Sattanathapuram Roots

Trek to Makali Durga

2011-12-18T23:06:00.000-08:00

At the outset, I start with pranams to Jagadguru His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal, the ruling and 36th Pontiff of Sri Sringeri Saradha Peetham for everyone’s welfare and continued prosperity.

Trek to Makali Durga – 17th Dec-2011

Our passion for trekking is increasing by leaps and bounds and the team was raring to go for the next adventure. With such enthusiasm exhibited it was only a matter of time in identifying the next mountain to scale on the appointed date. We chose to scale Makali Durga as our next destination.

View of Makali Durga

Makali Durga is about 60 Kms from Bangalore. On top of the hills there is a dilapidated fort in ruins and a temple dedicated to Lord Basava ( Shiva). As always timing was on top of our agenda and all of us left Bangalore by 5:15 AM sharp and reached the village Makali Durga by 6:20 AM .

We parked our vehicles in a narrow stretch of mud road , about a kilometer away from the Makali Durga railway station.

Nature enticed us with a show of her majestic beauty. We saw the Sun rise, a huge orange ball of fire from the surrounding mountain ranges displaying the land beneath covered by fog, as a Milky ocean. It was awesome and worth the early starts.

Nature @ her majestic best - Sunrise in Makali durga village

We started our trek by 6:50 AM and crossed over the railway line and reached the base of the hills trek in quick earnest.

Our Team was On Track !!!

The Makali durga mountain is mostly made of granite rocks and the ascent was steady without much difficulties. Althrough the journey the view from the mountains was breathtaking and scenic.

Scenic view of Makalidurga village covered by Milky white fog

View of the Lake

We shared many jokes and motivated each other. All though the ascent, the picturesque views were enthralling. There is a lake at the bottom of the mountains. Makali Durga also doubles as a good spot for Rappelling and Raft building with the help of professional organizers.

Pathway to the Summit - The road less travelled!

The ruins of the fort welcomed us. Definitely the fort has been well planned and laid out and should have been used as an shelter for the people beneath during attacks or invasion and now remains in abandonment in halcyon days.

The ruined fort atop the mountain

Entrance of the fort

We took 2 short breaks in-between and reached the top of the summit by 7:50 AM. It tooks us an hour to reach the top.The scenic view from the top of the hills was just enchantingly beautiful. We spent 40 mins on the top and After taking few photographs we started the descend.

Team @ Summit

Team safely retuning back to base!

We had breakfast in Dodballapur and reached Bangalore by 11:30 AM

Team Members:

1) Srinivas Kulkarni
2) Srinivas Bonu
3) Baba shanker
4) Koteswara Rao
5) Uday Verma
6) Hrudaya Kumar
7) Madhusoodan
8) Raju MRC
9) Sundaresan J

Some helpful tips for trek enthusiasts wanting to explore this place:

1) Makali Durga – 60 Kms from BLR. Take a left in Yeshwantour and proceed to Dodabalapur. From Dodbalapur proceed to Makali Durga village. ( About 12 Kms) Once you reach the Railway station, proceed for another 1 KM and take the Mud road on the left and park your Vehicle adjacent to the Railway tracks.

2) Difficulty rating: Moderate. There are thorny bushes in many places and take care to cover yourself properly.

3) It takes approximately 1hr and 30 mins from the foot of hills to reach the top.

4) If you are attempting night trekking, take the help of locals for assistance.

5) Park you Cars/Bike near the railway tracks. It is safe to park your vehicles here.

Signing off for 2011 and see you in the Next edition - Next year 2012 :-)

Trek to Skandagiri betta

2011-11-27T20:54:00.000-08:00

Trek to Skandagiri hills – 19th Nov-2011

We ( Sundaresan, Srinivas and Prashanth) planned our next trek to Skandagiri hills. This time, we decided to try our hand on a difficult trek and chose Skandgiri. Our objective was clearly to achieve good speed in climbing on a difficult mountain terrain and reaching the summit with short stops for rest. (of course, not compromising on safety) . Scenic photographs may be missing in this blog edition!

Skandagiri betta

Skandgiri is about 70 Kms from Bangalore and and one point of time served as a hill fortress of Tippu Sultan and before him a local chieftain. This is part of the Nandi hill ranges and stands top most on the scenic view. We started from Bangalore at 5:00 AM and reached Skandgiri by 6:10 AM.

After parking our vehicle on the base of the temple, we decided to take the difficult route to the top of the hills. ( There are 2 routes from the base). As we wanted to clock some good speed and have adventure, we choose the difficult route ( one towards the left of the temple) wherein the terrain is more steeper and challenging.

Paths of Glory : The route we took

We started our climb with a small prayer and slowly but steadily started our ascent. With just about 20 mins of climb, we saw breath taking view of the village below disappear in a ocean of white milky clouds. . A picture perfect setting created by nature!

Village covered by White Milky clouds

On the way, we saw the Sunrise and proceeded further.

Sunrsie - As viewed from the 200m from the base of hills

All through the climb, the top of the hill is visible. We divided the climb into 5 stages and every time we have completed ascending a small hill the next one unfolds herself and invites you to conquer her. On the way a couple of shelters erected (probably used as watch towers by the erstwhile rulers) can be prominently seen. Do take care not to disturb them or lean on them, as these structures are completely worn out with the ravages of time and weather.

The Pathway to the Summit !

We reached the top within 1 hr and 35 mins. Definitely, we have clocked good speed considering the average!!. On reaching the top, one can still the remnants of the old forts in dilapidated condition. On the top an old temple constructed out of stone slabs still stands guard.

Nature @ her best : A View from the top

The scenic view from the top of the hills was just enchantingly beautiful. After taking few photographs we started the descend.

On the Summit : L-R: Srinivas, Sundaresan and Prashanth

Trying our hand at Photography: Spot the Moon behind !!

On our way, we visited Muddennahalli village the birth place of the legendary Sir.M.Visweswaraih, one of the India's most accomplished engineers. We paid our homage to one of the leading sons of Indian soil. As we marveled and talked about his achievements, we were humbled by his simplicity and humility. The visit was definitely a nostalgic one

We left Bangalore by 5:00 AM and were back in Bangalore by 12:00 noon.

Some helpful tips for enthusiasts wanting to explore this place:

1) Skandagiri hills – 70 Kms from BLR on the Bellary highway. Take a left on the National highway and Proceed towards Nandi hills. At Karahalli junction take the Right turn (left turn goes to Nandi hills) towards Muddanahalli village and on reaching the village Muddanahalli take the route towards viallge Kalvarahalli…( Ask anybody Skandagiri and they will guide you)

2) There are 2 routes, for beginners and 1st timers the route towards the right of the temple and Mutt is recommended. The one towards left is recommended for experienced climbers.

3) Difficulty rating: Medium to moderately difficult. There are thorny bushes in many places and take care to cover yourself properly. In some stretches steps are carved in rocks to assist climbers

4) In Some places the mountain terrain is very steep and slippery. Ensure that you wear good shoes with proper grip.

5) If you plan to spend some time at the top, a wind sheeter will be handy as it would be very windy and chilly on the top.

6) It takes approximately 2hr and 30 mins from the foot of hills to reach the top.

7) If you are attempting night trekking, take the help of locals for assistance. Ensure that you bargain well on the fees demanded!

8) Park you Cars/Bike near the temple entrance. It is safe to park your vehicles here.

Trek to Shivagange Betta

2011-11-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

We completed this trek in Sept’2011 and I just found time now, to upload this article in the blog.

"Team work demands a level of understanding of which no words are said! Just a look and the other person automatically responds to your call."

The stress levels in office was increasing and we decided to unwind ourselves and wanted some more fun. On popular demand, the next trek to Shivagange betta was organized.

A Scenic View of Shivagange betta surrounded by a veil of clouds

Shivagange Betta is around 56 Kms from BLR on the BLR-Tumkur highway. Most of the trek is on a flat track and the final leg of the journey is very steep with steps carved in rocks to make it easy for the climber.

Statue of Lord Shiva @ the bottom of of the Hills

Our start time got delayed as one of the team members arrived late and we took a conscious call, not leave any team member behind.The drive to Shivagange Bette was pleasant. Most of it was on highways proceeding towards Tumkur. After about 15 Kms from the Nelamangala toll gate watch out for the diversion toward Shivagange village and proceed on the Village road. Once we got off the highways and onto the narrow village road, we could easily make out our destination (mountain surrounded by clouds). Both sides of the road had fields. As we neared the village, there was a small entrance. The vehicles were parked at the base of the mountain near the temple entrance.

Majestic Nandi @ the bottom of Shivagange betta

Finally the ascend began. After winding our way through the temple steps, we encountered a majestic Nandi at the bottom of the hills, carved out a solo rock. One more would await us at the top of the Shivagange hills who is of equal size and grandeur. We marveled at the ability of our ancient sculptors to have left brilliant masterpieces that has stood the test of time for our, and next generations to come by.

There were lot of Monkeys all though our climb and they were very eager to snatch away our belongings.As we moved on one of the monkey jumped onto our colleague’s bag, hoping to find some food; These smart monkeys had learnt to open zips and steal food; as we learned shortly and shockingly as well!

Snatch & Search : Monkey searching the bag after snatching from a Pilgrim

The range of vision was steadily increasing as we started gaining altitude.Around midway there is a cave filled with lake, sort of an underground lake. The lake extended slightly out of the cave. It is believed, and the locals had a legend, that if you bend and touch your feet while looking at the reflection of your face in water, your wishes will come true.[ More of an yogasana]

Team members Resting near 'Olakku Theertha' & practicing yogasana

The brand of monkeys in the latter part were even more audacious and were adept in opening the zips of our backpacks. The initial part of the trek had steps, after that there were none until the last leg of climb. We had reached at the last leg and we felt this was going to be a piece of cake (because of the stairs), well we couldn’t have been more mistaken! The steps were small, narrow and steep. We were lucky that these were not slippery and that there were railings on both sides, for at times the climb was almost vertical and there was no way to climb without the support of the railings.

A Step forward in evolution: A monkey removing the zip of backpack

So it was many a puffing and panting later that we were finally at the peak. On the peak there is another huge Nandi .

The serenity and scenery of at the peak was just enchantingly beautiful. One could see for miles in any direction. We sat there talking, chatting and taking group photos in the beauty for some time.

Our team @ the Summit

The downward journey seemed to be an equally daunting task due to the steepness. After reaching the base, we waited for everyone to gather and started our journey back home after a fantastic and challenging climb.

Some helpful tips for enthusiasts wanting to explore this place:

1) Shivagange Betta – 56 Kms from BLR on the Tumkur highway. After about 15 Kms from the Nelamangala toll gate watch out for the diversion toward Shivagange village and proceed on the Village road. There are adequate sign boards

2) To see : 'Shiva' temple @ its foothills and a holy spring (called 'Olakallu Theertha', meaning water inside the rocks) en route to the peak. The peak has a big Nandi.

3) Difficulty rating: Easy to Medium . Most of the trek is a flat track as well as steps carved in rocks to easily climb

4) It takes approximately 1hr and 30 mins from the foot of hills to reach the statue of Nandi. Start the trek early in the morning (By 7:00 AM), so that you do not get Sun burns, and be very light with your back-packs.

5) There are lot of monkeys and the evolution has provided them intelligence to the level of opening your bags.

6) Park you Cars/Bike near the temple entrance. It is safe to park your vehicles here.

For many of the colleagues this was their first trek and all of us felt that this is just the beginning of many more beautiful trips to come!

A humble beginning in memory of our ancestors

2011-08-23T01:18:00.000-07:00

Let noble thoughts come to us from all directions – Mahabaratha

“OM Sree Gurubhyo Namaha”.

We were tutored by our elders that, “the young as they gain in age and stature must learn and remember their roots, heritage and ancestors". Among the many noble qualities attributed to my grandparents, I would like to recall one unique virtue that I would always remember and stands in the forefront. It is often repeated by elders in our family, that both Kunju patti and Shri J Subramani Iyer have, never had a harsh word exchanged between them or passed one adverse comment on each other in private. They accepted all people as they were and treated them equally. Such had been their love, mutual respect and understanding for each other.

To propagate the memory of these great souls Smt Alamelu and Sri J.Subramani Iyer of Sattanathapuram, we have been actively involved in many social activities and initiatives (Education sponsorships, Medical treatment expenses, Upanayanam, Mangal sutra donation for poor people marriages, Food distribution in temple functions to name a few..)

Under the aegis of Smt Alamelu Trust and Sri Kailasanathar trust, well wishers, friends and family members we initiated a scheme for free distribution of school uniforms to 300 school children (Class 1 to Class 8) hailing from poor and rural background.

Function organized by Kailasanathar Trust & Alamelu Ammal trust

School children from two Government schools (Panchayath union school in Satttanathapuram and Panchyath union school in Surakadu (Both located in Sirkazhi Taluk of Nagaipattinam district in Tamil Nadu) were identified. The school children come from a very poor and rural background.

Panchayath Union School - Sattanathapuram

Good Friendship-A couplet from Thirukural by Saint poet Thiru Valluvar written on School notice board

Thirukural Couplet No 783: The happinesss and noble thoughts resulting from good friendship is akin to the knowledge and wisdom we gain from reading wise books

True to these words of saint poet thirvalluvar, both the trusts, friends and family members have joined together for a noble and comon cause. The school uniform distribution function was done in a simple function organized on 22nd Aug’2011. It was a short ans sweet function and lasted for 90 minutes.

School Children

Prayer Song - Tamil Thai Vazthu

The function started with the invocation of prayer song followed by introduction of the 2 trusts and felicitation of chairman and members of both these trusts. Various speakers praised the efforts of these trusts

One of the officials, from Education department in his speech thanked both the trusts for their charity and made a remark that, “eventhough government provides a set of uniform, this initiative would ensure that the children can now come to school with proper school uniforms on all days in a week”

This was followed by an impressive display of talents by the school children. Dance sequences for popular songs were choreographed by the teachers. A narrative on Indian Independence in English and chronicle on the life of Shri Kamaraj by a 2nd std child were very impressive. The tiny tots pitched in with patriotic songs and the phrase ‘stage fear’ was absent from their lexicon. The school children’s enthusiasm and dedication in the events were praiseworthy and heart warming.

Brief narrative on Life History of Shri K Kamaraj by 2nd Std Student

Patriotic song by 1st Std children

Dance performance by school children

Theme National Integration - Solo performance

School uniforms were distributed by members of both the trusts to all the school children in the school campus itself. Uniforms were distributed by the trust members of both the trusts as well as elders from our family. Family members, sponsors, trust members, well wishers, teachers, district education officers, parents of school children and general public participated in the function.

Kalilasnathar and Alamelu Ammal Trust, Sponsors, friends and family members handing over school uniforms to children.

Vote of thanks was proposed by the school headmaster. Tea, Coffee and sweets were served to the guests, public and school children.

My sincere thanks to all the trust members, donors and sponsors who contributed generously for the school uniforms. With their altruistic financial support, we have made a humble beginning and set ourselves a baseline. We have embarked on a journey and pray that this beginning is expanded to many other noble initiatives with the support of our sponsors, well wishers and elders.

Sincere and Special thanks to Shri S.S.Srinivisan for organizing and doing all the ground work for this school uniform function. Once again it was due to his organizing skills and acumen that the entire event, right from the identification of schools to the final distribution passed on with clockwork precision.

I offer my respectful prayers to my paternal grandparents Smt Alamelu ammal and Shri J.Subramani Iyer to guide us and give us strength to perform many more noble activities in the coming future. I had an inner feeling that , “They were watching and blessing us”

We will keep you informed, on the subsequent charitable events and requesting each of you to be part of these initiatives.

Photographs uploaded in google:

School function

https://picasaweb.google.com/112135165009821845164/SchoolFunction?authkey=Gv1sRgCLvzl6iC2vfl0gE&feat=email#

Felicitation event

https://picasaweb.google.com/112135165009821845164/SNPSchoolFunctionFelicitation?authkey=Gv1sRgCJSpx-3VyuLm0gE&feat=email#

Our sincere and profound thanks to our patron and donors

(Listing In alphabetical order)

Sl No Name

1. Alamelu Trust

2. Kailasanathar Trust

3. Ajit Ashok Shenvi - Bangalore

4. Arun Venkataraman - U.S.A

5. Smt Bhooma Srinivasan - Sattanathapuram

6. Cadavasal R Natarajan - U.S.A

7. Dr Ganesh - U.K

8. Smt Gnanam Viswanathan - Hyderabad

9. Smt Harini Manikandan - U.S.A

10. Smt Kamala Natarajan - Chennai

11. Manavalan G - Chennai

12. Ms Meenakshi Ramamorthy - Muscat

13. Smt Meenkashi Jagadeesan - Bangalore

14. Sateesh Chandrasekaran - U.S.A

15. Sekar Balasubramanian - Chennai

16. Shiva Subbarayan - U.S.A

Our sincere thanks to all of you!

Rao Sahib Arupathy Natesa Iyer

2011-06-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

OM Sree Gurubhyo Namaha”. At the outset I start with pranams and prostrate myself to His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharathi Tirtha Mahaswamiji on his 61st Vardhanthi (9th April’2011).

Greetings

Continuing the research series on eminent personalities, In this edition I present vignettes of another great personality Shri Rao Sahib Arupathy Natesa Iyer an eminent lawyer par excellence

Arupathy village is situated 6Km from Mayiladuthurai town (on the Mayiladuthurai –Sembanar Kovil road) in Nagaipattinam district. It is a rustic village with a calm and serene atmosphere away from the busy environs of Mayiladuthurai

Note:

1) As per the official gazette the village is spelt as ‘ARUPATHY’

2) I request readers not to confuse between Rao Sahib Arupathy Natesa Iyer and another musician with the same name Arupathi Natesa Iyer. The other Aruptahi Natesa Iyer is a Mirudhangam artist.

Roots

Arupathy Natesa Iyer was born to Shri Narayanaswamy Iyer and smt Vaalambal ammal . The couple had 6 children (4 sons and 2 daughters).

Arupathy Narayanaswamy Iyer ‘s father (Grandfather of Natesa Iyer) was Sundarapai Iyer and his mother was Lekshmi ammal . In Lord Ganesh temple in the village Arupathy, the presiding deity is Lord Selvaganapathi. A stone plaque available in the temple informs us the temple was built by Narayanaswami Iyer s/o Sundarapai Iyer. This co-relates the ancestry as well.

It is said that Narayanaswai Iyer in his later years took to Vanasarama dharma and became an ascetic. It is not clearly known, if he took to formal Sanyasa from a Guru and moved away from the family to lead a life of a Sanyasi (Monk)

Presiding deity Sri Selvaganapathy at Lord Ganesh temple in Arupathy

Co-relation to Ancestry: Stone Plaque inside Ganesh temple [In Tamil]

Arupathy Natesa Iyer.

Arupathy Natesa Iyer was brilliant in his studies. He was taught in Vedas at a very young age. He was well educated and commanded mastery in Sanskrit. Due to his profound knowledge of the Vedas and Hindu religion, he commanded wide respect. He did his BA BL, and practiced Law. He was highly respected in the legal field as an honorable and suave gentleman. He carried an aura of calmness around him and was always amiable. He exhibited a countenance which reflected tranquility.

Rao Sahib Arupathhy Natesa Iyer & Smt Yogambal

Natesa Iyer was married to Yogamambal. Smt Yogambal was born and brought up in the village Maduri mangalam (Near Kuttalam in Kumbakonam) and later migrated to Salem. Her father Shri Krishnaswamy iyer was a leading advocate in Salem. The family of Shri C.Rajagopalachari’s (Shri Rajaji) were their neighbors. Smt Yogambal and C. Rajagopalachrai were childhood playmates.

Arupathy Natesa Iyer and Smt Yogambal were blessed with 7 Children ( 3 daughters and 4 sons). (refer to family tree for details). All his 4 sons were taught Vedas at a very young age. As he was well versed with Sanskrit, he used to converse very freely with scholars and his son Shri A.N.Kalyanasundaram in Sanskrit.

After marriage, Natesa Iyer moved to Madurai and took up law practice. He soon became an eminent and a very successful leading lawyer in Madurai. Within no time he had a roaring practice in Madurai. The family stayed in Nadar Bunglow in Tamil Sangam Road. He declined to buy any property in Madurai and always had the wish to spend his end years in his native village Arupathy.

Natesa Iyer was very upright in his profession. He used to take up professional cases from his clients, after ascertaining the complete facts, checking the available records from his clients and balancing them with the principles of Dharma.He founded a social group called as ‘Sanathana Dharma’ [Sanathana Dharma - A way of life adhering to eternal law as prescribed by the Sruti (Revealed) and Smruthi (Remembered) texts.] and spread the messages of religious tenets via this group to the society. He founded a school named as ‘Sanathana Dharma Vidyalaya’ and the school had classes’ upto 8th Standard. The school operated from the precincts of Nadar Bunglow.

Shri Arupathy Natesa Iyer was conferred the prestigious title "Rao Sahib" by the then British government in India.

Rao Sahib Arupathy Natesa Iyer had many juniors of notable fame and repute. Key persons among them were A.Vaidyanatha Iyer (who spearheaded the movement for entry of Harijans in Meenakshi amman temple-Madurai), Shri V.R.Viswanatha Iyer and Shri Meenakshi Sundaram Iyer

Note: Shri V. Anjaneyan (Retd District Judge in Didigul) was the son V.R.Viswanatha Iyer. Smt Vimala grand-daughter of Shri Natesa Iyer was married to V.Anjaneyan.

His Residence - The Bungalow in which Shri Arupathy Natesa Iyer Lived

Rao Sahib Natesa Iyer moved back to his village Arupathy in the year 1939. He built a temple dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi in Arupathi in the year 1939/1940. A nearby pond was modified and renovated by him for the temple. A portion of the pond was re-named as ‘Swarna Padmini Thadkam’ (Golden Lotus pond) and used to serve the needs for daily abhishekam to the deities of the temple. He donated one of his houses for the usage and family stay of temple priest and lands were attached for temple maintenance. The temple is still maintained by the progenies of Rao Sahib Arupathy Natesa Iyer. Recently Kumbhabishekam was performed in the year 2006. The temple construction and supervision was done by his eldest son Arupathy N.Kalayanasundaram Iyer

Goddess Meenakshi Amman Temple in Arupathy - Built by Shri A.N.Natesa Iyer

Note:

• Shri A.N.Kalyanasundaram was a reputed lawyer and then became a film maker. He has also directed 3 films. Like his father he also achieved great name and fame. He was a gold medalist in Sanskrit literature.

