தோடகாஷ்டகம்

விதிதாகில சாஸ்த்ர ஸுதா ஜலதே
மஹிதோப நிஷத் கதிதார்த நிதே |
ஹ்ருதயே கலயே விமலம் சரணம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக  மே சரணம் || 1 ||
கருணா வருணாலய பாலய மாம்
பவஸாகர துக்க விதூன ஹ்ருதம் |
ரசயாகில தர்சன தத்வ விதம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக  மே சரணம்   || 2 ||
பவதா ஜனதா ஸுஹிதா பவிதா
நிஜபோத விசாரண சாருமதே |
கலயேஸ்வர ஜீவ விவேக விதம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக  மே சரணம்  || 3 ||
பவ எவ பவானிதி மெனிதராம்
ஸமஜாயத சேதஸி கௌதுகிதா |
மம வாரய மோஹ மஹா ஜலதிம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக  மே சரணம்  || 4 ||
சுக்ருதே‌ உதிக்ருதே பஹுதா பவதோ
பவிதா ஸமதர்சன லாலஸதா |
அதி தீனமிமம் பரிபாலய மாம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக  மே சரணம்  || 5 ||
ஜகதீமவிதும் கலிதாக்ருதயோ
விசரன்தி மஹாமாஹ ஸச்சலத: |
அஹிமாம்சுரிவாத்ர விபாஸி குரோ
பவ சங்கர தேசிக  மே சரணம்  || 6 ||
குருபுங்கவ புங்கவகேதன தே
ஸமதாமயதாம் நஹி கோ‌பி ஸுதீ: |
சரணாகத வத்ஸல தத்வ நிதே
பவ சங்கர தேசிக  மே சரணம்  || 7 ||
விதிதா நமயா விதைக கலா
ந ச கிஞ்சன காஞ்சன மஸ்தி குரோ |
து மேவ விதேஹி க்ருபாம் ஸஹஜாம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக  மே சரணம்  || 8 ||

Now, textile dyeing to go organic

01.08.2017 Kerala varsity identifies 12 indigenous plants that can be used to colour silk, cotton.  Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has identified 12 indigenous plants for manufacturing natural textile dyes. A study by the College of Agriculture (CoA), Vellayani, as part of the Western Ghat Development Programme (WGDP), has identified 12 indigenous plants capable of giving colour to cotton and silk textiles. This will provide an organic option for dyeing.

The technology for using these plants for commercial textile industry has been standardised under another research project sponsored by the RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana). 

Eco-friendly

The technology will be of great value in the development of eco-friendly and safe clothing, especially for newborns and people allergic to synthetic dyes. “The research has opened up the possibility of using indigenous plants of Kerala as potential dye yielders. We are looking forward to industrial production of natural dyes for commercial textile industry,” said KAU Vice Chancellor P. Rajendran.

The KAU has not revealed the names of the plants owing to patent issues. Plant dyes were used for garment dyeing and wall paintings till the advent of synthetic dyes in the 16th century.

Hazardous chemicals Awareness of the hazardous effects of chemical dyeing and chemical dye manufacturing had sparked a rethinking now and the KAU effort was on these lines, the VC noted.

The biochemical properties of these natural dye compounds had also been deciphered, which would help identify the biomolecules in them. Going back to the safer, cheaper, and durable natural plant dyes would also help our ecosystem and the lives of workers in dye manufacturing industry, he added.

Kerala, especially the Western Ghats region, is gifted with a wide array of plants for manufacturing natural textile dyes.

