Nostalgia
Matriarch of verse
(Balamani Amma,graceful poetess ,also has a persona worthy of emulation.Within her lives a Rishi and philosopher ,says her niece Suvarna Nalapat,of her illustrious aunt.)
The Hindu.Metroplus.Monday ,January 8th ,2001.
The month of Karkidakam is sacred to the Goddess Lakshmi.The asterism of Ayilyam(Aslesha)is the divine day of the naagaas.On that day,a girl was born in Punnayurkulam,a small village in Kerala,amidst the chantings of verses from the Raamaayana.That was the elder of the two nieces of the philosopher-poet Nalapat Narayanamenon.Born on the auspicious day of the Devi,she was called Lakshmi by the elders,a name soon to be forgotten and replaced by another.Narayanamenon called her Baala ,the name of his upaasanaamoorthy,Baalaparameswari.Her sister,born in the same month,after two years,on a visakham star was named Padmavathy ,a synonym of Lakshmi ,sacred to Budhists,Jains and Hindu alikebut soon came to be known as Ammini.The two sisters always went together everywhere and people in the neighbouring houses used to say Baalammini(Bala and Ammini)is coming.Later this twin name was transformed to Balamani and it stuck to the elder sister ,the qualities of Lakshmi ,Saraswathi and Balaparameswari rolled in one.That was the beginning of the mother of Malayalam literature ,the philosopher-poet Balamani Amma.
As a child Balamani was very intelligent and wanted to know many things.She had a very good Guru and mentor in her uncle,Narayanamenon.Even as a child ,she wrote poetry and she was given J.Krishnamurthy’s “At the feet of Thy master”to read .She later wrote about it.She read it sitting on a natural swing made of a sturdy creeper on a mango tree ,immersed in imagination and ecstacy ,slowly enjoying the sweetness of Krishnamurthy’s philosophy .Her love and regard for her uncle,grandmothers,sister and parents and to the household aides and children are legendary.
In her live a rishi and a philosopher par excellance who studied the scriptures,atheosophist ,and a Gandhian and a human being who always stood for justice and nonviolence.She wrote that a single teardrop of compassion is any day better than a thousand gold coins.
The dominant emotion in her poetry is considered to be the celebration of motherhood by many a critic.But this is not always true.The thread which one can find in all her poems,from 1957 onwards ,is the line of positive thoughts.She always knew that she had the potential to break free and spread her wings at any time.She wrote well before any feminist movement began in literature,that a woman’s eyes will not be blinded to the subtle truths of swadharma,the duties of a world citizen,by the presence of fumes emanating from a narrow kitchen.A woman can do both duties efficiently.
She told us plainly that lack of high ideals,replacements of values by wealth and worldly things will only make us more economically backward.When human beings sleep on the road and children quarrel with each other for a morsel of food,and women are traded for money,we say that it is the will of God.This shows our deviation from swadharma and it is this insult which we have to remove from our records.This is the ideology she imbibed directly from Les Miserables ,of Victor Hugo,translated by her uncle.
I had the good fortune to grow up under her tender love and high ideals and to see the simple life sheled amidst riches .My earliest memories of her were when she came to live with us at Nalapat house ,when my grandmother was very ill.She and my mother(her sister) used to sit in my grandmother’s sickroom and I as a child was always in that room because I did not want to part with my grandmother .
I used to being pampered by my grandmother and always cried when it was time for my bath because I insisted that my grandmother alone should bathe me.It was then Valiyamma who offered that she will take grandmothers place.She took me to the bathroom gave me a nice bath,chanting soft manthraas ,which I later came to know was the Lalithasahasranaama,her favourite.She was cleansing my body and soul by the soft loving hands and the soft manthra.
Before putting me to sleep,she told me nice lenghthy stories from Anderson’s fairy tales.We always wrote to each other.In her last letter she had enclosed a poem “Maravi”(forgetfulness/Loss of memory)for me to read.When I read it,I knew that she was about to severe all ties with this mundane world and its ways of life.We,medical scientists,call it Alzheimer’s disease.
Later on,When I read out a verse from her own poem,Nivedhyam,she told me that it was beautiful,and being beautiful ,must have been written by Vallathol.It was she who taught me to be silent when someone abuses or tries to shock you by words or deeds ,because silence is more powerful than words.It was she who taught me that truth will win ultimately.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Letters of Balamani Amma from 1980
The letters are in two distict periods.The 60,s and the 80’s.You may wonder why?
In 60’s I was in Punnnayurkulam and she in Calicut.
Then I became a Medical student in 1965 in Calicut (the letters from that period slowly decreases)and was visiting her regularly in weekends.I remained in Calicut till 1995.And we were having regular communication,directly and there was no need for letters.Just a phone call.I will be by her side and we spent weekends in her house.
When Valiyachan was no more (in 1977)there was a dislocation for her.She was living with either of her daughters,or with the grandson Bawa etc.Then ,starts a second spurt of letters appearing in 80,s.The 20 years interval were oral(sruthi)or vaamozhi only.No recorded varamozhi for that relationship exists.(I am just pointing this out to show how our concept of only written documents are history ,is totally foolish/and unscientific.)
1980 Onwards
1.
I.A.Harbour heights
Sassoon docks
Bombay 5
23.3.1980
Dear Suvarna,
Yesterday I received your “Puzhayude Katha”.Amy,Das and me read it .As you said the other day,I could not see any contradictions at the end of the novel.But to understand ,that the last part is through the eyes of the son,it may take some time and some difficulty for a reader,who reads casually.
The “Origin”and the “End”are both highly poetical.Congratulations.I had already ordered two copies.Let them send it.Dont write to them that it is not needed.I hope this will be a success.Next year you should publish one more.What is happeningto your novel “Yudha”?It would be better if you come out of the autobiographical novels and make the hospital and the medical college ,the background of your next novel.Now,the time available for you must be very very short and you will be very busy.Is Abhilash’s school closed?Did you go to Punnayurkulam?As promised the other day,did warrier sent your horoscope to you?Ifhe has sent,copy that chart and sent it to me.I am planning to come there in May.Love and blessings for Bhanu and the little son.
With love
Swantham valiamma
(P.S.Amy also is writing below)
My dear Suvarna,
I have finished reading your book with wonder.I need not say that it is good.The ending words in the 95th page (9),I had been reading again and again .I would love to read your poems.
Namaskaaram to Bhanu and Abhilash.
With love
Amyoppu
2.
Pannnimedu estate
P.O.Pannimedu
642131 Tamil Nad
29.9.1980
Dear Suvarna,The reply was delayed ,because I was waiting to hear your discussion on the A.I.R.On Monday there was no Mahilaavedi.Yesterday there was a vanithaarangham.I tried that.Today also I was trying.Could not hear it.Even at calicut we get it in a faint voice.I feel a little bit sad,since I have missed it.
I too do not think that women are less courageous.In both men and women there are people with and without mental strength.Which periodical is publishing your discussion?
Is Achan’s surgery over?I didn’t write to Ammini .Tell her when you see.I hope Lakshmi and Janardhanan Nair has not gone to Iraq.Now,it is better to cancel it.
Asokan informed me that Nambeesan is no more.I have written to his son.Nambeesan was our teacher,from infancy.
We are all okay.I don’t know when I can come home.Unni doesn’t have leave.Even after the rainy season ,here there is rain at night.Daytime is hot.No cold weather.I will go to Bombay only after at least a month.Amy’s letters come.
Are you going home for Navarathri?To Bhanu and Mon ,love from me and Sulu.
With love
Swantham valiamma.
P.S.In the jathakam you sent,I cannot find the navaamsaka of Ravi.Can you inform that also?Just write in which Bhaava.You need not send another jaathakakuripp.
The Jaathaka reading she has done on me is given below:-
Lagnam Cancer.Persons born under cancer have middlesized body ,face full and complexion white.They are intelligent bright frugal and industrious.They are much attached to their children and family.Sensitiveness renders them nervous and queer.They often meet with disappointments in marriage and love affairs.They are talkative,selfreliant ,honest and understanding .(Valiyamma shares lagna Cancer with me)
Mars in Cancer,Lagna:-Intelligent ,rich ,love agriculture ,medical and surgical proficiency ,bold ,dashing ,speculative,egoistic.
Sun in 10th In Aries ,exalted .Courageous ,famous ,aquires wealth ,learned,adventurous,quick decisions,Fond of music,high positions,dutiful sons,much personal influence,success in either military or political career.
Mercury in 10th .Determined,fortunate,enjoy life,active.
Aditya and Budha together in 10th house,in Aries,Famous and kiglike according to Saaraavali.
Moon in Gemini .Wellread,creative,clever,a powerful speaker,Thoughtreader,Long life.
Moon in 12th house.Obstructed career.Unhappy .Powerless.Easily deceived.Solitary life.Lagnadhipa moon with Saturn in 12th house also denotes that the health will be poor.
Jupiter in Third house.Famous .Many brothers .Devoted to family.Polite ,thrifty and bold.Taste for arts and literature.Good successful.Agriculturalist.
Venus in 11th Influential,learned ,wealthy,popular’
Raahu in 11th.Humourous.Intelligent ,wealthy.
For cancer lagna ,Jupiter and Mars are good yogakaaraka.Venus and mercury are not.
In upachaya(3,10,11)Jupiter,Mercury,Venus.Aiswaryam is the result.
Yogaas:\Dhurdhurayogam .Enjoyment of all pleasures.Generous and commanding .Have faithful children.
Sunabha yogam.Selfmade intelligent and reputed
Vesi yogam Good conversationalist .Courageous and charitable.
3
Pannimedu estate
P.O pannimedu
642131 Tamil nad
24.4.1982
Dear Suvarna,
Letters and horoscopes were brought by vasanthi.Sulu has given them all the writings about their horoscopes.When I enquired about the error in it,the date of birth is given .It is 3.6.1941.
Vasanthi and Venu came on Monday and left for TVM.May be Abhilash’s school is closed.Are you going to Punnayurkulam?Even if you go,Bhanu will safely deliver my letter to you there,I hope.Have you shifted your house?
I do not think that we would be able to participate in the marriage functions.There is no time at all for Unni.Sulu is also very busy.
Arun will go to complete his tuition ,to Calicut,next month beginning.All are okay here.
I have been reading all your articles in Kshethradarsanam carefully.I have sent a short translation from a Hindi book for their April issue.
Love and blessings for Bhanu and the little son.
Love
Swantham valiamma.
4.
Devivilas
Kuravankonam
Thiruvananthapuram
15.12.1987
Dear suvarna
Received letter.Heard that you are shifting house and moving to the quarters shortly.And that there is more space in the new house.I will come there every Sunday when I come to Calicut.I haven’t decided the date yet.Now I can walk with the support of a walking stick.But there is slight pain in the knee .The journey is postponed because of that.
Yesterday the Rotary club has written that they want to give a reception to me.Probably I may give the date as end of January.Hoping that my leg will be okay by that time.
Happy to hear that Indyaye kandethal is to be published shortly.People who can read and grasp the meaning of that book will be very few.But it is a visishtagrantha.Your great effort has been fulfilled .Blessings for the complete success of the venture.
Shodu and wife are here.Being the chairman of the forestry board Amy has gone to Delhi to receive an award.Will be back tomorrow.
I will be happy to stay with you for one or two days when I come to Kozhikode.Love and blessings to Bhanu and Abhilash.
With love
Swantham valiamma
5. c/o K.Madhavachandran
Aishwarya
No 40
Nethajinagar H colony
Po kottooli
Calicut
26.4.8?(may be 89)
Dear Suvarna,
If possible can you come here on Sunday?To select books and authors for an award ,I am entrusted.You have a book with details of authors and their books.Take that book when you come.We will discuss it and think about it together.If you are not free on Sunday,I will try to come there.
For the evening reception of Vani’s marriage I didn’t see you.
Love and blessings to Bhanu and son.
Love
Swantham valiamma
6. Aiswarya
D 17 H.N 40
Nethaji nagar colony
Kottooli po
2.1.90
Dear Suvarna,
Loving new year wishes for all three of you.I have received your letter last week.You must be back from Punnayurkulam by now?Did all the three go?In which class is your son now?
I will definitely listen to your programme on “One day-one book”in A I R. If Amy comes I may go to TVM.Even then I can hear it from there.I will write to you after hearing it.
At Punnayurkulam hope Ammini ,Appunniettan and Asokan are all okay.I could not go and see Preetha after her marriage.I have decided to go there one day.
Love
Swantham valiamma
(PTO)Sulu had come with Unni and children.With them I stayed 3 days in Krishnan Nair’s house.Bawas child is smart.Most of the time I am with her.
I am sending a poem to you.(Maravi-Loss of memory)written recently.It was published in Chilla.
7. c/oK.Madhavachandran
A 142 Aiswarya
D 17 H N 40
Nethajinagar colony
Kottooli po
Calicut16
18.Dec 1989
Dear Suvarna,
In a recent edition of the “Gurukulam”magazine I saw what Guru Nityachaithanyayati had written about you.I was very happy to read it.Among the great geniuses of todays world,he is one of the foremost.It is a real blessing for your literary efforts.
Amy will come on 21st.May be I will go with her to Thiruvananthapuram or on my way ,to Ernakulam.No decision yet.We are all okay.Little girl of Bhawa is smart.Does not make trouble.I sometimes go to Lynwood also.
