Oh My God! Episode 2

varalotti · Apr 3, 2009

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OH MY GOD!

A Series By Varalotti Rengasamy

Episode 2

It was <st1:time minute="30" hour="11">half past Eleven</st1:time> in the night. Their little angels had gone to bed. Yamini and Arvind were trying to catch up with their pending work.

The Tech-Team of womenworldwide.com was in the process of upgrading their site adding many interesting features.

Kripa and Prathi were working overtime to complete the project on time. Yamini had to clear a host of design-changes. As she was seeing the revised homepage her laptop beeped. ‘KG’ was in Gmail and had pinged her.

Arvind was working in his office room. In their new house he had created a new office room for Yamini.

And he saw to it that her office was about a hundred square feet larger than his and that the interior decoration was several shades better than what he had for his office.

Yamini: Yes Arvind. I am here. Tell me.

KG: Can I come and see you for a minute, dear?

Arvind had retained the Gmail ID he had created to write in his father’s name. kgopalan1948@gmail.com.

Arvind received no response for his message. But in another ten seconds Yamini stormed into his office.

“How many times should I tell you? If you want to see me, just yell, Yamini. I will come running.”

“But honey our rooms are sealed. Air-conditioned, you know. So how will you hear my yelling?”

“Yell in the chat window, you idiot. Command me to come. Don’t beg like this.”

“Honey, even as your husband, I don’t want to command you. Why should I? But right now I am talking to you in your capacity as my boss. The Site Administrator. I have no right whatsoever to yell, order or command. Anyway thanks for coming.”

“Ok tell me, what’s the issue.”

“I am giving final touches to this week’s post in the religious forum. This post concerns an Azhwar’s paasuram. That is a wonderful story which my father has very meticulously documented. Unless I post the paasuram in Tamil people may not appreciate the story.”

“Are baba! Even if you were to post in the African language of Swahili people would pretend to read it and post highly flattering fb.”

“Come on, Yamini.”

“Sorry, I just want to hint the mad fan following you have. Jokes apart, you can surely post the song in Tamil. I now see whole threads written and responded in regional languages.

“But your case is different. You are our common asset. You cannot afford to lean towards a particular language. So whatever you post in Tamil, give an English translation as well.

“Remember a Marwari housewife living in <st1:city><st1lace>Paris</st1lace></st1:city> will be eagerly waiting to read your post. She should be able to understand, appreciate and shed tears. So long as that is taken care of, you can post in any language.”

“Thanks honey.”

“How long will it take for you to finish your post?”

“Another half an hour, max. Why, you want to see the post?”

“No. I will also finish my work in half an hour. Then we will move over to the terrace. You should tell the story to me in your own language.”

“Deal.”

“Thanks, Arvind.”

varalotti · Apr 3, 2009

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Part 2

When the couple adjourned to the terrace it was around <st1:time minute="0" hour="0">midnight</st1:time>. The children were sleeping with Parvathi and Ramamurthi in the bedroom downstairs.

Yamini lied down on her husband’s lap. She took his right hand and placed his palm on her cheeks.

“Now tell me what you are going to write this week.”

Arvind bent down to kiss his wife on her forehead and started the narration.

varalotti · Apr 3, 2009

Part 3

It was late in the night. With the help of an oil-lamp Ramanujacharya – blessed forever be his name – was reading an Azhwar’s pasuram.

The song had been written by Thirumangai Azhwar. The Azhwar was once a warrior-king who attempted to rob the Lord Himself. The Lord got him over to His side by His love.

Thirumangai Azhwar’s songs are the sweetest in the compilation.

In the song the Great Acharya was reading, the Azhwar was singing praises of the Lord’s name Narayana.

“Do you know the song by heart, Arvind?”

“It is impossible to forget the song once you read the story written by my father.”

“First recite the pasuram.”

Arvind did not exactly sing. He loved music but could never bring himself to sing. But he rendered the pasuram with so much of devotion that Yamini was sure it would have brought tears even to someone who did not know Tamil at all.

குலம் தரும் செல்வம் தந்திடும் அடியார்
படுதுயர் ஆயின எல்லாம்
நிலம்தரம் செயும் நீள்விசும்பு அருளும்
அருளொடு பெருநிலம் அளிக்கும்
வலம்தரும் மற்றும் தந்திடும் பெற்ற
தாயினும் ஆயின செய்யும்
நலம்தரும் சொல்லை நான்கண்டு கொண்டேன்
நாராயணா என்னும் நாமம்”

”I can guess the meaning. Still I would prefer to hear that from you.”

