Tamil Devotional Literature Conference

Last two days ( 6-7 August 2010) I was attending MHS's Tamil Devotional Literature Conference at Kala Mandabam, Jalan Scott, Kuala Lumpur. The organisers should be praised for their gallent effort for the last 3 months to make it happen by bringing His Holiness Kundrakkudi Ponnambala Adigalar and three others from Tamil Nadu. The first day, opening ceremony was done by Human Resourse Minister Datuk Dr. S. Subramaniam and followed by launching of a Velli Vilakku Book- a weekly religious article collection for 52 weeks, published in 3 Tamil dailies every Friday. Its good and nice to see after a very long gap (maybe 2-3 years)MHS is publishing a religious book for the Tamils, especially Saivites. I must thank the organisers, especially Dr.K.thilagavathi and Mr.Ganesh Babu who personally invited me to the stage to receive the Velli Vilakku book from HH Adigalar as I was involved in the Editorial earlier of last year.

HH Adigalar gave a spiritual speech touching on many Saivite literature- 12 Thirumurais, Tirupugal, Periya Puranam and many other aspect of life and devotion to God with tear jerking jokes and meaningful life stories. The speech was full of spirituality, devotion, feeling of Tamilsm, siddhanta philosophy and I believe everyone of them enjoyed the dynamic speech. The most gifted and luckiest people were there to listen and enjoy the spiritual journey of the soul.

Everything went smoothly and as planned for the Conference except the CROWD-DEVOTEES. Its really disappointing for the organisers as they have done everything according to the book-write up in newspapers, announcement in both Minnal fm and THRraga, interviews in ASTRO, Viluthugal, BERNAMA news, invitations and letters to all NGO's, MHS State and Local Branches, etc YET there are hardly 120 people on the opening day and 60 people on the 2nd day Conference. Why there are few people only...!Promo is one way to invite people but who is in the field to liase and bring the crowd...! Sub Committee Meetings are good for the Conference but its not good enough to pull and bring the crowd. What happen to the State MHS leaders and their Branch members..! Are they not aware of the Conference? Yes, I heard, they are busy organsing thirumurai vizha BUT what respect we are giving to HH Adigalar!!

Enough for today and I'll comment on speeches tomorrow.

May Siva bless every soul in the world.

Balakrishnan Kandasamy