Love to Bhanu and mon.
Best wishes
With love
Swantham valiamma
8. Pannimedu
8.10.1981
Dear Suvarna,
I am writing this letter just after taking the ‘pooja “.I had received your letter a few days back.A little late in replying.You are one person who has never hurt me,let me say first.
Kshethradarsanam comes here regularly.Maaraar sends them to me free of cost.Saw your article in Onam special.Hope more about jyothisha will be seen in the next issues.Such studies are essential for students who are learning jyothisha.
Did you do any more research on medical astrologyas planned the other day?The only problem is that we can do it only on our near and dear ones.It is really difficult.
Did you go home for Navarathri vacation?Hope Bhanu and Abhilash are happy.We will be coming over there in November or December.Sundaran is coming next month.I saw the birthchart of Sreekrishna in a Hindi magazine.Have you seen it?Anyway I am sending it to you.
Jupiter in Meenam
Ascendant,moon and kethu in Rishabham
Sun in Simha
Mercury in Kanni
Saturn and venus in Thulaam
Rahu in Vrischika
Mars in Makaram.
Uchasthah sasibhoumachandrisanayo
Lagnam vrisho Laabhago jeeva
Simha thulaachishu kramavasaath
Pooshaa sani raahava
Naiseedha samayeshtamee
Budhadine brahmaksha athrakshane.
He had Harshananityayogam.
I think in this Kundalini it is not like that.
(In fact 4 planets are in ucha and Jupiter in swakshethra for Krishna as shown in kundalini also)
I saw two different types of birthcharts of Mussolini.Why is it that such differences are seen?In the first one I saw Jupiter ,venus and kethu were in Kanni .And the sun was not seen in it.
But in the second one,
Ascendent Vrischika
Kethu in meena
Saturn,mars and moon in Rishabha,
Jupiter and venus in Gemini
Mercury and sun in cancer
Rahu in kanni.
With love
Swantham Valiamma.
(Note that the horoscope of Krishna and Mussolini are having no common features at all)
Valiamma had sent her own horoscope and that of Ammaman with these two horoscopes for me to make a study of them.
9. Lynwood
Nadakkav
Calicut 673001
9.8.1980
Dear Suvarna,
Received letter.You can keep the books with you.May be useful for your research.I have read them.It is very good that you are planning to do a combined research.There is a book on medical astrology.Ancient wisdom publications.Sind Ayurvedic pharmacy.375,kalbadevi road,Bombay 400002.This is the address.The author is chandrasekhara.G.Thakur.I will enquire when I go to Bombay.
I have copied down several points from medical astrology.I will send it to you.Eventhough you cannot base your treatment on that alone ,you can consult that too.Write an article on it anyway.
The path of sanyasa is very very ancient.We are traveling through that ancient path.And should travel through it.But we forget that sometimes.This forgetfulness is the reason for all problems and sorrows.Even in the midst of all activities ,through your mindscape ,let that ancient path always shine.
Inkan is well.He tok a bath.No one else got infected luckily.Now he is taking some food.He has not come downstairs.Let him rest for one more week.I have not decided the date of my departure.May be just before onam.Before that I will come there.Are you going home for onam?
Love to Bhanu and Abhilash.
With love
Swantham valiamma
10.
Pannimedu
Tamil nadu
10.6.1983
Dear Suvarna,
Yesterday I received a letter .It is from a woman who had been admitted in ward 23 ,sideroom,in the Medical college hospital,calicut,for breast cancer treatment.Her name is Chinthaamani.She had come to my house in 1975 ,to see me.She is the daughter of a Budhist monk and had a little daughter too.She had written the letter with address c/o Mathrubhoomi .So I got it late.Otherwise I would have gone and seen her,while I came to Calicut.She has written that she wants to see me once again.I am so sad to hear that.Probably now she is discharged from hospital.What happened?Where is she now?Can you enquire in the hospital and tell me about it.I am unable to write to her even,without any such details.She was the patient of dr .V.J.Nair and after his retirement of Mohan kumar.One of her breasts was removed.
I reached here on 25th with Sundaran.Went to Punnayurkulam also.Sundaran went back on 27th.We are all okay.All the three children are here.Arun has sent applications to a few colleges for admission.Marklist is not known.
How is your health?Now it is vacation for Abhilash.Isnt it?Will he have to change school next year?My regards to Bhanu.Also of Sulu.Amy is in Ceylon.She had sent letter.
With love
Swantham valiamma
P.S.Send your home address to me.I saw the address of a Bdhist ashram in Chinthamani’s letter.Today I am writing in that address.Enquire in the hospital also.
11. Munnar
28.6.1988
Dear Suvarna,
I am writing this for a particular purpose.I have got a form asking me to nominate two poets for an award.I thought I should nominate Sugatha and O.N.V.I have got some details from a book.Their place of birth,Sugatha’s parents and works ,and address.I know only the birthplace and the work Uppu of O.N.V.Also that he was a professor in University college.Is he retired?Do you have any other information?The years in which he got awards etc.May be in the book which I gave you the other day the details may be given.Copy them and send it to me.Next month ,first we are going to EKM.Send the letter there.Sundaran’s address is below.
Dr .N.S.Nair
H.N.L/2119
Keerthinagar
PO Elamakkara
Deshabhimani Road
Cochin 682026
Love and blessings to Mon and Bhanu.
I read the article suvana wrote about Ammaman in Bhashaposhini.Very good.What happened to Aurobindo’s works.Did the other book of yours come out?
With love
Swantham valiamma
12. House no L/2119
Keerthinagar
Po Elamakkara
Cochin
10.7.1988
Dear Suvarna,
Received letter.And the information about O.N.V.When I wrote information about Sugatha in the form there was no more space for O.N.V.Moreover they should get it before 20th in Bhopal .Therefore I could not include the information on O.N.V.I have kept it safe .When another chance comes ,I will send it.
I am happy to hear that your book is published.The translation of Aurobindo poems are seen in Gurusannidhi.Is it not?Is it necessary to have separate permission for that ?
I am not sure whether I will come to Punnayurkulam ,this onam.I have started to climb steps.But with some difficulty.Ammini hadselected sanathanadharma magazines.Mr Chandrasekharan who had asked for them ,came and took them.May be I will be at Thiruvananthapuram,this onam.
Vasantha and sundaran are okay.Vsantha’s elder sister and daughter ,husband and children have come.Sulu,Unni and children are also here.Today or tomorrow they will return.
My love and blessings to Bhanu and Mon.Bawa writes news from Calicut.One day he had come.
With love
Swantham valiamma
13.
Aiswarya A 12
D 17 H No 40
Nethajinagar colony
Kottooli po
Calicut 16
28.2.88
Dear Suvarna,
I am reading your book very carefully.These books I love very much.Moreover it is your translation.So that I love them more.Your preface is excellent.And I am happy to see such beautiful translation .I thought some portions may be better with slight changes.
Since it is translated into prose,usages like POL instead of POLE ,ALAVATHU for ALAYUNNATHU etc are not needed.These usages are only for songs(music)and poetry to avoid alterations in the rhythmic beauty.Is it not better to use Kairaatha instead of Barbara faces?We will sit together one day ,and read it together.Just like you came the other day,can you come once again with the original work?
Parents of K.P.Unnikrishnan are known at Aurobindo ashram.So ,he may have someone there familiar with.After making corrections ,make one more copy .And consult Unnikrishnan to get the copyright for this.
With love
Swantham valiamma
14
Akasagangha
H/no L /2119
Elamakkara
Deshabhimani road
Cochin 682026
12.1.1989
Several days after having any news.Though we met at Punnayurkulam ,I didn’t get enough time to talk about the books.It was such a rush there.
Did Panchasidhanthika come out?I didn’t see any advertisements anywhere.What about Aravindahridayam?If I happen to see any literary persons ,which is very rare here,I will tell about your book.Somehow that book should come out.
When I come to Calicut next,we will sit together and read it.We will sort out all your writings,articles,short stories and other works.I am sure ,publishers will be there fr stories.
I am not going out anywhere.Spends time reading something .Bawa’s letter came.He has a daughter .Usha and child are going to Kannur to her mother for sometime
Hope all of you are okay.I hope I can come there for a few days prior to Baby’s marriage.
Love and blessings to Bhanu and son.
With love
Swantham valiamma
15 Lynwood
12.8.89
Dear Suvarna,
I didn’t reply to your letter sent earlier to Munnar.Day before yesterday ,I came here from Bawa’s house.Usha and Bawa have gone to Kannur for two days.May be they will come today or tomorrow.Then I will return to them.
I came here with Mohandas ,on the evening of birthday.Next day went to Bawa’s house.
I didn’t see the kalakoumudi article.I want to see your sopaanasangheetham.
Somehow you have to bring out Aravindahridayam .In today’s newspaper I saw that this Tuesday at 8 PM ,in sahityarangha ,Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri is speaking about Aurobindo’s poetry.If you are free listen to it.
Come to Bawa’s house when you get free time.
Love and blessings for Bhanu and mon.
With love
Swantham valiamma
16. c/o Madhavchandran
D/17Aiswarya
H no 40
Nethaji nagarcolony
P.O.Kottooli
Calicut 16
2.5.1990
Dear suvarna,
Received your letter.I would have tried to write for your magazine .But I cannot concentrate on an article at present.The time is not suitable.Inken(Mohandas)is in hospital after an operation .He is getting well.
I am not trying to write article because if I write ,I have to be careful ,and it should be perfect.
I haven’t seen Leelavathy for a long time.Once from Ernakulam she did come home to see me.
Come here,whenever you are free.Love and blessings for Bhanu and Mon.
Love
Swantham valiamma.
In 60’s I was in Punnnayurkulam and she in Calicut.
Then I became a Medical student in 1965 in Calicut (the letters from that period slowly decreases)and was visiting her regularly in weekends.I remained in Calicut till 1995.And we were having regular communication,directly and there was no need for letters.Just a phone call.I will be by her side and we spent weekends in her house.
When Valiyachan was no more (in 1977)there was a dislocation for her.She was living with either of her daughters,or with the grandson Bawa etc.Then ,starts a second spurt of letters appearing in 80,s.The 20 years interval were oral(sruthi)or vaamozhi only.No recorded varamozhi for that relationship exists.(I am just pointing this out to show how our concept of only written documents are history ,is totally foolish/and unscientific.)
1980 Onwards
1.
I.A.Harbour heights
Sassoon docks
Bombay 5
23.3.1980
Dear Suvarna,
Yesterday I received your “Puzhayude Katha”.Amy,Das and me read it .As you said the other day,I could not see any contradictions at the end of the novel.But to understand ,that the last part is through the eyes of the son,it may take some time and some difficulty for a reader,who reads casually.
The “Origin”and the “End”are both highly poetical.Congratulations.I had already ordered two copies.Let them send it.Dont write to them that it is not needed.I hope this will be a success.Next year you should publish one more.What is happeningto your novel “Yudha”?It would be better if you come out of the autobiographical novels and make the hospital and the medical college ,the background of your next novel.Now,the time available for you must be very very short and you will be very busy.Is Abhilash’s school closed?Did you go to Punnayurkulam?As promised the other day,did warrier sent your horoscope to you?Ifhe has sent,copy that chart and sent it to me.I am planning to come there in May.Love and blessings for Bhanu and the little son.
With love
Swantham valiamma
(P.S.Amy also is writing below)
My dear Suvarna,
I have finished reading your book with wonder.I need not say that it is good.The ending words in the 95th page (9),I had been reading again and again .I would love to read your poems.
Namaskaaram to Bhanu and Abhilash.
With love
Amyoppu
2.
Pannnimedu estate
P.O.Pannimedu
642131 Tamil Nad
29.9.1980
Dear Suvarna,The reply was delayed ,because I was waiting to hear your discussion on the A.I.R.On Monday there was no Mahilaavedi.Yesterday there was a vanithaarangham.I tried that.Today also I was trying.Could not hear it.Even at calicut we get it in a faint voice.I feel a little bit sad,since I have missed it.
I too do not think that women are less courageous.In both men and women there are people with and without mental strength.Which periodical is publishing your discussion?
Is Achan’s surgery over?I didn’t write to Ammini .Tell her when you see.I hope Lakshmi and Janardhanan Nair has not gone to Iraq.Now,it is better to cancel it.
Asokan informed me that Nambeesan is no more.I have written to his son.Nambeesan was our teacher,from infancy.
We are all okay.I don’t know when I can come home.Unni doesn’t have leave.Even after the rainy season ,here there is rain at night.Daytime is hot.No cold weather.I will go to Bombay only after at least a month.Amy’s letters come.
Are you going home for Navarathri?To Bhanu and Mon ,love from me and Sulu.
With love
Swantham valiamma.
P.S.In the jathakam you sent,I cannot find the navaamsaka of Ravi.Can you inform that also?Just write in which Bhaava.You need not send another jaathakakuripp.
The Jaathaka reading she has done on me is given below:-
Lagnam Cancer.Persons born under cancer have middlesized body ,face full and complexion white.They are intelligent bright frugal and industrious.They are much attached to their children and family.Sensitiveness renders them nervous and queer.They often meet with disappointments in marriage and love affairs.They are talkative,selfreliant ,honest and understanding .(Valiyamma shares lagna Cancer with me)
Mars in Cancer,Lagna:-Intelligent ,rich ,love agriculture ,medical and surgical proficiency ,bold ,dashing ,speculative,egoistic.
