Two Querries.

[Guest guest]

1. I hear that at the foot hill of thirumalai there is some one who performs

a sEvai with a "leather chappal". Is this something new? I never heard

of this long ago?

 

2. There is a sculpture called "vaishnava Ganapathi". I am wondering

if there is any "vaishnava siva" also. The aazhvaars mention siva

scores of times as being a prime bhaktha of thirumaal.

 

K. Srinivasan of Quebec.

[Guest guest]

On Jul 21, 9:43am, K. Srinivasan wrote:

> Two Querries.

> 1. I hear that at the foot hill of thirumalai there is some one who performs

> a sEvai with a "leather chappal". Is this something new? I never heard

> of this long ago?

 

During my recent trip to thirumalai, I noticed that there were several

pAdhukais kept in the foot hill in a place and is kindoff marked as the

starting point for those who climb by bare foot. I donot know the

significance of these pAdhukais being kept at that starting point.

However, I did notice many pAdhukais in different sizes and of differnt

make ie of metals and wooden. There may possibly exist a leather pair

also. I donot remember seeing this though. All I did here was to chant

the 2 liner from Sri RanganAtha pAdukA that has been taught to me for

clearing any obstacles in what ever endeavour I do so that my journey

uphill by foot will be smooth and as desired. However, the sight of

pAdhukais give so many hopes that the darshan is going to be very

good.

 

I saw a small boy with his family attempting to do pooja here

for pAdhukais prior to climbing. He was kinda sick and looked like

a handicapped person. I took off for sometime and went to this boy who

was crying as his father was simply ordering him ignoring his pains. I

assured the boy that he can climb as prayed, and once he is at the top

he will get many blessings. For his good intention to start the

journey, I gave him some money and said that the rewards will be much more

when he pray to the Lord. This is an ordinary folk from a tamilnadu

village and he is a pAmaran without much education. I felt very small

when I looked in their eyes full of hopes that they will be blessed

with by Lord Venkatachalapathy and their resolve to climb the hills

despite their illhealth. Many of us normally differ climbing due to

many reasons. ie., If we have the darshan of pAdhukais here one can get over

these feelings. I have seen ladies climbing with thier newborn infants

(2 months old) and children as small as 3 years old climbing. Padhukai

worship at this place is really soothing and charge our energies for

the upward journey.

>

adiyEn

Sampath Rengarajan

 

Note : I have some answers and observations for the part 2 of Sri Srinivasan's

questions that I will post later.