MY MAN FRIDAY , PERUMAL DEVAN

MY MAN FRIDAY, PERUMAL DEVAN

I came out of the Engineering college during 1957 March. I Joined I I Sc for a course in Aeronautical Engineering. Due to some reason i could not complete it and left the course during April 1958. in the meanwhile i had applied for job in various companies and Government departments. During those periods the job for a Civil Engineer ws assured and the chances of getting into the service was good and quite easy.
I had several offers and I choose to enter into service with the then Madras State Electricity Board. This name was in due course changed as Tamilnadu Electricity Board.
The post was that of a then Junior Engineer whose name was changed to Assistant Engineer.
The post was temporary and I was supposed to get selected when the TNEB calls for the post.
I was posted to Kundah Hydro Electric Scheme which comprised of several Dams ,Powerhouses and tunnels. all over the Niligiris and Coimbatore Dt of Tamilnadu.
My posting was to the Avalanche Dam at Emerald camp. The camp had a huge population of workers, skilled and semi skilled workers, contractors their labourers , hospitals , office staff and others. The camp proper comprised of Staff camp ( where engineers and office staff resided) labour camp (where both depatmental and contractor labour and conractor resided ) There was also a market place for grocery shops, vegetable shops, hotels , barber shops, washerman shops,cloth shop, etc , A small hospital maintained by the Elecricity board. also there.
Weekly market held on Sundays where shops selling diffrent different items temporarily was run by traders coming from places such as mettupalayam, coimbatore ooty, and Sultan bateriee
I was posted to the vacant post of Spillway section of Avalanche dam. There were already 2 engineers working and the Assistant Executive Engineer asked those two to transfer to my section some nominal muster roll labourers so that all the section will have the equal number of labourers. These labourers were supposed to a sort of semi permanent labourers. These labourers are different from the other casual labourers who are taken when some emergency arises When the labourers are given to are transferred to other sections ,the usual practice is to send out those who are incorrigible, lazy, argumentative and shirkers.
The same thing happened in my case also. By my action all the workers became model workers..The methhod was simple . I used to make enquiries about their families and used to give them money in advance when i came to know that they were in need of help. Of course they used to return he money i advance but they were grateful as they need not pay usurious interest if they borrow somewhere.
I was allotted a 4F type(House) quarters. My house mate was one Mr Siva raj form Madras. He was expecting orders from the railways and this job was only a temporary one as far as he was concerned. I joined a mess run by one Er Balaraman a product of Guindy engineering college. and working in the mechanical engineering dept. Due to some reason or the other he closed the mess without any notice.
One person was doing the work of a heavy duty mazdoor even though his pay was that of a man mazdoor. He was about 5'-1" tall with well built body just like that of a body builder.. I called him and asked him whethr he will be my personal peon and cook for me.. He told me that he is not accustomed to do the cooking and his cooking may not be liked by me. Still I got him as my personal peon. There was another mess where a Brahmin cook was doing the work of a cook, I asked Perumal Devan (this is his name) to go to this person and ask him as to what vessels are required of two persons for cooking purposes. Also ask him to make a list of groceries required for starting the cooking in a new house. Devan got the list and in the evening he got all the groceries required along with some vegetables. He had also got some spices and spice powders. In the night he started his cooking. Even though it was not good it was not bad. I told him that his cooking was very good and in due course he will surpass any cook
He improved his cooking within six months to such an extent that he would have passed the cookery contest conducted if at all by any Brahmin organisation of cooks from Thanjavur!!! He also trained one boy mazdoor Ramdas who was a native of Ooty to take care of me and the household whenevre he used to go on leave to his native place a village near Tirunelveli.(This was the boy who was taking care of the household when Siddashetty AKA Sidigedde visited me as Devan had gone on leave) He was my all in all. He used to do the dishes, wash, iron, do marketing for the vegetables and groceries and believe me that a person of Marital background can really become such a transformed person is nothing but a miracle. Even my friends used to joke that they should be careful wiith me as Devan if ordered by me will do anything irrespective of the consequences. There was one Er by name Natarajan who told Devan as a joke that he belongs to the same community to which Devan belongs and Devan if ordered should not do anything to him. For that the answer given by Devan was “ I only obey the orders of My Engineer and of none else. I am not bothered about the caste or community of the person” All my colleagues were astonished on hearing such a statement. While Devan was with me my marriage was fixed. Devan wanted to know as to the suitablility of the Girl , her family background etc. He was anxious to see the photo of the Girl. Unfortunately i did not have the photo. Whenever i used to go to Mysore Devan would pack all the articles required depending upon the number of days i would stay at Mysore. For the marriage i took about 10 days leave and left Emerald camp just 4 days in advance. I took Devan along with me. This time also he packed all the dress, toiletries etc required for nearly 15 days. He stayed with mer at Mysore. I Gave Devan a small amount as pocket money and also gave him a card wherein i had written my address in Kannada, English and also in Tamil and with a request to any one to help him in case he is lost as he is new to the city. This letter was of no use as Devan used to return without any difficulty. Also in Mysore then there was linguistic chuavanism and people used to really help people who knew other languages. One day before we had to start to go to the marriage i saw a small parcel with Devan. I asked him as to what it was. He told me that he had purchased some vessels for his use. Raju my youngest brother informs me that it was Devan who took lot of initiatives in erecting a good Pandal in front of our house and commanded the other laboureres who did not know tamil and Devan not knowing Kannada very well. The next day evening me along with some so called relatives and friends left in a special bus. Devan dusted the seat by the side of the Driver and asked to me sit there. I told him to occupy that seat as i want to spend the time during travel with my friends talking. He felt hurt as i did not want to take the prominent seat. We reached “Vokkalagere” on the evening of 15th May 1960. My wfe “Shanthamani “ was the granddaughter of the “Jodidar” of Vokkalagere. On arrival at Vokkalagere I was garlanded with a special garland and all the others were garlanded with ordinary garland. They had left Devan and i insisted that he be garlanded too and which they did. As it was the marriage in the household of Jodidar I was taken around all the streets of the Vokkalage re. Unfortunately for me i had removed the shoes as i was to stand on a wooden plank for the “Aarathi” when i alighted.. I was accustomed to shoes in the project area and i found it difficult to walk barefoot for this procession. We were accomadated in an independent house lying within the compound of the Jodidar’s mansion. There was no electricity then at Vokkalagere. All the luggage were down loaded at this place which was kept neat and clean. Our mother asked Devan to take care of allt he things. The house was provided with three petromax lights. After being treated to some special savouries and sweets and coffee and some rest we were taken to the main hall of the building for the ceremony of “Inviting the Bridegroom”. We all went . I thought that Devan has also come with us as he was very anxious to see the sould be bride. Our mother had told Devaun earlier to take care of all the things. So Devan obeyed to the letter and did not budge from his duty. I did not know this .
According to the ethnic group of Brahmins to which I belong there was no bar for the boy and the girl to see mutually even before the marriage takes place. Now the things have changed. Ths was not so about 50 years back. So for the funtin of “Inviting the Bride groom” both the bo and the girl were seated side by side and certain rites were performed. This has no connection with the rites of the marriage. After this functin we all retuned to the house allotted for us.. our mother aked Devan as to how the pair was from his view. For this Devan repled “Amma you wanted me to look after the articles kept hee. So I did not come to the function. If I were not here two persons had come here to take aay the 2 petromax lights. Because of my presence only the thesft did not take place. By that time two persons from the brides side came and explained to me that they want to take 2 petromax lights for the function as thre ws shrtage. But our sevant obstructed to it and also threatened us.. now I could visualize to as to what had happened. I laughed and told them to take the two lights. I also told Devan that those two pesons belong to the brides side and they wanted to take the lights as there was some shortage. Devan questioned me to how he could know that they were from the brides side. And so he refused to give the lights..
