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| Arai Kasu Amman |
A few weeks ago, my mother lost her gold chain weighing 5 sovereigns. After frantically searching for it for one whole day, she called me one evening literally crying. She had visited me in Chennai just a week before, and then later visited my sister-in law in Coimbatore before leaving to Ooty - our hometown. She said that she remembered wearing the chain while in Chennai, but could not recollect where it was now. Both my sister-in-law and I searched our homes just in case the chain was in our homes, but could not find it. I then told my mom that it must be lying somewhere in the house, and so asked her to look again carefully. I understood from my dad that they could not locate the chain the next day as well. He further said that all at home turned the house upside down and searched in the most unusual places as well, but could not locate the chain.
More than the value of the lost jewelery, all of us were worried about my mother's health. She was very much stressed and could not eat or sleep. We prayed that we somehow get back the chain just so that my mother could be happy. She was already in poor health and was very upset because of this incident. She also did not know whom to suspect if we had assumed it was stolen. There were several visitors to the house in the week, and we could not suspect our servant maid as well because she has been working for several years in our house, and is basically a nice lady. My mom said that my servant maid would feel bad if she was questioned. I could not help but admire my mom's good heart.
Sitting in Chennai, I could not do anything but pray. Something then prompted me to do some search on the internet to get back lost items. I was so desperate for the sake of my mother and was wondering if there was any solution at all.
I then came across information about Arai Kasu Amman, and the miracles experienced by many people. I read that in case you have lost something or do not remember where you have kept things, documents etc, you have to pray to her with faith that you will prepare 'panakam' water mixed with jaggery, cardamom powder if you get the lost item back, and within no time your items / things will be retrieved.
I immediately downloaded the photograph of Arai Kasu Amman and prayed sincerely. I also told my mother about Amman and told her to place some jaggery and a rupee in our pooja room and pray faithfully. My mom said that she only had some old stock of jaggery in the house. I told her not to worry but place whatever jaggery was available in the house, and pray. She did exactly that without any hesitation.
Within 4 hours thereafter, my dad called me to say that they had got back the gold chain! I could not believe my ears, and was ofcourse eager to know what transpired. I understood that my servant maid had come to work as usual, and seeing my mom very upset had enquired what was wrong. My mom immediately broke down and told her about the incident. My maid has then told my mother not to worry and the chain should be there somewhere in the house only and that she will help locate it. As she was sweeping the floor, they found the chain under the Treadmill. My parents were speechless because they did search the house thoroughly. God knows how it went there! All of us, especially my mother were so happy.
My mom and I thanked Arai Kasu Amman for this miracle, and as vowed, the next Sunday I went to the Arai Kasu Amman temple located near Vandalur zoo in Chennai, offered jaggery and prayed. It is a small and a beautiful temple located just near the Lakshmi Kubera Temple. There are 108 ammans in the temple, including the main deity. I bought the pooja items just for Rs:100, and the priest there taught me how to perform pooja myself to all the 107 ammans located around the main deity. I offered prayers as was told, and then the priest performed the archana to the main deity. Along with vasthrams, they also gave me a coin (arai kasu) which I was asked to keep in my pooja room. It was a wonderful experience. I also bought two pictures of Arai Kasu Aman, one for me and the other for my mom.
A picture of Arai Kasu Amman which I have at home and offer prayers everyday is pasted here.
Cheers
