Blood Moon

Anew moon or blood moon... relieved eclipse.

A orange popped up the cloud or shadow of earth  

As a light of hope, moon bloomed out of gloom. 

Footnote:

I was at Elliot’s Beach last evening and quite forget about the eclipse until I find some orange shade on the sky. It was surprise to watch the moon unveiling the eclipse against the dark blue sky… though unclear, it was wonderful capturing the moon at it’s glorious.  

Just happenings

The month of October haven’t begun comfort with me as I caught up with severe cold and cough, which make feel most irritating. I woke up with sore throat on Oct 1 and it indicated me the symptom of cold or flu which usually begins like that for me. I know flu is a common cause among human but the phase doesn’t seems to be nice and passing it was tough esp. with weak respiratory system. The resistance power seems to be very less with muscular dystrophy associates, so the influence of flu easily picks up and become obstinate to cool down. I couldn’t be systematic as I planned the week and wasn’t able to do things rather let anything happen on own. Glad the flu influenced while it was festival time here and I relaxed watching new movies one after another on television despite having trouble with…

Our pet dog Maya is also quite back to normal and her surgical wound was healed to let restore her enthusiasm.  It was really difficult to keep her away from licking or biting the wound, but glad despite denied applying medicine she recovered well. For more than a week she didn’t come out of her favorite hideout (beneath the bureau) and only made quick in and out for bathroom. After every haircut her movements used to be very active and become so hungry to finishing off anything quickly. She perhaps gone though very painful time due to surgery, for her to can’t even stand for a moment and it made us worry but she also makes smile with her every step in forward toward her healing. Now we are happy that we put her into a peaceful journey and trouble free health.  

My parents had bought a second hand Suzuki Swift car to make my travel easier, since I had trouble climbing into our SUV. The car came with low budget and good in condition don’t want me to miss it, and swift is one of my favorite cars and ride quality is so good and I had couple of travel on ECR before decided on purchase. We have upgraded the tires of the car to big size to add more comfort on any kind of road. I still have to modify the car with turnout seat, while looking for transferring hoist to import from abroad to make further easer and I am also suppose to change or alter my wheelchair to suit for the car and more comfort on sitting. Later I’m experiencing back pain due to long duration sitting on the wheelchair or improper sleeping position… looking forward to a change. 

Balamurugan Temple, Thandikudi (Fairly equivalent to Palani)

Situated atop a hill, shouldering with mountains overlooking the village, the Balamurugan Temple in Thandikudi is devoted to Lord Murugan and it is believed that only from here that Lord Muruga cross jumped to reach Palani, while he was anger with his parents over the contest between the siblings, to who own the Gnanapalam (wisdom fruit) by coming around the world. It is also believed that Lord Muruga stayed at this hill for some time, defeated the monster Idumban to convert him as his devotee before make Palani (one of the two hillocks which Idumban carried as Kavadi from Kailash) as one of his abode.

Sri Balamurugan Temple

The Balamurugan Temple is said to be 2,000 years old, but the temple that exists today is built on the belief that Lord Muruga appeared in the dreams of Sri La Sri Pandrimalai Swamigal (a Siddhar or saint) and ordered him to build a temple for him on the Thandikudi hill, from where he cross jump to Palani.  He is also believed to show the exact place – where the temple is built – by lighting some torch on the hill, and the people who went there were surprise to see a footprint (which is believed to be Lord Muruga’s) on the rock and image of peacock gripping a snake on the adjacent.  Thus believed that Lord Muruga has went to Palani only from Thandikudi and the benefit of visiting Palani is said to be fulfilled only if they appear at Balamurugan Temple.

Quite tranquil environs of the temple

The road to the temple, that begins at the Regional Coffee Research Station passes through coffee and cardamom plantations. The temple situated at a height of 500 feet above the Thandikudi village, has pretty good road to reach by car or take a leisure walk. The slightly showered weather was refreshing while we drew on the newly tar road. It was also exciting to know that we passed a prehistoric site where megaliths were found, which we actually unaware until someone explained at the village. But later at home checking the photos, I find that we have shot some pictures on the site that lay beside the road, without knowing what it was.

