Cmr story. Part.1 : - “The
Soil. -
[Blog. ref.:- CMRS.10]
“ The next ten years “ {1786 - 1796. } ….Starting
with Kanyakumari.
Nambudri’s dilemma
Six year old Ambi was jumping with joy ever since the
journey commenced.
Now, he felt like a free bird flying around happily and aimlessly.
He was breathing fresh air and smelled fragrance never
experienced before.
He could not believe that there existed such a strange world
big and wide outside.
Sankara nambudri felt happy and proud to be the cause for
the boy’s present mood.
He was amused at Ambi’s curiosity and enthusiasm as he kept shooting
questions like a two year old and he answered them cheerfully and tirelessly
and with a smiling face.
They were traveling south towards Kanyakumari sea coast.
Noting that the boy by his side never once asked about their
destination nor did he seem to have guessed it, Nambudri himself started
briefing him on where they were going.
He said they were heading towards the land of Cheras
He explained how different it was from the rest of the
country.
It was a wonderful place separated from others by the high mountains
on one side and it was facing the west coast called the Arabian
Sea on the other side.
He told the story of Parashurama and the legend on how the big
stretch of the land mass from the ocean was reclaimed by the Lord, with one
throw of his divine axe.
That was the reason why my place is called “God’s own
country”, said Nambudri and asked Ambi if he had seen mountains and oceans
before.
‘No uncle’, replied Ambi with an expression of
longing.
I have only read about them in story books that thatha
gave me. – Uncle, Is it all real?
Yes indeed. - We are
going to visit all such places on our way to my home town. Ok.
Journey those days, though time consuming, was not tiresome
at all.
They worked leisurely in day light hardly driven by time and
retired by sun set.
One can be penniless like a sanyasi and yet travel all over,
getting food and shelter free.
There were darma chaththirams in between villages on the
high way, maintained through the charities of the rich merchant class or they had
the royal patronage.
There were villages scattered all over where people were
only too willing to take the strangers as their guests and seemed interested to
hear stories of their travel in detail
Hospitality and charity had always been a part of the Hindu
way of life in rural India .
When they retired for the night, Ambi asked for a story, but
tired and well-fed, he fell asleep even as Nambudri started with his story of Maveli,
the mighty king of Kerala.
It was a day of excitement and happiness for Ambi that
looked infectious and dragged Nambudri to the faint images of the earliest
period of his life.
The boy sleeping by his side with one hand firmly clutching
his shoulders was a new experience for Nambudri and it reminded him of his own
childhood.
He remembered that when he was three, how scary were the bed
time stories his mother and elders used to tell him about the kuttichattans,
the mohini pisasus and the like.
Ready acceptance and blind beliefs are the hall mark of
child hood at that stage.
So he believed when told that eating an orange pip with
seeds not removed will result in an orange tree growing in his stomach. - He also believed his grandma who told him
not to climb up and peep through the window over looking a Devi temple outside after
dark.
Reason, the Iyyankavu temple has dancing witches that come
to the open after sun set.
Nambudri felt stupid now, as he recollected the few
occasions when he had to go upstairs and entering the open terrace with his
eyes shut.
To think of it now, his family must have been a
manufacturing unit for Myth making.
Soon the next stage arrived when he could think for himself.
He knew his birth place as ‘Kalletumkara’ but as he grew old,
he got confused seeing the visiting foreigners referring to his place as
’Irinjalaguda’.
So, he inquired and found out from elders of his village
that our local Malayalis seldom forget their old name and will continue to use
the same. - Thus he learnt, for example,
that the place known as Kochi
was “Nedumbassery”for the true native of the place.
Next advanced stage was when one learns from observation and
inference.
Thus, when Nambudri as a boy often came across exclamations
that pleased the visitor with words like “Entha mudi; Entha thadi”,
he understood what it meant by looking at the addressee who invariably had
thick hair and body weight. - He could infer that it was the highest compliment
one pays to another in a society obsessed with such looks.
[True even now looking at the head start provided by
carefully cultivated head and body of some film stars like MGR; Mohanlal,
Mammutti, Jayaram in their race to stardom]
Nambudri’s eyes started closing but he had a disturbed sleep
with bad dreams.
Some fellow Nambudris chase him with bamboo sticks shouting
at him for bringing a stranger in to their society. - It took him some time
before getting rid of the dreams.
Next morning he could not remember the dreams as they
started with their journey.
.
Mother’s touch.
Uncle, when can I see the ocean?
This question he was asking every half an hour.
