Strange 2022 Aadi Pada Yatra

  

Aadi Krthikai celebrations for Lord Muruga were scheduled for Friday the 22nd of July, 2022 at the local Satyanarayana Swamy Temple in Middletown, Connecticut, USA. Writing this post after almost two months – worldly mundane work has taken over life it seems like; don’t like it; but can’t do anything about it; doing the best possible…

This year, Srimathy (Adiyen’s better half) was scheduled to go on the Pada Yatra, but was just recovering from being sick and was not strong enough to walk the long haul; hence she decided to provide the support system to me; none of our friends were available to support. 

Trust me, the support process is a big task in itself.

Decided to start on Monday the 18^th of July and complete by Friday the 22^nd of July.

Additionally, had to work Monday, the 18^th and Tuesday, the 19^th – couldn’t help: this is what I meant at the top of the post..

As expected, a strange thing happened: the picture at the top of this post is me at the back deck just prior to start. Notice the pinkish cap : the only one I could find in the house.

The very first day on Monday, just about a mile from the house, it started raining hard. The following video shows that.

It was mesmerizing: all the little individual drops of rain representing individual “persons” that all came from the one cloud and eventually vaporize back to the cloud !

The third day, Wednesday the 20^th, left in the morning. Weather was supposed to be very hot. I had taken a short break at an old bus stop shed to drink some water and then resumed.

Suddenly discovered that my cap – my protector against the hot sun had slipped and fallen down somewhere.

I started panicking. How would I handle the afternoon sun; I didn’t want to pass out by heat exhaustion. Trust me, it was hot summer.

Then I said to the Gods: If you are with me, please give me a cap on the streets. If you do, I will consider it a “Prasaadam” ( Gift ) from You.

Kept walking: it looked bleak. Streets here are generally clean and what is the chance of my finding one, I thought.

Strangely enough, about a mile from my prayer, there was indeed an cap on the same side of the street that I was walking on !!

 

I was moved; took it, dusted it and started wearing it right away, thanking the Divine.

And you know, for the next 20 miles, there was no cap to be found on the streets !!!

The photo below shows me wearing this cap ! ( You can compare with the photo at the top of this post. )

The journey was completed on Friday the 22^nd.

Srimathy had the strength to carry the Paal Kudams around the temple. Photo and video below show the same.

It was an amazing experience as usual.  And here I am, back at the rat race !

 

Vel Vel Muruga !! Vetri Vel Muruga !!

2021 Aadi Krthikai Paada Yaatra

 

Aadi Krthikai celebrations for Lord Muruga were scheduled for Monday the 2nd of August, 2021 at the local Satyanarayana Swamy Temple in Middletown, Connecticut, USA. This year, Srimathy (Adiyen’s better half) was scheduled to go to Florida the week previous to that. So we were worried.

Additionally, the weather this year was pretty bad with heavy rains almost every single day. But we did not want to stop the penance by walking this year; after all we had done it in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Upon reflection, I suggested that we perform the walking one week before the actual date of Aug 2 and offer the mantra: “Kaalaatheetha Praayaschiththartha Argya Pradaanam Karishye”, and deposit water. ( Incidentally, this is the mantra used when performing the daily Sandhyaavandanam ritual, if the ritual is performed before or after the scheduled time per Shaastraas.

This was a relief; additionally a week prior, for three days the rains were not in the forecast! So we both got set and started the amazing walk July 22, 23 and 24 covering the distance of about 40 miles in three days. Needless to say, took time off from work. This felt to be more important.

 

We had no one available to give us breaks along the way: we are walking through virtually barren lands and need to sit for a few minutes here and there; food too becomes an issue. But we determined that somehow the Gods and Goddesses will take care.

 

Amazingly, just the previous night on July 21, Ms. Abitha who was out of state somewhere in Baltimore, and not expected to return for a couple more days, had to prepone her return and offered to help us in our journey !! We were moved !!

Here are some photos and clips:

The video at the top of this post is a clip about 4.5 miles from our home: Srimathy is in the front and I am following, chanting Sri Subrahmanya Swamy’s name.

 

The photo below shows the start of the journey: Day 1 at the deck of our home.

 

 

Photo below is the first break 4 miles from our home: eating something sitting on a tree log.

 

Below is Srimathy taking a short break about 6 miles from our home at a dilapidated building.

 

Below is the final stop for Day 1: approximately 12 miles from our home.

 

Here is a photo of Ms. Abitha that stopped by our workplace with food at the end of Day 1.

 

Following photo: Day 2 in East Hartford, about 18 miles from our home.

 

Ms. Abitha is waiting below to give us a ride back home at the end of Day 2: Approximately 23 miles from our home.

