NAMAKKAL: The old hill shrine for Lord Ardhanareeshwarar at Tiruchengde, which shot into the global literary limelight after Tamil writer Perumal Murugan’s controversial novel, ‘Madhorupaagan’, is again in the news, this time as the focus of attention for the Central government not constituting the Cauvery Management Board (CMB).
A meat shop owner came forward to offer a novel prayer to seek divine grace for CMB formation by climbing the steep hill temple with 1,156 steps by doing a push-up at each step he climbed on way to reach the shrine on top. This workout involved doing 1,156 push-ups as curious pilgrims looked on at his devout effort.
While political parties, students and social organiSations have been over the past fortnight launching various forms of protests to press for CMB formation, 29-year-old Prakash, who runs a meat shop at Suriyampalayam near Tiruchengode, wanted to do his bit for the Cauvery cause, but albeit differently.
It was thus he thought of offering a new form of strenuous prayer, beginning at the foothills of Sri Arunachaleswarar temple and ascending the hill with a push-up at every step. He thus reached the hill shrine atop after doing 1,156 push-ups, all for CMB.
Speaking about his prayer, he said, “the Cauvery river is the livelihood of Tamil Nadu people, but the Central government is delaying the forming of CMB. Since everyone is taking part in protests one way or other, I decided to pray to my favourite god Arthanareeswarar by taking push-ups to reach the hill shrine.”
