Old Chennai City

History of Chennai City

Genius Idea To Stop People From Littering

 

UK organization Hubbub plans to clean up the streets of London through its #neatstreets campaign. One clever project sees smokers vote on various topics by placing their cigarette butts into clear divided containers in public areas; another uses devices that play music when a cigarette butt is inserted; and yet another encourages gum-chewers to connect the dots on specially designed boards.

“Our public polling discovered that a staggering 86 per cent of people think littering is a disgusting habit yet only 15 per cent of us would actually confront someone and tell them that,” the organization writes on its webpage. “This is why from May to October we’re trialling a new approach to tackling littering on Villiers Street, Westminster, using the latest thinking on behaviour change and awareness raising from around the world.”

Vote with your butt

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Grocery names

INDIAN GROCERY NAMES IN HINDI, TELUGU, KANNADA AND TAMIL

INDIAN GROCERY NAMES IN HINDI, TELUGU, KANNADA AND TAMIL

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Thiruvannamalai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam is the most significant festival that is celebrated with pomp and gaiety atArunachaleswarar temple.In this year Karthikai Deepam falls on 5th December,2014 .This Karthigai Deepam is celebrated as a ten day festival and it widely known as Karthigai Brahmotsavam.

The first day (26.11.2014) - Karthika Deepam festival begins with the hosting of the flag signifying the commencement of the festival also known as Dwajaroghanam. In the morning and night Lord Arunachaleswarar will be taken out on the silver vahana for procession. The Panchamurthis(Panchamurthigal) are also taken out in the procession. The Panchamurthigal are Lord Ganapathi, Lord Murugan, Lord Sandeswarar, Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess Parvathi.These processions are carried out on different vahanas after the Deeparadhana is done at the kalyana mandapam.

The second day (27.11.2014) - Karthigai Deepam festival commences with the Lord Panchamurthigal coming on Indira Vimanam the chariot of Lord Indira.

The third day (28.11.2014) - Karthigai Deepam festival the ceremony begins at night with the Lord Panchamurthigal coming in procession majestically on the Simha vahana, the chariot of lion. 

On the fourth day (29.11.2014) of Karthikai Deepam the Lord Panchamurthigal comes in the procession that starts at night on the kamadhenu vahanam. The auspicious tree Karpaviruksha is also on the side of the lord. This tree is believed to grant all the wishes that the devotees seek without fail.

The fifth day (30.11.2014) - Karthikai Deepam festival begins at night. This procession on the silver rishaba vahanam is very appealing and splendid to witness. Lord Panchamurthigal goes on this vahana that is about 25 feet tall. A big umbrella with about 17 feet in diameter is carried along in the procession.

The sixth day (1.12.2014) - Karthigai Deepam festival commences with a night procession of Lord Panchamurthigal on the silver chariot that is beautifully crafted and simply imposing when it comes around the temple.

The seventh day (2.12.2014) of Karthikai Deepam festival Lord Panchamurthigal starts with the procession on the Maha ratham that is very huge and it almost occupies the full width of the road. This ratham is made of pure wood that is strong and rugged. The eight day (3.12.2014) - Karthigai Deepam festival begins at night with the Lord Panchamurthigal going out on procession on the huge horse vahana. The speciality of this horse is that all the four legs of this horse are in the air and they do not touch the ground. On the ninth day (4.12.2014) of Karthigai Deepam festival the devotees can witness Lord Panchamurthigal going out procession on the Kailasa Vahanam. This ceremony is mostly conducted on the ninth night.

The tenth day (5.12.2014) - Karthigai Deepam festival starts at around four o clock in the early hours and the Bharani Deepam is lit at the temple. In the evening the Mahadeepam is lit on the top of the hill at around six o clock. This is a very important ceremony during the Karthigai Deepam festival at Tiruvannamalai. Arunachaleswarar is said to be visually represented in the form of agni on the hill top. There is a very mammoth gathering on this day at the Arunachaleswarar temple to witness this glorious and sacred event. The night ceremony starts with Lord Periya nayagar going out procession on the Rishaba vahanam that is made of gold. This is another spectacular event at Arunachaleswar temple at Tiruvannamalai.

Theppal - Lord Chandrasekarar, Lord Parasakthi,Lord Subramaniar goes in the boat and this is called Theppam, since it carried out in the tank. Lord Arunachaleswarar goes procession round the hill, known as Girivalam or pradhiksahana. With this ceremony the Karthigai Deepam festival at Arunachaleswarar temple comes to a grand conclusion with the devotees taking back home some divine blessings and memories from this ancient holy city Tiruvannamalai.

