Thiruvallikkeni Vasanthothsavam day 1 : 2017

George Macartney,  would often be  remembered for his observation following Britain's success in the Seven Years War and subsequent territorial expansion at the Treaty of Paris that Britain now controlled "a vast Empire, on which the sun never sets".   Macartney was the Governor of Madras  from 1781 to 1785. During his tenure as governor, renovation and strengthening of the walls of Fort St. George was commenced after the siege of Lally and completed in 1783.  He arrived at Madras shortly after the outbreak of England Holland war and he rendered all the assistance in his power for securing the capture of Sadras, Pulicat, Nagapattinam and other Dutch possessions on the Coromandel Coast.  According to James Mills, he set one of the finest examples of elevating a servant of the King to a high office in that country.  That is colonial  history of Madras  ~ to us things are far different ~ Triplicane existed far earlier than the formation of Madras and arrival of British and We eternally are servants to our lovely Lord Sriman Narayana.

Now is the time for Vasantha Uthsavam.    It would amaze one to understand the significance of each Uthsavam and the care with which our elders have designed them.  There are palaces [bungalows] specially built for providing rest to Perumal on different occasions ~ at Thiruvallikkeni, there is Thavana Uthsava Bungalow situated in Thulasinga Perumal Koil Street, Komutti Bungalow in Peyalwar Koil Street.  Of the many lanes and by-lanes, is Venkatrangam (Pillai) Street, running parallel to the Beach Road.  The future generation may not get to know that these gates for many decades opened to have the Lord enter a big spacious sprawling pleasant premises, replete with flower plants, little ponds, trees, a big well with steps for walking inside.  It was the ** Vasantha Uthsava Bungalow **  where Sri Parthasarathi would visit for Vasantha Uthsavam, Kodai Uthsavam, Vijayadasami, 5^th day and 7^th day of Brahmothsavam [of Sri Parthasarathi and Sri Azhagiya Singar] ~  have had darshan of Perumal inside the sprawling premises around which there was so much space. sadly, it  is no longer there……..

‘Vasantham ‘ is a season – a pleasant one at that.  Vasantham corresponds to Spring season.  While they have only 4 seasons in the West, we have six seasons.  Here it is Vasantha Ruthu also known as ‘Ilavenil’  ~ வசந்தம் என்பது பருவம். வசந்த ருது எனவும் இளவேனில் எனவும் பெயர் பெற்றது இது. சித்திரை. வைகாசி இரண்டையும் இளவேனில் என்பார்கள். வசந்தகாலம் எல்லோரும் ஆவலுடன் எதிர்பார்க்கும் பருவம். தளிர்க்கும், பூக்கும் தாவரங்கள்,பாடித் திரியும் பறவைகள் என கூர்ந்து நோக்கினால் மகிழ்ச்சியாகவும், வியப்பாகவும் இருக்கும் காலம் இது.

Spring is a season. We have seasons because the earth takes a year to move round the sun, which gives us light and warmth, and because the earth tilts at an angle of 23.5 degrees.  Spring is the season when one can see lots of flowers blossoming. 

Here are some photos taken during Vasantha Uthsava purappadu today…. .. it was only Chinna mada veethi purappadu !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

28^th May 2017.

Elsewhere the Spring does not appear all that good for birds and animals.  Reports suggest that hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary statewide total of 15,719 wild turkeys during the 2017 Spring Turkey Season,  then in US they moved from feathers to fur.  Fresh on the heels of the spring turkey season turns spring squirrel hunting.  Hunting otherwise means death-knell for the hapless birds and animals.