“In this song Thirumangai Azhwar says that the name Narayana itself can give us stature and wealth.

"The name Narayana will destroy the miseries of the devotees. It will give them a seat in Heaven. A seat in Paramapadam. It will give them strength.

“It will give everything. It will give more than what a loving mother can give. And the Azhwar signs off by saying, that I have found such a good word in His holy name.”

“Oh, great.”

“The pity is I can’t effectively render its full meaning in English. For example the Azhwar says “[FONT=TSCu_Veeravel]அடியார் படுதுயர் ஆயினவெல்லாம் நிலந்தரம் செய்யும்” [/FONT]It is difficult to find an exact English equivalent for that expression. I just said that His name will destroy the miseries of His devotees. The Azhwar is much more poetic in his expression.

“Imagine our miseries as some poisonous insects. You know what His name does to those little devils? It kills them all by rubbing them off the ground. There is absolutely no chance for the miseries to raise their ugly head once again. Such is the power of his name. You get the feel now...”

“I get it. Go ahead.”

varalotti · Apr 3, 2009

Part 4

Now Ramanuja had a doubt in the meaning of the song. The song says “[FONT=TSCu_Veeravel]நீள் விசும்பருளும் [/FONT]and [FONT=TSCu_Veeravel]அருளொடு பெருநிலம் அளிக்கும். [/FONT]

All the earlier Acharyas did not notice this repetition. They just explained it as a seat in heaven or paramapadam twice. Even now many texts talk only about that meaning.

But our Acharya was sure that somebody like Thirumangai Azhwar would not have committed the mistake of repeating the same benefit twice.

Why the Azhwar should say [FONT=TSCu_Veeravel]நீள் விசும்பருளும் [/FONT]which means the heavenand in the same line, almost in the same breath say [FONT=TSCu_Veeravel]அருளொடு பெருநிலம் அளிக்கும் [/FONT]which also means something like that?

Some eccentrics interpreted the second phrase as “will give lots and lots of land”. But that is stupid. Only a real-estate broker can think of an explanation like that.

All the teachers said that both the phrases meant only the heaven and that the Azhwar wanted to add an emphasis. So he repeated himself. Ramanuja was not convinced. He prayed to God that the Azhwar’s real intention be made known to him.

Time flew. The Acharya had almost forgotten about the pasuram. But the Lord had not.

varalotti · Apr 3, 2009

Part 5

Ramanuja was then in a learning mode. He wanted to learn everything from the best of the Masters.

His maternal uncle Thirumalai Nambi was in Thirumala (Thirupathi) at that time. Thirumalai Nambi was well-versed in Srimad Ramayanam written by Valmiki. Even at that time Ramanuja was an acclaimed expert in Sanskrit. He had studied Ramayana word by word.

Yet nobody knew the inner meanings of the great epic better than Thirumalai Nambi. So Ramanuja decided to camp in his uncle’s place for almost a year to learn the great epic.

Thirumalai Nambi started the Ramayana classes on an auspicious day. A group of disciples had come along with Ramanuja to learn the epic.

On the day the lessons were about to commence Ramanuja was sitting in a corner applying the sacred symbols on his body. He then chanted the Thirumanthiram, the Lord’s sacred name.

He was not just mechanically repeating the Ashtaksharam, but was fully savouring the meaning of every word and every syllable in the manthra. When he opened his eyes, he saw a lady in her eighties waiting to see him. He stood up and walked to the lady.

“Have you come here to see me?”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“Who are you?”

“I am known as Thumbaiyur Kondi. I am a milk-maid.”

“Oh!”

“I heard that you are going to start Ramayana classes from today. I want to supply curds to all of you till the classes are over.”

“You are most welcome, good lady. But first tell me the price of curds. I need to check up with my uncle whether we can afford the price.”

“Forget the price, my Lord. At the end of the classes I will ask for some thing from you which you and only you can afford.”

Ramanuja agreed.

varalotti · Apr 3, 2009

Part 6

The classes went on for a whole year. The group had the best quality curds throughout the year.

Rain or shine, Thumbaiyur Kondi will be there at five in the morning along with her pot of curds.

She would wait till Ramanuja finished his morning prayers. Then she would fall at his feet, would chat up with him for a few minutes before taking leave of him.

That was the final day of the classes. Thirumalai Nambi had fully transferred his learning to his nephew Ramanuja. Ramanuja’s heart was now overflowing with love for his Lord who was born as Rama and had suffered like an ordinary human being.

