thirst quenching ~ cool-drinks at Thiruvallikkeni

Most of us drink soda, aerated drinks, bottled drinks, soft drinks, fruit juices, chilled milk, butter milk, lassi and similar .. ..   it's a fact. Some drink more than others. Not sure where exactly we stand in  soft drink consumption. And although many avid soft-drink  drinkers are probably aware of its  bad effects on health, this knowledge doesn't stop them from drinking !

மனிதர்களிலும், விலங்குகளிலும் காணப்படும் இயல்பூக்கம் தாகம் எனப்படும். தாகத்தின் விளைவாக நாம் திரவங்களைத் தேடுகிறோம். உடலில் உள்ள திரவத்தின் சமநிலையை பராமரிப்பதற்கான கருவியாக தாக உணர்வுசெயல்படுகிறது. உடலில் திரவப்பொருட்கள் குறையும்போதோ, உப்பின் அடர்த்தி அதிகமாகும்போதோ தாக உணர்வு ஏற்படுகிறது. இதுபோன்ற நிகழ்வுகளின்போது மூளை வேகமாக செயல்பட்டு தாக உணர்வை ஏற்படுத்துகிறது.

Thirst is a 2009 South Korean horror film written, produced and directed by Park Chan-wook. It is loosely based on the novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. The film tells the story of a Catholic priest—who is in love with his friend’s wife—turning into a vampire through a failed medical experiment.  Thaniyatha Thagam released in 1982 was a Tamil movie with Delhi Ganesh in lead role !

Thirst is the craving for potable fluids, resulting in the basic instinct of animals to drink. It is an essential mechanism involved in fluid balance. It arises from a lack of fluids or an increase in the concentration of certain osmolites, such as salt. If the water volume of the body falls below a certain threshold or the osmolite concentration becomes too high, the brain signals thirst. Continuous dehydration can cause many problems, but is most often associated with renal problems and neurological problems such as seizures. Excessive thirst, known as polydipsia, along with excessive urination, known as polyuria, may be an indication of diabetes mellitusor diabetes insipidus.

.. .. .. when one feels thirsty, the natural craving is to have an ice-cold and bubbly liquid than a hot tea or coffee ! – even in the coffeeland.  The  beverage industry,  has long touted cold, carbonated drinks as more thirst-quenching.  People doing physical work, those who have out for long hours in Sun, labourers and elderly people are especially vulnerable to dehydration, and coldness and carbonation might make it more rewarding for them to drink more.   A thirsty person feels his thirst quenched because of sensory clues in his mouth, throat and stomach. But that water has not yet been absorbed; the brain has projected that it will be adequately absorbed.

Moving away, at Thiruvallikkeni the chithirai Brahmothsavam is about to conclude ~ with Sapthavaranam today.  A day later starts, Swami Emperumanar Uthsavam.  In all these days, Perumal halts at Gangai kondan mantap briefly.  Those engaged in physical kainkaryam to Lord too would feel thirsty and a tumbler of chill water (ice water) might look a great satisfaction.  This includes the scores of youth involved in chinna perumal too.

At Thiruvallikkeni – in Thulasinga Perumal Koil Street [where Mahakavi Barathiyar lived] in the house identified as BR Tea house [the tea shop was there prior to the building getting demolished and becoming apartment] this friendly person Mrs Vasantha Ramesh has been providing butter milk, cool water, rose milk  and soft drinks to the scores of kainkaryabarars.  She has been quietly doing this service for more than one and half decade or more .. .. there are so many persons in service to Emperuman and as our sampradhayam teaches that to serve those kainkaryabarars (bagavatha kainkaryam) is the way of life – there are so many who are doing service to people though not noticed and not in public glare.

Here are some photos of children quenching their thirst.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

28^th Apr 2019.