Sun in 10th In Aries ,exalted .Courageous ,famous ,aquires wealth ,learned,adventurous,quick decisions,Fond of music,high positions,dutiful sons,much personal influence,success in either military or political career.
Mercury in 10th .Determined,fortunate,enjoy life,active.
Aditya and Budha together in 10th house,in Aries,Famous and kiglike according to Saaraavali.
Moon in Gemini .Wellread,creative,clever,a powerful speaker,Thoughtreader,Long life.
Moon in 12th house.Obstructed career.Unhappy .Powerless.Easily deceived.Solitary life.Lagnadhipa moon with Saturn in 12th house also denotes that the health will be poor.
Jupiter in Third house.Famous .Many brothers .Devoted to family.Polite ,thrifty and bold.Taste for arts and literature.Good successful.Agriculturalist.
Venus in 11th Influential,learned ,wealthy,popular’
Raahu in 11th.Humourous.Intelligent ,wealthy.
For cancer lagna ,Jupiter and Mars are good yogakaaraka.Venus and mercury are not.
In upachaya(3,10,11)Jupiter,Mercury,Venus.Aiswaryam is the result.
Yogaas:\Dhurdhurayogam .Enjoyment of all pleasures.Generous and commanding .Have faithful children.
Sunabha yogam.Selfmade intelligent and reputed
Vesi yogam Good conversationalist .Courageous and charitable.
3
Pannimedu estate
P.O pannimedu
642131 Tamil nad
24.4.1982
Dear Suvarna,
Letters and horoscopes were brought by vasanthi.Sulu has given them all the writings about their horoscopes.When I enquired about the error in it,the date of birth is given .It is 3.6.1941.
Vasanthi and Venu came on Monday and left for TVM.May be Abhilash’s school is closed.Are you going to Punnayurkulam?Even if you go,Bhanu will safely deliver my letter to you there,I hope.Have you shifted your house?
I do not think that we would be able to participate in the marriage functions.There is no time at all for Unni.Sulu is also very busy.
Arun will go to complete his tuition ,to Calicut,next month beginning.All are okay here.
I have been reading all your articles in Kshethradarsanam carefully.I have sent a short translation from a Hindi book for their April issue.
Love and blessings for Bhanu and the little son.
Love
Swantham valiamma.
4.
Devivilas
Kuravankonam
Thiruvananthapuram
15.12.1987
Dear suvarna
Received letter.Heard that you are shifting house and moving to the quarters shortly.And that there is more space in the new house.I will come there every Sunday when I come to Calicut.I haven’t decided the date yet.Now I can walk with the support of a walking stick.But there is slight pain in the knee .The journey is postponed because of that.
Yesterday the Rotary club has written that they want to give a reception to me.Probably I may give the date as end of January.Hoping that my leg will be okay by that time.
Happy to hear that Indyaye kandethal is to be published shortly.People who can read and grasp the meaning of that book will be very few.But it is a visishtagrantha.Your great effort has been fulfilled .Blessings for the complete success of the venture.
Shodu and wife are here.Being the chairman of the forestry board Amy has gone to Delhi to receive an award.Will be back tomorrow.
I will be happy to stay with you for one or two days when I come to Kozhikode.Love and blessings to Bhanu and Abhilash.
With love
Swantham valiamma
5. c/o K.Madhavachandran
Aishwarya
No 40
Nethajinagar H colony
Po kottooli
Calicut
26.4.8?(may be 89)
Dear Suvarna,
If possible can you come here on Sunday?To select books and authors for an award ,I am entrusted.You have a book with details of authors and their books.Take that book when you come.We will discuss it and think about it together.If you are not free on Sunday,I will try to come there.
For the evening reception of Vani’s marriage I didn’t see you.
Love and blessings to Bhanu and son.
Love
Swantham valiamma
6. Aiswarya
D 17 H.N 40
Nethaji nagar colony
Kottooli po
2.1.90
Dear Suvarna,
Loving new year wishes for all three of you.I have received your letter last week.You must be back from Punnayurkulam by now?Did all the three go?In which class is your son now?
I will definitely listen to your programme on “One day-one book”in A I R. If Amy comes I may go to TVM.Even then I can hear it from there.I will write to you after hearing it.
At Punnayurkulam hope Ammini ,Appunniettan and Asokan are all okay.I could not go and see Preetha after her marriage.I have decided to go there one day.
Love
Swantham valiamma
(PTO)Sulu had come with Unni and children.With them I stayed 3 days in Krishnan Nair’s house.Bawas child is smart.Most of the time I am with her.
I am sending a poem to you.(Maravi-Loss of memory)written recently.It was published in Chilla.
7. c/oK.Madhavachandran
A 142 Aiswarya
D 17 H N 40
Nethajinagar colony
Kottooli po
Calicut16
18.Dec 1989
Dear Suvarna,
In a recent edition of the “Gurukulam”magazine I saw what Guru Nityachaithanyayati had written about you.I was very happy to read it.Among the great geniuses of todays world,he is one of the foremost.It is a real blessing for your literary efforts.
Amy will come on 21st.May be I will go with her to Thiruvananthapuram or on my way ,to Ernakulam.No decision yet.We are all okay.Little girl of Bhawa is smart.Does not make trouble.I sometimes go to Lynwood also.
Love to Bhanu and mon.
Best wishes
With love
Swantham valiamma
8. Pannimedu
8.10.1981
Dear Suvarna,
I am writing this letter just after taking the ‘pooja “.I had received your letter a few days back.A little late in replying.You are one person who has never hurt me,let me say first.
Kshethradarsanam comes here regularly.Maaraar sends them to me free of cost.Saw your article in Onam special.Hope more about jyothisha will be seen in the next issues.Such studies are essential for students who are learning jyothisha.
Did you do any more research on medical astrologyas planned the other day?The only problem is that we can do it only on our near and dear ones.It is really difficult.
Did you go home for Navarathri vacation?Hope Bhanu and Abhilash are happy.We will be coming over there in November or December.Sundaran is coming next month.I saw the birthchart of Sreekrishna in a Hindi magazine.Have you seen it?Anyway I am sending it to you.
Jupiter in Meenam
Ascendant,moon and kethu in Rishabham
Sun in Simha
Mercury in Kanni
Saturn and venus in Thulaam
Rahu in Vrischika
Mars in Makaram.
Uchasthah sasibhoumachandrisanayo
Lagnam vrisho Laabhago jeeva
Simha thulaachishu kramavasaath
Pooshaa sani raahava
Naiseedha samayeshtamee
Budhadine brahmaksha athrakshane.
He had Harshananityayogam.
I think in this Kundalini it is not like that.
(In fact 4 planets are in ucha and Jupiter in swakshethra for Krishna as shown in kundalini also)
I saw two different types of birthcharts of Mussolini.Why is it that such differences are seen?In the first one I saw Jupiter ,venus and kethu were in Kanni .And the sun was not seen in it.
But in the second one,
Ascendent Vrischika
Kethu in meena
Saturn,mars and moon in Rishabha,
Jupiter and venus in Gemini
Mercury and sun in cancer
Rahu in kanni.
With love
Swantham Valiamma.
(Note that the horoscope of Krishna and Mussolini are having no common features at all)
Valiamma had sent her own horoscope and that of Ammaman with these two horoscopes for me to make a study of them.
9. Lynwood
Nadakkav
Calicut 673001
9.8.1980
Dear Suvarna,
Received letter.You can keep the books with you.May be useful for your research.I have read them.It is very good that you are planning to do a combined research.There is a book on medical astrology.Ancient wisdom publications.Sind Ayurvedic pharmacy.375,kalbadevi road,Bombay 400002.This is the address.The author is chandrasekhara.G.Thakur.I will enquire when I go to Bombay.
I have copied down several points from medical astrology.I will send it to you.Eventhough you cannot base your treatment on that alone ,you can consult that too.Write an article on it anyway.
The path of sanyasa is very very ancient.We are traveling through that ancient path.And should travel through it.But we forget that sometimes.This forgetfulness is the reason for all problems and sorrows.Even in the midst of all activities ,through your mindscape ,let that ancient path always shine.
Inkan is well.He tok a bath.No one else got infected luckily.Now he is taking some food.He has not come downstairs.Let him rest for one more week.I have not decided the date of my departure.May be just before onam.Before that I will come there.Are you going home for onam?
Love to Bhanu and Abhilash.
With love
Swantham valiamma
10.
Pannimedu
Tamil nadu
10.6.1983
Dear Suvarna,
Yesterday I received a letter .It is from a woman who had been admitted in ward 23 ,sideroom,in the Medical college hospital,calicut,for breast cancer treatment.Her name is Chinthaamani.She had come to my house in 1975 ,to see me.She is the daughter of a Budhist monk and had a little daughter too.She had written the letter with address c/o Mathrubhoomi .So I got it late.Otherwise I would have gone and seen her,while I came to Calicut.She has written that she wants to see me once again.I am so sad to hear that.Probably now she is discharged from hospital.What happened?Where is she now?Can you enquire in the hospital and tell me about it.I am unable to write to her even,without any such details.She was the patient of dr .V.J.Nair and after his retirement of Mohan kumar.One of her breasts was removed.
I reached here on 25th with Sundaran.Went to Punnayurkulam also.Sundaran went back on 27th.We are all okay.All the three children are here.Arun has sent applications to a few colleges for admission.Marklist is not known.
How is your health?Now it is vacation for Abhilash.Isnt it?Will he have to change school next year?My regards to Bhanu.Also of Sulu.Amy is in Ceylon.She had sent letter.
With love
Swantham valiamma
P.S.Send your home address to me.I saw the address of a Bdhist ashram in Chinthamani’s letter.Today I am writing in that address.Enquire in the hospital also.
11. Munnar
28.6.1988
Dear Suvarna,
I am writing this for a particular purpose.I have got a form asking me to nominate two poets for an award.I thought I should nominate Sugatha and O.N.V.I have got some details from a book.Their place of birth,Sugatha’s parents and works ,and address.I know only the birthplace and the work Uppu of O.N.V.Also that he was a professor in University college.Is he retired?Do you have any other information?The years in which he got awards etc.May be in the book which I gave you the other day the details may be given.Copy them and send it to me.Next month ,first we are going to EKM.Send the letter there.Sundaran’s address is below.
Dr .N.S.Nair
H.N.L/2119
Keerthinagar
PO Elamakkara
Deshabhimani Road
Cochin 682026
Love and blessings to Mon and Bhanu.
I read the article suvana wrote about Ammaman in Bhashaposhini.Very good.What happened to Aurobindo’s works.Did the other book of yours come out?
With love
Swantham valiamma
12. House no L/2119
Keerthinagar
Po Elamakkara
Cochin
10.7.1988
Dear Suvarna,
Received letter.And the information about O.N.V.When I wrote information about Sugatha in the form there was no more space for O.N.V.Moreover they should get it before 20th in Bhopal .Therefore I could not include the information on O.N.V.I have kept it safe .When another chance comes ,I will send it.
I am happy to hear that your book is published.The translation of Aurobindo poems are seen in Gurusannidhi.Is it not?Is it necessary to have separate permission for that ?
I am not sure whether I will come to Punnayurkulam ,this onam.I have started to climb steps.But with some difficulty.Ammini hadselected sanathanadharma magazines.Mr Chandrasekharan who had asked for them ,came and took them.May be I will be at Thiruvananthapuram,this onam.
Vasantha and sundaran are okay.Vsantha’s elder sister and daughter ,husband and children have come.Sulu,Unni and children are also here.Today or tomorrow they will return.
My love and blessings to Bhanu and Mon.Bawa writes news from Calicut.One day he had come.
With love
Swantham valiamma
13.
Aiswarya A 12
D 17 H No 40
Nethajinagar colony
Kottooli po
Calicut 16
28.2.88
Dear Suvarna,
I am reading your book very carefully.These books I love very much.Moreover it is your translation.So that I love them more.Your preface is excellent.And I am happy to see such beautiful translation .I thought some portions may be better with slight changes.
Since it is translated into prose,usages like POL instead of POLE ,ALAVATHU for ALAYUNNATHU etc are not needed.These usages are only for songs(music)and poetry to avoid alterations in the rhythmic beauty.Is it not better to use Kairaatha instead of Barbara faces?We will sit together one day ,and read it together.Just like you came the other day,can you come once again with the original work?
Parents of K.P.Unnikrishnan are known at Aurobindo ashram.So ,he may have someone there familiar with.After making corrections ,make one more copy .And consult Unnikrishnan to get the copyright for this.
With love
Swantham valiamma
14
Akasagangha
H/no L /2119
Elamakkara
Deshabhimani road
Cochin 682026
12.1.1989
Several days after having any news.Though we met at Punnayurkulam ,I didn’t get enough time to talk about the books.It was such a rush there.
Did Panchasidhanthika come out?I didn’t see any advertisements anywhere.What about Aravindahridayam?If I happen to see any literary persons ,which is very rare here,I will tell about your book.Somehow that book should come out.