They were traveling in a hooded bullock cart.
We are very nearly there, said Nambudri showing a sign board
at a distance.
This is the border between the Pandya and the Chera
kingdoms.
The sign board read “Welcome to the state of Travancore.”
Uncle, you said we are going to Keralam. – Is it this
one?
Yes it is. But there are other parts too. This one is the
south end, replied Nambudri.
You see what we Malayalis call as Kerala presently has three
separate kingdoms.
This southern part which is Travancore (Thiruvadi
Rajyam) starts from Kanyakumari.
The northern part is called Malabar State
Then they speak three different languages. - Is it not so
uncle?
No. No. - It is one and same language for all of us.
Our Malayalam is an amalgam of two unrelated languages, Sanskrit
and Tamil mainly.
It also has words coined from foreign languages like Chinese,
Greek and Roman since those countries developed sea trade with our country in
ancient times using our ports.
Uncle, does every one here speak Sanskrit also?
Do they do in your place?
No. Only the educated lot does. Not others.
It is the same all over Bharat desh. Sanskrit is the common
language of communication among the Hindu Scholars just like the Persian
language is for the Muslim Scholars.
This is in addition to the scholarship they have in their
mother tongue.
After all the educated lot need a common language to
converse with each other.
As they were talking, the vehicle halted at the entry point
of the village.
As Nambudri thanked the driver he said it was his pleasure
to be of service to them.
It was noon and they started walking through the market
place.
Uncle you forgot to pay him. But why he did not remind
you?
Oh God. –
He would have felt offended if I did. - No one takes money
for such services.
Now they arrived near Kumari annai kottam, a rest house facing
the sea shore.
Ambi was delighted to see the beach and ocean, not just one
but three holding each other.
He stopped and stared at the unbelievable scene before him.
Oh boy, come on, let us move on and settle down first.
You will have full two days of stay here.
You can have sea bath and play in the sea sand but now you
need have your food first. Let us go, said Nambudri standing behind him with a
smile.
A deafening noise welcomed their entry into a spacious
common hall that had a number of teak wood pillars and Ambi again stood
motionless with his eyes fixed on the boys of his age group, running helter
shelter around the pillars, laughing and shouting.
Each one was chasing the other to touch him before he touches
a pillar. –
They did not seem to bother about their mothers shouting at
them to stop the game and go for lunch and when forced to stop playing,
Nambudri introduced Ambi to a boy near by.
When asked if they can take him as play mate he nodded
happily saying ‘Hi’ to Ambi, whose face brightened as he returned the ‘Hi’ with
a shy smile.
They followed others to the next big hall twice the size where
at least four or five families were staying. At the centre was a rectangular
central space open to the sky.
Many ladies who from their dress appeared to have come from
north were seen arranging the place for serving food over the plantain leaves
spread on the floor.
This place provided facilities for families who wanted to
cook for themselves.
But, what about people like me? – Whom to ask?
Jai
Ganesh Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh.. deva
Matha
tori parvathi pitha….
Maha
Deva..
Ambi’s attention was drawn to a corner from where the music was
coming.
Nambudri started looking in all directions to locate the
office or the watchman.
May help you sir? The voice from behind made Nambudri turn
back.
He was a dignified looking middle aged Brahmin scholar.
Ak
dant dayavant char Beija dhari
Mathe
sindoor sohe moosike savari
Dhurua chadhe phool chadhe….
Ambi started moving closer to listen to the song more
clearly.
Aur
chadhe meva Ladchuvan ka bhog lage…………
Sant
kare seva Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh
Jai
Ganesh.. deva
I indeed need some help sir. Thank you – I am Sankara
Nambudri.
I just arrived and I am trying to locate the custodian of
this place.
Can I leave the boy in your custody till I am back?
Sure. No problem. –
But, where is the boy you are talking about?
Andhan
ko aankh det….
Kodhiyan
ko kaya
Banjan
ko putra det….
Nirdhan
ko maya..
The middle aged Tamil speaking Brahmin woman, so identified
in her typical madisar attire and sitting a little away from the singers of the
Hindi speaking family, noticed him first, as the small boy walking towards her
with out looking at her, stood by her side.
Pratham tora
poojan kare…..
Joibi
kare seva
Riddhi
siddhi det wa ko…..
Vighan
hare deva..
He stood motionless like a pillar he was leaning against except
that his lips kept murmuring and repeating the lines of the Bhajan being sung.
Jai
Ganesh…Jai Ganesh…Jai Ganesh…deva
Matha
tori parvathi pitha…….…Maha Deva..
