school days
Flashback on the true story of
NOOL KATTI SAMIYAR
When we cross TG’s house during Bhajan, When we go to Veeracholan river to take bath, when we go to Veeracholan Anakkudiyaan mandapam to play Kabaadi etc,.etc,. We used to see a beautifully wall painted matter at 88, Mahadana Street. Next to TG’s house (Amirthalingam, Ramu, Rajendran and Sekar’s house)
Asal Nool katti Samiyaarin original pittha vayvu lehiyam…..ingu kidaikkum
I would like to finger on the backdrop of this painting now. It is on the hear say, through my father, Ekanatha Vajapeyar and Mani Sasthrigal.
In those days, a section of people who were committed to spiritual life, disinterested in family life, bandham…sondham etc,.used to go on foot to many places, mostly Kasi to Rameswaram. Their day to day needs would invariable got fulfilled through yachakams. They will not stay in a particular place for longer spells. They always used to do good things to the people wherever they stay. They are known as Bairagis. Their temporary headquarters, would normally on the Bank’s of the river, adjacent to a temple or choultry which will be known as Bairagi Mandapam. Our TDR had a dedicated living place for them. Yes……we had two such Bairagi Mandapams on the banks of Cauvery and Veeracholan river.
During 1930s, one aged Bairagi came to TDR and started living in Veeracholan Bairagi Mandapam. He used to do yachakams in Mahadana Street and go back to the Bairagi Mandapam.
He used to cure some diseases, fever by tying a knot through a thread on the patient’s hand, by giving certain plant leaves and root, by tying in the arm a special plant’s root for the teeth problem, cure the bite of snakes, scorpion and other insects by sitting in front of the Viswanatha Swamy Temple. He will neither talk to anybody nor accept money for the treatment and services. He will go back to the Bairagi Mandapam at the end of the day. After passage of time, our great TDR Bairagi was rechristened as Nool Katti Samiyar and start commanding respect, purely due to their dedicated services without any expectation.
In earlier episodes, I mentioned that Maha Periyava stayed at TDR for 3 to 4 years….that was during early 1930s. Periyava used to go to Periya Cauvery, daily, for bath in the early hours of the day,. say by 3.30 hours in a Pallakku. One day, when Maha Periyava crossed the Bairagi Mandapam, an old man ran from the Mandapam to offer his Namaskarams to Periyava. The Pallakku used to wait for a while for him, Periyava will give some fruits to the old man. When periyava returns after bath, the old man used to give bag full of Vilva dhalams in a banana leaf for pooja. The pallakku will stop and periyava will receive the Vilva leaf and this happened as a routine.
One day when periyava crossed the Mandapam, the old man did not turn up. The pallaku was about to cross the mandapam. Suddenly, a sound voice was heard
SAMI…. SAMI…..
Immediately Periyava instructed to stop the Pallakku and told his disciples that, the voice was none other than the usual old man. He also instructed his disciples to go to the mandapam and enquire about him.
One disciple went to the mandapam and asked the old man, why you are shouting and calling Sami in the early morning ?
In a feeble voice, he told “I WANT TO SEE SAMY… I WANT TO SEE SAMY… I WANT TO SEE SAMY…”
Mahaperiyava could hear his voice and immediately got down from the pallakku and went to the mandapam….appeared before the old Man and enquired, what happened ?
The old man was in tears and stated “ SAMY, I want to come and offer my namaskarams to you but I could not even stand, leave alone walking. I have become older….Mind says….but body is not cooperating Sami….I think, my days are numbered.
Periyava patiently listened and left for Cauvery.
On his return, via Mahadana Street, Periyava asked the Pallakku to stop before Swaminatha Onthiriyar’s and Muthiya Onthiriyar’s house and asked one of his disciple to tell both of them to come and meet him at the Mutt after Pooja.
(Swaminatha Onthiriyar was the watchman of Viswanathaswamy Koil for which mut allowed to take all the coconuts belonged to the Temple. Still, the same family looks after the temple).
Both Swaminatha Onthiriyar and Muthiya Onthiriyar met Periyava in the afternoon. Periyava instructed both of them to give one handful of food, daily to the oldman, one in the afternoon and other in the night till he was alive. You will get the rice from the Kurukkal of Viswanatha Swamy Koil for the same.
He instructed Mani Sasthrigal who was standing nearby to give him some cloth and in the same evening, Mani Sashtrigal not only arranged the cloth but also some essential utensils. He also instructed the servant maid (who used to supply grass for cows everyday to his house) to take care of the old man on a daily basis. Thus, it has become the order of the day. Days have passed.
One evening when the servant maid went to the mandapam to fill water, the old man requested her “Can you ask Sasthri Ayya to come and meet me here? I want to see him. The maid told, Ok I will convey but I don’t know whether he will come or not. The old man also told her to inform him the reaction of Mani Sashtrigal when she returns in the evening. The maid was staying at Kalyanapuram known as Akkarai. The lady came back in the evening after completing her work and told the old man that Ayya has agreed to come and meet him on the next day.
The next day Mani Sastrigal came and saw the old man.
“Ayya” if you permit me, I want to teach you the scorpion bite cure manthra (Thel kadi mandiram) to you. I know, you will not expect or take any money from others. That’s why, I am inclined to reveal this to you.
Mani Sastrigal learnt the Thel Kadi Manthiram from the Nool Katti Samiyar.
Next day, he called both Swaminatha Onthiriyar and Mutthiya Onthiriyar and taught the sutra for preparation of Pittha Vayvu Lehiyam. He strictly advised them, not to take more from the people except to the need of a day’s livelihood. He also told them that their life will become miserable if they take more money from the people as fees.
One day, when the maid came filling water in the pot, the old man told to the lady that he don’t need water today. He also gave one plant root as sample to the lady and told her to bring the same type of roots from the riverbed. She brought similar roots and gave it to the old man. He told that lady, it is not for me….but meant for you. It will cure the teeth related problems. I will teach you how to prepare the root to cure teeth related problems…..but…. you should not take money from anybody, more than what is required for one time food. He taught the method of preparation to that lady.
On the next day…….He passed away.
Mani Sastrigal took the lead and arranged his burial.
Many of us know that Mani Sastrigal used to do Thel Kadi Manthiram without any monetary expectation. He did during his life time and after reaching a stage, he taught the Mandhiram to Nachami Iyer, who continued, till he lived in TDR.
This is the backdrop of the Wall painting appearing in 88 & 89, Mahadana street
Asal Nool katti Samiyaarin original pittha vayvu lehiyam…..ingu kidaikkum. That lady cured tooth problems of many, by getting a maximum of one ana, including to my father. I was a small boy at that time.
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