We also have a treasure of traditional knowledge on temple wall paintings and in colouring traditional mats, among the rural and tribal people, said P. Indira Devi, Director of Research.“The 12 natural dyes with five different mordants, of which three are natural, have been screened. All silk and cotton materials dyed with these pigments have been tested in SITRA (South Indian Textile Research Laboratory) for colour fastness to light and stability to washing. Through this analysis, combinations of natural dye and natural mordant with good stability have been identified,” V.G. Jayalakshmi, Principal Investigator, said.

charge of the bike brigade

SunnyBee well established with multiple wholesale contracts and branches across the city, the 22-year old is focusing his energies on turning it greener. We realised that organic has become a fad now. Some of the most sophisticated and technology savvy farms say organic boldly on their boards, but their produce is pretty much the same, he says adding, some of the cleanest and most delicious produce we’ve found have been from small farmers who aren’t even on whatsapp.

Safeguarding your bank locker

You can get compensation for loss, if any, by insuring the contents in the locker. A bank’s safe deposit locker may seem the embodiment of absolute safety. But what if items stored in a locker are lost or damaged? Recently, questions have been raised on the bank’s liability in such cases. As holding a locker costs money and banks may often also request you to open a fixed deposit to get a locker, it is important for customers to understand what they get when renting a locker.Ban...

Updating the kanjeevaram sari

Jeyasree Ravi collaborated with weavers to find ways to make the traditional sari lightweight, wrinkle-free and easy to wear

Can a kanjeevaram be lightweight, wrinkle-free and trendy, without losing its age-old, traditional ‘pattu sari’ character? Jeyasree Ravi, proprietor of Palam Silks, has attempted to create a version that ticks all these boxes.

Many years of experimenting with traditional kanjeevaram fabric resulted in her Fabric of Dreams show, organised in April this year. The immense response encouraged her to participate in the Vogue Wedding show held recently in Delhi.

“Ours was the only stall at the event representing South Indian bridal silks, and I was pleasantly surprised by the fascination that young soon-to-be-married women had for kanjeevarams. Just like how south Indian brides opt for lehengas now, brides up north seem to be choosing kanjeevaram saris,” says Jeyasree.

Her new Nava collection is lightweight and wrinkle-free. She says it is woven with superior techniques to create the lustre and feel of traditional kanjeevarams. “I experimented with colours such as burnt orange, peach, blue, green and pastels, avoiding traditional colours such as maroon and green. In the Nava range, we have used two yarns of zari and two yarns of silk thread. This gives lustre to the fabric. It has the sheen, but is at the same time light,” she says. The Nava range of saris weighs anywhere between 0.9 to 1.20 kilograms, whereas the traditional Kanjeevaram bridal sari weighs 1.20 kilograms upwards.

She adds, “Wedding saris are often worn just once. I wanted to create saris that are contemporary so they can be worn for multiple occasions.” She says these saris are also easy to maintain as zari is woven along with silk thread, thus increasing longevity.

Along with her two daughters, Vineeta Palam and Sunita Palam, Jeyasree designs the saris for each season. They work with dedicated weavers based in Kanchipuram and surrounding regions.

Jeyasree says most of the men in Kanchipuram have taken up other careers, so women in the family are encouraged to weave during their free time. “In order to make the process of weaving easier for women, we use a motorised pedal and the rest of the process is by hand,” she adds. “As these saris are handwoven and the dye used is eco-friendly, they are not easy to replicate.

Jeyasree says she established Palam Silks in Pondy Bazaar in 2003, at the age of 36. “I come from the Nalli Silks family and married into the Kumaran Silks family. So when I entered the market, I wanted a unique identity. That is when I started focussing on fabric and design,” she says, adding, “However, we attend to our customers in the traditional old style, like how silk merchants used to traditionally come home and display saris.”

perfumes

31.08.2017

Diptyque L'Ombre dans l'Eau

Blackcurrant leaves, Bulgarian roses -

Reminiscent of a walk in an English garden, filled with Bulgarian rose petals and leaves of the blackcurrant bush. The scent of sap graciously freshens up this idyllic and rural escapade.

Discover diptyque’s iconic fragrances without hesitation

Each fragrance purchase will now include a matching sample. Use the sample to test the fragrance on your skin before opening the full-size bottle. We will gladly accept unopened returns within 14 days of original purchase.