The music stopped after every one repeated the lines twice including
the boy.
The ladies started preparing for arthi to end the Bhajan singing.
Ambi, why don’t you sit down here with me? -
You look sweet but look tired too. - Come and sit down.
What is your name?
Her kind looks and words made Ambi feel quite at home.
Ambi looking amused at her question sat on the floor by her
side.
You just called out my name and you are also asking for
my name, he laughed.
She laughed too. Yes, you are right Ambi. But still, don’t
you know that for any stranger, an unknown boy is known as Ambi. – What I meant
was your full name.
Lakshmi Narayanan. – A long name. - I never knew any one using it.
She took an instant liking for the innocent looking boy.
Where is your mother? – I want to meet her.
I have no mother or father. They both died when I was an infant.
Frozen with shock she stretched a protective hand around his
shoulders.
How sad. How sad. I am sorry. – You sure had caring people
around.
I had only my grand father who loved me but he also died
a few weeks back.
Oh God. What a tragedy. I am sorry. I feel very sorry to
hear this.
She pulled him and hugged him, tears rolling from her eyes
falling on his hands.
Dear child, don’t loose heart. God will be kind to you.
She touched his cheeks softly, as the boy sobbed the first
time ever.
He did not remember any one consoling him this way.
She did not look like a stranger to him now.
Her genuine love and kindness revealed what the word mother’s
touch meant.
They started distributing the prasadam plates.
She took a plate with laddus and putting one in to his mouth
said,
Eat this first. - This is swamy prasadam.
Thank you, Mom.
Not Mom - Say Mum.
Where from you came dear and with whom?
I came with Nambudri uncle who said he will take care of
me.
I lived in Thirunelveli and we are now on our way to
Triruvananthapuram.
Here he is, shouted Sankara nambudri. - See there.
He is Ambi, the motherless boy over there with a
lady. But, who is that?
She is a childless woman.
She is my wife Menakshi, said Gangathara Ganapadikal.
That night Sankara Nambudri had a dream again.
This time Nambudri finds himself surrounded by funny looking
kutti saththans.
They demand the boy he carries on his shoulders be given to
them.
Singing and dancing, the kutties close in on Nambudri who
takes a few steps back.
He hits a tree that was not there a moment before.
“Don’t
worry my son. – I will protect you “
A divine voice comes from above.
Nambudri looks up to find Mannarkad Bhagavati sitting on top
of the tree.
Give
that boy to me – I will take care.
Mother, did I do any thing wrong?
Not
wrong but correct when you took the boy in your custody.
It
may be wrong if you plan to take him to a wrong place.
What should I do then? – Please guide me my mother.
Find
for him a mother first.
So saying the Goddess disappears along with the saththans.
Nambudri woke up with a jerk. – It was very early morning.
The dream looked real and it seemed to carry a message.
Nambudri comes to a decision.
If Goddess Bhagavati appeared in his dream, it was a sure
sign of a message for him.
Nambudris firmly believed in their kula deivam giving them
timely warnings.
As he kept awake, the early morning dream stayed before
fading away slowly.
His mind got fixed in to a small wooden temple on the edge
of the jungle.
Sankara nambudri could visualize Mannarkad Bhagavati, the
pre-eminent Goddess of Kerala and the most powerful and beloved deity in the
region, in her many forms.
In some incarnations, she could be ferocious – a figure of
horror and terror, a stalker of cremation grounds, who slaughtered demons and
evil yakshis mercilessly.
A Sanskrit sloka that described Malayala Bhagavati in this mood
came to his mind,
“ Come, come in haste, O Goddess, with thy locks bedraggled,
thou who hast three eyes, whose skin is dark, whose cloths are stained with
blood, who has rings in thy ears, who has a thousand hands, and rides upon a
monster and looking wildest in thy hands holding tridents, clubs, lances and
shields.”
This ferocious form is rare but necessary at times to
protect the good from the evil.
Otherwise, in her other moods, Bhagavati could be supremely
benign and generous to her devotees – the caring, loving, fecund mother, her
normal form that came in his dream.
It made him think and ponder over his rather emotional decision
over the boy’s future.
Being good and generous was the problem with young Sankara Nambudri.
When he took that spontaneous decision to take charge of the
boy, he felt proud about it. Little did he realize at that time if he had the
right to take a decision like that on his own and with out consulting his family
elders or getting prior sanctions from his community.
