Agasthya & Cauvery .. !! ~ நடந்தாய் வாழி காவேரி

At Thiruvallikkeni, as is in many divyadesangal,  - day 7 of Annual Brahmothsavam  is Thiruther – the grand chariot – the bigger one for Sri Parthasarathi and Sri Thelliya Singar. Ever observed the Temple Car [thiruther] in close and in detail !  - it is big, it is massive, it is ornate with hundreds of beautiful architecture carved in the tree !!  One such ther bommai – the word would never convey the original grandeur of the architecture !! – seen at the house of Sri MA Narasimhan is the subject matter of this post.

There were many depictions of Gods, avatar of Sriman Narayana and the like – this was slightly different – a bearded sage in penance sitting on small boulders, holding a kamandal, aquatic settings, fishes swimming towards and two more people !!  ~ by my own version appears to be depiction of Agastya and origin of holy Cauvery river.  

The Cauvery (Kaveri) River rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri Hills of the Western Ghats, in Kodagu (Coorg) district, Karnataka, at about 1,341 m above sea level, flows roughly 800 km southeast through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before emptying into the Bay of Bengal near Poompuhar.Cauvery flows southeast through Karnataka for about 320 km, then runs along the Karnataka–Tamil Nadu border for ~64 km, and continues through Tamil Nadu for roughly 416 km before reaching the sea. 

In Tamil Nadu it descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of notable falls and then spreads into a wide, fertile delta often called the “Garden of Southern India.” Major reservoirs and dams along its course include Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) in Karnataka and the Mettur Dam (Stanley Reservoir) in Tamil Nadu, both crucial for irrigation and power. 

Its key tributaries include : Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavati; Kabini, Bhavani, Noyyal, Amaravati. These tributaries drain much of southern Karnataka and western Tamil Nadu and feed the Cauvery basin, which spans about 81,155 km² across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. 

The Cauvery is   called “Dakshina Ganga” (Ganga of the South) and “Ponni” in Tamil, reflecting its sacred status and its association with gold‑like fertility in the delta.

 

Mythological it is – sage Agastya medidated, crow tipped his pitcher and the sacred river flowed .. .  this art work has bearded sage, kamandalam, fishes and water suggesting a riverine setting.   

It was year 1972 – a great film about the sage Agastyar (Agathiyar), son of Pulasthya, son of Brahma.  According to mythology, the river Cauvery flowed from the kamandalam of Sage Agathiya.  The title song of the film ‘Agathiyar’ was ‘Nadanthai Vaazhi Kaveri’ – glorifying the river Cauvery as one who makes all the land fertile and pervading goodness in all her path……  a beautiful song sung by ‘Seerkazhi Govindarajan’ the famous singer who was also the hero in the film.  The background music was by Kunnakudi Vaidhyanathan.

 

நடந்தாய் வாழி காவேரி,  நடந்தாய் வாழி காவேரி ;

நாடெங்குமே செழிக்க நன்மையெல்லாம் சிறக்க.. .. 

 

Interesting ! 

Regards – S Sampathkumar

30.9.2026

PS: Acknowledgement and thanks to Mr MA Narasimhan who kindly showed this brilliant piece of sculpture;  allowed it to be photographed and written about. d.

Avvaiyar statue in Chennai ! அவ்வை-யார் ? - ஔவை என்றால் மனதில் தோன்றுவது !

 

சென்னையில் மக்கள் குவியுமிடம் மெரினா கடற்கரை .. .. .. பல சிலைகள் உள்ளன.  இராணி மேரிக்கல்லூரி எதிரில்   இருக்கும் ஒவ்வையார் சிலையையும் கவனித்து இருப்பீர் !! 