Skanda Shasti

Skanda Sashti, the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Aippasi, is celebrated in Saivite temples all over Tamilnadu, and with an extra measure of grandeur in temples dedicated to Subramanya.  Lord Muruga - called by various favourite names like Karthilkeya, Arumuga, Shanmuga, Guhan, Skanda, Subramanya and Kumara - by his ardent devotees - is a Hindu god. He is considered to be the son of Lord Shiva - the Hindu God of distruction and the brother of Lord Ganesh - the most famous elephant headed god of India.  Skanda Sashti commemorates the destruction of evil by the Supreme General Kartikeya, son of Shiva, and is celebrated with the dramatic enactment of Soora Samhaaram. Mention must be made of the grand celebrations at Tirupparankunram, Tiruchendur and the remaining ‘Aaru Padai Veedu’ temples of Murugan.

Six most famous temples of Lord Muruga - called Aaru padai veedu.

Lord Muruga Aaru Padai Veedu(Six Battle Fields)

Thiruparamkundram : Soora Samharam, Chariot Festival and Laksha archana (worship to Lord Muruga by hundred thousand names)

Thiruchendur : Swing Festival (Oonjal Sevai - where Lord Muruga swings with his consort in a highly tranquill atmosphere)

Palani : The Golden Chariot Festival (A very famous occation in which golden image of the Lord goes around the temple in Gold Plated Chariot)

Swamimalai : The Soora Vahana Festival (Lord Muruga is seated above the Asura Soorapadhman and is taken around the temple)

Thiruthani : Mirror Festival (Kannadi Sevai - where the Lord's Six faces are exposed through a mirror and worshipped)

Pazhamudhircholai : Bathing Festival (Abhishekam - where the Lord's image is bathed in several holy waters, amidst the veda chanting - Sri Rudhram and Chamakam)

Laxmi Kubera Pujai

Kubera’s responsibilities are to distribute wealth and material created by Goddess Lakshmi. Performing Laxmi Kubera Puja is believed to enrich wiith wealth and comfortable life. In mythology, Lord Balaji or Venkateswara at Thirupathi is said to have borrowed money form Kubera for his marrige and he is still paying the interest on the loan amount.

Hanuman Jayanti

In Tamil Nadu, it is observed in the Tamil month Margazhi, which is one of the most auspicious months in Tamil Calendar. Hanuman was humble without self-esteem of his bravery. He left behind him the mantra that with the power of celibacy, devotional spirit and selfless service any man can become a Hanuman.

 On the day of Hanuman Jayanti, devotees offer prayers to Lord Hanuman. At dawn, spiritual discourses are started in Hanuman temples, and the discourses last till sunrise, which is considered the time of birth of Hanuman. At this time, the discourses are stopped and prayers are conducted in the form of puja and arti, and Hanuman Jayanti food is offered to the deity, after which it is shared amongst devotees.

Hanuman Sthuthi:

Manojavam Marutha Thulya Veham- Jitendriyam Buddhimadham Varishram

Vadhatmajam Vanarayudha Mukyam-Shrirama Dhudham Shirasha Namami

Anjenaya Madhipatalananam- Kanchanathri Kamaniya Vikraham-Parijadha

Tharumula Vasinam- Bhavayami Bhavamana Nandanam

 offerings made:

Boondi Laddu: It is a sweet dish made of boondi, ghee and sugar syrup. Boondi consists of drop sized or tinier spherical globules of chick pea flour that have been deep fried. These globules are soaked in sugar syrup and shaped into balls by hand. The sweetened globules are also eaten as it is. It is one of the particularly popular Hanuman Jayanti recipes of North India.

 Milagu Vadai:  It is a deep fried dish made of rice flour which has been fried in a dry pan, coarsely grounded urad dal, pepper, salt and jeera. The mixture is beaten into a smooth batter, given shape, and deep fried in heated oil till golden brown.  The typical shape is a flattened round one with a hole in the center.  It is one of the common Hanuman Jayanti recipes of South India, and can be easily bought at various temple shops.

Tamil Calendar months corresponding English Calendar with list of festivals.

z  The number of days in a month varies between 29 and 32. The following list compiles the months and the festivals for a year.

z  Jan- Feb [Thai]:

·         Hanuman Jayanti
·         Pongal
·         Krithigai
·         Thai Poosam

z  Feb-Mar [Maasi]:  

§  Masi Maham
§  Vasant Panchami
§  Ratha Sapthami
§  Sani Prodosham

z  Mar-Apr [Panguni]:     

·         Maha Shivarathri
·         Savitri Nombu
·         Panguni Uthiram

z  Apr-May [Chitthirai]:

§  Tamil New Year
§  Sri Rama Navami
§  Madurai Meenaksh Thiru Kallyanam
§  Chitra Pournami
§  Kallazhagar crossing Vaigai River
§  Varaha Jayanti

z  May-Jun [Vaikasi]:

·         Akshaya Triti
·         Sri Ramanuja Jayanti
·         Sri Sankara Jayanti
·         Vaikasi Visakam
·         Narasimha Jayanti

z  Jun-Jul [Aani]:

§  Ekadeshi

z  Jul-Aug [Aadi]:

·         Sani Pradosham
·         Aadi Krithigai
·         Aadi Perukku
·         Aadi Pooram
·         Naga Panchami

z  Aug-Sep [Aavani]:

§  Varalaxmi Vratham
§  Avani Moolam
§  Avani Avittam
§  Sri Jayanti
§  Gokulashtami
§  Vinayaka Chathurthi

z  Sep-Oct [Purattasi]:

·         Malaya Paksham

z  Oct-Nov [Aippasi]:

·         Purattasi Saturday
·         Navarathri
·         Durgashtami
·         Saraswati Puja
·         Navami
·         Vijaya Dasami

z  Nov-Dec [Karthigai]:

§  Deepavali
§  Naga Chathurthi
§  Skanda Shasti

z  Dec-Jan [Margazhi]:

·         Thiruvannamalai Deepam
·         Sani Pradosham

Tamil Language History

Tamil language has the special claim of being at once classical like Sanskrit, Greek or Latin, and vigorous and modern like the modern Indian languages. Its history can be traced back to the age of Tolkappiyam the earliest extant Tamil grammar generally to 500 B.C. Among the Dravidian language it is least influenced be 'sanskrit' though there is a certain degree of influence.

The earliest extant literature of the Tamils is called Sangam literature and it is dated between 500 BC. and 200 A.D. Though a considerable part of the early poetry has been lost, some of the bards and patrons decided to preserve apart of it in certain anthologies (about 4th century A.D.). These are the Ten Idylls (Pattuppattu) and the Eight Anthologies (Ettuttohai). Four hundred and seventy three poets, of whom thirty are women, have been identified. These are mainly classified into two. Akam or esoteric dealing with love and Puram or exoteric dealing with war.

In this period, Tamil literature was considerably bound by literary conventions. The poets were keen on keeping up the tradition. The land was treated as five regions viz. mountains, forests, fields, coasts and deserts and the theme of love in five aspects viz. union, patience, sulking, wailing and separation. The poet dealing with a certain aspect of love restricted himself to a particular region, season, hour, flora and fauna. These literary conventions are explained in Tolkappiyam.

Purananuru is 400 verses on Puram themes. It serves as a window on the Tamil people 2000 years ago. Agananuru is 400 poems on love themes. The length of these poems varies from 13 to 37 lines. There are other collections like Natrinai, Kuruntogai, Ain-kurunuru, Paripadal, etc., which are quite well known.

Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural is acclaimed to be the greatest Tamil classic. It expresses the most profound thoughts on the many problems of life. Each verse is a couplet composed with great economy of words. The book is divided into 133 chapters each containing 10 verses. The chapters are arranged in three books dealing with virtue, wealth and pleasure.

Round about the 3rd century A.D., Tamil produced two epics Silappadhikaram and Manimekhalai which are considered twin epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The author of Silappadhikaram was the son of a Chera King liango Adikal. The title means the "Story of the Anklet" and the epic describes the moving story of Kannagi.

Manimekhalai is the daughter of Madhavi and Kovalan, the hero of Silappadhikaram. Kamba Ramayanam is an immortal classic in Tamil. Though Kambar based his work on the Sanskrit Ramayana of Valmiki, his rendering shows that he was a supreme artist. It is different in plot, in construction and in the delineation of character. Kambaramayanam runs to 10,368 verses.

Tamil is rich in devotional literature Nayanmars are the exponents of Saivism and Alwars that of Vaishnavism. Thiru jnanasambandar, Thirunanukkarasar, Sundarar and Manikkavacakar are the four great Nayanmars. The great Alwars are 12 in number. Kulasekhara Alwar and Andal are specially remembered. There are 5 major kavyams and 5 minor kavyams in Tamil. Jain and Buddhist works are in abundance in the language.

Coming to the period between 13th & 18th centuries, we notice Muslim and Christian impact on Tamil literature. Umaruppulavar has composed a long poem of 5000 verses on the life of prophet Muhammed. The Christian influence began with the Portuguese and continued with the Danes, the Dutch, the French and the British. Beschi, Caldwell, Winslow and Pope have made significant contributions to Tamil. The Italian priest Beschi (1680-1747) composed the magnificent poetical work Tembavani (The Insatiable Beauty) on the life of St. Joseph. Vedanayagam Pillai and Krishna Pillai are two other Christian poets.

