Ammalu, for Karadayan nombu you don’t prepare laddu, jilebhi, kesari, halva etc?’
‘Yes, we do, but won’t serve to our men!’
‘Why Ammalu ? You eat everything and bulge like a barrel?’
‘Don’t mind even if I swell like your ego, but can’t serve you’
‘Why, why, why?’
‘Karadayan nombu is a vratham praying for your longevity. Laddu and other sweets will hinder that, especially you are are a diabetic’
‘Is that the only hindrance for my longevity?’
‘One more. Your cosiness with women’
—————–
You look so sweet while sleeping, resting you head on the right hand, SP’
‘Don’t I look sweet while awake, Ammalu?’
‘No. You talk while awake’
——————————
Ammalu, I feel so elated, seeing the full moon above our mango tree showering nectar and a cuckoo pair singing love songs. Come near, my sweet heart. Let me hug you’.
‘Are you Ok, SP?’
‘Ammalu, Ammini was telling–‘
‘You want to hug Ammini or me? Decide that first and then I will deal with your cockoo and Chikkoo’
‘Who is Chikkoo Ammalu?’
‘The one I want to hug’
‘Ammalu, or you OK?’
‘I’m not . I was never. Had I been Ok, I would have married Chikkoo and not you’
‘Ammalu, please don’t say such thing. I was just joking. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I never wanted to hug you’
‘I know that. Now, show me your cuckoo pair singing love songs. I’m seeing only two monkeys on the mango tree’
Author: shivam
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Signs and signals
‘Anna, thenkai first classaa odanchuthu,’ my brother Vicha tells me when I call him to greet on the dawn of Vishu, every year. ‘The coconut for Vishukkani broke into identical halves,’- that is what he says and it is a great news for him.
‘This year, things will go smoothly. Nothing to worry till next Vishu’ – that is his belief, trust.
He has inherited that belief from my father who, though lenient in my traditional practices, was a firm believer in the way coconuts get cut for poojas and auspicious occasions. That gave him indications for the good or bad happenings in the family. If the coconut for the Vishukkani got cut uniformly into two halves, it is a sign for the auspiciousness for the whole year.
We all know, my brother knows, my father too knew the impracticality of only good events happening throughout the year. But, it gives a momentary satisfaction that things are going to be good. And that satisfaction is a great thing on the dawn of a new year. Unfortunately, the reverse too is true. So, what I do is, if the coconut breaks well, I feel happy. If it doesn’t, I don’t worry. I take refuge under the wise escape root devised by our elders, ‘whatever has to happen will happen’. Swamy Saranam!
The coconut cracks give hope for some thoughts.
With a prayer on our lips, we throw a coconut on the granite slab before the Chathapuram or Pazhavangadi (TVM) or any Mahaganapathy temple . It cracks into several peaces. We feel happiness. It is that momentary happiness and satisfaction which is important. After all, life is sewn with so many moments and if we could bring happiness and satisfaction by such small, small acts, what is harm in it?
But, as I said above, what happens, if the coconut doesn’t crack into multi pieces? Chances are almost nil. Our ancestors wisely selected coconut, not banana or brinjal!
Generally, I feel that we should not take the signs and signals too seriously. I have an article on this topic and I shall share with you in due course. -
Toned up body and mind make life most enjoyable
Feel fresh, elevated in body and mind. The Global Energizer is the cause. The Sun has been bright since two days. Day temperature around 80 degF. Went for a walk around the colony after a long time. Removed even jacket. To be with a T shirt is like being in a lungi in our place. So free. The body wrapped with layers of cloth is a burden. Mind packed with all sorts of thoughts is a curse.
Sharath takes me to gym on alternate evenings. In the gym, watching scores of young and old, men and women, working out on different instruments, make me younger.
Megh takes me to the clinic everyday. Only old people are seen there, as patients. When I see old couple, the weak partner supporting the weaker one, I feel sad. They all come neatly dressed up, though their inner parts of the husband or wife might be getting eroded every minute. The hospital staff, right from the doctors, keep smiling, talk sweetly, though what they see around is not that sweet at all. They are extremely kind to the patients. You can ask any question, they will answer happily. My Oncologist is a handsome guy, smiling liberally. The auxiliary staff too are cheerful, cheering the patients. Hospitals and clinics teach us one thing. Old age is indispensable. Sickness is a part of it. This is not a big discovery. But, when I see the sick and sagging right before my eyes every day, I realize the well known fact as a new lesson.
I have a friend, through my daughter, in Florida. That girl is from Andhra, a nephrologist. ‘How did you land here?’ I asked.
‘Demand, uncle,’ she said. ‘Old people are more here’
Old kidneys, like old hearts and other organs, need better attention, which means more physicians. In fact, in Florida, there is a township exclusively for oldies, called, ‘The Villages’ Only retirees are allowed there. A vast area with hospital facilities, swimming pools, tennis and golf courts . Some book homes there, much before they become old. They know that they will, one day become old. All of us should know that. But, many realuze only when they land on that dry land!