Ever since this was pointed out by some other Nambudris,
whom he had come across while visiting a way side temple, bathing together in
the tank and during their subsequent discussions, Sankara Nambudri was haunted
by self doubt seeded in his mind.
His dreams were the result of this nagging question surfacing
in his sleep.
He started recollecting the changes in the boy’s emotional
pattern since arrival.
At the insistence of Ganapadikal, they became part of their
family for the joint lunch.
The first batch was for children, followed by that of the men
folk and then ladies.
Ambi looked proud and happy sitting with his new friends
whose mothers or grandmas served them while he too had his new found mother Meenakshi
by his side to feed him.
After lunch, Ambi had disappeared
with his friends to roam about the new surroundings.
By evening, he was seen playing
kabadi in the sea sand, enjoying every minute of it.
He also seemed to have forgotten
his master ever since he found new friends.
Nambudri observed how happy Ambi
looked in the company of Meenakshi who was more than happy to play a mother’s
role and kept an eye on him even while talking to her friends of the Bhajan
group, advising Ambi now and then, not to run fast or jump high.
Seated in the sea sand, enjoying
the sea breeze and the sea view, Gangathara Ganapadikal pointed out this to
Sankara Nambudri and said, Sankara, did you see her concern for the small lad
she met only a few hours before? ‘How I wish
she had a child of her own’.
By the way, how is that
parentless boy related to you? - This question was a blessing in disguise for
Nambudri who was waiting for the opportune moment to consult him.
But before he replied, they were
joined by few others.
One was Achudan Nambiyar who made
a general statement that he had specifically planned to come with his family to
be here because tomorrow was Chitra powrnami day.
Agarwalji from Deccan
agreed and said the Bhajan singing ladies of his family were also particular
about it as they planned Krishna Bhajan and dance for Chitra powrnami which was
to be followed by an open air moon light feast for every one.
He then introduced a new comer, Shreekumar
varma, a poet patronized by the Trivancore kingdom and a friend of the crown
prince Swathi thirunal Rama varma.
Sankara Nambudri knew that the
very name ‘Varma’ indicated a relationship with members of the Royal family and
with special privilege to own agricultural lands.
Nambudri introduced himself and also
Gangadara Ganapadikal to others and asked,
Varmaji, if I am not mistaken,
are you not the well known poet ‘Mahabali?
You are right. The prince gave me
that pen name, replied Shreekumar with pride.
He then turned to Ganapadikal and
said, I remember to have seen you in the palace.
Are you not the one who came with
four people who stayed behind while you went to meet Karthika thirunal Maharaja
Marthanda Varma and was with him for a long time before you came out and took
the four men to introduce them to the crown prince?
We heard that they were music
composers from Tanjavur kingdom who had been brought as tutors to hone the
musical talents of our prince Swathi thirunal. - Is it true?
Yes it is true, said Gangadaran.
- Your prince seems to be fond of pen names.
He wanted them to be known as Thanjai
nalvar instead of with their original names.
Gangadara
Ganapadikal now understood why Venki mama said that it was a cover up for him
to take with him the four people who even otherwise would have gone on their
own to take up their assignment with the crown prince.
It
helped Gangadara Ganapadikal to hide the real purpose of his visit to
Trivananthapuram on behalf Dalavai Ramappan and to hand over a sealed cover to the
Maharaja, along with a sealed box covered with gift wrappings.
Shreekumar varma started to say
that it was indeed rare that Maharaja took some unusually longer time with him.
But, Ganapadikal quickly put an end to the topic telling that horoscope reading
should not be hurried up even for a Maharaja in a hurry.
The news of Ganapadikal meeting the king
surprised Nambudri for whom Maharaja’s darshan could be only in his dream like
many others who used to wait in queue outside the Padmanabha swamy temple whose
gates will open only after Maharaja’s early morning temple visit through a
secret passage connecting the palace and the temple.
Nambudri decided to show Ambi’s horoscope to
Gangadara Ganapadikal, tell him the full story of his becoming the custodian of
the boy and consult him on his dilemma.
By now, every one had started talking
in a group discussion that followed.
I am not sure but I heard that
our prince is a child prodigy and Maharaja wanted to develop his musical
talents through proper gurus, said Achudan Nambiyar.
It must be true. - I spent only an
hour or so discussing with the prince and he impressed me was his wide variety
of knowledge in music of all forms, said Ganpadikal
I suppose, he is already getting
training under north Indian musicians, said Agarwalji for whom Indian music
meant only the north side of the country.
Yes. His interest and knowledge
in classical Hindustani music is amazing, said Panikkar.