Fabulous view from the temple

The Balamurugan temple is also a wonderful panoramic viewpoint that overlooks the village of Thandikudi and surrounding mountains. The drizzling weather put me at hesitate, initially, whether to climb down or not the car to explore the place, but glad I did so and went around the pretty green and quite calm environment,  despite the voices of boys playing cricket outside the temple premises. There’s a small Ganesha shrine in front of the temple and it is a four pillared hall with idol enclosed in gate. The prime temple is also a hall based structure which was extended by curved sheet roofing and a small temple tower adorn with colorful idols and Kalasam (bass pot).

Enclosed Ganesha shrining

The hilltop provides amazing photo opportunity to capture the village and cloud passing mounting from the side of temple, where the torch is believed to drag the attention of people to build the temple there. They have also built a room for the torch, which seems to light on special occasions and to give company to events, the temple has a gold coated chariot for procession. The rocks beside the temple said to have ever flowing natural spring, which revered as scared water. And sand found at a height of 75 feet from the temple is offered as Prasad to devotees. Just like Palani, devotees to Balamurugan temple also carry Kavadies during the festival of Panguni Uthiram.

Driving down the valley (the road leads from the temple

Note on info:

Balamurugan Temple is situated at a height of 1500 meter in the Western Ghats of Palani Hills. Thandikudi is 40 km from Kodaikanal and Vathalagundu is 45 km and Palani about 92 km. The temple is open to public from morning to evening.  ( click location below for Google map on the place)

A pretty dry flower

A button rose, that gone dry at the flower pot… result of having no mind the pluck the flower. Since it’s a rose plant bought from a nursery, it couldn't thrive after certain level and only the buds that were left while bough the plant bloomed. 

 

Ai (I) Audio

The hypes are something normal when it comes to big personalities in film and music industries. But many a time it doesn’t stand up to its faith. And anticipations are high normal when an enormous budget film is on news, comprising people renowned for their grandeur in filmdom. “Ai” has been in progress for a long time in filmmaking, under a budget which is ever so high in Tamil film industry. Don’t anyone will wonder, what would there be in a film to cost so much?  Yet, the film hadn’t released (but I hope it suppose to be terrific), the audio is out last week, witnessing the Hollywood and Kollywood superstars – Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rajini Kanth. 

The film has actors in best, Vikram, and Emy Jackson of Madrasapattinam; and directed by ace director Shanker and music by Oscar winner AR. Rahman. Shanker films always spoke for songs and his way of shooting is something unique and quite impressive. With ARR music they transport us to a difference world! Though the audio of Ai is released, I couldn’t go completely denying the album despite being disappointed with the songs composed which perhaps could go well on movie front or the film needed so, but I don’t feel content with the way it was loaded. It was an album blended with various genre of music. 

Let me go first with my favorite in the album, Pookkalae Sattru Oyivedungal. The song is penned very simple, yet rendered beautiful in the soothing voices of Haricharan and Shreya Ghoshal. The lyric by Karky has really done justice to the song by relating the title Ai so well. Simply love the song.

On the line of melody, following Pookkalae, Ennodu Nee Irundhaal is a song with romantic feels thought it sounds like singing on path of pain and craving to unite. Among the two versions of the same, the reprise sung by Chinmayi and Sid Sriram was very pleasant and moderate at flow rather the other version that feels lag between the rhyme and rhythm.

Ladio is very stylish song defines the beauty of a perfect lady, and according to Karky’s lyrics the number 32 22 32 seems to be perfect.  The song sounds like an intro to the gorgeous Emy in the film.  Initially it felt like listening to a pop number from a popular English album, but slowly feels familiar as I find it sound similar to Irumbile oru Idhaiyam from Enthiran. Nikita Gandhi has a sexy tone and she emits words like delicate tidbits.

Mersalayitten is a fast track and in company of Neeti Mohan, the soup boy Anirudh has given voice a man who seems mesmerized (what “Meral” sounds like) meeting a most beautiful woman (of course who other than Emy) and sings a song with words he was familiar. Kabilan has written lyrics (in fun mode) giving emphasis to the local madras Tamil, which sure to strike across chennaities. I find my bro have this song as his ringtone.

Aila Aila sounds like a sort of stage play and Natalie Di Luccio gives a rustic voice, which seems to provoke agitation, as well something unpredictable astonishment. This is something offbeat to Tamil audience.  But great attempt by ARR, which isn’t new for him. 

Ai (I) Trailor: