A divine dusk...

Just picture a calm and peaceful dusk in your mind. The brilliant afternoon sun has lost it's might and has given way to subtle colours of the evening. Flocks of birds fly together to it's nesting places atop wide majestic trees... and there is a general peace and calm all over which has rubbed off on you too. You are feeling totally contented with yourself.

Now imagine yourself in a small devi temple amidst an ancient brahmin 'graamam' at this time, just before the 'deepaaradhana'. The doors of the sanctum sanctorium are closed for pooja, and the devotees, comprising mainly of the womenfolk of the gramam , are dutifully chanting stotrams in praise of the Goddess. The strong scent of vibhooti and chandanam are mixed with the smell of fresh jasmine flowers adorning the long, plaited hair of those 'maamis'who are dressed in their colourful kancheevaram sarees. The reflection of the light from the oil lamps adorning the temple make their diamond nose and ear studs shine even more bright! Music and devotion are totally in the air.

This was the scene when I, along with my mother and my son, entered the Simhanada Bhagavathy Temple, situated at Tharekkad graamam, in Palakkad. Actually this was one of the times when i really wished i had learnt a few shlokas or prayers in praise of the Goddess, so that i too could join the chorus. After the pooja, when the doors were thrown open, accompanied by the melodious ringing of the temple bells, the sight of the idol dressed in all finery, and lighted by the glow of countless oil lamps, was a sight to behold. The sheer 'power' that was to be felt all over the place was of such magnitude that i was left spell bound! I could only stand there meekly, with joint hands, and keep staring at the brilliant radiance emanciating from the idol. This was one of the times i forgot to pray... But i am sure that i came out of the temple with a bit of that powerful 'shakthi' in me.

Somehow, such incidents leave you so very humbled. I just hope i remember this for a long long time...