Why music alone? – He is refining
the form of Kathakali also. This was Varmaji.
Agarwalji wanted to know what
kathakali was but hesitated to ask.
What is there to refine? It was very
well set by the originator himself.
Who was that?
Don’t you know? - It was Veera
Kerala Varma, the Raja of Kottarakara.
You can’t say he is the inventor
of kathakali dance.
He only modified and improved the
form of an earlier one called Krishnanattam.
Correct, but it was Ramanattam first
and its extension only is Krishnan attam.
It is ok. But, you are forgetting
that all these are only derivatives of an ancient form.
Have you heard of the name Mohini
attam?
I think I do. - It was what my grand father fondly remembered
and kept telling.
He said the original version of Mohini
attam had no Sanskrit influence. –
It was with the advent of
Ramayana and Mahabaratha and many other Sanskrit poems that the changes came
about using Rama and Krishna in the music and dance
formats.
Correct. The popular type now has
a day long meticulous make-up and practice to portray Gods and demons of our
Ithikasa and Puranas which is the specialty of Kathakali dance.
Agarwalji who disliked being a
silent spectator intervened to address Ganapadikal.
Gangadaranji, what about the four
people who came with you to become the tutors.
Which form of music they have
specialized in?
It is called Karnatic music. Of
late it is becoming very popular in the south once it was scientifically streamlined
by one singer and musicologist known as Purandaradasa.
Is Karnatic music so named
because of what the Parangis call as Karnatic Region?
No. No. It is not that way. – You
know the Sanskrit word Karnah means Ear. - The music that is
pleasing to the ear is Karnatic music and it is by tradition sung in praise of
Gods.
I get it, said Nambudri. - He seemed to have found his home ground now
and said that the word ‘Karna Parampara’ was meaningful in respect of Vedic
teaching of the mantras.
You see it is so named because in
the chanting of mantras, the learning has to be through hearing only since proper
pronunciation is the most important aspect.
It is oral teaching of a Guru to
his Sishyas and passing the knowledge through ears.
It is getting dark. - Why don’t
we go in and continue our talking, said some one.
Nambiyar got up saying that Karnan
was so named because he was born with ear rings.
Agarwalji invited all to attend
the practice session in progress.
It would be an entirely new musical
experience for you, he assured.
When they returned, the Bhajan singing
and dancing was in full swing. Along with others, little girls and boys were participants,
coached by some elderly ladies.
They were practicing for the
chitra powrnami program next day.
Chitta
Chora yashoda ke bala …Navaneetha chora
gopala….
Gopala…Gopala….
Govardhanchoora…Gopala
The music was coming from a corner and reverberating in the
entire hall.
Ganapadikal saw his wife Meenakshi busy with her cooking
while listening to music.
He went to talk to her to know her mind about the small boy.
krishna
nam..ji..bolo.
Govinda
..jai..jai…gopala..jai…jai
Radha Ramana hare..
Govinda jai..jai
Blo Narayana
Jay Jay Vitala
Saie Narayana
Ranga Ranga Vitala
Govinda
Vitala..Rukumani Vitala
Gopala Vitala ….Panduranga
vitala.
Panduranga
vitala……
Panduranga
vitala……
.
It was a group singing to start with when the children
listened.
Later, it was individual effort when every boy and girl was
asked to sing every line.
The incentive for quick learning was that whoever renders a
flawless singing will get the honour of donning the role of Lord Krishna in the
musical dance drama due next day.
Ambi was the first to impress
every one with his sweet voice and flawless rendering.
At the end, he was declared the
best and Ambi came running to Meenakshi ammal who hugged and kissed him and
told to go and get the blessings from his master.
Nambudri felt proud when Ambi
came to him and prostrated at his feet.
He asked innocently; Uncle, did I
do really well or they say so just to encourage me?
Let me tell you. You were too
good. - Keep it up Ambi, said Nambudri master.
Other elders there congratulated
him and were unanimous in telling that his singing had atchara suddam and shruthi
suddam together with a gifted voice.
Ambi ran back happily to join his
friends for dinner.
He was now looking forward to the
early morning sea bath. ……
…. …………….. ……..
………
All these scenes were replays in
Nambudri’s mind screen as he lay awake.
There was absolute silence and
cool stillness in the pitch dark surroundings.
At this time of the day, mind is clear
and pure like the water of the Manasarovar
Lake
“Life is a series of circular
paths; when you have completed one, another opens out and you have the freedom
of choice to start again from the scratch.”