அவ்வை-யார் ?    -  ஔவை என்றால் மனதில் தோன்றுவது !  பாடப் புத்தகங்களில் பார்த்த 'கையில் கோலூன்றி நெற்றியில் நீரு அணிந்து கம்பீரக் குரலில் பாடும் அறிவான ஒரு மூதாட்டியின் உருவம்' !!  ‘பழம் நீ அப்பா ஞானப் பழம் நீ அப்பா’ என்று சினிமாவில் பாடிய உருவம் !!  சங்க கால ஔவை மூதாட்டி அல்ல எனவும் படித்து உள்ளேன்.  அழகும் இளமையும் அறிவும் வாய்த்த இளம் பெண். மை தீட்டிய விழிகளும், அழகான ஆபரணங்கள் அணிந்த இடையும், பிறை போன்ற நெற்றியும் பெற்றிருந்த மடவரவள். அவர் ஒரு இளம் விறலி. விறலி என்றால் பாடலின் பொருளை உணரும் வகையில் மெய்ப்பாடு தோன்ற ஆடிக் காட்டுபவள் என்று பொருளாம். 

ஒளவையைக் குறித்து பல கதைகளை குழந்தைப் பருவம் முதலே கேட்டும் படித்தும் இருக்கிறோம். அதில் ‘சுட்ட பழம் வேண்டுமா சுடாத பழம் வேண்டுமா பாட்டி’ எனக் கேட்டு முருகன் சோதித்தக் கதையும், அதியமான் ஔவைக்குக் கொடுத்த அதிசய நெல்லிக்கனி கதையும் அடிக்கடி கேள்விப் பட்டிருப்பவை.

             சங்ககால ஔவையார்,  தொண்டை நாட்டு மன்னன் அதியமானிடம் நெல்லிக்கனி பெற்றவர். அதியமானுக்கு நல்ல நண்பர். அதியமானைப் போற்றி நிறைய பாடல்களைப் பாடியுள்ளார்.    நெடுமான் அஞ்சி என்பவன், அதிகர் குலத்திலே பிறந்தவனாதலின் அவனுடைய முழுப் பெயர் அதிகமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சி என்று வழங்கியது .  தகடூர் என்பது இன்று சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் தருமபுரி என்ற பெயரோடு நிலவுகிறது. அதற்குத் தெற்கே நான்கு மைல் தூரத்தில் இன்றும் அதிகமான் கோட்டை என்ற இடம் இருக்கிறது. இவை யாவும் சேர்ந்த பெரிய பரப்புள்ள இடமே பழங்காலத்தில் அதியமான் இருந்து அரசாட்சி நடத்திய தகடூராக விளங்கியது. எழு பெருவள்ளல்களில் ஒருவனும் ஒளவைக்குச் சாவா மூவா நிலைதரும் நெல்லிக்கனியை வழங்கியவனுமாகிய அதியமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சியின் வரலாறு சுவையானது.       

அதிகமான் காட்டில் பல மலைகள் இருந்தன. குதிரை மலை என்பது ஒன்று. கஞ்ச மலை என்பது மற்றொன்று.  அந்த மலையில் மிகவும் அருமையான நெல்லி மரம் ஒன்று இருந்தது. மருத்துவத்தில் வல்ல அறிஞர்கள் அதைக் கண்டுபிடித்தார்கள். அது பல ஆண்டுகளுக்கு ஒரு முறையே காய்க்கும்; பூத்துப் பிஞ்சு விடும்; ஆனால் பிஞ்சுகளெல்லாம் உதிர்ந்துவிடும். அதன் கனியை உண்டால் நரை திரை மூப்பின்றிப் பல காலம் வாழலாம்.   அதிசய  நெல்லிக் கனியை உண்பவர் நீண்டநாள் சுகமாக வாழலாம் என்பதை அறிந்த அதியமான். அக்கனியை ஔவையாருக்குக் கொடுத்தான். 

 அதியமான் நெல்லிக்கனியை ஔவையாருக்குக் கொடுத்ததை சிறுபாணாற்றுப்படையில்

“........................... ....... மால் வரை

கமழ் பூஞ் சாரல் கவினிய நெல்லி

அமிழ்து விளை தீம் கனி ஔவைக்கு ஈந்த

உரவு சினம் கனலும் ஒளி திகழ் நெடுவேல்

அரவக் கடல் தானை அதிகனும் .............”

- (சிறுபாணாற்றுப்படை: 99 - 103)

நல்லூர் நத்தத்தனார் கூறியுள்ளார்.  அதியமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சி தான் வாழ்வதைவிட ஔவையார் வாழ்ந்தால் தமிழ் வாழும் என நினைத்தான்.