Early the next morning Devan got up early and there was a really big copper caludron in which the hot water was at boiling point so that all the bridegrooms side can take bath. Some elders wanted to take bath early. What Devan did ws to send them out stating that “Our Aya “ haw to take bath first. So saying he in a spare bucket mixed hot and cold water and brought it to a tempeature just warm enough, got m tooth paste, tooth brush and shaving cream and shaving set and shaving brush, washed towel and washed vest, washed brief, one dhothi ad came to me asked me to take bath. It took lot of persuatin for our mother to tell him that some erly morning functis are to be gone through on the day of the marriage and as such he can allow others to take bath. He saw my face and after I agreed he removed all the articles of mine. It took some time for the rituals to go through and the village barber came to give me entire body shave. Devan told the barber to use the rbush soap, blade , comb etc belonging to ayya and not to used the shaing articles brought by the villag4 barber . the barber obeyed him as thre was no other go. Devans argument was that the village barber would have used the set to give shave and crop cut to many villagers and as may not have cleaned the set properly f the same set is used it may infect me in some way!!.
All the bridegroom sde had early morning coffee and after my taking the bath w were treated for a heavy morning snack which consited of sweets svories and other items and also coffee. Devan took his bath at the very last. He had also brought newly pressed clothes and wore it. Devan was treated on par with the bridegrooms side people. He was anxious to see the bride. We left the residence after lcoking the residence. When the rituals started after some half an hour the bride was brought to the hall. The hall in the Vokkalgere Jodidars House was really big… so the curiousity of Devan was fulfilled at last. The function came to an end by around 1-30 PM. On 16th May 1960. All those who wanted to give present were told to do so. Some gave the articles and some gave cash. Devan gave a 3 vessel set Tiffin box to me. I was really moved by his act. I introduced Devan to my wife (Shanthamani) saying that he is my personal peon. She asked me as to what I am doing for my breakfast, lunch, dinner etc. I told her that I am having a Thanjavore Brahmin boy for doing all these works. She was immensely pleased and happy.
After two days entire bridegroom party including Devan left for Mysore. I only stayed at Vokklgere. I told Devan as to when I will be reching Emerald camp.. I also told him as to purchase all the groceries and some milk and curd on the day of our arrival at Emerald camp. Devan it appers stayed at Mysore for one more day and left of Emerald camp Nilgir Dt Tamilnadu.
I stayed for two mare days at Vokkalagere and returned to Mysore along with my wife and Brother in aw Jayaram. Actual protocol required that the brides side send on senior lady to start the house of the newly married couple. This was given a bye bye. The treatment meted to the bridegrooms party after the marriage also required muc to be desired. This is the story of Devan and I will confine to it for the present. The entire dowry could be filled with in the confines of a old horse drawn carriage. We came home . Jayaram stayed until the next day afternoon and he was accorded the honour that was befitting. He retuned after a stay of one more day. I stayed for another two days at Mysore and made my journey to Emerald camp along with some essential vessels and bed and spice and spice powder. In the meanwhile Devan had got the entire hose cleaned and kept the vessels gleaming bright and got the entire house with rangol designs by utilizing the service of the woman mazdoor of our section. From ooty we engaed a Taxi and went to Emerald. Devan had prepared number of dishes and sweet and savoury items. All the luggage was downloaded and brought into the house. Some 4 months back as my housemate Sivaraj had got postings in railwsys he had vacated the quarters.. so I was the lone occupier.
As soon as my wife landed at emerald quarters the first question shantha asked ws about the Thanjavur cook. I showed her Devan as the Thanjavor cook. She was taken a back. I told hr that Devan is a better cook even better than the Thanajavur cooks. The long journey by bus had its own effect on Shantha. She was having head ache vomiting and wht not. Even now she has that side effect. She went to the bedroom and slept on the bed. I told Devan that from the next day onwards my wife willcook and it is enough if he brinbgs the groceries and other items required. He was a bit sorry. He had kept some extra curd and milk. I took bath and had my lunch. Shantha refused saying that she will cook later on. I asked Devan also to have his lunch. He told me that he will have his lunch after “Amma” has her lunch. It took lot of persuatin from me to convince Devan that my wffe is always allegic to travel long distanc by bus and as such may or may not have her lunch. I told Devan to take all the vessels he had broght earlier for us for hi s use. Withllot of pesuatiion he took the vessels. Also I gave him some spice powder and groceries to intitially strt with. Of course he had his own shed in the labour quarters. So he took them and went. After about two hours shantha got up and insited upon cooking a simpe dish. I showed her as to how to use the electric stove and how she should always stand on a wooden plank while cooking, and how should not try to remove the vessels which have overflowed and should put off the seitch before lifting the vessels. She learnt them easily. The hot water is prepared by using the electric coils (nichrome wire) rolled over a asbestos small sheet. This is conneted on both the ends with the electric mains. A long wooden ole if fixed to it. This contraception is dipped in the drum filled with water and them the switch is put on. Before entering the bath room the switch is to be turned off. This also I taught her. Devan came early in the morning and asked my wife as to how she enjoyed the dishes prepared by him. She lied to him and said that she enjoyed all the dished. The next question was as to why she should not allow Devan to do the cooking. For that my wife told him that it is the duty of the housewife to do the cooking for her husband as such she wants to do the cooking herself. Devan was very much satisified. We also had a maid in our house. Devan used tocome early morning and get any groceris and vegetable required for the household. My wife knew tamil and she will write the list and give him enough money. Devan wll make the necessary purchases and with the list he will return the balance. By around 10 am he will bring either coffee or “Ovaltine” to the dam site. I used to leave the house by around 7-30 am . for my lunch I will retune home by around 1-30 pm. If there si some urgent work I will tell Devan and he will bring the lunch to the site in a tiffin box. By around 4-00 pm he will again bring me coffee . I will retune hime by around 6-00pm. Some times due to pressure of work I had to be at dam site even upto 9-00pm during those period Devan used to bring some snacks prepared by my wife . H e used to stay in the pial of the house until I return from the dam site. Then only he will leve the house.
One day by around 9-30 am Devan came running to the Dam site. He was sobbing very much. I took him to my office and pacified him and asked him as to the matter. He told me that my wife gave him rs 5/- and also the list of groceries to be purchase. He purchased as per the list and retuned the balance. My wife said thatshe has given hm rs ten and he is retuned ony the balance as if she had given him rs five. Devan told me that he could have given the balance rs five but the stigma would have been there that he has cheated. I left the dam site and went home. I took my wife into the bed room and told her that Devan is the most trusted servant one can finf and just for the sake of rs five he will not stoop. Still my wife insisted that she gave rs ten and not rs five. I told her in uncertain terms if it is so let it be. She can leave me the very next day to Vokkalager and our relationship is finishede. I took rs five note and handed it over to her. This had a sobering effect and she came out and told Devan that she has erred and she checked the amount and found that what Devan said was correct and asked Devan to forget ths incident. This made Devan very happy. He did not know as to what transpired in the bed room. I had my lunch and left for the dam site in the after noon. My assistant executive engineer asked me as to why I left the dam site so suddenly. I told him that my wife had developed vomiting and Devan did not know as to what to do so I went . He congratulated me stating that I am going to become a father soon!!
I received a call from Mysore staing that our maternal grand father had died. So I applied for a weeks leave and left for Mysore along with my wife. I has sent one Govindan to puchase the tickedt in the bus to mysore in advance and also to ask our regular taxi driver on Rangarajan to come early in the morning. The bus to Mysore from ooty used to start by 6-30 am sharp. As usual Devan had packed my suitcase. My wife took some sarees and other toiletaries and packed them. When the bus left for Mysore and when the buswas near Naduvattam my wife started sobbing. I asked her the reason. She told me that she had taken all the jewels and as she did not feel like leaving them at the house. She did not wear them thinking that she can wear them enroute. So she kept them before bringing her suit case out in the ledge of the window on the outside. So if we return may be we will find them. Otherwise it is lost. I told my wife that there are lts of people who will be walking in front of the house which has a path. If someone sees them that is the end of it. If Devan has sees it may be he will keep them safe. However our stay at Mysore for the 7 days was like hell to my wife. My wife had her “Mangal sutra” with yellow thread, two pairs of glass bangles. Some one asked her in secrecy whether I have taken allthe jewels from her and kept in my posisession. For this she started sobbing and the lady who enquired did not question her further and thought that I am a cruel husband. After a week stay at Mysore we retuned to Emerald. As soon as we approached our house Devan was there and and after entering the house he started telling my wife that he sw the jewels on the window ledge by chance. So he kept it safe. If he had not seen it and if someone had seen it and taken it the jewels would hav ebeen lost for ever. He also told my wife as to how she is so careless . my wife told me in Kannada. That whatever he says she will keep quiet as as I had said earlier he is a really true and faithful personal servant. He handed over allthe jewels to my wife. She told me also that if Devan was a dishonest he could have taken to jewels. So the incident of rs 5 shows that Devan is really honest and a trustworthy servant.






