Coovam Once a rich fresh water ecosystem brimming with life, Fish, microorganisms , freshwater diatoms, algae in all it was a divine stretch of water for a biologist, Even today there is a lot of aquatic plants growing and fishes thriving in the waters, the cities slums are the most polluting regulating their sewage is a primary problem for the corporation of Chennai..............
Many noted scientists like Professor Dr Krishnamurthy , Director Krishnamurty institute of algology have studied the rich microbial flora in the water and even it was a hot spot for graduates in biosciences from various colleges some 40 years before for their field study ........
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Environmental hazards in chennai
Chennai is a metropolitan city whose boundaries are extending, with multinational companies and manufacturing units. chennai suburbs like medavakkam, ambathur, sriperambathur are becoming hubs for all kinds of pollution. Fuel shortage a new trend in the city
I feel gov should promote waste recycling as a rule instead of implementing rules where people can not be moniterd like fines for littering waste around the city. segregation can be implemented in the same way as this one, by this way we can encourage recycling industries
There are a lot of waste paper shops in the city they accept all recyclable materials, the remaining inorganic waste can be collected by the gov this may reduce the plastic content in the waste of city by tonnes.
when people follow the helmet rule at a rate of 90%, why cant they ?
I feel gov should promote waste recycling as a rule instead of implementing rules where people can not be moniterd like fines for littering waste around the city. segregation can be implemented in the same way as this one, by this way we can encourage recycling industries
There are a lot of waste paper shops in the city they accept all recyclable materials, the remaining inorganic waste can be collected by the gov this may reduce the plastic content in the waste of city by tonnes.
when people follow the helmet rule at a rate of 90%, why cant they ?
Friday, April 25, 2008
A divine river
The Cooum associated with sanctity
Hailed by Sambandar, in the Thevaram, the temple of Lord Siva, at Ilambaiyankottur, near Chennai, is well worth a visit and also deserves a helping hand from philanthropists,
Ilambaiyankottur temple ... linked to interesting legends.
NO VISITOR to Chennai could have missed the Cooum River. Polluted by industrial effluents and drainage from the hundreds of hutments along its banks, its strong odour pervades the city making its presence undeniable. Yet there is a divine side to this river. Divine? My friends laugh but are fascinated when I narrate what I have seen.
The tiny village of Cooum lies about 70 km. away from Chennai, nestled among lush green paddy and sugarcane fields. The sacred Siva temple of Tiruvirkolam (Cooum) is situated almost at the source of the Cooum with its sparkling, clear waters. "Koopam" in Sanskrit means a spring or well. The village and the river both derive their names from this word.
On the other bank of this river, at Ilambaiyankottur is another Siva temple, lauded in the Thevaram by the Saivite saint Tirugnanasambandar. Flanked by two sacred Thevaram temples, the Cooum acquires great sanctity, but sadly it slowly vanishes as it flows into modern civilisation.
There are two routes to access this little-known temple at Ilambaiyankottur or Elumiyankottur as it is known today. One route leads from Sunguvarchathiram through Sogandi, Maduramangalam, Ekanapuram and Sellampattidai, to Elumiyankottur. It would have to be a jeep ride over non-existent village roads.
The other route is more comfortable although somewhat circuitous. One would have to take the National Highway from Chennai to Tiruvallur and drive along tolerably good roads past Tiruppachur (another lauded temple), Kadambathur, Satharai, Perambakkam and Narasingampettai. The temple is situated about three km. from here in the tiny hamlet of Elumiyankottur.
The presiding deity here is Arambeswarar or Devanayakeswarar. His Divine Consort is Kanakakuchambikai or Kotendumulaiyammai.
The tree sacred to this place is the maramalli, while the pond adjoining the temple is known as Mallikapushkarini or Chandrateertha.
Lord Siva, legend claims, was engaged in combat with the rakshasa brothers, Hiranyaksha, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali at the nearby Tiruvirkolam.
A sprig from the wreath of laburnum blossoms, which constantly adorns Siva's matted tresses, dropped to the Earth, and instantly assumed the form of a Sivalingam. The sanctum here is said to house the swayambhulingam.