Interesting !  ~ pic of Avvaiyar statue in Beach Road [opp to Queen Mary’s college taken this evening with the background  hi-mast light looking like a crown!] [actually the light post is a few yards away !]

Regards – S Sampathkumar

29.9.2026

Himalayan gorges ! ~ road near Joshimutt - way to Badrinath dham

 

The trip to holy Badrinath dham is on winding roads of Himalayas, scenic, winding, filled with trees, rocks, river flowing along the way through many gorges – a thoroughly enjoyable though a bit scary when you see the narrow roads and when one looks down !!

A gorge is a narrow valley with steep, rocky walls located between hills or mountains. The term comes from the French word gorge, which means throat or neck. A gorge is often smaller than a canyon, although both words are used to describe deep, narrow valleys with a stream or river running along their bottom.  A number of natural forces form gorges. The most common is erosion due to streams or rivers. Streams carve through hard layers of rock, breaking down or eroding it. Sediment from the worn-away rock is then carried downstream. Over time, this erosion will form the steep walls of a gorge. The flooding of streams or rivers increases the speed and intensity of this erosion, creating deeper and wider gorges.

Here is a photo taken on 17.9.2026 while travelling near Joshimutt – the  small vehicle on the winding road is  clearly visible clearly giving  a wonderful sense of scale to the enormous mountain landscape. The route to Badrinath Dham features dramatic and deep Himalayan river gorges carved by the roaring Alaknanda River.  The highway (NH-7) cuts through sheer rock faces and deep, steep-sided river canyons flanked by the towering Nara and Narayan mountain ranges.  Stretches near Sirobagad, Lambagad, and Joshimath run right along steep cliff edges plunging straight into the glacial river below.  

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar

29.9.2026

chai !! chai !!! garam chai !! at India's first village - Mana

At the time of reading this say 10 pm, would you be comfortable drinking a cup of hot ‘chai’ and hitting the bed !!  Personally I would prefer a cup of coffee and sleep ! [even at 12 of night]

The tea shop you are witnessing is no ordinary one – it is in India’s “First Village” and it was pretty cold around 4 pm.  :  https://youtu.be/LGg62DG4l-8

Mana is a picturesque Himalayan village in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, situated at an altitude of approximately 3,200 metres (10,500 feet), just 3 km from Sri Badrinath Temple. It lies on the banks of the Saraswati River, surrounded by magnificent Himalayan mountains. The village has a special place in Hindu tradition because of its association with the Mahabharata and the Pandavas' final journey towards Swarga (heaven).

Geographically, Mana is  one of the last inhabited settlements before the high Himalayan terrain leading towards the India–China border.  Earlier it was called India’s last village and a visit by our Honble PM Shri Narendra Modiji in 2022  - it is   presented as the beginning of India’s frontier   - so the first tea shop in first village !!

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
17.9.2026

Goods train aerial view ! கூட்ஸ் வண்டியிலே, ஒரு காதல் வந்திருச்சு

 

Ravi and Philomena, two orphans from different backgrounds, meet on a bus journey to Chennai. Ravi, despite holding a diploma, struggles to find employment in the city and becomes a rickshaw driver, while Philomena, a Catholic nurse, flees from her foster father after discovering his involvement in fraudulent activities.  The two form a bond, but their lives take a difficult turn as they face homelessness, poverty, and a series of personal challenges.

You may not immediately catch the point and say the movie name but for sure you would have heard this song : 

கூட்ஸ் வண்டியிலே,  ஒரு காதல் வந்திருச்சு

காதல் செய்வதற்கு, இடம் காலியாயிருக்கு.. 

படம்: குங்குமச்சிமிழ்.  இசை: இளையராஜா - குரல்கள் : மலேசியா வாசுதேவன் & எஸ்.ஜானகி

A running train is always attractive sight – more so, when you are watching it from outside … and if it can be an aerial sight !!  :  https://youtu.be/Hc5y6DvDGeQ

A freight train, goods train, or cargo train, is a railway train that is used to carry cargo, as opposed to passengers. Freight trains are made up of one or more locomotives which provide propulsion, along with one or more railroad cars (also known as wagons) which carry freight.  Even before the first train ran from Boribunder to Thane – freight runs were running.  Goods train !!

