A Thoughtful Message

I received this message from one of my friends, and was really shaken up by the sheet audacity and power of the message.

It is very short and brief, and to the point straight. We love forwarding mails to friends only if it contains some junk or jokes, but never end up even reading messages like this.

I invite upon you to read this through, and share it with as many your friends as possible, as we all have a social responsibility to fulfill.

A Thoughtful Message

Cheers
P.K.

A collection of Jokes

Though we have a lot of respect and affection towards the Sardar community, some of the easy going Sardars started writing and publicising some ethnic jokes about themselves, and it is probably the largest and widely circulated ethnic jokes in India.

Some of the dominant traits of the Sardar jokes include the Sardarji being shown as naïve, inept, unintelligent, unclean, or not well-versed with the English language.For example, here is a joke adapted from The Unofficial Joke Book of Mind Blowing SMS (ISBN 8184191901), compiled by a Sikh author:

A Sardarji is travelling for the first time in a plane, headed for Bombay. While the plane is landing, he starts shouting "Bombay, Bombay!".

The air hostess says, "Be silent".

Sardaji says, "OK", and starts shouting "ombay, ombay".

Some people feel that it is targeting to show an important community as naive and unintellectual, but the fact remains that most of these jokes were written,circulated or published by Sardars themselves.

In "The Other Face of India", M. V. Kamath wrote about "the Punjabi's enormous capacity to poke fun at himself, a trait that seems peculiar to the Punjabi, especially the Sikh."

In his book President Giani Zail Singh, the Sikh author Joginder Singh states "...who can enjoy a good joke against himself or against his tribe except a Punjabi and more particularly, a Sikh?"

I personally feel that these are jokes which just carry Sardars' names over there instead of any other, and should be used without hurting any particular community, and could be made general-class jokes. So, read through the collection attached herewith as it applies to just anybody / any situation, without focusing any thoughts about the sardar community.

Collection of Jokes

Cheers
P.K.

Accountants, feel proud of this...!

Being an accountant myself, I could not wait to share this nice piece with all... Go ahead, read it and enjoy !!

Why are Accountants special?

Cheers
P.K.

Lessons for the Corporate Clan

Here is one of my favorite lessons for those working in the Corporate Clan - funny it may sound, but it makes for a wonderful practical read as well.

The Corporate Lessons

Cheers
P.K.

Gita for the IT guys

I got this file somewhere on the web years back - but the simplicity and funny tinge of the message, with a slight depth to think, attracted me very much. I present below my favorite print - "Gita for the IT guys".

If you want to download the file for yourself, right click on the link below and select "Save target as": Gita for the IT Guys


Cheers
P.K.

Essential elements for a married life

Following are some of the most essential elements for leading a successful married life J

· Communication (stop talking and it is over).

· Trust (single most important factor – you should be able to trust your life to the other person, without the slightest hesitation)

· Mutual Interests (and needs)

· Passion (without this, forget about it!)

· Making the other person feel special

· Spending as much time together as possible

· Romantic getaways

· Vacations (getting on a plane, flying far, far away, and going somewhere for an adventure)

· Flowers and surprises

· Respect

· Fun - lots of fun stuff

· Unpredictability (as in spontaneously doing special/fun/wacky things)

· The "little things" that you never seem to have enough time to do together

Cheers

P.K.

Are computers masculine or feminine?

An English teacher was explaining to his students the concept of gender association in the English language. He stated now hurricanes at one time were given feminine names and how ships and planes were usually referred to as "she."

One of the students raised a hand and asked, "What 'gender' is a computer."

The teacher wasn't certain which it was, so he divided the class into two groups - males in one - females in the other, and asked them to decide if a computer should be masculine or feminine.

Both groups were asked to give four reasons for their recommendation.

THE GROUP OF WOMEN CONCLUDED THAT COMPUTERS SHOULD BE REFERRED TO IN THE MASCULINE GENDER BECAUSE:

1. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on.
2. They have a lot of data but are still clueless.
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem.
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that, if you had waited a little longer, you could have had a better model.

