Seshadri's Musings

More web-series reviews… Catch Me A Killer – Came in 2024.  Based on the book of the same name, CATCH ME A KILLER tells the harrowing story of former journalist-turned-psychologist MICKI PISTORIUS - South Africa's first serial killer profiler. A review from IMDB... Solid, well-paced and stripped-down crime for compulsive viewing As a long-time fan of UK crime dramas, Scandi noir, Korean revenge films and series, this one piqued my attention. I'm nearly done with it and it's only been a couple days, so that's a good sign. The series opens with a bit of a reference to Cracker (UK), and throughout there are touches of UK forensic psychology dramas like Wire in the Blood and Touch of Evil, as well as Prime Suspect for the resistance local police departments put up to psychological profiling and detective work. The stories are all true. Most are just one episode, which is unfortunate insofar as there's le...

I was in Delhi last week and my cousin Sriram mentioned about the Khatu Shyam temple near Sonipat. I put it in the back of my mind for some future visits.   It seems Jayashree then went to the internet to explore what the temple was and its background.   We had some free time in Sonipat and she told me the story behind the temple, part of the Mahabharata puranas, and suggested that we go and visit the temple. I checked out the temple on internet and found that it was only about 10kms from where we were staying in Sonipat.  Unfortunately, no cabs were available.  We walked to the main road and got hold of a share auto.  At first, he said he is not going in that direction.  Then he said he will take Rs 100 if has to take us. We agreed and went with him.  There were 2 more passengers in the auto and they got down on the way.  He dropped us at the temple. I asked him if he could wait for half and hour and then he can drop us back at the place where ...

  Again, Jayashree found about this temple in Hyderabad and said we should visit this.   Off the 5 of us went to see this temple one fine evening.   The details of the temple are as below from a blog by Mr Gowri Shanker, a journalist… Tucked in the hustle and bustle of concrete IT jungle in Rangbagh, Nanakramguda is the over 400-year old Ranganath Swamy Temple, one of the cleanest temples in Hyderabad and Telangana State with architectural beauty. It’s no surprise the ancient temple bagged INTACH Heritage award long back (2002) for preserving the heritage structures and the premises spic and span. Compared to a couple of years ago, locating temple itself is now a difficult task as huge commercial complexes and residential apartments camouflage the temple and its precincts.  But once you find it and enter the sprawling temple complex near Wipro circle, one is floored by the beauty of the Gopurams, the temple entrance, cleanliness and the serene environment. The te...

Jayashree had told me that we should visit a Dattatreya temple in Kuruvapur.   I went about looking the way to reach there.   While looking I saw another Dattatreya temple somewhat nearby.   I made a note of it also to see if we can visit there also.    We started at about 430am in the morning as the google maps showed about 3.5-4-hour drive to the temple.  We had taken idlis in tiffin boxes to eat on the way.  We reached the place at about 8am or so. Reaching there, we found out that we have to catch a boat to reach the temple.  And moreover, 2 boats since there was an island in between 😊 !  Catch one boat, reach the island, walk for some 3-4 minutes and catch another boat to reach the temple.  There is not proper pathway in the island and because of the rains before, the path was muddy.  My mother sprained her leg here while walking and said she will wait in the island itself and we can go and have the darshan.  ...

While researching the way to go to the Swarnagiri temple, I found that there was another temple site, just about 20 minutes away.   This was the Ramaneswaram Devasthanam. A few details on the temple from Telangana Tourism… Ramaneswaram is a Hindu pilgrimage temple registered as Shiva Shakthi Shirdi Sai Anugraha Mahapeetam. It is founded by Siddhaguru Sri Ramanananda Maharshi in 2012 with a vision to promote the glory of Lord Shiva, Goddess Shakthi and Siddhaguru (Shirdi Sai Baba). This temple is in the province of Nagireddipally village, 15 KM away from Yadadri Bhuvanagiri and 27 KM away from the holy pilgrimage Yadagirigutta (Yadadri). Legend has it, Lord Shiva initiated Shiva Sahasra Nama stotram to Lord Brahma. It comprises 10000 names of Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma communicated the same to Maharshi Tandi, who compressed it to 1008 names and initiated to Maharshi Markandeya, who inturn communicated it to Upamanyu Maharshi, and Maharshi Upamanyu transmitted it to Lord Srikrishna....