• Kunnam Raghupathy Iyer’s (son-in-law of Natesa Iyer) son was Shri K.R.Subbarayan. He participated in the Indian Independence movement. He was arrested on charges of planting a bomb on the railway track to kill few British officers who were travelling by the train. The plot was unearthed by the British police and Shri K.R. Subbarayan served a long prison sentence in Vellore jail.

Natesa Iyer had a residence in Mayavaram (Mayiladuthurai) as well. The family stayed in No 70 Mahadhanam Street. Natesa Iyer was a conformist to the core and followed the tenets of the Vedas in letter and spirit. He laid lot of emphasis on the day to day rituals prescribed in Vedas. Natesa Iyer family used to enjoy its summer vacation in Kodaikanal and Courtarallam.

Interaction with Sri Ramana Maharishi

Natesa Iyer was attracted to Shri Ramana Maharishi very much. He followed the precepts of the great Ramana Maharishi and had interacted with the Maharishi on a number of occasions. One such interaction which took place in Feburary 1935 is officialy recorded and is available in the following link
http://bhagavan-ramana.org/ramana_maharshi/books/tw/tw030.html

Shree Ramana Maharishi

Some excerpts on one such interaction between Shri Ramana Maharishi and Arupathy Natesa Iyer are enclosed, wherein the great Guru Ramana Maharishi aids the Sishya in the path of ‘Self enquiry’

(Note “M”: in the conversation refers to Maharashi and “D” refers to devotee and in this case Shri Natesa Iyer)

Mr. N. Natesa Iyer, the leader of the Bar in a South Indian town, an orthodox Brahmin, asked:

"Are the gods Iswara or Vishnu and their sacred regions Kailasa or Vaikuntha real?
M.: As real as you are in this body.

D.: Do they possess a vyavahara satya, i.e., phenomenal existence , like my body? Or are they fictions like the horn of a hare?
M.: They do exist.

D.: If so, they must be somewhere. Where are they?
M.: Persons who have seen them say that they exist somewhere. So we must accept their statement.

D.: Where do they exist?
M.: In you.

D.: Then it is only idea - that which I can create and control?
M.: Everything is like that.

D.: But I can create pure fictions e.g., hare's horn or only part truths, e.g. mirage, while there are also facts irrespective of my imagination. Do the gods Iswara or Vishnu exist like that?
M.: Yes.

D.: Is He subject to pralaya (cosmic dissolution)?
M.: Why? Man becoming aware of the Self transcends cosmic dissolution (pralaya) and becomes liberated (mukta). Why not God (Iswara) who is infinitely wiser and abler?

D.: Do devas and pisachas (devils) exist similarly?
M.: Yes.

D.: How are we to conceive of Supreme Consciousness (Chaitanya Brahman)?
M.: As that which is.

D.: Should it be thought of as Self-Effulgent?
M.: It transcends light and darkness. An individual (jiva) sees both. The Self enlightens the individual to see light and darkness.

In another place the great Maharishi assists the devotee on self enquiry as below.

D.: The Vedas contain conflicting accounts of Cosmogony. Ether is said to be the first creation in one place; vital energy (prana [?]) in another place; something else in yet another; water in still another, and so on. How are these to be reconciled? Do not these impair the credibility of the Vedas?
M.: Different seers saw different aspects of truths at different times , each emphasising some one view. Why do you worry about their conflicting statements? The essential aim of the Veda is to teach us the nature of the imperishable Atman and show us that we are That.

D.: I am satisfied with that portion.
M.: Then treat all the rest as artha vada (auxiliary arguments) or expositions for the sake of the ignorant who seek to trace the genesis of things and matters.

D.: I am a sinner. I do not perform religious sacrifices (homas), etc. Shall I have painful rebirths for that reason? Pray save me!
M.: Why do you say that you are a sinner? Your trust in God is sufficient to save you from rebirths. Cast all burden on Him. In the Tiruvachagam it is said: "Though I am worse than a dog, you have graciously undertaken to protect me. This delusion of birth and death is maintained by you. Moreover, am I the person to sift and judge? Am I the Lord here? Oh Maheswara! It is for you to roll me through bodies (by births and deaths) or to keep me fixed at your own feet." Therefore have faith and that will save you.

D.: Sir, I have faith - and still I encounter difficulties. Weakness and giddiness afflict me after I practise concentration.
M.: Breath-control (pranayama [?]) properly performed should increase one's strength.

D.: I have my professional work and yet I want to be in perpetual dhyana [?]. Will they conflict with each other?
M.: There will be no conflict. As you practise both and develop your powers you will be able to attend to both. You will begin to look on business as a dream. Says the Bhagavad Gita: "That which is the night of all beings, for the disciplined man is the time of waking; when other beings are waking, then is it night for the sage who seeth." (11.69.)

Interactions with Kanchi Seer

Kanchi Seer Shri Chandrasekara Saraswathi Swamigal during his pada yatra visited Arupathy and all arrangements for swamigal and his entourage were taken care by Arupathy Natesa Iyer.

In the year 1952, the senior Kanchi Seer expressed a wish that Vasantha Navarathri for 10 days be organized in Arupathy village. Kanchi Maha periava sent word to Natesa Iyer, asking him if he can host the Kanchi Archraya and his entourage for 1 month during the month of Karthigai. Kanchi swamigal wanted to perform Rudra Homa for 10 days and enquired if Natesa Iyer had the wherewithal, men and materials to take care of his entourage for 1 month and also the visitors who would be flocking the village to have the darshan and audience of Maha Periayval. Natesa Iyer humbly sent his response to Swamigal that the auspicious dates for his visit may be fixed immediately and needed things will be secured. Natesa Iyer also expressed his happiness and was glad at the opportunity provided to be of service to Kanchi Maha periayava and readily organized the events with all humbleness and devotion. He personally managed and oversaw the preparation and his attention did not slip even of the minutest of details. The Rudha homan was conducted well with the blessings of Kanchi swamigal, and Swamigal was very well pleased with the arrangements and blessed Arupathy Natesa Iyer and his family with all prosperity and happiness.

During that time there was a huge storm with fierce winds. The family still recalls with devotion that the ‘Akanda deepam’ lit by Kanchi periava did not extinguish or got blown off by the fierce winds during the entire duration of his stay.

In spite of his wealth and fame, Shri Natesa Iyer lived a life of complete austerity. He had his own personal attendant who doubled up as his cook as well. In his end years Shri Ramamoorthy Iyer was his personal attendant and cook. (Ramamoorthy Iyer worked as Kariyasthan ( Estate Manager) with the family even after Natesa Iyer’s demise).

As they say, every great human being has his moment of weakness. Arupathi Natesa Iyer was a successful advocate in Madurai of fame and repute. He was learned man in Vedas and Sastras. It is still an enigma why he supported the Anti-temple entry movement and remained as a protagonist supporting the movement which was against the Temples of south India being opened to Harijans! Did he attempt to preserve the fossilized social structure of discrimination in places of worship? Or was he a forced pawn in the hands of ‘Sanadanis’ ? (Sanadanis – The group which opposed the entry of Harijans into temples). He filed a case against the Temple entry movement in Madras High court and lost the case.

It may be noted, On the temple entry issue Sir C P Ramaswamy Iyer as Dewan of Travancore opened the temple gates in Travancore State to the Harijans. The then Maratha ruler/prince Rajaram Sahib of Thanjavur followed suit and opened the Thanjavur Big temple and other temples in and around Thanjavur district

Remarks from author (Sundaresan):

As an aside, let us not sit in Judgment, on the above instance. In this blog I have always written about both on the positive and not so positive attributes of all our ancestors and great personalities. We do not know the society, as well as the compulsions of his time and it is easier to pass judgment one way or the other. Lets take this in our stride and allow it to pass on.

The end years of Arupathy Natesa Iyer was spent in devotion. He shuttled between Arupathy and Mayiladuthurai frequently. He used to frequently attend Katha kalashebam by Thethiyur Subramania Sastrigal. One evening, as he was preparing himself to leave for Seetha Rama kalyana katha kalashebam by Manjakudi Rajagopala Sastrigal , He collapsed in his easy chair and passed away immediately, in the year 1955 (January) . Smt Yogambal passed away in 1973.

Connections between Arupathy and Sattanatahpuram families:
Shri K N Ramanatha Iyer ( s/o Natesa Iyer of Kaveripattinam and Smt Managalam of Sattanathapuram) was married to Arupathy Natesa Iyer’s daughter, Smt Baghirathi and thereby the first 'sambandam' between the Arupathy and SNP came into existence (ofcourse via a Kaveripattan axis).

Arupathy Natesa Iyer’s granddaughter Smt Kamala is married to S.Natarajan – (s/o J.Subramani Iyer) of Sattanathapuram.

Acknowledgements:

1. My sincere and profound thanks, as well as gratitude to smt Kamala Natarajan (Granddaughter of Arupathy Natesa Iyer) for providing the valuable inputs on Natesa Iyer. On a number of occasions she consulted Smt Alamelu (Ambukka patti) Daughter in law of Shri Natesa Iyer and ensured the veracity of the contents.

2. Sincere thanks to Sekar Balasubramaniam (Grandson of Arupathy Natesa Iyer) for providing valuable details and photographs.

Shri K.Gopalakrishna & Smt Mathuram

2010-12-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

Greetings.

We must become the Change, we want to see in the World - Mahatma Gandhi

True to the words of Gandhiji, we see in this section, an interesting article about Shri K.Gopalakrishna & Smt Mathuram who rose from humble beginnings to greater heights in their career and life. Shri Gopalakrishna would probably be the 1st Industrialist in our Sattanathapuram family.

The below article contributed by Smt Uma Narayanan grand daughter of K.Gopalakrishna & Smt Mathuram.

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Shri K.Gopalakrisha was born to N.Kailasam Iyer (hailing from Sattanathapuram) and Smt Meenakshi (hailing from Umayalpuram near Swamimalai/Kumbakonam). Shri N.Kailasam Iyer was a sub-Judge in the Madras presidency and served in what is to day Andhra Pradesh.

Born on the 19th July 1899, in Cuddappah (A.P). K Gopalakrishna had his early education in Kumbakonam. His College principal, an Englishman sensed his passion for engineering and encouraged him.

He came to Madras in his twenties and began life as a “Dubash” with Gillanders Arbuthnot. His love for motor vehicles led him to establish an agency for AJS motorcycles and Robert Bosch of Germany. This led to the establishment of the Union Company Motors which became one of the earliest Indian owned distributors for cars like Wolseley, Nash and others, and later Standard cars.
The assembly of Standard cars was started in a shed in Chrompet. On acquiring land at Perungalathur, Standard Motor Products of India Ltd. became full scale manufacturers of Standard cars - the Vanguard, Standard Pennant, Standard Companion, the Standard-20 van and the Standard 2000 car.
In 1956, he formed a collaboration with Armstrong of UK to produce shock absorbers and in 1959 with Solex & SEV of France to produce carburettors. These led to the manufacture of various car ancillaries under the banner of UCAL.

Shri Gopalakrishna passed away on 06.03.1977

In the 21st century vocabulary, he was a man with a strong corporate responsibility. The trusts began by him led to the founding of SOS Children’s Villages of India – Chatnath Homes, Karna Prayag and the K Gopalakrishna Dept. of Neurology at the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Voluntary Health Services, Taramani.

SOS Children's Villages of India - Chatnath homes : Chatnath Homes, a charitable trust affiliated with the SOS Children’s Villages of India! http://www.soschatnathhomes.in/

Karnaprayag Trust Centre for Women and Children is a reception centre for abandoned infants and babies: http://www.karnaprayag.in/

Shri K.Gopalakrishna and Smt Mathuram Gopalakrishna

Sattanatahapuram family tree link

Smt Madhuram Gopalakrishna

Born in Kumbakonam, to Sharada and Srinivasan, Madhuram Goplakrishna was born in the year 1903, and was the youngest of five children .

She was an outstanding beauty. She was given in marriage to Shri.K.Gopalakrishna at the age of thirteen .They had one daughter Alamelu and four grandchildren. Smt. Madhuram was a very pious woman . She was instrumental in renovating the Balasubramanya Swamy temple in Teynampet and in performing its Kumbabishegam. She was very generous and contributed money and of her time to various charitable and social organisations like the Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam and the Saradha ladies union She donated property to Chatnath Trust,. She was an ardent devotee of Maha Periyava of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam and followed the Sage's precepts. She died in 1986...

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Another connection between Sattanathapuram and Arupathy family

Arupathy Selvaganapathy Iyer (S/O Arupathy Natesa Iyer) wife is known as Smt Alamelu. (We affectionately call her as ambukka patti). Her grand mother was Sanamma patti a direct sister of Meenakshi Ammal (Shri K.Gopalakrishna’s mother). Sanamma patti was married to Yagnasami Iyer of Nangavaram who practiced as a lawer in Madurai.

Shri Gopalakrishna's daughter is Alamelu alias Baby. She was married to Shri K.V.Srinivasan a Chartered accountant of Komal near Kuttalam.

Advocate K.Sitarama Iyer & Smt Janaki Ammal

2010-10-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

I’m extremely happy and delighted, to see that lot of people are taking interest to dig deep into their ancestry and start writing about their ancestors. One of my objectives, when I started writing a few years back about ancestry was to arouse the passion in individuals to shed light on ancestry and the greatness of their ancestors to the succeeding generations.

I have always believed true greatness comes from “strength of character” and not by money or wealth alone.

In this edition we see a small write-up about Advocate K.Sitarama Iyer and his wife Smt Janaki Ammal. We have seen about them in brief under the main article “SNP Clan : Shivasubbarayar to Jagadeesan Iyer, Manni Patti (Bhagirathi)”

The photographs and write up about smt Janki ammal is contributed by Shri Chandrasekar.

From Left to Right: Sri Krishnaswamy Iyer with his wife Smt Madhurambal (a)Kunjammal standing behind him. Sri Anantharama Iyer, with his wife known as Avanam Patti standing behind him. The child is Rajammal (Krishnaswamy Iyer's daughter)

Sri Anatharama Iyer is the Father In Law of Krishnaswamy Iyer [ Sri Sitarama Iyer's maternal grandfather]

The above photgraph is 106 years old [As on 03rd Nov'2010]

Krishnaswamy Iyer had 2 sons and 1 daughter. K.Sitarama Iyer and K.Jayarama Iyer. The daughter smt Rajaammal was married to Shri G.R.Muthuswami Iyer belonging to a reputed family in Ganapthy Agraharam.

Advocate K.Sitarama Iyer and Smt Janaki Ammal

Sitarama Iyer was a reputed advocate in Sirkazhi and also a government pleader. Sitarama Iyer was also the trustee of the Sivan kovil temple before S.S. Srinivasa Iyer. (Present trustee). One can still see a stone plaque in the ‘Arulmigu Kailasanathar temple’ in Sattanathapuram, mentioning the name of Sri Sitarama Iyer, under whose trusteeship the Kumbhabhishekam was performed in 1961. Later he handed over the trusteeship to S.S.Srinivasan Iyer and family who was his nephew once removed.

He was also the founder of the “SATTANATHER COLONY” in Sirkazhi town.

Smt Janaki ammal was born on 15th august,1905, to Shri K.Ramachandra Aiyer,& Smt Kamalambal. Sri K. Ramachndra Iyer was an reputed advocate who practiced in Madras High court. The house where he lived in, was known as "Rama Vilas" in West Mada street, Mylapore. Rama Vilas used to be a hub of activities with all the family members & grand children converging there for vacation and festivities. In the ancestral abode of Rama Vilas , Loads of fun, affection and an ambience of warmth was ever present. Even to this date, one has a nostalgic feeling when passing by "Ramavilas" and the recollection of those memorable days come before the eyes of the progenies of K.Sitarama Iyer.

After marriage, the couple settled in Sirkazhi.

Family tree of K.Sitarama Iyer is enclosed

Link to Sattanatapuram main family tree

The children of K.Sitarama Iyer & smt Janaki ammal are Smt Dhanalakshmi, Shri Gopalakrishnan (Gopu), Sri B.S.Haridh (Balu) and Sri Chandrasekaran (Chandru).

Smt Janaki Ammal was an embodiment of affection and personified a typical house wife. Her world was her family and she placed her husband and children before everything else. Her attachment towards the family was total. In her 60 years of married life with Sri Sitarama Iyer, it is said that she had never left her husband alone in Sirkazhi and had gone to visit her close relatives in Chennai. They were inseparable. Fame and repute were in attendance to Sri Sitarama Iyer and In spite of that, she maintained the same humble moorings & refrained from exhibition of lavishness. She was not an ardent devotee indulging in big poojas, but at the same time believed in the power of almighty & performed the daily prayers.

Smt Janaki ammal in her younger days, had attended Violin classes, & reached a level of proficiency. Sri.Chandrasekar owes to his mother, for developing in him an interest in Carnatic music and fondly remembers the days when she used to sing in a relaxed mood, relaxing in the swing (oonjal) & Sri Chandrasekar by her side, used to identify the ragas.

Janaki ammal passed away on 23rd June,1986.

The ultimate tribute to her can be seen in the glowing references advocate K.Sitarama Iyer had made and noted them in his "Will".

Progenies of K.Sitarama Iyer & Janaki ammal: Left to Right:Chandru,Dhanalakshmi,Gopu and Balu

The below article written by Shri Chandru (3rd son of Sri K.Sitarama Iyer)
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SHRI K.SITARAMA AIYER.

Sri K.Sitarama Aiyer was born on 6th June 1898 as the eldest son (member) to Sri R.Krishnasamy Aiyer & Smt Madhurambal (of Sattantahapuram village).He was born in Avanam village at the ancestral house of his maternal grandparents. With his father passing away at an early age,the family responsibility fell on him.His sister Rajammal was married by then.Shri Jayaraman, his brother was then a child,&17 years younger to him.Chithappa (Paternal Uncle) was totally brought up by him with a fatherly figure.

He was so much attached to his maternal grandparents that even during his college days ( B.A in KMU college, & Law College in madras.), he made very frequent visits to Avanam to enquire about them as well as look after them. It is said that, on a particular day, on a very sudden inexplicable urge, he reached Avanam only to be by the death bed of his loving grandfather . Till the end of his life, he performed the annual ceremonies to his maternal grandparents with devotion.

A totally self made person, his life was a perfect blend of the then modern professional life & that of a village mirasdar.

On the Professional front: He set up his practice as a lawyer at Nagapattinam & subsequently moved to Sirkali. With a humble beginning, sheer devotion, hard work, & seniors’ guidance, he steadfastly rose up to reach the top of the bar, & quite deservingly appointed as the Government-pleader. At the early stage, as a member of the bar committee he played a leading role in successfully persuading the Govt. to retain the District Munisfff’s court at Sirkali. He had a great sense of professional ethics & one of the high court judges (the then Dt Munisiff of Sirkali), said “Sri Sitarama Aiyer is one of the very few advocates, I have come across in my career with highest devotion & honesty in the profession.” after, we, (the children) were comfortably settled, he chose to/opted for a retired life much against the wishes of his loyal clients, defacto throwing away a good practice.
On the Personal front: He was a very loving husband, father, & a Grand father. He was very keen & desirous of his children well educated & settled. The excitement, satisfaction & the glee in his eyes- I still cherish- on my good performance of securing the magical figure of 400+/600 in SSLC exams.

As a mirasdar, he was a tough task master, with a high degree of humane touch with all the managerial traits. Typical of a mirasdar’s house, there used to be a cart, bullocks, & cows, with a male servant in attendance. He devoted time paying special attention &care for the cattle’s. His return home from the court will be announced/welcomed/heralded fondly by the cows with a loud maa**** sound in chorus. Without even removing the black coat, he used to straight proceed to the cowshed, give them an affectionate pat, calling them “chellangala”, will pullout handful of hay from the stack,& hand feed them—will lead them to the water tub, stirring it with a special stick. While they were being fed, especially on the mattu pongal day, he used squat in front of them, hand mixing the feed, thirst quenching of the new born calf with a ”paalladai”—almost sitting on it, with his legs apart &pulling out it’s (calf)tongue--- a scene to be enjoyed. He bought from his client Sri Madanagopal Naidu of Edamanal Estate, a bullocks drawn cart specially designed, cushioned, with the rim of the wheels tyred, & with windows (cathu vandi), being a novice those days. He visited Sattanathapuram riding in it, well recognized by the locals as Vakil ayya’s veetu vandi. With his professional acumen, he formed a co-op society & founded the Shri Sattanather housing colony, which today boasts of as the best residential locality at Sirkali. Ours is a big bungalow built there in 1954 & he spent his retired life peacefully in it with mother, till the end.

An endearing smile on his face was his forte. Vaira kadukkan, Vaira rings, & Jariga angavastram were his trade marks. He addressed the children & the loved ones affectionately as “chellam”.

He was able to adopt himself to any company of any age group with pleasure. His rappot with Sattanathapuram cousins was excellent & they, plus the village karnam affectionately & reverentially addressed him “Anna” (elder brother), & sought & valued his council. He appreciated & enjoyed Carnatic music by the stalwarts of his era. His love for cricket was notable &enjoyed listening to the test match commentary.

Religious front: During his tenure as trustee of the Shiva temple at Sattanatapuram he performed kumbabishekam in 1961. He maintained a balanced outlook on religion. He visited Kasi, Gaya,& Allahabad triveni sangamam, & performed ceremonies to the ancestors.

After a brief illness he passed away on 20th february,1975 at his eldest son Gopu’s house in madras.

He lived a life true to ‘Thomas Gray’s “Elegy written in a courtyard”
“Far from the madding crowd the ignoble learned to srive.”

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Smt Dhanalakshmi, (eldest daughter of Sri K Sitarama Iyer and Smt Janaki ammal) was married to Shri Balasubramaniam.Smt Dhanalakshmi, currently lives in Bangalore.

Shri K.R.Krishnasamy aiyer,the elder brother of smt Janaki ,was an advocate who practiced in Madras high court. He was married to Smt Visalam, his maternal uncle's daughter.

Smt Jayalakshmi, (eldest sister of Smt Janaki ammal) was married to Justice Panchapagesa Sastry.

Shri Appu Sami aiyer , retired as chief cashier in Indian Bank.He was married to smt Gowri ammal, the daughter of Shri Naganatha sastry, Sanskrit Scholar and reputed advocate from Tanjavur.