THE MEN, ON THE OTHER HAND, DECIDED THAT COMPUTERS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE REFERRED TO IN THE FEMININE GENDER BECAUSE:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.
3. Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for later retrieval.
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

Cheers

P.K.

Do you know PC Language?

 

It says: "Press Any Key"
It means: "Press any key you like but I'm not moving."

 

It says: "Fatal Error. Please contact technical support quoting error now. 1A4-2546512430E"
It means: "... where you will be kept on hold for 10 minutes, only to be told that it's a hardware problem."

 

It says: "Installing program to C:\...."
It means: "... And I'll also be writing a few files into c:\windows and c:\windows\system where you'll NEVER find them."

 

It says: "Please insert disk 11"
It means: "Because I know darnn well there are only 10 disks."

 

It says: "Not enough memory"
It means: "I don't CARE if you've got 64MB of RAM, I want to use the bit below 640K."

 

It says: "Cannot read from drive D:...."
It means: "... However, if you put the CD in right side up..."

 

It says: "Please Wait...."
It means: "... Indefinitely."

 

It says: "Directory does not exist...."
It means: ".... any more. Whoops."

 

It says: "The application caused an error. Choose Ignore or Close."
It means: "....Makes no difference to me, you're still not getting your work back."

 

Cheers

P.K.

Understanding the message of God

This short presentation underlines the importance of the trust you place in God, and how well you understand his messages. Sometimes though the message may sound odd and unacceptable to the logical reasoning and the rational mind - however, at the end, it might prove to be the best option to adopt.

I liked this presentation very much for its simplicity, and its hard-hitting message to us. Take a look, and am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Cheers
P.K.

The Cliffhanger (opens in a new window)

Optical Illusion-wheels

Take a look at this image - it is a plain, stationary image, constructed in a JPG format - meaning - no animation or movements are possible in the image. However, there is an aspect of Optical Illusion associated with this image, which will ensure that the wheels look like they are moving all the time.

One of the finest tricks played on the eye and its natural limitations.






If you want to download the file for yourself, right click on the link below and select "Save target as": Optical Illusion


Cheers
P.K.

The Road Not Taken

This happens to be my favorite English poem, and is authored by Robert Frost, one of the most prolific poets of all times. I happened to read this poem somewhere during my early school days, and for some unexplainable reason, this poem stuck close to my heart ever since.

The poem is very inspirational, and at the same time, a tricky one to understand as well. It won’t be too much to say that this poem has been one of the driving forces in my life and pursuit so far.

Cheers

P.K.

========================================

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

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Who moved my cheese ?

Look in here for one of my all-time favorite theories - "Who moved my cheese ?", a cute brief presentation of Dr Spencer Johnson's excellent write-up.

Who moved my cheese?

Cheers
P.K.

More on Punctuation

In continuation of my earlier post on "Fun with Punctuation", here is one set of letters picked as the best by "Society for Editors and Proofreaders". These are basically thank-you letters, the first version conveying the actual thanks and the second one with modified punctuation marks, meaning the exact reverse. Read on, and enjoy !!

 

From here on, remember to use punctuation marks properly and carefully too...

=====================================

 

Letter 1 - Matthew
=====================================
Dear Mother,

In law, there is nothing to make me say thank you, but the quality of your gifts compels me at least to write to tell you how I feel. Thank you so much for the presents! I was expecting nothing more than a token yet, again, you have exceeded even your own incredible standards.

It was a shame you had to stay here for such a short time. I thought I might have coped, but it was unbearable seeing you leave. The relief was immense when I heard we might see you again soon. I wanted to end it all by saying goodbye now. I hope I will not have to say it to you again for a long time. If you have the opportunity to spend Christmas elsewhere next year, please do not.

Much love
Matthew
=====================================
Dear Mother-in-Law,

There is nothing to make me say thank you, but the quality of your gifts compels me at least to write to tell you how I feel. Thank you? So much for the presents I was expecting. Nothing more than a token, yet again! You have exceeded even your own incredible standards.