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(THIS BLOG IS INCOMPLET. I SHALLCOMLETE IT IN DUE COURSE)


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REGARDING VEGETARIAN AND NON VEGETARIAN FOOD

Regarding vegetarian and non vegetarian food
Recently i read an article in a tamil monthly about the.superiority of Vegetarian food over non vegetarian food. Even from the literature available going back to 2000 years veg is recommended, It is also said that the veg food makes one calm and keep him under check from indulging in any thing bad. (Adolf Hitler was a pure vegetarian!!) Also it is said that the veg food suits man and when this is so why one should indulge in killing animals for food. Some of the aniimals sanimals such as tiger, lion, fox wolf etc are designed for eating meat. Some animalsily live such as elephants,gorilla,rhino etc are pure vegetarians,
In case of humans even though he can take non veg food he can easily live on a vegetarian diet.
There is a false notion that Brahmin community were vegetarians from the very beginning. this is not so. long ago Brahmins were in the habit of taking meat even as per "Manu Smriti" the sacred and auspicious rite of "Sradhdha" conducted once in a year on the date of death of the forefathers meat was cooked. if the meat was that of Black buck the merit earned was ralatively less and when the meat of Rhino is used the merit was more and so on and so forth. The Brahmins were not prevented from purchasing the meat from the slaugterers . Even though the animals were not killed and dressed During the course of performance of "Yagna" such as "Aswamedha" (where a horse was sacrifisced) and "Aja,Medha" (where a goat was sacrificed) the meat of the animal the a small part was eaten by the "Ritvics" (the Brahmin conductors of the yaga)
This was considered as a part of the sacred ritual.". Apart from this the performance of "Yaga" involved the preparation of "Somarasa" supposed to be a sort of "Liquor"".
This was also consumed by the "Ritvics"" some of the ancient sacred texts says that in order to save ones life it is not against the tenets if one takes any type of food .(this includes non veg food. Sage Viswamitra it appears had taken a dogs meat to save his life during the course of a famine)
The vegetarian habit among Brahmins may be due to the influence of Jainism and Budhdism ..Even now the Brahmins of "Bengal" and Gowd Saraswath Brahmins majority of whom have settled in the wset coast of India) use fish in their food. The "Kashmiri" Brahmins are non vegetarians. I am bringing this to the notice of others who ar thinking that the Brahmin community is and was pure vegetarians.
What ever may be the superiority of the veg over nonveg can we make the tribals living in all the continets of the world and others like the people living in the deserts of Africa, in the ArtIc region, chineese, japanese into vegetarians where will they find vegetarian food to make up for the protein dificiency?
If taking life is sin how come that we use pesticides , rat poson, mosquito coils etc to ward off life forms which trouble us and other life forms? how about the plant life? May be we do not hear the cry of the plants. For this ISKON has awonderful theory. if the food is offered first to Lord Krishna the sin of having used the plants/cereals become null!!
My conslusion is that the fod habits are to be left to the individuals concerned. we should not say that one form(Veg foods ) is supeior to other forms(Non veg foods). It should left to the choice of the individuals.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS IN ADDITION TO WHAT I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN EARLIER:
(ADDED ON 23RD APRIL 2009)

Food habits have nothing to do with ones behaviour. Adolf Hitler was a pure vegetarian who shunned smoking and also a teetotaler. The sugar yam (see genasu) the elphant yam (choornagedde) senai kalangu,
are rot vegetables and used in "Shraddha" ceremonies. so telling that the root vegetables are treated as non veg is not correct i.
Any vegetable that gives bad odour while cooking or gives a bad smell, or gives a bad smell to the perspiration, has a bad name or resembles human organ is generally prohibited by the brahmins of yore. also the vegetables which were not available during the old vedic period were not used. for shraddha purposes only black pepper was used and never the present day "red peper"(Mirchi) same is the case with oil. only "Til" oil and cow's ghee was used and never any other oil. Even now in the "Parthsarathi" swamy temple at Madras only "Black Pepper" is used and not "Mirchi".
This is in addition to what i have already voiced in my blog

(I am a vegetarian as i was strictly broght as suct from my younger days)

FOOD INTAKE ETHICS AS PER OLD HINDU SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES

AN EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK " HINDUISM REDISCOVERED " BY ANBIL RAMASWAMY

SECTION 3: AAHARA NIYAMAM
DIETARY REGIMEN-
LORD KRISHNA'S PRESCRIPTION
Like a doctor who studies the symptoms of a patient to diagnose the nature of the disease and then proceeds to prescribe appropriate medicines to cure the causes of the ailment, Lord Krishna has indicated the symptomatic behavior of persons influenced by the various Gunas. He then proceeds to prescribe correctives to improve the health of the soul afflicted by the undesirable Gunas. These correctives are not from any external sources like drugs, pills, caplets, injections etc. but by a simple process of regulating our dietary habits. He catalogues what can be consumed and what should be avoided to augment Satva Guna, and what would trigger Rajo Guna and what would steep one in Tamo Guna.
When you are ill, you take medicines. We also see it marked on the bottles or packages of food items / medicines the contents (e.g.) protein, vitamins, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, iron, folic acid etc. with indication of calories, carbohydrates, fat, cholesterol, sodium, potassium etc. of these items. The chemical compound that constitute the ingredients, break into enzymes etc., and strengthen the natural elements in the body to fight against the killer germs that cause disease.

This is true not only of physical infirmities but also of mental and psychological afflictions. Numerous psychiatric medicines are administered to mental patients to bring them on the road to recovery. Thus, it is clear that even in modern medicine, what is ingested has ‘mind-altering’ effects of the happy kind, while drug, dope etc. have also mind-altering effects of the unpleasant kind.

“Ayurveda” even goes to the extent of asserting that certain types of foods actually tend to prolong life. While no food can really extend life beyond what one is destined, it only means that a dietary regimen can save one from `near-death-experiences' known as “ghandams” - acting as antidotes to the toxic substances that have the potency to cut short life.

"Ayurveda' prescribes that a proper dietary regimen would promote healthy development of both body and mind and reduce, if not totally eliminate, the need for medicines.
The interaction between the body and mind and the role of three Gunas in the process can be recognized by careful observation. When you are depressed in mind, your body debilitates and is unable to function with the optimum efficiency it is normally capable of when your emotions are normal. Conversely, when you are physically healthy, you are able to think clearly, speak effectively and act correctly. If your body runs, your mind also runs as fast; if you fall sick, your mind also suffers a setback. And, mind is only a representative of your `Atma' or soul.

So long as one does not understand the difference between the body and the soul and does not keep the interaction under control - one would be subject to the sway of emotions of pleasure and pain. This difference can be understood and this chain of interaction can be broken only by a `sadhu' (saint) or `satvik' (pious), a person who trains himself by a strict regimen of body - mind control. In other words, these Satviks are those who have achieved a state where bodily conditions do not have any effect on the mind (and therefore the Atma or soul) and vice versa.