Rs 8,331 at diptyqueparis.com

Demeter

Rain

Demeter's Rain is the cleanest and most delicate of all our fragrances. Step outside after the first storm after a dry spell and it invariably hits you: The sweet, fresh, powerfully evocative smell of fresh rain. If you've ever noticed this mysterious scent and wondered what is responsible for it, you're not alone. What you really smell comes not from the air, but the ground! Plants release oils that enter the soil and blend with the other earthy odors. These odors are released into the air when the relative humidity at ground level exceeds 75 percent. Moist humid air will transmit odors far better than dry air. In these moist humid conditions we notice these odors more readily. And since rain is so often connected with moist humid air, we tend to associate one with the other. Demeter Fragrance Rain captures this complex sensory moment perfectly. But apart from the specific chemicals responsible, there's also the deeper question of why we find the smell of rain pleasant in the first place. Some scientists have speculated that it's a product of evolution. Anthropologist Diana Young of the University of Queensland in Australia, for example, who studied the culture of Western Australia's Pitjantjatjara people, has observed that they associate the smell of rain with the color green, hinting at the deep-seated link between a season's first rain and the expectation of growth and associated game animals, both crucial for their diet. She calls this "cultural synesthesia"-the blending of different sensory experiences on a society-wide scale due to evolutionary history. It's not a major leap to imagine how other cultures might similarly have positive associations of rain embedded in their collective consciousness-humans around the world, after all, require either plants or animals to eat, and both are more plentiful in rainy times than during drought. If this hypothesis is correct, then the next time you relish the scent of fresh rain, think of it as a cultural imprint, derived from your ancestors.

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Rs 1,156/-demeterfragrance.com

Bombay Perfumery

1020

Bombay Perfumery is a contemporary fragrance house based out of Mumbai that focuses on offering progressive perfumery trends to its customers. With a rich legacy of 30 years in the business of fragrances, we understand how various ingredients work together to create distinct fragrances that are long lasting and full of character.

Bombay Perfumery is a labor of love where each perfume is carefully built so as to highlight the provenance of the ingredients that go into it, evoking a distinct memory every time you open the bottle. We invite you to explore the beautiful world of perfumery with our range of eau de parfums, which are Indian at heart, modern in their aesthetic and unique in the experience they provide

Rs 4.100/-bombayperfumery.com

DS & DURGA Rs 11532/.Durga.com

Roja parfumes Rs  18597/-.

hair oil at home

Half a litre of coconut oil with a fistful of curry and neem leaves, a few dried hibiscus flower, plus some fenugreek seeds, camphor and amla powder. Without straining the oil, apply it to get dark, lush hair.

Be it food or beauty, we now look for the purest ingredients that haven’t been adulterated with pesticides or preservatives. Creating our own oils, mixing masks, using product that take time but promise purity, are more important then instantaneous result. In fact, as we now know, instant anything can be dangerous, be it love, success or a packet of noodles. There’s more merit in being slow. After all, creating a ritual is the ultimate luxury in a world that’s pressed for time.

The taste of home

The Shri Jayavilas Sappattu Club brings old-world charm back and reminds its customers of Madurai’s iconic culinary skills Shri Jayavilas Sappattu Club

The story so far A stone’s throw from the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple on North Avani Moola Street

On the menu cooked their food in lead-coated copper vessels for the food preparation. “Such vessels have medicinal value. With liberal use of fertilisers and pesticides these days, there is every chance of food getting stale faster. Also, pesticides can create indigestion. It is believed that using copper vessels reduces the effect to a certain level,” he says. Signature serving Meals here cost ₹90 and a plate of every special dish is ₹120.

All are welcome disadvantage, given the parking problem people now are more concerned about parking facilities and ambience. We are also planning to branch out. But, it will take time Shri Jayavilas Sappattu Club is open for lunch between 12 noon and 4 pm and between 6.30 and 11.30 pm for dinner. In this weekly column, we take a peek at some of the most iconic restaurants