A goniometer – what ? பாகைமானி !!

 

A goniometer – what ?   பாகைமானி என்றால் என்னவென்று தெரியுமா ! 

We can measure Angles in Degrees.  There are 360 degrees in one Full Rotation (one complete circle around). Perhaps the first knowledge prize that we got in our school days was a Geometry box !  it was a set of basic equipment required for regular use in Schools in doing  diagram and graphs. The box usually consisted  of a compass, a 15cm ruler, a divider, 2 set squares and a protractor.  Protractors usually have two sets of numbers going in opposite directions. The outer scale starts from 0° and goes up to 180° in a clockwise direction, and the inner scale has the same range in the counterclockwise direction.  

பாகை என்பது கோணத்தை அளப்பதற்குரிய ஒரு அலகு ஆகும். இது 60 கலைக்குச் சமனானது ஆகும். இது ° என்னும் குறியீட்டினால் குறிக்கப்படுவது வழக்கம். 60° என எழுதும்போது அது 60 பாகை என்பதைக் குறிக்கும். ஒரு தளத்தில் அதிலுள்ள ஒரு புள்ளியை முழுவதுமாகக் சுற்றி அமையும் கோணம் 360 பாகை (360°) ஆகும்.  

வடிவவியலில், பாகைமானி அல்லது கோணமானி (Protractor) கோணங்களை அளவிடும், பொதுவாக ஊடுபுகக்கூடிய பேர்பெக்சாலான, ஒரு சதுர, வட்ட அல்லது அரை வட்டக் கருவியாகும்.  

A goniometer is an instrument that either measures an angle or allows an object to be rotated to a precise angular position. The term goniometry derives from two Greek words, γωνία (gōnía) 'angle' and μέτρον (métron) 'measure'.  Better known as the  protractor, it  is a commonly used type in the fields of mechanics, engineering, and geometry.   The first known description of a goniometer, based on the astrolabe, was by Gemma Frisius in 1538.

A protractor,  a measuring instrument, is  typically made of transparent plastic or glass, for measuring angles. Some protractors are simple half-discs or full circles. More advanced protractors, such as the bevel protractor, have one or two swinging arms, which can be used to help measure the angle.  Most protractors measure angles in degrees (°). Radian-scale protractors measure angles in radians. Most protractors are divided into 180 equal parts. Some precision protractors further divide degrees into arcminutes. A protractor divided in centiturns is normally called a "percentage protractor".

 

Interesting !

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
28.3.2026

Kumbakonam Temple Elephant ~ Mangala !

கண்ணாரும் அருமணியைக், காரோணத் தாரமுதை

நண்ணாதார் புரமெரித்த, நான்மறையின் பொருளானைப் .. ..

கண்ணகத்தே நின்று களிதரும் அரிய மணி போன்றவரும், திருக்குடந்தைக் காரோணத்தில் எழுந்தருளியிருக்கும் அமுதம் போன்றவரும், பகைவரின் முப்புரங்களை எரித்த நான்மறைகளின் பொருளாக விளங்குபவருமான - 

ஆதிகும்பேஸ்வரர் எழுந்தருளி இருக்கும் திருத்தலத்தில்,

புண்ணியம் செய்த மங்களா யானை

 

Profile pic of Sri Adhi Kumbeswarar temple (Kumbakonam) temple elephant *Mangala* - taken in 2023

face found on a city Auto-rickshaw

In Chennai city roads (as also in many other cities) there is this ubiquitous transport vehicle – Auto rickshaw.  The hero is an auto-driver in some movies (esp Rajini / Ajith).  In many autos, one can see the pictures of MGR, Rajinikanth, Ajith, as also some political leaders including Thiru. Annamalai. Never imagined that one auto could have this person’s picture on its front wind-shield glass !! No not this picture of Virat Kohli ….. it is  far, far different !!

 

North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is an East Asian country occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is a highly centralized totalitarian state  - its Supreme leader is - Kim Jong Un, a position he has held since the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011. He is the third leader in the Kim dynasty, which has ruled the country since its founding by his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, in 1948.   Ri Sol-ju  is the First Lady of North Korea and the wife of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. Since 2018, she has held the official title of "Respected First Lady," a significant elevation in status compared to previous leaders' spouses.

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has formally designated South Korea as the country’s “most hostile state,” marking a definitive legal and ideological break in inter-Korean relations. According to the North’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim codified a permanent state of enmity while signaling a “ready for any choice” posture toward the United States in his speech delivered on March 23 during the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA). The declaration represents the final institutionalization of the “two hostile states” doctrine Kim first introduced in late 2023. By addressing the rubber-stamp parliament, Kim effectively elevated the exclusion of South Korea from a partner for reconciliation to a matter of supreme state policy. 

Kim has cited the ongoing war in Iran as proof that North Korea's nuclear arsenal is necessary for military deterrence against the United States. He declared North Korea's nuclear status "irreversible".  Meantime,  Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Pyongyang on March 25, 2026, to sign a fundamental friendship treaty and expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, and healthcare.

 

Kim  was educated in Switzerland at a state school in Berne (1998–2001) before attending Kim Il Sung Military University in Pyongyang. He is married to Ri Sol-ju. In recent years, his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, has frequently appeared at official events, leading to speculation that she is being groomed as his successor. His sister, Kim Yo Jong, is also a high-ranking official.  

 

It’s quite a striking contrast to see a portrait of a North Korean leader on an autorickshaw, seen and photographed at Triplicane this evening.   It's not uncommon   for drivers to decorate their vehicles with images of   political figures, cine actors and Sports personalities but this particular choice is definitely strange.  When spoken to, the auto-driver simply said, he wanted to be different from the crowd and hence this photo.

 

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
25.3.2026
  

3 Parakeets !! ~ கல்லிலும் இறைமை !! கிளிகளில் இயற்கை. !!

கல்லிலும் நாம் காண்பது இறைமை !!  கிளிகளில்  நிறைந்திருப்பது இயற்கை. !!

 

Parrots  are spiritual symbols.  They are epitome of energy, they  usually symbolize speech, repetition, desire, intelligence.  Parrots are associated with Kama (the god of love) and sometimes with romantic longing, beauty, and attraction. Because they repeat sounds, they can also symbolize: recitation, wisdom, mantra, oral tradition, or the power of spoken words !!   

 

At Kakinada, East Godavari – at Sri Bhavanarayana Swami temple, more than a decade ago, took this picture of three parrots sitting on the divinity, seeking solace in Lord.  While one perches above the head, one rests on the left hand and another on His right hand.  Together they seemingly suggest – Thought, Speech and Action.   

Perched at the top, it represents the mind: ideas, imagination, memory, and ego.

It sees first, but it can also wander first.  Close to the hand and heart-side, it can symbolize words: what we repeat, teach, gossip, pray, or sing.  The parrot on the right stands for deeds: what we actually do in the world.  

A sacred life is not just about worship carved in stone — it is about aligning:

•          What you think

•          What you say

•          What you do

When these three are in harmony, even ordinary life becomes holy. In short, these three parrots came to rest at the Temple after travelling many a miles !   

One said, “I know.”

One said, “I speak.”

One said, “I do.”

Lord remained silent observing them and by the  evening, the first had imagined many truths, the second had spoken many truths, but only the third had lived one.  

And together they understood :  “Wisdom begins in thought, shines in speech, but is proved in action.” 

Interesting …  AI aided wisdom story from Aasami sirippu sinthanaiyan

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
25.3.2026