It was a shame you had to stay here. For such a short time, I thought I might have coped, but it was unbearable. Seeing you leave, the relief was immense. When I heard we might see you again soon, I wanted to end it all. By saying goodbye now, I hope I will not have to say it to you again for a long time. If you have the opportunity to spend Christmas elsewhere next year, please do.

Not much love                                     
Matthew
=====================================
 
Letter 2 - Clair
=====================================
Dear Mandy,

Just a quick note to say I received your gift - I was very surprised! When I saw the effort you had gone to I nearly cried. When I heard that you were coming for our roast turkey lunch I looked forward to the Christmas day celebration far more. Disdaining others no doubt spending the festive season feeling drunk, with joy we sang the classic yuletide carols. However, the horror on the streets tonight - revellers ignore the message of Christmas and down pints instead - I wish I could be there to help them.

 

Clair.
=====================================
Dear Mandy,

 

Just a quick note to say I received your gift - I was very surprised when I saw the effort you had gone to. I nearly cried when I heard that you were coming for our roast turkey lunch. I looked forward to a Christmas day celebration far more disdaining. Others no doubt spending the festive season feeling drunk with joy - we sang the classic yuletide carols, however. The horror. On the streets tonight revellers ignore the message of Christmas and down pints instead. I wish I could be there to help them.

 

Clair
=====================================
 
Letter 3 – Matt
=====================================
Dear Santa,

You really made my year! When I heard you had fallen from your sleigh, I was sad. To see such wonderful gifts lined up under my Christmas tree, my eyes lit up. When I unwrapped your gifts I knew that the spirit of Christmas was still alive. It was terrible hearing about your accident. The best piece of news all year is your safe return. Things yet to come, you say! Christmas is a time to love and share, I disagree with Scrooges. Everywhere Christmas is slowly fading. Thanks for making it so fantastic.

 

Matt
=====================================
Dear Santa,

 

You really made my year when I heard you had fallen from your sleigh! I was sad to see such wonderful gifts lined up under my Christmas tree. My eyes lit up when I unwrapped your gifts. I knew the spirit of Christmas was still alive - it was terrible. Hearing about your accident? The best piece of news all year. Is your safe return a sign of things yet to come? You say Christmas is a time to love and share, I disagree. With Scrooges everywhere, Christmas is slowly fading.

 

Thanks for making it so. Fantastic.

 

Matt.

=====================================

Letter 4 - Rob
=====================================
Dear Auntie Maude,

I was amazed to receive yet again the perfumed soap you've compelled me to appreciate for three straight Christmases! That my family had suffered due to my body odour, I felt such delight. I took the soap to the bathroom. I normally enter only once each July, not that I wish to. Wash? Never! Could a mere gift change that? No! Your stubbornness fuelled my resolve. To drive my body to the soapy unknown, my family have sued me for cruelty, and threatened random hose attacks. I cannot allow that water and skin should meet.

 

With dignity intact!
Rob
=====================================
Dear Auntie Maude,

 

I was amazed to receive yet again the perfumed soap. You've compelled me to appreciate, for three straight Christmases, that my family had suffered due to my body odour. I felt such delight, I took the soap to the bathroom I normally enter only once each July! Not that I wish to wash. Never could a mere gift change that. No, your stubbornness fuelled my resolve to drive my body to the soapy unknown. My family have sued me for cruelty, and threatened random hose attacks. I will not allow that. Water and skin should meet with dignity intact.

 

Rob
=====================================

Letter 5 - Mark
=====================================
Dear Aunt Agatha,

 

Sorry it has taken me so long to write telling you how much I liked your Christmas present this year, only I didn't have the time. To take it back and get another would be out of the question! I suppose for you to be so kind shouldn't come as a surprise after what you bought me last year. It was splendid! News about Uncle Brian? Dying to see you again in the New Year. Would be awful to lose touch.

 

Mark
=====================================
Dear Aunt Agatha,

 

Sorry it has taken me so long to write telling you how much I liked your Christmas present this year, only I didn't. Have the time to take it back and get another? Would be out of the question, I suppose, for you to be so kind. Shouldn't come as a surprise after what you bought me last year. It was splendid news about Uncle Brian dying. To see you again in the New Year would be awful.

 

To lose touch,
Mark
=====================================
Cheers

P.K.

 

Fun with Punctuation

Case A - Man and Woman

An English professor wrote the words: "A woman without her man is nothing" on the chalkboard and asked his students to punctuate it correctly.

All of the males in the class wrote: "A woman, without her man, is nothing."
All the females in the class wrote: A woman: "without her, man is nothing."

Case B – Love Letter and Not so Loving letter – change in punctuation

See how the same letter with the same wordings can change in meaning by different punctuation usage:
============================================================
Dear John:

I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy--will you let me be yours?

Gloria

============================================================
Dear John:

I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?

Yours,
Gloria
=========================================================
Case C – Other samples of fun with punctuation

§ In conducting annual self-assessment training, providers should seek help.
§ In conducting annual self-assessment, training providers should seek help.

§ The man dropped the bullet in his mouth.
§ The man dropped, the bullet in his mouth.

§ Watch out – man eating apes!
§ Watch out – man-eating apes!

§ We order merchandise and sell the products.
§ We order, merchandise and sell the products.

§ When I sing well, ladies feel sick.
§ When I sing, well ladies feel sick.

§ You will be required to work twenty four-hour shifts.
§ You will be required to work twenty-four hour shifts.
§ You will be required to work twenty-four-hour shifts.

Punctuation is everything !!

Cheers

P.K.

Keywords in a CV (lighter side)

Read this on with a pinch of salt, and with a lot of humor - typical keywords used in a CV, and what could these be taken to mean in the real sense.

Outgoing Personality = Always going out of the office

Good Communication Skills = Spends lots of time on phone

Average Employee = Not too bright

Exceptionally Well Qualified = Made no major blunders yet

Work is First Priority = Too ugly to get a date

Active Socially = Drinks a lot

Family is Active Socially = Spouse drinks, too

Independent Worker = Nobody knows what he/she does

Quick Thinking = Offers plausible excuses

Careful Thinker = Won't make a decision

Aggressive = Obnoxious

Uses Logic on Difficult Jobs = Gets someone else to do it

Expresses Themselves Well = Speaks English

Meticulous Attention to Detail = A nit picker

Has Leadership Qualities = Is tall or has a loud voice

Exceptionally Good Judgement = Lucky

Keen Sense of Humor = Knows a lot of dirty jokes

Career Minded = Back Stabber

Loyal = Can't get a job anywhere else

Cheers
P.K.

Paradox - an interesting topic

Many of us would have come across Paradoxes, and would have passed through it without realizing that it is, indeed, a Paradox. Paradox is a statement, which appears to be true and false at the same time, and has something contradictory within itself, that defies logic and common sense. Some of them appear to be seemingly absurdities but are nevertheless true.

The most common example you can see nowadays is a page in most corporate documents stating "This page is intentionally left blank" - very simple, though drilling into it, you find that the page is not blank, because this one line is already printed on it. So, it is true and false at the same time. There are varieties of Paradoxes, and it is an extremely interesting topic to be dwelt upon.

I shall quote a few examples of Paradoxes, just to kick your interest up in the subject. Once you are bought into the beauty, you will start doing your own analysis and exploration :-)

a) "I always lie" is a paradox, because if you always lie, this statement is also a lie - which would mean that you never lie, and it goes back to a cycle - meaning the current statement is true, which links back to truth Vs lies.

b) "John, an American, said - All americans are liars" - again, a classical self-referential paradox. If John is an american, and he makes this statement, his statement is also a lie - which means all americans are not liars. Again, that would contradict the original stand and go on and on.

