'A Ray of Comfort Amidst Numbing Grief'

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Kumbakonam, INDIA (July 23, 2004): People of Perumpandi Nathan

village near here, who are in shock after having lost 13 of their

children in the Kumbakonam fire mishap [NOTE: Click "Up Thread" for

more about the fire], have drawn comfort from the discovery of some

idols, seeing it as a sign that the Almighty is with them.

 

The tragedy changed the lives of those who came from various places

in Kumbakonam district to settle down at the village. They decided

to take recourse to religion. The affected families also decided to

use the government solatium to build houses.

 

According to officials, when villagers began digging operations to

lay the foundations for their houses, they found a Shiva Lingam and

idols of Nataraja, Amman (Goddess) in sitting and standing postures

and Asura Thevar.

 

The find brought some relief to their numbing grief, as they took it

as a divine indication that 'God is with us."

 

The Hindu Munnani leader Ramagopalan, who rushed to the spot,

conducted poojas for the idols, said an official.

 

Later, the idols were handed over to revenue authorities for

preservation and poojas. The idols have been kept in the Kumbakonam

Taluk Museum. (Agencies)

 

Source: "A ray of comfort amidst numbing grief," Chennai Online

URL: http://www.newsonweb.com/chennaionline/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%

7B5EEAE2AA-3FED-47D2-9A77-E866BA0C354B%7D&CATEGORYNAME=TAMNA