ஸ்ரீ ராஜகோபால ஸ்வாமி

மன்னார்குடி ஸ்ரீராஜகோபால ஸ்வாமி

கண்ணபிரான் இடது திருக்கரத்தால் பசுவை அணைத்துக்கொண்டு,வலது திருக்கரத்தால் சாட்டையைச் சுழற்றும் பாவனையில் ‘வேத்ர பாணி’யாக, நின்ற திருமேனியோடு ஸேவை ஸாதிக்கும் திருக்கோலம் “மன்னார்” என்றழைக்கப்படுகிறது. தமிழகத்தில் இத்தகைய கோலத்தில் கோபாலன் எழுந்தருளியிருக்கும் தலங்கள் மிகவும் அபூர்வமானவை. ஸ்ரீ வில்லிபுத்தூர், காட்டுமன்னார் கோவில்,மன்னார்கோவில்,மேலப்பாவூர், ராஜமன்னார் குடி ஆகிய இடங்களில் இப்பேரழகைக் காணலாம். இவை அனைத்தினுள்ளும் புகழ் பெற்றது மன்னார்குடி மட்டுமே. மன்னார்குடி ‘தக்ஷிணத்வாரகை’ என்னும் பெயர் பெற்றது; அழகான மதிற்சுவர் அமையப் பெற்றது.

நான்கு வேதங்களையும் கற்றுணர்ந்த பெரியோர்கள் இங்கு வாழ்ந்தமையால் "ராஜாதி ராஜ சதுர்வேதி மங்கலம்' என்றும், முன்காலத்தில் செண்பக மரங்கள் அடர்ந்த காட்டுப் பகுதியாக இருந்தமையால் "செண்பகாரண்ய க்ஷத்திரம்' எனவும், துவாரகையில் கண்ணன் செய்த லீலைகளை இங்கு நிகழ்த்தியமையால் "தட்சிண துவாரகை' என்றும், மன்னன் குலோத்துங்கன் இக்கோயிலை அமைத்ததால் "குலோத்துங்க சோழ விண்ணகரம்' என்றும், ராஜ மன்னராகிய அருள்மிகு ராஜகோபாலன் கோயில் கொண்டிருப்பதால் "ராஜமன்னார்குடி' என்றும், மன்னர்கள் கோபாலனுக்கு கோயில் கட்டியதால் "மன்னார் கோயில்' என்றும் இவ்வூர் அழைக்கப் பெறுகிறது.

"மன்னார்குடி மதிலழகு, மண்ணில் மிக்கது மன்னார்குடி, மறையோர் மிகுந்தது மன்னார்குடி, கோயில் பாதி... குளம் பாதி' எனும் பழமொழிகளாலும் இவ்வூர் பெருமை பெறுகிறது.

முதலாம் குலோத்துங்க சோழன் (கி.பி.1072-கி.பி.1122) ராஜகோபால சுவாமியின் கருவறை, அர்த்த மண்டபம் ஆகியவற்றைக் கட்டுவித்தான். பிற்காலத்தில் ரகுநாத நாயக்கர் (கி.பி.1600-1634), விஜயராகவ நாயக்கர் (கி.பி.1634-1672) ஆகியோர் கோயிலில் பல்வேறு திருப்பணிகள் செய்துள்ளதைக் கல்வெட்டுகள் எடுத்தியம்புகின்றன.

மாமதிநலம் அருளப் பெற்ற நம்மாழ்வார் தாம் அருளிய ""தீர்ப்பாரை யாம் இனி எங்ஙனம் நாடதும்...'' எனத் தொடங்கும் 10 பாசுரங்களை ஸ்ரீ மணவாளமாமுனிகள் அபிமானமாகச் சமர்ப்பித்து இக்கோயிலை அபிமான திவ்யதேசமாகத் திகழச் செய்தார்.

தென்னகத்து விண்ணகரமாம் மன்னார்குடி மாநகரத்தில் ஸ்ரீராஜகோபாலசுவாமி கோயில் 7 பிரகாரங்கள், 16 கோபுரங்கள், 24 சந்நிதிகள், நீண்ட நெடிதுயர்ந்த மதில்கள், அழகான மண்டபங்கள், 154 அடி உயர வானளாவ உயர்ந்து நிற்கும் கம்பீரமான ராஜகோபுரம், அதன் எதிரே 54 அடி உயர ஒற்றைக் கல்லாலான கருட ஸ்தம்பம் உள்பட கவின் மிகு சிற்பங்கள் நிறைந்த கலைப் பெட்டகமாகத் திகழ்கிறது. கோபுரத்திற்கு வடபுறம் ஸ்ரீவானமாமலை ஜீயர் மடமும், தென்புறம் ஸ்ரீஅஹோபில ஜீயர் மடமும் உள்ளன. இத்தலத்தில் ஹரித்ரா நதி, துர்வாச தீர்த்தம், திருப்பாற்கடல், கோபிகா தீர்த்தம், சங்கு தீர்த்தம், சக்கர தீர்த்தம் உள்ளிட்ட ஒன்பது திருக்குளங்களுடன், காவிரியின் கிளை நதியான பாமணி ஆறு, பத்தாவது புண்ணிய நீர்நிலையாகத் திகழ்கிறது.

