ALL IS WELL——THANK GOD —-Vengrai Parthasarathy Vanamamalai is the most pre-eminent of the eight holy places that give the blessing of Salvation. It is believed that devotees should visit this temple at least once in their life time. In an era long gone by, there was a Ruler of Sind who was fond of hunting.…
CHEEK TO CHEEK—-VENGRAI
CHEEK TO CHEEK Vengrai Parthasarathy The story I am about to tell opens on a gold-framed mirror in an apartment Arjun stared at the mirror for one full minute, He could not believe what he saw. It was not there the previous day. The pink dot. He got up on his toes for a closer…
Mandayam iyengar lingo–Vengrai
MANDAYAM IYENGAR LINGO VENGRAI PARTHASARATHY I can claim to know a little about Mandyams having chosen a Mandayam as Sahadharmini. Is it Mandyam or Mandayam?.For a moment I shall leave it for them to call themselves to be this or that. I thank Mr.M.C.Venkatesh, a Mandayam stalwart, who has offered the following amendmentsto my understanding…
FIRE, FEAR AND FRIENDS…By Vengrai
FIRE, FEAR AND FRIENDS – Vengrai Parthasarathy When Wind and Fire, two of Nature’s elemental forces join hands, insignificant Man has but to bow before it. I was woken up from my beauty sleep on the fateful Monday morning and told that I had but thirty minutes in which to pack up and leave the…
APT WORDS, APTLY SPOKEN–Vengrai
Apt Words, Aptly Spoken. By Vengrai Parthasarathy “Mr.Gorbachev, tear down that wall” roared President Reagan. The twentieth anniversary of these prophetic words was observed by the media. Eventually, though not as a direct result, events led to the break up of the Soviet Union. What Churchill called the Iron Curtain came down. It is said…
SPRING AWAKENING
SPRING AWAKENING — Sublime and Sacred Month of MArgazhi — Vengrai Parthasarathy *** The Tamil month MARGAZHI (December-January) , also known as Dhanur Masa, is considered a special, auspicious month. It culminates on January 14, the Pongal Day, which is celebrated with great éclat by Tamils. Home frontages are decorated with Rangoli (Kolam) and flowers…
TWENTY-TWENTY—BANG-BANG
TWENTY-TWENTY—BANG-BAMG–New Cricket Format Vengrai Parthasarathy The Twenty-20 format has come to stay. The Scene: A tied match. Three stumps—a trident of glory. The speed-merchant takes a run up and bowls–but there is no batsman! Balls being bowled at an unguarded wicket!. And, the result of the match rests on who hits the stumps more times.…
Hallowed be thy Name
________________________________________________ Hallowed be thy Name By Vengrai Parthasarathy There is a romance attached to names, names like Juliet, Cleopatra and Helen They demand attention and conjure up visions of their romantic escapades. There are of course names like Heidi (the madam), and Monica Lewinsky the errant intern of Clinton fame, which straightaway put you off.…
Cup that Cheers, not inebriates
Cup that Cheers By Vengrai Parthasarathy Tea is not the only drink that cheers. The wafting aroma of coffee, as you loll in the bed in the wee hours of the morning, is a wake-up call. It sets the blood flowing and prepares even a grouch to face the world—cheerfully. ”Coffee is to wake up,…
CRICKET COOKIES—–VENGRAI
CRICKET COOKIES Vengrai Parthasarathy India is Cricket country. .Just as Baseball and humor are serious business in America, Cricket is a passion here. As in every serious matter there is always a humorous side; So it is to to Cricket. It has its downside too especially if it means India getting beaten black and blue…