His mind was overflowing with love for Valmiki who had written the great epic and for his uncle Thirumalai Nambi who had put his heart and soul in teaching the epic to him.

Kondi was there in the morning as usual. But she left early without even seeing Ramanuja. The classes came to an end late in the afternoon. When Ramanuja walked out of the class he saw the old lady walking towards him with a big smile on her face.

Ramanuja’s heart went out to that woman. She had not received anything for the year-long supply of curds. And because she came pretty early in the morning they did not have anything to offer her.

They could give the price of the curds. But they could never compensate her adequately for the trouble she took at her age to hand-deliver the curds at five in the morning every day without fail.

Even if Ramanuja were to give all his wealth it won’t be enough for what she had done. Even if he were to transfer all his wisdom to that old lady still the payment would fall short.

Little did he know at that time that the lady was going to extract a price much more valuable than that and in the process teach the great Saint something even more valuable.

varalotti · Apr 3, 2009

Part 7

Thumbaiyur Kondi was about to fall at the great Saint’s feet. Ramanuja did not let her do that.

“You are like my mother. You fed us for the whole year. Tell me, Ma, what do you want. We are all beholden to you. Name the price and relieve me of the obligation.”

The lady did not even bat her eyelids.

“Most Revered Acharya, please give me a seat in heaven by the side of the Lord.”

Ramanuja started laughing.

“Who am I to confer that favour, Lady? Only the Great Lord, the Lord of the Seven Hills can do that.”

“I know, Acharya. But they say that He can’t refuse a seat in heaven if you give a letter to that effect. Tell him to give me a berth in heaven in consideration for the curds supplied.”

“It is quite easy for me to give a letter to you, Ma. But it will be useless.”

“You don’t know your value, Gurudeva. Just write the price in a piece of palm leaf and give it to me. Don’t worry about the validity. I know how to exchange it for its real value.”

Ramanuja was still smiling. But then he did not want to continue the argument with that kind old woman. He would give a chit to her as she wanted.

And by the next morning she would surely know that the chit was worthless. She would come to him again crying. Then he would pay the actual price of the curds. May be something more as well.

What’s wrong in amusing a good woman, he thought. He took out a fresh palm leaf and wrote on it in its own hand.

“To The Lord of Seven Hills,

Dear Lord,

Please give the bearer of this chit, Thumbaiyoor Kondi, a seat in the Heaven by your side in full and final settlement of the value of curds supplied to me and the other disciples of Swami Thirumalai Nambi.

Yours sincerely.
Signed – Ramanujan”

“Come on lady, take this chit. Your price has been paid in full. But if you have any problem in realizing this price, please come and see me tomorrow morning.”

“I won’t have any problems, My Lord. Bless me Acharya. This is the last time I would be seeing you in this bodily form. For when I go to heaven I would leave my body behind.”

Ramanuja was moved by the old lady’s unshakable faith in him and in the Lord. He looked above and thanked the Great Lord for showing such good people to him.

varalotti · Apr 3, 2009

Part 8

Having got what she wanted Kondi danced her way out of the house. She started dancing towards the sacred Thirumala temple.

People were amused by the sight of an eighty plus lady having a palm leaf in her hand and dancing in absolute joy. She was chanting the name of the Lord, the name of her Acharya who was kind enough to get her a berth in heaven for something as simple as curds.

When somebody asked who she was, she stopped her dancing, lifted her frail heart in pride and thundered, “Adiyen Ramanuja Dasyai” “I am Ramanuja’s slave.”

“You look so happy today.” They would tease her.

“I have the right to be. My Acharya to whom we all belong, the one and only Udaiyavar, has given a recommendation to the Lord to give me a seat in heaven.”

Poor lady, they thought. Senility and insanity is a lethal combination, they mused.

As she was nearing the temple a young boy of about twelve years with a dark complexion and large black eyes approached her.

“Grandma, can I have a look at the chit please.”

Kondi saw the form before him. He was of course a small boy.

He was wearing a simple dhoti. There was something in his face which melted the old lady’s heart. Kondi knelt down by the side of the boy and with trembling hands handed over the palm leaf to him.

The boy read the chit.

“So you want to go to heaven, right?”

Kondi nodded. Without her knowing her eyes were filled with tears. A sob was trying to escape from her mouth.

“Yes, Kondi, the chit appears to be valid. Are you ready to go now?”