Even on the death bed, even when exposed to severest heat or benumbing cold, even while suffering from excruciating pain, even when they have gone without food indefinitely (as in the case of Mahatma Gandhi and Jai Prakash Narain) - they can keep their mental facilities intact and in fact, in finer fettle, more agile and clearer than even when being physically normal. In short, these `Satviks' have divorced the body - mind relationship and broken the chain successfully.
While it is impossible for the average person to achieve this absolute state, it is definitely within the competence of everyone to endeavor to achieve equilibrium in the interplay of the Gunas by proper discipline in habits - the most important of which are food habits. A conscious effort will be required to train oneself in this discipline. This will facilitate a slow but steady advancement leading ultimately to this absolute state. That is why Hinduism advises measures to achieve ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body'.

As the elimination of the effects of Rajo Guna and Tamo Guna would automatically augment the effects of Satva Guna, we will consider the reaction of these Gunas on the mind of a person.
When the `Rajo' type of person goes to a birthday party his mind will yearn to be the `birthday baby'; when he goes to a wedding, his mind would like to don the wedding robe of the groom; when he goes to attend a funeral of `somebody' his mind will not hesitate to be that `somebody'; when he meets one who has achieved fame, wealth or power his mind would at once ask why he should not be `that one'.

Astonishingly avaricious, dubiously devious, and wonderfully wayward are the characteristics of a Rajo type of person. He is impatient to achieve objectives but the very impatience would cause impediments to the very objectives he desires to achieve.
But, one thing is clear. It is in this propensity to incessant activity of the `Rajo' type of persons that the whole world revolves, with attendant pleasures and pains.
When such a person reaches a stage when all his needs had been denied, when his ways had led him to undesirable ends, and when he is immobilized having reached his nadir, when he realizes that after all he had been running after a mirage - then and then only would he realize the efficacy of `Satva' and the deception of `Rajo'.

Let us now consider the effect of Tamo Guna on the mind of a person. He becomes sinful, sluggish, stupid, sullen, dull, depraved, degenerate, devoid of any sense of responsibilities, inert - eating whatever and whenever he gets (even putrefied food) sleeping wherever and whenever he can, and dies when his time comes - he is so lazy that even for putting food into his mouth, he would need someone to help. The only way to retrieve him to normality would be force and flog him into incessant activity.
Our Sages and Seers have laid down the dos and don’ts to help us avoid Tamo Guna completely, regulate Rajo Guna on desirable lines and promote Satva Guna.
For long, it had been fashionable for the westernized Indians themselves to decry Indian vegetarian foods of grains and cereals like rice and wheat which they said were stupid and merely 'belly filling carbohydrates' without any nutritional value. They plumped in for disproportionate doses of vegetables and fruits with a liberal allowance of meat, poultry, fish and eggs. That food habits regulate the body clock and insure against disease and deterioration has been proclaimed by our ancestors but has been accepted by modern research only now:

Leading nutrition organizations and prominent food trade councils have now endorsed the U.S. Department of Agriculture's selection of “Food - guide – pyramid” as the graphics to convey the types and amounts of food that should be consumed daily. Judy Dodd, president of the American dietetic association and Barbara Shannon, President of the Society for nutrition education advocate - "consumption of grains, cereals and rice as the staff of life, followed by fruits and vegetables to make calorie intake more manageable, putting serving sizes in perspective, reducing fats and oil while increasing milk, yogurt and cheese group to ensure a `balanced diet' - as a valuable source of energizing complex carbohydrates while giving a sense of fullness and satisfaction" - 1

It will be seen from this, that the much maligned rice group has now regained its pride of place with over 40 % of the total intake since the 'stupid and belly filling carbohydrates' has not at all been stupid at all, but highly sensible since it has been recognized as an important source of energy with the fruits and vegetables group ranked only secondary to the rice group while the much trumpeted meat and fat group has plummeted to a new low, if not wholly eliminated. Now, the nutrition experts say that such a balanced diet should consist of 'heavy breakfast, light lunch and a lighter dinner'- precisely the reverse of what most people do in the USA.

What the modern researchers are stumbling upon by strenuous efforts over long periods of research by trial and error methods exposing innumerable `subjects' of study to be the `guinea pigs' in their experiments - had been spelled out in unambiguous terms millions of years back by our great sages and seers in our sacred scriptures, "annam pranamayam", `yad annenaarohati' cooked rice is life itself; that which is nourished by rice food' - are sayings pregnant with significance today, as they were in the Vedic, Purusha Suktha days. In fact, `annam' (cooked rice) is equated with `Sri Lakshmi', the goddess of wealth, prosperity and health and therefore worthy of highest regard never to be maligned (Annadvesha)

This `annam' has been variously described as sweet, juicy, pleasant, life saving, life promoting, bestowing equilibrium, strength, health and
happiness both physiologically and psychologically which are the characteristics of `Satvik' type of food.
For it is said `from the Satva, knowledge is born" (BG 14/17). The food that is full of the quality of Satva is the cause of growth of knowledge. They promote energy and health; they also promote pleasure and happiness.

They are enduring in their effects on the tissues of the body and on mental well-being. Such food promote longevity, mental vigor, energy, health, pleasure and happiness as they are full of sweet juices and are rich having lasting effects and agreeable. Such food is dear to those governed by Satva Guna. (BG17/8)
The food that is full of the quality of `Rajo' would trigger such undesirable experiences such as ‘vaatham’ (muscular) “Pittham” (bile) “Kapam” (bronchial) “Vaayu” (gastric) etc. Such foods are bitter, sour, too salty, too hot, too cold, too pungent, astringent, emaciating and inflaming. (BG17/19)
The `Tamo' type of food are those that are not fresh (i.e) kept over for a long time, that have lost their taste, that are consumed by re-heating (as in the Microwave etc) and therefore giving a different taste due to passage of time, those that are left over (and kept in the Refrigerator to be reheated for consumption later), those that are unholy (food bought from Restaurants) in other words those that are not fit as an offering to God, such food is called `amedhya' - (that which is not only not conducive to `medha' or intellect) but positively destructive of intellect and therefore, diverting the mind into undesirable channels. (BG17/10)

Again, as to the quantum of consumption, in BG /16 & 17) Lord Krishna advises moderation in food habits. He says that one who eats too much, one who does not eat at all, one who walks a lot, one who does not walk at all, one who feels exhausted all the time, the one who never get exhausted, one who sleeps all the time (may be by imbibing sedatives) and one who always keeps awake (may be, by imbibing stimulants) such persons will not be able to attain `yoga'. He further avers that yoga is the destroyer of misery to him who has proper food, who is properly active and who has proper sleep and wakefulness (BG 6 /16 and 6 / 17)
We see this in practical life also that people given to extremes in their habits would not be able to function normally physically and / or psychologically because the equilibrium of body and mind is impaired by such extreme habits.

Smriti explains the ideal quantity of food that can be consumed:
"Only half the stomach should be filled with food; one quarter with water; the remaining quarter should be left empty for air to circulate" - 2.
As for the ideal type of food, it should contain all the six tastes viz. sweetness, salty, sourness, bitterness, pungency and astringent.
"Eating moderately, walking 100 feet after taking food, sleeping moderately, speaking moderately, lying on the left side - if one follows this regimen he has no use for a doctor"- 3
Does it not remind us of the saying "after supper, walk a while" etc?

Also, there is a saying- that requires that “one should eat that which is agreeable to the body-system, moderate in quantity, tasteful and vegetarian”. - 4
A person who eats only one full meal a day is a ‘Yogi’ (fit to do yoga); one who eats twice is a ‘Bogi' (fit to enjoy life) and one who eats more than twice is a ‘Rogi’ (fit to suffer disease)'.

