Thiruchendurai lies on the banks of the River Cauvery,honoured by Lord Ranganatha's visit evry year.I saw the articles written by Sri.Kuppu(Sethuraman)I would like to add a few more important things which have not been stressed.
I want to make mention of PANDAL VENKATARAMA MAMA,without whom life would not have been easy for the villagers as comgortably as it was!!!A man born for sacrifice,would be at your doors for any help even without your asking for it.He didn't know much about The Famous Bhajan Songs,but believe me,without him,any Uthsavam or Bhajan could not have taken place in out village!!It was he who set the wheel of Public service rolling which later on was imbibed by Sri.R.Subramanian and Nagarajan.In fact we used to call Mani(R.Subramanian)Junior Venkatarama Mama.Now it is the turn of Makadi(Sorry to call him by his pet name in the village)and his able band of true followers like Sharma Balu,Suchi,Rajagopal,Guna,Thalaivar Balu,Vasu,Jambu,R.Balu and a host of others.
Venkatarama Mama with the Sky above and the mud below was able to be our COMMANDER IN CHIEF.There would have been no second word for his commands.Especially,when there was any death occuring in our village,he would be the first man to report at that place and would be the last man to leave that house only after confirming that things are going in the right direction.The Grihasthan of that house could afford be absolutely care free because THE GIANT was there to look after everything!!! In our family we adore him as GOD!!!I am proud to mention here that me and my brother Sri.T.M.Srinivasan had a unique place in his heart!!
During Sree Rama Navami Uthsavam,all arrngements were his his responsibility and the villagers had nothing else to do except attend the function and seek the Blessings of LORD SRIRAMA!!!I can remember,young boys were afraid of entering the temple with their shirts on only thanks to Sri.Venkatarama Mama.
I don't remember to have seen him inside the temple anytime during the Bhajans.He would always be busy making other arrangements for the successful conduct of the function.I am proud to say that our village was blessed to have SRI.Venkatarama Mama as its ONE MAN ARMY!!! May His Tribe Increase!!!
Secondly I would say that our villgers are lucky to have lived in the ERA of Dr.S.Gopalan,the AVATHARA PURUSHA!!!A man free of any guile,was earnest and absolutely honest in doing anything.As a doctor his concern for the poor and the oppressed was simply amazing and beyond compare.The monumental things he has left in our temple stand proof of his devotion to The LORD..His humilty and self denial are to be emulated by one and all.His dream was that some one from Thiruchendurai should find a place in the Map of the Country if not in the map of the World,for some kind of achivement in any field!!(Remember he belonged to Kodiyalam Village)
We are sure his illustrious son Dr.G.Mukundhan who is the most sought after doctor in Trichy will fulfil his long cherished desire.There are many other brilliant boys to make his dream come true!! Let me pray to LORD VENU GOPALAKRISHNA for that glorious day to dawn at the earliest.That will be a real and fitting tribute to the departed soul.His knowledge about our Scriptures and his ability to compose verses in Sanskrit and Tamil was awe inspiring.It was fitting that he reached Heavenly Abode on the day Lord Ranganatha visited our village and again mind you,it was during our SriRama Navami Uthsavam!!!He is so attached to our village that,I am sure his soul will be all pervading in our village blessing his favourite villagers!!!
It was given to me to speak in the RSS meeting to condole the demise of Dr.Gopalan.I couldn't complete my speech because I was speechless with emotion in the middle!!!
Memories recalled by,
TMT
I want to make mention of PANDAL VENKATARAMA MAMA,without whom life would not have been easy for the villagers as comgortably as it was!!!A man born for sacrifice,would be at your doors for any help even without your asking for it.He didn't know much about The Famous Bhajan Songs,but believe me,without him,any Uthsavam or Bhajan could not have taken place in out village!!It was he who set the wheel of Public service rolling which later on was imbibed by Sri.R.Subramanian and Nagarajan.In fact we used to call Mani(R.Subramanian)Junior Venkatarama Mama.Now it is the turn of Makadi(Sorry to call him by his pet name in the village)and his able band of true followers like Sharma Balu,Suchi,Rajagopal,Guna,Thalaivar Balu,Vasu,Jambu,R.Balu and a host of others.
Venkatarama Mama with the Sky above and the mud below was able to be our COMMANDER IN CHIEF.There would have been no second word for his commands.Especially,when there was any death occuring in our village,he would be the first man to report at that place and would be the last man to leave that house only after confirming that things are going in the right direction.The Grihasthan of that house could afford be absolutely care free because THE GIANT was there to look after everything!!! In our family we adore him as GOD!!!I am proud to mention here that me and my brother Sri.T.M.Srinivasan had a unique place in his heart!!
During Sree Rama Navami Uthsavam,all arrngements were his his responsibility and the villagers had nothing else to do except attend the function and seek the Blessings of LORD SRIRAMA!!!I can remember,young boys were afraid of entering the temple with their shirts on only thanks to Sri.Venkatarama Mama.
I don't remember to have seen him inside the temple anytime during the Bhajans.He would always be busy making other arrangements for the successful conduct of the function.I am proud to say that our village was blessed to have SRI.Venkatarama Mama as its ONE MAN ARMY!!! May His Tribe Increase!!!
Secondly I would say that our villgers are lucky to have lived in the ERA of Dr.S.Gopalan,the AVATHARA PURUSHA!!!A man free of any guile,was earnest and absolutely honest in doing anything.As a doctor his concern for the poor and the oppressed was simply amazing and beyond compare.The monumental things he has left in our temple stand proof of his devotion to The LORD..His humilty and self denial are to be emulated by one and all.His dream was that some one from Thiruchendurai should find a place in the Map of the Country if not in the map of the World,for some kind of achivement in any field!!(Remember he belonged to Kodiyalam Village)
We are sure his illustrious son Dr.G.Mukundhan who is the most sought after doctor in Trichy will fulfil his long cherished desire.There are many other brilliant boys to make his dream come true!! Let me pray to LORD VENU GOPALAKRISHNA for that glorious day to dawn at the earliest.That will be a real and fitting tribute to the departed soul.His knowledge about our Scriptures and his ability to compose verses in Sanskrit and Tamil was awe inspiring.It was fitting that he reached Heavenly Abode on the day Lord Ranganatha visited our village and again mind you,it was during our SriRama Navami Uthsavam!!!He is so attached to our village that,I am sure his soul will be all pervading in our village blessing his favourite villagers!!!
It was given to me to speak in the RSS meeting to condole the demise of Dr.Gopalan.I couldn't complete my speech because I was speechless with emotion in the middle!!!
Memories recalled by,
TMT
2 comments:
Namaskaram TMT maama-
Wonderful write up about Dr Gopu and Pandal venkatraman thaatha.
Please get in touch with us when you get in.
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Ven Kalyanaraman Sharma
a.k.a "Kalyanams second son"
I remember Jeeyapuram where I had spent several months in my youth some time in 1965-66. I wanted to strengthen my bond with that beautiful & sylvan village on the banks of Cauvery, but fate held it otherwise for me and I am now in Bangalore. Nonetheless, it is always close to my heart...........
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