 

Day 3: Ms. Devi Arunachalam joined us in the Paada Yaatra from her home in Glastonbury. Here Ms. Suchitra on the left, provided us some food to eat along the way; Srimathy is in the middle and Ms. Devi on the right in the photo below.

 

Day 3: Mr. Senthilnathan giving us a short break allowing us to sit in his car: about 32 miles from our home.

 

Video below: Day 3: Last few steps before the destination !

 

Day 4: Srimathy (Right) changed clothes and Ms. Mala Senthilnathan (Left) waiting at the temple to take us back home in her car ! Back to the rat race !

 

Vel Vel Muruga !! Vetri Vel Muruga !!

Miraculous Paada Yaatraa 2020

Srimathy ( Adiyen’s better half ) had started the tradition of Paada Yaatraa ( penance by walking ) from one's home to the local Satya Narayana Temple in Middletown, CT for Lord Muruga back in 2018. We did it in 2018 and 2019. Aadi Krthikai fell on Aug 11 in 2020. 

With the onslaught of the corona virus, only 3 people had signed up; others declined giving various reasons. The problem I faced was that there were only 3 of us left in the workplace: myself, Srimathy and James: rest were off on unemployment. 

I was afraid that if Srimathy or I faint or fall dizzy during the walk, the emergency services may be impossible due to the pandemic. With only James left, production at the workplace would come to a complete stop. Hence the mind was disturbed; with a heavy heart, we almost cancelled. 

But this is where the Divine steps in. 

Just a couple days ago, a massive storm went through Connecticut and uprooted HUGE trees and dropped them to the ground; the photo at the top of this post shows this. There were massive power outages and the workplace lost power. No production could take place anyway: Lord Muruga took away that concern! 

And due to the pandemic, Sapna ( my daughter ) who had just graduated from college, was at home waiting to start her new job. And she offered to follow us every step of the way in her car to provide rest breaks and keep an eye on our well-being! So we decided at the last minute to start the penance, but to extend the process to 6 days instead of the usual 3 day schedule: this would minimize the risk. 

Every day in the morning, I would go to the workplace only to find that power had NOT been restored; come back home, take a shower and continue with the journey! 

Day 1 start photo from our back yard as we started the journey below:

Another miracle was that there was a HUGE tree completely blocking the road just half a mile from our home; to take a bypass route would add another mile or so to the journey. Believe it or not, just half an hour before our start, that tree was cleared !!! The first photo below shows the massive crews working on that and the power lines !!

And to add to the help from the heavens, our close family friend Mr. Senthilnathan and his wife Mrs. Hema Malini Senthilnathan offered to cook food for us while we were on the trekking route. Here is a photo ( L to R: Ms. Hema Malini, Ms. Sapna, Ms. Srimathy and Mr. Senthil Nathan ) and a short clip showing that:

And Sapna gave us a ride every day back to our home and every day forward to the previously stopped spot ! Video clip below : taken in East Hartford.

Believe it or not, the day the Paada Yaatra ended, power was restored to the workplace !!! And production resumed !!! 

It felt like Lord Muruga wanted us to get the pleasure of offering Him our sacrifice ! 

Of course, due to gathering restrictions, Kaavadi and Paal Kudam functions were cancelled at the temple. However, a small group of us attended the Abhishekam for Lord Muruga on the 11th and a beautiful garland of flowers on the Deity fell, indicating blessings from the Great Lord Muruga !! 

And here is the last photo with myself and Srimathy at the back and Sapna in the front at the end of the journey in front of Satya Narayana temple !

Special thanks to Sapna, Mr. Senthil Nathan and Mrs. Hema Malini Senthil Nathan !! You the reader of this post was Chosen by Lord Muruga to get His blessings through this post; for if He doesn’t Will, Nothing Happens ! 

Vel Vel Muruga !! Vetri Vel Muruga !!

Miracle filled 2019 Aadi Krthikai Paada Yaatraa

 

The Divine Experience of Aadi Krthikai Paada Yaathraa during 2018 has been detailed in this blog, which can be found here . This year 2019 also, Srimathy ( Adiyen’s better half ) decided to do all of the arrangements of “Kaavadis”, “Paal Kudams”, food volunteers set up, etc.

But this year, something different happened – and this post is directed completely towards that. Srimathy decided to do the Paada Yaathraa also – from our home to the temple in Middletown – all in all 40 miles ( 60 kilometers ) of tough walking through uphills and downhills alongwith Adiyen. Men may do this, but this is the first time I have seen a lady do it in Connecticut. And Lord Muruga decided to fill the journey with miracles detailed here ……

The journey started with 12 miles on Wednesday July 24^th , 11 miles on Thursday July 25^th, 15 miles on Friday July 26^th and 2 miles on Saturday July 27^th around the temple – making a total of 40 miles. No headphones, no music, no ipod, nothing but the Divine Names of Rishis, Gods, Sidhdhars, Gurus during the walk. It was absolutely blissful.