It may be mentioned in this connection that while even animals eat only when they are hungry, man is perhaps the only creature who indulges in indiscriminate eating whenever and wherever he finds an opportunity (not necessarily necessity to eat) - drinking, boozing, gobbling up at any time and every time, anywhere and everywhere under pretext of `socializing' and otherwise regardless of the quality or quantity of what is consumed resulting in pernicious syndromes on physical and psychological levels.

‘Ayurveda' also calls attention to six circumstances which contribute to disease: "Too much drinking (including too much intake of food), too much sexual intercourse, day time sleeping, keeping awake at night, suppressing the urge to expel excreta and urine - these six circumstances lead to disease" - 5.
Incidentally, here is another Sloka which describes how one acquires old age prematurely - "Man becomes old by too much walking; horses by not walking; a woman by not having sex; clothes that are dried in heat for long"- 6


SECTION 4: WHAT OUR SASTRAS PERMIT / PROHIBIT IN THE MATTER OF FOOD –
SWMI VEDANTA DESIKA's ADVICE
Right from Vedic literature down to the Itihasas and Puranas, we find scattered references to vegetables and other edibles that can be consumed to ensure augmentation of Satva and those that are better avoided for precluding Rajo and Tamo.

It was however, left to Swami Sri Vedanta Desika who did deep research in this field (as also in all other fields he touched) to incorporate in his work entitled "Ahaara Niyamam', a catalog for ready reference on what can be consumed, what should not be ingested and what can be taken with certain restrictions and even what go without any restrictions also! We attempt below to have a glimpse of the various items as gleaned from 'Ahaara Niyamam' and Srimad Ramayanam in particular. It should be understood that the prohibition is meant only to enable us to regulate consumption in a conscious, cautious way.
Lord Krishna clearly prohibits food that are too sour, hot, salty, too much bile-producing etc. (BG 17/9)
And again, he advises that they who consume food that are time expired, those that have lost taste, those that emanate stale odor, altered taste, mixed with spittle and those not fit to be offered to the Lord should not be eaten. Sri Ramanujacharya's Sri Bashyam `Sarvanna Anumatyati Karanam' Sutras 446 to 448 declare - that in times of danger to life one can consume any food and such intake will not go against Pramanas and Smritis.
But, sutra 449, however, clearly and categorically forbids consumption of liquor even in the face of danger to life -7
The case of one Sage USHASTI is alluded to. Due to famine he and his wife were migrating to a far off place. On the way, the Sage was so exhausted due to starvation that he almost swooned and apprehended his end was near at hand. A mahout who passed by on an elephant offered him some horse gram that the sage readily accepted (though ordinarily prohibited). But when the mahout offered water to drink, the sage declined saying that he took the horse gram only for saving his self from starvation-death and taking water thereafter was not proper since at that point of time, the danger to life had disappeared.

A. Items prohibited on hygienic and prophylactic grounds (like our not using tooth brushes used by others)


Spittle and food contaminated with spittle
Food contaminated by flies, worms, hair, fingernails etc.
Food contaminated by excreta
Food contaminated by cloth, thread, sneeze etc.
Food that has been `smelt' by anybody
Food `that has been tasted' by humans, rodent, crow, hen, cat, dog etc.
Food that has been partially `bitten' by others
Morsel of food partially remaining after eating a portion of it.
Vegetables cooked without first being washed
Fruits, vegetables etc. cut with finger nails
Food prepared by persons who are not clean
Food cooked in other people's homes (Parannam)
Food that has been found fault with
Foods that have been prohibited specifically
Food cooked along with prohibited items
Foods known to be harmful to vital air and the functioning of sense organs
B. ITEMS PROHIBITED ON `SOCIAL' GROUNDS
(like the `Table manners' that we follow these days during formal gatherings like dress regulations that are imposed on us during formal dinners, certain norms and disciplines are prescribed by our traditions).

Some of the restrictions are:

One should not take for self food intended for all
Food meant for others (especially a sick person)
Food kept apportioned for self and guests
Food remaining after feeding a woman in menstruation*
Food prepared specifically for a woman who has just delivered*
Food that has not been offered to `Bhagavan' in the first place (during Aradhana)*
Food before offering to guests (Atiti Satkara)
Food offered to lesser deities (Devatantara)
Food set apart for offering to such deities as per Sastric injunctions
Products (grains, pulses etc.) not offered to God after the harvest
Food offered by Sanyasis directly
Food taken out from the vessel of Sannyasis
Food offered without love and affection
Vegetables, fruits etc. cultivated in dirty places *
Those that are known to affect concentration and meditation
Those that have been specifically advised against by Acharyas and such others
Mixed food distributed by hand
Ghee should not be served after one commences eating
Foods cooked more than once (Punar Pakam)
Cooked food served with iron ladles or bare hands
Salt served directly by hand
Food should not be eaten using left hand
Food should not be eaten holding the plate by hand
Food should not be placed on a seat
Food should not be eaten keeping them on the lap (22 to 25 are precisely what we do during buffet)
Should not eat edibles sitting on the bed
Food should not be eaten without a lamp burning
Moonlight / Fire are no substitutes for a burning lamp
Lime used for making chunnam out of seashells
Bubbles and foam arising from liquids (as while drinking coke, pepsi, coffee etc)
No food can be taken without taking bath and washing hands, and completing ablutions (Parishechanam)
Should not leave without completing the final Parishechanam
Should not eat out of a broken plate or other vessels that are not clean
Note: Items marked * are referred to in Srimad Ramayana (Balakanda) also.

C: Swami Sri Desikan has drawn up an elaborate list of vegetables / products that should not be eaten. We give below the Tamil and popular and / or botanical names of these for general guidance"
But, please do not be put off by this list. He has given another list of exceptions and relaxations under which even some of the prohibited items could be consumed as also yet another list of items that can be consumed freely without restrictions! (Vide Sections (D) and (E).

TAMIL NAME POPULAR AND/ OR BOTANICAL NAME



1. Athi Varieties


-


Ficus

Racemosa












2. Perarku


-


Bauhinia

Racemosa






3. Irali


-


Ficus

Virens






4. Vellai Kathari


White egg plant


white

brinjals






5. Aal


Banyan


-






6. Arasu


Peepal


Ficus

Religiosa






7. Ayil


Chittagong wood


Chickrasia Tabularis






8. Aarai


-


Masculia Quadrifolia






9. Naruvili


-


Cordia Obliqua/Monoria






10. Pungu


-


Dalbergia






11. Thigaipoondu


A plant that causes confusion in mind









12. Kurinji


A shrub


Maruthonri Terminawa






13. Tanri


-


Bellenica






14. Kusumbai


-


Carthamus Tinctorium






15. Velai


-


Cleone Pentaphytta






16. Sivappu/Nattu Murungai


Drumstick

-


Hyperanthera Muringa

-






17. Sukam


Sukampal


-






18. Tamarai Kizhangu


Lotus bulb


Nelumbo Nucifera






19. Ulli


Garlic


-






20. Siriya Avarai


Beans


-






21. Thummatti


-


Callous Leaved Bryonia






22. Therar Kai


Clearing nut


Strychnoo Patatatura






23. Panai


Palmyra palm


-






24. Nayuruvi


-


Achyranthus Aspera






25. Kadambu


-


Eugenica

Racemosa






26. Naikkudai


Mushroom


-






27. Suraikkai


A variety of gourd


-






28. Peerkku


Ridge gourd


-






29. Sanar Keerai


Hemp


-






30. Siru Keerai


-


Amaranthus Gangeticus






31. Sivanda Agathi


-


Cormilla Grandi Flora






32. Purasu


-


Balia Frundosa






33. Pasala


-


Portulaca Obracora






34. Vilvakkai


-


Crataeva Religiosa






35. Madulankai


Unripe Pomogranate


-






36. Varagu


-


Paspalum Frumentaceum






37. Mullangi


Radish


Raphenus Sativus






38. Vengayam


Onion


Allium Cepa






39. Punnakku


Oil cake









40. Pannai keerai


! celosia s.p. !





