sunday stories

I had the privilege of speaking at the signograph Event organised by YI and CII of Tirupur, among an august lineup of speakers, each accomplished in their own way. One particular moment moved me to tears. The recognition of the Family of Thiru D O Asher and Jaivabai Asher for building and donating over 7 acres of land in 1942 to start a girls school.A family's commitment to educating girls at a time when girls' education was far from common. Decades later, members of that family, now themselves in their ripe old age, were present to be honoured. It set me thinking. When we leave this world, we cannot take anything with us. Napoleon is said to have demonstrated this through his open hands in the coffin. We all know this truth. But how many of us truly live by it? What do we leave behind when we are gone? Watching that elderly brothers receive the honour, I could sense the reverence they carried for their grandparents — What extraordinary foresight that generation po...

Thinking about director Bharathiraja took me back to a memorable encounter we had about three years ago.  Quite by chance, we met him at a hotel in Madurai. What struck me immediately was his simplicity and humility. There was nothing intimidating about the legendary filmmaker; he was warm, approachable, and gracious. After the meeting I was sharing with my husband   a memory from my teenage years. I must have been around fourteen or fifteen when *Mudhal Mariyadhai*  was released. At that age, I could not fully understand the emotional depth of the relationship portrayed in the film. The idea of a young woman holding such deep admiration and affection for an elderly man was beyond my comprehension then. And I was even voicing my strong opinions against the theme! Years later, when I watched the film again, I saw it through different eyes. What appeared to me was not a conventional love story, but a beautiful portrayal of a higher, purer form of love—o...

When I was young, they planted me near a powerful stone. They built some pillars around, made a beautiful  temple  and  I was fortunate to become the  sthala vriksh. Wondering where?? I reside at the Sivan Malai temple in kangeyam district . Everyday I get  royal treatment with flowers. All  that I  need is water and sunlight, anyway, dosent matter! I accept all this love from humans with a lot of gratitude. I enjoy basking in this love from the young and the old alike.  But my brotheren on the road, who have stood the test of time are being cut mercilessly in the name of ROAD EXPANSION....  All you temple visitors?? Where hav u gone? Go and save them. Serving them is like serving me.  May be if I  plead, it falls to deaf. If I curse you,would u care? I know.. FEAR drives people more than faith.

Ardhanareeswara Hill Temple is less than a 45-minute drive away, yet it had been a long time since I last visited. Thanks to my mother’s insistence, I joined her this morning for a special pooja conducted by her maternal uncle’s family. “Puliampatti Thatha,” as we fondly called him, was a calm, composed and ever-smiling person. He passed away peacefully, chanting the name of Lord Arthanareeswara. He had served as the dharmakartha of the  Temple for many years. For the past 25 years, on the day of the “Kodi Etram,” their family has been performing this special abhishega pooja. Puliampatti Aatha (in pic) is now 88 years old — still active, cheerful and positive. I was glad to spend some time talking to her today at the temple. One quality I have always admired in her is the impartial love and respect she shows towards all her three daughters-in-law. Perhaps that is the reason the family continues to remain united as one strong unit. During my teenage years in Salem, I shared a specia...

Just got back home after a spiritual sojourn at SSPN , puttaparthi.  This May, I took the luxury of two weeks of offline work — or  “work from home,” WFN  as Gen Y and Z calls it  !  On a sudden impulse, I decided to spend a week in service ( as part of Tamilnadu's " sevadal " team)  at the Puttaparthi Sai Baba Ashram. I was assigned duty at the museum. There were no fans or AC inside, and on the first day  I was sweating profusely. But I made up my mind  to simply accept the situation ,  and to my surprise, my body gradually adjusted and I felt perfectly fine throughout the service period. I truly enjoyed my duty and learnt the essence of Sanathana dharma. During the weekends, thousands of people visited the museum. From ancient religions to modern spiritual paths, the displays are beautifully planned. The unity of religions can be understood even by a layperson through the layouts, models, and visual presentations. Personal...

Sustainability is often seen as a trend or a lifestyle choice, but in reality, it is a crucial survival skill for the modern world. The events of the COVID pandemic reminded us how fragile our systems can be and how important self-reliance is. For many, having a small home garden was not just a hobby, but a necessity during uncertain times. This experience highlighted that sustainability is not just about saving the planet—it is about ensuring our own survival. In a world facing climate change, resource scarcity, and unexpected crises, the ability to live with less becomes a strength. Minimalism in clothing, mindful consumption, and the ability to adapt to situations like power cuts or lack of air conditioning are no longer optional—they are essential life skills. When we see global conflicts and disruptions, it becomes clear that resilience comes from how well we can adjust to limited resources. These are not skills that can be developed overnight. They must be nurtured...