pallavi in a musical composition

Jaya t..v. relays the programme, Margali mahothsavam. The program is karnatak music concert by noted musicians. During the program, the audience can ask any question pertaining to music.
In one of such program, one gentleman from the audience, asked about the pallavi in a song.
The explanation given by the musician is really a light is the dark for someone, like me, who listen to the melodious music but does not understand the technicalities of music.

He explained Pallavi plays the role of the gist or the philosophy of the song. The charanas will explain the means and ways of the philosophy.

For ex. in the composition, "indu enage govinda", The devotee, prays the god to provide his "pada darshanam". In the charanas that follow, he explains why that darshan he is seeking.

It was really an enlightening piece of information. Jai Jaya t.v.!

shuklambaradham vishnu

Recently I was attending a pravachanam on Mahabhararham. One of the devotees raised the question wheather Shuklam bharadharam is Stuthi. The pravachanakaarar recollected, what his father used to in the lighter vein for a similar question. It is coffee. The explanation runs like this.

Earlier in olden days the coffee deconction used to be obtained by filtering through a white cloth. This represents Shukla ambara. The colour of decontion is dark,This represents krishna in other words, Vishnu. Shashivarnam means milk. Chathurbhujam four hands of giver and receiver. Prasannavadanam is the reaction after drinking coffee. Sarva vignopashanthaye. All angry moods will disappear and vignam for bad effects.

Trip to guruyavoor - Epilogue

At the hotel, we had our lunch and rested for some time. We had been told that the darshan of Lord Guruvayoor appan will commence from 4.00 p.m. for the senior devotees. The time when we entered the room for rest was 3.00 p,m. After relaxing for about 45 mins we decided to go to the temple again to have darshan. We immediately got ready. Of course, after our previous disappointment, I and my brother both were in our dhothi and walked down to the temple. This time, since we knew entrance for senior devotees, we straightaway walked down to that point. The entrance gate was open. We coolly walked through the gate, with a glee of child. At the darshan point, the deity was decorated with all grandeur of lovely flowers. The God was in his utmost beauty. Seeing him, praising him and chanting his names with folded hands, we were all swept away by the SUNDARA MURTHY, of Lord in his archa form. We felt we became JEEVAN MUKTAS. The ambition with which this pilgrimage was planned was fulfilled.

|| JAI GORUVAAYOORAPPAN || || JAI GORUVAAYOORAPPAN ||

With a happy feeling we returned back to our hotel. For an hour or two we relaxed. And left the hotel, to the bus stand where we caught a bus to Trissur. Bus Journey was another experience. The Driver must have thought we were late to catch our train. He drove the bus as though it is a plane. It was not rash driving but high speed. We must have prayed the Lord with devotion. With no untoward event, we safely reached Trissur. From Bus stand we hired an auto to the station. We were too much intime. The train had not yet come from Trivandram. We waited on the platform and loitered till the arrival of the train. When it steamed in, we got in to our reserved berth and slept with a satisfied heart. When the sun dawned on the eastern horizon, we were nearing Bangalore.

Thus, a short well planned pilgrimage came to a satisfying end. This pilgrimage might have come to an end but the memories of this visit, will stay with us all for a long time to come.

||Om namo narayana|| ||Om namo narayana||

Trip to guruyavoor - Other wanderings!

While having our breakfast, we were planning to visit some of the well-known temples in Guruvayoor. We hired a cab for our round trip and visited Mamiyar temple, Parthasarathi temple and the elephant sanctuary.

In every temple in kerala, dress code is strictly followed. The male devotees have to enter the temple only with the dhoti and shalya. No entry to devotees, with pant and shirt.

At mamiyar temple we experienced the same treatment. But we were informed that the washed clean dhotis are available for rent just outside the temple. So myself and my brother took the dhotis and had the darshan of the lord. The lord in this temple is shiva . And there is also a separate sannidhis for Vishnu and goddess ammal. The temple is vast and neat and peaceful.

There is an interesting custom that I would like to share…

It is believed in the sanctum of Devi Bhagavathi, mantracised cocoanut breaking will indicate whether the wish we have in mind at the time of pooja will be fruitful or not. The wish could be the marriage, health, studies, job or progeny. They follow an interesting ritual.

At the counter ticket is to be bought for ten rupees. And at the counter coconuts without head tail, are kept in a basket. One coconut is to be taken and wetted in water kept beside the basket. The wetted coconut is to be taken to the Bhagavathi sannidhi, and coconut with the ticket is to be handed over to the priest. The priest performs the pooja and sprinkle water over the coconut given by the devotee. He will enquire the purpose of offering. After hearing purpose, the priest breaks the coconut. Based on the way in the coconut breaks, he will tell whether the purpose will be fulfilled or not!

The next temple we visited was one Shiva temple. I have forgotten about the name of the temple. But when we went there, the final pooja for the morning session had been over and the temple was shut for the morning. We wee told that the temple will be open only in the evening at 4.00 p.m. With a sad heart, we treaded back to the car.

Next, our driver took us to Parthasarathi temple. The time was 12.00 noon. The final magalaarathi was yet to be done. Here myself and my brother were unlucky. With the pant and shirt on we were denied the entry. And as in previous case, we could not find the shop that lends the dhothi. So we waited outside the temple at the main entrance. My wife and my sister in law went inside the temple to have darshan of the presiding deity, Parthasarathi.

But, we were not completely unlucky. We could have the darshan of the lord from outside. The deity was bedecked with lovely flowers. Even from the distance, it is was captivating sight. The Lord in his splendorous beauty. My wife, Sarasa told that the garbha gudi, was built in the form of a ratham. The deity of this temple was consecrated by Jagadguru Shankaraachaarya after he had the vishvaroopa darshanam of Lord. We observed that the local devotees throng to the temple at the time of mahamangalaarathi.

From here we drove straight to the elephant sanctuary. Here about 15-20 temple elephants were being tended. There were couple of care-takers who were bathing the elephants giving them relief from the hot sun.



It was told to us that the daily expenditure for all the elephants would be around Rs. 5000/-. Donors are welcome to take part in the scheme. After this visit, we planned to get back to the hotel for lunch and afternoon relaxation.

Trip to guruyavoor - At the temple

At Trissur we got down and searched for the purchase of ticket for our journey to Guruvayoor. Soon it was located. The train arrived at 5:00 am and we boarded the train. As it was almost empty, we could easily find the seats. At about 6.00 or 6.15 a.m. the train reached Guruvayoor. We hired two rikshas and reached Vishak Hotel. After having a cup of hot coffee, we started getting ready to go to the temple. The hotel receptionist told us to go through the side gate of the hotel which would take us to the temple complex immediately. As we were walking towards the temple we came across the pushkarani (temple pond). It is also called as Rudra theertha.

We did not have a dip in the pond. But we washed our legs and sprinkled the Rudra theertha on our head. After this oblation, we entered the temple premises and looked for the queue for the senior citizens. After much of moving here and there, we could locate it. It was near the Ayyappaswamy sannidhi.



Alas! The gate was locked. On enquiring, we learnt that this queue usually closes by 8.00 a.m. and starts again at 4.00 p.m. In spite of our getting ready to reach this place well in time, God showered the disappointment on us.

Nevertheless, we made a last attempt and found out the person who had the key to the gate. We told him that we were not rightly directed to the place. And thus, though we were well in time in the temple premises, we missed the deadline of 8:00 a.m. He mellowed to our prayers and allowed us through the gate. There we saw the Guruvayoorappan in that gentleman.

The next was a smooth sail. At the sanctum sanctorium, everyone was allotted only 30 seconds divine darshan of lord. As the inside of the garbhagudi, was lit only with the feeble light of oil lamps, I was not able to get the darshan of the lord. With a disappointed heart, I joined my group. I found that the rest were all satisfied with the darshan of the lord.