Exact equivalents not traceable for the following:

|Yeast. Dried brew|

____



41. Noyyir keerai






42. Seenkadan






43. Oovaikkai






44. Rammananthal






45. Khadi





D. THE FOLLOWING CAN BE TAKEN AS EXCEPTIONS TO GENERAL PROHIBITIONS:The remnants of food partaken by father, preceptor and eldest brother.
The remnants of soma juice tasted through the soma vessel during Somayaga.
The remnants of food eaten by wife / husband even if hair, worm, thread etc are found in such remnants, they can be thrown away and the remnants eaten.
In times of danger to life, even prohibited items can be consumed.
During fasting days one can take water, roots, ghee, milk, sacrificial remnants, and medicines - these will not spoil the fast.
If it becomes necessary to eat totally prohibited items in order to save life, a bit of ghee or honey could be mixed with them and taken.
Even those foods that had become rotten can be taken after mixing with ghee. Even other impurities like hair if noticed therein can be removed and thrown away.
Of items that have turned sour, the following can be taken - curds, butter, fruits that became sour due to contact with water, roots, flowers and pickles made out of these (vide Manu Smriti and Srimad Ramayana).
E. THOSE THAT CAN BE TAKEN FREELY WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS:

Sugarcane juice
Curds
Milk (but subject to restrictions listed at H)
Ghee
Sangam
Pepper
Honey
Cardamom
Ice
Betelnut (subject to restrictions listed at J)
Anything fried in fire
Fruits that have ripened on their own
Boiled rice
Vadam
Appam | even if they are old provided they have not lost their taste
Seedai |
Chappathi |
Milk products
Thenkuzhal
Murukku
Medicines prescribed by doctors
Jaggery and flour combined edibles even if old
Wheat flour combined edibles
Side dishes, butter milk, ghee, milk, curds mixed with cooked rice
Cooked rice put in a vessel with clean water
Edibles prepared with curds, milk etc.
Juice of flowers, raw vegetables, fruits, Tender Coconut Water.
F. ITEMS TO BE AVOIDED WITH REFERENCE TO TASTE:

Food overheated so much as to make it inedible
Too much bitter
Too much salty
Too much hot (like chillies)
Too much sour
Those that are too hot (temperature)
Those that are repulsive
All liquids from which the cream has been the essence and has been removed (except buttermilk)
Old food that had become rotten
Food that smells like mud
G. ITEMS TO BE AVOIDED WITH REFERENCE TO TIME OF CONSUMPTION

Food cooked on Ekadasi and other days of fasting should not be consumed
Wood apple and puffed rice should not be taken during day time
Food mixed with sesame should not be taken at night (also referred in Srimad Ramayana)
Food prepared in gingelly (sesame) oil at night
Food prepared with curds at night
No food can be taken at sunrise, sunset and midnight (also referred to in Srimad Ramayana
Husband and wife should not eat together at the same time
H. CONDITIONS REGARDING INTAKE OF MILK.

Milk of animals like mare, donkey etc. which have single hoof (Vide also Srimad Ramayana)
Milk of cow that has given birth to twin calves
Camel's milk
Milk with which salt has got mixed up
Breast milk of women (this is also referred to in Srimad Ramayana)
Cow that is pregnant and cow just ready for sexual intercourse (referred in Srimad Ramayana)
The milk of a cow whose calf had just died
Milk drawn from a cow by showing to it a calf of another cow
Milk that had become sour or bad (also in Srimad Ramaynana)
Milk of cows bearing names of deities other than those of Sriman Narayana
Milk of ewe (Vide also Srimad Ramayana)
Milk purchased from a Brahmin
Milk kept in bronze vessel
Milk overheated to the point of getting charred
Milk and curd taken of milk of cow that has just delivered for at least 10 days after delivery
Milk of other animals of the bovine family except the buffalo
I. RESTRICTIONS REGARDING USE OF WATER

Except Ganges water, no stored up water standing over a day should be used.
Water remaining in a vessel after using part of it for washing feet
Muddy water
Tender coconut water, if heated
Water stagnant in a small pool
Water running across a road
Water given in hotels and water sheds (Tanneer pandals)
Any water purity of which is in doubt
Water down from washer man’s ghats
Water contaminated with spittle
Water held in a conch
Rain water before it falls to the ground
One should not drink water by cupping both the palms (Vide Srimad Ramayana)
J. BETEL ITEMS TO BE AVOIDED

One should not munch betelnut before putting betel leaves in the mouth
The stem, the middle line and the tip of the leaves should be removed before taking betel thambool
One should not munch both betel leaves and betel nut together
Widows, Brahmacharis and Sannyasis should not use betel leaves
One should not take betel leaf on which lime had been kept
During Ekadasi and other days of fasting betel chewing should be scrupulously avoided
While chewing betel one should not drink water at the same time.


SECTION 5: CONCLUSION

As already mentioned these prohibitions and restrictions are only for general guidance. If you desire to regulate / eliminate the Gunas you may choose to follow the instructions and if you do not follow only YOU are the loser to that extent.

The doctor can only help in diagnosing the disease and prescribing appropriate medicines. If the patient desires an expeditious and effective cure, the patient will have to scrupulously follow the instructions, the patient is free either to follow or flout the instructions with attendant consequences.
And, now it is in your hands to choose either course on the road to your spiritual regeneration or degeneration.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(LATE)NADIPURAM KADAMBI RAGHAVACHAR

NADIPURAM KADAMBI RAGHAVACHAR
(this happened about 65 years back)