And now the miracles…( co-incidences for the non-believers )

Because both of us decided to do the Yaathraa, there was no one available to provide support system – by way of a temporary stop along with the way with a car so we could cool off and rest up for a few minutes before resuming….this is a serious problem. Finally, the night before the first day, I told Srimathy to call her friend Mrs. Sumathi Karthi in Ellington, to see if she would show up at about the 7 mile mark from home for ten minutes to cool off. We didn’t think she would accept; but miraculously, she said “I was somewhat down on the possibility of having to skip the Lord Muruga function on the upcoming Saturday due to monthly bodily functions and here you are asking for a favor for Lord Muruga for tomorrow….this I take as a blessing from Him – sure I will show up !!” And she did….we are grateful to her !!! And Mrs. Suchitra Subrahmaniam ( Last Name same as Lord Muruga's !!! ) from Glastonbury offered to provide us multiple rest area supports during the very difficult 3rd day !! We are grateful to her !!

At the end of the first day, Srimathy got in the mail, a packet of Kumkumam and a packet of Vibhoothi from the Thiruththani Lord Murugan temple in India !!!! This packet could have come one week before or one week later …. But exactly the first day of the journey? (!)

At the end of the second day, Srimathy called the Chief Priest at the temple and said that by the time we reach the temple, it would be about 3:30 pm on Friday the 26^th and that after the long strenuous journey, would like to have darshan of the Great Lord Muruga. To that she was told, “No, the temple would open only at 6:00 pm and so no way.” Srimathy felt totally dejected. The next day, we woke up at 4:30 am and she told me her face had swollen up and eyes had puffed up from the extreme heat weather and was worried. I told her to keep moving and we cannot stop now.
She then went to our Pooja Room in the house and pointed her fingers at all the Gods, especially Muruga and said “Here I am….torturing my body with my face swelled and eyes puffed and body aching and still trying to walk to see You and You are not interested in seeing me ???” ( referring to the temple not being opened before 6:00 pm ). And she continues “ Here is the deal. You better give me darshan TODAY. If not, when I come back, You and me are going to have a fight !!”. In Tamil, such a statement is called “ a Savaal  ”.  We reached the temple at 4:00 pm, completely exhausted. As expected, the main front door was locked. But miraculously, there was a man inside the temple which was dark, with a light in the office room on the phone !! We knocked hard; he opened the main front door and let us in ! But beyond the office area, is another heavy door with a chain and a lock, behind which the Sannidhis ( sanctorums ) of the Gods are. I tried to see if there is any hole through which we could see the Gods. Miraculously, the chain was there, the lock was there, but it was left unlocked having not gone over the other door knob !!!! We opened the door, and felt prostrate in front of Lord Subrahmanya !! My wife Srimathy broke down and started crying !!! Such is the miraculous power of Lord Muruga !! Even Lord Subrahmanya was moved by Srimathy’s devotion and gave Darshan !!

Then we spoke to the Gentleman in the temple. He happened to be an IT professional who was told the payment system had malfunctioned and he was trying to fix it. He could have come to fix during normal hours after 6:00 pm; but decided to leave work early to fix the problem !!! The next day, the payment system had NOT been fixed and they were using an alternate system !! So his being there was of no technical use; yet he was there !!! Lord Muruga did it !!!!!!

My daughter Sapna joined us in the last day for the 2 mile walk in the vicinity of the temple carrying a Paal Kudam !! Son Ajay was not able to attend unfortunately. In the picture at the top of this post, Sapna is wearing a white dotted chudidar dress and Srimathy is wearing a yellow chudidar with a red salwar.

Here are some photos.

 

Day 1: Start. On our back deck.

 

 

 Day 1: Resting on a fallen tree limb in South Windsor.( Note Srimathy's tilak all gone from sweat )

 

 

 Day 1: Mrs. Sumathi Karthi with her daughter giving us a ten minute rest break.

 

 

 Day 2: Start. Resting in East Hartford.

 

 

 Day 2: A kind soul had put a Peace Bench in front of their house in East Hartford. Srimathy resting.

 

 

 

 

Day 3: Mrs. Suchitra Subrahmaniam giving rest support.

 

 

 Day 3: Mrs. Suchitra Subramaniam giving us some food along the way !!

 

 

 Day 3: Srimathy on the Arigonne Bridge !!

