Today is the first of the Malayalam month of Karkkidakam and the start of the 'Ramayana Maasam'. Had looked into history to find out as to why the epic, Ramayana was read during this month and the finding is interesting.
It's usually around the first of Karkkidakam when the Edavappathy(The South West Monsoon) is at its height and consequently, people are restricted to being indoors of their homes. To keep themselves creatively involved, the patriarch of the joint family would insist upon everyone listening to the life and travails of Lord Sree Rama - the ideal man(Maryada Purushotham) - which would be read out to the family, usually, by the lady of the house and the practice has continued to this day!).
Moreover, the 'naalambala darshanam'(The circumambulation of four temples) that have the
four brothers of the Ramayana as the deities. In Thrissur district, the temples are:-
(a) Thriprayar Sree Rama.
(b) Moozhikkulam Laxman.
(c) Koodalmanikyam Bharathan.
(d) Paayammal Shathrughnan.
People do the circumambulation within a day and the total distance to be traversed is 90 km. It's supposed to be completed between 'nirmaalyam'(3 AM) and 'uchapuja'(12 PM), but people these days, complete the 'parikrama' within a day. It goes on for the whole month.
* (Note. What intrigues me is that in the days of old when vehicles were non existent, people completed the circumambulation within the stipulated period. How did they do it? Are there short cuts, I wonder?)
Lekha has begun the reading of the Ramayana since last evening, as per traditions and she'll finish the recital of the epic by the end of Karkkidakam through two sessions daily - in the morning and in the evening....... And vegetarian food has been enforced, in the house, for the whole month!
* * *
Adieu Commander John Jacob Puthur!
I received the sad news that Commander John Jacob Puthur had passed into the mist of time, at his house in Bangalore, this afternoon around 1240 hrs.
John Jacob Puthur was a good friend and he was in the neighbouring Echo Squadron while I was in Hunter Squadron during our NDA times. Widely read and with a gift of the gab, there was never a dull moment with him around. He was a hydrographer in the IN, a thorough professional and a great guy. He'd authored the book, "The Untold Story of a Coast", that challenged some of the well established rules and principles. An original thinker, he was outspoken and never hesitated to speak out, what he thought was correct.
He was called 'Santosh' at home, was a fitness freak who used to go for long walks daily, earning the sobriquet 'Gandhiji'! Though his sugar level was 400+, he never took any medicine. He wanted to run a half marathon and was preparing for it. Off late he enjoyed driving alone, cross country, on his bike.
Puthur's house 'Jacob's Ladder' was a 'no garbage' house. The house never had any garbage, except for the sanitary waste disposed because he used to make manure out of the waste or use it to heat water. He used to deliver motivational lectures in various institutions and regularly donated a part of his income to orphanages and the church.!
RIP, Puthur! My tears and prayers. And a salute to a thorough gentleman and a nice guy who could harm no one. You'll be missed though I must confess that I wasn't in touch with you for quite a while. And here's hoping that God gives the strength to Shobha, Sharon and Sharil to tide over their irreparable loss.
Tailpiece.
It was another wet day today.
It's usually around the first of Karkkidakam when the Edavappathy(The South West Monsoon) is at its height and consequently, people are restricted to being indoors of their homes. To keep themselves creatively involved, the patriarch of the joint family would insist upon everyone listening to the life and travails of Lord Sree Rama - the ideal man(Maryada Purushotham) - which would be read out to the family, usually, by the lady of the house and the practice has continued to this day!).
Moreover, the 'naalambala darshanam'(The circumambulation of four temples) that have the
four brothers of the Ramayana as the deities. In Thrissur district, the temples are:-
(a) Thriprayar Sree Rama.
(b) Moozhikkulam Laxman.
(c) Koodalmanikyam Bharathan.
(d) Paayammal Shathrughnan.
People do the circumambulation within a day and the total distance to be traversed is 90 km. It's supposed to be completed between 'nirmaalyam'(3 AM) and 'uchapuja'(12 PM), but people these days, complete the 'parikrama' within a day. It goes on for the whole month.
* (Note. What intrigues me is that in the days of old when vehicles were non existent, people completed the circumambulation within the stipulated period. How did they do it? Are there short cuts, I wonder?)
Lekha has begun the reading of the Ramayana since last evening, as per traditions and she'll finish the recital of the epic by the end of Karkkidakam through two sessions daily - in the morning and in the evening....... And vegetarian food has been enforced, in the house, for the whole month!
* * *
Adieu Commander John Jacob Puthur!
I received the sad news that Commander John Jacob Puthur had passed into the mist of time, at his house in Bangalore, this afternoon around 1240 hrs.
John Jacob Puthur was a good friend and he was in the neighbouring Echo Squadron while I was in Hunter Squadron during our NDA times. Widely read and with a gift of the gab, there was never a dull moment with him around. He was a hydrographer in the IN, a thorough professional and a great guy. He'd authored the book, "The Untold Story of a Coast", that challenged some of the well established rules and principles. An original thinker, he was outspoken and never hesitated to speak out, what he thought was correct.
He was called 'Santosh' at home, was a fitness freak who used to go for long walks daily, earning the sobriquet 'Gandhiji'! Though his sugar level was 400+, he never took any medicine. He wanted to run a half marathon and was preparing for it. Off late he enjoyed driving alone, cross country, on his bike.
Puthur's house 'Jacob's Ladder' was a 'no garbage' house. The house never had any garbage, except for the sanitary waste disposed because he used to make manure out of the waste or use it to heat water. He used to deliver motivational lectures in various institutions and regularly donated a part of his income to orphanages and the church.!
RIP, Puthur! My tears and prayers. And a salute to a thorough gentleman and a nice guy who could harm no one. You'll be missed though I must confess that I wasn't in touch with you for quite a while. And here's hoping that God gives the strength to Shobha, Sharon and Sharil to tide over their irreparable loss.
Tailpiece.
It was another wet day today.
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