Offering Ayush’s Hair to Lord Siva at Vaikam

Belief and Custom:
It is age old belief that offering of ones hair to God helps to ward off evil and bad spirits.
The basic truth is that, for a child, the hair born with, is not clean and full of stuff that makes it twisted or makes knots over period of first 12 months. Also, it is not possible to put pressure on new born babies’ head as the head is very tender in nature. So, it becomes necessary, to get rid of the hair which form shapes like rope, flat bunch, or some kind of formation sticking to each string of hair.
It is a natural tendency; in any human being not to act on anything unless an importance is attached to God of ones own belief / family.
So, in the name of faith and belief of ones own tradition in the family, most people vow to offer the babies’ hair (once the head becomes a safe for shaving the hair off) within 12 to 18 months of age.
So, it was decided that Ayush’s hair will be offered to Lord Siva at Vaikam. Lord Siva at Vaikam is family deity of Mr.Krishnan.
We could have offered the same to any of our Gods worshiped at different towns of Tamil Nadu as all places are of equal importance.
We wanted to do this, on 26-2-09. This date and Day was chosen, as Sheeba and Ananth, could take leave, his parents could come, and above all, I was also available – did not go abroad as thought earlier – with Sarojam.
Sheeba, arranged railway tickets for us (Self and wife Mrs.Sarojam) to join them on the way and return after the ceremony.
Ananth’s, parents, sheeba and Ayush left Bangalore around 17.30 hrs on 25-2-09 by KOCHUVELLI express.
We joined them at 00.35 hrs(on 26-2-09) in Coimbatore, all in the same coach but at different berths. Met Mr.and Mrs. Krishnan briefly and played with Ayush for a while and retired to bed.
By about 04.45 AM we reached Ernakulum Railway station – closest railway station to Vaikam. All of us got down and came out trying to find a suitable transport to Vaikam. We could not find any organized transport system. Most were demanding anything from Rs.500 to 600. The taxi and three wheeler drivers were doing their best to rip off passengers as Government services were not available at this early hour from Railway station.( To Vaikam)
We managed to find a three wheeler driver, who had a wider vehicle and agreed to take us to Vaikam for Rs.350.00 with a condition that I sit near the driver sharing his seat. This is a kind of a risk factor which I agreed under the conditions.
We left at 5.30AM and Reached (Southern side of the Vaikam temple) by 6.15 AM.
We had THREE rooms booked in a nearby Inn (Kailas Hotel) for accommodating us for the day. (Rate per room was Rs.200.00) Rooms have small double bed, and an attached bathroom, having a space to take bath (A bucket and a mug was kept - no shower) and a cornered washbasin to some how wipe the face. You have to stand in a particular angle to see your face. Expecting this kind of situation, I had my shave the previous night- before leaving for this trip)
In the bed room, there was a table, metal chair and mirror with most of its mercury faded due to frequent wash with water. Over the mirror was a strip of cloth hanger suitable for hanging a small hand kerchief. We got clean bed sheet to cover the dirty bed. The pillows were of a special color shade with fragrance of all available hair oils of the previous users.
The good thing is no one bothers about this, as most are using the room for a quick wash before going to the temple plus for safe keeping of their belongings that are not needed for/ during the worship.
We had our barber arranged for wiping the hair of Ayush. We expected a revolutionary act by Ayush, like, any child will not accept some one playing on their head especially with a knife.
By grace of God, the whole act was over with Ayush resisting tirelessly the barber’s act of utmost cruelty. We all made different gestures, sang songs, acted funny to cool the temper of poor Ayush. I could not stand this cruelty to my grandson and briefly kept away from the closeness.
We all had our wash / bath beside’s Ayush having a wipe – no hot water either in the bath rooms.
When Ayush looked at his newborn head, on the mirror, he shouted in utter dismay and wondered where all his hair has gone. Ayush then laughed at his reflected face with a shiny head.
Finally, we went to the temple using the WEST side gate. By now Ayush has become normal. All relevant poojas were done to Lord Siva for the betterment of all in the family – starting with AYUSH.
We had to go to the temple of Lord Muruga in the nearby town – Uthayanpuram. We wanted to have something to fill the stomach. Fortunately, there was a vegetarian Hotel next to our lodge.
We could get Vada and Iddily for breakfast. We did not have any liquid as coffee was not available there. They only serve tea at all times.
Then we hired a large three wheeler to Muruga temple. Here also, we arranged relevant poojas. We then returned to Siva temple, to carry THULABARAM. This is to offer fruits, flower or the kind of items to Lord Siva equal to the weight of the person who has taken such a vow. Here it is Ayush to be weighed for offering bananas totaling his weight.
Here Ayush was cheerful and happy to stay on one side of the balance while bananas were loaded on the other (pan).side.
Please note that we also arranged to explode fire cracker (A kind of mini bomb to ward of evil) in the name of all family members. Of course, we had to pay for it, as it is to be made and set-off safely. Ayush could bear the noise while Sheeba could not!!