When I come to Calicut next,we will sit together and read it.We will sort out all your writings,articles,short stories and other works.I am sure ,publishers will be there fr stories.
I am not going out anywhere.Spends time reading something .Bawa’s letter came.He has a daughter .Usha and child are going to Kannur to her mother for sometime
Hope all of you are okay.I hope I can come there for a few days prior to Baby’s marriage.
Love and blessings to Bhanu and son.
With love
Swantham valiamma
15 Lynwood
12.8.89
Dear Suvarna,
I didn’t reply to your letter sent earlier to Munnar.Day before yesterday ,I came here from Bawa’s house.Usha and Bawa have gone to Kannur for two days.May be they will come today or tomorrow.Then I will return to them.
I came here with Mohandas ,on the evening of birthday.Next day went to Bawa’s house.
I didn’t see the kalakoumudi article.I want to see your sopaanasangheetham.
Somehow you have to bring out Aravindahridayam .In today’s newspaper I saw that this Tuesday at 8 PM ,in sahityarangha ,Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri is speaking about Aurobindo’s poetry.If you are free listen to it.
Come to Bawa’s house when you get free time.
Love and blessings for Bhanu and mon.
With love
Swantham valiamma
16. c/o Madhavchandran
D/17Aiswarya
H no 40
Nethaji nagarcolony
P.O.Kottooli
Calicut 16
2.5.1990
Dear suvarna,
Received your letter.I would have tried to write for your magazine .But I cannot concentrate on an article at present.The time is not suitable.Inken(Mohandas)is in hospital after an operation .He is getting well.
I am not trying to write article because if I write ,I have to be careful ,and it should be perfect.
I haven’t seen Leelavathy for a long time.Once from Ernakulam she did come home to see me.
Come here,whenever you are free.Love and blessings for Bhanu and Mon.
Love
Swantham valiamma.
Letters of BalamaniAmma Nalapat 1960-80
1.
Calicut
1960
Dear Suvarna,
Received your letter .Making some minor alterations in your poem and sending it back.Read carefully the instructions given below it.
Got the issues of Desabandhu you had sent.We are well and happy here.Oppu went back to Guruvayur today with Madhavankutty.Therefore I will get less time for sometime hereafter.But Oppu has promised that she will come back soon.
Baby has become very naughty.He will start crying as soon as he spots a pen till he gets it.Then he will start scribbling on the floor with it.He loves to tear all books and papers.He has learned a naavooru song from a pulluvathy .He sings it for Bhava.Neettivalichu,oru paattu.
Regards from Sulu and Krishna.Our love to Vasanthi and the others .Take care in your studies.Get good marks.Nobody should get a chance to say that poets cant study properly.Hope Aniyan will win in the speech competition.Give the other letter to Amma.
With love
Swantham Valiyamma.
Poem –Sandhya (Twilight)
Horizon has turned red
As if sindhoor strewn
Clouds graze
Like herds of goats.
Beyond, the moon ,
round and full
Like a new silver plate.
Breeze come in
With jasmine’s fragrance
Lakes with waterlilies
Rise to touch moon
With the waves.
Doves,crows,parrots ,
Flying swift
To reach nest.
Ripe ricecorn
In beak of parrots
To feed young ones
.
I stopped,
And watched in wonder
What a beautiful sight!
Instructions:-
1.The stars as dots in a blue sari.I have omitted that description of yours,because in twilight,when the redness is not yet faded ,stars wont be visible.It doesn’t fit in.
2.The word kumkum changed to sindhoor.To suit red colour(chenniram).Praasa will give beauty.
3.White clouds.(venmegha)is not seen in twilight.Therefore just clouds would suffice
4.Aavaahan of fragrance.Just say ,the wind brought the fragrance.
5.Some words for keeping praasam.
Chekkeruka-kooderuka
Punnelkathir-puthankathir
6.As far as possible try to have praasa.If not dwitheeyaksharapraasa,adhyaksharapraasa will do.
7.For parrots.Instead of lips-beaks
(FN. I have scribbled under this letter something very special ,in my baby handwriting.Why I wrote it and from where I got it,I cant recollect.This letter being the first/or was that the second of Valiyamma’s letter ,now when I look at it,I feel a sort of wonder.
This is what I have scribbled:-
Elijah was the greatest of the prophets of Israel.When he was about to die,he was bodily taken upto heaven,in the presence of his faithful attendant Elisha,who inherited his spiritual power and became a prophet of Israel.”
This is the only letter on which Valiyamma has not put any date.)
2.
Kozhikode.
31.8.1960
Dear Suvarna,
Could write only today,though I had received your letter a few days back.All of us are okay here.Today is Uniettan’s birthday.Onam is very near.We are not doing anything special here.Satya’s house is busy.Big flower Kalams,Thrikkakkara Appans..Every day they add one Thrikkakkara Appan and for Onam there will be ten.Satya’s parents and Prema has gone to Nagarkoil for a marriage.Will come tomorrow.
Hope your school is closed.Sulu has only four or five holidays.Madhavan kutty is going home tomorrow.Krishna is now free of her illness.Medicines stopped.Both the kids are growing up smart and healthy.Baby loves his little brother.
Sundaran might come in October.Amy will come only later.When all of them arrive,the naming and chorunu (first feeding with rice)ceremony of the little one will be done.The name is not yet decided.
How is your flower arrangements and all.
My love to Vasanthi and the other children.I am notwriting to Amma separately.My Namaskaram to Ammamma.
With love
Swantham Valiamma.
3.
Kozhikode
15.6 .60
Dear Suvarna,
Received letter.
I will first write about the doubt you had asked.
The word Kuzhipookkal in that verse must be the poothiri according to me.It need not be correct.Since it is said they were scattering fireflowers(theemalar chinnunna).The big type of poothiri which is kept buried in ground is called a poovu(flower).I cannot think of any other meaning .Kimsukam is plaasu(a tree with fiery red flowers).
Send the desabandhu magazines here.I will write to them to send it to Amy directly to Bombay.My books you can read first and then send it to me.Are you not getting Vanitha?When there is time,write answers to the questions in it.
In the letter to join Mathrubhoomi baalasamkha your date of birth was not written.Probably that is why there is no reply.When I saw it in the next issue of the weekly only ,I remembered this.I will add it and write again.
All of us are okay.It is raining heavily.Sulu and Krishna sends their regards.Yesterday there was a telegram saying Unniettan passed in his exam.Today also he has got an exam.Satya and Prema come everyday.They carry the children for sometime.Love to Vasanthi,Aniyan,Sudha,and Asokan.Next time you see her,convey Congratulations to Amminiedathy for being first in her exam.
With love
Swantham valiamma
4
7.New Road
Alipore
Calcutta 27
20.9.61
Dear Suvarna,
A little bit late in replying.You would have heard from my letter to your mother.We are all okay.We sometimes see Thankam and Radha.On Sunday we had gone to watch a Malayalam film”Poothaali”.Not a good one.But because it has lot of humour,Monu loved it.
Vasanthy’s exam must be over.Results may not have been known.Are you going to college from home by bus?Write all the news.Regards and love to Vasanthy ,Aniyan,Sudha and Asokan.Das has gone to Delhi.He will return tomorrow.Amyoppu conveys her love to all of you.
Is Ammamma okay?Show this letter to Amma.I am not writing separately to her.I always remember those days when I stayed there with you.The onam days,sadhyaas,the light arrangements and the times overflowing with happiness.
Valiyachan will come on 30th night.Then we will return to Kerala.Two days at Calicut ,and then we will come to Punnayurkulam.
On 28th onwards Monu and Chinnan are having Pooja holidays.For one month they are on vacation.
Did the assembly sessions start?Did Achan go to Trivandrum?Since we are not getting Mathrubhoomi here,no Kerala news are known.Only the Sunday supplement comes.
With Love
Swantham valiamma
5
Calicut 1
11.11.1960
Dear Suvarna,
Received both your letters.Delayed reply because of shortage of time.Lot of work to finish.In between that I had to manage to write a preface to Sugathakumari’s poetry.Now it is over.Sugathakumari’s poetry is first class poetry.When the book is printed I will send it to you.
Your poem is good.With minor alterations it can be send to the baalapamkthy of Mathrubhoomi.I will send a new photograph of mine with this,or may be with Sundaran.He is coming over there.The same photo that appeared in the issue of the Five year plans.Sundaran came yesterday.Now he is teaching lessons to Sulu.It is her exam time.Yesterday sulu and sundaran went for an English drama.Sundaran will come there after two days.
The photo you saw in Baalapamkthy is that of Satya.She got a gold medal of one sovereign.She comes here often.
The younger child was vaccinated.It is a little bit infected.Not much fever.He is not crying at night.Baby is okay.Krishna’s cold and fever have gone.I am not writing separately to Amma.Show this to her.Our regards to Vasanthi etc.Sulu is eager to come there and to see Ammamma.We will come in the beginning of December.Amy will come after 5th.Then we need come back only in January.Hope Ammamma is healthy.
I am keeping a stamp in this.Narayanankutty may sometimes need it.Nothing more.Aren’t you concentrating in your studies as well?It is not good to waste time in class,for anyone.You should not entertain such groups and should not join them.
With love
Swantham valiamma
6 kozhikode
2.5.1960
Dear suvarna,
Very happy to hear that you are studying well.You should come first in all subjects.
A disciple of Keraleeyan has written an article about you.She is sending that to Vanitha Onam issue.She said she needs a photograph of yours.I do not have one.If you send it to me,I will give it.
We are all well.Baby starts to cry for pens whenever he spots them and with it writes on floor.He broke the nib of one.He is reluctant to wear shirts,just as before.The younger child also is midukkan(smart).Due to rains noone goes out nowadays.
Show the letter to Amma.Not writing separately.Love to Vasanthi,Aniyan,Sudhaa and Asokan.I don’t know whether I can come for onam.We will have to come for a few days and Krishna is still unable to walk as before.Therefore it will have to be postponed.Did Deshabandhu chitravaarika come again?It is not coming here.We read Arabiponnu.Excellant novel.A book to be read.
With love
Swantham valiamma
7. kozhikode
11.2.1961
Dear Suvarna,
Do not feel cross for my delay in replying.Lot of work.And so many things to write.I am slowly finishing one work after the other.
I have faith that you will pass in your exams.But I do not think that stopping schooling is a very great danger.Even if you do not go to school you can read a lot of good books and write too.There is nothing to be afraid of.
We are okay.We had invited Dr Janardhanan.He is coming tomorrow.Sulu’s college day and hostel day are approaching.She is busy with it.
Children are happy.Baby has become very naughty.And the younger one wants to walk around all the time,catching hold of our hands.He has two teeth now.Krishna also is well.
My love to the children.And to Achan and Amma.We have started several types of Krishi here.Just as in Sarvodaya.Everyone except me had gone to watch football.They say it was grand.
I heard your dancemaster has left.It seems he is in Bombay.Did you get a new one to teach you?Is Ammamma healthy?Convey my Vandanam.The rest is in next.
With love
Swantham valiamma
7 Saroj nivas
Bilathikulam
Kozhikode 6
1.8.1965
Dear Suvarna,
Got the letter and the story.I could not find time enough to read the story and that is why I delayed the reply.Though the story is a translation,it is good.I will consult N.V. and find out whether it can be published in Mathrubhoomi.There is no such rule that a translation should not be published,as far as I know.
I have missed your last letter .Therefore I cant recollect what you had written and write a reply to what you had asked.
Sulu went to Munnar on 28th.Amy and son have gone from Kochin to Bombay and from there to Delhi n 27th.We had gone to see off them at Ernakulam.Now here,we two alone remain.Feel sad when all the children left.For sometime all of them were with me.Both of them have written that they reached safe.Sundaran also is well.
Did you join MSc?Saw Indira from Ernakulam .Convey love to all children.Not writing separately to Amma.
With love
Swantham valiamma
8 kozhikode
23.5.1960
Dear Suvarna,
Happy to receive the letter.Achan and the children would have told you all about us ,after coming from here.Krishna is better.Children ara okay.Baby knows only Bhaskaran and LakshmiAmma,even now.To look after the younger one a new girl is employed.We are sending a photo of Krishna and the kids to Unniettan today.
Convey my love to Vasanthi and the others.Didnt you read Prabhaathadeepam?All children should read it.
I wonder how Suvarna became so much interested in the four –power summit meet for world peace!!Anyway,it didn’t succeed.Unfortunate.Isn’t it?
Show the letter to Amma.I have only very little time to spare.I will write to her soon.On July 6th I have to recite a poem in the All India Radio.I was spending lot of time on that.Yesterday that was finished and sent to them.
What news?On June 1st Sulu’s college reopens.Madhavan kutty is here.Will join college shortly.
Because of the rain wet clothes are increasing inside the house.And with it,mosquitoes.All are sleeping within nets.We have joined two cots in the big room upstairs and I sleep with the two kids on it.,with nets.In the small room Valiyachan and Madhavan kutty sleep.Krishna and Sulu are in the romms downstairs.How is the rain there?Are the frogs crying in Ammamma’s room?
Satya is trying her level best to make Baby friendly with her.Today her efforts were slightly successful.They played together for some time.
Nothing special for now.Our love to Gouri.
