the pattern I got . It almost looked like a floor tile.

I loved the colour pattern and enjoyed doing it. I used leftover colour resin in the alphabet mould that I have so could use it to make for keychain.

2. Epoxy wall clock and beach tray

   Yesterday I did this craft with my son's. They helped me mixing colours. I did this both simultaneously. Got ready with my resin and hardener 2:1. Later mixed colours for beach art and clock. I used white,dark blue,light blue, greenish blue, sand colour,yellow and golden colour mix.

Next we put waste newspaper and placed clock MDF board and tray board ready. First we applied white base for both and poured colours randomly and blower did magic here I loved the results.

My beach tray looked like this. My sea shells delivery got delayed so used cut thermocol balls and finished my work.

My First epoxy clock, a new  add on to our living room. I loved colour mixing and results.

One thing i felt was I could have placed clock 

numbers after my resin dried out but now it has

blended with colours i used. It was also looking

good and my art is completely awesome. We

may plan thousands and execute thousands

but the actual Result  really reflects our true 

inner, happiness of doing things with love and

dedication. ✨ Art work is a Magic ✨!!!