The song at the start – “Kunguma Chimizh”   directed by R. Sundarrajan starring  Mohan, Ilavarasi, Revathi hit the screens in 1985.

Here is a colourful apartment complex in Mumbai and a goods train running adjacent taken from air recently.  A  large residential colony with closely packed rows of multistorey buildings painted in bright colours is also seen. The location could be Govandi, a densely populated suburb nearer Chembur or could be Sanpada.   

Interesting ! 

Regards – S Sampathkumar

27.9.026

ஓவியனும் வரைந்ததில்லையே; உன்னைப் போல் ஓர் அழகை ~ Choco Pigeon

 

Pigeons are wonderful and treat to watch especially when they spread their wings – here is a Brown choco Pigeon that used to come daily couple of years ago! But missing in recent years …….. .. not sure of its existence !!

Nagaraj and Sampath are garment salesmen and roommates in Nagercoil. Sampath is a straightforward person who believes in honesty, Nagaraj is a womaniser, in contrast to Sampath who believes in true love. Sampath's lover Raji, while fleeing from a rogue bull, dies due to an accident. A depressed Sampath attempts suicide, but Nagaraj stops him, and Sampath decides to stop selling garments, instead confining himself to remaining Nagaraj's assistant.

Aboard a train bound for Madras, Nagaraj and Sampath encounter Muthu, a temple trust clerk who has a suitcase full of cash. But Muthu dies en route of a heart attack and Nagaraj steals his suitcase, despite Sampath's objections. Muthu's sister Bhuvana visits them at Nagercoil to enquire about the lost cash (which is all black money). Nagaraj denies knowing anything, but Bhuvana remains suspicious. He pretends to love her; Bhuvana falls for his lust and has sex with him.

~  decipher the movie with the storyline !!  ~ this was a beautiful song in that movie.

விழியிலே மலர்ந்தது உயிரிலே கலந்தது

பெண்ணென்னும் பொன்னழகே ! அடடா எங்கெங்கும் உன்னழகே

 

மனம் மயங்கும் மெய் மறக்கும்;  புது உலகின் வழி தெரியும்

பொன் விளக்கே தீபமே  

ஓவியனும் வரைந்ததில்லையே; உன்னைப் போல் ஓர் அழகை கண்டதில்லையே

 

It was a super hit song of yesteryears - g "Vizhiyile Malarnthathu" from the movie Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri (1977), composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S.P. Balasubramanian. Panchu Arunachalam wrote the lyrics.  This song was  set in the Carnatic raga Natabhairavi. 

Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri was notable for casting Rajinikanth and Sivakumar as a hero and antihero, contrary to the roles they played in earlier films. It was a commercial success, and won two Filmfare Awards:  the success of the movie  led to Rajinikanth playing more positive roles in films.

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar

27.9.2026

Tomato Shadows ! ~ and something on Nizhal cinema !!!

 

A photo and some web search on shadows ! – more of a photo and cinema info post !!  ~   "தென்றல் தேரேறும் முல்லை மனமோ"

நிழல்கள் அமைந்த இந்த படத்தின் காரணமான தேடல் - எங்கெங்கோ சென்றது !!   இசைஞானி இளையராஜாவின் அத்யந்த ரசிகர்கள் கூட இந்த சிறப்பான பாட்டை கேட்டு இருப்பீர்களா என தெரியவில்லை ! - உமா ரமணனின் குரலில் -  தென்றல் தேரேறும் முல்லை மனமோ" என்ற ஒரு சிறு பாடல். இந்த படத்தில்   நடிகர் பானுசந்தருக்கு பார்த்திபன் டப்பிங் கொடுத்தார் என்பது கூடுதல் தகவல்.  தேடும்போதே நிழல்கள் படத்தின் 'பூங்கதவே தாள் திறவாய்' என உமா ரமணன் பாடியதை சில தடவை கேட்டு ரசித்தேன்.

When the reference is to ‘Shadows’ – the first thing that came to mind is Nizhalagal (நிழல்கள்] of Bharathiraja. The movie provides musical vibe forever.   But there seemingly are more.