With love
Swantham valiamma
10. kozhikode
26.5.61
Dear Suvarna,
Happy to hear that you passed in the exams.Congratulations to you and Indira.Is Vasanthi very unhappy?Tell her failure is nothing and she should not feel sad.It is unfortunate that you could not come here and stay with me for some time.On first Sulu’s college reopens .She is going to hostel on the previous day evening.
Who all went for Padmini’s wedding from Punnayurkulam?How was the Vanitha camp?Wasnt it good?Why did Amma go to Thiruvananthapuram while the camp was going on in Punnayurkulam?Has she come back?I am happy to hear that Achan has been given the D.C.C president position.
I heard that Devi Thampatti’s son passed in exams.Devadas might be unhappy.What else is news?Is the rain very heavy?For two days it is raining heavily here and there is power failure .Today thereis some sunlight.
Where are you joining now?In Guruvayur?Hope Ammamma is okay.I hope the rain is not disturbing her routine.Love to Narayanan kutty ,Sudha and Asokan.Did you see Baby and Bawa?
Love
Swantham valiyamma
11.
Kozhikode
5.7.1960
Dear Suvarna,
Because of workload,I am late in replying.Got all the four magazines of Desabandhu ,you sent.I will write to them to sent to me directly and I will send it to you from here after reading.
Happy to hear that you have become the joint secretary of the Sahityasamajam.Have you delivered any speeches?
There may be heavy rains there.We are all okay.Krishna is well.Yet,she is unable to go out.Suluis busy with her studies.Baby’s birthday is over.There was not much celebration.Baby was reluctant to sit in front of the lamp.That made some difficulty.
Love to Vasanthi.Tell Ammamma that she should call me over the phone again.I had written about a numerology book to Amma.Tell her that she need not send that.I would like to get Tagore’s book.
Is Vilasini and her child well?Hope Sundari also has recouped from her illness.Did Radha go back?
The literary people are planning to have a celebration of Marar’s 60th birthday.It is on 17th.A gold chain and a silver deepasthambha are planned to be presented.Nothing is yet finalized.
Nothing more now.
With love
Swantham valiyamma ,ente suvarnakku.
12.
Kozhikode
8.9.1960
Dear Suvarna,
Received your letter.The reply was delayed because I was trying to complete an article on Vallathol.You can hear it on A.I.R on 17th night,9.30 PM.On 10th is the recording.I had to give the article yesterday.You know,I don’t have much time.So whatever little time I get ,I was spending on that article.
Didn’t you see your poem published in the Mathrubhoomi weekly?It is possible that Manorama is not giving you an opening because so many children are writing poetry nowadays.Probably they are offering more chances to children there on a regional basis.
Read Baalapamkthy carefully.The advices given by the new Kuttettan ,are very good .(Kadavanad Kuttikrishnan).Did you sent the article for competition?A full scape paper is one part of a sheet of white paper folded fourfold,I think.Ask someone in the high school and verify and find out.
All of us are okay,including Satya and Prema.Oppu is here.On 10th and 11th Sundaran has exams.And also in the monthend.By about November first he will come.Amyoppu will come after Dec 5th .By the time she comes ,we have decided to come to Sarvodaya.Here there is no space for all of us to stay together.Show this letter to Amma.Tell,I will write to her shortly.Are the children still at Trivandrum?How is Asokan managing?Without Amma,doesn’t he cry?
Happy to hear that the vanitha camp was a success.Good that women are getting interested in such activities over there.I am getting Desabandhu here.If there are any competitions ,I will cut it and send.This time there was no special issue for Vanitha.I don’t know whetherthat article on you was published or not.Vanitha doesn’t come here.I will enquire about it to Baala and write to you.
Next week Othello drama is staged here.Sulu says she wants to see.Nothing more.Love to Vasanthi.Tell Ammamma that we will come there after one and a half months.Hope everyone at Ambazhathel is okay.
With love
Swantham Valiamma
13.
Kozhikode
10.1.1964
Received letter and the poem.The poem is good.I have made minor alterations and sent it to N.V.Krishanavarier.I believe it will be published .Even if they select,it will appear only after three weeks.They select articles/subjects to each issue well in advance.
The last two lines,I have altered as,
Theremight be broken threads here and there
Yet it is wonderful,beautiful for us.
I thought ,till that last verse,You were talking about the love of womanhood to husband.Then why call her to remove the tears of the entire earth?And also,I thought ,which are the blue eyes of the earth,you are talking about?That is why I changed it in this way.
We are all okay.When will Sulu and Amyoppu return from there?We are waiting for them.Bawa asks everyday “When will they come?”
Love to all.
Swantham valiamma
14
Kozhikode
2.1.1961
Dear Suvarna,
Received your letter.When you send the matter to Mathrubhoomiweekly do not write Kadavanad kuttikrishnan in address.
Editor
Weekly(Balapamkthy)will do.Baalapamkthy in brackets.
All are okay.But Amyoppu and Monu contacted a fever after coming here.They will go back on 8th.It is doubtful whether they will come there again,accompanying Cheriyoppu.On the day of Cheriyoppu’s return,Balakrishnan may be asked to come with car to Shoranur.One of the teeth of Cheriyoppu was extracted.She has to visit dentist again on 5th.Before that she will not be able to come there.
There was a party for Sundaran’s friends (all doctors)yesterday.A good sadya.Biriyani etc were also there.Amy and Sulu were behind it.Everything went well.Day before yesterday we went with Das and Cheriyoppu to watch kathakali for some time.Yesterday,Das went and watched it ,the entire night.
We will come with Sulu some other day.Amy and Das will go directly to Bombay.They may not be able to come just for two days.
I think the younger one might be called either Madhavan or Chandran.No other name is needed.We want to bring Krishna and the kids here.We are eager to see the kids.I will write to Krishna shortly.Love to Vasanthi etc.Show this letter to Amma.
With love
Swantham valiamma
15.
Kozhikode
27.2.1961
Dear Suvarna,
Received letter and the photo.Photo is good.
We are all okay.When Padmavathy was carrying the younger kid,his head was hit on the door and the forehead injured.Doctor came immeadiately and took care of the wound.Luckily it is not infected.Everybody was worried seeing the flow of blood.Baby is okay.Running around and blabbering to everyone.
Sulu is now in hostel.The college is far away from here.Travelling twice a day takes lot of time.She doesn’t like that.Now she comes here on Saturdays .On Sunday evening goes back.She joined the hostel ,this Thursday.
When will your school close after the exam?Madhavan kutty has his study leave by the end of the month.He is not going home this time.
Iyer and wife are coming here today.They are in sukhachikitsa at Kottakkal.There is a film show on “Planning”today evening in our nextdoor neighbour’s house.We are invited.
On Sivarathri,Ammamma also went to the temple,Alle?Ammamma’s birthday might have been over recently.Is it not in the beginning of Kumbham?
My love to Amma,Achan,Vasanthi etc.I am not writing separately toAmma hopng that she will see the letter I sent to you.Hope everyone at Ambazhathel also are okay.Regards to all.
With love
Swantham valiamma
17.
Kozhikode
22.6.1961
Dear Suvarna,Received your letter.Vasanthi and Suvarna are staying together in hostel.Isnt it?Hope you like the college.Has your fever gone?
There is nothing special here .Sulu is in hostel.This Saturday she has an exam.So this week also she will not come home.Unni may not come in the near future.He writes to me.Bawa has started to run around.Now he isspeaking a few words.He gets angry very easily and slaps everyone.He is crazy about getting into a car.He goes in the car to Sulu’s hostel ,to bring her home.
Now,you can write articles in your college magazine too.After writing,read it again ,several times carefully.Everytime you read,you may find something to be corrected or modified.Take fair copy after all these readings and corrections.
I don’t know the meaning of the word Plash.If it is plush ,it is a type of velvet.I do not have a good dictionary.There is a big dictionary belonging to Ammaman,in the upstairs room at Nalapat.If there is such a word in English,you will definitely find the meaning in that book.When you go to Nalapat,next time,search for it.If the word is flash ,it means shine.
I will send you “Muthuchippi” shortly.They are poems worth reading.
For two days ,no rains.Clear shiny days.Tuesday ,it was Valiyachan’s birthday.We had invited some guests.Love to Vasanthi and Indira.
With love
Swantham valiamma
18
Saroj nivas
Bilathikulam
Kozhikode-6
13.3.1967
Dear Suvarna,
Received letter and the poems.The first poem is very good.I have sent it to Warrier.Also the article on drama.If he feels so,they may be published in the weekly.If not,he will return them back.I have arranged it like that.We cannot force him.Sending my photo also.
The poem “Postmortem”,I read.It is good to touch such very new topics .Such a novel attempt in poetry has to be commented upon.
The minor alterations I make in your poems is mainly for the beauty of the praasam only.
Also I thought we should not make the cloud a daasi.So a change there.You have ended the poem with the word Adbhudham.So,I made the caption also the same word.
“Sthreehridayam”is very good.I have made only two alterations in it.And two lines seemed unnecessary.That I have put in brackets.Even if those lines are included ,no harm at all.Sending that poem with these alterations back to you.
Wish you success in your exams.We are all well.
With love
Swantham Valiyamma.
Calicut
1960
Dear Suvarna,
Received your letter .Making some minor alterations in your poem and sending it back.Read carefully the instructions given below it.
Got the issues of Desabandhu you had sent.We are well and happy here.Oppu went back to Guruvayur today with Madhavankutty.Therefore I will get less time for sometime hereafter.But Oppu has promised that she will come back soon.
Baby has become very naughty.He will start crying as soon as he spots a pen till he gets it.Then he will start scribbling on the floor with it.He loves to tear all books and papers.He has learned a naavooru song from a pulluvathy .He sings it for Bhava.Neettivalichu,oru paattu.
Regards from Sulu and Krishna.Our love to Vasanthi and the others .Take care in your studies.Get good marks.Nobody should get a chance to say that poets cant study properly.Hope Aniyan will win in the speech competition.Give the other letter to Amma.
With love
Swantham Valiyamma.
Poem –Sandhya (Twilight)
Horizon has turned red
As if sindhoor strewn
Clouds graze
Like herds of goats.
Beyond, the moon ,
round and full
Like a new silver plate.
Breeze come in
With jasmine’s fragrance
Lakes with waterlilies
Rise to touch moon
With the waves.
Doves,crows,parrots ,
Flying swift
To reach nest.
Ripe ricecorn
In beak of parrots
To feed young ones
.
I stopped,
And watched in wonder
What a beautiful sight!
Instructions:-
1.The stars as dots in a blue sari.I have omitted that description of yours,because in twilight,when the redness is not yet faded ,stars wont be visible.It doesn’t fit in.
2.The word kumkum changed to sindhoor.To suit red colour(chenniram).Praasa will give beauty.
3.White clouds.(venmegha)is not seen in twilight.Therefore just clouds would suffice
4.Aavaahan of fragrance.Just say ,the wind brought the fragrance.
5.Some words for keeping praasam.
Chekkeruka-kooderuka
Punnelkathir-puthankathir
6.As far as possible try to have praasa.If not dwitheeyaksharapraasa,adhyaksharapraasa will do.
7.For parrots.Instead of lips-beaks
(FN. I have scribbled under this letter something very special ,in my baby handwriting.Why I wrote it and from where I got it,I cant recollect.This letter being the first/or was that the second of Valiyamma’s letter ,now when I look at it,I feel a sort of wonder.
This is what I have scribbled:-
Elijah was the greatest of the prophets of Israel.When he was about to die,he was bodily taken upto heaven,in the presence of his faithful attendant Elisha,who inherited his spiritual power and became a prophet of Israel.”
This is the only letter on which Valiyamma has not put any date.)
2.
Kozhikode.
31.8.1960
Dear Suvarna,
Could write only today,though I had received your letter a few days back.All of us are okay here.Today is Uniettan’s birthday.Onam is very near.We are not doing anything special here.Satya’s house is busy.Big flower Kalams,Thrikkakkara Appans..Every day they add one Thrikkakkara Appan and for Onam there will be ten.Satya’s parents and Prema has gone to Nagarkoil for a marriage.Will come tomorrow.
Hope your school is closed.Sulu has only four or five holidays.Madhavan kutty is going home tomorrow.Krishna is now free of her illness.Medicines stopped.Both the kids are growing up smart and healthy.Baby loves his little brother.
Sundaran might come in October.Amy will come only later.When all of them arrive,the naming and chorunu (first feeding with rice)ceremony of the little one will be done.The name is not yet decided.
How is your flower arrangements and all.
My love to Vasanthi and the other children.I am notwriting to Amma separately.My Namaskaram to Ammamma.
With love
Swantham Valiamma.
3.
Kozhikode
15.6 .60
Dear Suvarna,
Received letter.
I will first write about the doubt you had asked.
The word Kuzhipookkal in that verse must be the poothiri according to me.It need not be correct.Since it is said they were scattering fireflowers(theemalar chinnunna).The big type of poothiri which is kept buried in ground is called a poovu(flower).I cannot think of any other meaning .Kimsukam is plaasu(a tree with fiery red flowers).
Send the desabandhu magazines here.I will write to them to send it to Amy directly to Bombay.My books you can read first and then send it to me.Are you not getting Vanitha?When there is time,write answers to the questions in it.
