During our Gujarat trip we were blessed to have Somnath Ji’s darshan on Sept 20th. Read all about it – Nageshwar and Somnath – Jyotirlingas. On Nov 18th, (last Saturday), we again managed to get Somanath Ji’s darshan at Rajesh’s place !!!
His full name is Sreedhara Panicker Somanath and we all know him as the Chairman of ISRO who scripted history with the soft landing of Chandrayaan 3. Remember Aug 23rd ? That proud moment when the Vikram Lander made a soft landing on Moon’s South Pole, a first for any nation ! Also ensured that Bharat was the fourth nation on the moon, after the US, Russia and China.
Congratulations Bharat and ISRO.
They say in Tamil – நிறை குடம் தளும்பாது. The literal translation is a full pot does not spill. What it means is a knowledgeable person or an achiever will usually be simple and silent. Dr. Somanath is both knowledgeable and an achiever !!! He was so easy to talk to despite some of us being tongue tied in his presence.
What do you say to a man who sends rockets into space and lands some of them on the moon ? I showed him the message I had sent to Narayana Bhattar at Peelamedu Anjaneyar temple, Coimbatore on Aug 23rd praying for the soft landing on Moon. His response was, “I knew we will succeed in Chandrayaan 3 because so many people sent me messages that they were praying for our success.”
How easily he shifted the credit due to him and the ISRO team to prayers by citizens of a grateful nation :). It takes a man of great character to do that. It also takes a spiritual person to say this. But Dr. Somanath is a deeply spiritual person as he shares in his own words below –
Krishnan and I relive this brief meeting with Dr. Somanath often … it’s not everyday that you get to meet someone who explores space for real.
Waiting to read Dr. Somanath’s autobiography whenever its made available. Am sure it would be inspirational to read about his journey.
Thank you Dr. Somanath … may every project of ISRO be successful and may Bharat regain its rightful space (pun intended) amongst spacefaring nations.
Jai Hind. Jai Chengalamma Devi 🙏🏿