Madurai Shri M.Venkatarama Iyer

2010-01-26T06:52:00.000-08:00

At the outset, I wish you and your family warm greetings on the advent of New Year 2010. Wishing you continued success, health, happiness and prosperity to one and all.

It has been quite some time that I had put down pen to paper. While going through a file handed over to me by Shri C.R.Natarajan (Papa mama), I found a small pamphlet containing the below information. It is about one of our Ancestors titled
“ The life of the Honourable Mr. M.Venkatarama Iyer – B.A B.L”

I immediately thought that this should be put to the blog without wasting any further time. Thanks to Papa mama for preserving this pamphlet for well over 45 years and handing it over to me, else valuable information about this great person would have gone down the drain.

Shri M Venkatama Iyer was the son of Muthuswamy Iyer's. Muthuswamy Iyer was the man who is said to have been a tahsildar and was owner of vast stretches of land in Devadanappatti and a few other villages that were inherited. Muthuswamy Iyer's daughter, was Meenakshi and was married to Naganatha Sasthri of Tanjore (originally from Pudukkottai and son of Venku Iyer).

For continuity readers may refer to the below links
Mr. Venkatarama Iyer is the brother in law of Shri Thanjavur Naganatha Sastry . Thanjavur Shri P.V. Naganatha Sastry:
http://snp-roots.blogspot.com/2008/08/thanjavur-p-v-naganatha-sasthri-1867-to.html

Plz also refer to the Madurai family link
http://snp-roots.blogspot.com/2008/08/madurai-muthuswamy-iyer-family.html

We read with awe and majesty, on how our pre-Independence leaders have fought for Social upliftment, Child Marriages abolition , establishment of homes for widows ,formation of Banks, being part of pre-Independence Shipping Company etc etc. How great it would be to know, there was one such great luminary in our own family fold. Read below article about a legal Luminary, who achieved all the above and much more within a life span of just 20 years, after he has been educated.

Background information:

A function has been organized on 8-11-1965 at ‘Victoria Edward Hall’ Madurai to celebrate the Centenary of Honorable Shri M. Venkatarama Iyer.
I’m reproducing the contents in the pamphlet printed as part of this occasion.

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The life of the Honorable Mr. M.Venkatarama Iyer, B.A.B.L

Mr. M. Venkatarama Iyer was born on 08-09-1865 in Madurai and died on 28-12-1909. He was a student of government High school, Madura and after matriculating in 1879, he went to Kumbakonam to study his F.A. at the Kumbakonam college. After passing creditably in F.A. he joined Presidency College Madras to take his degrees in Arts and Law. He got many gold medals and prizes. He was then apprenticed under Sir S.Subramania Iyer and enrolled as High court Vakil on 27th April 1888.

For the first 4 years he was editing a local weekly paper ‘Madura Mail’. In that period he has advocated various social reforms like Temperance Movement, Abolition of child marriage, Establishment of Widows’ homes. He has condemned the practice of arranging Nautch party for festivals, and wanted abolition of Jamabandhi Hukh swinging festival and Jellicut. He has advocated Indianisation of public services and wanted separation of Judiciary from the executive. He wrote a powerful editorial about the Preservation of Tamil literature. He has advocated industrial development of the district by raising power from the Periyar and Talayar. He wanted abolition of Criminal Tribes Act.

He was an ardent congressman ever since 1890 when Madras Standing congress committee was formed. He was elected District Congress Committee member and held the post till his death. He has attended various congress sessions and served as Reception committee member. He formed the Madura District People’s association in 1904 like Madras Mahajan Saba. He took shares in Swadeshi steam Navigation company and gave loans.

He was a member of the Union Club since 1888 and was its secretary for some years. He has filed suits, for arrears of subscription. He has invited many national leaders like Dadhaboy Nowroji, Tilak to the Club.

He was a member of The Native College Committee from 1889 and was Secretary of the Madura College board from 1908. He has collected large funds to the College and through his efforts the Sethupathi High school and Victoria Hostel were annexed to the college board. He was also associated with Sree Meenakshi Vidayasala with Mr. A. Rengaswami Iyer.

• He was one of the 16 directors who started the Hindu Permanent Fund 0n 01-02-1894.
• He was one of the 7 pioneers who started the co-operative urban bank in 1906.
• He was the founder secretary of Vicoria Edward hall and collected about Rs 60000.
• He was Municipal councilor from 1899, brought various reforms like Vice chairmanship, sewage farms etc.
• He was member of the taluk board from 1892 and was its first elected vice-president from 1894.
• He was member of the Dsitrict board since 1901 and member of the Temple Committee of Meenakshi Devasthanam.
• He was Government Pleader and top leader of the Bar
• He was responsible to start the Madura Branch of the Indian Bank Ltd. And was its advisory committee member. (He resigned the Govt. Pleadership and sought election. He won by thumping majority, but alas he died in 1909 and could not sit even in the 1st session)

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Additional Information:

• The function was presided over by Sir P.T. Rajan B.A (OXON) BAR-AT-LAW .
• Mr K.R.Acharya F.C.A – Honorary Manging Editior Wealth and Welfare Madras was the chief guest.
• A souvenir has been released on the occasion by V.Kameswara Iyer ( Son of Venkatarama Iyer) to the chief guest on this occasion
• Welcome Speech given by Dr. T.V.Venkatesan Secretary Madura College Board.
• Portait of M.Venkatarama Iyer has been released in 2 places
o For Indian Bank by Sri.L. Alagusundaram Chettiar
o Fot Edward hall by Sri V.Santhanam
• Vote of thanks by Sri Sankaran M.L.A

Community Diwali Celebrations - by 7th A/B/C Friends Neighbourhood - Kalyan Nagar

2009-10-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

Team work demands a level of understanding of which no words are said, Just a look and the other person automatically responds to your call..

Residents of 7th A/B/C mains Kalyan Nagar once again came together in an unique show of camaraderie and celebrated community Diwali on a grand scale.

To recall, we celebrated 15th August’09 Independence Day celebration on a grand scale, which consisted of the following events
• our children exhibiting their talents through painting competition,
• Individual and group talent events,
• felicitating Government officials,
• Exciting games and
• the entire neighborhood enjoying the fun and frolic followed by a sumptuous dinner.

The momentum built needs to be sustained, and we planned to organizing the next set of events in our neighborhood.

In our residents meeting on 26th-Sept-2009, members made a proposal to celebrate community Diwali. The aim was to bring the Neighbors together and enhance bonding between each of us.

A core committee was formed to deliberate further and the team recommended the following

1. Aerial fireworks to be organized on 18th October-2009 (Sunday) in the open space between 7th A and 7th B main road intersection. 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
2. Potluck snacks get together to be organized in the evening. (Each family can bring in some sweets, Kara, special items etc made in their homes and share with their Neighbors). 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM
a. Venue: Wing Commander Thomas Babu’s portico area

 The contribution amount per family was fixed at Rs 400/- [Contribution for the event is voluntary]

Leaflets were circulated to all the houses in the neighborhood with an unambiguous and clear message “ Your Participation is key in making this event a grand success”

The event was a grand success. The atmosphere was very lively, with all the residents and their family in full attendance. The festive spirit was at its peak. 17 varieties of dishes along with betel leaves and nuts were available for the potluck dinner with residents enjoying the culinary skills of the neighborhood. Childerds and elders enjoyed the Aerial cracker display and dinner.

An article about the Community Diwali celebrations appeared in "Bangalore mirror" paper.
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=others&do=epaper

Page number 8 and article "TOGETHER, WE HAVE A BLAST!"

Community Diwali Celebrations

Gayatri Nair has nicely summed up the celebrations and the event and I do not want to repeat myself. the article is enclosed….

Article in Bangalore Mirror dated 15th Oct’2009 – By Gayatri Nair

TOGETHER, WE HAVE A BLAST!

Residents of 3 crosses in Kalyan Nagar will celebrate Community Deepavali and burst only aerial crackers in order to reduce noise and garbage

Akin to the community Ganesha festival, Deepavali too is going that way. All the 40 families who reside in 7th A, B and C crosses of Kalyan Nagar will celebrate Community Deepavali this time and burst only aerial crackers . Result: Less garbage and less noise.

SPREAD CHEER, NOT PAIN

Speaking to Bangalore Mirror , D S Rajshekar, a resident of Kalyan Nagar, said, We have, for the first time, planned to have a community Deepavali. All the 40-odd families living in 7th A, B and C crosses will come together to celebrate this festival on a BDA plot in Kalyan Nagar.
This is not just a neighbourhood building programme . It is much more. It is being done to keep surroundings clean and to prevent noise pollution, he said. Rajshekar said if the fire crackers are burst in one place, then the garbage collection , which includes the wrappers, will all be in one place, which means lanes will not become dirty .

BONDING EXERCISE

The Seventh Cross Friends Neighbourhood, as they call themselves, decided on this idea in August itself. This will enable the neighbours to bond better with one another , said Sundaresan Jagadeesan , a resident and senior manager, S T Ericsson . We have appointed sweepers who will clean the place after the celebrations.
Residents hope to reduce noise pollution too through this approach. We will not use any ground crackers. No bombs or chakras. We have opted for aerial crackers, including anar and rockets, for which all the families had to contribute Rs 400, said retired Wing Commander Thomas Babu, a resident of Kalyan Nagar for the past 15 years.
Giving a different perspective on aerial crackers, Kaushika Rama, a resident and a forex officer in Vijaya Bank, said, It is difficult to keep children away from crackers as they dont understand its repercussions. Restricting them to only aerial crackers will ensure they will have fun; at the same time, it will reduce the possibility of accidents.
When so many families are celebrating together, there is a better chance of elders watching over the children, he felt.

GHAR KA KHANA

Residents have taken the initiative of community building one step further by bringing sweets or eatables from home. Rajshekar said, We cant possibly ask one family to make food for all of us and we were not keen to have caterers. Each family will obviously make food for themselves, so they just have to slightly increase the quantity and bring some to the venue.
- by GAYATRI NAIR

To sum up, Of course in any society, we always have few Doubting Thomas’s. The organization of the event had its own challenges. The core committee had to burn its midnight oil to overcome these challenges. Finally we were successful in overcoming the incredulous thoughts and skepticism of few residents.

The collective will of the residents overcame all hiccups and ensured that the event was a grand success.
Thanks to the core committee members , the Residents, Bangalore Mirror for encouraging us in this initiative.

A Neighbourhood Initiative..........

2009-08-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

Strength to Succeed does not come from a Physical state, but an indomitable will.
- Mahatma Gandhi

The above words of Gandhiji came true once again when residents of 7th A/B/C main HRBR 1st Block – Kalyan Nagar, joined together, to celebrate an evening get together as part of our 63rd Indian Independence Day.

The neighborhood is actively engaging with each other for the last 1 year, with a goal of coming close to our neighbors and an intention of knowing each other better and helping one another whenever the need arises.

To further this goal, we conceptualized the theme “KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOUR” and “LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR”.

In the neighborhood monthly meeting of July’2009, a proposal was put forward to celebrate the Independence Day in a very unique manner, by bringing our neighborhood together, combining fun, frolic and showcasing of talents by our children, conducting painting competition and followed by sumptuous dinner.

We approached the residents with an unambiguous message “Your participation with family will add value to our Theme and participation of your children in the various events will bring in joy, color and light up our Independence Day program.”

When the resolution and the approximate budget was put forward in the meeting, it was received with an resounding positive message of “Aye”

Two core committee were formed, to oversee the preparations, with the
 1st team looking after the arrangements, venue, collections, dinner arrangements etc
 2nd team looking after the games, talent show and painting competition

Admiral O S Dawson, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, former chief of Naval staff & former High commissioner to New Zealand was the chief guest for this function

Wing Commander Thomas Babu & His wife felicitating Chief Guest Admiral O S Dawson

Mr Narasimaiah Assistant Commission of Police Banaswadi Police station, and Mr Sakri Inspector of Police were guest of Honors and shared the dais with Admiral O S Dawson as part of the celebrations.

Inspector of Police Mr Sakri , Admiral O S Dawson and Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr Narashimaiah

Government officials who were in charge and serving our locality were invited and presented a memento, in recognition of their service to our Kalyan Nagar locality. The people who were invited and presented with mementos were

Mr Guruswamy : Traffic Inspector of Police
Mr Mallareddy from BWSSB
Mr Chellapathy from BWSSB
Mr Lingappa from Corporation
Mr Kalse Gowda - Revenue officer BBMP
Mr Singh from Corporation

Mr Chalapathy AE BWSSB being felicitated by Sundaresan
Programs:

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing – Edmund Burke

Our compeer Ms Divya started the proceedings with the speech of Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” and did an excellent job for the evening.

Our chief Guest Admiral O S Dawson, who was veteran of the 1971 war and who was in charge of Naval operations, in his speech recalled the days of partition and the intention of British. What was 5 Provinces then is 29 states today. The day will not be far off, when we will need Passports to enter our neighboring states. He asked the youngsters to be on guard, against divisiveness based on Language, caste, creed and discrimination and stand vigil against such evil forces. The enemy is more within and internal than external. On seeing about 150 people in the gathering, he said “I see hope and youngsters like you will protect the hard fought freedom”

Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr Narashimaiah gave examples of the recent crime patterns and how youngsters are lured into crimes. He said, the responsibility lies with the parents of today, such that their children are inculcated with honesty, discipline, pride, truthfulness. Schools and other institutions can be of support, but the real teaching should commence from home.

Inspector Of Police Mr Sakri, thanked the residents for remembering the police department and other government bodies and felicitating them in such a huge gathering.

Both, ACP Mr Narasimhaiah and Inspector of Police Mr Sakri, promised that they will do their best for the residents, by attending to their needs and problems.

This was followed by Talent show from the children of our 7th A/B/C neighborhood. About 15 kids showcased their talent in Dance solo and group, Songs, key board, speech, and slokas. It was amazing to watch the young kids performing with passion, enthusiasm and energy without any stage fear. All the talent show participants were given a token memento.

Childrens of our Neighbourhood exhibiting their talents.....

The winners of the Painting competition were awarded in the stage. The prizes were sponsored by M/S Fevicol and thanks to Mr A Srinivas Editior of Wednesday Digest paper, who organized it and also gave news coverage about the initiatives of our residents forum.

The Painting competition was conducted on 9th August’2009 and about 30 plus children participated. This event was sponsored by Fevicol and 15 Prizes were distributed under Kindergarten, junior and senior category.

Mr Rajshekar - President Rotary club of Bangalore addressing the gathering

Mr Rajshekar, President Rotary club of Bangalore, gave a brief speech, on how a year back, it was 4 families which started this initiative and now it has grown upto 40 families. He recalled with the collective effort of residents,we were able to successfully address key civic issues like

 Water Problem
 Street Lights
 Parking of Heavy Vehicles inside the layout
 Garbage collection

and the above issues has been addressed/solved to certain extent.

This was followed by games starting with an ice breaker game. The games were enjoyed by one and all. It was heartening to note a very elderly couple Mrs and Mr Lingayah winning the 1st prize for “most compatible couple” – a truly fun game.!!

Residents Participating in Fun events

I (Sundaresan) proposed a vote of thanks, thanking residents for turning up in large numbers, the monetary support, passion and enthusiasm.

Special thanks to the following people,

1. Mrs Roshni Rajshekar and Mr Rajshekar
2. Mrs Revathy Gopinath and Mr Gopinath
3. Mrs Julie Dominic and Mr Dominic
4. Miss Nalini Manikraj & Mr Manikraj
5. Wing Commander Thomas Babu
6. Mr Sridhar
7. Mrs Pushpa Koushik
8. Mrs Sudha Jagadeesan & Sundaresan Jagadeesan
9. and all other volunteers

They really made a difference.

The Organizing committe members

The event ended with singing of National Anthem, followed by a sumptuous dinner.

Even the rain Gods had to submit to our collective spirits and after threatening to make the function a wash out, with dark clouds looming around just before the function deciding to stay at bay.

They were no match for our spirit and indomitable will :-)

The events and organization was appreciated by all the residents and participants and many of the residents personally thanked the organizing committee. Suggestions are already making rounds on the next get together event and other mini programs.

Some Positives and Pitfalls

Positives

1.A unambiguous goal and statement of purpose on why we wanted to have this get together and informing the residents “what’s in it for them”
2.Every small detail was worked out, keeping the big picture in mind
3.Assignment of work and delegation of responsibilities
4.Daily stand up meeting for 2 weeks to review progress, issues, pending work, next assignment. (A sort of SCRUM meeting!!)
5.A tight control on budget, so that expenditure does not exceed the collection from residents.
6.Involvement of Children by organizing Painting competition, talent show and games for elders
7.Two rounds of rehearsal were conducted for the talent show

Pitfalls

1.Communication gaps existed with the different sub-teams
2.Some members of the core team were not up to date, or turned late for meetings and this lead to duplication of effort, in bringing them upto speed
3.Couple of talent show programs were included in the last minute leading to anxiety
4.Few wrong escalations.

The key challenge in front of us is to sustain the momentum generated and increase the active participation from 40 plus families into 80 plus families.

JAI HIND

Inputs to Thesis. Subject- Racial Discrimination [from book: "A Passage to India" by E.M . Forrester ] - By Cadavasal R Natarajan

2009-06-27T23:06:00.000-07:00

Here, I assume the role of compiler and bring forward to our Blog community an interesting read. An exchange of information, between a Master and a Student which is narrated in Question and Answer fashion.

The exchange is between Shri Cadavasal R Natarajan and Mr Michael Hauss. I sought permission from Shri CRN to publish this article in my blog after the thesis was completed, with the associated request of Micheal, so that visitors to the blog will be benfitted with the contents of this exchange.

Read further....
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My name is Michael Hauss and i was informed by a colleague that you might be able to assist me in a part of my project for English class.

Each student in my Honors 2 English class is reading a different novel. I chose "A Passage to India" by E.M . Forrester because I have never read a piece of Indian literature and I thought that it would be different and interesting.

I am required to write a research paper that includes three parts:
1. What I Know,
2. The Search,
3. What I Discovered.
As a part of The Search, I need at least one first-hand source, which is where you might be able to help me. I have chosen to write about racial discrimination which is a prevalent topic in the novel.

Would you feel comfortable answering any of the following questions about
 racial disrimination,
 British colonial rule in India, or
 even just Indian culture in general?

The questions are :

1. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your ethnicity? If so,
how did it make you feel?

2. Did you lived in India during British rule?
 Can you briefly describe the English people's treatment of the Indians or the English people's treatment of you?
 Did you enjoy living in India under British colonial rule?
 Why or why not?
3. How has being Indian shaped your life today?
a. For example, do you incorporate aspects of Indian culture in your life today?
b. Are you proud of your Indian heritage now when you are living in the United States?

If you can answer any of these questions it would be a great help.

From: C R Natarajan To: Michael Haus

E M Forrester – A Passage to India Project. Racial discrimination in India during British rule.

Apropos your e-mail of 27th, April I will do what I can to help you . I can only provide you with a window of what I have heard, seen and minimally experienced.

I have tried to be honest in expressing my views, and may be guilty of violence to political correctness. You will be justified in rejecting wholly or partly my views that are not germane to your quest. There may be errors in semantics, punctuation etc. I have not had time to revise my submission. May be you will find answers to your queries not surgically incised. There is no copyright and you may use what is relevant to your paper.

Question. 1. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your ethnicity? If so, how did it make you feel?

Answer: I was 18 when India became independent in 1947. I did not experience discrimination under British rule in India which lasted till Aug. 1947. I hail from an affluent and educated family belonging to a mixed social circle of a few well-educated Englishmen who had great understanding of the aspirations of Indians for their freedom.

Discrimination was faced by those who worked under English supervisors e.g. Bureaucrats, but not when one was in an independent profession e.g. doctors or lawyers. My grandfathers were both highly successful lawyers of repute and were acceptable to the rulers as separate but equal and sometimes, as the same but unequal depending on the disposition of the ruling pack! The more understanding and liberal whites of the British Empire certainly had their regrets about not only leaving the princely life they led in India but also the hospitality, philosophy and culture of the society in which they moved and the loyalty of their subordinates. It must be said to their credit they did not conceal the regret or equivocate.

The educated White who understood the ebb and flow of history, realized that they have come full circle: they came to India obtaining concessions as traders and in between, they donned different roles, employees of the local rulers, tax collectors, fiefdom, military advisers, and victors post 1857 mutiny, rulers and then finally in 1947 back as traders and advisers. Some might have harbored a sense of superiority because they were once rulers and resented the equality and familiarity claimed by the educated Indian but such anger and resentment were vented in private drawing room discussions, or in segregated armed forces messes and social clubs.

In fact some of the social clubs were exclusively for the Whites e.g. Wellingdon Club in Mumbai, Gymkhana Clubs in provincial capitals. The “Whites Only” board in the Breach Candy swimming pool in Mumbai was removed more than a decade after Indian Independence. In cricket matches the Indian players were not allowed in the club premises and “whites only” segregation was the norm. During the war Indians selected as commissioned officers were designated as Viceroy's Commissioned officers and not as King's Commissioned officers, an invidious distinction without a difference! Hardly any Indian broke the glass ceiling and achieved the highest level in the armed forces hierarchy. The recognition came after independence.

I was in the Management cadre of a British company in India from 1956. Any open discrimination would have resulted in the guilty declared persona non grata by the Govt. of India on a proven incident. There was of course preferential treatment for the expatriates for e.g. the expatriate whites were paid a salary at least twice that of an Indian at the same level, provided rent free, furnished housing, club memberships etc. though some of them did not even have mid-school education while the Indians had to satisfy a higher standard viz. graduates or professionally qualified. Indians proficient at games like Cricket or Tennis and hailing from affluent, socially well placed families were selected. The Brits knew how to soften the barbs by having daily luncheon with the Indian officers and periodical in-house parties!

It did hurt to experience the difference in salary and perquisites, but, compared to Indian owned companies we were paid better and not treated like feudal serfs, a common enough phenomenon in Indian firms. Lack of employment opportunities stifled protest and mobility.

Having said all this, I must record that as long as the Indian worked well and contributed to the scheme of things, he was well rewarded, and his job was secure. Petty prejudices on ground of faith or caste or other factors did not affect career progression. It is attributed to George Bernard Shaw the quote, "If you have a Chinese in Whitehall the British administration would be better" or words to that effect - I am not vouching for the veracity of this quote! His comments were probably directed at local prejudices - ethnicity, region, faith, etc. that influenced policy and decision making by a Brit in the British Government, which a Chinese would not have imbibed. It is the same with a British manager in India, for whom local biases were of no moment.