Raghavachar was one of the first cousins of our fathEr. His wife’s name is smt Pendamma.
Pendamma was from one of the families of veda vritti brahma vritti families of Nadipuram..she had one younger sister who waS married to a gentleman frOm Kancheepuram, smT pendamma used to call our fAther as “Anna” (Meaning elder brother) though she was senior in age to our mother she used to call our mother as “Manni” an honorific form of elder sister in law.
For any function in our house smt pendamma and smt singaramma (who was a cousin sister of our father and married to Dodda padam family) used to come and take part in the function and also do the kitchen duty or kitchen help.
Sri Raghavachar was very orthodox in his life stile. Due to the partition of property among the brothers of sri raghavachar shifted to Mysore. Seeing the orthodox way of sri raghavachar having heard about him the then pontiff of Parakala mutt SriBRAHMATANTRA Abhinava Ranganatha Mahadesikan appointed him for the work of “Madhkalam/Madokalam/madokalam” this duty pertains to preparing food for the pontiff and offering it to him during the afternoon. After all the rituals and pooja connected with the main deity of the Parakal mutt (Sri Hayagrivar) is over the preparation of food has to be done by a married orthodox person and it is to be first offered to the deity and them the Potiff will cover his head with a cloth and come near the door of the place where the food is prepared(Madapalli) and say thrice “Biksham Dehi” then the food prepared separately for the pontiff is offered only thrice into his leaf cup. This usually is very bland with no taste. This food is supposed to be taken in privacy by the Pontiff.
Sri raghavachar was given a residence on one of the units in the Dharmachathram (at present where the Hayagreeva college is functioning) There were other families also residing there who were orthodiox srivaishnavites and working in the parakala mutt. He was also provided with free food for himself and his wife. sri raghavachar was so orthodox he never used to take food in any of the houses of even the closest relatives. He had only one daughter. He partitioned the land ahd gave the half of it to his daughter and from the other half he gave it to venkata desikan and venkata varadachar the sons of his late elder brother. He had bequeathed this portion to his nephews after his passing away.
Sri raghavachar was a very good swimmer and even when the cauvery was in floods he used to swim in the river while he was at Nadipuram. He was a very good oarsman and he could easily navigate the river raft even during floods when the traditional rafters were afraid.
At Mysore His daily routine was to go to the Kukkarahalli lake early in the morning have bath and come home and perform the rituals of a householder including pooja and then go to the parakal mutt and join in any of the duties (Kaikaryam) and prepare food for the pontiff separately. This will also be offered to the deity along with those prepared for the consumption of others. The pontiff usually takes food only once in a day.. on certain days like newmoon day and sravanam and other days the Pontiff will fast. It was very rare that Raghavachar used to miss his duty even for a single day. He considered this as an honour betowed upon him by “Lord Narayana” for the merit he has accrued in the past. He was not a disciple of Parakal mutt but disciple of Andavan ashramam of Srirangam like all the Nadipooreans.
Shall we say that on one bad day when he went to Kukkarahalli lake there was not much crowd. He washed his clothes and entered into to the lake for his bath. By that time one srivaishnava idiot came there . he kept his golden strap watch and his clothes and entered water for a quick bath.. He knew Raghavachar and had some small talk. He came out of the water and dressed hurriedly and left. Raghavachar took his bath and performed sandyavandanam after adorning with 12 namam took the washed clothes and went home to perfomm his daily routines at the house. While he was in the middle of the pooja a police party led by one head constable and 4 constables came to his residence along with this scum of a fellow. This person had complained that when he went to take bath in the lake there was no crowd and there was only Raghavachar . he had kept his gold strap watch along with his clothes. When he retuned he forgot to take the watch and when he returned also there was no crowd in the Kukkrahalli lake. Raghavachar had seen his removing the clothes and also the gold strap watch and he must have taken it. The police wanted to search the house and after pooja Raghavachar who was not well versed in the local life permitted them to search the house . It was not found. How ever the police took Raghavachar into custody and took him to the head police station situated at the present Nehru circle (the junction of Irwin road and Asoka Road). By that time our father came to know about it and went to the police station. Raghavachar told the police that he did see the gold strapped watch being removed and kept along with the clothes but he did not take it nor searched for it. When our father asked him as to howhe knew that it was a gold strap and how come that he was in water and can see the watch strap and tell the police. He once again told our father he was not far away from the bank and as he did see the watch strap with watch he told the truth to the police. Our father sent words to the pontiff of Parakala Mutt. The pontiff was angry that a person of Raghavachar’s caliber has been humiliated and asked the police to release him. In the meanwhile our father told the police that he will deposit twice the cost of the watch strap with the police and asked for the release of RaghavachaR. THE POLICE FLATLY REFUSED SAYING THAT AS A CASE HAS BEEN REGISTERED ALREADY AS Raghavachar himself says that he has seen the watch strap kept with the clothes and as there was not much rush at that time Raghavachar will be produced in the court and he will have to obey the court’s decision.
The pontiff who was the Rajaguru of the Highness of Mysore he sent words to the King and asked him to intervene. I think at that time the Highness was at banglaore or so it reached the Highness by late in the evening. He immediately sent the order to release Raghavachar.
So he was released.. from the prison Raghavachar went direct to the Kukkarahalli lake and took bath changed the sacred thread and came to the Mutt and sitting in front of the sactum went on weeping and weeping. Even the pontiff did not say anything. As the pontiff did not want anyone other than Raghavachar to offer the afternoon “Bhiksha” even he had not taken any food. Raghavachar sat until the next morning and started to do his dury from the next day.. even the pontiff chided him as to why he told the police that he had seen the other person had kept the watch with golden strap and how can see the strap from the place where he was taking bath. Once again Raghavavchsrt told the pontiff that he did see the golden strap. The case was dropped.
TAIL PIECE: The person who had lodged complaint with the police had lots and lots of problems in the family and his eldest son died within the course of one month from the date of the above incident. This person who had complained and who was rich and could be clasified as above middle class person died in penury.
May be this was a coincidence or may be due to some other cause or may be due to the curse of God!

OF RELIGIOUS CONVERSIONS

OF RELGIOUS CONVERSIONS

Can any one tell me where I cn get converted into the following faiths:
1)Syrian orthodox ethnic group among Christians
2) Judaism
3)Bohra group of Muslims
4)Khoja community of Muslims and follwers of Agha Khan
5)Parsis.

1) If I get converted into Syrian orthodox church, the church will financially help to a large extent and see that the member is taken care off.
2) Judaism helps a lot those who are Jews and in a state of penury. They can easily migrate to Israel and get all the benefits. Only f one is very young he or she has to do the military service.
3) Bohra group is headed by Dr Saifuddin. The Bohras get all the support both financially and otherwise from the Bohra head. Only thng is tht the Bohraas have to bow before the head and also his grand son who is harly 12 years old or so. However the benefit one gets is much more that the ritual.
4) Khoja community is very rich basically and there are any number of institutions which help Khojas who are very poor. They also advance money for starting a new business with out any interest. The amount may be repaid when the business pick s up. Other wise I there is a loss another advance is made. The community gives free scholarship to all the students untl they finish. Even the foreign scholarship is given free.
5) Parsis are dwindling in number. They give all types of help to the commmunity members. They give well furnished flats at a monthly rent of re 1/- per month in case the Parsi in need of shelter. They take care of the entire education and other needs of the family of those who cannot afford. When a Parsi is aged and he does nt have any near and dear ones the community will give him shelter in the hospital owned by Parsis until his death. All his medical cre is aken by the Parsi panchayat. They also have “Dalits” among them butthis truth is never brought to the notice of the general public. These “Dalits take the body of the dead and they only take the body into the tower of silence where it is left naked to be eaten by the vultures. These dalits are never given promienence in any of the functions and they are seated seperately and other parsis do not mingle with them. And believe me I don’t want to be part of this “dalit” group

If you are thinking of getting converted I am really sorry. None of the above grous take convertees. It is a sort of closed societies. Now only the jews and parsis have started accepting the children born to a parsi father and jewish father and non parsi/ jewish mother into their fold.

THIS IS AN EXTRACT FROM THE WEEKLY SUNDAY MUMBAI MIRROR DATED APRIL 19 2009

NO MORE FARZINS

Concerned community comes together for last prayers for shunned half parsi child who died of starvation.

Neglected in life Farzin Batlivala the seven year old girl who succumbed to starvation finally received her rightful dues from the Parsi community which came together on Saturday to perform her last rites.
The community in a way of acceptance has also assured her non Parsi mother Nisha a fixed pension as well as free education for her siblings.


The Zoroastrian Dakhma-nashini mode of disposal of the dead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After a human being dies, according to the Vendidad (ancient scripture of the Zoroastrians) - the evil spirit of putrefaction rushes on the dead body within about three hours after death, ie. in the next Geh (division of time) immediately after the one he dies in. After this time, the dead body cannot be touched by anybody except special corpse bearers (Nassesalars) who live apart from the rest of society

Extract from "THE PARSEE VOICE" Vol 1-7 Dt 1-15 November 2003
"But to our knowledge, only we have this
formalized system of pall-bearers, who, somehow,
are kept at a social distance."
"The time is approaching when this reservoir of
barely-educated men from South and Central
Gujarat will dry up, for the same reason – better
educated boys will not take to these two
avocations."

THIS IS MY COMMENTS:

This is how non Parsi lady who has married a Parsi is treated. Please do not be under the impression that the lady will be housed in a Parsis Dharmashala .We have no business to tell The Parsis as what is right or wrong. This is the way of life of Parsis and the life as per the custom of their religion. We are a secular state. But we are free to interfere in the religious practices of Hindus only.