At Habsiguda club, we have a tennis court, gym and swimming pool, both maintained well. There should be such facilities in every colony. If facilities are provided, people will use. People have to use, if they have to remain fit.
Physical fitness is equally important as mental fitness. In, India fortunately, the awareness has come. I have see. several people, young and old, going for morning walk. In Kerala, for temple goers, no other exercise is required. Early morning, both men and women, after a cold water bath, wearing neat clothes, visit temples . Three pradakshinams tone up the body while the morning worship rejuvenates their mind.
Toned up body and mind makes life enjoyable. -
Shivarathri' should have reminded me
The word ‘Shivaratri’ brings to my mind my Bhavani Periammai, a short, frail figure, wrapped in a white cloth extended to cover her shaven head too, crossing the Kalpathy River with a grass mat tugged in her arm pit, with empty stomach but elevated bakthi feelings, going to the Shiva temple for worship and then hearing kathakalakshepam or Bajhan but dozing off half way through the sathsang, encouraged by the streams of cold wind rushing in from the western ghats to recite Rudram and Chamakam at the sanctum of the Lord Shiva.
‘Shivaratri’ brings to my mind Perinkulam Krishnavadhyar , who comes all the way from our native village by walk to watch Kathakali, and my Appa taking me to Kallaikulankara Eamoor Bhaghavathy temple , holding my hand and crossing the hillock to watch the Kathakali at night, and me dozing off after watching the colourful dance for a while, under the breezy tree, unmindful of the sound from the percussion instruments, metallic musical sound from the Chengala, ( the brass disc) and the yelling of the ‘kathi veshams ‘ or villainous characters, on the stage. Appa doesn’t scold me for taking a nap in between as there are many old women still in sound sleep though the sun is about to arise on the eastern gate and many are moving towards the ponds around for a bath.
Ideally Shivarathri should bring to my mind the Ardhayama pooja at the Baba Viswanath temple in Kashi, where the sound from the multi instruments create an ambience of the Mount Kailas where the Celestial dance takes place, enthusiastically watched by the devas, kinnaras, gandharvas etc. and I sit among the crowd forgetting myself, after a fresh bath in the cold waters of the holy Ganges and reciting ‘Om Namashivaya’.
Shivarathri should remind me, the Procession of the Lord of Kalpathy, seated on the Nandi whose sharp ears absorb with immense joy, the shouts of ‘kailasapathe’ coming out of the throat of those carrying the heavy idols on their shoulders and me trying to push in between and try to reach one of the heavy poles on which stays the base holding the idols.
Ideally Shivarathri should remind me the scene in the Kiraathajuneeyam Kathakali show I was watching, where
Mother Parvathy tormented by the sight of Arjuna’s sharp arrows piercing her Lord and cursing him,
‘Nee, noonam eyyunna baanangal okkayum
Soonmai poka Pandava’
( Let the sharp arrows you shower at my Lord turn into flowers! )
Shivarathri, ideally should have reminded me the Rudram, Chamakam, Shivanandalahari and other Devine hymns taught by my Appa and learned by me on my own or at least the ‘Shambho MahAdeva, Deva’ which I used to recite standing before the sanctums of the Vaikathappan or Sreekanteswaran of TVM .
Shivarathri should have at least reminded me just two or three words, ‘Om Namah Shivaaya:’ or Shivaya namah Ohm’
Shivarathri should have attest reminded me, my own name and prompted me to utter a single word, ‘Shivoham’.
No, no such things happen. Instead, I remember the banana chips and neyyappam, I had for the evening coffee on Friday, before leaving for New Jersey and Megh’s strong warning this morning, using the familiar appellation of my FB friends, ‘no, SPji, no fasting this year; you are under treatment!
Shivaaya namah Ohm! -
Althara, platform bases of peepul or other trees
I miss in USA Aalthara or platform bases of peepul or other big trees, we see in temple premises, street corners or pond banks in Kerala . It is not that we don’t have big trees here; we have plenty . But the culture of worshiping trees and giving prominence, is not here. Althara is basically our cultural heritage, not West’s. You will realize their importance only when you miss those.
Seated on the safe and secluded althara, in many places, I have waited for buses, enjoying the cool wind and shade provided and have silently worshipped, with head -bow the idols of Ganapathy or Nagadevada installed there, while passing through. I have composed a Malayalam folk song, Standing before the idol under the tree opposite to Sreekanteswaram temple by my wife’s house.
The Ganapathy at the peepul tree base is my Lord,
The Ganapthy at the peepul tree base is my Way.
‘ Arasum moodu Ganapathy mama pathy
Arasum moodu Ganapathy mama gathi’
I have participated in the pooja performed at the tree base near Perinkulam pond, on the concluding day of the car festival in our village. I have sat and dreamed alone and at times with my friends below the huge tree on the bank of the Kalpthy River behind the Chathapuram temple in Kalpathy. That lovely river bank and tree base from where I get a good view of the Western Ghats was the soil where my story, ‘Kamu, my childhood friend’
Grew.