My association with the British organization terminated in 1963 and my personal relationship with my then bosses still continues on a friendly basis of good vibes and nostalgia!

Question 2. Did you live in India during British rule? Can you briefly describe the English people's treatment of the Indians or the English people's treatment of you? Did you enjoy living in India under British colonial rule? Why or why not?

Answer: I lived in India during the sunset years of British rule in India by a weakened Britain, virtually bankrupted by the Second World War economically and manpower decimated by the war.

There were many good aspects of British rule in India. India was one unit and not the fragmented country divided by language, geographical barrier, faith, people led astray by political chicanery, regional interests trumping national needs that it is now. The administration of the country was fair and responses to people's needs in general being swift. There were of course instances of neglect as it happened during the great Calcutta famine, when British rulers did not act till it was almost useless. The British rulers had to display firmness and fairness and so carefully avoided even a semblance of favoritism in most decisions. Members of the Labor and Liberal parties in the British parliament wasted little time and missed no opportunity to pillory the ruling party for any real or perceived injustice to the Indians. The motive in all cases was not altruistic but the political gain that accrued was too good to be missed! Justice was not only done in most cases but appeared to be done also by the judiciary and administration.

There was the case of a British High Court Judge who shot and killed a young boy during anti-British riot, when his car was surrounded. The judge rescued himself from the bench until the trial was over, he was acquitted and then he returned to England.

Earlier there was the trial of General Dyer, the British officer who ordered shooting and killing of Indians when they assembled for a protest meeting against the British in Jallianwalabagh in the Punjab. There was the impeachment of Warren Hastings in the British Parliament, though Warren Hastings was not as corrupt or bad as he was made out to be, during his tenure in India as Governor General. Remember that it was he who had Bhagwad Gita translated into English. He was one of the few who had great respect for Indian spirituality and philosophy, jurisprudence and administration.

It was Lord Curzon, to whom Indians owe much for saving Taj Mahal from vandalism and for preserving monuments of Indian heritage by starting the Archaeological department of India. He was an imperialist and did what he believed was in the best interests of his King and his Country but he also understood the duty and obligation imposed on him as Viceroy of India to protect the land, heritage, culture, life, integrity and people of India. Indian Prisoners of War in the hands of the Japanese formed a separate regiment and fought the British. After the war they were tried for treason and desertion but acquitted, defended by a galaxy of Indian lawyers including Jawaharlal Nehru, whom the British imprisoned for well over two decades. Nehru was the first Prime Minister of free India.

There are many instances like this not only of British rule but also of earlier conquerors like the Mughals, the Slave dynasty who contributed much to India. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT RULE BY CONQUERORS MUST BE ACCEPTED.

Freedom is the birthright of every human. C Rajagopalachari, one of India's great intellectuals and Mahathma Gandhi's friend and companion said after independence, watching India's downward slide into corruption and party bickering said, "Self Government is no substitute for Good Government". It is governance for common good and not just self government. Decatur is reported to have said, "My country, may she always be right: but right or wrong, my country” and not as corrupted, "My country right or wrong." That is the sentiment of people like me in the twilight years of life, having lived through the golden era of India when Freedom was won not by violence but by non-violence .

To have lived at the same time as Mahathma Gandhi, to have seen him and heard him speak, to have experienced the power of a frail old man, sparsely dressed, with no armor except his walking stick that was more a prop than a weapon, confuse and defeat the most powerful colonial power in modern history is a feeling that is difficult to describe, but is only humbling. He epitomized the moral and spiritual strength of the country. When the last British Viceroy and Governor General of free India left India, he traveled in an open carriage amidst multitude of Indians, waving and chanting Good bye and Long live.

I do not believe there is a parallel in the history of nations that a people enslaved and ruled for nearly a century, treated the departing rulers as friends.

British rule or Indian rule, life has to be lived. Life is bittersweet and is not dependant on who rules the land in which one lives. At the same time, if the government of the country is in the hands of the unprincipled, the rapacious, the religiously bigoted, then life is hell. If at every moment there is an assault on the finer sentiments, a rape of beliefs, an incessant attack on values, then discretion is under threat, and humans are just Pavlova's dogs, conditioned to be morons. Fortunately such an experience I did not face when I lived in India.

Indians owe to Mahathma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and a few others of that era, that institutions for self government have been developed and India has remained a united country notwithstanding the differences in religion, language and ethnicity. Just a cursory examination of the neighboring countries or countries in other continents that emerged out of colonial rule will bring into sharp relief the quality of leadership in India that brought India out of colonial rule and to total independence.

There are problems to-day but thanks to the firm foundation of coequal branches of government the country lumbers along. Fissiparous tendencies are not uncommon in the history of nascent democracies. The legacy of the British in transport and communications, a fairly independent judiciary, a civil service that respects rule of law and precedents, armed forces that do not usurp the civilian rule formed the basics of Indian Self-rule in a parliamentary system under a constitution that has morphed in response to the times and people’s aspirations.

Question 3. How has being Indian shaped your life today? For example, do you incorporate aspects of Indian culture in your life today? Are you proud of your Indian heritage now when you are living in the United States?

Answer: The core of Indianness is summarized in the ancient sayings in Sanskrit, “Vasueiva Kutumbaham” meaning “The world is one family" and “Sathyam Ekam, Vipraha Bahuda Vadhanthi” viz “Truth is one and the wise call it by different names". The first is an understanding that humanity at large is one family. The Truth referred to is not the truth as applied in the courts of law, which is a perception of a happening, an incident that differs radically depending on the "eyes of the beholder". The Truth in the Rig Veda is the ultimate, that invisible force that governs our lives, notwithstanding our arrogant belief that we are masters of our lives; We experience that results of our actions or inactions are not what we expected but still we can not accept that we are not masters of our fate!

What defines an Indian is not the dress or language or religion. The Indians have by and large, managed to keep alive the tradition of oneness and unity and that is perhaps unequaled in any other land of geographic contiguity peopled by varied ethnic groups and religious beliefs. That is what has made India unique.
It is a common belief that there is an Indian culture, like Indian food, however varied it be. If Culture is considered to be an external manifestation and some sort of common behavior or norm, dance, music, dress or food, as is bandied about by the Indian Diaspora and touted by International "cultural" circles, then there is no Indian culture as such but only regional ones like Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil etc. but if one looks for a "Culture of India”, then an abstract commonality can be found - that culture is "the spirituality that unites all humankind and forms the basis Indian ethos, philosophy and living and not the religion that divides mankind".
When I see around me the great evangelists preaching that "my God is better than your God" and seeking to clothe people differently, without in any manner changing their mind-set of hatred and bigotry but inculcating and infusing greater and deeper divides, I pay homage to the seers of India and my forefathers for having brought me up in that culture of India that believes in the world being one family, Truth being one, in the acceptance of seeming plurality in unity and in the non-violence of mind as much as the body.

I am very perturbed and saddened by apostasy (of religious conversion without total faith) and equally by the blindness of unreasoned faith. What is ridiculed as blind faith in one religion is glorified as Divine intercession in another. Parthenogenesis may be the answer but then, how can man accept that, despite the common factor of Life, the organisms different from Man are not subject to divine law, as they are lower! In evolution Man is said to have developed discretion, reasoning, understanding nature and life, and purpose. On the other hand sections of humanity are trashed because they have a different faith, or bribed into believing that short term material affluence is the path to eternal bliss; profit trumps probity, means justify end and principles are only temporary expediencies!

One does not have to incorporate any culture in daily life as changing clothes for a state dinner but the culture that is imbibed is a part of existence. It has taken a long journey for me to have taken a peep through a small slit, the light of the philosophy and culture of India. No other culture has displayed the width and breadth of tolerance and acknowledgment of the variety of philosophical thought, freedom of debate - a range that starts at one end of the scale with the Omar Khayyam "unborn yesterday, dead tomorrow, what boots it if to-day be sweet" pulsating through lines of demarcation of the divine and the human, culminating in the fusion of the abstract with the material and reconciling it with the impermanence of everything, almost Nihilism!

If I had lived in India, I would not have developed as much appreciation of the rich heritage of India, a geographical entity, the diversity in commonness of the people of India and above all the great responses to eternal questions that are yet unanswered by other traditions. The tragedy of human race lies not in its diversity but in its failure to seek and find its roots in the common spirituality, and, instead clothe themselves in divisive religious indoctrinations. Rig Veda, said to be the oldest scripture of over four thousand years does not extol the virtue of one God over the other or treats divinity as exclusive but pays homage to Nature.

Religion as is known to-day does not appear in the Vedas. I am proud to have been brought up and nurtured in the faith of my forefathers and the seers of India. The tragedy of modern day religious beliefs is the intransigence, bigotry, intolerance, commercialization and politicization. Indian values have survived assaults from within and without and have survived. I am proud, not in the egoistical sense, but in the humility that the culture of India has infused in me. It is time that reason infects intellect, and intellect injects understanding of human values. If I am considered a non-believer it does not hurt me but I will quote Lord Byron
Religion—freedom—vengeance—what you will, A word’s enough to raise mankind to kill.
I am proud of my heritage, culture and philosophy and will be so wherever I live, be it USA or Europe or the Arab world.

Response of Micheal after he presented the thesis

Dear Mr. Natarajan,

School is finally over and I wanted to let you know what my grade was on my Passage to India project. There were 4 different parts, including an oral presentation and I got a 92% on all of the parts. That was the second highest grade in my class of 33 students! .I want to thank you again for all of your wise words, quotes and information. Without your guidance, I am certain that I would not have done so well. Thank you. I greatly enjoyed e-mailing and "talking" with you.

Michael Hauss

Madurai - Advocate R.Krishnaswamy Iyer

2009-06-17T02:55:00.001-07:00

“OM Sree Gurubhyo Namaha”

At the outset I start with pranams to Jagadguru His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Abhinava Vidyatheerta swamigal, the 35th Pontiff of Sri Sringeri Saradha Peetham

Jagadguru Sri Sri Abhinava Vidyatheerta swamigal - 35th Pontiff of Sri Sringeri Saradha Peetham

In this epistle I write about Madurai - Advocate R.Krishnaswamy Iyer. This year happens to be centenary year of Advocate R.Krishnaswamy Iyer as well.

Advocate R Krishnaswamy was a true reflection of the statement “A contended mind is a continual feast”. He lived a life which echoed the words in letter and spirit, “To a large-hearted person The whole world is his family.” . He is an exemplary example of selfless service and true sacrifice. His Service and devotion to the Sringeri mutt was unparalleled. When anybody questioned him on what he had saved for himself and his family, His steadfast response and oft repeated words were, “I have put everything in Godess Sharadha Ambal Bank”. Ambal will protect all of you. He was an epitome of tolerance.

Shri R.Krishnaswamy offering 'Poornakumbam' respects to His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidya Theertha swamigal

Shri Krishnaswamy did his Bachelor of Arts and then did his Bachelor of Law in Trivanduram Govt Law collage. He setup his base in Madurai. The family lived in No 61, Dhanappa Mudali street in Madurai. (Just few houses away from Shri V.Kameshwara Iyer, whose clan I’m related to!). They later moved on to Natarajapuram Agraharam. He practiced as an advocate in the Madura, and frequently visited the sub-courts in the districts surrounding Madurai. He used to wear a dhothi [Panjakacham], a black coat and Turban. In Natarajapuram agraharam he is still fondly remembered by old timers as “Turban Thatta”. In one of my visits to Madurai, a person known to me, after enquiring the antecedents of my wife remarked in Tamil with joy –‘oh you have married turban thatta’s granddaughter!’. Such was the affection of people towards him, who had known him.

Advocate R Krishnaswamy Iyer was very emotionally attached to his Maternal Uncle M.S.Mantreshwar Sharma.

On many occasion he has travelled to Sringeri with his uncle M.S.M Sharma. R.Krishnaswamy Iyer along with uncle M.S.M Sharma, played a pivotal role in shaping up the events related to administration of Sringeri Mutt in 1944.

The events and details are well chronicled in a book titled “ The Crest Jewel of Yogis - A biography and advices of the peerless preceptor His Holiness Abhinava Vidya Theertha Mahaswamigal “ – First Volume compiled by Sri Umesh and Published by Sri Sharada Trust. The details can be found in the chapter “Epitome of Tolerance”

The section “Epitome of tolerance” narrates the steps taken by the staunch disciples of the Mutt to maintain the Independence and authority of the Head of the Math in the matters of administration.
 There were people with vested interests who wanted the math administration to be taken over by the Government. Lot of false propaganda were spread with malicious intent.
 M.S.M. Sharma was instrumental in sorting out the issues with the government. He along with key delegates personally met and clarified certain key points to Mr K V Anantharaman – The Revenue and Endowments minister of Mysore state. The meeting took place on 10-07-1944.
 On 11-07-1944, the M.S.M Sharma went to Sringeri and appraised His Holiness Chandrasekara Bharathi Swamigal and His Holiness Abhinava Vidhya Theertha Swamigal.
 M.S.M Sharma wrote a epistle to the minister appraising him on his discussions with the Acharaya’s and left for Karachi.
 After a lapse of few days, Shri R.Krishnaswamy Iyer ( Nephew of M.S.M Sharma) had met the Minister K.V. Anantaraman, in Madurai. The minister has indicated that the Government will not act on the false propaganda and it is fully aware of the strong protests from the South. He has also indicated that he has put a note in the file for future reference.

Madurai Advocate R.Krishnaswamy Iyer has maintained a full written account of the events of 1944. This has been handed over to the author R.M Umesh who has acknowledged the same in his book. The written notes have been verified by Dharmatma Dr V.Vaidyasubramanya Iyer.

Advocate RK handled many cases related to the administration of Sringeri Math and properties. He used to get invited to the Sringeri math , whenever key dignitaries were visiting the math. RK used to ensure the protocol aspects were clearly followed during the dignitaries visit. RK used to accompany Shri Abhinava Vidya theerta Bharathi swamigal during his long evening walks around Narshimavanam and used to update him on various legal aspects and other general issues.

Shri R.Krishnaswamy Iyer with His Royal Highness the King of Nepal : Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev,

Shri R.Krishnaswamy Iyer with President V.V.Giri during his visit to Sringeri

He married his own maternal aunt Grand-daughter Vedambhal. The couple had 7 children and only the last daughter Meenakshi survived.

Meenakshi was married to M.Jagadeesan [s/o Sanskrit scholar Mahalinga Sastry hailing from Vyacherry village near Ayyampetteai between Kumbakonam and Tanjavur] and had a daughter Sudha. Shri Jagadeesan was employed with TATA and the couple settled in Bombay. Meenkahsi lost her husband Jagadeesan very early in her life, in a tragic accident in 1977. There upon the family moved back to Madurai and the responsibility of taking care of his daughter and grand daughter fell upon RK’s shoulders. The incident severely affected the health of RK’s wife Vedhambal and came as a rude mental shock to her daughter smt Meenkashi.

The tragic disturbances in his family life, neither affected RKs devotion in Godess Sharadha ambal nor his unshakable faith in His Guru Shri Abhinava Vidya Theertha swamigal. He looked at the incident and related suffering to his family as a reflection of some unfinished karma in his previous births. RKs mind neither harbored ill-will nor had an iota of doubt on the existence of GOD. He overcame this grief, by associating even more strongly with the Mutt and his Guru.

It is said, he has received profound advice and counseling from his Guru Holiness Jagadguru Abhinava Vidhyatheertha swamigal, w.r.t to the cosmic events surrounding the loss of his son-in-law. He has not shared the dialogue between him and His Guru to anybody else.

Shri R.Krishnaswamy Iyer with His Guru His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidya Theertha swamigal

Any normal human being would have crumbled to pieces on such a fate befalling their most loved and adorned daughter, but here we see RK, as a tall edifice, taking things by his stride and not complaining about it as well. Most importantly, rather than going into a shell, he had a vision to look forward and plan the succeeding events in her life.

Smt Meenakshi got further educated, took up a job as a teacher in Chennai, and with the tireless efforts of R.Nagarajan (His c-brother) got a job in TELCO (Now TATA Motors) on compassionate grounds and then smt Meenakshi shouldered the responsibilities of running the family.

RK performed daily puja’s to Bana Lingam which was given to him by His Holiness Abhinava Vidyatheertha swamigal. One of his habits was collecting photos of his Guru. He had vast repository of rare photos.

H.H. Jagadguru Abhinava Vidyatheertha swamigal in coversation with Lord Narasimha

His love and affection for his grand daughter was total. On every Janma Nakshtram (On Birth star of every year), special poojas were performed in Madurai and a Red Rose Garland was handed over to Sudha as pooja prasadham.

RK-Vedhambal Shastiapthapoorthi was performed in Madurai and Sadhabhishekam was performed in Bangalore

RK made all arrangements for celebrating the Shastiapthapoorthi of his co-brother Nagarajan - Maragatham (Chotta chitti), in Srigeri and blessed by His Holiness Abhinava Vidya theerta swamigal. While taking leave of Swamigal after the function, Mahasannidhanam Abhinava Vidya theertha Swamigal with his ever characterstic smile asked RK “ Enna Krishnaswamy Iyer, ungalukku thripthi thane” [ RK – Are you satisfied ?] . Tears just rolled down the cheeks of RK and he performed Shastanga Namaskaram to his Guru.

RK was very active in his profession till he was 80 years old. He moved to Bangalore to be with his daughter Meenakshi who was posted in Bangalore. Clients used to come to Bangalore from Madurai and take him to Madurai for the court cases. He suffered a paralytic stroke at the age of 81 years and his left hand and leg got affected, limiting his movements. He lived for another 10 years, very affectionately tendered by his Grand daughter Sudha

His physical condition did not deter him from paying a visit to His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Bharathi theertha swamigal, when His Holiness visited Bangalore in 1991. Seeing RK unable to stand in the crowd, His Holiness instructed his private secretary to put a chair, so that RK can sit and asked RK not to strain himself like this.

Shri R.Krishnaswamy Iyer with His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Bharathi Theertha Swamigal the ruling and 36th Pontiff of Sringeri Sharada Peetam
I try to recall, on some of the associations of R.Krishnaswamy Iyer. Which I have heard about.

He was very close to late Keervatti Sankara Vadhyar, whom I have also interacted, when I was in Madurai and knew him well. I have traveled with him to Sringeri on 2 occasions.

RK was very close with Sri SPM Chettiyar & family in Madurai. Sri SPM Chettiyar family used to treat RK as one of their own family member.

"Friends Standing Tall" - Shri RK with his close friend Shri SPM Chettiyar

RK was very close to DR Raghava Variyaar, of Arya Vaidhya Salai and the association between the two families still continues.

Advocate RK was very close with Shri B.R. Ramasastry family in Bangalore. Shri Ramasastry & his son shri Vidhyasankar were very closely attached with Advocate Krishnaswamy and his family. Their respect and admiration for each other was mutual. A interesting incident concerning myself and Shri Ramasastry is penned down at the end of this section. The association between the two families continues even now and thanks to our forebears who have set it up.

RK passed away in Dec 1998 [Aged 90years] . He breathed his last on the lap of his Grand daughter (who had just finished her BE final semester exams), with absolute confidence in Godess Sharadha ambal and his Guru Shri Abhinava Vidhya Theertha swamigal.

Upon his death the
 Bana lingam was handed over to the Sringeri Math in Venkatnarayana road – T.Nagar - Chennai
 The legal files pertaining to math were collected by Shri B.R.Ramasastry and handed over to Sringeri math
 Many photographs related to Sringeri math and previous acharays were handed over to Sringeri Math

Shri R.Krishnaswamy Iyer & Family receiving Mantraksham from H.H.Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Theerta swamigal. [Photo of Shri Pandit M.S.M.sharma in the backdrop]

Vedhambal was an embodiment of devotion. She was very intelligent and shrewd lady. Being the eldest daughter in the family, she was well respected within the family. RK & Vedhambal couple (along with R Nagarajan (RK’s co-brother) was also instrumental getting the younger siblings married, and as well looked after their comfort and well being.She kept a SB account for herself and managed her expenses as well as house hold aspects.

She was well versed with music and played the violin well. She used make choclates. In the latter part of her life, she spent most of her time visiting temples in Madurai, and in meditations &'Japam' [Prayers].

Vedhambal suffered during her end days, caused by an accidental fall in the bathroom. She was immobile and bed ridden for about 8 months. I used to help, in her visits to Hospital and bringing her back home. As she can’t move, she had to be physically lifted and carried to and from the transport vehicle. Her mind was active till her death. A day before her death, she lapsed into unconsciousness and the doctor,indicated that the end was near and advised recitation of Vishnu Sahasranama which was duly done. There was no response from smt Vedhambal to calls made by her near and dear ones.

Myself and Sudha got a call and rushed to see her. Sudha called out to her grandmother loudly and got a moaning (hmmmm), as Response and that was the final voice from Smt Vedhambal, which to me looked as if the soul was holding itself to bid a final bye to her most loved grand daughter. She breathed her last that night.

Vedhambal passed away on 3rd September - 2001 (She was 79 years old) . Her daughter Meenkashi, Sister Kalavathy, brother Ramamoorthy were also by her bed side when she breathed her last

Smt Vedhambal had kept a golden Mangalyam, Golden Ear studs, in her old trunk box, which I chanced upon while cleaning the lofts (Some six months later). It was meant to be submitted to Sringeri math as Kanikkai (offering), to ward of some suffering or dosha to her Sister smt Kalavathi & her family. They were duly handed over to Sringeri Math in the presence of His Holiness Bharathi Theerta swamigal and we prayed for his Anugraham (His Grace) and blessings.

Archaryal remarked to his private secretary in front of us ,”this child (pointing to Sudha) is the grand daughter of advocate R.K, and she has handed over to the math her patti’s kannikai [offering] and blessed us with His Grace. The next day while leaving after getting Mantraksham, Sudha received a Sari from the benevolent Holiness with blessings.

Note: Sudha is married to Sundaresan [s/o S Jagadeesan and Grandson of J.Subramani Iyer ] of Sattanathapuram family.

I sum up my writing’s on Shri Advocate R Krishnaswamy with the below incident. Numerous were the correspondence between Shri RK and His Holiness Sringeri Jagadguru Sri Sri Abhinava Vidhyatheertha Mahaswamigal. On one occasion swamigal was camping in Chidambaram. RK has sent an epistle updating Swamigal on various aspects related to the Mutt and has also desired “His holiness grace should turn on him for a while in the sacred place Chidambaram”. Private Secretary to his Holiness Sri N Lakshminarayana Sastry has responded as below carrying the message from His Holiness which I reproduce in verbatim.