கோபியருடன் நம் கோபாலன் ஜலக்கிரீடை செய்தருளியபோது, கோபியர் உடலில் பூசியிருந்த ஹரித்ரா (மஞ்சள்) இக்குளத்தில் கலந்ததால் "ஹரித்ரா நதி' எனப் பெயர் பெற்றது. இது 1158 அடி நீளம், 847 அடி அகலமுடைய பிரம்மாண்டமான மிகப் பெரிய குளமாகும். காவிரியின் மகள் எனவும், 66 கோடி புண்ணிய தீர்த்தங்கள் ஒன்றிணைந்தது எனவும் ஹரித்ரா நதியை கூறுவர். "மற்ற புண்ணியத் தலங்களில் ஒரு கோடி ஆண்டுகள் தவமியற்றி பெற்ற பெரும்பயனை ஹரித்ரா நதிக் கரையில் ஓராண்டில் அடையலாம்' என நாரதர் கூறியதாகத் தல வரலாறு கூறும்.

இக்கோயிலில் ஸ்ரீ தேவி, பூ தேவி சமேத பரவாசுதேவப் பெருமாள், நின்ற கோலத்தில் மூலவராகக் காட்சியளிக்கிறார். திருப்பதி கோயில் போன்று, கீழே தரைப் பகுதியிலிருந்து (பீடமின்றி) நின்ற ஆஜானுபாகுவான 7 அடி உயரமுடைய கம்பீர எழிலுக்கு அழகு சேர்ப்பதுபோல் அண்மையில் 1 கோடி ரூபாய் செலவில் பெருமாளுக்கு தங்கக் கவசம் அணிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

செண்பகலட்சுமி என்ற பெயரில் மூலவராக அழகு தரிசனம் தரும் தாயார், உற்சவராக செங்கமலத் தாயாராக கோயில் கொண்டுள்ளார். ஹேமாம்புஜ நாயகி, ரக்தாப்ஜ நாயகி என்கிற திருநாமங்களுடன் தாமரை மலரின் மீது அமர்ந்த திருக்கோலம்! இரு பக்கம் யானைகளுடன் கஜலட்சுமியாகவும், ராஜநாயகி மற்றும் துவாரகா நாயகி என்ற தோழியருடன் வீரலட்சுமியாகவும் அருளாட்சி புரிகின்றாள்.

நம் பண்பாட்டு மரபிற்கேற்ப, இக்கோயிலில் உள்ள தாயார் "படி தாண்டாப் பத்தினி' ஆவார். ஆம்... செங்கமலத் தாயாரின் உற்சவங்கள் அனைத்தும் (ஆடிப்பூரம் தேர் உட்பட) கோயில் வளாகத்தின் உள்ளேயே நடைபெறும்.

உற்சவ மூர்த்தியான ஸ்ரீவித்யா ராஜகோபாலனை வர்ணிப்பது கடினம்.

இவன் கோஸகன்; ஆமருவியப்பன். ஒரே பட்டாடையை இடுப்பில் சுற்றிகொண்டு அதையே பின்புறமாகக் கொண்டு சென்று ஒயிலான தலைப்பாகையாகவும் ஆக்கிக்கொண்டுள்ளான். ‘த்ரைமம் வேத்ரம்; ஏக வஸ்த்ரம்’ என்று தொடங்கும் இவனைப் போற்றும் சுலோகம். மூன்று வளைவு கொண்ட சாட்டையும்,ஒற்றை ஆடையும் தனிச்சிறப்பு.இந்த ஆயர் சிறுவனின் மேனியழகில் மனத்தைப் பறிகொடுத்த ஸ்வாமி மணவாள மாமுனிகள் அந்திம காலத்தில் இங்கேயே வாஸம் செய்தாராம்.

