Latest news with #Perumal


The Hindu
09-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
July 10, 2025
It is one of the commonest and yet most complex quests. How does one rise above earthly considerations and attain knowledge of Paramathma in this world? The answer lies in finding the right teacher, preceptor, guide or guru. One of the widely known prayers, 'Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru Devo Masheswaraah Gurur sakshat Parabrahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha', is uttered on Guru Purnima day, as a way of saluting the guru. Discoursing on the importance of acquiring knowledge of Perumal, through a guru, Lord Krishna says, 'tat viddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sevaya upadekshyanti te gnanam gnaninas tattva darshinah:' The Bhagavad Gita says (Chapter IV, verse 34), 'Acquire knowledge through prostration (to a guru), inquiry and service. The wise who are knowers of the Paramathma will instruct you in wisdom.' Every year, the full moon appearing during the ashada month (period between Amavasya in the Tamil months of Ani and Adi) is celebrated as Guru Purnima, as a way of honouring gurus who dispel the darkness of ignorance and throw light on true knowledge, said Tirukkudanthai Dr. Venkatesh. Guru Purnima is the day on which Veda Vyasa, the ultimate teacher, was born to sage Parasara and his spouse Satyavati. Vyasa divided the Vedas into Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana and penned Mahabharata, a magnum opus hailed as the fifth Veda. He compiled Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Sahasranamam, apart from authoring 18 puranas. With his treatise running into 545 Brahma sutras, he simplified one's understanding of the Upanishads. A number of preceptors have made a study of his works and disseminated the knowledge in a simple and easily comprehensible manner, a service that impels everyone to spontaneously show their obeisance on this day to their teachers. On this day, people pray to Dakshinamoorthy, Hayagriva, Lord Krishna, Vyasa, Adi Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhwacharya and many others, as per their tradition. As the popular adage goes, mata, pita, guru, deivam, it is the guru who leads one towards one's ultimate goal: God.

IOL News
26-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Travel with purpose: Justin Perumal's guide to building an inclusive tourism economy
Justin Perumal, 39, a travel entrepreneur from KwaZulu-Natal, shares his insights on the tourism industry. With a background in business strategy, Perumal has spent the last nine years building a career in the travel industry, motivated by a desire to connect with nature conservation efforts and cultural heritage. Justin Perumal, 39, is a travel entrepreneur with a passion for exploring and promoting the diverse landscapes and cultures of South Africa. After living abroad for over eight years, he returned to South Africa, where he recognised the potential for growth in the tourism economy, particularly in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal. We spoke to Perumal about his work and his aspirations. How long have you been in the travel industry and what was the motivation behind it? Having studied business strategy, the usual career trajectory is more corporate stooge vibes. However, I had been super fortunate to have travelled through Europe, North America and, of course, the United Kingdom, where I studied before graduating. My experiences abroad opened my eyes to the vast opportunities that travel can offer, both personally and professionally. Moving back to South Africa was a bit of a culture shock in terms of seeing how little society had transformed since the end of apartheid. As a child, I did not see much of the country, so I thought: hey, exploring the region whilst building a business could be interesting. I wanted to immerse myself in the beauty of South Africa and share that with others. In other words, my motivation was more necessity. I felt as though travel was one of the few viable options available to me based on who I was, my educational background, skills, and, of course, my interests. I have never looked back since. Which of your projects are you most proud of and why? On a micro-scale, Wild Routes Africa is something close to my heart. It is a project designed to reimagine how KwaZulu-Natal, my home province, is sold and experienced, and to help grow the tourism economy in this region. Wild Routes Africa aims to showcase the hidden gems of KwaZulu-Natal, encouraging both locals and international tourists to explore the region's natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. I believe that by promoting sustainable tourism, we can create jobs and empower communities, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are felt by all. On a macro-scale, Avant Africa DMC is very important to me. It is a project designed to help grow market access for small businesses and under-represented groups within tourism, i.e. women-owned businesses, community-based tourism products, LGBTQIA+, environmentally responsible experiences, conservation-focused products, youth, and Black-owned businesses. I am passionate about creating an inclusive tourism economy where everyone has a seat at the table.