“His Holiness was immensely pleased with your desire,that His Holiness thoughts should turn on you for a while in this sacred Kshetram Chidambaram. His Holiness has directed me to inform you, that He has not only thought of you in this place, but you are ever in His mind”

By his selfless service to His Guru, Shri R.Krishnaswamy Iyer has achieved immortality.

Our Pranams and Prayers to Godess Sharadha, His Holiness Jagadhguru Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal the ruling and 36th pontiff of Sringeri Sharada peetam, the Guru Parambara to which our forefathers submitted themselves. They have traversed the path of righteousness and we pray them to guide us and our succeeding generations.

Family Tree:

I wanted the pen down the below incident. Once a small parrot was badly injured and landed in the front yard of our house (Probably, she had fallen from her nest).The parrot was about to be devoured by a cat. I shoed away the cat and took the parrot inside the house and next day showed it to a vertinerian doctor. The doctor said the leg has been badly damaged and put a small strip around its leg with some medicines. I got a cage and tendered to the parrot. The parrot used to go around the hall and bed room- its mode of walking was one leg forward and for the next push it will thrust its beak. We named it as Ranganayaki – (to be honest, the bird was very fierce and aggressive). When left out of the cage for bathing, it will go and hide underneath the chest off drawer of Advocate R.Krishnaswamy Iyer.

In about 2 month’s time, it grew healthy, the legs became almost alright with a slight slant and its wings grew big enough for it to fly. I had planned to get a partner for the bird.

We went on a Sunday to pay a courtesy visit to Shri Ramasastry uncle’s house. I narrated the story of the parrot, its injury and subsequent recovery. His words were very straight –“sundaresan – your duty is done, release the bird for it to be with its flock”. So profound were his words on me, as soon as I returned home, I set the bird free and Ranganayaki flapped her wings with great speed and flew away happily. Had it not for him, thinking that I’m doing good, I would have imprisoned the freedom and happiness of the bird.

Trek to Savandurga

2009-02-16T04:33:00.000-08:00

Savandurga Trek

Some enthusiasts wanted to have a trekking and a break from the regular hum drum of routine activities. We planned for a trek on the rocky mountain of Savandurga . In Kannada Durga means Fort (also Goddess Amba). This being one of the nine such forts around Bangalore, is situated at a distance of around 73kms west of Bangalore near Magadi.
Records indicate that Tippu Sultan used this rocky mountains as his fort and this fort was captured by Lord Cornwallis in 1972. The place is also referred as Savina Durga or the fort of death. [Savina – Death]. It is said, there were no steps to reach the hill top and it was covered by Bamboos and other trees forming a barricade. Even now it is almost same.
I love this place so much that this is my 6th visit and climb to the top.

A View of Savandurga hills

On the foothills of Savandurga there are 2 temples Savandi Veerabhadreshwara Swamy and Narasimha Swamy temple . Veerabhadraswany temple is very ancient and one can still see Stone wheels of the temple chariot, in perfect condition
On Saturdays and Sundays there are lot of pilgrims who frequent these temples and enthusiasts who enjoy trek.On top of the hill there is statue of Nandi

Narasimha swamy temple at the foot hills of Savandurga

More than trek, one can say this is a low level rock climbing. The trek is very exciting and also physically challenging. (You need to sweat a lot !!!). In between many of the team members had doubts on completing the climb and wanted to drop off mid way. We kept encouraging each other and reached the top :-)

The pond adjacent to the camping site

The ruins of the fort wall can be seen as we pass through them to reach the top. In between there is small stone structure and a Pond (which doubles up as camping site as well in the Nights - by Out bound learning guides and campers).

Our adventurous trekking team

A view of the Nandi Temple atop the hills

Our team infront of the Nandi Statue

I'm including a picture from my previous visit as well :-)

These days one can see lot of littering around with plastic water bottles, broken bottles and lot of plastic trash. I earnestly request enthusiasts to refrain from such practices and maintain the sanctity of the environment.

While coming down, we saw some enthusiasts climbing the fort from a direction which has got a 75 degree slope like lizards. We were amazed, as they were doing it without any safety equipments and their speed was amazing. A small mistake, from them and there is nothing to look back.

Details:

1.It takes approximately 1hr and 30 mins from the foot of hills to reach the statue of Nandi.
2.Start the trek early in the morning (By 8:00 AM), so that you do not get Sun burns, and be very light with your back-packs.
3.Have proper shoes with very good grip.
4.It is not advisable to climb during nights or after sunset.
5.Do not climb under the influence of alcohol, as there are enough things for you to trip over.
6.From Bangalore the route is follows
a.On Blr to Mysore Highway, reach Ramnagaram [Ramnagaram is the place where most parts of the film ‘Sholay’ was shot ] and take a right.
b. Proceed on the road towards Magadi and after 21 kms take a right and shortly you will reach the foot hills of Savandurga.
c.There are Adequate Road signs written in English.
d.There is another route via Big Banyan tree ( Dodda alamara) and this route will be good for bike journey with lots of ups and downs
7.You can park your car/bike in-front of the temple and it is absolutely safe

Enjoy yourself , Happy and safe trekking, if you are climbing this place !!!

Pandit Shri M.S.Mantreshwar Sharma

2009-01-02T02:26:00.000-08:00

“OM Sree Gurubhyo Namaha”.
At the outset I start with pranams to Jagadguru His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal, the ruling and 36th Pontiff of Sri Sringeri Saradha Peetham

Jagadguru H.H.Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal

I wish the readers a very happy prosperous, healthy and peaceful New Year 2009. In this edition, I’ve compiled on an exemplary personality Shri Madurai Sundaresan Mantresha Sharma (M.S.M.Sharma).

I’ve compiled a family tree of Shri Madurai Sundaresan Iyer and request readers to look into the family tree as well, which is published in the end of this section

I was reading a book “The Greatness of Sringeri” ( A publication of Sarada Peetham, Sringeri). I saw a caption attributed to M.S.M.Sharma. Whenever, we have visited Sringeri to have the blessings of Sri Sharada Ambal and His Holiness, I have heard this name mentioned frequently by Shri Ganapathi Subramaniya avathanigal . (While waiting for darshan of his Holiness, we used to meet up with Ganapathy Subramaniya avadhanigal and on two occasions he was the priest who conducted the pada puja)

My wife Sudha informed me M.S.M Sharma is related to her Maternal Grandfather Advocate R.Krishanswamy Iyer and Paternal Grandmother smt Muthu Meenkashi . Sudha is the Great grand nephew of MSM Sharma and is related to M.S.M Sharma both on the paternal and maternal side, and I was naturally inclined to find out more on the subject

I also acknowledge the family details of M.S.M.Sharma provided by his daughter smt Sowbaghya lakshmi – currently living in Bangalore, and searches on web

M.S. Mantresha Sharma. (1897 to 1960)

M.S.M. Sharma was born in Madurai . His father was Madurai Sundaresan Iyer and mother was commonly referred as Ammalu amma. It is interesting to note, M.S.M Sharma is a younger cousin to Bhawan Sri Ramana Maharishi. M.S.M.Sharma’s mother Ammaluamma was a younger sister to Ramana Maharishi’s mother. ( The above relation is heard though M.S.M Sharma daughter and not verified through other sources).

M.S.M.Sharma was an atheist in his early life and the below interesting event was narrated by him and captured in the book “The Greatness of Sringeri” under the caption “Atheist Converted”. Jagadguru His Holiness Sri Sri Chandarsekera Bharathi swamigal (the 34th Pontiff of Sringeri Sharada Peetam) was on a tour of South India. M.S.M Sharma accompanied his friend who went to meet the Jagadguru and take His Holiness blessings. This incident should have happened on the late 1920’s and is reproduced below.

Note: On the insistence of Mysore Maharaja Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekara Bharathi acharyal has under taken a tour South India in 1924 visiting Mysore and other places in South India over a period of 4 years)

Jagadguru H.H.Sri Chandrasekara Tirtha Mahaswamigal

Quote

“I had no faith in sannyasis. Yet on a friend’s persuasion, I agreed to accompany him from my holiday camp in Madura to a nearby village where he was going to see the saint of Sringeri. I put on the best of my European attire and went with him. I was a non-believer.

Then the miracle happened. As Sri Chandrasekara Bharathi was about to enter a room, our eyes met. His look was sufficient. In less than a moment I forget myself, my pride, and my vanity. Tears trickled down my eyes. Without any prompting I found myself at his lotus feet – not once but several times, sobbing all the while.

That is the story of my conversion to religion from atheism. By the power of His (Sri Chandrasekara Bharathi ) eyes he made a slave of me. HIS silence is clearly more powerful a language than any spoken word
Unquote

M.S.M Sharma, belonged to an affluent family and was well educated. He went to hold very key positions latter in his life. He was well versed in Sanskrit and was referred as Pandit M.S.M. Sharma as well.

M.S.M. Sharma friends circle included very influential personalities like Mohammed Ali Jinnah – Governor General and the founder of Pakistan state, Dr C.P. Ramaswami Iyer the Dewan of Travancore state, Sri Chandrasekara Iyer – ex-Judge Supreme court, Sir Mirza Ismail the Dewan of Mysore

Shri M.S.M.Sharma and Smt Rajalakshmi

M.S.M Sharma lived in Patna and then moved over to Karachi. He worked as chief editor in "Daily Gazette" Karachi. It was owned up to about 1934 by an English family believed to be or connected to the Montagu-Webbs. The Daily Gazette, published from Karachi, later became The Sind Gazette.

Daily Gazette paper with Lord Wellington on front page

During partition, M.S.M Sharma was in Karachi, and was asked to stay in Pakistan by its founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah. ( it is said Jinnah has given instructions that he should move back to India after his death). The house where M.S.M.Sharma lived in Karachi was fully guarded during the violence surrounding partition days. After the death of Jinnah within few hours , M.S.M.Sharma vacated his house in Karachi . M.S.M.Sharma’s family was given full police protection from his house to Karachi airport. The family took just a few suitcases and boarded the flight to India from Karachi airport. It is reported this house was fully ransacked after the departure of M.S.M.Sharma

M.S.M.Sharma wrote a book called “Peeps into Pakistan” - Published by Pustak Bhandar, 1954. The book deals with the religion and history of Pakistan. This book gets extensively quoted as part of many debates in chats and blogs in the internet.The foreword for the book was written by Dr C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer and introduction by Chandrasekar Iyer – Ex-Judge of Supreme court.. It is interesting note that this is a widely referenced book by many authors. Some key ones to note are:.

1. “Eight lives : A study of the Hindu Muslim encounter” by Rajmohan Gandhi.
2. Major Governments of Asia - By George McTurnan Kahin, Harold C. Hinton
3. Muslims in India : A Biographical Dictionary by Naresh Kumar Jain

M.S.M Sharma moved to Patna and joined as chief editor in the "Search light" paper owned by Birla group. He was very active with the affairs of the Sringeri mutt and was a frequent visitor to Sringeri Mutt.

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Comments by Somasekar
The first case law on privilege of legislature arose because M.S.M Sharma reported remarks expunged by the Speaker of the Bihar Legislature in the Searchlight paper. The case is titled MSM Sharma vs. Shri Krishna Sinha. Will send you a soft copy.

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M.S.M Sharma played a pivotal role in the services of Sringeri Math. Some of the events and details are well chronicled in a book titled “ The Crest Jewel of Yogis - A biography and advices of the peerless preceptor His Holiness Abhinava Vidya Theertha Mahaswamigal – First Volume" - compiled by Sri R.M. Umesh and Published by Sri Sharada Trust. The details can be found in the chapter “Epitome of Tolerance”

The section “Epitome of tolerance” narrates the steps taken by the staunch disciples of the Mutt to maintain the Independence and authority of the Head of the Math in the matters of administration. For readers benefit, I summarize the contents as below
 There were people with vested interests who wanted the math administration to be taken over by the Government. Lot of false propaganda were spread with malicious intent.
 M.S.M. Sharma was instrumental in sorting out the issues with the government. He along with key delegates personally met and clarified certain key points to Mr K V Anantharaman – The Revenue and Endowments minister of Mysore state. The meeting took place on 10-07-1944.
 On 11-07-1944, the M.S.M Sharma went to Sringeri and appraised His Holiness Chandrasekara Bharathi Swamigal and His Holiness Abhinava Vidhya Theertha Swamigal on his discussions with the minister.
 M.S.M Sharma wrote a epistle to the minister appraising him on his discussions with the Acharaya’s and left for Karachi.
 After few days, Shri R.Krishnaswami Iyer ( Nephew of M.S.M Sharma) had met the Minister K.V. Anantaraman, in Madurai. The minister has indicated that the Government will not act on the false propaganda and it is fully aware of the strong protests from the South. He has also indicated that he has put a note in the file for future reference.

Note: Madurai Advocate R.Krishnaswamy Iyer [M.S.M Nephew] has maintained a full written account of the events of 1944. This has been handed over to the author R.M Umesh who has acknowledged the same in his book. The written notes have been verified by Dharmatma Dr V.Vaidyasubramanya Iyer.

I was moved by the below reference to M.S.M.Sharma in the book and reproducing the same in the words of R.M.Umesh

Quote

On August 24th 1954, when Pandit M.S.M Sharma took leave of Paramacharyal (H.H.Shri Chandresekara Bharathi acharayal) within an hour of the President’s departure, he broke into tears because it was no easy job for him to be separated from his Guru. Paramacharyal asked him to sit down and said, “Why do you Grieve? If before you pay your next visit here, I get released from my mortal coil, I shall be with you,as soon as you think of me”. He thought that Paramacharyal was merely trying to teach him that death was an illusion. It never struck him that the Jagadguru was really preparing his deveotees for His "shedding his motal coils".

Unquote

Paramacharyal H.H.Shri Chandresekara Bharathi acharayal attained Jeevanamukthi (shed his motal coils voluntarily) on 26th September 1954.

M.S.M.Sharma requested Jagadguru H.H.Sri Chandrasekara Bharathi for performing daily pujas to his “Padukas” (wooden sandals of Acharya) and the benevolent archarya obliged very kindly to his request. . He performed regular puja's for the Padukas till his death. Currently the Paduka is with Shri Narasimhan - the grandson of M.S.M.Sharma living in Bombay.

M.S.M Sharma was very close Dr Bapu Rajendra Prasad, 1st president of Independent India and accompanied the 1st President on his maiden visit to Sringeri (24th August 1954). The compilations were written under the title “Pilgrimage to Sringeri” and were published in news papers. M.S.M Sharma compilations on the topic “Pilgrimage to Sringeri” were collected as paper clippings by his Nephew Madurai Advocate R. Krishnaswami Iyer.
Note: I was cleaning up the archives of R.Krishnaswami Iyer (My wife Sudha’s maternal Grandfather) ,got this file and handed over to M.S.M Sharma’s daughter Lakshmi.

Some of the letters of M.S.M.Sharma correspondence with the President Dr Rajendra Prasad can be found in the book
Dr Rajendra Prasad: Correspondence and Select Documents : Presidency Period, January 1954 to December 1955 By Valmiki Choudhary Published by Allied Publishers, 1992

M.S.M. Sharma died of heart attack and passed away on 27th November 1960. M.S.M Sharma was married to Rajalakshmi and they had 10 children

“FAMILY TREE”

M.S.M Sharma Married Rajalakshmi
(1897 to 1960)
 1st Daughter Meenakshi – Passed away in Childhood
 2nd Son M. Sundaresan married to Saraswathi (from Thanjavur)
– first son S.Narasimhan living in Bombay
- They have one daughter – (currently active in Bollywood movies)
– 2nd son Shivaji (a.k.a Chandramouli) living in Pune
- They have one Son and One Daughter
Note: M.Sundaresan was a reputed journalist and has traveled very widely, covering events across the Globe
 3rd Son Balasubramanian – Passed away in Childhood
 4th Daughter Balathirupura Sundari – Married to Chandramouli (from Uttrakosamangai village in Rameshwaram)
– Daughter Lalita
– Daughter Usha
– Son Guru raj
 5th Son – Chandramouli – Passed away in Childhood
 6th Son – Bala - Passed away in childhood
 7th Daughter Raja Mathangi married to Kalyana Raman (s/o R.Mahalinga Iyer of North Veli street from Madurai)
- 1st Daughter Bhooma
- Daughter Bhavana
- Son Bharath

- 2nd Son K. Chandrachoodan married to Malini
- Son Mrinal

 8th Daughter Sharada married to Thyagarajan (from Thirvaroor)
 9th Daughter Sowbaghya lakshmi married to Rajendran Iyer (s/o Panjabakesa Iyer of Kilkudi village in Thanjavur)
- Daughter Revati married P.Viswanathan (Ravi)
1st Son Vighnesh
2nd Daughter Devina
Note: Rajendra Iyer did his college in Indore University and worked as an officer in LIC and. He has played cricket ,under the captaincy of C.K.Naidu and a great admirer of C.K.Naidu, for enforcing discipline on the cricket ground. Being taught by British English professors, his pronunciation and command over the English knowledge is admirable. The family details of M.S.M.Sharma has been provided by Smt Sowbaghya lakshmi
 10th daughter Bhavani married to Raman
Note: Raman is the brother of the famous singer late Bangalore Ramani ammal

This is MY COUNTRY and I have a right to live in peace here……….

2008-11-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

26-Nov-2008. : Terrorist attack on Mumbai – Taj, Oberoi and Nariman House

Our Motherland has been attacked by cowardly terrorists, causing inexplicable damage, grief and sorrow to numerous families and aimed at denting the economic growth in our Motherland.

I pray for the brave sons and daughters of our motherland Bharat and numerous foreigners who lost their lives. God be with their families to cope up with the tragic loss of their loved ones.

The courage and determination showed by our armed forces, NSG, Marine commandos, Police and other agencies in defeating this sinister and evil design ( as we hear from news channels, that their plans were of megalomaniac proportions) of the terrorists deserves commendable praise and salutations.

For the first time, we did not negotiate with the terrorists in a hostage situation. This shows our WILL.

More than 200 precious lives have been plucked by this cruel act. The spineless perpetrators of this dastardly crime and their network are at large. In the coming days there will be lot of political rhetoric and blame games by our politicians. Thanks to our political system, we will never see light, nor will be a fitting response to such dastardly acts of cowardice.

A month later, the entire episode will be forgotten, and a year later we will all light candles in remembrance of the dead. Somewhere, across our shores there will be blue prints under preparation for the next target. As a nation we need an answer on what will be done to stop this and protect us from such violence ?

We need an answer from the Government, Our President, Our members of Parliament on what will be done to assure the safety of citizens of this peace loving country, which is one of the fundamental rights as per constitution

I salute the brave officers of this country who died in protecting Her honor. Hemant Karkare, Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Vijay Salaskar , Ashok Kamte, Gajendra Singh……and many others. We should not subject ourselves to a mode of fear and helplessness,for that would be a pyrrhic victory for the shameless perpetrators of this reprehensible act. We should rather unitedly stand-up and demand action on how such things are going to be prevented.

This is MY COUNTRY and I have a right to live in peace here. I’ll not live a life of fear and succumb to the evil designs of terrorists. I will not surrender my Spirit, to the evil machinations of cowardly terrorists.

JAI HIND !!

Thirukarugavoor Roots and Connections

2008-09-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

This is in continuation of the August-2008 postings. I request new readers to go through the older sections of August for continuity and cross-referencing to Sattanatahupuram-Cadavasal-Thanjavur roots

The 1st daughter of Shri Naganatha Sastry was Mohambal and was married to T.L.Subbaiyer of thirukarugavoor near Papanasam. In the sections below, you can find the family connections pertaining to Thirukarugavoor. These were compiled based on the mail exchanges from Shri CRN and Arupathy Sekar mama.

My role is here as a compiler of these exchanges into passive voice and referencing them, so that the current generations are able to place them.

The Thirukarugavoor connection.

Cadavasal Patti [lokanayaki] eldest sister Mohambal was married to T L Subbier [TLS]. She died young leaving a son T S Venkatraman and a daughter known as Valu [correct name not known]

TL Subbier married again. (see below details) Cadavasal Ramaiyer and patti used to visit Subbier and patti had lot of respect for them. Subbier's younger brother was Shri Kuppuswamy Iyer, cadavasal patti used to refer to him as Kuppu Atthan.

TL Subbier's first wife was Mohambal (D/O Thanjavur Naganatha Sastry) and had

- one son T S Venkatraman [aka Venkittu anna] and he had 2 sons TV Laksmanan(no more) and TV Balan, retired ACC official and one daughter Bhargavi, now living in Bombay.
- [TV Balan’s family details also mentioned]
- TLS's had a daughter Valambal thru his first wife She was married to one Ramanja Krishna Iyer of the Vadagovanur family, She died very young leaving two dautgters,
- Valambal had 2 daughters - Nagalakshmi, married to Sundappa[of Nanjilnadu] son of Srinivasa Sharma of Mayiladuthurai) and
- Savithri married to Jagadeesan son of , M K Ranganatha Iyer and who lived in Mayuram Mahadana street. Jagadeesan died under mysterious circumstances in the Moyar Masanagudi ghat section in the Nilgiris, area.

Note: T.N Viswanathan –last son of Shri Naganatha Sastry was the son-in law of Mayavaram Srinivasa Sarma. He married Srinivasa Sarma’s daughter Savithri. So TNV’s brother in law is Sundappa.

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Comments by KRL

M K Ranganatha Iyer [MKR] hailed from Melur village. Melur is close to Arupadi across Kaveri and MKR used to self-drive through Arupadi in his yellow Plymouth car (without wearing a shirt but only a towel and Ruddhiraksha maalai). Sankaran may remember the sight.
The house where in he lived in Mahadana street belonged to K.N.Ramanathan of Kaveripatnam from whom he purchased the house in 1948.

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TLS had one younger brother by name TL Kuppusamy [TLK] and TLK’s

TLK's first daughter Thangamani [no more] married to Sivaraman and had 1 son and daughter
- Raghupathi
- Chitra and
- Chandra

TLK's first son Maali is no more and passed away very young.

TLK's second son TK Krishnamurthy is married to Subhadra and now lives in Chennai with his son. T K Krishnamurthy who has settled down in Chennai was one of the good friends of CRN. They had 2 sons and 1 daughter
- Ramkumar
- Chandar and
- Vaidehi

TLK's next daughter Padma, married to one Mr Seshadri and both live in Chennai.They do not have issues. Sri Seshadri, passed away in July 2008.