ராஜகோபாலனுக்கு இடது பக்கத்தில் ஸ்ரீ சந்தான கோபாலன்! ஆதி சேஷன் மீது அனந்த சயனம் கொண்டு, கால் விரலை வாயில் வைத்துக் கொண்டு குழந்தைக் கண்ணனாகக் காட்சியருளுகிறார். மழலைச் செல்வமாக காட்சியளிக்கும் இந்த சந்தான கோபாலனை அர்ச்சகர்கள், பக்தர்களின் கையில் கொடுத்து அவர்களுடைய பல பிறவிகளில் செய்த பாவங்களைத் தீர்த்து வைக்கின்றனர். மழலைச் செல்வமில்லாத மங்கையரின் மடியில் தவழ்ந்து குழந்தை வரம் அருளுகின்றான் இந்த குட்டிக் கண்ணன்.

புன்னை மரம் தலவிருட்சமாகும். நாள்தோறும் இக்கோயிலில் ஏழுகால ஆராதனை வழிபாடுகள் குறைவில்லாமல் நடைபெற்று வருகின்றன. சமீபகாலமாக அதிகாலையில் விஸ்வரூப தரிசன வழிபாடும் செவ்வனே செயல்பட்டு வருகிறது

Now little bit of History from Srimathi Krishnakumar who traces the history of the ancient Rajagopalaswamy temple in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, Published on The Hindu.

A rock inscription dated 1577 records grants to the temple from Atchutappa Nayaka of Thanjavur, but his greatest contribution is the unique Garuda dhwaja sthambham. It consists of a small Garuda temple resting on a 5' x 5' granite pedestal on a 54' monolithic pillar, the stone for which was brought all the way from Pudukkottai, as granite was not locally available. Figures of Rajagopalan, Hanuman, Atchutappa Nayaka and his wife Murtimamba have been carved on the pedestal. Palm leaf manuscripts say that Atchutappa Nayaka's successors Raghunatha Nayaka (A.D. 1614-1633), Vijaya Raghava Nayaka who called himself "Mannaru Dasa" (A.D. 1633-1673) and his son Mannaru Devan built many prakaras, gopurams, mandapams and tanks that brought the temple to its immense proportions.

Vijaya Raghava Nayaka built the huge outer gopurams, the aayiramkaal mandapam or the 1000-pillared hall and the Krishnathirtham tank, all of which still exist. He also installed copper statuettes of Atchutappa Nayaka's guru Tirumalai Nambi Thathachariar, Tirumangai Azhwar and Periazhwar.

Vijaya Raghava Nayaka was a versatile and highly talented patron of the arts. Dance, drama and literature flourished in his time. He composed a number of works in Telugu and dedicated them to the deity of Mannargudi. Most of the dramas written by him premiered in the Aayiramkaal mandapam.

One of the leading litterateurs in his court was the Telugu poet Changalva Kalakavi. In 1951, the Tanjore Saraswati Mahal Library printed his "Rajagopala Vilasamu", composed by him in A.D. 1633. The prabhandha relates how Champakaranya or the Champaka forest southeast of Kumbakonam became Mannargudi.

In ancient times, Champakaranya was a serene, sacred spot inhabited by many rishis of whom Vahnimukha was one. He had two sons, Gopralaya and Gobhila, both ardent devotees of lord Vishnu. Pleased with the severity of Gopralaya's penance, the lord granted him a boon. Apart from a request for moksha for himself and his brother, Gopralaya beseeched the Lord to stay forever in Champakaranya. Vishnu consented and was installed as Lord Gopala. The tirtha is known as the Krishna Tirtha and the water flowing from it is the Haridra Nadi. The tank at Mannargudi is still called Gopralaya, after the sage responsible for bringing the Lord of Dwaraka to Champakaranya.

The Rajagopala Swamy Temple with its five prakaras, seven mandapams, and seven gopurams including the majestic 154' tall Rajagopuram stands on six sq. acres of land. Tradition, in fact, takes back the antiquity of the temple, not by centuries, but by aeons. Brahma, the creator, is said to have worshipped at this temple in the Krita Yuga, Goddess Lakshmi and Brigu Maharshi in the Treta Yuga, Agni in the Dwapara Yuga and at the end of the Dwapara Yuga, Gobhila and Gopralaya whose austerities made Rajagopala a permanent resident of Mannargudi. In the present age or Kali Yuga, history records the devotion of Kulothunga Chola, the Nayaka kings, Kshetrayya, Tyagaraja, Muthuswamy Dikshitar and several others, not to speak of millions of humble devotees who throng the temple daily.

The new Mannargudi railway station

The Union Minister of State for Finance S.S.Palani Manickam urged the Railway authorities to take steps for starting train services on the newly laid railway line between Needamangalam and Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district at the earliest.

Speaking after inaugurating the Satellite Passenger Reservation Centre at Mannargudi on Saturday, June 11th 2011,the Minister said that the Railways should also initiate steps to extend the Needamangalam – Mannargudi line to Pattukottai. That will provide rail link for people of Mannargudi to both South and North Tamil Nadu.