The aaltharas in our country used to provide an excellent meeting ground for people, to sit under, relax, discuss issues and debate. In the olden days great religious debates and classes used to take place under the tree bases. The picture of the SatchidAnanda roopa Dakshinamoorthy facing his disciples, much younger to him in age and conveying great spiritual thatwams, silently, is a familiar imaginative sight for Sanskritham lovers.
चिद्घनाय महेशाय वटमूलनिवासिने ।
सच्चिदानन्दरूपाय दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः ॥६॥
Cid-Ghanaaya Mahe[aa-Ii]shaaya Vatta-Muula-Nivaasine |
Sac-Cid-Aananda-Ruupaaya Dakssinnaamuurtaye Namah
चित्रं वटतरोर्मूले वृद्धाः शिष्या गुरुर्युवा ।
गुरोस्तु मौनं व्याख्यानं शिष्यास्तुच्छिन्नसंशयाः ॥३
It is indeed chitram- strange to see the aged disciples seated
At the root of a banyan tree, in front of an young Guru, who is silent and that silence is his exposition of the supreme knowledge. That automatically dispels all the doubts from the minds of the disciples.
Pages and pages have been written to explain each sloka of the Dakshinamoorthy stothram by great scholars still much more remain to be said. Sankaracharya’s every hymn has inexplainable beauty and enduring essence of devotion and spiritual guidance. But, Dakshinamoorthy Ashtakam stands high and above .
The people of villages used to assemble on aalthara, discuss and decide important decisions concerning common good, under a Village elder. Collector, Thasildars, police officials etc on their transfer to a particular zone used to visit the village head first and take him into confidence.
As a social and cultural center, altharas had much importance. It served as an open theater and thanks to the divinity label attached to the aal tree, the base was kept clean. None spat chewed tobacco juice over there!
And the elevated Peetam or base itself, gives the tree and premises a status. An elevated place has a dignity of its own.
My father gave a few suggestions when I told him about my plan to construct a house:
1. Elevate the base, at least three feet above the ground level, build steps to clump up, but provide a side entry on the ground level for old people like me, which is possible as I have seen the area of your construction.
2. Provide high ceiling. When you enter your house, you should look up.
3. Provide for cross ventilation, plenty of fresh air should come in.
4. You house is facing East. Provide a ventilator above the front door so that the morning sun rays enters your hall.
The morning sun rays reaches my pooja room through the top ventilator now.
5 . Living room should be big. You should have the feeling that you are big. Others who enter your house too should have the same feeling, not only about you but about them too.
I did construct the house as per my father’s direction but we were not lucky. He didn’t live there. But I have a satisfaction that he visited my house after the construction and remarked seeing the two big halls:
‘Besh, Konthai. At a time you can feed 80/100 people.
The people of old days thought always about feeding others. That is how, today, we are not suffering for want of food and water.
Now, for the Malayalam literates, a folk song :
Aalaayal Thara venum- that is how it starts. If there is a peepul tree, it should have a base.
I add :
Yes, if there is a man, he should have a woman. That elevates his status, gives him respects and people will enjoy his hospitality and no body will venture to spit chewed tobacco juice..😄😄😄
ആലായാൽ തറ വേണം അടുത്തോരമ്പലം വേണം
ആലിന്നു ചേർന്നൊരു കുളവും വേണം (ആലായാൽ)
കുളിപ്പാനായ് കുളം വേണം കുളത്തിൽ ചെന്താമര വേണം
കുളിച്ചു ചെന്നകം പൂകാൻ ചന്ദനം വേണം (കുളിപ്പാനായ്)
(ആലായാൽ)
പൂവായാൽ മണം വേണം പൂമാനായാൽ ഗുണം വേണം (2)
പൂമാനിനിമാർകളായാലടക്കം വേണം (പൂവായാൽ)
നാടായാൽ നൃപൻ വേണം അരികിൽ മന്ത്രിമാർ വേണം (2)
നാടിന്നു ഗുണമുള്ള പ്രജകൾ വേണം (നാടായാൽ)
(ആലായാൽ)
യുദ്ധത്തിങ്കൽ രാമൻ നല്ലൂ കുലത്തിങ്കൽ സീത നല്ലൂ (2)
ഊണുറക്കമുപേക്ഷിപ്പാൻ ലക്ഷ്മണൻ നല്ലൂ (യുദ്ധത്തിങ്കൽ)
പടയ്ക്കു ഭരതൻ നല്ലൂ പറവാൻ പൈങ്കിളി നല്ലൂ (2)
പറക്കുന്ന പക്ഷികളിൽ ഗരുഢൻ നല്ലൂ (യുദ്ധത്തിങ്കൽ)
(ആലായാൽ)
മങ്ങാട്ടച്ചനു ഞായം നല്ലൂ മംഗല്യത്തിനു സ്വർണ്ണേ നല്ലൂ (2)
മങ്ങാതിരിപ്പാൻ നിലവിളക്കു നല്ലൂ (മങ്ങാട്ടച്ചനു)
പാലിയത്തച്ചനുപായം നല്ലൂ പാലിൽ പഞ്ചസാര നല്ലൂ (2)
പാരാതിരിപ്പാൻ ചില പദവി നല്ലൂ
Enjoy the Altharas in your place.