சக்கு மன்னி - நினைவாஞ்சலி

 Chakku Manni passed away earlier today (August 11, 2025) at her residence in Mahalingapuram. I had the good fortune to spend some time with her during my recent visit to Chennai. Exactly as she said for her father,  Durga Akka said today that she lived a full, contented life. One photo similar to the one in that link (taken by Raja Anna in Besant Nagar) is attached below, and many more are to be found in the post on Chandru Perippa. 

Chakku Manni - taken by Raja Anna in SeaPoint Apartments (March 2013)

Also posted below is a photo that Kitcha Anna has liked and asked that I share with him, that has his parents, with his father holding him in his hands.

Varalakshmi Vratam - 7 & Avani Avittam - 2

 I got back 2 days ago from a wonderful trip to India, just in time to observe, I think for the first time in my life (or at least for the first time I consciously remember) both Avani Avittam and Varalakshmi Vratam occuring on the same day, Friday Aug 8, here in the US (In India, they are on 2 separate days, Fri the 8th and Sat the 9th)

In my last post about Avani Avittam, I had referred to  a video by Shri Raja Vadhyar, and I just wanted to mention that in recent years, I have switched almost entirely to videos posted by Shri Sathya Vadhyar. Here are his videos for Avani Avittam (today) 

and Gayatri Japam (tomorrow)

May Mother Gayatri Devi bless us all !

विश्वामित्रपःफलां प्रियतरां विप्रालिसंसेवितां

नित्यानित्यविवेकदां स्मितमुखीं खण्डेन्दुभूषोज्ज्वलाम् ।

ताम्बूलारुणभासमानवदनां मार्ताण्डमध्यस्थितां

गायत्रीं हरिवल्लभां त्रिणयनां ध्यायामि पञ्चाननाम् ||

and as mentioned in my last post on Varalakshmi Vratam, may Goddess Mahalakshmi/Varalakshmi dispel our (spiritual) poverty and confer all auspiciousness

शुभां हिरण्यप्राकारां समुद्रतनयां जयां |
नमामि मङ्गलांदेवीं विष्णुवक्षःस्थलस्थिताम् ‖

विष्णुपत्नीं प्रसन्नाक्षीं नारायणसमाश्रितां |
दारिद्र्यध्वंसिनींदेवीं सर्वोपद्रववारिणीम् ‖

नवदुर्गां महाकालीं ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मिकां |
त्रिकालज्ञानसम्पन्नां नमामि भुवनेश्वरीम् ‖