Nizhal  reportedly is a  crime-thriller drama directed by AK Kumar, starring Janany Kunaseelan and Shree Vishakan. The plot centers on twin sisters whose lives unravel after a brutal murder. Maya Nizhal (2021):  was Tamil dubbed release of the acclaimed Malayalam mystery-thriller Nizhal, starring Nayanthara and Kunchacko Boban  

There was - Nizhal Nijamakirathu   directed by   K. Balachander, starring Kamal Haasan, Sumithra, and Shoba, released in 1978. Parthiban’s - Iravin Nizhal  is claimed to be  India’s first non-linear single-shot film.  In 2014  romantic thriller directed by John Robinson highlighting  the dangers of teenage internet addiction was ‘Nee naan nizhal’.  

This particular movie much lesser known [to me !!] is – “Nizhal Thedum Nenjangal”   directed and photographed by P. S. Nivas, starring Rajeev, Vijayashanti and Vadivukkarasi,  released in Nov 1982. Parthiban dubbed the voice for the hero.

1982 ஆம் ஆண்டு வெளிவந்த நிழல் தேடும் நெஞ்சங்கள் திரைப்படத்தில் இடம்பெற்ற "தென்றல் தேரேறும் முல்லை மனமோ" என்ற பாடலின் முழுமையான வரிகள் இணையத்தில் எழுத்து வடிவில் கிடைக்கவில்லை.   இப்பாடல் டாக்டர் காளிமுத்து வரிகளில், இளையராஜா இசையில் உமா ரமணன் பாடிய  தாலாட்டுப் பாடலாகும்.

Interesting  !!

Regards – S Sampathkumar

26.9.2026                               

 

kothawalchavadi veg market ! ~ learning about life !!

 

A Slice of Life –Everyday Hopes and Struggles

 

Those of us who were in regular employment and got their salaries credited on the specific day [this time a few days earlier thanks to Bank strike!] may never understand the tribulations of those daily earners !! -  a life of uncertainty !!

There is something deeply human about a roadside vegetable market. Beyond the colourful display of vegetables, the baskets, the weighing scales and the vibrant paintings of deities on the wall, it is a place where ordinary lives unfold, each with its own story, far different than one we can imagine, if only care to !.

The men seated amidst their produce are not merely vendors; they are individuals engaged in the daily pursuit of a livelihood. Their day revolves around the arrival of vegetables, the anticipation of customers, the calculations of cost and profit, and the hope that the day's sales will justify the effort invested. Every vegetable sold, every customer served and every rupee earned contributes to the larger purpose of sustaining a household. For them, life is perhaps measured less by grand ambitions and more by the simple, recurring necessities of existence — a meal at home, the education of children, the well-being of family members, and the ability to meet tomorrow's expenses. Each morning brings a fresh beginning, accompanied by expectations that may or may not be fulfilled by evening.

There is a certain dignity in this everyday struggle. Life does not always offer the luxury of choosing one's hours, taking a holiday, or waiting for a more favourable opportunity. Work continues, often in the heat, amidst the noise and bustle of the street. The demands of earning a living leave little room for grand philosophies, yet these very lives embody the perseverance that keeps society moving.

The discarded leaves and vegetable scraps scattered across the foreground tell their own little story — of produce handled, sorted and sold, and of the inevitable waste that accompanies every marketplace. Behind the apparent disorder lies a functioning world of buying, selling, bargaining and making ends meet.

And above it all, the colourful images of the deities seem to preside over this everyday theatre of life. Perhaps the vendors, like millions of others, begin their day with a prayer, seeking divine grace for a good day's business and the well-being of their families.

Each person in this frame has a world of his own — responsibilities to fulfill, hopes to nurture, worries to contend with, and a tomorrow to prepare for. We see only a fleeting moment of their lives, but for them, this is not merely a scene in a photograph. It is life itself, in all its simplicity, uncertainty and quiet perseverance.

The photograph is a reminder that while people may differ in their circumstances, aspirations and opportunities, the fundamental expectations of life remain remarkably similar: the means to live with dignity, the security of those we love, and the hope that tomorrow will be a little better than today.

Good morning to everyone ! – life is far and different for each one !

Regards – S Sampathkumar

26.9.2026

learning discipline !!