In this mood, Nambudri understood
the significance of the philosophy explained by poet Shreekumar alias Mahabali,
during their discussions that continued later in the hall.
Varma added that it was a
practical philosophy, not one of his but what he heard while listening to the
conversation the prince had with a senior poet by name Kunjunny Raja.
You know, this philosophy
presents a reassuring picture of life.
When the time comes you can
always make a fresh start stepping on to a different circle and armed with new
choices. - Is it not a positive attitude
to get over depression?
Sankara Nambudri realized that it
was applicable to both Ambi and himself in the present context and with
reference to the dream he had that woke him up so early.
“Find a mother for him
first.” - Bhakavathi’s voice was
still lingering in his ears.
Yes. I have found one. Let me see
if it works out.
Nambudri made up his mind and
started praying his family deity.
If there are choices, it is for
Ambi to choose one and not for him to force it on the boy.
With out further delay and
dilemma, he has to tell about Ambi to Ganapadikal uncle.
The musical sound of the first
bird song started from some where and it was followed slowly by many more
breaking the silence and announcing the soon-to-arrive Dawn.
At the time of sun rise, elders
among the men folk started gathering near sea shore.
The children and ladies were to
come much later.
Sankara nambudri and Gangadara
ganapadikal had sea bath, changed their wet cloths, finished santhiyavanthanam
and sat in a quiet place for meditation.
Once they became free, Nambudri
told Ganapadikal that he could not answer the question he asked previous day
evening because they were disturbed by others who joined them.
Which question you are referring
to?
You asked me how Ambi was related
to me. – He is not. – I want to tell
about it.
Ganapadikal listened with interest
and with out interrupting in the middle as Nambudri narrated the story of how he
happened to take up the responsibility for the boy’s future.
Ganapadikal appreciated his
decision but was not sure how practical it was.
How was it possible to carry out his
plans with out cooperation from his community?
That is the question to think
about. – Have you thought of any alternative?
Ganapadikal perhaps wanted to
know Nambudri’s mind first.
Then, Nambudri told about Goddess
Bhakavathi coming in his dream.
Particularly, what disturbed him
most was what he distinctly remembered.
Why the Goddess should tell him
to find a mother first? –
Is it a message or a warning or
it is just nothing? – I am confused.
I want your opinion and advice
uncle.
Ganapadikal smiled and said not
to worry.
It must be your inner voice of
the sub-conscience mind.
You must have had a doubt
yourself if your decision was right or wrong.
Finding a meaning of a dream
among irrelevant things is very complicated.
Normally dreams are the result of
a disturbed mind with buried thoughts.
Emotions born out of suppressed desires
and fears will surface in our dreams in some incoherent manner appearing as though
every thing is real. Do not worry about it now.
In any case, this arrangement is
only temporary. - Is it not?
You are only going to teach the
boy in your Gurukulam, not keep him with you for ever.
I suppose his grand father would
have provided for his future and told about it to others
Yes, Pitchai mama told me that he
will take care of his interest and maintain the house.
I do not know about others. From
what the old man told me, I gather that no one in his family is keen to help
and they blame the boy’s horoscope for his misfortune.
You said Ambi hails from Tirunelveli.
- What is his grand father’s name?
My wife has relatives there in
Sanyasi gramam near Tirunelveli.
That is exactly the place where
they live.
Ambi’s name is Lakshmi Narayanan
and he belongs to Bharatwaja gothram.
His maternal grand father is
Eswara sasthri, his guardian.
Oh. - If it is Iswara mama of sanyasi gramam, there
will be no problem.
Yes. They are well known to my
wife, her mother side relations.
Actually we were planning to
visit them on our return journey.
We will take Ambi back with us if
you so agree and if the boy is willing to come with us.
In fact, I have a feeling that my
wife would be happy to adopt him and so do I.
What do you say Nambudrisab? – Ganapadikal
said this with a hearty laugh.
Nambudri also laughed, looking
relieved.
He said, by the grace of Goddess
Bhagavathi, Ambi will have a mother at last.
It is same for us too. By the
grace of Guruvayurappan, we will have a son at last, replied Gangadaran and
added that it was a coincidence that he also belonged to Bharatwaja clan.
Are you from Tanjavur?
No. My native village is Thenkarai
but settled in Madurai
near by.
So, you are going back to Madurai now.
No. We are shifting families from
Madurai to
different places
My choice was Chinnamanur and was
allotted house and lands there.
Ambi with his friends was
enjoying his sea bath.
He thought it was the best day in
his life, not knowing that better days were ahead.
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