Gems from James Allen-4:

Every thought-seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit.

Gems from Holy Mother-5:

If you want peace of mind, then give up faultfinding. If you would search for fault at all, find out your own faults and shortcomings, with a view to correct them.

Gems from Sri Ramakrishna-3:

As one thinks, so does one become.

Gems from Swami Vivekananda-29:

For the coward, neither this world nor the other world.

Wayside Temples-18: "Sri Kalyana Vinayagar Temple, Poovalur"

Gems from James Allen-3:

Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.

Wayside Temples-17: "Sri Sakthi Vinayagar Temple, Cuddalore"

Gems from James Allen-2:

As a being of Power, Intelligence and Love and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills.

Wayside Temples-16: "Sri Anukoola Vinayagar Temple, Kottaiyur"

Sri Anukoola Vinayagar Temple on the Railway Feeder Road, Kottaiyur
(Near Railway Station and Bus Stands, often you find a temple of Lord Vinayaga, which is really a good idea. These days journeys have become hazardous so it is nice to pray to Lord Vigneswara for protection)

Gems from James Allen-1:

Only by much searching and mining, are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being, if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul.

Wayside Temples-15:

Sri Jaya Hanuman Temple, Cuddalore

Gems from the Vedas-1:

Blessed be the Effort
Blessed be the Strenuous Effort
Blessed be the Collective Endeavour
Blessed be the Individual Endeavour
Blessed be the Enterprise.

- Yajur Veda

Videos for Spiritual Aspirants-2: "They Alone Live Who Live for Others"

This video lecture by Srimat Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj of Swami vivekananda's famous sayng, "They Alone Live Who Live for Others" is something every spiritual aspirant must listent to; that is what I feel.

Prayer of the day-23:

O Lord, the dispeller of darkness and remover of woe! Impart Thee that all beings may view me with a friendly eye and I may seem them with a friendly eye and I may see them with lovely looks. May we all look at each other with a friendly eye - Yajur Veda

Listening to Deepak Chopra-1: The Life and Teachings of the Buddha

Today morning I had the good fortune of listening to Dr Deepak Chopra at youtube.com on The Life and Teachings of Buddha. I am a great admirer of Dr Chopra and I have read some of his books with great pleasure. My admiration has grown still more after listening to this video talk and I sincerely it would be of great help to spiritual aspirants and hence I am embedding this video talk in my blog, with grateful thanks Dr Deepak Chopra, YouTube.com and ForaTV.

Prayer of the day-22:

May my life succeed through sacrifice!
May life-breath thrive through sacrifice!! - Yajur Veda

Wayside Temples-14: "Sri Mariamman Temple, Paganeri"

Wayside Temples-13: "Sri Kollan Kali Amman Temple"

Sri Kollan Kali Amman Temple,
just opposite to the Alagappa College of Engg & Technology, Karaikudi.

Wayside Temples-12: "Sri Sorketta Vinayagar Temple"

Sri Sorketta Vinayagar Temple, Kottaiyur. 'Lord Vinayaga who listens to the prayers of His devotees'. In 1970, my dad brought me to this temple and told me: "This is a powerful deity; whatever you pray for, He will grant you. That is the local belief.' We have been residing in and near Kottaiyur since 1970 and all major events in our family commence with a prayer to Him. In marriage invitations, we print a prayer to Him at the top. I just love the beautiful and peaceful atmosphere of the temple. I used to go at least once a month to this temple; nowadays somehow I have slipped. I must renew my visits.

Wayside Temples-11: "Sri Azhagiya Vinayagar Temple"

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This temple of Sri Azhagiya Vinayagar is just opposite to the Alagappa University Main Building on the University Road and adjacent to the Karaikudi-3 Post Office. Photo taken by Suri using his Canon Powershot A590 camera.

Wayside Temples-10: "Sri Raja Ganapathy Temple"

Sri Rajaganapathy Temple at the entrance of the Muthuganesh Kalyana Mahal, which is near the Sriram Nagar Railway Gate, Kottaiyur. It is accessible to all and yet another favourite of mine.

Wayside Temples-9: "Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple"

Sri Karpagavinayagar Temple, near my mother's residence. It is on the road adjacent to Gurunathan Koil Street, Kottaiyur. I love this temple. Whenever I go to my mother's house, I don't miss going there and praying to Lord Karpagavinayaga.

Wayside Temples-8: "Sri Sivagurunathan Temple"

Kottaiyur Gurunathan Koil. I have never seen it open. It must have had its heyday, for I know many persons around this place, who have been named after the presiding deity: SIVAGURUNATHAN. Sivagurunathan, that is, Guru to Lord Shiva Himself, is Lord Muruga or Lord Karthikeya as he is known in the north. Many of you know the episode of Lord Muruga incarcerating Lord Brahma, the God of Creation, for not knowing the meaning of the 'Pranava Mantra'. Then Lord Shiva intervened and pretended that He Himself did not know it and asked for its meaning. Lord Muruga is said to have asked His father, for learning it he has to become his student, whereupon Lord Shiva Himself became a student of Lord Muruga. From then onwards, Lord Muruga is known as 'Thagappan Sami' or 'Sivagurunathan'.

Wayside Temples-7: "Sri Mangala Vinayagar Temple"

Sri Mangala Vinayagar Temple in Sriram Nagar, Kottaiyur.

Wayside Temples-6: "Sri Veera Sanjeevi Anjaneya Swami Temple"

'Sri Veera Sanjeevi Anjaneya Temple' is on the Hospital Road in CECRI Campus, Karaikudi. I used to frequent this temple and derive solace by doing so. After my retirement, I could go there only occasionally. I feel sad about this. I should go there often.

Wayside Temples-5: "Sri Tiruchendur Murugan Temple"

This temple devoted to Lord Muruga is just opposite to the Alagappa University Main Building on the University Road. Photo taken by Suri using his Canon Powershot A590 camera.