kainkaryam to Emperuman ! - regulating traffic !!

Beautiful hearty smile of an youngster ! 

IPL fever is gripping .. - Greater Chennai Traffic Police have announced traffic diversions for IPL cricket matches to be held at the M A Chidambaram stadium. The traffic modifications will be effected from 5 pm to 11pm on match days - April 3, April 12 , April 21, May 10, May 14 and between 1 pm to 8 pm on April 30 and May 6. 

Accordingly, Victoria Hostel Road (Canal Road) will be made one way with entry from Bharathi Salai -Victoria Hostel Road Junction and No Entry from Wallajah Road - Victoria Hostel Road Junction. Bells Road will be made one way with entry from Bharathi Salai - Bells road Junction and No Entry from Wallajah Road - Bells Road Junction. 

One of the nightmares in a metropolis is reaching a place  in time without getting struck in traffic.  Chennai bustles with traffic – two wheelers, three wheelers / auto rickshaws / fish carts, cars, buses, trucks, tankers, bullock carts and other mechanical contraptions  vie with each other for the space on road. There is maddening traffic everywhere. 

The roads in Triplicane are narrow and traffic often get struck … Big Street at places is in fact a small lane…  the road that runs from D1 Police Station in Wallajah road to D3 Police station in Ice House is – Triplicane High Road …. Old timers would refer this to as ‘Tram road’ ….yes, a unique form of transport that existed more than 7 decades ago.   In the famed  Thiruvallikkeni – other than vehicles of all hues, junk vehicles parked, pedestrians, there is cattle menace too. People are restless, do not obey any traffic rules, violate at will and at the drop of hat, people may quarrel angrily.  

Amidst all the melee – there are festivities and regular thiruveethi purappadu of Emperuman !! now Pallava uthsavam is on.  As Emperuman is carried by sripathamthangis, vehicles would criss-cross, only few would wait, others would honk horn – try to find their way out in the chaos !! – the first photos are of Masi Magam – Perumal and many vehicles can be seen.  The situation is slightly different in Mada veethis – not bigger vehicles, but many many smaller ones and .. .. chaotic people !! 

ஸ்ரீமன் நாரணனே  பரம்பொருள் - நமது வாழ்வின் அர்த்தமே, அவனை பணிந்து, அவனுக்கு பணி செய்து கிடத்தலே!!  எம்பெருமான் இடத்திலே நம்மை ஈடுபடுத்திக்கொண்டோர்க்கு 'சகலமும் அவனே'  -  நம்மை அழைத்து, அரவணைத்து, காத்து, சரியான பாதையிலே எடுத்துச்செல்பவன் அவன் ... அவனது திருப்பாத கமலங்களை அருகே இருந்து அனுபவித்து, அவனுக்கு கைங்கர்யம் பண்ண பற்பல  அரிய வாய்ப்புகள் அவனே நமக்கு தந்து அருள்கிறான்.   

Life in a divyadesam is always exciting ! ~ it provides ample opportunities to be with Emperuman and do kainkaryam .. .. the primary challenge is one of involvement and being with Lord for long hours -  one can observe, appreciate,  involve oneself in so many forms of Kainkaryams – there is the glorious Archaga kainkaryam,  arulicheyal kainkaryam, sripadham kainkaryam, nadaswaram thavil and other mangala vadhyams,  kainkaryam to bagavathas and those involved in service to Emperuman,  financial kainkaryam for specified projects, offering beautiful jewels, vasthrams,  doing service, providing floral garlands, providing fruits and offerings, cleaning, regulating, painting, and so many more avenues ~ some are physical and requires extraordinary commitment .. ..    

As Emperuman comes in purappadu – be it in Panchaparva kedayam or bigger vahanams, there are some involved in regulating traffic that includes standing, politely requesting people to make way, moving vehicles aside physically, stopping autos / two wheelers / cars – showing them alternate path.  Easily said than done – for some are argumentative and would not heed to common advice ! – there is one elderly gentleman who does this regularly at South Mada St / TP koil St junction, Sri MA Sadagopan (Srinivasa Institute Gopu) at kulakkarai and this young boy who walks with Perumal – mostly behind trying to regulate the chaotic traffic. 

Mr Pavan Krishnaiah is just 24 but has the maturity of a 40 ! ..  .. he does this kainkaryam with so much involvement and with a smile.  He is very soft-spoken, requesting people to wait till Emperuman moves.  Hats off to such people who selflessly devotes themselves in the kainkaryam of Perumal in so many ways ! 

.. .. and incidentally Pavan did his B Tech in Aeronautical Engg and is now a software professional.  There are so many beautiful souls doing kainkaryam without wishing themselves to be noticed.  Bow to these bagavathas for whom the only concern is good things for Sriman Narayana.  

Poliga !poliga ! poliga !

 
adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
2.4.2023