The Minister inaugurated the centre and purchased the first ticket for travelling from Tiruvarur to Needamangalam.

The Mannargudi railway station that was completed recently has been equipped with adequate amenities for passengers. The station has three platforms, one foot over-bridge, a multi-purpose utility hall and an approach road.

Besides, 50 granite benches and five drinking water taps have been provided. A satellite passenger ticket centre has been inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Finance S. S. Palani Manickam. While the trial run of an engine on the 14-km track had been completed, all eyes are on the inspection by the CRS and subsequent award of certificate on the safety aspect, which lead to the regular operation of trains.

T.R.Baalu, former Union Minister was instrumental in getting the railway line from Needamangalam to Mannargudi. His son T.R.B.Raja, the Mannargudi MLA, said it would be a proud moment for the people of Mannargudi once trains started pounding the line. "It is only a matter of time since all works have been completed by the Railways.”

The Rs. 79-crore project was commenced on April 2, 2010. There are no stations between Mannargudi and Needamangalam. There are 66 minor bridges, five manned level crossings and five unmanned level crossings.

The Railway Board had sanctioned Rs. 216 crore for extending the BG line to Pattukottai, according to P. V. Vaidialingam, Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi.

latest news:As per southern railway directives, The mandatory inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety is expected next month as per plan on July 10th 2011, once this final clearance is given then SR has a proposal to run a direct train from Mannargudi (MQ) to Chennai Egmore, train service between Mannargudi to Chennai may commence during current FY 2011-12.

Temples and Treasures

Call it the mother of all treasure hunts. The stock-taking by a panel of experts at the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple, Trivandrum, Kerala, has catapulted the shrine to the country's richest, with reports claiming that the value of recoveries may have touched close to Rs 1.5 lakh crore, With one more "secret" vault yet to be opened, the figure in all likelihood will go up further. But sources said the figures could only be speculation as it wasn't possible to determine the antique value of the precious gems and jewellery.

There were close to 1,000 kg of gold coins, some of these from the East India Company era and Napolean's period, about one tonne of gold in the form of rice trinkets, sack full of diamonds said to be from Burma and Sri Lanka, a rope made of gold and thousands of pieces of rare 'sarappoli' necklaces.

The stock-taking continued next day as only 30% of the assets could be counted on Thursday 30th july 2011. Again there were surprises in the form of a three-and-a-half feet tall idol of Lord Vishnu studded with diamonds, emeralds and rubies, an 18-feet-long ornament used to adorn the deity and weighing 35 kg and 1 feet tall human figurines weighing 1 kg each. There were coins marked 1772 indicating they were from the era of former Travancore ruler Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma better known as `Dharma Raja' for his strict adherence to the rules of 'dharma'.

There are six vaults marked A to F in the shrine. The A and B cellars have never been opened after 1872. The panel had set out on the job on June 27 and opened three vaults marked C, D and F till Wednesday. The B and E vaults remain to be opened. (Thanks TOI web info)

I am not at all surprised by this news, throughout Tamilnadu in Vaisnavite temples even in small villages this kind of assets donated by various Kings in to the name of God in the various forms including Gold, diamond ornaments and various form of Gems, farming lands, whole Villages, were given. There were ways and means created for the daily running expences of temples for poojas, food program for poor(Dhanam), daily, monthly, annual local temple festivals that must be the only entertainment for those people in that period. All this temples and treasures are still exist, god only knows what is the worth of it.
Hope today's so called Emperors 'hope politically correct' do not loot it.

Karla MTDC Lonavala

Karla is a nice place but MTDC resort is not, no room service, rain water leaking roofs to room full of ants, non functional Tv, etc, resort facilities like boat rides and water parks are non functional for six months during monsoon, restaurant is ok, limited menu, near by dhabas open only on saturday and sundays, otherwise have to go to Lonavala for food, beware of vegetarian menu only restaurants, commuting also not easy, own car means ok otherwise life is difficult to move around, resort is in a secluded spot, no any events or entertainments, not even a decent reception or sitting room for guests, night time ghosty atmosphere was bad to worse, you can meet other guests in restaurant only.

Though been to Lonavala few times with friends, never been to any tourist attractions apart from water falls so first time had visited bushi dam, few water falls and tiger leap, facilities can be a little better for week end travellers.

Word Play

New word learnt today: Tenet

Pronounced: Ten - net

Definition: To hold a belief to be true.

Meaning: Any opinion, principle, dogma, belief, or doctrine, which a person holds or maintains as true.

In a sentence: You have a tenet that we should work on paper. I say we should change that belief and work in the computer.