Here, my brother was lucky! He was able to get a long, uninterrupted view because of a devotee who stood before him did not move inspite of the persistent cry to move.
Later we came out of the temple after collecting prasadam duly paying the appropriate amount. And returned to the Hotel. As we had not had our Breakfast, We decided to have our breakfast before planning further. The time then was 10.00 a.m.

Trip to guruyavoor - Journey begins

Previous month we had visited Kerala’s natural beauty. And had the greatest satisfaction of being a part of the nature for a fraction length of time. This month our plan was to become pilgrims. And pilgrimage place is Guruvaoor, the abode of Lord Krishna.



And we planned to travel by train along with my brother and his wife. Unlike the previous time, when we hired a cab. Since the place our visit is a well-known pilgrimage center and time we chose was December-January, a time when all the temples down south are thronged by Ayyappa’s devotees. So we got our reservation done at Mysore though the train starts from Bangalore. At the reservation counter we were too blessed as one Mr.Prasad, who was Sarasa’s student was at the counter. And guided us the right trains for both onward and return journey: and did the reservation.

The train from Bangalore is to start at 6.50 p.m. on 5th of December. As the journey is in the night and we, all the four did not feel like having our dinner prepared by the railway caterer, my sister in law prepared seasoned colored rice and curds rice. For carrying the food we bought aluminum foiled tray like cups with cover and packed our night food.

I was with my brother and Sarasa was with her sister on the day of our departure. So. She came from Rajajinagar and we three from Padmanabhanagar. And we met at Railway station. As the train was to start from 2nd platform we crossed over to the 2nd platform and waited for the train. But incidentally the train was in the platform. But reservation chart had not pasted to wagon. So we were standing on the platform in front of the wagon. Then one Mr. Krishnan who had already occupied his seat in the same bogey, told us that the same bogey he is in , is the one in which our seats are reserved. (He overheard our conversation regarding the bogey number in which our seats are reserved). After a few minutes reservation chart was pasted which facilitated us to occupy our seats. Incidentally his seat and ours were in the same area.


The train started at the right time. Couple of minutes passed for the inmates of the train to get used to the new ambience. When every thing was homely (temporarily), conversation started with other passengers. After the preliminary F.A.Q.’s were over we asked how we could reach Guruvayoor from Trissur. Our co passenger Sri Krishnan gave us a couple of guidelines which were very useful.

He told us that there are a few trains to Guruvayoor from Trissur. And ticket could be bought from the counter and the train comes to the same platform. And further he also in the temple there will be separate queue for senior citizens. Thus aged devotees need not stand queue for long. These two tips were like taking us to God’s Abode by the almighty himself, as we were to return Bangalore, the same day. We were so happy to get such information, we profusely thanked Mr. Krishnan. He was like God to us.

The train was jugging with its usual speed. The clock was showing the time as 8.30 p.m. The passengers one by one started opening their dinner bags. So also we too. The seasoned coloured rice and curds rice was quite filling. In the meanwhile the train and clock jugged by one hour. The time was now 10.p.m. Every one was getting ready to sleep as some were to get down before morning. WE also followed what others were at, at that time. And a peculiar silence engulfed the bogey.

I do not know how long I had slept. Suddenly some sort of sound started emanating from around. The nature of sound did not match the sound of snoring I had been accustomed. It was different. Sometimes it was like an alapana. Sometimes it matched the moving of a bus without a break lining. A few times it was the sound of waves of the high tide sea. Even these sounds were of varying pitch. Sometimes loud and some times it would be neighing of horse. The rest of night I was busy trying to track the origin of these sounds in my half sleep. As I was thinking about the origin of the sound, I became awake. The sound which had rendered me sleepless for the night had stopped. I checked for the time. It was 4.00 a.m. Now our alighting station, Trissur was to arrive soon. All the four of us got ready to get down. When I told my wife that I was hearing some strange noise the whole night, she told me that it was indeed a snoring sound; it was coming from the couple who had given us beautiful tips about darshan at Guruvayoor!!