c) Curry's Paradox - "If this sentence is true, the world will end in a week"

d) Bandwagon Fallacy: Consider a situation in which a father and son are driving down the road. The car collides with a tree and the father is killed. The boy is rushed to the nearest hospital where he is prepared for emergency surgery. On entering the surgery suite, the surgeon says, "I can't operate on this boy. He's my son." The apparent paradox caused here is by the bandwagon fallacy. The reader, upon seeing the word surgeon, applies a poll of their knowledge of surgeons and reasons that since the majority of surgeons are male, the surgeon is a man, hence the contradiction: the father of the child, a man, was killed in the crash. The paradox is resolved if it is revealed that the surgeon is a woman, the boy's mother.

e) If your birthday is on February 29 you could state the paradox that you are thirteen years old although you have only had three birthdays.

f) Classical problem of Missing One Rupee:

Three guests check into a hotel. The Cashier says the bill is Rs 30 so each pays Rs 10. Later the cashier realizes the bill should only be Rs 25. To rectify he gives the bellboy Rs 5 back to return to the guests. On the way back to the room the bellboy realizes that he cannot divide the money evenly. As they didn’t know the total of the revised bill, he decides to give the guests Rs 1 each and keep Rs 2 for himself. Now that the guests have been given Rs 1 back, each has paid Rs 9. Three times nine is 27 and the bellboy has Rs 2 in his pocket. Two plus 27 is 29. If the guests originally handed over $30, what happened to the remaining one rupee?

Think of it, and try to find an answer for this yourself ;-)

Cheers
P.K.

Do you call this Coincidence?

Certain things in life defy all forms of logic and scientific explanation. Infact, these issues take us closer to thinking about God or the Divine Supreme, rather than many other things on earth. One of such wonderful writings about coincidence is here (a reality as well):

Coincidence between the lives of Abraham Lincoln & John F Kennedy

1. Lincoln became the President of the United States in 1860, and Kennedy took over as President in 1960 – exactly 100 years gap.

2. Both of them took lot of interest in the rights and liberties of Negro / Blacks.

3. Both of them were assassinated during their Presidency

4. Both were assassinated on a Friday

5. Both of them had their wives along with them, while they were killed

6. Both got hit by bullets in the back of the head, and that was the prime cause of death

7. Both of them begot children while they were living in the White House.

8. Unfortunately and again coincidentally, both of them lost their kids immediately on birth, as well.

9. Lincoln got killed in Ford Theatre, while Kennedy got killed in a car called “Lincoln”, which was a Ford product

10. Both of them were succeeded by a President in the name of Johnson (Andrew Johnson was one, Linton Johnson was another)

11. The successors also were born with an exact gap of 100 years – Andrew was 1808 born, while Linton was 1908 born

12. The assassinators of Lincoln and Kennedy also had the same gap of 100 years between their birth years. John Wilkes Booth was born in 1839, while Lee Harvey Oswald was born in 1939

13. Both the assassinators were from Southern States of the US

14. Both the killers were shot dead before the cases could be filed against them

15. Booth killed Lincoln in a theatre, and ran off to a garage. Oswald killed Kennedy in a garage and ran off to a theatre.

16. The total number of letters in the names of Lincoln and Kennedy is equal – 7

17. The total number of letters in the names of their successors (Andrew Johnson and Linton Johnson) is equal – 13

18. The total number of letters in the names of their killers (John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald) is equal – 15

19. The first name of Lincoln’s secretary is John. And the last name of Kennedy’s secretary is Lincoln!

20. Finally, when Lincoln applied for the Presidency for the first ever time, he had recommended a person named “John Kennedy” to be the Vice President.

Do you call this Coincidence?

Cheers
P.K.

Koneri Raja Puram - Lord Nataraja

On the occassion of Masi Magam, which happened to fall on Feb 20th 2008, we had been to a wonderful temple of Lord Nataraja near Kumbakonam. This place is known as Koneri Raja Puram, and is about 15-20 Kms away from Kumbakonam. It is also known by the name "Tiru Nallam".