TLK's next daughter Lalitha is married to late MR Kannappan's elder brother Sundararaman of Mayuram/Mannrgudi.They had 3 sons and 3 daughter
- Venkataraman
- Baskar
- Ganesan
- Rama
- Neela and
- Usha.

TLK's had one more daughter by name Visalam and she had 2 daughters
- Sarojni and
- Vasanthi

TL Subbier re-married again Her name was Kamalambal
and hailed from Vikravandi village, in Tanjore Dt.

The details of the prognies of TLS-Kamalambal is as follows

- smt Parvathi (referred as Parvathi chitti) is his eldest daughter married to late A N Balsubramaniam of Arupathy. [Son of the famous advocate Arupathy Natesa Iyer]. (Brother of A.N.K. Shri A.N.K is father of Kamala periamma married to S.Natarajan of SNP). Parvathi chitti died recently (Aug-2008) She lived upto 90 years and had a great life supported by her sons/daughters till her end.

Parvathi/A N Balsubramaniam had 2 sons and 3 daughters
- Sankaranarayanan,
- Sekar
- Bhama
- Vatsala and
- Latha.

TLS's first son is TS Vaidyanathan(no more) and was an advocate and was married to Thirupurasundari. They had 2 sons and 2 daughters
- Ramakrishnan
- Sundar
- Girija and
- Nandini

TLS's second daughter Moham(no more) was married to late Balakarishnan(s/o a great lawyer in Madurai Mr. A Lakshminarayana Iyer ) whose bungalow in Chokkukulam was a landmark and was adjacent to TVS TS Rajam's bungalow). CRN mama used to visit both places. Rajam's son late Rathna, and CRN were good friends in Madura College and continued to be so.

TLS's second son is TS Gopalan was married to Saghuntala and they had 2 sons and 1 daughter and are still living in Papanasam/ Thirukkarugavoor.
- Subramaniam,
- Kumar and
- Prabha

TLS's third daughter Jayam [Jayalakshmi] is married to Nangavaram Ambi aka Chandramouli. Both are living in Mds now. Kunjappa, Ambi's younger brother was a very dear friend and a room mate of CRN mama in Venkateswara Hostel. They had 1 sons and 1 daughter.
- Sarabeswaran and
- Swarna

TLS's last daughter Mangalam is married to Late Kannappan, H/W merchant in Mayuram.They had 2 sons and 1 daughter.

- Ravikumar
- Krithivasan and
- Uma

Parvathy chitti (ANB’s wife) used to remember Mohambal and Chellammal (CDL patti) and claim they are related to her thru the first wife of her dad late TL Subbaiyer.

This way you can see the roots spreading into the Cadavasal- Sattanathapuram -Arupathy- Thanjavoor family through the Thirkaragavoor connections.

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From Sundaresan:

Dr S.Vaidyanathan (my mother Savithri’s elder sister’s husband) is a well known personality and reputed doctor in Mayavaram. He has been associated with various charitable associations and the Dharmavaram mutt charitable activities. His second son Chandrasekar’s wife Aparna is from Thirukarugavoor.

Her father’s name is T.N.Balasubramaniam and his grandfather’s name is Narayanaswamy Iyer from Thirukarugavoor. She told me that Naryanaswamy iyer and TLS,TLK are direct dhayadhi’s. Let me probe this connection in my next visit, since I’m equipped with a wealth of information.
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Some key notes on Shri T.V. Balan
[2nd s/o TS Venkatraman and Grandson of T L Subbaiyer] . He is also the Great Grand son Shri P.V. Naganatha Sastry.

T S Venkatraman, [Venkittu anna] was one of the earliest person to leave the Thirukarugavoor village and get to Madras for Studies and a Job, and also helped a large number of Relatives and Friends to get to Madras for betterment.

Shri Balan also made an attempt to create the "Family Tree" , way back in the late 50's, at the insistence of Prof T N Muthuswami Iyer, his Father's maternal uncle. He gave all his working Papers to Prof TN M as desired by him, when he left for a World Tour in Sep'1959.

Note: A elaborate Paper copy of the family tree created by Prof T.N.Viswantahan is available with Sundaresan.

Shri Balan is one of the early birds in India, and his stint with Computers goes back to 1969. He was the 6th President of the Computer Society of India in 1978-80, and today the 35th President is in Office.

He worked for ACC [A Tata Group Company then] for 35 years, and took premature retirement when he was No.1, and took up an International Assignment in East Africa for about 3 years with HQ @ Nairobi. He is internationally recognized for his Leadership in Cement Industry, and Computerization and “ITC” – Information & Communication Technology.

Shri Balan was acclaimed by Mr. Narayana Murthy (Mentor Infosys) as a Visionary in the 70’s for taking IT to Industry.

Balan’s wife is smt Sita spent her adulthood and did her studies in Bangalore. She worked for a couple of years at the famous Maharani's College as Faculty after her M Sc in Organic Chemistry.

As a personality with vast knowledge in various domains, “TV Balan” likes to emulate great Statesmen around the World and complains that God has given him only 24 hours in a day, and not 36 hours for better contribution to Society sharing his vast Knowledge and experience.

It is TV’s ardent belief that
“We all, together, can find a way to replace exhaustion with energy, Cynicism with hope, resignation with determination, and destructive anger with constructive activism”

Monthly Family get togethers used ot be organized in Mumbai. The participants were Balan, his siter Bhargavi and her husband Sherman, TD Sethuraman s/o of Bacchu Chithi, Ganeshu son of Gowri Chithi and R Appuswamy Iyer, Vijayam d/o of Kamu Chithi and her husband and a son of Kamu Chithi of Umayalpuram who was familiarly called Kunjan [when he was posted in Mumbai IOB]and CRN mama. This used to be a get together of many Cousins and Nephews of the Family and their Parents , more to keep in touch for old time’s sake, and know about the newcomers to the fold. CRN and Balan were instrumental in organising that regularly, and it started off when they all met for the first time when TDS's Mother -Pachu Patti died.

CRN mama used to say it was real fun as all childhood encounters were recalled and the elders were sometimes praised and sometimes pilloried!

Note: Pachu Patti is the 6th Child of P.V. Naganatha Sastry and younger sister of Cadavasal Patti. She was an "Institution" abundant with love and affection to one and all of the extended clan. She was an LIC Agent too.

Thanjavur Naganatha Sastry Eldest Daughter was Mohambal married to Thirukarugavoor Subbaiyer. Their 1st Son was T.S. Venkataram.....

Follow the roots below

The Energitic Balans

From L to R: Sujatha Sanjay Balan, Sanjay Balan, Tara Balan, TV Balan, Harish Balan, Amara Sanjay Balan, Meera Harish Balan,Ruksha Harish Balan, Sita Balan, Jayant Balan, Sunandini Jayant Balan, and Aditya Jayant Balan +[Surya Jayant Balan is not in picture]

Sattanatapuram temples - Sivan Kovil, Ayannar temple and Mariamman temple

2008-08-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

Sections compiled by J.Sundaresan

Sattanathapuram is small hamlet.It is situated 3kms from Sirkalzhi on the Sirkazhi-Mayuvaram main road. Sivan kovil is situated towards the east of the village sattanathapuram. The presiding deities are Kailasanathar and Kalyani amman. The temple also has mandapams for lord Vinayakar, Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivanai, Dakshinamoorthy,Durgai,Suryan, Chandran and Bhairavar. Lord Sarabeshwarar was added in 2001 and Prithyankara Devi was added in 2007. Lord Sundaresawarar with Meenakshi amman is located outside the maha mandapam. The lingam of Sundareshwarar was found in the temple pond and pradhisthai done outside the main mandapam but within the temple premises.This was in 1930’s

The temple was built by Shiva Subbarayar 180 years back sometime in the early 1820’s.The original Lingam of lord Kailashanathar, was broken when our grand dad Ramani Iyer (elder brother of Subramani Iyer) did some renovation work and then the present day lingam was installed.

Shri S.S. Srinivasa Iyer, Bhooma Srinivasan and Village devotees inside the Shivan temple

In 1930 Kumbabhishekam was done

In 1961 Kumbabhishekam was done by K. Seetharama Iyer.

In 2001 Kumbabhishekam was done by S.S. Srinivasa Iyer

Sivan Kovil is not a private property. It is under HR & CE. However, hereditary trusteship is still given to the family, as the records show that the temple has been maintained by Shivasubbarayar and lands allocated to the temple for routine maintenance based on the revenue from lands. Seetharama Iyer (he has got it from J Venkatramani Iyer) handed over the temple documents and trusteeship to Seenu Iyer. The trusteeship of the temple so far is as follows. (This also gives an indication of our ancestry and co-relates the correctness of the family tree in a way !!!)

1. Shiva Subbaraya Iyer (Known founder of the family)
2. Narayanaswamy Iyer
3. Ramaswamy iyer
4. Jagadeesa Iyer
5. Venkataramani Iyer
6. Seetharama Iyer
7. S.S. Srinivasa Iyer

Currently, there is no Hundi in the temple or an official account , and as such does not attract HR&CE intervention for accounts. However, any Kumbabhishkam or addition of statues (by the by the number of Gods within the premises has increased from 2001 !!!!) or alteration within the premises, should be notified to HR&CE before it can be undertaken. For any functions or maintenance, the HR&CE will not fund a single pie,as it is not a revenue earning temple. It is notified to the HR&CE, that Subramani Iyer’s family is maintaining the temple, based on their personal income and revenue along with the support of Philanthropists and people from the SNP village.

Left to Right: Shiva, Sugu, Sudha,Sundaresan, Apoorva, S.S.Srinivasan, S.Chandrasekaran in the Shiva temple

The huge pond adjacent to the temple was the bone of contention between the village panchayath and temple after the death of Subramani Iyer. The huge pond adjacent to the temple has been taken over by the panchayath in 1961 and removed from the temple property. Seetha rama Iyer and Srinivasa Iyer, ordered fishing in the pond just before the Kumbabhishekam in 1961. This created a furore between the villagers and the Seetharama Iyer family. Karnikkar –K.S.Swaminatha Iyer, heard the case and ordered the judgment in favor of the villagers and the panchayath.

There are 2 more temples which are managed from the SNP house.

“Eeti Munai Maanika Ayannar” located in Sengamedu Village - 2km from Sattanathapuram
Ayannar temple – in Sengamedu village. Sengamedu village is about 2 KM from SNP village. This temple is under HR&CE. This is our Village “Kula Deviam”. The presiding deity is Sastha (Ayappan) and called as “Eeti Munai Maanika Ayannar”. The weapon for the deity is Eeti (Sphere) and one can find a huge sphere behind the deity.

Vaitheeswaran Kovil – Thaiyal Nayagi and Vaitheeswaran is also Kula Deivam for our family.

Note: The following tradition
1. If it is a male child, the first ‘Mottai’ (tonsure) is to Ayannar in our family and then only Vaithheswaran kovil mottai to be performed
2. If it is a female child, the first ‘Mottai’ (tonsure) is to Vaitheeswaran kovil in our family and then only Ayannar kovil mottai to be performed

Sattanatahapuram Mariamman
Mariamman temple – This temple was built, as a small mud construction,somewhere in the 1930’s by Venkatrama Iyer f/o Nagapattnam Krishnamoorthy’s family. (also called as Pottai (blind) krishnamoorthy iyer or Nagapattnam anna). It seems Krishnamoorthy iyer had problems with his eye sight during birth, and Venkatrama Iyer Prayed Goddess Shri Maha Mariamman and built the mud structure in his own land property, requesting for divine intervention . There, was some cure, but he had problems in one of his eyes.

Nagapattanam Krishnamoorthy Iyer’s wife is the daughter of (M.V.Iyer of Kaveripattnam and moved to Nagpur and latter was called as M.V.Iyer of Nagpur. Padma athai has been married to M.V.Iyer’s son Shri V Muthuswamy).

S.S.Srnivasan, took over the administration of the temple and temple is currently maintained by the SNP family. Lot of renovation work was done . S.S. Srinivasa Iyer was instrumental in building the a sanctum sanctorum and the outside structures, from the old mud structures and maintaining the temple.

Kumabhishekam was performed in 1990 by S.S.Srinivasa Iyer. Sethurama Iyer (S/o J venkat Ramani Iyer ) and Karnam K.S. Swaminatha Iyer played a key part.Every year Pushpanjali (reciting of Lalitha Sharasnama 1008 times) is performed in a grand scale under the able administration of S.S. Srinivasa Iyer. This activity attracts and bonds the villages on a big scale.

Recently, Kumbabhisekam was performed by S.S. Srinivasa Iyer on 14-07-2008 with substantial contribution from his own siblings,His brother’s and family members, Karnam K.S. Swaminatha Iyer’s son K.S.Balasubramanian , village elders and members played a key part.
In 1930 Temple was built and repair works done once in 15-20 years
In 1990 Kumbabhishekam was done by S.S. Srinivasa Iyer.
In 2008 Kumbabhishekam was done by S.S. Srinivasa Iyer.

Parambarai Dharmakartha Shri S.S.Srinivasan leading the Kumbabhisheka Proceedings amidst vedic chantings.

Behind the Mariamman sanctum, a meditation mandabam is built. Pictures of Shri Rama, Sita, Anjaneya are placed in the mandbam. Another native of the Sattanathapuram village Shri Periya Ramu Iyer and his family( currently settled in Bombay), sponsored for this mandbam and has taken a active part in its conception.

Shri S.S.Srinivasa Iyer with his family members :L-R: S.S.Srinivasan, Prerna, Sridhar,Rohit,Shiva, Prema,Sundaresan,Sugu

SNP Clan : Shivasubbaraya Iyer to Jagadeesan Iyer, Manni Patti (Bhagirathi)

2008-08-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

The founder of the family as per known records is Siva Subbaraya Iyer. He had 2 sons

1. Narayanaswamy Iyer ( It is not known,if the family continued after Narayanaswamy iyer or there may be some dayadhis (A term used to refer the succeeding families of brothers and cousins brothers)
2. Ramaswamy Iyer a.k.a Ramalinga Sharma. He had 4 children. Jagadeesan Iyer, Kailsam Iyer, Krishnaswamy Iyer and a daughter Mangalam
3. We belong to the succeeding branches of Jagadeesan Iyer

Jagadeesan Iyer was the eldest of the siblings. His wife was Baghirathi (also called as Manni Patti). Jagadeesan Iyer died at the age of probably about 32-34 years. Thereafter the lands were partitioned. During one of the court cases pertaining to Sivan temple, some of the old documents were taken. The document pertains to the year 1914. A statement is written in the documents, that the property and lands were partitioned among the 3 brothers. The portion belonging to Jagadeesan Iyer will be managed by her wife Baghirathi

Jagadeesa Iyer had 2 sons and 2 daughter. See the family tree in next section

Baghirathi a.k.a Manni Patti

Baghirathi a.k.a Manni Patti the grand old Matriarch of the family lived for 90 years and raised the Sattanathpuram family single handedly. When Jagadeesan Iyer passed away, Subramani Iyer (aka Suppuni ) was a child of 5-7 years. Around her sixties, she became blind. She is credited with buying and enhancing the agricultural land properties of the SNP family. She loved Suppuni's (subramania Iyer) family more and choose to stay with Suppuni, when the partition in the family took place. She commanded wide respect and also was very intelligent. Baghirathi is a very common name in our family.

It is said, she purchased lands at the rate of 1Kuzhi (3 kuzhi = 1 cent ) – 4 Ana’s (1 ana = 6 paise at the time of conversion). Every day the Kariyasthan has to come and report the expenses and income for the day and this tradition continued even when her son Subramani Iyer used to look after the lands. When manni patti was bed ridden (almost for 2 years in her last days), only when Subramani Iyer used to give her milk in the bed, she will drink and refuse, if other servants were to touch her for bathing and cleaning. She was very attached to Suppuni and her family.

Note: 100 cents = 1Acre - One acre comprises 4,840 square yards or 43,560 square feet.3 kuzhis make one cent. 100 kuzhis make one Maa. 100 cents an acre. 20 Maas one veli. 6.67 acres make a veli.

The kuzhi, Maa, Veli kanakku in villages is only for computing day to day agricultural requirements like seeds, labour, yield etc. Mirasdars and Kariyasthans knew the size of each plot in terms of kuzhi and maa only. The registrar office used to maintain land records in acres and cents only. Sale deeds will be based on that. After metrification they are being maintained in Hectares. That 3 kuzhis make one cent is a very approximate relation to connect the two systems. Acre is 4840 sq. yards is the basic Brittish system which we studied in schools.

To all the grandchildren, she used to give 1 or 2 ana’s for the Sirkazhi Thirumullaipoal festival. She, passed away sometime between 1954-55 at the grand old age of 90 years

N.Kailasam Iyer was a sub-Judge in the Madras presidency and served in what is to day Andhra Pradesh. He was married to smt Meenakshi, hailing from Umayalpuram near Swamimalai/Kumbakonam).

Kailasam Iyer had one son, K.Gopalakrishna Iyer. Gopalakrishna Iyer was the founder of Standard motors manufacturing Standard motor vans (called as standard 20) and then expanded into manufacturing of Cars (Standard 2000). The factory with machinery and vast arces of land was located in Perungalathur on the outskirts of Chennai. The factory became defunct in the early 1990’s. Currently negotiations are on for converting this lung space into a Software tech park. Gopalakrishna Iyer used to study in the present day SNP House. Gopalakrishnan had a daughter Baby [aka as Alamelu] She was married to K.V.Srinivasan a Chartered accountant of Komal near Kuttalam. Baby’s [Alamelu] daughter Uma is very active on Tsunami related rehabilitation work and also temple related activities in Sirkazhi and surrounding areas.

Shri K.Gopalakrishna Iyer - Founder of Standard Motors

plz see the below link for an article on Shri K.Gopalakrishna Iyer & Smt Maturam.

http://snp-roots.blogspot.com/2010/12/shri-kgopalakrishna-smt-mathuram.html
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Remarks by By KRL:
The large Balasubhramanya temple on Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai 600 018 was raised and Kumbabhishekam performed due to untiring efforts of Madhuram Gopalakrishna. She went from Mirasdar to Mirasdar in our district and collected donations for this purpose. Though Gopalakrishna was an agnostic he never objected to or interfered with his wife's religious activities.

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Sitarama Iyer's son Shri Gopu (CRN’s class mate ), S.Ramamoorthy (Thulsi athai Husband) and his son R.Sundaresan, N.Sridhar (S.Natarjan’s son), Gopu (s/o Raja Iyer and Pattu athanga) worked in Standard Motors.

From Left to Right: Sri Krishnaswamy Iyer with his wife Smt Madhurambal (a)Kunjammal standing behind him. Sri Anantharama Iyer, with his wife known as Avanam Patti standing behind him. The child is Rajammal (Krishnaswamy Iyer's daughter)

N.Krishnaswamy Iyer had 2 sons and 1 daughter. K.Sitarama Iyer and K.Jayarama Iyer. The daughter smt Rajaammal was married to Shri G.R.Muthuswami Iyer belonging to a reputed family in Ganapthy Agraharam.

Sitarama Iyer was a reputed advocate in Sirkazhi and also a government pleader. Jayarama Iyer worked in the defense establishment in Pune drawing a handful salary in those days. Jayarama Iyer resigned his job and came back to the village. Jayaram Iyer lived in SNP (after a few row houses on the opposite side of the street from the present house).

Sitarama Iyer was also the trustee of the Sivan kovil temple before S.S. Srinivasa Iyer. He was also the founder of the SATTANATHER COLONY.

Seetha rama Iyer’s Brother in law R.Appaswamy married Gowri (D/o Naganatha Sastry)

The below section contributed by K.R.Lakshminarayanan.(s/o K.N.Ramanathan...see family tree)

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By KRL

K.Sitarama Iyer had a sister married into Ganapathi Agraharam. In fact our Chandru's wife is a grand daughter or some thing like that. The siblings of K.Sitarama Iyer are Shri Gopu, B.S.Haridh (Balu), Chandrasekaran and smt.Dhanalakshmi.

Nelpathur Rangu mama's daughter Raji is married to one Ganapathiraman of Ganapathi Agraharam son of Dr. Narayanaswami Iyer. Sitarama Iyer's sister was related to them. In a marriage when I was introduced to her she became emotional about memories of KNR and my grandmother.

During my grandfather/grandmother's time the Sattanathapuram family and Kaveripatnam family were very close (like with Arupadi later). In fact it was K.Gopalakrishna and K.Sitarama Iyer who escorted KNR to hostel when he joined tthe engineering college.

2. Ramani Iyer, Natarajan's father's elder brother died at Vellore where he had gone for treatment at the Christian Mission Hospital. I remember he was cremated there and the family came to Madras to our house and went to Sattanathapuram. While entering our Theagaraya road house they sprinkled paddy seeds to avoid doshams that might be caused by their entry with theettu. I remember the scene very well. It was in 1952 after we bought the Raman st.plot and before we built the house.

3. Kittachi's wife's name is Jayalakshmi. She is from Velur near Kuttalam and related to Chelliah and Kuppuswami Iyer Andamma's nephews. I have seen Ramani iyer playing cards for high stakes with Chelliah(?) in a marriage. Finally he pledged his belt. I was too young to remember greater details.

4. Kittachi's brother Ramanthan's wife Mangalam (whose son Bombay Ramiah periappa's daughter Vasantha married) hails from Kadiramangalam. Her son lives there still and is a good friend of our Mayavaram Muthu.

5. Ramani iyer's other sister was married to a mirsdar in Annavasal. One daughter was married to a mirasdar of Keezhathanjavur. The other daughter's husband was The National High School teacher Poongavur Srinivasa Iyer and their son is our Mayavaram Lawer S.Krishnamurthy living few doors away from Kittachi's house. Ramani iyer's only son Sethuraman married a girl (Meena) from Keezhathanjavur. Her brother is Babu retired as a top financial guy in IOC .Then Babu went to Middle east.

6. K. Gopalakrishna married the daughter of a gentleman from Kumbakonam, her brother was a top lawer in Madras: K.S. Jayarama Iyer who lived in East Mada Street and whose son was K.J. Mahadevan a famous movie director.

7. I have no ideas about K.Jayarama Iyer's (Chandru's chittappa) wife's side. But He worked in Poona in a Defence establishment during war time or slightly later. He used to halt in our house whenever he came on leave and was proceeding to Sattanathapuram. He was then very affectionate towards me. At the time of Revathi's wedding, though I had invited him, he told me that he came for Nelpathur Balu and not for me. I replied that that his blessings are sufficient for me.