Twentieth century has produced many talented men of letters in various fields, Poetry, Prose, Drama, Novel, Biography, Short Story etc. Dr. Swaminatha Iyer unearthed many literary works and edited them. Swami Vadachalam, Thiru V. Kalyanasundera Mudaliar and V. O. Chidambaram Pillai are great writers of the modern period. However, the greatest poet of modern Tamil is Subramania Bharati whose patriotic poems have inspired thousands of readers in his time. Personal freedom, national liberty and the fundamental equality of all men find eloquent expression in his verses. In some of his poems like Kuyilpattu (Song of the Cuckoo) Kannanpattu (Poems on Lord Krishna) or Panchali Sapatham (The Vow of Panchali) we notice a religious perception at work.

Rajam Ayyar, Madhavayya, Pudumaipithan, Kupa, Rajagopalan and Kalki Krishnamoor have contributed much to the field of Tamil fiction. These writers along with Bharati ushered in the new epoch of renaissance in Tamil literature.

In the post-Independence period several writers have come to the fore. Among poets, the names of Kulothungan, Ka-Na Subramanyam and C. S. Chellappa may be mentioned. And in fiction the outstanding names are Akilan, jayakanthan, Neela Padmanabhan, Sundararamaswamy, Ashokamitran and Indira Parthasarathy.

Tamil Fastings and Importance

Amavasai 

This marks the new moon day. The moon, which is one of the Nava Grahas denoted as CHANDRAN, is considered as a deity who showers blessings of prosperity and good health. This occurs once every month, usually a fortnight after Pournami. The Amavasai, which occurs in the month of Puratasi, that is the end of September and the beginning of October, is considered of special importance and celebrated as Mahaliya Amavasai. Fasting during this day brings peace to the belated and ancestors. It is a ritual to give Annadhanam (food) to Brahmins on this day. ________________________________________Chadurthi Chadurthi is a day of importance for Lord Vinayaga, and is considered auspicious to initiate any new endeavor, job or project. This occurs twice every month once during the growing moon period and once during the waning moon period. The Chadurthi, which falls during the growing moon period, is known as Sangadahara Chadurthi and is considered more auspicious than the other. The main Chadurthi called Sri Vinayaga Chadurthi occurs during the month of September in the growing moon period and is celebrated with pomp and splendor in Bombay, Madras, Pune, Calcutta and other parts of India. During this festival large decorated idols of Sri Vinayaga are drowned in the rivers and lakes to mark the occasion.________________________________________Karthigai This day denotes the occurrence of the Karthigai Nakshatram every month, as per the Tamil Calendar. On this day a special seva and pooja takes place at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple and free lunch is offered to the devotees at the Kalyana Mandapam. The Karthigai Nakshatram is of great importance to Sri Murugan, as it is considered as his birth star. When it falls on a Monday, and occurs during the month of Karthigai, it is considered especially sacred, and devotees undertake fasts and special prayers to seek the Lord’s blessings. The occurrence of Karthigai Nakshatram in the month of Karthigai is celebrated as Thiru Karthigai. Hindus decorate their homes and alters with little oil lamps to celebrate this day, which marks the death of a historic Rakshasan (Demon).________________________________________Pournami This marks the full moon day. The moon, which is one of the Nava Grahas denoted as CHANDRAN, is considered as a deity who showers blessings of prosperity and good health. This occurs once every month, usually a fortnight after Amavasai. The Pournami, which occurs during the month of Chithirai, that is the beginning of May is considered of special importance and celebrated as Chitra Pournami by South Indians. ________________________________________Pradhosham Pradhosham occurs twice a month - once during the Growing Moon Period and the other during the Waning Moon Period. This denotes the meeting of the Sun and the Moon in a Horizontal Line during the course of movement on their Axis. ________________________________________Siva Rathri Siva Rathri is of special importance to the Lord Siva. This also occurs once every month, the date depending upon the position of the grahas (planets). Not many people undertake any special prayers on this day. But specifically, Maha Siva Ratri, which occurs during the month of Maasi, (last half of February and the first half of March) is celebrated with great pomp by some groups of people ________________________________________Thaipusam A festival occurring in the Tamil month Thai (January-February), the day of the star Pusam around Pournami (Full Moon) is celebrated as Thai Pusam. It is a special day for worship of Lord Muruga (also known as Subrahmanya or Thendayuthapani) and is celebrated in a very grand manner at all Murugan temples, especially at the 'Aaru Padai Veedu' of Murugan (These are six temples in India especially dedicated to Lord Muruga). This festival honours Muruga or Subramanya, the son of Shiva. There are several legends about this festival.