 

 

Discipline !  ~ when will humans learn to follow  Q, be polite  and drive orderly !!

lean flow of vehicles near Kathipara !!

 

Vehicles flow !!  symmetry is poetry ~ discipline is social distancing

பேச்சி பேச்சி நீ பெருமை உள்ள பேச்சி! ~ HOme on the Range !!

 

For sure you have heard this song multiple times !! ~  a wild bull, Ramarajan clad in veshti, sings and the Bull simply bows to him !!  - Enga Ooru Pattukkaran – Ramarajan (seethan) an orphan milkman in love with Shenbagam, daughter of a wealthy landlord. 

பேச்சி பேச்சி நீ பெருமை உள்ள பேச்சி! பேச்சி பேச்சி நீ அருமை உள்ள பேச்சி

வாடி வாடி என்னுடைய பேச்சி! வாடி வாடி என்னுடைய பேச்சி

ஏழூரு சீமையிலும் உன்போல யாருமில்ல

எட்டாத ஊரிலெங்கும் உன்போல பேருமில்ல

எப்போதும் நன்றி உள்ள உன்போல ஜீவன் இல்ல

 

Ever heard of this song !

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,

Where the deer and the antelope play;

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Home, home on the range,

Where the deer and the antelope play;

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

In 1889, amidst the Old West, wanted cattle rustler Alameda Slim depletes almost all cattle from the Dixon Ranch, leaving only a single show cow, Maggie. The ranch owner, Abner Dixon, sells her to a kind woman named Pearl Gesner, who runs a small farm called Patch of Heaven.

Sam Brown, the local Sheriff, arrives to tell Pearl that unless she pays back the bank in three days, her farm will be sold to the highest bidder. Hearing this, Maggie convinces farm cows Grace and Mrs. Calloway to go to town with her to win prize money at a fair. While the cows are in town, a bounty hunter named Rico drops off a criminal, collects their reward, and looks for a replacement horse while his rests. Idolizing him, Sam's horse, Buck, convinces Rico to take him. Upon seeing this and learning the reward for capturing Slim will cover Pearl's debt, Maggie convinces the other cows to help her collect the reward to save Patch of Heaven.

Home on the Range (2004) is the Disney animated film centred on three dairy cows who set out to save their farm.  The title comes from the old American western song “Home on the Range”, so it is a very natural association for this cow photograph.   Written and directed by Will Finn and John Sanford, it starred the voices of Roseanne Barr, Judi Dench, Jennifer Tilly, Cuba Gooding Jr., Randy Quaid, and Steve Buscemi.

The film is set in the Old West and follows a mismatched trio of dairy cows—brash, adventurous Maggie; prim, proper Mrs. Calloway; and ditzy, happy-go-lucky Grace. The three cows must capture an infamous rustler named Alameda Slim for his bounty in order to save their idyllic farm from foreclosure.  Home on the Range premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, California in Mar 2004, and was theatrically released in the United States by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. The film received mixed reviews from critics, and underperformed at the box office, grossing $145.3 million against a $110 million budget.

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar

24.9.2026

Tribute to Sri V Parthasarathi

To us at Triplicane today [23.9.2026] did not dawn nicely as we were shaken with the news of passing away of Sri V Parthasarathi.   

In the land of Allikkeni, named after Emperuman, there are so many Parthasarathis – yet this person was unique.  Gentle in manner, pleasant in disposition and ever ready with a warm smile, he endeared himself to all around him. His final moments too were peaceful, as though reflecting the calmness with which he had lived.

Mr Varadhachari Parthasarathi hailing from Karappangadu, retired as Asst Commissioner from Central Excise and was 79, resident of famed Agaram house at South Tank Sq Street, Triplicane, overlooking the divine Kairavini pushkarini.

To all of who knew him or seen him – he was genuinely simple and non-materialistic person of deep knowledge, soft and measured at words. The way he carried himself deeply reflected his personality of sincerity, unwavering dedication and living with purpose.  In his career, as a principled officer rising from Superintendent to Assistant Commissioner, he fearlessly acted against corruption and unlawful activities, and led midnight raids on highways, earning numerous accolades  in his distinguished career. 