OBSERVATION: I noticed that every one took their pair of foot-wear inside the temple complex and left it close to the entrance of the temple itself. Some carried it inside a bag into the temple and retained it during worship!! The so called clean people of Kerala have allowed this unhygienic act without any shame. May Lord Siva bless them all? We left behind our foot-wears in the room itself and walked bare-foot to the temple.
We came back to our room by 11.00 AM. Then, decided to take rest till 1.30 PM and leave for Ernakulum to take train back to Coimbatore.
I tried to put my body to rest for a while. Within a short time, I could feel itching activity on my back. Though the bed sheet was new, the bed below it was too dirty. As far I could think, neither there is a detergent that can clean it nor there is chemical to disinfect it.
After some time, the itching disappeared, as my system went to sleep overcoming this itching activity by bed bugs or some kind of bacteria’s. It is better to say that my system became immune to these painful stings.
I got up by 1.15PM, and reminded everyone to be up and ready for return journry.
Then, all started packing their belongings, made up for the lost facial make-up, and we came out on the road out-side looking for a three wheeler to the local Government bus-stop.
This is due to the fact that our effort failed to locate an economical mode of transport to Ernakulum.
We reached the bus-stop by 14.15 hrs and, immediately got a bust to Ernakulum.
We reached the destination, exactly after an hour. Then we hired three wheelers to a restaurant close to the railway station. The meals time in any Hotel in this are is limited to 15.00Hrs only besides, nothing is served till 5PM.
Fortunately, this Hotel was serving snacks after the lunch hour. So, we all had snacks and coffee. For we six, the bill came to Rs.275.00 including one branded mineral water bottle.
I had my own doubt about the train if it will stop in the station we were close-by. The reason is, there are TWO Ernakulum stations named Ernakulum town (North and South). So, self and Mr.Krishnan went there and enquired about it and clarified our doubts.
Fortunately, this was the station from where; we have to board the train. Therefore, we walked to the station, an hour before its arrival.
While sitting on the platform (No.1) we could see few t.v monitors propagating products of various brands and application. Along the side, could also hear announcements related to arriving and departing trains.
I decided to procure some news papers, as I never had the chance to find out about what happened in the previous day. Procured, English daily- The Hindu. Tamil daily- Dinamalar and another one named NRI times – published from Mumbai.
We all read the newspapers and moved closer to the possible location of our coach (No.4) likely to be stopping upon arrival of the train.
The train came on time,(17.50 hrs.) and the coach no.4 was few feet away from us and we all boarded without much difficulty. Soon after it designated stop time, the train started moving and gained speed as if the next stop is ours.
The usual crowd was there besides the mosquitoes and insects. I was particular about a clean seat for our grandson Ayush. (In his first travel when Ayush was only 6 weeks, we had to safeguard him from rats in the reservation compartment from Bangalore to Coimbatore). We kept wiping his hands frequently with disinfectants to prevent ctaching any infection – courtesy of our Railways.
At this point I want to say few words about our Railway services. Compartments are not kept to the basic cleanliness, there is plenty of dust every where, toilets are horrible, and dirty, outer glass panels of most A/C coaches are cracked and covered with tapes, windows cannot be closed up-to its base. We Indians are very good travelers, ignoring all these unsightly things plus at times pay a heavy bribe to occupy a seat if required.
Our Railway employees never fail to agitate( two to three times a year minimum) for higher grade, higher salary and promotion on seniority basis despite the failure of their responsibilities for which they are already paid huge salaries and wages but never carry it our properly.
The area around any railway JUNCTION in India is NOT KEPT CLEAN at all! Litter everywhere around the station. The tracks are dirty around, pipes and cables let loose, without proper termination. Cargoes are thrown out on platforms and some are partly unpacked. It is a pity that despite being the second most populous country, we cannot find persons to keep our railways clean.
In the compartment, we interacted with fellow passengers who were also going to places in the same direction.
We reached Coimbatore around 10.45PM.Managed to get a call taxi home for Rs.135.00( Higher by Rs.15.00 against our regular cab service.)
We, at one point to have dinner on the way home but decided against it as I felt the available food could be of stale in nature, besides, my wife had made paste for dosas the previous day.
We reached home by 11.20 PM and immediately set the house in order – opened all windows for fresh air, switched ON fans, and maintained necessary lights.
After having dosas (heavy ones made of combination of all lentils and rice.)
We went to bed by mid-night – thinking of the next three of rest for Ayush.
NOTE:
The trip was peaceful in general, gave us the insight of things around a new place if we have to venture again similarly, and above all the prevailing cost of travel and tours. Noticed that money was the main attraction and people will go for it ruthlessly – especially cab drivers, porters, and wayside vendors. General public is also not much keen about questioning these conditions as they all are in a hurry to take the next step in their effort to reach their goal / destination.
WHO IS WHO:
Self: V.Sivasubramaniam. Mr.Ananth: My son-in-law, Mr.and Mrs. Krishnan: Ananth’s Parents.
Sheeba: My daughter. Ayush:My Grandson, and My wife Mrs.K.S.Sarojam