Vidya Sidhi Pooja
Sunday - 09 Nov was the 41st instance of the Vidya Sidhi Pooja at the Trikkur Kamakshi Amman temple. The Pooja was started at the instance of "Kollam Mami". Kollam Mami is a devout person who initiated the chanting of Lalitha Sahasranamam at the Madikunnu temple every Wednesday, the crowds coming for the Sahasranamam are now in thousands and miracles have known to occur.
When Kollam Mami visited our Kamakshi temple, she wanted to start a Pooja that would provide educational benefits of the children of Trikkur. Thus was born the Pooja. It started as a simple affair and has grown into a grand one.
I am proud to say that Krishnan Chitappa and Babulu Athai along with Ammanji Athu Ramachandran Mama and otehr Trikkur elders have been running the show very successfully. I was fortunate to attend the Pooja during my trip to India in July.
About 10'o clock on a lovely monsoony rainy morning in Trikkur, along with about 50 or other kids, I sat down for the Pooja. The temple premises were abuzz with excitement. A plantain leaf (about a foot wide) were placed before each participant - it contained flowers, a prasadam packet containing raisins and 1 rupee coin, ghee valakku and vethala paaku pazham, also incense sticks and karporam. (Trikkur is by nature environment friendly!). The Pooja costs Rs.21 to account for the cost of things used during the Pooja - honey, raisins, ghee and oil. The village elders gathered in the temple and it was wonderful to see the familiar faces of Ramachandran Mama, Ramajayam Mami, Sarasa Mami, Smitha's mother, Chithi, Jaya Chithi, Babulu Athai and others.
As the elders gathered, the program started with Chitappa announcing the coming Sanskrit class. And then came the lovely prayers - all hand picked by Chitappa, Appa and Babulu Athai. The prayers have been compiled into a small booklet, which is quite handy and contains prayers to all deities. The sankalpam has been translated to Malayalam, so it is easy for the kids(and elders) to understand what they mean. Babulu Athai has composed some of the beautiful verses. I noticed how all the kids except me knew all the slokams by heart and how in that lovely rainy morning that is so typical of Trikkur, the kids said it with gusto in a high voice. It was just incredible.
After the Pooja and Aarathi at the temple, came the lovely meal. Someone sponsors this each week - it is cooked by folks from Maani's family and consists of Payasam, rice, sambhar, curry, appalam and thair. Athai had made a lovely pickle that afternoon. The food was simple and awesome.
The same kids also participate in the Sanskrit program. Chitappa has been to the Sanskrit Open University on the way to Guruvayoor and found the Distance Education Program for Sanskrit is very good. If I remember right, about 35 students have joined the course.
I realised why the program was successfully - a sense of oneness, a worthwhile cause and the commitment of the people running it and the blessings of Kamakshi. When I spoke to the parents of the kids about why they come, they mentioned about the increased focus in studies, so better grades and also general well being.
On a personal note, I have done a couple of Professional exams this year and have scored really well, which I attribute to the blessings from the Pooja.
Jai Kamakshi!
When Kollam Mami visited our Kamakshi temple, she wanted to start a Pooja that would provide educational benefits of the children of Trikkur. Thus was born the Pooja. It started as a simple affair and has grown into a grand one.
I am proud to say that Krishnan Chitappa and Babulu Athai along with Ammanji Athu Ramachandran Mama and otehr Trikkur elders have been running the show very successfully. I was fortunate to attend the Pooja during my trip to India in July.
About 10'o clock on a lovely monsoony rainy morning in Trikkur, along with about 50 or other kids, I sat down for the Pooja. The temple premises were abuzz with excitement. A plantain leaf (about a foot wide) were placed before each participant - it contained flowers, a prasadam packet containing raisins and 1 rupee coin, ghee valakku and vethala paaku pazham, also incense sticks and karporam. (Trikkur is by nature environment friendly!). The Pooja costs Rs.21 to account for the cost of things used during the Pooja - honey, raisins, ghee and oil. The village elders gathered in the temple and it was wonderful to see the familiar faces of Ramachandran Mama, Ramajayam Mami, Sarasa Mami, Smitha's mother, Chithi, Jaya Chithi, Babulu Athai and others.
As the elders gathered, the program started with Chitappa announcing the coming Sanskrit class. And then came the lovely prayers - all hand picked by Chitappa, Appa and Babulu Athai. The prayers have been compiled into a small booklet, which is quite handy and contains prayers to all deities. The sankalpam has been translated to Malayalam, so it is easy for the kids(and elders) to understand what they mean. Babulu Athai has composed some of the beautiful verses. I noticed how all the kids except me knew all the slokams by heart and how in that lovely rainy morning that is so typical of Trikkur, the kids said it with gusto in a high voice. It was just incredible.
After the Pooja and Aarathi at the temple, came the lovely meal. Someone sponsors this each week - it is cooked by folks from Maani's family and consists of Payasam, rice, sambhar, curry, appalam and thair. Athai had made a lovely pickle that afternoon. The food was simple and awesome.
The same kids also participate in the Sanskrit program. Chitappa has been to the Sanskrit Open University on the way to Guruvayoor and found the Distance Education Program for Sanskrit is very good. If I remember right, about 35 students have joined the course.
I realised why the program was successfully - a sense of oneness, a worthwhile cause and the commitment of the people running it and the blessings of Kamakshi. When I spoke to the parents of the kids about why they come, they mentioned about the increased focus in studies, so better grades and also general well being.
On a personal note, I have done a couple of Professional exams this year and have scored really well, which I attribute to the blessings from the Pooja.
Jai Kamakshi!