In the letter to join Mathrubhoomi baalasamkha your date of birth was not written.Probably that is why there is no reply.When I saw it in the next issue of the weekly only ,I remembered this.I will add it and write again.
All of us are okay.It is raining heavily.Sulu and Krishna sends their regards.Yesterday there was a telegram saying Unniettan passed in his exam.Today also he has got an exam.Satya and Prema come everyday.They carry the children for sometime.Love to Vasanthi,Aniyan,Sudha,and Asokan.Next time you see her,convey Congratulations to Amminiedathy for being first in her exam.
With love
Swantham valiamma
4
7.New Road
Alipore
Calcutta 27
20.9.61
Dear Suvarna,
A little bit late in replying.You would have heard from my letter to your mother.We are all okay.We sometimes see Thankam and Radha.On Sunday we had gone to watch a Malayalam film”Poothaali”.Not a good one.But because it has lot of humour,Monu loved it.
Vasanthy’s exam must be over.Results may not have been known.Are you going to college from home by bus?Write all the news.Regards and love to Vasanthy ,Aniyan,Sudha and Asokan.Das has gone to Delhi.He will return tomorrow.Amyoppu conveys her love to all of you.
Is Ammamma okay?Show this letter to Amma.I am not writing separately to her.I always remember those days when I stayed there with you.The onam days,sadhyaas,the light arrangements and the times overflowing with happiness.
Valiyachan will come on 30th night.Then we will return to Kerala.Two days at Calicut ,and then we will come to Punnayurkulam.
On 28th onwards Monu and Chinnan are having Pooja holidays.For one month they are on vacation.
Did the assembly sessions start?Did Achan go to Trivandrum?Since we are not getting Mathrubhoomi here,no Kerala news are known.Only the Sunday supplement comes.
With Love
Swantham valiamma
5
Calicut 1
11.11.1960
Dear Suvarna,
Received both your letters.Delayed reply because of shortage of time.Lot of work to finish.In between that I had to manage to write a preface to Sugathakumari’s poetry.Now it is over.Sugathakumari’s poetry is first class poetry.When the book is printed I will send it to you.
Your poem is good.With minor alterations it can be send to the baalapamkthy of Mathrubhoomi.I will send a new photograph of mine with this,or may be with Sundaran.He is coming over there.The same photo that appeared in the issue of the Five year plans.Sundaran came yesterday.Now he is teaching lessons to Sulu.It is her exam time.Yesterday sulu and sundaran went for an English drama.Sundaran will come there after two days.
The photo you saw in Baalapamkthy is that of Satya.She got a gold medal of one sovereign.She comes here often.
The younger child was vaccinated.It is a little bit infected.Not much fever.He is not crying at night.Baby is okay.Krishna’s cold and fever have gone.I am not writing separately to Amma.Show this to her.Our regards to Vasanthi etc.Sulu is eager to come there and to see Ammamma.We will come in the beginning of December.Amy will come after 5th.Then we need come back only in January.Hope Ammamma is healthy.
I am keeping a stamp in this.Narayanankutty may sometimes need it.Nothing more.Aren’t you concentrating in your studies as well?It is not good to waste time in class,for anyone.You should not entertain such groups and should not join them.
With love
Swantham valiamma
6 kozhikode
2.5.1960
Dear suvarna,
Very happy to hear that you are studying well.You should come first in all subjects.
A disciple of Keraleeyan has written an article about you.She is sending that to Vanitha Onam issue.She said she needs a photograph of yours.I do not have one.If you send it to me,I will give it.
We are all well.Baby starts to cry for pens whenever he spots them and with it writes on floor.He broke the nib of one.He is reluctant to wear shirts,just as before.The younger child also is midukkan(smart).Due to rains noone goes out nowadays.
Show the letter to Amma.Not writing separately.Love to Vasanthi,Aniyan,Sudhaa and Asokan.I don’t know whether I can come for onam.We will have to come for a few days and Krishna is still unable to walk as before.Therefore it will have to be postponed.Did Deshabandhu chitravaarika come again?It is not coming here.We read Arabiponnu.Excellant novel.A book to be read.
With love
Swantham valiamma
7. kozhikode
11.2.1961
Dear Suvarna,
Do not feel cross for my delay in replying.Lot of work.And so many things to write.I am slowly finishing one work after the other.
I have faith that you will pass in your exams.But I do not think that stopping schooling is a very great danger.Even if you do not go to school you can read a lot of good books and write too.There is nothing to be afraid of.
We are okay.We had invited Dr Janardhanan.He is coming tomorrow.Sulu’s college day and hostel day are approaching.She is busy with it.
Children are happy.Baby has become very naughty.And the younger one wants to walk around all the time,catching hold of our hands.He has two teeth now.Krishna also is well.
My love to the children.And to Achan and Amma.We have started several types of Krishi here.Just as in Sarvodaya.Everyone except me had gone to watch football.They say it was grand.
I heard your dancemaster has left.It seems he is in Bombay.Did you get a new one to teach you?Is Ammamma healthy?Convey my Vandanam.The rest is in next.
With love
Swantham valiamma
7 Saroj nivas
Bilathikulam
Kozhikode 6
1.8.1965
Dear Suvarna,
Got the letter and the story.I could not find time enough to read the story and that is why I delayed the reply.Though the story is a translation,it is good.I will consult N.V. and find out whether it can be published in Mathrubhoomi.There is no such rule that a translation should not be published,as far as I know.
I have missed your last letter .Therefore I cant recollect what you had written and write a reply to what you had asked.
Sulu went to Munnar on 28th.Amy and son have gone from Kochin to Bombay and from there to Delhi n 27th.We had gone to see off them at Ernakulam.Now here,we two alone remain.Feel sad when all the children left.For sometime all of them were with me.Both of them have written that they reached safe.Sundaran also is well.
Did you join MSc?Saw Indira from Ernakulam .Convey love to all children.Not writing separately to Amma.
With love
Swantham valiamma
8 kozhikode
23.5.1960
Dear Suvarna,
Happy to receive the letter.Achan and the children would have told you all about us ,after coming from here.Krishna is better.Children ara okay.Baby knows only Bhaskaran and LakshmiAmma,even now.To look after the younger one a new girl is employed.We are sending a photo of Krishna and the kids to Unniettan today.
Convey my love to Vasanthi and the others.Didnt you read Prabhaathadeepam?All children should read it.
I wonder how Suvarna became so much interested in the four –power summit meet for world peace!!Anyway,it didn’t succeed.Unfortunate.Isn’t it?
Show the letter to Amma.I have only very little time to spare.I will write to her soon.On July 6th I have to recite a poem in the All India Radio.I was spending lot of time on that.Yesterday that was finished and sent to them.
What news?On June 1st Sulu’s college reopens.Madhavan kutty is here.Will join college shortly.
Because of the rain wet clothes are increasing inside the house.And with it,mosquitoes.All are sleeping within nets.We have joined two cots in the big room upstairs and I sleep with the two kids on it.,with nets.In the small room Valiyachan and Madhavan kutty sleep.Krishna and Sulu are in the romms downstairs.How is the rain there?Are the frogs crying in Ammamma’s room?
Satya is trying her level best to make Baby friendly with her.Today her efforts were slightly successful.They played together for some time.
Nothing special for now.Our love to Gouri.
With love
Swantham valiamma
10. kozhikode
26.5.61
Dear Suvarna,
Happy to hear that you passed in the exams.Congratulations to you and Indira.Is Vasanthi very unhappy?Tell her failure is nothing and she should not feel sad.It is unfortunate that you could not come here and stay with me for some time.On first Sulu’s college reopens .She is going to hostel on the previous day evening.
Who all went for Padmini’s wedding from Punnayurkulam?How was the Vanitha camp?Wasnt it good?Why did Amma go to Thiruvananthapuram while the camp was going on in Punnayurkulam?Has she come back?I am happy to hear that Achan has been given the D.C.C president position.
I heard that Devi Thampatti’s son passed in exams.Devadas might be unhappy.What else is news?Is the rain very heavy?For two days it is raining heavily here and there is power failure .Today thereis some sunlight.
Where are you joining now?In Guruvayur?Hope Ammamma is okay.I hope the rain is not disturbing her routine.Love to Narayanan kutty ,Sudha and Asokan.Did you see Baby and Bawa?
Love
Swantham valiyamma
11.
Kozhikode
5.7.1960
Dear Suvarna,
Because of workload,I am late in replying.Got all the four magazines of Desabandhu ,you sent.I will write to them to sent to me directly and I will send it to you from here after reading.
Happy to hear that you have become the joint secretary of the Sahityasamajam.Have you delivered any speeches?
There may be heavy rains there.We are all okay.Krishna is well.Yet,she is unable to go out.Suluis busy with her studies.Baby’s birthday is over.There was not much celebration.Baby was reluctant to sit in front of the lamp.That made some difficulty.
Love to Vasanthi.Tell Ammamma that she should call me over the phone again.I had written about a numerology book to Amma.Tell her that she need not send that.I would like to get Tagore’s book.
Is Vilasini and her child well?Hope Sundari also has recouped from her illness.Did Radha go back?
The literary people are planning to have a celebration of Marar’s 60th birthday.It is on 17th.A gold chain and a silver deepasthambha are planned to be presented.Nothing is yet finalized.
Nothing more now.
With love
Swantham valiyamma ,ente suvarnakku.
12.
Kozhikode
8.9.1960
Dear Suvarna,
Received your letter.The reply was delayed because I was trying to complete an article on Vallathol.You can hear it on A.I.R on 17th night,9.30 PM.On 10th is the recording.I had to give the article yesterday.You know,I don’t have much time.So whatever little time I get ,I was spending on that article.
Didn’t you see your poem published in the Mathrubhoomi weekly?It is possible that Manorama is not giving you an opening because so many children are writing poetry nowadays.Probably they are offering more chances to children there on a regional basis.
Read Baalapamkthy carefully.The advices given by the new Kuttettan ,are very good .(Kadavanad Kuttikrishnan).Did you sent the article for competition?A full scape paper is one part of a sheet of white paper folded fourfold,I think.Ask someone in the high school and verify and find out.
All of us are okay,including Satya and Prema.Oppu is here.On 10th and 11th Sundaran has exams.And also in the monthend.By about November first he will come.Amyoppu will come after Dec 5th .By the time she comes ,we have decided to come to Sarvodaya.Here there is no space for all of us to stay together.Show this letter to Amma.Tell,I will write to her shortly.Are the children still at Trivandrum?How is Asokan managing?Without Amma,doesn’t he cry?
Happy to hear that the vanitha camp was a success.Good that women are getting interested in such activities over there.I am getting Desabandhu here.If there are any competitions ,I will cut it and send.This time there was no special issue for Vanitha.I don’t know whetherthat article on you was published or not.Vanitha doesn’t come here.I will enquire about it to Baala and write to you.
Next week Othello drama is staged here.Sulu says she wants to see.Nothing more.Love to Vasanthi.Tell Ammamma that we will come there after one and a half months.Hope everyone at Ambazhathel is okay.
With love
Swantham Valiamma
13.
Kozhikode
10.1.1964
Received letter and the poem.The poem is good.I have made minor alterations and sent it to N.V.Krishanavarier.I believe it will be published .Even if they select,it will appear only after three weeks.They select articles/subjects to each issue well in advance.
The last two lines,I have altered as,
Theremight be broken threads here and there
Yet it is wonderful,beautiful for us.
I thought ,till that last verse,You were talking about the love of womanhood to husband.Then why call her to remove the tears of the entire earth?And also,I thought ,which are the blue eyes of the earth,you are talking about?That is why I changed it in this way.
We are all okay.When will Sulu and Amyoppu return from there?We are waiting for them.Bawa asks everyday “When will they come?”
Love to all.
Swantham valiamma
14
Kozhikode
2.1.1961
Dear Suvarna,
Received your letter.When you send the matter to Mathrubhoomiweekly do not write Kadavanad kuttikrishnan in address.
Editor
Weekly(Balapamkthy)will do.Baalapamkthy in brackets.
All are okay.But Amyoppu and Monu contacted a fever after coming here.They will go back on 8th.It is doubtful whether they will come there again,accompanying Cheriyoppu.On the day of Cheriyoppu’s return,Balakrishnan may be asked to come with car to Shoranur.One of the teeth of Cheriyoppu was extracted.She has to visit dentist again on 5th.Before that she will not be able to come there.
There was a party for Sundaran’s friends (all doctors)yesterday.A good sadya.Biriyani etc were also there.Amy and Sulu were behind it.Everything went well.Day before yesterday we went with Das and Cheriyoppu to watch kathakali for some time.Yesterday,Das went and watched it ,the entire night.
We will come with Sulu some other day.Amy and Das will go directly to Bombay.They may not be able to come just for two days.
I think the younger one might be called either Madhavan or Chandran.No other name is needed.We want to bring Krishna and the kids here.We are eager to see the kids.I will write to Krishna shortly.Love to Vasanthi etc.Show this letter to Amma.
With love
Swantham valiamma
15.
Kozhikode
27.2.1961
Dear Suvarna,
Received letter and the photo.Photo is good.
We are all okay.When Padmavathy was carrying the younger kid,his head was hit on the door and the forehead injured.Doctor came immeadiately and took care of the wound.Luckily it is not infected.Everybody was worried seeing the flow of blood.Baby is okay.Running around and blabbering to everyone.