Another interesting legend speaks of the aging Divine Damsels — Rambha, Menaka and Urvashi — seeking the blessings of Lord Siva in order to regain their lost youth. Rambha created a beautiful lotus pond surrounded by fragrant maramalli trees.
She and her companions worshipped the deity with the sweet-smelling flowers of these trees and bathed Him with the water from the Mallikapushkarini.
Aesthetic marvel
Siva in the form of Sri Dakshinamurthy manifested Himself in yogic posture and blessed the Damsels with eternal youth. The sculpture of Sri Dakshinamoorthy on the southern wall of the sanctum is an aesthetic marvel — eyes in yogic contemplation , chinmudra at the chest, right leg folded across the waist and the yogapatta girding His loins. The presiding deity here thus came to be known as Rambeswarar or Arambeswarar. He is also Chandrasekhara as Chandra worshipped Him for expiation of his sins.
The Paramacharya of Kanchi has installed a Sri Chakra at the Lotus feet of Kanakakuchambikai. The Paramacharya has also given a beautiful explanation for the names of the deities. Lord Chandrasekhara became Devanayaka when He led His army of Devas against the three rakshasa brothers, and Rambeswara when He blessed the Divine Damsels. The name Arambaiyan in course of time got transformed into Alambaiyan, which later became Elumiyan.
The Sage of Kanchi attributes the "kotu" in "kottur" to "koti indu" which in Sanskrit means the crescent moon with its horn-like digits. Just as the moon (Indu) sheds its milky rays on the world, Goddess Koti - Indu - Mulaiyammai bestows the milk of Divine Knowledge on Her devotees from the brightness of Her Divine form.
Saint Tirugnanasambandar, one of the beneficiaries of the milk of Divine Knowledge, emphasises in each verse of his Arambaiyankottoor Thevaram that his words are the sacred edict of the Lord Himself. While returning from Tiruvallam, Sambandar found a youngster and later an old man blocking the progress of his pearl palanquin.
These strangers in turn requested the palanquin-bearers to take a particular path shown by them, but the devotees ignored the exhortation. A short while later a white bull brought the procession to a halt by stopping the palanquin with its horns. Surprised, Sambandar ordered the procession to follow the bull.
As they approached the temple the bull disappeared. Sambandar then realised that the youth, the old man and the bull were none other than the Lord Himself guiding them to His Dwelling.
One verse of Sambandar's Thevaram is devoted to this incident.
Most of the villages surrounding this charming but remote temple have changed. It is heartening to see an active veda patasala in the temple run by the knowledgeable temple priest and funded by devotees from distant places.
His struggle to maintain the temple is commendable and should be supplemented by philanthropists. The temple is well worth a visit.
Hailed by Sambandar, in the Thevaram, the temple of Lord Siva, at Ilambaiyankottur, near Chennai, is well worth a visit and also deserves a helping hand from philanthropists,
Ilambaiyankottur temple ... linked to interesting legends.
NO VISITOR to Chennai could have missed the Cooum River. Polluted by industrial effluents and drainage from the hundreds of hutments along its banks, its strong odour pervades the city making its presence undeniable. Yet there is a divine side to this river. Divine? My friends laugh but are fascinated when I narrate what I have seen.
The tiny village of Cooum lies about 70 km. away from Chennai, nestled among lush green paddy and sugarcane fields. The sacred Siva temple of Tiruvirkolam (Cooum) is situated almost at the source of the Cooum with its sparkling, clear waters. "Koopam" in Sanskrit means a spring or well. The village and the river both derive their names from this word.
On the other bank of this river, at Ilambaiyankottur is another Siva temple, lauded in the Thevaram by the Saivite saint Tirugnanasambandar. Flanked by two sacred Thevaram temples, the Cooum acquires great sanctity, but sadly it slowly vanishes as it flows into modern civilisation.
There are two routes to access this little-known temple at Ilambaiyankottur or Elumiyankottur as it is known today. One route leads from Sunguvarchathiram through Sogandi, Maduramangalam, Ekanapuram and Sellampattidai, to Elumiyankottur. It would have to be a jeep ride over non-existent village roads.
