Two goats fighting.
After visiting Ayyavadi Prathiyangara Devi Temple, we returned back to Uppiliappan Temple. From Uppiliappan Koil, we boarded a bus to Thirunallar. It was a dusty ride on a hot day. We booked a non-AC room at Hotel Moon Park and refreshed ourselves and waited for my cousin brother(elder) Ramanan who was coming from SBC in 6232 MYS-MV Express the next day. Thirunallar had very less amount of lodges. Infact this was the only proper one I think.
At that time, I even got an SMS from a girl, my school friend. Guess what it was...
"hey krish, I read your rameswaram trip report, nice. how do you make it so lengthy? and u r noting train, engine numbers overnight???? guys of your age should note the mobile number of gals nah?? lolz...". Things like these are common in a railfan's life. Locomotives were more humble than the present day generation girls.
We walked to Thirunageswaram from Oppiliappan Koil.
Thirunallar didn't have good hotels at all. At lunch time, hotels were closed. Have they closed it for lunch, well I believe that they should keep it open during lunch hours for the public, isn't it?? To have good veg food we may need to go to Karaikal which is 5km away. But my cousin had other ideas. We went to a nearby bakery. We boughts puffs, water, pepsi, chips for around Rs.150. That was our dinner and lunch! We returned to our room in the hotel. I saw Chandramukhi film for sometime. It was running in local TV, KLTV(Karaikal TV). Amusing! You get local ads in it. If they start running the ads it runs for atleast 20mins non-stop. The ads were funny. Sarbath shops, local restaurants, catering colleges, grindershops etc etc. A television channel only for Thirunallar!
We did have a plan of visiting Velankanni Church and Nagore Dargah, but I was tired and flat! The plan was cancelled. Too bad that we didn't visit the Church.
Nearing Ayyavadi Prathiyangara Devi Temple.
The next day my cousin brother Ramanan came. We got ready in the morning itself and visited Thirunallar Sani temple. Sprinkling divine waters from the pond, we entered the temple. We showed the Universal Passport (the one with Gandhi photo). We were instantly allowed for immediate darshan. The crowd was too much. That too it was Saturday-you can imagine the rest. We noted the contact details of the person concerned who assisted in darshan so that I could help any friends incase if they were visiting the temple. They could bypass the crowd.
Sheer bliss! Amazing scenario.
Thirunallar is a small town in Karaikal in the Union Territory of Pondicherry. It is most noted for the shrine of Lord Shani. In the Temple there is also a special sannidhi dedicated to Lord Darbaranyesvara, a form of Lord Shiva. When the planet Saturn transits between zodiac signs, literally millions throng this shrine. It is believed by worshipping Sani, one is relieved from misfortunes.
Jai Karthik and myself. Pic taken as we stopped to take rest. We walked amidst greenery, paddy fields, ponds to reach Ayyavadi Temple inside a forest.
No comments:
Post a Comment