Sulu is now in hostel.The college is far away from here.Travelling twice a day takes lot of time.She doesn’t like that.Now she comes here on Saturdays .On Sunday evening goes back.She joined the hostel ,this Thursday.
When will your school close after the exam?Madhavan kutty has his study leave by the end of the month.He is not going home this time.
Iyer and wife are coming here today.They are in sukhachikitsa at Kottakkal.There is a film show on “Planning”today evening in our nextdoor neighbour’s house.We are invited.
On Sivarathri,Ammamma also went to the temple,Alle?Ammamma’s birthday might have been over recently.Is it not in the beginning of Kumbham?
My love to Amma,Achan,Vasanthi etc.I am not writing separately toAmma hopng that she will see the letter I sent to you.Hope everyone at Ambazhathel also are okay.Regards to all.
With love
Swantham valiamma
17.
Kozhikode
22.6.1961
Dear Suvarna,Received your letter.Vasanthi and Suvarna are staying together in hostel.Isnt it?Hope you like the college.Has your fever gone?
There is nothing special here .Sulu is in hostel.This Saturday she has an exam.So this week also she will not come home.Unni may not come in the near future.He writes to me.Bawa has started to run around.Now he isspeaking a few words.He gets angry very easily and slaps everyone.He is crazy about getting into a car.He goes in the car to Sulu’s hostel ,to bring her home.
Now,you can write articles in your college magazine too.After writing,read it again ,several times carefully.Everytime you read,you may find something to be corrected or modified.Take fair copy after all these readings and corrections.
I don’t know the meaning of the word Plash.If it is plush ,it is a type of velvet.I do not have a good dictionary.There is a big dictionary belonging to Ammaman,in the upstairs room at Nalapat.If there is such a word in English,you will definitely find the meaning in that book.When you go to Nalapat,next time,search for it.If the word is flash ,it means shine.
I will send you “Muthuchippi” shortly.They are poems worth reading.
For two days ,no rains.Clear shiny days.Tuesday ,it was Valiyachan’s birthday.We had invited some guests.Love to Vasanthi and Indira.
With love
Swantham valiamma
18
Saroj nivas
Bilathikulam
Kozhikode-6
13.3.1967
Dear Suvarna,
Received letter and the poems.The first poem is very good.I have sent it to Warrier.Also the article on drama.If he feels so,they may be published in the weekly.If not,he will return them back.I have arranged it like that.We cannot force him.Sending my photo also.
The poem “Postmortem”,I read.It is good to touch such very new topics .Such a novel attempt in poetry has to be commented upon.
The minor alterations I make in your poems is mainly for the beauty of the praasam only.
Also I thought we should not make the cloud a daasi.So a change there.You have ended the poem with the word Adbhudham.So,I made the caption also the same word.
“Sthreehridayam”is very good.I have made only two alterations in it.And two lines seemed unnecessary.That I have put in brackets.Even if those lines are included ,no harm at all.Sending that poem with these alterations back to you.
Wish you success in your exams.We are all well.
With love
Swantham Valiyamma.
Life after death
Lokantharanghalil(In the other worlds ) of Nalapat Balamani Amma A study and appreciation.
By Dr Suvarna Nalapat
Lokantharanghalil (written in 1955)was the ancestral rite performed by an illustrious niece to her illustrious uncle and Guru.In its preface ,noted critic kuttikrishnamaaraar wrote:In one glance it is an obituary.Even in subtle study it may seem so.But ,you may not find the things that you usually expect from an obituary.In the first six verses the subject is introduced and then a sigh arose ,but controlling even that sigh,a story of a wonderful world which is hitherto unfamiliar to the literary world is revealed by the poet.In between one or two sobs come up, but we can just guess them from the way she controls them”.Both the Guru and the disciple being theosophists one can expect that.
The heart which nourished her always with nectar of experiences has become still.The soft words which always dried her tears stopped their flow.The body which was considered as embodied love by her has become immobile.The loss of a Guru and a great person and uncle combined ,creates a natural sob in her heart.
My sob,Don’t pull back my great Guru.
Don’t obstruct that soul
Which is in search of greater experiences ..
The poem thus begins with the faith that the tears of relatives obstructs the movement of the dead in pure worlds of divine experiences and brings them down.It starts from the words where the uncle stopped his obituary on his dead wife(Kannuneerthulli).
Let me stop.
I may obstruct my beloved’s
Path in the upper worlds.
Thus ended the Guru’s obituary.The disciple takes the lost thread from that last word.Just in traditional Gurushishya way.She is not crying over his loss.But is accompanying his soul in his journey.A theosophist student,a student of Bardo ,might grasp the gravity of the subject.Let us accompany the Guru and Shishya in their journey .
The great soul alights the vehicle in the auspicious moment and the Thaijasa worlds open their doors of pearls to welcome him.The yogic eyes of the poet see the white clouds as the flowing garments of the twelve Adhitya,as Aadhivaahikaa of the soul.The dead soul was immersed in Swadhyaaya.Therefore in his closed eyes the past 67 years on this janma opens up as a book to be read.The experiences of pain and pleasure summated as an orderly law of energy brightens up in his soulview.Those lighted lively words may be revealing to him the reason for which he has taken this particular body.This is his most important and greatest moment of learning.In this moment,to reduce his tiredness,let the loving thoughts of relatives ,who are chanting the manthra “Soul is eternal” ,touch him as a breeze,the poet wishes.
Thoughts originate from one person and reaches and touches another.Embraces and caresses another.For this touch of souls nothing is an obstacle,neither the universe of name and form,nor the time.If we cry with severe passions and think passionately ,it will disturb the dead soul as if a storm.And pulls him back.Therefore the poet puts a stop to even a slightest sigh,and becomes a cool breeze to accompany him in his journey ,and wishes a happy journey to the Guru.
The face of the dead person is smiling due to the feeling of having achieved the greatest.He seems to be sleeping peacefully.We call the last sleep of the jeeva as death.The jeeva will awaken again in a shadowless world of bhuvarloka after ninety naazhika of death in this bhooloka.Probably,now the praanamayakosha wearing a grey inner dress,may be in an unconscious state ,in a dim light watching the body as an earthen pot with which he drank the essence of earth through sense organs.Athma is reluctant to severe all ties with the body.The mundane life is sorrowful.Yet to loose it is intolerable for a human soul.Even the dense dark cloud of sorrow become bright sunlight for the soul.The mundane sorrow itself becomes the transcendental bliss.Probably this is why the reluctance of every athma to leave the body,its vehicle.
The picture of this watching of body by the soul has to be compared with the poem Unarumpol(While awakening .written in 1963,eight years later)We can see a soul coming out of body in sleep to watch it.
Sleep is of three types.One is natural sleep which everyone of us experience each night.In this there are swapna(dreamstate)and sushupthy(dreamless state),and after a natural sleep,especially a sushupthi,our brain is calm and rested and all its troubles and tired feeling will be gone.The second type is yoganidra ,the sleepy state in Samadhi.This is better than a sushupthi because it gives a divine inner perception and an eternal feeling of rest and shanthi to brain.In such a state ,the poet had seen ,eyes open,the earth watching her with the lamp of moon.And she had sung:”what bliss” ,to describe the feeling.She compares it to death.The eternal bliss of solar energy is expressed as the death experience.Whatever the Guru had meditated in Chakravaalam with the softness of a bird’s feather,and movement of a grass,the disciple explains as the wings of the flying and the fluttering in wind and their shadow dance.The uncle has taught her the journey to ancestral and solar worlds and beyond .The niece could fly with her imagination to beyond the boundaries of the universe,from the four walls of her kitchen.The person who gives us this power of knowledge of self is the best Guru.Here,Nalapat Narayanamenon is such a Guru for the poet.That uncle ‘s body is lying in the corridor of the ancestral home clad in pure white clothes,with lamps of broken coconut shells around.She circumambulates that ancestor’s body,and touches his feet with her face,but those feet no longer feels any touch,and she does an aavaahan of his form into her heart bathing it in her tears.
That auspicious body is burned and its smoke encircles the home with clouds of sorrow.Every member of the family knew ..Hereafter the soft footsteps of this great person will not enliven this home!!The God Agni is the father of the ancestors.Therefore the best offering to agni is the body of a learned and compassionate man.That is offered to him.And the niece prays,as if a vedic rishi:”Agne,Be satisfied with this offering,and enter and brighten our ideas hereafter”The body is gone.But his ideas are given back by Agni to the survivors,because he is happy with their sacrifice.
I feel that the prayer of the learned niece has not been in vain ,and still in some of us ,at least, the ideas of the great Guru does live.
The praanamayakosha is the shadow of body.Only when it is destroyed the soul can enter the watery mandala.There,the seven layers of the otherworld is welcoming the footsteps of the great man.Watery mandala is the bhuvarloka of the ancestors.The seven layers of it has sorrows touching the earth below.And they are called the depths of paathaala.Those who were enjoying in violence are detained in them.And beyond that are higher ancestral worlds of vasu,Rudra,Aaditya and other devaas.The poet thinks ,My Guru is a free thinker.A person with good vratha.Therefore he can travel anywhere freely and investigate all worlds.No bad passions can make boundaries for a person who is having good vratha.In the ancestral world through which the soul passes,the directions are having comets,passionate emotional battles of love and hate and wonderful sights will go on brightening up the sky there.My Guru without being disturbed by any of them is going forward to the highest place and in his path our tears should not make a river of vaitharani.
The family members are now placing food for the dead soul with water and darbha grass.The prayer of the disciple is let this annam(food)with energy of love which can touch all the three worlds ,vibrate and let that vibrations touch Arya(the great Guru).The worship of the loving family members had always been a support for him in this world.So she hopes it will be the same in hereafter too.May be,from the skyscape of fragrant offerings,his blessings may be coming to us traveling in the wings of an unknown crow.Probably he may come to us in our dreams and through dreams to earth,just to make us happy and to give us his loving advice .Now he is in a mandala where there is no difference between in and out,and he is a witness of everything .Therefore ,the Guru ,who is naturally inclined to understand the psychology of the family,would definitely be able to fathom our grief and our feelings.He can pacify our sorrows just by his presence.Therefore,the poet says I would see him in my dreams and I will forget every grief with that vision.The all-witnessing energy of soul looking at the poet with lamp of wisdom is sometimes the Goddess,or sometimes the earth and sometimes ,as here,the departed Guru.The advaitha and the thanmayeebhaava with the natural forces gives a unprecedented purity to her images.
Now the athma is reaching the devabhoomi,traversing the passionate ancestral worlds.There he is served by spotlessly pure firy vibhoothi.The athma is enjoying the music of the spheres .He has become poornakaama.The thoughts,which were his sons (maanasaputhra)come as soumya forms and give him ecstacy.He becomes the friend of the sidha ,in creativity.Enjoying eternal bliss in those worlds with doors of sun and moon,that paramaguru ,see with their thoughts ,the loving people in the earth.May be when years come and go,the dust of the times may make his form faded in the family members’ minds.Still,that loving soul who is compassion incarnate will bestow only blessings to the coming generations,she feels.His love cannot be blotted even by the passage of time.
After a few divine days,the athma again leave behind the firy individualistic mandala,and become free from all dualities.The manomayakosha is lost.Then comes the energy world of Maharloka.There the door to countless janma open up.There the soul can see the upaadhichathushka seeds like pearls on the same thread,in the form of previous janmasamskaara’s colourful and bright Kaarana egg form.Then in the great pragna dawn the previous janma and the knowledge of the janma to come.There the soul is one with deva,manushya,animal,and plant and crores of organic and inorganic forms.The wish of the Guru as he had expressed in his poem Chakravaalam ,was this final attainment.
Upaadhichathushka are the four types of paramaanu of Kanaada.Prithwi,responsible for gross body,water responsible for kaamasareera,air and sky responsible for maanasasareera,and the chidaakaasa responsible for kaaranasareera.These are also called the bhoothachathushka(the four elements).Agnimandala is a combination of vaayu and akaasa.Beyond that is chidaakaasa ,the maharloka which is unmanifest and impersonal.Both are agneyam.But one is personal and the other impersonal.
The ishtadevatha of Nalapat was Baalaaparameswari.His poet-niece is also called Baala.And his second wife also was Baala.The soul of the Guru becomes one with his ishtadevatha in maharloka.
The devi is wearing the seven spheres on her golden chain,and creating long kalpa waves in the eternity with each of her breaths.A soul which has become one with her does not need any other ornament.There is no other work lovable than becoming one with her.Nothing more pleasurable.Accompanying Guru’s soul,the poet’s soul gets that experience of being one with his as well as hers ishtadevatha.For the dead soul it is an eternal oneness.But for the poet,as a witness ,it is the beginning of a return journey to earth too.She has to come back.In that return journey she understands how a soul comes back to a new body ,to a new janma.