The Citizen
20-06-2025
- The Citizen
KZN man gets double life sentence for rape and murder of Umkomaas child
KZN man gets double life sentence for rape and murder of Umkomaas child Justice has been served for Lusanda Nkomo who was raped and murdered in Umkomaas last year. South Coast Herald reports that the Pietermaritzburg High Court, sitting in Port Shepstone, handed down a double life sentence to Rogers Perumal (57) for these crimes. Perumal lived in the same area as the child, and they knew each other. On March 17 last year, Perumal's dog went missing. While conducting a search in the neighbourhood, Nkomo joined him as she was fond of the dog. 'When they got to a bushy area, Perumal raped the child,' says Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) KZN spokesperson. 'He then assaulted her all over her body and strangled her before fleeing the scene.' When the child did not return home that day, community members searched for her throughout the day and night. The next day, her lifeless body was found. Investigations were carried out, and as Perumal was the last person she was seen with, he was arrested. Angered locals ransacked Perumal's house and set his belongings alight on the day of his arrest. He abandoned bail on March 20 at the Scottburgh Magistrate's Court. At his sentencing last week, Advocate Mziwodumo Miza led the evidence of witnesses who saw Perumal walking with the child in the direction where her body was found. He also led DNA evidence linking Perumal to the DNA material found on the child. A victim impact statement compiled by the child's mother and facilitated by court preparation officer Beaufort Shinga, was handed in. Perumal was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment each, for the rape and murder. The court also ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. His application for leave to appeal against both convictions and sentences was subsequently refused. 'This sentence underscores the seriousness with which the justice system treats crimes against the most vulnerable members of our society,' says Ramkisson-Kara. 'The NPA remains resolute in its pursuit of justice for victims of gender-based violence and child abuse, and will continue to ensure that perpetrators of such heinous crimes are removed from society and face the harshest possible consequences. Justice has been served, and the rights and dignity of our children protected.' Nkomo was described as a bubbly and energetic child. She will be missed dearly by her community and was said to be everything to her family. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!


The Hindu
16-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
109th Divya Desam
Vedas say that a man lives for a 100 years: fifty of these are spent in sleep; of the rest, childhood and puberty take up 15 years; the last 35 years go in sickness, age-related illnesses, etc. With nothing left of one's years, where is the need to be born? I do not want this birth, said Tondaradipodi Azhwar. What are the ways in which one can avoid rebirth? Divya Prabhandam shows the way, said Tirukkudanthai Dr. Venkatesh. Rendered in Tamil, and accessible to all, the verses from Prabhandam showcase God in an easy to comprehend, identifiable manner and one should render relevant verses from this stellar work, every day, at home. The Divya Prabhandam celebrates God and His attributes in a manner that resonates with the emotion of a devotee. Each one experiences God in his own way, internally and the verses in Nalayira Divya Prabahandam bring to life as it were, Perumal in various stages. One may argue that various scriptural literature do likewise. The Vedas describe Perumal in Vaikunta. Agamas refer to Perumal in the Milky Ocean. Ithihasas describe Perumal's manifestations. Smritis say He is antaryami, ever present inside us. However, none of us can grasp the nuances of these four states and experience God. Prabhandam does this job admirably. The verses bring to life the archa murtis in temples and even in our homes. Azhwars say the idols and images that are kept at home, with daily rituals of prayer, puja and offerings are also equally important and powerful. In fact, the idols at home are considered the 109th Divya Desam. There is a verse for each aspect of home prayer rituals in the Prabhandam. Ramanuja has said that conducting daily prayers at home by reciting from Divya Prabhandam is like a trailer to Vaikuntam.


The Hindu
08-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
10 traits of Nammazhwar
Falling on June 9 this year, the Tamil star of Visakam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi is indeed a special one. It is the day on which Nammazhwar, the great Vaishnavite saint, was born in Tirukurugur in Tirunelveli, rendering Vaikasi Visakam as an extremely auspicious one, said Tirukkudanthai Dr. Venkatesh. Nammazhwar commands an exalted state among the azhwars, the Vaishnavite saints. There are many reasons to celebrate Nammazhwar, but it is worth looking at 10 of them, which set him apart. First, he is considered to be an aspect of Vishvaksena, Lord Narayana's lieutenant, and he had no earthly attachment since at his birth he cut the cord of sadavayu (an aspect that binds us all to earthly matters) and hence his devotion to the Lord is purity personified. Second, he presented Tiruvaimozhi, an unparalleled work comprising 1,102 verses and hailed as Dravida Veda. Thirdly, although he lived for 35 years in this world, he was so consumed by bhakti that he did not care for food, preferring to relish on the attributes of Lord Krishna. Fourth, he is considered to be a veritable sun, since his verses throw light on one's inner darkness and dispels ignorance. The lines, Mayar vara Madhi nalam arulinavan evan avan, encapsulate his knowledge and how he came by it: Perumal Himself gifted it to him, marking his fifth trait. His sixth trait is the most celebrated one of his: he distilled the essence of all the four Vedas in his Tamil works: Rig Veda is contained in Tiruviruttam, Yajur Veda in Tiruvasiriyam; Sama Veda in Tiruvaimozhi and Atharvana Veda in Periya Tiruvandhadi. He is identified as the head of the Vasihnavaite Azhwars, with the rest of them forming the various parts of his physique. Next, he is considered to be greater than everyone, even God: Once, Nammazhwar asked God who is the greatest. 'I am the greatest,' said Perumal, 'I bear the universe.' Nammazhwar gave the famous rejoinder, depicting his devotion, 'I bear You in my heart, therefore, I am the greatest.' Nammazhwar is symbolised by the paduka of Perumal, which is placed on the head of devotees in temples as a benediction. Finally, his works in Tamil have put the Vedas and Upanishads within the reach of the ordinary people. Praying to him would guide a devotee on the way to reach God.