8. Gopalakrishna's share of property were bought by my father or grand father including the house. Later we sold all of them -- I remember it as 8 velis(?).

9. During my recent trip to Coimbatore I met Mr. Rajagopal a tottering old man of 90 Plus. He is Kaliasm Iyer's brother-in-law's son. In other words Meenakshi Ammal's brother's son. The family of Kailasam Iyer's wife belongs to Umaiyalpuram near Swamimalai a famous village.

So we were chatting about old relations. Ambukka's grand mother was Sanamma patti a direct sister of Meenakshi Ammal. So Ambukka is Kailasm Iyer's sister - in - law's grand daughter. Sanamma patti was married to Yagnasami Iyer of Nangavaram who practiced as a lawer in Madurai.

10.Whenever I meet Ambukka or her mother Savithri athanga they will enquire about the welfare of Gopalakrishna's family members. Further the name of Gopalakrishna's daughter is Alamelu alias Baby. She was married to K.V.Srinivasan a Chartered accountant of Komal near Kuttalam.

Just like Gopalakrishna and his cousins were my father's direct ammanjis, Gopalakrishna was Rajagopl's Nephew.

Those are my recollections. If Gopu and Padma (Natarajan's sister) and Sundari (Ramani Iyer's daughter) can also be consultaed for further details.

KRL
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Mangalam: She was married to Natesa Iyer of Kaveripattanam. This marriage should have taken place in the end 18th Century (Probably around 1890-1895’s). Their son was K.N Ramanatha Iyer. Their lands were taken care by SNP Ramani Iyer and after him taken care by Kittachi athan (s/o of Janki athai). Pls look into the family tree for subsequent progeny details

K N Ramanatha Iyer was married to A N Kalayanasundaram's sister Baghirathi [Prognies of Arupathy Natesa Iyer] and thereby the first 'sambandam' between the Arupathy and SNP came into existence (ofcourse via a kaveripattan axis). Arupathy.N. Kalayanasundaram (Son of Arupathy Natesa Iyer, who built a temple in Arupathy near Mayuram for Meenakshi amman.) ANK’s daughter Kamala is married to S.Natarajan of SNP.

Brothers & Sisters-Ramani ,Suppuni, Janaki & Meenakshi

2008-08-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Ramani Iyer, was one of those feared in his domain for his chastisement of anyone who crossed his path. He was feared by the villagers. Most of the time he used to be in Kaveri pattnam village and in Vellore. He died in 1952 in vellore and the last rites were performed there itself.

He comes across as a man who has enjoyed the pleasures of life. I had a lengthy conversation with Peria Ramu iyer (one of the key contributors for installation of Prithaykara devi in Sivan temple and a native of SNP. He will probably be one of our dayadhi’s), remarked “If your Grand dad’s (Ramani iyer) bullock cart is heading southwards, then definitely it is heading towards pleasure” (an obvious reference to the journey towards Vaitheeswaran kovil)

Ramani Iyer's frist wife was from a village called Kozhipputhur near Mayavaram. This marriage was short lived and It is said, she died when she was 6 or 7 months pregnant. His second wife was Mohambal (from Kurumberi village).

Ramani Iyer had One son Sethu Raman and one daughter Sundari. Sethuraman set up a shop dealing with Iron metals in Sirkazhi. I have seen people calling him “Erumbu kadai Ayya”. Probably he is one of the 1st Entrepreneurs in Jagadeesan Iyer’s family. The business did well.

Sethu periappa was married to Meenambal (d/o Subbulakshmi athanga and grand-daughter of Meenakshi athai)

Sundari athai is married to Srinivasan and lives in Chennai.

Subramani iyer, on the other hand was an introvert and a 100% family man. He lost his father when was just 5-7 years old. Suppani was a tough man and loved his mother very much. (see next section for an incident during partition).He kept his thoughts and dreams to himself. Apparently, he had a feeling, (except S.Natarajan who had joined the police force) his other sons were not good in studies, and therefore was worried about their future. My appa, used to say, Subramani Iyer, used to take the advice of KNR, K.Seetha rama iyer more seriously, than consulting any of his own family members and except Natarajan periappa his other sons, were too young or were just out of college.

He was the village head man, and my father was a very favorite son to him and used to assist him in the village administrative accounting. He has received a certificate from the then British government for assisting the British police in nabbing a notorious thief. This certificate used to be displayed in the main hall.

Subramani Iyer went to Chennai to seek the advise of K N Ramanathan [KNR], to buy some lands in chennai, as investment to his children. (KNR had bought some lands in T Nagar).There is a saying he went with Rs 5000/- as cash in the early 1950's. KNR dissuaded him from investing in chennai and said "ithallam madu katra edam, nee inga vangatha, oorle vera idam paru" (These places are for tying cows and u do not invest here. See some places in the village itself).

As they say “Life is full of missed opportunities.”

Note: I do not want any of the clan members to be judgmental based on such incidents. There is nothing right or wrong, and thats the way they lived their lives. One can ask logical question “Why did Subramani iyer not have thinking on his own and had to rely on somebody else. The writing’s and compilations are not for Judgements.

Subramani Iyer was married to Kunju (1st daughter of Cadavasal Rama Iyer and Grand daughter of Naganatha Sastry). The marriage took place in the Cadavasal House. (Pls see the CDL house pictures in the beginning of the document). The laminated marriage invitation of Subramani iyer with Kunju is available with my father S.Jagadeesan. They had 11 children.

1) S.Natarajan married to Kamala (d/o of A.N.Kalyanasundaram of Arupathy)
2) Padma married to V.Muthuswamy (s/o M.V.Iyer) of Kaveripatinam
3) Muthuswamy (died when 3 years old)
4) Thulsi married to S. Ramamoorthy (S/O of Sundaresan Iyer of Kulithalai)
5) S.S.Srinivasan married to 1st Bhooma,2nd Meenakshi
6) S.Jagadeesan- married to Savithri (D/o Pavattakudi S.Venkatarama Iyer)
7) Girija - - married to Krishnaswamy (Mayuvaram)
8) S.Chandru - married to Chitra (Mayuram)
9) Mangalam - married to Viswanathan (S/oA.P.Mani Iyer)
10) Sasikala - married to Gopalakrishnan (S/O Thayagaraja Iyer of Chidambaram)
11) S.Raman - married to Prema (Daughter of Krishnan of Sundarpandipuram)

SNP Siblings : S.Natarajan, S.S.Srinivasan (sitting on a tall stool),Sugu (sitting in small chair) Thulsi, Padma

Subramani Iyed died of Brain Hemorrhage on 31-05-1959. After, the death of Subramani Iyer, his brother in law C.R.Kunjithapatham, (CRK mama from Cadavasal/Mayavaram), was instrumental in convincing Seenu periappa to take care of the lands and also assume the role of Head of the family. C.R.K mama has played the role of a Patriarch within the SNP family. A courtesy visit to Mayuvaram CRK’s house is definitely on the agenda by the present day clan members whenever they visit SNP. Till date, there were not many instances, in which the decision of Seenu periappa has been overruled and conflicting decisions implemented as far as the lands, temple and SNP house administration is concerned.

Kunju patti, it is said, imbibed all the qualities of her mother (Cadavasal Patti). She was patience personified. Her respect and devotion to her husband and her mother in law manni patti was 100%.She was also a chronic asthma patient and the long list of Children, also had it share in weakening her health. She passed away in 1966.

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Shri Kailasam Iyer [a.k.a Kailasam Athaan]

While talking about Shri J.Subramaniam Iyer and family, Special mention needs to be made about the family of Shri Kailasam Iyer. The family lived 6 or 7 houses away from the current SNP house.

He was also referred to as Shri Kailsam Athan and was very close to our family. Integrity and uprightness were the hallmark of Shri Kailasam Iyer. The association between both our families dates back to a few generations earlier. It is reliably learnt that the forefathers of Kailasam Iyer migrated to the Sattanatahpuram village at the behest of our SNP ancestors to take care of the Sattanathapuram family. Kailasam Iyer was himself personally taking care of the properties of Shri K.Gopalakrishna Iyer (Founder of Standard Motors family).

Shri Kailasam Iyer was treated as a member of the SNP family and almost had a say in the day to day affairs of the family. The eldest son of Kailasam Iyer is Shri K.Narayanaswamy Iyer. He was the class mate of Shri S.Natarajan and V.Sethu (Eldest sons of J.Subramani Iyer and J.Venkatramni Iyer respectively). Regular tuitions used to be conducted in the present day SNP house for this trio.

In one of my interactions with Shri Narayanaswamy uncle, he fondly recalled some nice incidents of the yester years and the close association between the two families. He remarked that lot of families are deeply indebted to J.Subramaniam Iyer for the help rendered by him including their family. He also eulogized the meritorious attitude and character of Shri J.Subramanim Iyer

Shri Kailasam Iyer youngest son Shri Muthu is class-mate of S.Chandrasekaran (s/o J.Subramaniam Iyer).

Shri Kailasam Iyer passed away in 1964. Shri Narayanaswami iyer recalled , that his father in his end days was remembering J.Subramaniam Iyer very frequently and even a made a reference that, with J.S Iyer gone, there is not much left for him in the village. Such has been the affection and mutual trust between Shri Kailasam Iyer and J.Subramaniam Iyer.

The bonhomie and trust between the families exists even today and thanks to the forefathers of both the families who have shown to the society that the world is an extended family. (I checked if both these famalies were related, but could not get any leads on the affirmative to suggest a relationship)

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Janaki Athai - It is said, she is very fair looking and orthodox. Till her death she managed on her own, following the strict principles of ‘Madi’[othodox]. Kittachi athan. (His name is Krishnamoorthy and is the son of Janaki Athai ). He was a tall man, with broad shoulders, and with a tuft. His wife name is Jayalakshmi.

Kittachi athan wife Jayalakshi is the daughter of Manni patti's own brothers daughter (i.e. he married his mother's own maternal uncle's daughter). Interestingly, manni patti's name is Bhagirathi and (Kittachi's athan wife Jayalakshmi horroscope (to be checked) name is also Bhagirathi. Going by the traditions, they should have carried the name of their ancestor of 2-3 generatiobns before them. My younger daughter Aparna is also named as Baghirathi in rememberence of Manni patti.

It seems, kittachi athan was a favourite of Manni patti and used to be in the SNP house very often. There was a marriage aliance proposal between Padma athai and kittachi athan. Kittachi athan refused, stating that, he and padma athai were almost like brother and sister, because of his closeness with the family.

Jankai athai’s daughter is Pattu athanga. She was married to Raja Iyer. They lived in chennai. They had 3 sons and 1 daughter.
- 1st Son Ambi. He was not married
- 2nd son Natarajan
- 3rd son Gopu and he worked in Standrad motors.
- 1st daughter Paru

Kittachi athan's brother was Shri Ramanathan- he was also called as Bombay athan .

Meenakshi Athai: The other sister of Subramani iyer was called as Meenakshi. She was married to a Mirasudar whose village is Annavasal (about 20Kms from Sirkazhi). It seems she died of Typhiod fever when on a pilgrimage to Rameshwaram and the last rites were performed there itself. The widower - Annavasal Mirasudhar re-married and had issues through the 2nd wife as well.

Meenakshi athai had 5 childern (3 daughters and 2 sons)

- Subbulakshi
- Neelaudhathatchi
- Gnanambal and sons
- Ambi attan and
- Seetharaman.

There had been no contact with this family for a long time. Recently a contact has been established with the family. This needs to be researched further

Sattanathapuram House

2008-08-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

There is a remark by somebody (I do not know whom), but this is oft repeated “Intha manayil vazhbavan, Arasan pol vazhvan”.( The people of this house will live like kings). By the divine blessing and good deeds of our ancestors and elders, the current clan elders and their succeeding progenies have prospered well in life.

The old Sattanathapuram house (comprising the Kitchen,the cooking area in the back,the ugranul and the place where the 2nd Pathayam (wooden containers for storing grains) is kept, were part of the original old house. These areas are more than 100 years old. The front manor room, ladies room, delivery room, Koodam, the pooja area, the Mutham (place for drying grains and other spices, storage space during rainy season), were latter day additions and was completed on 2nd May 1939. The internal wooden structures are made out of Teak wood.

The date inscription '2-5-39' as seen from the northern entrance

Shri Narayanaswamy iyer (eldest S/o Kailasam Athan) gave a graphical description about the old house. There used to be a long cement bench from enerance to the present day Mutham (Storage place) on both sides, followed by the rooms of the old house. S.Natarajan, V.Sethu and Narayanaswamy Iyer were class mates and tutions used to be conducted for them in the front open space.

The partition between Ramani Iyer and Subramani Iyer took place sometime in the year 1948 (after the partition of the country !!!). The partition of the property between Ramani and Subramani Iyer was not smooth and was marked by acrimonious events in the family. Ramani Iyer has indicated that he will take the present SNP house and Subramani Iyer and family were supposed to move to the next house. Subramani Iyer was ok with this and did not raise any protest, for it was not his habit to question his brother’s decision, whether rational or irrational.

Manni patti was not happy with the decision of Subramani Iyer , being asked to move to the next house. She has told her elder son Ramani, it seems, “Suppani is a big samsari with 10 children and he should stay in this big house”. The lands were divided equally between the brothers and Subramani Iyer received approximately 35 acres as his share. The entire Cash, vessels, furniture etc in the house were getting partitioned.

At that time, Seetharama Iyer - advocate [s/o Krishnaswamy Iyer and govt. pleader] has walked in and Manni patti took a copper vessel (a sombu),showed it to Seetharaman and said “yen pillai yenaku sombu koduthirukkan paru” – (My son has given me a copper vessel ) and in a fit of rage and anger threw the vessel onto the mutham [central placs-hall]. Ramani Iyer was infuriated with anger and spoke harsh words to his mother. At this moment Suppuni placed his hand firmly on Ramani’s shoulders and said ‘Ramani Niruthu” ( Ramani Stop).

Ramani Iyer did not speak a word after that and immediately said, he will move out of the house iso Subramani Iyer.

The iron girder in the mutham (central place) was completed in 1953. The patarai (Iron machinery) was placed in the lands behind the house and was done by Adaikalaraj from Sembanar Kovil)

Thanjavur P V Naganatha Sasthri, (1867 to 1939)

2008-08-16T05:36:00.000-07:00

Thanjavur family History (in brief)

P V Naganatha Sasthri, (1867 to 1939) a.k.a Thanjavur Naganatha Sastry was a distinguished Sanskrit Scholar and a lawyer of no mean repute. He is the son of Vengu Sastry. They were originally from PudhukottaiIn fact the estate that the Vadapathimangalam family own is due to this man’s excellent presentation of the Hindu law of adoption to the Privy Council. This case is seminal in the legal interpretation and the case is called “Sundaratthanni vs. Ramanuja”.

P.V.Naganatha Sasthry – (1867 – 1930)

Recalling an incident on this great man’s legacy.

C.R Natarajan (Grandson of Shri Naganatha Sastry) was a close friend of K Rajagopal, brother-in-law of V S T. His father Kuppuswamy Mudalair was active in the management of the Thiru Arrooran Sugars. When CRN was in Beardsells, he met him to get business for Jute bags.During the conversation he realized that CRN was the grandson of P V Naganatha Sasthri, connecting the parentage. He called the person in charge of purchases and told him in Tamil, "In future you must give business to Natarajan as long as he is in Beardsells. Do not worry about the price". After the purchase clerk left , Kuppuswamy Mudaliar told me that the estate they enjoy is due to Naganatha Sasthri's exposition of Hindu Law. We always talk about the sins of the fathers, here is the munificence of the grandfather!

P.V.Naganatha Sastry was to Married to Meenakshi ammal (1875 to 1925) (Daughter of Muthuswamy Iyer of Madurai. See details in Madurai section).

They had 11 children. The below is taken from the Genealogy tree done by shri Naganatha Sastry’s son shri T.N.Muthuswamy.

a. Mohambal married to Subba Iyer of Thirukargavoor.
b. T.N.Vaidhyanathan married to Pichammal (Pichammal was the daughter of Venkatarama Iyer –founder of Madura college & also T.N.Vaidhyanathan’s maternal uncle)
c. T.N.Kalidasan married to Saraswathi
d. Chellammal (a.k.a Cadavasal Patti) married to Cadavasal Rama Iyer (refer to Cadavsal family in the subsequent sections)
e. T.N.Muthuswami (Geology Professor,Presidency college,Annamalai University,Saugar University M.P)
f. Parvathy married to Duraiswami
g. Kamakashi married to Umayalpuram Muthuswamy
h. Lakshmi married to R.Jayaramana
i. T.N.Subramaniam (The child died when he was 5 years old)
j. Gowri married to R.Appuswamy
k. T.N.Viswanathan married to Savithri

CRN mama studied in Presidency college in Madras. The Head of Geology department was one T N Muthuswamy Iyer, his mother Chellammal [aka Lokanayaki] - younger brother [Naganatha Sastry’s son]. T N Muthswamy’s son T M Venkatraman, also studied in Presidency college

TN Muthusamy Iyer, shifted to Annamalai University at Chidamabaram as HOD, Geology Dept after a stint at Presidency college. Prof. Muthuswamy was in Annamalai in his last incarnation as professor. He had a stint in Sagar University after Presidency and before that was in Engineering College, Guindy.

There is one little gem that CRN mama recalls always.

His paternal grandfather C R Kunjithapatham Iyer and maternal grandpa PV Naganatha Sasthri were good friends, perhaps class fellows in Law. There was a talk of CDL patti (lokanayaki) being "reserved" for CDL Ramaiyer, but when they compared horsocopes, it was found that CDL patti was born in Aayilyam Nakshathram and that was not conducive to the longevity of the mother in law. The matter was shelved. Senior CRK Iyer lost his wife. One fine day CRK Iyer came from Nagappattinam to see PV Naganatha Sastri and told him that the only impediment for the marriage is not there any more and the alliance should be firmed up.

Apart from CRN hearing of this incident from his mother, his maternal uncle T N Viswanathan, who incidentally was the son-in-law of Mayavaram Srinivasa Sarma (Sundappa's father) used to quote his father as saying," Senior CRK [grandfather of CRK/CRN] was a wonderful man. Economically and socially he occupied a very enviable status. This was an example of his graciousness".

CRN mama found in Boston a copy of PVN Sasthri's treatise on Sanskrit grammar.

What a life they must have lead !!.

Cadavassal Rama Iyer - Family History

2008-08-16T05:35:00.000-07:00

4.1 Cadavasal House and Thoppu Vattaram

Ramadorai Iyer, father of Senior Kunjithapatham Iyer (CRK and CRN’s great grandfather) lived in Cadavasal. He had extended landed property as far as Karunthattangudi near Tanjavoor. Ramadorai Iyer had property in Nelpathur and Toppu Vattaram, Kuriyampallam, Vadhanoor etc. etc. Cadavasal house was occupied by Natesa Iyer aka Nataraja Iyer, an elder brother of Kujithapatham Iyer. (It is not known if Nataraja Iyer is CRK's blood brother or once removed. (Natesa Iyer's daughter Mangalam was married to Sama Atthan,- this is described in the latter part )

Sugu,Shyam,Apoorva & Chandru in CDL house

Cadavasal House

There was some sort of living quarters in Toppu Vattaram and Kunjithapatham Iyer, demolished it and built what in those days was called "Kaatthu" bungalow i.e. a sort of summer home. The pond adjacent and trees all round provided the comfort of cool air in
extreme heat. The original house in vattaram had a central hall, a Thavaram and kitchen, perhaps a bedroom. All round was the verandah. A "kottai" with cocoanut
'keethus" formed the entrance. Cadavasal Ramaiyer (grandson of Ramadurai Iyer) moved to Toppu vattaram, even when his father was alive. Senior CRK Iyer used to visit the village during the recesses in the courts and enjoyed the walks and his property. Cadavasal Ramaiyer’s brother was Sivaswamy Iyer (Sivasmay Iyer was also called as Vattaram Sivaswamy iyer) When the property was pationed, Sivaswamy iyer took the Thoppu Vattaram house and property and settled there.

What remains of the old Cadavasal house are the two freestanding protrusions, the garage that was the "kamera Ull" aka bedroom and the bathroom. Between
the two rooms must have been a connecting verandah leading up to the main street entrance, probably in line with the Northern walls ie the walls adjoining the street.The main structure was demolished and the present day Cadavasal house was built. Namasivayam Aachari from Nagapattinam supervised the construction.

The partition between Cadavasal Ramaiyer and Sivaswamy Iyer was pretty smooth and very amiable. Ramaiyer and Lokanayakki (cadavasal patti) moved to cadavasal sometime in 1916

Kadavasal Ramadurai Iyer and his son Kunjitapatha Iyer

2008-08-16T05:34:00.000-07:00

Kadavasal Ramadurai Iyer and his son Kunjitapatha Iyer

Cadavasal Ramadurai - There is only one likeness of him. That is in a Tanjore painting of Nataraja, in which he is shown standing with palm folded. . (the photo of the Nataraja picture, was with Vattaram Siavaswamy Iyer) and is now with his grandson Rajiv in Chennai). Kanchi Chandrasekara saraswathi Periyaval of haloed memory had met him and used to recount how he was well looked after during his travels in a palanquin. Ramadurai Iyer, used to keep a full "kudam" of milk and the palanquin bearers should not shake the palanquin and keep such a smooth movement that the milk should not spill, when the Sankaracharya was in the palanquin. There was a "bhoygi" ie. Palanquin bearer named Lakshmanan, whose legs were bowlegged and his shoulder was black with hardened skin by carrying the palanquin. He used to talk of his "yajaman". There was one Lakshmi Patti mother of one Seshu Sasthrigal in Cadavasal, and Lakshmi Patti, fondly kbown as Echi patti used to say in Tamil, " when Ramadurai Iyer walked by after visiting the temple or his lands, no woman in the village will stand in the front yard and men, if any, will stand up and tie their towels around their waist and keep their hands crossed over the bellies! In those days, the private road that lead to Cadavasal house was not there and the only entrance to the house was via Agraharam. Another servant, who himself had faint memnories was Mannadhan, whose father was a servant of Ramadurai Iyer. Ramadurai Iyer wife’s name was Janaki. She was a very fair person in her mien as also in her mind and intellect.