Memory trick: Ten - et

Ten reminds of tend or likely to do
Tenet in Latin means "he holds"
So remember "tend" or "he holds" a belief

Nurses and Sisters

Why are nurses called sisters?
In medieval Europe, hospitals were run by monasteries, and monks attended to the patients.

In the sixteenth Century, Henry VIII of England destroyed most of the monasteries in England. This forced nuns (sisters) to attend to the patients and ever since nurses have been called sisters.

Nun, 'ninne' in old English, is derived from Latin 'nunna' or 'nonna' and means 'an old maiden lady'.

Tamil Nadu enjoys maximum economic freedom

Tamil Nadu enjoys maximum economic freedom -- greater wealth and improvement in human development -- among the 20 largest states in the country, a study said on Monday.

As per the Economic Freedom of the States of India 2011 report, which ranked the economic status of the states in 2009, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were the next most prosperous states.

This is significantly different from 2005, when Tamil Nadu was still on top but Madhya Pradesh came second and followed by Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat, it said.

The study ranks economic freedom in the 20 biggest Indian states, using a methodology from Fraser Institute' Economic Freedom of World Annual Report.

The bottom three states in 2009 were Bihar, Uttrakhand and Assam, in that order, the study said.

Back in 2005, Bihar was still ranked at the bottom (20th) while Assam was at the 19th position and West Bengal at 18th.

The report said the state with fastest improvement in economic freedom was Andhra Pradesh, moving up from 7th position in 2005 to third position in 2009.

The index score for Andhra Pradesh went up from 0.4 to 0.51 on a scale from zero (no freedom) to 1 (high freedom), an improvement of 27.25 per cent.

The second fastest improvement was in Gujarat, which moved up from the fifth to second position.

Economic freedom is associated with greater wealth, higher growth and improvement in whole range of human development indicators.

"Even as some states improved in economic freedom, others worsened, showing that there is no uniform all India trend," the study said.

As per the study, only two states - Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat -- registered large increases in economic freedom. Haryana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir registered moderate increases in economic freedom.


States with largest decrease in economic freedom were Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

Punjab, once among the best performers, slipped from 6th position in 2005 to 12 position in 2009.

"States with higher level of economic freedom tended to perform better across a range of economic variables. They also had a higher levels of in-migration, while states with least economic freedom had higher level of out-migration," the study said.

Bibek Debroy, Laveesh Bhandari and Swaminathan Aiyar are the authors of the report.

Rahman

Though Aadharsh is just five month old, he keeps on watching TV when ever robo trailer sequence, Rajini, Aish on screen.

Without doubt Rajini is charismatic but a five month old enjoying rajini, how? Aadharsh not even started watching/ concentrating POGO, Cartoon Network kinds after many my trials, Aish Aunty is beautiful but what is there in her for a just born...

Neither Rajini nor Aish It is the Rahman's music which really grabs his attention till today, he just glued to screen till the end of trailer, if I mute volume he switches his sensors to other direction simply

Win many, Lose some

There once lived a great mathematician in a village outside Ujjain. He was often called by the local king to advice on matters related to the economy. His reputation had spread as far as Taxila in the North and Kanchi in the South. So it hurt him very much when the village headman told him, "You may be a great mathematician who advises the king on economic matters but your son does not know the value of gold or silver."

The mathematician called his son and asked, "What is more valuable - gold or silver?" "Gold," said the son. "That is correct. Why is it then that the village headman makes fun of you, claims you do not know the
value of gold or silver? He teases me every day. He mocks me before other village elders as a father who neglects his son. This hurts me. I feel everyone in the village is laughing behind my back because you do not know what is more valuable, gold or silver. Explain this to me, son."

So the son of the mathematician told his father the reason why the village headman carried this impression. "Every day on my way to school, the village headman calls me to his house. There, in front of all village elders, he holds out a silver coin in one hand and a gold coin in other. He asks me to pick up the more valuable coin. I pick the silver coin. He laughs, the elders jeer, everyone makes fun of me. And then I go to school. This happens every day. That is why they tell you I do not know the value of gold or silver."

The father was confused. His son knew the value of gold and silver, and yet when asked to choose between a gold coin and silver coin always picked the silver coin. "Why don't you pick up the gold coin?" he asked. In response, the son took the father to his room and showed him a box. In the box were at least a hundred silver coins. Turning to his father, the mathematician' s son said, "The day I pick up the gold coin the game will stop. They will stop having fun and I will stop making money."

The bottom line is:
Sometimes in life, we have to play the fool. That does not mean we lose in the game of life. It just means allowing others to win in one arena of the game, while we win in the other arena of the game. We have to choose which arena matters to us and which arenas do not.