Beyond his duty, he radiated warmth and enthusiasm. He  made it a point to attend every function he was invited to, always showing up with joy and presence.  His strong faith and adherence to religious practices were worthy of appreciation and emulation. He was very regular and punctual in participating  in daily  Sahasranama Stotra Parayanam at kulakkarai Sri Aanjaneyar temple [Thiruvadi kovil]    

He was a good family person taking care of his beloved wife Smt Mythili (who preceded him a few years ago!).  Mrs Mythili, born in 1954 too was a versatile personality.  Graduated in B.Sc Physics with 83%; she could recite holy Naalayira divyaprabantham with ease.  Had qualifications of Typewriting/Shorthand / Hindi -  French Diploma (3 yrs ) from “Alliance Française de Madras.” & !!  Russian one year in Madras University beside being good in making baskets, dolls, playing Veena and tailoring.  She used to write exams helping Braille students too.

Mr Parthasarathi was an exemplary father who poured his heart into raising his two sons, ensuring they received the finest education. Whether serving his country or his community as an eager volunteer, he gave his absolute best to everything he touched.

Sri V Parthasarathi will ever be remembered as a man of calm disposition, gracious manners and an ever-pleasant smile. His cheerful nature and gentle way of dealing with people made his presence warm, reassuring and memorable.

Sadly Triplicane lost him this morning as he slept peacefully to reach Acharyan thiruvadi.  Obsequies will be held at his home at 3 South Tank Street, Triplicane, Chennai 600 005 tomorrow.

With regards and deep sadness – S Sampathkumar.

23.9.2026 

the lone cyclist !!!

 

 

Has Chennai lost him ~ do we any longer see people going to office in cycle ??? (this gentleman is no office goer, yet one could see some in bustling Bombay – taken a few years ago in one of my visits)

water carriage !!

 

Precious water ~ the most famous among vehicles of Chennai is water cart of various hues - tankers - scooters - tri-cycles and more !!

Some may remember that there was ‘water-carrier’ at Railway stations, who would offer potable water to travelers on train, walking on the platform near compartments – long long long long ago ! !!

Aloo tikka & Pani puri @ Rishikesh

 

Aloo tikka & Pani puri @ Rishikesh

Beatles at Rishikesh and .. .. .. a young Guitarist !!

 

Dear Prudence, won’t you come out to play

Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day

The sun is up, the sky is blue

It’s beautiful and so are you

Dear Prudence won’t you come out and play

~ those interested in ‘rock and roll’ especially The Beatles would have heard this played in Guitar and other accompaniments – but at Rishikesh, nearer Lakshman Jhula in  the evening of 19.9.2026, I heard a young lad standing alone and playing divine song !!  .. .. ..

:  https://youtube.com/shorts/MxfGcNWCZLI

 

Radhe !  Radhe, radhe bol mana!!

An young guitarist on the streets of Rishikesh !

The words at the start are of   ‘Prudence’ album of The Beatles.  The Beatles (commonly   The White Album) is the ninth studio album and only double album by the English rock band the Beatles, released in Nov  1968. Featuring a plain white sleeve, the cover contains no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed.  This was intended as a direct contrast to the vivid cover artwork of the band's previous work.

Of significance is the fact that The Beatles visited the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh in February 1968 to study Transcendental Meditation.   The ashram is officially known as Chaurasi Kutiya and is located on the eastern bank of the Ganges River.  This stay was the band's most productive songwriting period, inspiring most of the tracks for the double album known as the "White Album" (including "Dear Prudence", written for Mia Farrow's sister). Those visited include :  John, Paul, George, and Ringo, along with wives, partners, and other celebrities like Donovan and Mike Love.

Interesting ! 

Regards – S Sampathkumar

22.9.2026

Moon ............. and Venus - - - Conjunction !!!

 

Seen together ~ Moon and Venus — neighbours only to our eyes!

This evening, 14 September 2026, at Triplicane saw  a slender crescent Moon appeared to almost embrace brilliant Venus in the western sky. They are separated by an enormous distance in space; yet, viewed from Earth, their orbital paths briefly brought them into the same small patch of our sky — a lovely celestial conjunction.

