#TamizhNilathilRaman - 6/15

Staying in Ramanthapuram District, let’s visit Thiruppullani, a hamlet surrounded by salt pans close to Setu Karai.

This could well be a humorous episode - where Samudra Rajan (King of the Oceans) almost had it from the usually-cool Rama!

Read on... Vibheeshana Pattabishegam gets over.

Rama, Lakshmana and the Vanara Senai get ready to cross the seas.

Question was - How?

Rama asks Sugriva to check with Vibheeshana, who, fresh from the success of his Sharanagati to Rama, opines Rama surrendering to Samudra Rajan could work!

#TamizhNilathilRaman - 5/15

Commemorating the 5th post in this series, let’s talk about the most famous among Ramayana sites in Tamil Nadu:

Dhanushkodi, Ramanathapuram District!

What overnight became a “Ghost Town” after the 1964 Cylone, was the first base of Rama’s Army! After an arduous south-ward trek, Rama reaches present-day Dhanushkodi (Dhanush - Bow | Kodi - Tip), an extension of land that directly pointed towards Lanka.

Climbing a small hillock to view the ocean, Rama decides this is where a bridge would be built to Lanka.

#TamizhNilathilRaman - 4/15

Let’s stay in Kanyakumari District for today.

While the first three sites we spoke about were Ramayana sites from the Yuddha Kandam, this one features in the Bala Kandam, when young Rama saves people of Tamizhagam from “Arakki” Thadaka!

Read on! Thadaka and her bunch of Rakshasa coolies were creating havoc. They were converting prosperous agricultural fields into deserts. In a man-eating spree, they were destroying entire clans of people. Every living being feared ending up on their meal plates.

#TamizhNilathilRaman - 3/15

Let’s journey deeper South today, and talk about Marunthuvaazh Malai in Kanyakumari District.

Though this hill was only an “accidental Ramayana site” - it held supreme importance in the lives of a few important later-day gnanis, and gurus.

Read on! Through out the Ramayana, Shri Rama is known for his courage, valour and nonchalance in the face of extraordinary challenges. However, there did come a moment when he felt emotionally defeated.

It was when Lakshmana, his dear brother, lay lifeless after his battle with Indrajit.

#TamizhNilathilRaman - 2/15

Staying in South TN, let’s talk about Alangulam in Tirunelveli District today.

Alangulam seems to have seen quite a lot of action during the Ramayana days!

More research is probably needed, but let’s read about what we know for now! We know how Maricha, in the form of as a beautiful golden deer, appeared in front of Sita, near Rama’s Ashram by the Godavari river.

Sita asks Rama to get her the deer. Lakshama cautions it could be Maricha.

Rama vows to kill it - deer or rakshasa, because Sita asked!

#TamizhNilathilRaman - Starting today, till 22nd January, I will be presenting the story of one TN town/day that stands testimony to the inextricable connection between Tamil Nadu & Lord Shri Rama!

Let’s begin with Kurangani, Thoothukudi District.

Read on… 😃 When Sita Devi realised that the Pushpaka Vimana was about to cross the shores of Bharat, she began removing her ornaments and throwing them below so that Shri Rama could trace the path traversed by Ravana. Among other ornaments, a pearl necklace flung by her, lands by the banks of the Thamirabharani river, in a town that is today called Kurangani.

Today, we remember a personality who is celebrated as a demigod in Tamil Nadu, about whom the entire nation must know, and must learn lessons from.

Ukkirapandi Muthuramalinga Thevar’s (1908-1963) “Four Dharmic Acts” must continue to serve as an inspiration for India’s 21st Century Goals.

Read on!
He bravely fought against injustice, no matter what the strength of the adversary was.

The ever conniving British, with a view to stalling persistent armed rebellion against them by certain communities, and to embroil them in internal conflicts as well as shut them up in a psychological prison, did several things, chief among them being the passing of the Criminal Tribes Act.

While the Act was first passed in 1871, it was extended to the Madras Presidency in 1911 when Thevar was still an infant.

These communities were branded as ‘born criminals’ and faced excruciating state-sponsored harassment.

While the British sought to incite enmities between these communities and communities outside of this law, Thevar brought together all communities on a common platform and engaged in continuous agitations and political action till eventually the law was repealed.

This was Thevar’s “First Dharmic Act”, against draconian British laws.

Being in the film industry, it is only natural that one has the highest awe and respect for Chevalier #SivajiGanesan for his abilities and achievements.

However, I adore him beyond his much-celebrated acting brilliance.

Here are some reasons why! (1/10) #thread His political mentors were Annadurai & Periyar, yet he was an undying #Nationalist!

Quite a rare quality for stars of the 50s & 60s in TN especially because his growth & fame, just like MGR's, was intertwined with the Dravidian movement that openly had separatist ideals! (2/10)

26/04 - the Remembrance Day of one of the brightest minds India gave the world - #SrinivasaRamanujan. Today, however I ended up remembering another man - who was born 4 years after Ramanujan died, but whose life was inextricably entwined with Ramanujan’s. (1/n) This man was born on 04.11.1924 (Avittam) as the eldest son of a humble clerk in Madras’s police dept. Quickly mastering the languages of Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit & English at a very young age - he shifted his focus to Mathematics. For a young lad, he was supremely disciplined 2/n