This little known temple houses the world's largest Nataraja statue, made of pancha-(u)lokha. The statue is huge and enormous, measuring about 8.5 Feet high, and the abhisekham to the swamy is performed only 6 times a year on specific occassions.

We were privileged to be a party to the abhishekam performed on the Masi Magam day. And our Guru mama, Shri P S Krishnan, had arranged for the abhishekam and got around 40 of his disciples together to get the blessings on this day. The Nataraja is said to be a swayambu formation (formed of its own) and has got moles and other marks on his body, like any other human being. The priests say that they have witnessed growth of hair under the armpit. You also get to see the nerves and veins passing through his body, while the abhishekam is being performed.

We were there for almost the entire day and had the blessings of Swamy to witness it all in person, and prayed for Peace and Prosperity for all, while the Rudra Homa, Poorna-ahudhi and the Vasor-dhara were being performed.

Find below some of the snapshots of this great day. Please do not copy / circulate photos - request your friends to come back to this site and take a look instead. Thanks.

Cheers

P.K.

http://www.vedarahasya.net/

The Organizers - Guru mama & mami

The Arrangements for Homa (Praaramba)

Lord Nataraja Abhishekam

Rudra Homam

Poorna ahudi

Vasuva(th)-Dhara

Lord Nataraja, in "raaja alankaaram"

=====================================================

Tickle your funny bone !!

Examtime special - here are some answers written by kids in their exam sheets (very real, very funny as well)

1. "When you breathe, you inspire. When you do not breathe, you expire."

2. "H3O is hot water, and CO3 is cold water"

3. "To keep milk from turning sour: Keep it in the cow."

4. "When you smell an oderless gas, it is probably carbon monoxide"

5. "Nitrogen is not found in Ireland because it is not found in a free state"

6. "Three kinds of blood vessels are arteries, vanes and caterpillars."

7. "Blood flows down one leg and up the other."

8. "Respiration is composed of two acts, first inspiration, and then expectoration."

9. "The moon is a planet just like the earth, only it is even deader."

10. "Dew is formed on leaves when the sun shines down on them and makes them perspire."

11. "A super-saturated solution is one that holds more than it can hold."

12. "Mushrooms always grow in damp places and so they look like umbrellas."

13. "The pistol of a flower is its only protections agenst insects."

14. "For dog bite: put the dog away for several days. If he has not recovered, then kill it."

15. "A permanent set of teeth consists of eight canines, eight cuspids, two molars, and eight cuspidors."

16. "The tides are a fight between the Earth and moon. All water tends towards the moon, because there is no water in the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in his fight."

17. "A fossil is an extinct animal. The older it is, the more extinct it is."

18. "Many women belive that an alcoholic binge will have no ill effects on the unborn fetus, but that is a large misconception."

19. "Equator: A managerie lion running around the Earth through Africa."

20. "Germinate: To become a naturalized German."

21. "Liter: A nest of young puppies."

22. "Magnet: Something you find crawling all over a dead cat."

23. "Momentum: What you give a person when they are going away."

24. "Planet: A body of Earth surrounded by sky."

25. "Vacumm: A large, empty space where the pope lives."

Enjoy your weekend...

Cheers
P.K.

Today is Car-adai-on-nombu special

Today, lot of Hindu women, especially in the South, celebrate the "Kaaradaiyaan Nonbu" festival. So, just thought it would be wise to share some ideas and background about the same.

காரடையான் நோன்பு

Among the many festivals that have religious or philosophical connotations, Kaaradaiyaan Nonbu is more a renewal of our faith in the tradition, than a festival. Nonbu is to observe certain norms and offer our prayers accordingly. Especially observed by the women of Tamil Nadu, Kaaradaiyaan Nonbu, is celebrated at the conjunction of the Tamil months Masi and Panguni.

It is to remember the great battle won by Savithri - a mythological character - over the God of Death - Yama, not by arms or ammunitions but by her clever arguments to regain her husband’s life. But, it was Savithri’s genuine prayers that had given her the courage to win over her battle. So, women offer their prayers to Goddess Gouri or Kamakshi following the footsteps of Savithri to plead for a long married life (Dheerga Sowmangalyam).