When Life Pushes You Down

When life pushes you down, push back!
That's what you're here for.
You're capable, you're creative, you're full of life and energy.
You have what it takes to move yourself forward around any obstacle.
Don't let anything stop you.
Take strength from meeting the challenges, and move ahead.
The struggles you face are just what you need to fulfil your potential
for greatness.
A year from now, when you look back at today,
you'll see that the problem you're so concerned with right now,
was another valuable lesson waiting to be learned.

Trust

Once a Little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.

The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter,

'Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river.'

The little girl said, 'No, Dad. You hold my hand.'

'What's the difference?' Asked the puzzled father.

'There's a big difference,' replied the little girl.

'If I hold your hand and something happens to me,

chances are that I may let your hand go.

But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens,

you will never let my hand go.

இறைவா நன்றி

ஒவ்வொரு நாளும்
ஓராயிரம் முறை
எழுதுகிறேன்
"இறைவா நன்றி"
"இறைவா நன்றி"
என்று

இது எனக்கு
தரப்பட்ட‌
தண்டனையல்ல‌
உனை எனக்குதந்த
அவனுக்கு நான் செய்யும்
நன்றிக்கடன்.

‍‍Thanks-பி.எம். நாகராஜன்

Furniture Industry news

Shirdi Industries to invest Rs 100 cr in Tamil Nadu
Medium density fibre board facility to be set up at Gummidipoondi.

Suresh P. Iyengar

Mumbai, May 30

Shirdi Industries plans to set up a medium-density fibre (MDF), thin MDF and laminated particle board manufacturing facility with an investment of Rs 100 crore at Gummidipoondi, near Chennai.

The company currently has two manufacturing units at Pant Nagar in Uttaranchal and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

Mr Rakesh K. Agarwal, Managing Director, Shirdi Industries, said the company has acquired 13 acres and placed orders for critical machinery which take longer period for delivery.

Promoters, who own 100 per cent in the company, have decided to dilute 27.3 per cent equity through a public issue to fund the new project.

The upcoming unit at Gummidipoondi will have capacity to make 280 cubic metres (CBM) of MDF boards, 100 CBM of thin MDF and 12x6 feet laminated particle board.

The company will also set up a decorative laminate line of 7 million sq mt per annum, besides printing and pre-lamination lines.

The company has also proposed to set up a 10 MW captive power plant.

Focus on South

“The new unit will help us to tap the southern region more efficiently as it contributes about 35 per cent of our total turnover.

Besides, by placing our manufacturing unit closer to the consuming centre, we would save on logistic cost and transition time,” said Mr Agarwal.

Ample availability of good quality wood in Tamil Nadu and bordering Andhra Pradesh has made Gummidipoondi an idle location for the new unit, he added.

Though the cost of wood has moved up substantially in the last few years to Rs 3,000 a tonne, it is comparatively cheaper at Rs 2,000 a tonne in the South due to good supply.

The company also plans to enter commercial plantation as the next stage of expansion.

Power shortage

On power shortage in the industrial belts of Tamil Nadu, Mr Agarwal said “scarcity of power is going to be one of the major issues not only in Tamil Nadu but across the country.

Unlike other states, Tamil Nadu is shade better as it switches of supply on scheduled basis,” he said.

The company plans to shield all its units from vagaries of erratic power supply by setting up captive power plants.

The Pant Nagar unit has recently become self-reliant as far as power is concerned with the new power plant going on stream.

Shirdi Industries will also set up a manufacturing facility at Bhiwandi, near Mumbai to manufacture edge solutions for wood-based furniture products.

The company recently set up a 20,000 sqft at Bhiwandi showroom to display furniture made at its factory.

The expansion comes at a time when the country dependency on imports for MDF and particle board has grown many fold in the last few year, said an industry analyst.

“On an average, India imports about 60,000 to 70,000 CBM a month of MDF and particle boards to meet its burgeoning demand. The country produces about 20,000 CBM per month,” he added. “Our investment in modern infrastructure and ability to achieve optimum capacity utilisation through manufacturing processes contributes to economies of scale,” said Mr Agarwal.

COST ADVANTAGE

MDF and particle boards (PB), made of refined wood fibres, are cheaper as compared to plywood.

MDF utilises close to 90 per cent of the tree as compared to plywood, which uses only the centre portion of high quality logs leading to about 60 per cent usage of the tree.

MDF and PB can be pre-laminated at factory, whereas plywood requires lamination at site with the help of decorative laminates.

The cost of pre-lamination for MDF board is Rs 10-12 a square feet as against over Rs 30 to 50 a sq ft feet in case of plywood.

Despite various disadvantages, furniture made from plywood currently accounts for about 95 per cent of the industry sales with MDF and PB accounting for the rest.

Plywood is popular amongst the housing industry while MDF has gained approval in the commercial use.