Now the old lady had no doubts about the identity of the person standing before her. Though she was sobbing the boy could understand what was there in her mind.

“Kondi, have a look at me. There is no need to be afraid. Lift your head, gently, gently…”

When the boy’s hand touched Kondi’s chin waves of happiness reverberated in the deepest parts of her being. And when the boy gently lifted her chin Kondi felt that the whole world was going up with her.

Every square millimetre of her body was dancing in pure happiness. Kondi had never enjoyed that kind of ecstacy in her life. Her body and her mind could not contain that happiness any longer.

Before her stood the Great Lord in all His glory. He was like the sun which had just come out in the East. His face was as cool as the moon. And he was as dark as the rain-bearing clouds. As she was seeing

He grew taller and taller and filled up the whole space. Now he was not in the world. This world and all other possible universes were in Him.

Kondi could even hear the eternal chanting of Vedas by the Devas..

yachca kinchit jagat sarvam drshyate srooyatepi va
antar bahisca tatsvaram vyapya naaraayanaah sthitah

Whatever all this universe is, -seen or heard of, -pervading all this from inside and outside alike, stands supreme the Eternal Divine Being (Narayana).

anantamavyayam kavim samudrentam viswaa sambhuvam
padma kosaa praateeksam hrdayam capyadho mukham

He is the Limitless, Imperishable, Omniscient, residing in the ocean of he heart, the Cause of the happiness of the universe, the Supreme end of all striving, (manifesting Himself) in the ether of the heart which is comparable to an inverted bud of the lotus flower.

Kondi became one with the Lord. She left her mortal remains at the temple gate and reached the heavenly abode.

varalotti · Apr 3, 2009

Part 9

One of Ramanuja’s fellow-disciples was watching the incident. He saw the curd-lady talking to a bright-looking twelve year old boy. He saw the boy examining the chit and nodding acceptance towards the curd-lady. After a while the boy vanished without a trace. And the old lady was dead. What could have happened?

He ran back to the Ashram to tell Ramanuja what he had seen at the gates of the temple.

Now that the Ramayana lessons were over Ramanuja started thinking about the Thirumangai Azhwar’s Paasuram which he could not understand fully. Why should the Azhwar talk about the place in heaven two times in the same line?

Precisely at that moment the fellow-disciple came running to Ramanuja and reported what he saw near the temple gates.

A shiver went through the spine of the Greatest of Acharyas. He could not bear his Lord’s love any longer. Crying “Narayana” at the top of his voice the Acharya fainted. The other disciples ran up to him, sprinkled water on his face and revived him.

Now the doubt in the Acharya’s mind had been cleared. In the most loving, in the most beautiful way possible. The Lord Himself had given life to the Azhwar’s song.

All the earlier Acharyas had done the mistake of wrongly pairing up the words. Kondi’s story had now shown the right way.

When the paasuram first declared [FONT=TSCu_Veeravel]நீள் விசும்பருளும் [/FONT]it referred to heaven. But the second phrase [FONT=TSCu_Veeravel]அருளொடு பெருநிலம் அளிக்கும்[/FONT] should be read along with two more words in the next line as [FONT=TSCu_Veeravel]அருளொடு பெருநிலம் அளிக்கும் வலம் தரும் [/FONT]

The implication was that the Lord’s name will not only give a seat in heaven but also will bless the devotee with so much of spiritual strength that he can give a seat in heaven to anybody he wished.

Ramanuja had been constantly telling the Lord’s name. Therefore he was blessed with the strength to recommend Kondi for a seat by the side of the Lord.

The Acharya was sobbing in uncontainable love. What kind of love the Great Lord should have for him! Simply because he scribbled something on a palm leaf the Lord gave a berth in heaven to a lady. Make me always worthy of Thy Love, my Lord! ‘

Let’s all place our heads at the feet of Yathirajar, Sri Ramanujar.

Let’s pray to the Great Lord to have the faith of Thumbaiyur Kondi and the love of the Great Acharya.

Ramanujasya sharnau sharanam prapadhye.

varalotti · Apr 3, 2009

Part 10

Arvind finished the narration and looked at his beautiful wife. Yamini’s eyes were closed. But she was not sleeping.

Tears were flowing non-stop from her eyes.

Arvind bent down to kiss her eyes dry.

“Darling.. dear… the story is over…”

Yamini woke up and saw Arvind’s tearful eyes.

“You wrote the story with this hand?”

Yamini was holding his right hand. Arvind nodded.

“Please place it on my head and bless me. Oh My God! What a story!”