The Puranic Background

Savithri was the daughter of king Aswapathi who ruled Mathra. She was married to Sathyavan, son of another king, according to her wish. Despite Naradha’s warning that Sathyavan would die within a year of marriage, Savithri married him. But as a devout wife, she started worshipping Goddess Gouri to protect her mangalyam, - that is, to change the fate and give her husband a long life.

On the first day of Panguni, the following year, fate snatched away Sathyavan suddenly. When Yama appeared to take away the life of Sathyavan, Savithri did not give up easily. She argued with Yama, and regained the life of her spouse and in addition begot four more boons too! And they lived happily ever after. Thus goes the story....

What is done for the Nonbu?

So, following the tradition, Kaaradaiyaan Nonbu is celebrated or rather observed in this part of the country every year to remember this day and women worship the Goddess with the same belief as Savithri to protect their mangalyam. This year, the day falls on March 13th. Normally the Nonbu is observed just before the onset of Panguni, when the last few hours of Masi are left. The exact time to carry out the Nonbu would be told by the family Purohit or Vadhyar.

Generally the norms are the same to all. Women, including girl children, take oil bath on the day of the Nonbu. Married women observe fast till the auspicious time arrives, whether it is late evening or mid afternoon ( it depends on when the new month starts and that is determined according to the almanac we follow!). One has to avoid curd or buttermilk totally, for the whole day.

Womenfolk get ready for the puja. The place where we normally worship at home (puja room) is lit with the traditional lamp. Some households follow the tradition of placing a Khalasam with coconut and mango leaves on top of it to initiate (aavahanam) the Goddess Gouri in it. On the small kolams (with rice-flour) drawn in front of the puja, plantain leaves will be placed in order according to the number of women and girl children in the household. If the number is an odd one, one more leaf will be placed for the Goddess. On the right corner of the plantain leaves will be placed the thamboolam along with a banana.

The main item is the sacred yellow cotton string - Saradu (tied in the middle with some flower), which the purohits normally give to every household well in advance. So, when the time arrives two of the Karadais will be placed in each of the leaves along with butter. ( Karadais are specially made for the occasion with rice flour, jaggery and Kaaramani - a red coloured dry beans. Steamed like idlis, they taste well along with butter though the preparation is time consuming). Then, every one has to take a sort of vow in front of their offering to offer the same (" Urugada Vennaiyum oradaiyum naan tharuven - orukaalum en kanavar ennai piriyadirukkanum"), year after year - their only wish being that of a long life for their spouse.

After symbolically offering the Nivedhyam to the Goddess, the older woman in the house ties one of the Saradu placed in front of her to the Khalasam (or the Ambal picture in the puja). The others tie the Saradu around their neck and can now break the nonbu by eating the adais. Two of the sweets, which are offered to the Goddess, will be given to a cow the next day. Younger women offer their respects to the elders to get their blessings. This nonbu may have parallels (on a different day, perhaps!) to it in other parts of India, where the sentiments are the same. But, the rituals may vary. It is the same thread of belief that sustains!

Cheers

P.K.

Courtesy: Some interesting blogs and websites - too many to be named here...

For more info, visit these links:
http://grubs-up.blogspot.com/2007/03/karadaiyan-nombu.html
http://anuforyou.blogspot.com/2005/03/ummyummy-yummy.html
http://www.carnatic.com/karmasaya/index.php?Karadaiyan%20Nombhu

Am here, at last....!

Welcome / வணக்கம் / സ്വാഗതം / नमस्कार

Having been around in the Web world since the early days, with my websites http://www.hari.ws/ and http://www.vedarahasya.net/, I have decided to get into the blogging habit as well now. Guess it is a little late now, but as they say "Better late than never".

My blog would have content on multiple topics including but not limited to HR, Management, Polity, Economics, Finance, Excel, Web-o-mania, Religion, Temples, Vedas, and more...Keep a watch and do visit regularly.

Cheers
P.K.