Pillayar.....

Pillayar.. the very name brings a sense of fondness and love when we think of the chubby and cuddly elephantine God, Lord Ganesh. He is everyone's favourite. Revered as the remover of all obstacles, He is to be worshipped first before the beginning of any holy ritual. I drew this Pillayar from a painting of popular Gods and Goddesses painter, Shri. Padmavasan.

A visit to Vivekanadar Illam

Hi All!

I'd been to the Vivekanandar Illam last Saturday. I felt ashamed for having missed such a historic place all these years, having stayed in Chennai. Its also known as the 'Ice House' as the house was originally built by an American who used it store ice.

The view of the Vivekanandar Illam from outside

This is the place where Swami Vivekananda stayed for 10 days when he visited the then Madras. It also takes pride in being the first Ramakrishna Mutt Establishment in South India. The house has three floors. In the ground floor, is the history of the Ice House. Photographic records of how the Ice house became Castle Kernan and then Marine Mansion before it finally became to be known as Vivekanandar Illam.

In the First Floor, there is an exhibition of 43 paintings that portrays the History of the cultural heritage of our beloved India and talks about her pristine glory in the ancient times. After having seen the exhibits, one round, one feels as if Swami Vivekananda calls us to restore our motherland to her Glory once more. There is also a small library in the first floor that hosts a variety of wonderful eye opener books for one and all.

In the second floor, there is a photographic exhibit of Swami Vivekananda, right from his childhood. How he was when he was a student of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, then how he started life as a monk, his visit to London, and the United States. There are also photos depicting Swamiji during his life as a Parivrajaka, a wandering monk who travelled across the length and breadth of India on foot, carrying with him neither money nor food. One can come acroos the most beautiful and rare captures of the great Swami Vivekananda. The second floor also houses a small Meditation Hall.

At the entrance with my friend, Balu

The Vivekanandar Illam is situated on the beach road. It is my humble and sincere request that everyone in Chennai must visit this place. No matter how old you are, you'll be able to feel the responsibility that we all share in preserving the culture of our nation. You'll be too happy for having visited this place and you'll be proud that you are an Indian, for such is the richness that our nation has. The next time, someone asks me what are the places to be seen in Chennai, "Vivekanandar Illam" is on my list.