The other route is more comfortable although somewhat circuitous. One would have to take the National Highway from Chennai to Tiruvallur and drive along tolerably good roads past Tiruppachur (another lauded temple), Kadambathur, Satharai, Perambakkam and Narasingampettai. The temple is situated about three km. from here in the tiny hamlet of Elumiyankottur.
The presiding deity here is Arambeswarar or Devanayakeswarar. His Divine Consort is Kanakakuchambikai or Kotendumulaiyammai.
The tree sacred to this place is the maramalli, while the pond adjoining the temple is known as Mallikapushkarini or Chandrateertha.
Lord Siva, legend claims, was engaged in combat with the rakshasa brothers, Hiranyaksha, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali at the nearby Tiruvirkolam.
A sprig from the wreath of laburnum blossoms, which constantly adorns Siva's matted tresses, dropped to the Earth, and instantly assumed the form of a Sivalingam. The sanctum here is said to house the swayambhulingam.
Another interesting legend speaks of the aging Divine Damsels — Rambha, Menaka and Urvashi — seeking the blessings of Lord Siva in order to regain their lost youth. Rambha created a beautiful lotus pond surrounded by fragrant maramalli trees.
She and her companions worshipped the deity with the sweet-smelling flowers of these trees and bathed Him with the water from the Mallikapushkarini.
Aesthetic marvel
Siva in the form of Sri Dakshinamurthy manifested Himself in yogic posture and blessed the Damsels with eternal youth. The sculpture of Sri Dakshinamoorthy on the southern wall of the sanctum is an aesthetic marvel — eyes in yogic contemplation , chinmudra at the chest, right leg folded across the waist and the yogapatta girding His loins. The presiding deity here thus came to be known as Rambeswarar or Arambeswarar. He is also Chandrasekhara as Chandra worshipped Him for expiation of his sins.
The Paramacharya of Kanchi has installed a Sri Chakra at the Lotus feet of Kanakakuchambikai. The Paramacharya has also given a beautiful explanation for the names of the deities. Lord Chandrasekhara became Devanayaka when He led His army of Devas against the three rakshasa brothers, and Rambeswara when He blessed the Divine Damsels. The name Arambaiyan in course of time got transformed into Alambaiyan, which later became Elumiyan.
The Sage of Kanchi attributes the "kotu" in "kottur" to "koti indu" which in Sanskrit means the crescent moon with its horn-like digits. Just as the moon (Indu) sheds its milky rays on the world, Goddess Koti - Indu - Mulaiyammai bestows the milk of Divine Knowledge on Her devotees from the brightness of Her Divine form.
Saint Tirugnanasambandar, one of the beneficiaries of the milk of Divine Knowledge, emphasises in each verse of his Arambaiyankottoor Thevaram that his words are the sacred edict of the Lord Himself. While returning from Tiruvallam, Sambandar found a youngster and later an old man blocking the progress of his pearl palanquin.
These strangers in turn requested the palanquin-bearers to take a particular path shown by them, but the devotees ignored the exhortation. A short while later a white bull brought the procession to a halt by stopping the palanquin with its horns. Surprised, Sambandar ordered the procession to follow the bull.
As they approached the temple the bull disappeared. Sambandar then realised that the youth, the old man and the bull were none other than the Lord Himself guiding them to His Dwelling.
One verse of Sambandar's Thevaram is devoted to this incident.
Most of the villages surrounding this charming but remote temple have changed. It is heartening to see an active veda patasala in the temple run by the knowledgeable temple priest and funded by devotees from distant places.
His struggle to maintain the temple is commendable and should be supplemented by philanthropists. The temple is well worth a visit.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
koovam(cooum)
Singara chennai isnt it, then why are we having such a stinking river across chennai.
Koovam once a pure river which provided drinking water to the people of chennai.
We beg other states for drinking water while we pollute what god has given us.
Save it !!!
Its high time that we the pepole of chennai take steps to clean up our home (chennai).
This blog is for like minded people who have a small thought for the environment
Koovam once a pure river which provided drinking water to the people of chennai.
We beg other states for drinking water while we pollute what god has given us.
Save it !!!
Its high time that we the pepole of chennai take steps to clean up our home (chennai).
This blog is for like minded people who have a small thought for the environment
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