Source http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/05/31/stories/2010053150611300.htm

Success Breeds Success

There was a farmer who grew superior quality, award-winning corn in his farm. Each year, he entered his corn in the state fair where it won honors and prizes.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew his corn. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.

"How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" The reporter asked.

"Why brother" the farmer replied, "Didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen grains from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior, sub-standard and poor quality corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I have to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors to grow good corns."

The farmer gave a superb insight into the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor's corn also improves. So it is in the other dimensions and areas of life!

Those who choose to be in harmony must help their neighbors and near and dear to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others live well. The value of a life is not measured by how long one lived, it is measured by how many lives it touches.

Mannargudi-Train Service

The Railway Ministry has sanctioned Rs.255 crore for various new lines in the State, including Salem-Karur, Chinna Salem-Kallakurichi, Erode-Salem, Tindivanam-Nagari, and Attipatu-Puttur. In addition, a new line from Needamangalam to Mannargudi (13 km) has been sanctioned in the current budget. Of these new lines, Salem-Namakkal portion of the Salem-Karur would be completed before the end of the next financial year and would be open to traffic. Satisfactory progress could be made in other new lines also subject to availability of land.

For the aspirational one

Seek out grassroot level experience
I studied Physics and Engineering at University. A few months before graduation, I appeared for an HLL interview for Computer Traineeship. When asked whether I would consider Marketing instead of Computers, I responded negatively: an engineer to visit grocery shops to sell Dalda or Lifebuoy. Gosh, no way. After I joined the Company and a couple of comfortable weeks in the swanky Head Office, I was given a train ticket to go to Nasik . Would I please meet Mr. Kelkar to whom I would be attached for the next two months? He would teach me to work as a salesman in his territory, which included staying in Kopargaon and Pimpalgaon among other small towns. I was most upset. In a town called Ozhar, I was moving around from shop to shop with a bullock cart full of products and a salesman's folder in my hand. Imagine my embarrassment when an IIT friend appeared in Front of me in Ozhar, believe it or not! and exclaimed, "Gopal, I thought you joined as a Management Trainee in Computers". I could have died a thousand deaths. After this leveling experience, I was less embarrassed to work as a Dispatch Clerk in the Company Depot and an Invoice Clerk in the Accounts Department. Several years later, I realized the value of such grassroots level experience. It is fantastic. I would advise young people to seek out nail-dirtying, collar-soiling, shoe-wearing tasks. That is how you learn about organizations, about the true nature of work, and the dignity of the many, many tasks that go into building great enterprises.

Deserve before you desire
At one stage, I was appointed as the Brand Manager for Lifebuoy and Pears soap, the company's most popular-priced and most premium soaps. And what was a Brand Manager? "A mini-businessman, responsible for the production, sales and profits of the brand, accountable for its long-term growth, etc. I had read those statements, I believed them and here I was, at 27,"in charge of everything". But very soon, I found I could not move a pin without checking with my seniors. One evening, after turning the Facit machine handle through various calculations, I sat in front of the Marketing Director. I expressed my frustration and gently asked whether I could not be given total charge. He smiled benignly and said, "The perception and reality are both right. You will get total charge when you know more about the brand than anyone else in this company about its formulation, the raw materials, the production costs, the consumer's perception, the distribution and so on. How long do you think that it will take?" "Maybe, ten years", I replied, "and I don't expect to be the Lifebuoy and Pears Brand Manager for so long"! And then suddenly, the lesson was clear. I was desiring total control, long before I deserved it. This happens to us all the time - in terms of responsibilities, in terms of postings and promotions, it happens all the time that there is a gap between our perception of what we deserve and the reality of what we get. It helps to deserve before we desire.

Play to win but win with fairness
Life is competitive and of course, you play to win. But think about the balance. Will you do anything, to win? Perhaps not. Think deeply about how and where you draw the line. Each person draws it differently, and in doing so, it helps to think about values. Winning without values provides dubious fulfillment. The leaders who have contributed the most are the ones with a set of universal values. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King for example. Napoleon inspired a ragged, mutinous and half-starved army to fight and seize power. This brought him name and fame for twenty years. But all the while, he was driven forward by a selfish and evil ambition, and not in pursuit of a great ideal. He finally fell because of his selfish ambition. I am fond of referring to the Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play Trophy. It was instituted in 1964 by the founder of the modern Olympic Games and there are two examples of winners. A Hungarian tennis player who pleaded with the umpire to give his opponent some more time to recover from a cramp. A British kayak team who were trailing the Danish kayak team. They then stopped to help the Danish team whose boat was stuck. The Danes went on to beat the British by one second in a three hour event! What wonderful examples of sportsmanship! Play to Win, but with Fairness.