ME AND THE GHOST HAUNTED HOUSE AT BUDALUR

ME AND THE GHOST HAUNTED HOUSE AT BUDALUR
I WAS WORKING with Tamilnadu electricity board on deputation basis from 1958 and upto 1969 beginning. There ws some policy change and all the Engineers who wee worming on deputation from the Public Works Department were sent sent back at the beginning of 1968. On my return I was posted to Budalur in the Thanjavur Dt of Tamilnadi. for the work of “Bringing the old canal bank of of the Grand canal which had not seen any such work from the year 1924. . The work was executed by the Grand canl Division headed by Er Ramalingam.
This village Budalur has a long history.. this I will take up later on if time permits. My post did not have any post attached quarters.
So I started hunting for a residence for me. I could find ony a huse in the locality of “Kallars” surrounded by “Kallars” and I wanted a house in the Brahmins locality. In the mean while I had left my wife and two sons (Srinath and Mohan) whom I had by then at Mysore.. after much search I could find a room initially for my stay in a Brahmins house. Now I started to look for a house at the Brahmin Agrahar. I came to know that there was indeed a house which was kept locked and owned by a Brahmin who was working at a far away place. I showed interest to become a tenant of that house. When the othere Brahmins came to know about it all of them advised me nt to rent the house as an old lady wwas murdered in that house some time back and the murdrer was caught and sentenced to death and this was carried out . the murdered lady became a ghost and is appearing in the huse often. I told the Brahmins that I am most of the times alone and as such I shall welcome the friend ship of the ghost. So I wrote q letter to the owner and he rushed up to give it on rent. Initially he was willing to gve it on rent for a low rent and when he came to know that iwas very keen on renting a house he raised the rent. I did nt mind the rent.
He gave me the key and collected the advance and went back. I got the lascars of the department and had the house cleaned. Theree were lots of Ms rods kept in the hall and I got them transferred to the loft and got the entire house washed.. I etered the house ceremomiously after boiling the milk and fixing the photo of the God prominently in the hall and also in the passage way and also in the bedroom and also in the kitchen.
When I went to sleep in the night I heard some noise from the top of the loft. When I switched the light and took the battery and pointed in the direction of the loft I saw some wild cat. May be it had made the loft its plaace of residence. This house did not have any house on its east side and it was a small open field.
The next morning all the Brahmins of the agraharam had gathred on the front f the house and waiting to see whether I will come alive or died the previous night!! When I opened the door they were surprised and talked among themselves that I have power over all the evil forced. This gave me a sort of prestige among them.
I wanted to go to mysore and for the period of one week I asked one er rangaraj and er raju who were working as technical assistants to sleep in the house during the night for
the period of my absence.. both of them agreed . when they went to the house in the eveing on the first day itself the othere Brahmins came to them and told them “ Your engineer has powers to drive away evil spirits . so he is daring enught to live in the house. Ouse can you who do nt have any powers sleep in the house tell us”
after hearing this both left without sleeping in the house. When I returned they told me that the house is famous as ghost house and nobody dare even go near it so I need not be afraid of any thing happening.
When ireturned with my wfe and boys who were very young eery one in the agraharam were surprised that I am getting a lady and very young boys to live in a haunted house. The owner of the house where initially i had rented a room had some cows and was willing to supply milk at a reasonably good rate . as soon as my wifec ame to Budalur the first thing I did was to take my wife and the boys to the old lady the owner of the room where I was staying earlier. The first thing the laedy told my wife ws “your husband I think is a powerful man who can drive away any spirits. But you are young and having two yung boys . when your husband goes for work how you can live in that haunted house.? Inspite of all the Brahmins of this agraharams teling him he choose to rent the house.. tell him to rent a house at Thanjavur and let him commute to this place everyday. Yu an comfortably live at thanjavur”.
My wife did nt say anything then to the old lady but just told her that she wil talk to me. As soon as we retuned to the house she started telling me that I am interested in seeing that she3 is done away ad so has purposedly shosena haunted house. So clmly told her “if you believe in God then why youshould be afraid of the Ghost”? this had a sobering effect and she kept quiet. There was one village accountant by name sri Rajagopal iyengar. He used to boast that he has some control over some spirits and h can cure any one f they are affected by evil apirts or minor diseases. There ws one “Kallar” lady by name Thanga papa. She ws a middle aged lady. It appears that her daughter inlaw ws having fever off and on. The doctors or Iyengar could not cure it. She had known that I occupied a ghost house. So she decided that I have some powers . she came to me and asked me to help her. What I did ws to ask her to bring a “Black thread” early in the morning after taking bath. She did accordingly. By thtat time I had also taken bath . I took the black thread ceremoniousaly and kept it in the nihce where in the Gods phtos were kept. Lighted the oil wick lamp and seared the black thread with kumkum ad trumerc. I gave the thread to her and asked her to tie the thread to the left hand of her daughter in law after she takes a bath and facng east standing. Thangapapa should not talk to any one on the way home and she should tie the thread repeateing the name of their hose deity. She did accordsingly and believe it or not the fever of her daughter in law ws cured within a day. Then she wanted to bring some more clients to me.. I told her that this giving of hread in not as simple as it appears to be and I have to do peanance and some other rights for which I do not find time due to mywork. So I told her not to bring any more clients form her locallity. I was in that house for nearly a year and I left it on my transfer to Madurai.. .

STRICTLY MY PERSONAL VIEW ABOUT ISKON AND HINDUISM

STIRCTLY MY PERSONAL VIEW ABOUT ISKON AND HINUSISM,


yesterday the 4th april 2009 two members of iskon visited our house. this is in continuation of their last months visit.

they do not study the literature of other religions.

I asked them the following questions

!) "Thena vina thrina mapi na chalathi"

2)"Kamanyeaya adhikarasthe maphaleshu kadachana"

The one above implies that the will of God is supreme and without his will not even a blade of grass will move. the second is from Bhjagavath geetha. "Do your duty and leave evrything to the will of God.

If we accept the second one it proves that we are free to do as we desire and leave everything to God. if we take the first one without the Gods will nothing happens.

so shall we say that even the evil action of ours is only due to the will of God? or otherwise, if our action for which we have to take responsibilities then where in the heaven is the first phrase meaning?

The iskon's were more interested in my becoming a member of the elite club for which the donation is rs 55,000/- rs 75000/- and rs 1,25,000/- and nothing more. I asked them whether they study the religious books of othere religions for which they said the ISKON is having a very very big project at Mysore. they are going to construct a very very big temple and conglomerate costing nearly 60 crores of rupees. over an area of nearly 25 acres at Jayanagar.

"Sri Prabhupada " has studied it seems all the other religious books and his books contains the gist of ISKON thought which abutts the other religions, including the mayavada or sankara's Advaitha. and so they dont study other religious books. they only study the books by "Prabhupada and nothing else.

4 days back they was a clash of minority community and majority community near Kyathamaranahalli on the outskirts of Mysore city Karanataka., this was started by minority community. there were two murders and lots of property loss to hindus. for this i asked as to how those who were not responsible for the conflict were the vistims and how they can reconcile to this fact. for this the stock reply was that the result of past "Karma" the people have suffered and the God is sure to punish the evil doers??!!. I asked as to when God is going to punish the evil doers? the stock reply was that "He choses hisown time and place. and this cannot be forecast in advance". they were acting as if they were sitting on the pins. i told them that i am not interested in becoming a elite member but gave some amount towards the midday hot meal scheme. they gave me 4 sweet laddus as prasad of the temple and left.

I also iunderstand that there are not many volunteers at ISKON mysore and almost all the work is done by paid wage earners there are only 14 Brahmacharis and there is scope for adding anothere 100 more..

My feeling is that the Karma theory is the most obnoxious theory of Hinduism. whenever something bad happens "Karam " comes into the fore.

As i have already maintained these theists can never ever defeat an atheist in any logical argument.

So initially itself they want to argue with a person who believe in the Vedas upanishth and purana and ramayana and mahhabharatha. otherwise the athiest is branded as a heretic and no argument takes place. from the behaviour it can be seen as how much of suffereing and pain the atheiss whould have undergone in the past.

we did have reformers like "rajaram mohan roy " and "Dayananda saraswathi" in the north and "Nayana Guru" and "Vallalar" in the south. yet they could not succeed. organisation such as "Arya samaj" also tried. But failed as the basis was the veda and upanished and puranas and ramayana and mahabharatha . here also there was no place for commonsense. just accept what the teacher says without precondition!!

that is all for the present