Sakshathkaara is a yoganidra.A movementless Samadhi.But again new waves form.Movement is creation.When the calls from the earth become strong,the waves become strong,and they lead to a new birth.In a world of new experience,..The new sciences,the new nations,new races ,the earth calls back and attracts the soul .Who is not interested in seeing ones own reflection in a loving eye?Who is not interested in reading ones own growth and power in a new voice,a new form?Therefore even great souls reincarnate.The soul weaves a new body with the strong willpower.A faultless new young body.A mind which is softer ,sharper,beautiful ,bright and compassionate than the previous one.More pure thoughts in the mind .The subtle body comes back searching for a good atmosphere,good home,a good mother’s womb and born in a new body to carry out what the will wants…The soul comes down the same steps as it went up.By that time none of us may be here on this earth.But,as the soul of my Guru comes down the steps,He might temporarily remember us ,this old ancestral house where his previous body was protected ,nourished ,and loved.There may be noone here ,at that time.The shadowy trees might have become coal.These fields,these paths ..these pictures long lost in time..These fragmentary memories of this dear village …In the new janma also he will enjoy everything this earth can provide to a good deserving soul…He will again give everything he had achieved by his heavenly life to this world…Yet,the poet says,my heart aches with a thought…That golden dream ,that dear form , that loving Guru…Will I be able to find him again on this earth?On this slippery path?Even if we meet would we be able to recognize each other?
That question is a controlled sob ,just as in Kannuneerthulli(teardrops)of her Guru.
He has said:-
There may be more births
We may see and come near again
But,can fate again give us
The same love,the same relation?
The eternal object
Remain in all janmaas
It may come again
In another dress
To fill my heart
With love
But ,do we know that ?Do we recognize the old relations when we meet them again?
That question still reverberates in my mind.When I meet someone from the far off births and recognize them,and feel that they are unable to recognize me,the gravity of the words of these two Gurus,in my Guruparampara, reverberates with ten thousand horse power in my thoughts….
By Dr Suvarna Nalapat
Lokantharanghalil (written in 1955)was the ancestral rite performed by an illustrious niece to her illustrious uncle and Guru.In its preface ,noted critic kuttikrishnamaaraar wrote:In one glance it is an obituary.Even in subtle study it may seem so.But ,you may not find the things that you usually expect from an obituary.In the first six verses the subject is introduced and then a sigh arose ,but controlling even that sigh,a story of a wonderful world which is hitherto unfamiliar to the literary world is revealed by the poet.In between one or two sobs come up, but we can just guess them from the way she controls them”.Both the Guru and the disciple being theosophists one can expect that.
The heart which nourished her always with nectar of experiences has become still.The soft words which always dried her tears stopped their flow.The body which was considered as embodied love by her has become immobile.The loss of a Guru and a great person and uncle combined ,creates a natural sob in her heart.
My sob,Don’t pull back my great Guru.
Don’t obstruct that soul
Which is in search of greater experiences ..
The poem thus begins with the faith that the tears of relatives obstructs the movement of the dead in pure worlds of divine experiences and brings them down.It starts from the words where the uncle stopped his obituary on his dead wife(Kannuneerthulli).
Let me stop.
I may obstruct my beloved’s
Path in the upper worlds.
Thus ended the Guru’s obituary.The disciple takes the lost thread from that last word.Just in traditional Gurushishya way.She is not crying over his loss.But is accompanying his soul in his journey.A theosophist student,a student of Bardo ,might grasp the gravity of the subject.Let us accompany the Guru and Shishya in their journey .
The great soul alights the vehicle in the auspicious moment and the Thaijasa worlds open their doors of pearls to welcome him.The yogic eyes of the poet see the white clouds as the flowing garments of the twelve Adhitya,as Aadhivaahikaa of the soul.The dead soul was immersed in Swadhyaaya.Therefore in his closed eyes the past 67 years on this janma opens up as a book to be read.The experiences of pain and pleasure summated as an orderly law of energy brightens up in his soulview.Those lighted lively words may be revealing to him the reason for which he has taken this particular body.This is his most important and greatest moment of learning.In this moment,to reduce his tiredness,let the loving thoughts of relatives ,who are chanting the manthra “Soul is eternal” ,touch him as a breeze,the poet wishes.
Thoughts originate from one person and reaches and touches another.Embraces and caresses another.For this touch of souls nothing is an obstacle,neither the universe of name and form,nor the time.If we cry with severe passions and think passionately ,it will disturb the dead soul as if a storm.And pulls him back.Therefore the poet puts a stop to even a slightest sigh,and becomes a cool breeze to accompany him in his journey ,and wishes a happy journey to the Guru.
The face of the dead person is smiling due to the feeling of having achieved the greatest.He seems to be sleeping peacefully.We call the last sleep of the jeeva as death.The jeeva will awaken again in a shadowless world of bhuvarloka after ninety naazhika of death in this bhooloka.Probably,now the praanamayakosha wearing a grey inner dress,may be in an unconscious state ,in a dim light watching the body as an earthen pot with which he drank the essence of earth through sense organs.Athma is reluctant to severe all ties with the body.The mundane life is sorrowful.Yet to loose it is intolerable for a human soul.Even the dense dark cloud of sorrow become bright sunlight for the soul.The mundane sorrow itself becomes the transcendental bliss.Probably this is why the reluctance of every athma to leave the body,its vehicle.
The picture of this watching of body by the soul has to be compared with the poem Unarumpol(While awakening .written in 1963,eight years later)We can see a soul coming out of body in sleep to watch it.
Sleep is of three types.One is natural sleep which everyone of us experience each night.In this there are swapna(dreamstate)and sushupthy(dreamless state),and after a natural sleep,especially a sushupthi,our brain is calm and rested and all its troubles and tired feeling will be gone.The second type is yoganidra ,the sleepy state in Samadhi.This is better than a sushupthi because it gives a divine inner perception and an eternal feeling of rest and shanthi to brain.In such a state ,the poet had seen ,eyes open,the earth watching her with the lamp of moon.And she had sung:”what bliss” ,to describe the feeling.She compares it to death.The eternal bliss of solar energy is expressed as the death experience.Whatever the Guru had meditated in Chakravaalam with the softness of a bird’s feather,and movement of a grass,the disciple explains as the wings of the flying and the fluttering in wind and their shadow dance.The uncle has taught her the journey to ancestral and solar worlds and beyond .The niece could fly with her imagination to beyond the boundaries of the universe,from the four walls of her kitchen.The person who gives us this power of knowledge of self is the best Guru.Here,Nalapat Narayanamenon is such a Guru for the poet.That uncle ‘s body is lying in the corridor of the ancestral home clad in pure white clothes,with lamps of broken coconut shells around.She circumambulates that ancestor’s body,and touches his feet with her face,but those feet no longer feels any touch,and she does an aavaahan of his form into her heart bathing it in her tears.
That auspicious body is burned and its smoke encircles the home with clouds of sorrow.Every member of the family knew ..Hereafter the soft footsteps of this great person will not enliven this home!!The God Agni is the father of the ancestors.Therefore the best offering to agni is the body of a learned and compassionate man.That is offered to him.And the niece prays,as if a vedic rishi:”Agne,Be satisfied with this offering,and enter and brighten our ideas hereafter”The body is gone.But his ideas are given back by Agni to the survivors,because he is happy with their sacrifice.
I feel that the prayer of the learned niece has not been in vain ,and still in some of us ,at least, the ideas of the great Guru does live.
The praanamayakosha is the shadow of body.Only when it is destroyed the soul can enter the watery mandala.There,the seven layers of the otherworld is welcoming the footsteps of the great man.Watery mandala is the bhuvarloka of the ancestors.The seven layers of it has sorrows touching the earth below.And they are called the depths of paathaala.Those who were enjoying in violence are detained in them.And beyond that are higher ancestral worlds of vasu,Rudra,Aaditya and other devaas.The poet thinks ,My Guru is a free thinker.A person with good vratha.Therefore he can travel anywhere freely and investigate all worlds.No bad passions can make boundaries for a person who is having good vratha.In the ancestral world through which the soul passes,the directions are having comets,passionate emotional battles of love and hate and wonderful sights will go on brightening up the sky there.My Guru without being disturbed by any of them is going forward to the highest place and in his path our tears should not make a river of vaitharani.
The family members are now placing food for the dead soul with water and darbha grass.The prayer of the disciple is let this annam(food)with energy of love which can touch all the three worlds ,vibrate and let that vibrations touch Arya(the great Guru).The worship of the loving family members had always been a support for him in this world.So she hopes it will be the same in hereafter too.May be,from the skyscape of fragrant offerings,his blessings may be coming to us traveling in the wings of an unknown crow.Probably he may come to us in our dreams and through dreams to earth,just to make us happy and to give us his loving advice .Now he is in a mandala where there is no difference between in and out,and he is a witness of everything .Therefore ,the Guru ,who is naturally inclined to understand the psychology of the family,would definitely be able to fathom our grief and our feelings.He can pacify our sorrows just by his presence.Therefore,the poet says I would see him in my dreams and I will forget every grief with that vision.The all-witnessing energy of soul looking at the poet with lamp of wisdom is sometimes the Goddess,or sometimes the earth and sometimes ,as here,the departed Guru.The advaitha and the thanmayeebhaava with the natural forces gives a unprecedented purity to her images.
Now the athma is reaching the devabhoomi,traversing the passionate ancestral worlds.There he is served by spotlessly pure firy vibhoothi.The athma is enjoying the music of the spheres .He has become poornakaama.The thoughts,which were his sons (maanasaputhra)come as soumya forms and give him ecstacy.He becomes the friend of the sidha ,in creativity.Enjoying eternal bliss in those worlds with doors of sun and moon,that paramaguru ,see with their thoughts ,the loving people in the earth.May be when years come and go,the dust of the times may make his form faded in the family members’ minds.Still,that loving soul who is compassion incarnate will bestow only blessings to the coming generations,she feels.His love cannot be blotted even by the passage of time.
After a few divine days,the athma again leave behind the firy individualistic mandala,and become free from all dualities.The manomayakosha is lost.Then comes the energy world of Maharloka.There the door to countless janma open up.There the soul can see the upaadhichathushka seeds like pearls on the same thread,in the form of previous janmasamskaara’s colourful and bright Kaarana egg form.Then in the great pragna dawn the previous janma and the knowledge of the janma to come.There the soul is one with deva,manushya,animal,and plant and crores of organic and inorganic forms.The wish of the Guru as he had expressed in his poem Chakravaalam ,was this final attainment.
Upaadhichathushka are the four types of paramaanu of Kanaada.Prithwi,responsible for gross body,water responsible for kaamasareera,air and sky responsible for maanasasareera,and the chidaakaasa responsible for kaaranasareera.These are also called the bhoothachathushka(the four elements).Agnimandala is a combination of vaayu and akaasa.Beyond that is chidaakaasa ,the maharloka which is unmanifest and impersonal.Both are agneyam.But one is personal and the other impersonal.
The ishtadevatha of Nalapat was Baalaaparameswari.His poet-niece is also called Baala.And his second wife also was Baala.The soul of the Guru becomes one with his ishtadevatha in maharloka.
The devi is wearing the seven spheres on her golden chain,and creating long kalpa waves in the eternity with each of her breaths.A soul which has become one with her does not need any other ornament.There is no other work lovable than becoming one with her.Nothing more pleasurable.Accompanying Guru’s soul,the poet’s soul gets that experience of being one with his as well as hers ishtadevatha.For the dead soul it is an eternal oneness.But for the poet,as a witness ,it is the beginning of a return journey to earth too.She has to come back.In that return journey she understands how a soul comes back to a new body ,to a new janma.
Sakshathkaara is a yoganidra.A movementless Samadhi.But again new waves form.Movement is creation.When the calls from the earth become strong,the waves become strong,and they lead to a new birth.In a world of new experience,..The new sciences,the new nations,new races ,the earth calls back and attracts the soul .Who is not interested in seeing ones own reflection in a loving eye?Who is not interested in reading ones own growth and power in a new voice,a new form?Therefore even great souls reincarnate.The soul weaves a new body with the strong willpower.A faultless new young body.A mind which is softer ,sharper,beautiful ,bright and compassionate than the previous one.More pure thoughts in the mind .The subtle body comes back searching for a good atmosphere,good home,a good mother’s womb and born in a new body to carry out what the will wants…The soul comes down the same steps as it went up.By that time none of us may be here on this earth.But,as the soul of my Guru comes down the steps,He might temporarily remember us ,this old ancestral house where his previous body was protected ,nourished ,and loved.There may be noone here ,at that time.The shadowy trees might have become coal.These fields,these paths ..these pictures long lost in time..These fragmentary memories of this dear village …In the new janma also he will enjoy everything this earth can provide to a good deserving soul…He will again give everything he had achieved by his heavenly life to this world…Yet,the poet says,my heart aches with a thought…That golden dream ,that dear form , that loving Guru…Will I be able to find him again on this earth?On this slippery path?Even if we meet would we be able to recognize each other?
That question is a controlled sob ,just as in Kannuneerthulli(teardrops)of her Guru.
He has said:-
There may be more births
We may see and come near again
But,can fate again give us
The same love,the same relation?
The eternal object
Remain in all janmaas
It may come again
In another dress
To fill my heart
With love
But ,do we know that ?Do we recognize the old relations when we meet them again?
That question still reverberates in my mind.When I meet someone from the far off births and recognize them,and feel that they are unable to recognize me,the gravity of the words of these two Gurus,in my Guruparampara, reverberates with ten thousand horse power in my thoughts….
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