Enjoy whatever you do
Sir Thomas Lipton is credited with the statement, "There is no greater fun than hard work". You usually excel in fields, which you truly enjoy. Ask any person what it is that interferes with his enjoyment of existence. He will say, "The struggle for life". What he probably means is the struggle for success. Unless a person has learnt what to do with success after getting it, the very achievement of it must lead him to unhappiness. Aristotle wrote, "Humans seek happiness as an end in itself, not as a means to something else". But if you think about it, we should not work for happiness. We should work as happy people. In organizational life, people get busy doing something to be happy. The more you try to be happy, the more unhappy you can get. Your work and career is all about your reaching your full potential. Working at one's full potential, whether it is the office boy or the Chairman, leads to enjoyment and fulfillment. A last point about enjoyment. Keep a sense of humour about yourself. Too many people are in danger of taking themselves far too seriously. As General Joe Stilwell is reported to have said, "Keep smiling. The higher the monkey climbs, the more you can see of his backside".

Be Passionate about your health
Of course, as you get older, you would have a slight paunch, greying of hair or loss of it and so on. But it is in the first 5 - 7 years after the working career begins that the greatest neglect of youthful health occurs. Sportsmen stop playing sports, non drinkers drink alcohol, light smokers smoke more, active people sit on chairs, starving inmates of hostels eat rich food in good hotels and so on. These are the years to watch. Do not, I repeat do not, convince yourself that you are too busy, or that you do not have access to facilities, or worst of all, that you do this to relieve the stresses of a professional career. A professional career is indeed very stressful. There is only one person who can help you to cope with the tension, avoid the doctor's scalpel, and to feel good each morning - and that is yourself. God has given us as good a health as He has, a bit like a credit balance in the bank. Grow it, maintain it, but do not allow its value destruction. The penalty is very high in later years.

Direction is more important than distance
Every golfer tries to drive the ball to a very long distance. In the process, all sorts of mistakes occur because the game involves the masterly co-ordination of several movements simultaneously. The golf coach always advises that direction is more important than distance. So it is with life. Despite one's best attempts, there will be ups and downs. It is relationships and friendships that enable a person to navigate the choppy waters that the ship of life will encounter. When I was young, there was a memorable film by Frank Capra, starring James Stewart and Dona Reed, and named IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. It is about a man who is about to commit suicide because he thinks he is a failure. An angel is sent to rescue him. The bottom line of the film is that "No Man is a Failure Who Has Friends".

It was the Gyan given by a XXX, which i liked.

படித்ததில் பிடித்தது

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. the family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guestroom. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.
When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things are not always what they seem".

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the, couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.

Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel "how could you have let this happen!. The first man had everything, yet you helped him," she accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die."

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.

"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he would not find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things are not always what they seem."

Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things do not turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later.

China The Giant

How to run a country like a profit making organisation, how to make the humble simple citizen super rich, no english no problem, no new technologies no problem, copy cats image no problems, submissive people no problem.

Construct low in technology and manpower intensive factories and industries for the world, surprise the world by creating best in class infrastructures, cost effective solutions, go to any star rated hotels see the uniformity in toilet bidet to metal railing in the stairs, consistency in life!!!

Life is beautiful, most of people thankful to the government, 8 lane runway highways, foreigners fumbling with language, tumbling with the taxi drivers, european style shopping streets, high speed trains, kfc and mcd every corners for foreigners, cheap rice wine, karoke pubs, snakes and all the many other exotic stuffs in plate.

I have a doubt how many countries and industries will servive long because of this Chinese intrution in our life through simple toys, garments, fake wrist watches to high end cheap chinese gadgets.

Still Indian economy can servive on inclusive growth, we are safe because of the 1000000000 and growing head count.

A Love Story

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all feelings left, except for Love.

Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment.

When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I cannot. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!" "I cannot help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you." "Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"

Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way.

Realizing how much was owed the elder, Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who Helped me?" "It was Time," Knowledge answered.

"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?" Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is."

A GIRL AND FOUR BOY FRIENDS

Once upon a time, there was this girl who had four boyfriends.

She loved the fourth boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the third boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighbouring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her second boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girls first boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him.

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone..'

Thus, she asked the fourth boyfriend, I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'No way!', replied the fourth boyfriend, and he walked away without another word
His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.
The sad girl then asked the third boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?

'No!', replied the third boyfriend". Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!'

Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the second boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and you have always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the second boyfriend 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'
His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out : 'I'll go with you..

I'll follow you no matter where you go.'
The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.
Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!.

In truth, you have four boyfriends in your lives:
Your fourth boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.
Your third boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth. When you die, it will all go to others.

Your second boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

And your first boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you wherever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you.