 

 Day 3: Srimathy thanking the lonely soul Mr. Hari in the temple !!

 

 

 Day 3: THE UNLOCKED MAIN DOOR !!

The following are short video clips showing the progress.

 

Day 1: 6 miles from home
 

 

 Day 2: Through East Hartford

 

 

 Day 2: 33 miles from home

 

 

 Day 3: In Portland

 

 Day 3: On the Arigonne Bridge !

 

 

 Day 3: 2 miles from the Destination .. My favorite one !

 

 

 Day 3: At the Destination !

 

 

 Day 4: Sapna with Paal Kudam !

 

What an Experience !!  Vel Vel Muruga !! Vetri Vel Muruga !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aadi Krthikai Paada Yaathraa August 2018 - A Divine Experience

Aadi Krthikai celebrations for Lord Muruga were scheduled for Sunday the 5^th of August, 2018 at the local Satyanarayana Swamy Temple in Middletown, Connecticut, USA. About a month before that, Srimathy (Adiyen’s better half) decided to launch a Paada Yaathraa Program ( penance by walking ) for the first time in the temple’s history for Lord Muruga; thus far only “Paada Pradakshinam” around the temple but within the compound had been done; but this time she wanted to conduct it over a two mile stretch outside the temple premises. She was busy as a bee, calling people, arranging for “Kaavadis”(a bow-like apparatus), “Paal Kudams” (milk pots), volunteers for food, town of Middletown Police Department support, constant touch with the temple President, temple Chief Priest, putting together the main LARGE photo of Sri Muruga with Valli Devi and Devasena Devi for the Ratham (chariot), etc. There was much resistance from “some” in the Tamil community and much negativity from various people, but with the staunch support of a “few” she kept marching on with the project – her belief was that Lord Muruga will make things happen if He Wills.

She was SO enthusiastic that a group of six men from Cheshire, CT decided to walk to the temple from their home that is a total of 23 miles. You know enthusiasm can spread rather quickly. Adiyen hence decided to walk from our home in Ellington, CT that would end up being 40 miles. With no exercise at all for about 9 years, the body is not even in reasonable shape and hence the mind was very worried; but didn’t say anything till the last couple days; didn't want anyone talking out of it.

Took Thursday the 2^nd, Friday the 3^rd, Saturday the 4^th and Sunday the 5^th of August off from work and early on the 2^nd, started walking from home in Ellington. 1^st day was 13 miles; 2^nd day was 10 miles; 3^rd day was 15 miles and 4^th day at the temple was 2 miles – making a total of 40 miles. No headphones, no music, no ipod, nothing but the Divine Names of Rishis, Gods, Sidhdhars, Gurus during the walk. It was absolutely blissful.

The following 3 video clips each less than 30 seconds show the progress.

At the temple, the crowd was the largest seen for such a function. Abhishekam was conducted by the Chief Priest Sri Narasimha Ji, with the assistance of other priests. The photo at the top of this post is of the deities Sri Muruga with Sri Valli and Sri Devasena after Abhishekam and Alankaram -- the topmost string of flowers on Lord Muruga is jasmine grown at home and strung by Srimathy. The last leg of the Paada Yaathraa was completed beautifully with signed up ladies carrying the Paal Kudams and signed up men carrying the Kaavadi, all the while chanting Lord Muruga’s Name.

The first photo below shows daughter Sapna on the left, then Srimathy,then Ratham, then bare chested Adiyen on right, followed by a devotee. Son Ajay was not able to make it to the function unfortunately.



 The photo below shows the Padda Yaathraa in progress (Adiyen in center) – SO COLORFUL ! 



 The photo below shows a group of men with Kaavadis.



 The photo below shows a group of ladies with Paal Kudams. 



 The following 8 second video shows Srimathy and Sapna carrying Paal Kudams as people are chanting in the procession.  

And the photo below shows the men that walked from their homes all the way to the temple, partaking of the sacred food ( Prasaadams ) at the temple hall. Clockwise from left: Adiyen, Arun, Ayyasamy, Saravanan, Kalaiarasu, Chandra, Ravi Rajkumar.

 

It was nothing but bliss; after the function, Srimathy received SO many messages thanking for organizing the function in such a grand manner with music, mantras, walks and sumptuous food in plenty. It is Adiyen’s opinion that Lord Muruga WANTED this to happen; He Chose Srimathy along with the volunteers to conduct the mission; rest of us enjoyed the ceremony to our hearts’ content and all of us were blessed. Even You the reader of this post was Chosen by Lord Muruga to get His blessings through this post; for if He doesn’t Will, Nothing Happens !

Vel Vel Muruga !! Vetri Vel Muruga !!