Venus is one of the most fascinating planets because, in some ways, it is Earth’s near-twin — and in other ways, it is almost the opposite of Earth.  Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is almost the same size as Earth: its diameter is about 12,100 km, only a little smaller than Earth’s 12,742 km. It is a rocky planet with a metal-rich interior, mantle and crust, and it probably formed around 4.5 billion years ago from the same rotating disc of gas, dust and rocky material that produced the Sun and the other planets. In the early Solar System, countless small rocky bodies collided and gradually accreted into larger worlds; Venus was one of those worlds.

What makes Venus especially interesting is what happened afterwards. It may once have had far more water than it has today, perhaps even conditions much less hostile than the present planet. But Venus is closer to the Sun, and over immense periods its atmosphere became dominated by carbon dioxide. This produced an extreme greenhouse effect. Today its surface temperature is around 465°C — hot enough to melt lead — and the atmospheric pressure at the surface is about 90 times that of Earth. Its clouds are largely made of sulphuric-acid droplets.

Yet from Earth Venus looks serene and beautiful. Its thick clouds reflect sunlight extremely efficiently, which is why it becomes the brightest “star-like” object in our sky after the Sun and Moon. The “Evening Star” you photographed is therefore actually a fiercely hot, cloud-covered planet.

One extraordinary fact about Venus is its rotation. It turns very slowly and backwards compared with most planets. One rotation takes about 243 Earth days, while Venus goes around the Sun in about 225 Earth days. So, remarkably, a Venusian day is longer than a Venusian year.  It sounds strange because we use “day” and “year” casually.

On Venus:

• One year = the time Venus takes to go once around the Sun: about 225 Earth days.
• One rotation day = the time Venus takes to turn once on its own axis: about 243 Earth days.

So Venus completes an entire orbit around the Sun before it has finished one full rotation on its axis. And because it rotates in the opposite direction, the Sun would appear to rise in the west and set in the east.

There  are two photos one taken with Nikon d7500 / 300mm lens and then cropped and another taken casually with Pixel Pro 8 phone.    Venus, like the Moon, shows phases — crescent, half, gibbous and nearly full — because it orbits closer to the Sun than Earth does. Galileo’s observation of these phases in the early 1600s became powerful evidence that Venus goes around the Sun rather than around Earth.

If you wonder where are they :  The Moon is much, much closer to Earth than Venus.

• Moon: on average about 384,400 km from Earth. Its distance varies roughly from 363,000 km to 405,000 km because its orbit is not perfectly circular.
• Venus: its distance from Earth changes enormously. At its closest it can be about 38 million km away; at the far side of the Sun it can be around 260 million km away.

So even when the Moon and Venus look almost side-by-side in   photograph, Venus is actually tens to hundreds of times farther away.  For perspective, light takes only about 1.3 seconds to travel from the Moon to Earth, whereas light from Venus can take roughly 2 to 15 minutes, depending on where Venus is in its orbit.

For a casual observer the photo with Pixel may sound better but actually it is not – Nikon has given an astronomical picture.  The processed Pixel picture has become a little more “illustrative” than what I actually saw.  The original Pixel photograph is actually valuable precisely because it records the real Chennai rooftops, clouds and sky.   

               Nikon frame is the better astronomical photograph because the Moon and Venus are cleaner, more delicate, and more naturally rendered. The Pixel photograph is the better scene-setting photograph because it shows the conjunction in the real urban night sky above the rooftops. The clouds and buildings give it context and atmosphere.The weakness of the Pixel image is that the phone’s night processing has made the crescent rather bright and slightly bloomed, and Venus has become a small starburst instead of a clean point. That  faint remainder of the Moon's globe is visible inside the crescent in Pixel photo  is earthshine — sunlight reflected from Earth onto the Moon's night side and then reflected back to us.

One would be inclined to say ‘Moon – Venus” conjunction over Chennai night sky – both much closer but that apparent closeness is what astronomers call a conjunction. They are emphatically not physically close: the Moon is only a few hundred thousand kilometres from Earth, whereas Venus is many tens or hundreds of millions of kilometres away depending on where it is in its orbit. What is  photographed and seen here therefore is  a beautiful perspective alignment — rather like seeing two distant objects apparently side-by-side although one is vastly farther away.

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar

14.9.2026