When he was in the palanquin on his way to Karunthittangudi, he saw a nice looking girl
peering out of the window in a house. He was smitten by her looks and immediately sent word through his Kariyasthan (secretary/manager) to find out who the girl was. When he was told that the girl's wedding was impending, he called for the girl's father and told him to call off the marriage as he wants to marry her. Legend has another version ie. that he saw a girl in the house that was being prepared for a wedding the next day or so with plantain trees and other festoons, then called the girl's father and said he will marry her, at the same time advising the bridegroom's party to keep away! A true Maharaja Story! There is no method of checking which version is true; it is all over 150 years old.

Few interesting anecdotes. Chinnadorai of Vadagal, whose ancestors were originally Palayakars of the Vijayanagar empire. His ancestors had one day Puja in the Sirkali festival of Thirumullaipaol and a similar day was for Ramadurai Iyer. The protocol was that the Oorvalam should commence only after the Kartha of that day was present
and performed the puja. Unfortunately on one Occasion Ramadurai Iyer was late and the Kattalai Thampuran ordered the Oorvalam. Ramadurai Iyer's palanquin reached the Sannadhi St, just as the procession was starting. He asked his Bhoyis (palanquin bearers) to bring the Kattalai thampuran and when he came he ordered him to get on a donkey and lead the procession. This appears too extreme and may have been embellished over repeated narrations but it is possible that Ramadurai Iyer had the Kattlai thampuran beaten up and collected an apology. He was a terror in his lifetime.

Sattanathapuram Manni patti (Baghirathi) used to remark about Ramadurai as “Kandal viduvano cadavasal Ramadurai” (will he leave a girl after sighting her !!!)

Cadavasal Ramaiyer (Ramadurai Iyer) was named after his grandfather. Cadavasal Ramaiyer sister was named as Janaki in memory of her grandmother. In the Current generation Sattanathapuram Natarajan’s son Ramesh is named after the legendary Ramadurai.

Cadavasal Ramadurai Iyer’s son was Kunjitapatham Iyer (Senior Kunjithapatham Iyer)

Sitting on the left is Cadavasal Kunjitabatham Iyer [ Senior CRK ]

He was a leading lawyer in Nagapattnam. There is "Sanad" in Mayavaram CRK's (Senior CRK’s grandson) office room right under Kujithapatham Iyeer's photo, conferring the title of Rao Bahadur or Rao Sahib to the late senior CRK Iyer with the date Sep. 1917 or so signed by Lord Chelmsford, Viceroy of India. The Sanad and the medal that goes with it was collected by Cadavasal Ramaiyer (Senior CRK’s son) from the Governor of Madras, as by that time, senior CRK Iyer was dead. (died sometime during the first world war betwen 1914 and 1918). Probably it was in 1917 or so

Kadavasal Ramaiyer Iyer & Lokanayaki (CDL Thatta & Patti)

2008-08-16T03:42:00.000-07:00

The current generation of the SNP family speaks with so much pride their connection with the cadavasal family and the happy days in their grandparents house. Cadavasal Thatta was very strict, but yet a loving and caring father and grandfather. His sense of humor is beyond comparison. His snoring habits was the talk of the town. His snoring was so loud and intense that it was heard in the still of the village night at a distance of 100 meters sometimes. Cadavasal thatta used to lock the Iron grill gate by 7:00 PM sharp and it is said anybody coming home after 7:00 PM, have to come the next day.

Cadavasal RamaIyer and Lokanayaki

Cadavasal Patti (Lokanayaki D/o Naganatha Sastry) was pious but not bigoted, conservative but not evangelical, strong in her beliefs but seldom sought to impose them on others. She was a product of one generation but did not carry the prejudices of one and condemned others. She was a student of Sanskrit, wrote Tamil with a poetical finesse, understood English better than many, solved puzzles in Tamil that Ananda Vikatan used to publish every week and won a number of times, earning a few rupees here and there. She was generous without being lavish, had an ability to judge good causes and not be carried away by glib talk. Her devotion to thatta was total. She got married at the age of 11 or 12 and came to live in the village at a very early age. Thanjavoor in those days was a big town and for her to come and adjust to life in Thoppu Vattaram must have been traumatic. She took it in her strides.

Kindly read, Paravathi akka – A biography by C.R.Natarajan for a detailed account on the early lifestyles, Navarathri functions, Thanajavur Naganatha Sasthry and family,the troubled life of Parvathy akka, in the subsequent sections in this document

Cadavasal Patti was, is and will always be divine for many in the current generations and succeeding generations who will hear her legends

They had 6 children :4 daughters and 2 sons
1. Kunju married to J Subramaniiyer of Sattanathapuram
2. Parvathy married to P.Vaidhyanathan a.k.aBalan ( Balan died at a very young age)
3. Savithri married V.Subramaniiyer of Madurai
4. A fourth daughter passed away as a very young child due to liver cirrhosis
5. C.R. Kunjitapatham married to Jayam (Jayam d/o of T.N.Vaidhyanatha Iyer )
6. C.R. Natarajan married to Mangalam and Dakshayini

The below series contributed by Shri Cadavasal Ramaiyer Natarajan:

Dt 13th June'2011

I am not a Dara Shikoh who translated the Upanishads and was later killed by Auranazeb. His translation to Persian survived and from this translations in other languages spread to the West. I do not have any such seminal work to survive me but sometime when some distant descendent of our families access your geneology, they may find some little word neither innocuous nor enlightening but from the heart in my writing.

I will aways regret that I never got the fluency and fragrance, the flower and flow of my mother's Tamil or her Sanskrit, despite my having sat with her when she regaled me with many stories of Kalidasa, Bhavabuti. Here is one such story which I request be included in the Cadavasal chronicles with this letter.Here it is

Kalidasa wielded great influence in the court of King Bhoja as the court poet. An elderly poor brahmin depended on Unchavrithi ( beggary) for the family sustenance. He knew Kalidasa but never approached him for help. With the persistence of a termite, his wife broke down the Brahmin's resistance and he went to Kalidasa for help. Kalidasa told him that King Bhoja was partial to learning and that he should come to the court to seek help. The brahmin was a total nit wit and could not utter two intelligent and intellligible words in Sanskrit. Kalidasa schooled him in a Sanskrit Sloka in the morning of the scheduled palace visit and told the brahmin, he should continuously repeat this so that he does not forget. The brahmin was muttering the sloka as he negotiated the corridor of the palace. One of the guards said "Ush" to stop the muttring. The brahmin forgot the sloka and started "Ush! Ush"! Another guard said "De" which the brahmin heard as "dara"; by the time he reached the throne with his lime and vibhuti and Kumkum, forgot everyth/ing and transformed the words to "Ushadara".

The king was unable to understand the greeting and asked Kalidasa to explain. Kalidasa wanted to discipline some of the court poets who prided themselves on their erudition and so he suggested to King Bhoja that the court poets be requested to decipher the greeting. All of them said that the expression has no meanilng and challenged Kalidasa. Kalidasa with a smile said that the old brahmin can not talk much and so has taken the first letter of each line of his greeting; expanded the words to

UMAYA SAHITHO RUDRAHA ( Siva with his consort Uma)
SANKARA CHANDRASEKHARA ( Sankara with his Chandra)
DANDANKARA VINODHENA (beaing the the damaru (small drum hour glass shaped)
RAKSHA THVAM ( bless you).

Bhoja was pleased with the brahmin and provided him with his material needs.

I will regale you with a few such gems from my mother as and when i recall them.

Even now when I say my daily prayers I recite this sloka in memory of my mother with the change in the last line to mean bless me!

To-day is 13 June, It was at the stroke of midnight of 12-13 June that my father died. What will ever remain of him will die in a few years; memories do not survive life of those who remember. Then they move on to the sphere of legends and myths!

c r n

Parvathi akka – A biography by C.R.Natarajan

2008-08-16T03:40:00.000-07:00

Written in Oct-2002 by C.R.Natarajan
This Vijayadasami day I am starting on a fragmented chronicle of my life and I pray my MOTHER to give me the strength, memory, time and health to at least recapitulate major events if not in depth and to the end,
On 12th October, I had a dream that my father's father C R Kunjithapatham Iyer was with me and was taking me with him. I have never seen him as he died far before my birth but all the same I felt his presence in the dream. I do not recall the face in my dream. The following day ie 13 I had images of cadavasal life and the strong presence of my parents. As I lay in bed I realized that the promise of writing, as far as I knew of my ancestors has not been kept by me. I have not even made a serious attempt to know the birthday of Parvathi and her husband for me to create an endowment in their names. I pray that I am given the strength to complete this chronicle, however fragmented it may be.

The biography is compiled in 6 sections. (Section 01 - Section 06)

Parvathi akka – A biography -01

2008-08-16T03:27:00.000-07:00

Written by Cadavasal R Natarajan

Navarathri festival and life in Cadavasal

Navarathri in Cadavasal was a religious function for my mother. She used to have Puja for ten days and I used to help her with performing the archana, Two occasions when GOLU was elaborately celebrated were when my mother had her daughters-in-law and on each one's first Navarathri, My father had an edict that the Navarathri Sundal etc. must only be given from the verandah. He did not want the highly polished wooden pillars used as wipes and the floor spilt with the sundal by children. This was an edict that my mother very strictly followed and did not hesitate to tell the sumangalis who came for Pakku Vetrilai . The sumangaiis who used to come for Navarathri were ( from the last house on the East End of Agraharam) Aalankattu Karnikkar's wife whose name I have forgotten, Krishnamurthy Sasthry's wife when she was alive and her daughters the most prominent among them being Thippa Kutty an unpardonable corruption and mutilation of the name of the Divine Mother Thirupura Sundari, which I came to understand much later in life), my father's cousin sister Mangalam known as Mangalakka (her husband was Sama Atthaan) and her daughers in Jaws Sombu's wife and Anthu's wife, sometimes Mangalakka's daughers Aplai, or Rukmani or Pichu before she fell from grace for her alleged escapades with Marimuthu, there was an old lady living in the house to the West inhabited by a widowed lady, who donned the widow's weed prescribed by convention if not religion - someone from her house if she had her daughter or someone visiting, , Nana Iyer's wife and his son Ramu's wife, Nana. Iyer's daughters Bhavani, Chinna Kutty Wife of Ramachandra Srowthigal) Thangam (I think that was her name. Wife of Ramamirtham Iyer school teacher) and their children if the daughters were visiting their parents, Thattha’s daugher in law Mani ( that was how she was called I did not know her name, she had three sons Kalyanarn, Achi shortened corruption of Achuthanarayanan, Chandran and a daughter Malli. a very fair and charming child), Pakkatthatthu (adjacent house) Pattamaniar' wife and her daughters Ammam, Nagam, Lalitha, Seshu Sasthri's wife Madhuram till Seshu Sasthri passsed away, (Madhuram has no children) Seshu Sasthri's son Ramamurthy's wife Kanthi and her children, Abhirami Maami, lyya Pichu Iyer's ( familiar form for Ayyaswamy Iyer) wife, with her daughers-in-law after their acquisition courtesy, sons Rajam and Piccha Kutty (the name Venkatraman was known to me when I was 12 or so), Dikshidhar's Mattuppenn ( Diskshidhar's daugher in law Rangan's wife), lyengar maami ( her husband was the kurukkal in the Vishnu temple in the Western end of the Agraharam) and after their time her son Rangan's wife, Kalyana Kurakkal's wife with her daughters-in-law. Most of them had children and it was fun for children to enter Periyam (Cadavasal House) and see the big koodam and thaavaaram with the large Nataraja picture and pictures all over the walls ( the big house, that is how our house was known, such a pleasure was denied to them most of the days in the year unless there was some function like marriage etc.). The children were mostly well behaved in our house but they could never understand why one does not allow nasal discharge soil the floor or the pillars but perhaps the very cleanliness of the floor and pillars was inviting; the infants had their own agenda for urinating or defecating. The mother's and grand mothers used to exercise a great deal of oversight to prevent such mishaps but most of the time it was to no avail as nature had the last say! My Sister Parvathi, had her own unassailable interpretation - "the fear of KR"!
My mother never fixed any particular day for Manjai Kumukumam and so people came in any day or some most of the days. My mother used to visit the homes of the village families and used to take an escort in one of the servant maids viz. Mannadhan's wife Sundara or one of her daughters Chandrodayam, Anjalai, etc. Mottayyan-s wife Ponni, Pottai Muniyandi's ( Mumyandi the bind)) wife -I forget her name -when she was alive, one of her daughters Muthurakku or Vembu, ( can not recall the other names), and sometimes I used to accompany her. Ramayi, an elderly lady who looked after my elder brother CRK may have been in this list but she died when I was just about 8 years old. In any case, I have no special recollection of her.

My Ayah was one Meenacchi: a Kalla lady who was very fond of me. She and her only daughter Azhagu may also have been in the list of escorts for my mother. My father used to be finicky about eating the sunda! etc. from others' houses as he believed, that cooking in the villagers' houses will not be hygienic and so most of the time these sundals etc, used to be given to the servants. Of course, I successfully cheated on him by having a few mouthfuls, lack of hygiene if any improved the taste for me! My mother was very particular that during the Navarathri festival the puja room should not be locked. She never will be out of Cadavasal for the Navarathri. On those rare occasions we were in Madurai in my sister's house Savithri where Navarathri used to be a huge affair, my mother will arrange for the daily puja at home. None of those commitments mean much to-day even for those who have lived in that milieu but for me, I miss the commitment and the sanctity attached, Amman Vigraharn used to be in the brass ratham. This ratham was with my aunt Mangalakka and she was planning to sell it as she had done a lot of old artifacts due to circumstances, and my mother purchased it, Some of the idols that were in the ratham were lost but luckily the horses and the charioteer God Suryan were found, This was in the puja of my great grandfather Ramadurai Iyer and was with Nataraja Iyer (known as Natesa Iyer) Kunjithapatham Iyer's cousin brother who looked after the property, Kujithapatham Iyer having moved to Nagapatam for pursuing his vocation, I remember the day when the Ratham was brought home full of grime and oxidized. My mother had it cleaned. She arranged for the missing pillars and other icons to be made and lovingly restored the ratham. From then on Amman vigraham found its abode. The Ratham is now said to be with Thyagu (Mangaiam's brother) who is continuing the tradition of my mother.

Sitting in the ground -- 1st row... From left to right
Thulsi, Padma, Sugu, Raju (mdu family), Seenu, Muthu (mdu fmly), Bhama (mdu fmly)
Sitting in Chairs -- middle from left to right
CRK , Sattanatapuram J Subramani Iyer , Rama Iyer, V Subramani Iyer (Mdu family) Standing in the last row -- left to right
Jayam (CRK wife), Parvathi akka,Kunju,CRN , Cadavasal patti lokanayaki, Savithri with son Babu in hand( Sister of Kunju and w/o V subramani Iyer) and S Natarajn

The female servants used to spread out and bring flowers for the puja. The sumangalis in the village also used to send flowers from their backyards, Periyatthu Maami's piety was byword and they all believed their contribution to the puja will not go unrewarded , though they themselves did not have the wherewithal and time to do the puja. Not that my mother had time in her hands. My father was a virtual agnostic in his middle age and used to frown upon my mother performing elaborate puja. He used to be furious if he felt, however imaginary and it may be, that my mother is spending more time on her puaj without ministering to his needs. My mother, steeped in the tradition of Hindu culture considered it her prime duty to minister to the needs of her husband before God. She used to complete her puja before, my father's return from the paddy fields/ farm most of the days and if she does not, then she will break off in the middle and after my father's lunch will continue with her puja. The Navarathri Puja used to take a long time as she used to perform Sahasranama Archana ie 1000 names archana. The flower bedecked ratham and the deity with only the face visible covered with flowers of all hues is etched in my memory. My mother's face was always a picture of piety and devotion. I can hear her calling out to my sister Parvathi, "Appa Vandhacchu. Naan appuram pujai pannukiren" ( Father has come. I will continue puja afterwards.), Sometimes Parvathi used to let my other know that my faather is approaching by saying, "KR varaar"." She referred to my father as KR ie K Ramiah and varrar to mean coming.

The Kalpura Aarathi and the deepams, the neivedyam, the ringing of the bell are images and sounds that time will not erase but oblivion may, but if one believes in the soul carrying the experiences forward, I may carry it to my next birth. Parvathi used to spend days stringing flower garlands. My mother had to remind her that she had not had her food. Most of the days, My mother will insist on her joining for lunch but there were days when my mother in her extreme hunger used to sit for lunch and Parvathi will come after she finished hers. Golu in Cadavasa! or anywhere under my Mother's aegis was not just a social function, where ladies flaunt their clothes and jewels but had a greater significance - the significance being that every sumangali and Kanya (unmarried girls) is the manifest representation of Divine Mother. The modern feminists may question as to why only Sumangalis are given this importance. The exclusion of widows, no doubt appears arbitrary and unjust. I do not know the answer. I am only recounting events and beliefs.
There were also visitors from outside our village for the Golu. My sister Kunju from Sattanathapuram with her children, her Orpadi – Kurumberi Moham manni (wife of SNP Ramani Iyer) (it is a very difficult translation Orpadi is the wife of the husband;s brother sometimes described as co-sister, as males married to sister, are branded as co brothers - a kind of relationship only the Indian mind can conjure up), my paternal uncle's wife Jagadham Chithi from Toppu Vattaram (whenever relationship between my father and his brother was not freezing cold), Thlrukkadavur Vadhyar's wife, Vinayakam who was unmarried and was a nurse in the Edwina Hospital { she was not a brahmin but she was very devout and she had a special place in my mother's and Parvathi's hearts), Kanikkiniar kovil Gopu Iyer's wife and a least one of her daughters in law, most of the time Venkittu's wife and occasionally Ramaswamy's if she was visiting, Java daughter of Kichan lyengar despite being a widow was always asked to visit with her daughter Chinna Ponnu, by my mother and Jaya's sisters Kannagi, or Janaki or Vedha if anyone was visiting at that time.

My mother had to find the right opportunity to ask my father for permission to visit these "outstation" homes for Maiijal Kumkum. The radius was hardly 5 miles but she will not even step out of the house to visit the temple in the village without letting my father know in advance and with his tacit permission. It was not an easy task to get this approval! Somehow my mother managed to get the bullock cart and in later years the car. If at all he accompanied her it was to Kanikkiniarkoi! and Toppuvaltaram since it gave him an opportunity to get his hair down and be informal with Gopu Iyer and Kichan lyengar in their own homes! I was quite happy to make these visits, since my father did not place any embargo on eating in these homes.

The village house had a front verandah of about 30/40' and on both ends were raised platforms, resembling tables with slate tops. My teacher used to walk from his village Thirukkarukavur, about 2/3 miles from home and start my lessons at 7am,if no earlier. He will teach math, English and languages and made me write them in the slate top.Before he left, he used to write the homework for the next day, in the slate, erasing the morning's lessons clean. I was given no notebooks to write and regurgitate the input later. So I had to remember. When I was a student, I could read a page and remember the content.

My niece Padma, Kuju's daughter, was my mother's favorite being the first grand daughter and my mother with my sister's permission had her to Cadavasal, Padma might have had greater fun in her own home where Navarathri golu was every year celebrated, but for her, my mother was everything. Golu on an elaborate manner was not always the Cadavasal tradition but the Puja section of my mother was in itself a Goiu. On the wall facing East, was the oval Nataraja picture with framed calendar pictures of various Hindu deities arranged to the left and right at a height of 6 feet. Most of the pictures my mother selected, covered the advertisements with gold or silver foil or colored paper artistically styled like a mandap on top or a carpet or flooring as appropriate. She used to send them to Sirkali, the nearest town for fixing frames. For Navarathri Golu; she had readymade wooden steps to arrange the dolls in the traditional manner. The topmost shelf was occupied by a large Gaaapthi and he was always placed first. The arrangement followed a set pattern. On the Eastern wall adjoining the Nataraja picture was a wall painting of Varalakshrni about 6' by 6'. Tt was always there. It was renovated once by a painter who came from Tanjore. My mother's puja section was in itself a Golu and the traditional Golu in that section enhanced the Golu rather than the
Golu adding to the Puja!

My mother used to stock fine hand mirrors, dress material, little toys for children, bangles, black thread, Pony tail clips etc from Madurai. These are traditional gifts given during Navarathri for the Suraangalis, Kanyas and children of both sex. The betel leaves, betel nut, Manjal (turmeric) and fruits etc. with these little gifts described formed the give aways for Navarathri. The central idea was not the present but the honor and homage rendered to the women as manifestation of Divine Mother. The younger ones used to prostrate before my mother and my mother to her elders, irrespective of their economic status. Of course, tradition limited this to peers. No invitations were sent out and people came for Manjal Kumkuma. The village and the surrounding areas knew that Navarathri is always celebrated in every home unless there has been a death or sad event in the family. The female servants were also recipients of the Thamboolam (one word description of the gifts and betel nut etc.) every day. The female servants will never depart from our house without praying to the Nataraja. Their faith was as strong as anyone else's. Caste hatred was not an issue at all in those days.

My mother will nor stitch or use the needle during these ten days, Goddess Durga is said to perform TAPAS standing on a needle on one leg to get the power required to destroy the demon terrorizing the world. It was on Vijaya dasami day the tenth day when the activities will start. My mother had her own little niche of savings. From this her expenses for Navarathri gifts were met. She used to send money for my sisters Kunju and Savithri if she had some money. Even Indians of this time do not understand the spirit and devotion with which Navarathri was celebrated. It was not all new clothes and display. This was secondary. The primary reason was homage to Women in every one of whom
Mother Goddess resides. Humility and Grace were on display not Arrogance and Ostentation.

T S Eliot wrote, "in my end is my beginning" in his belief in rebirth after death.

Parvathi akka – A biography -02

2008-08-16T03:26:00.000-07:00

Parvathi akka’s early life and marriage

Parvathi, my sister is passing into oblivion even when her siblings and inheritors who have lived during her life are still inhibitors of planet earth. She died on 17 February^ 1983 chaired to death, Much before her physical body was charred and cremated leaving only a handful of ashes, her heart was seared, her mind incinerated, her soul burnt. She was said to have been 65 when she died.
As far back as I can remember Parvathi Akka was a part of my life at Cadavasal which from my birth till I left for studies in college to Madurai in 1943. I do not know when she returned to the Cadavasal house. I have no recollection of her marriage, her husband and her losing him in Madras! do not know when my memory cells got activated to record images of Cadavasal. I called her only Akka and she was called so by most of the young girls and boys in Cadavasal of my age. My earliest recollection of her was that she was different, different in the way that she was not a part of the Golu Sumangalis though she arranged the Mangal Kumkum plates with coconuts etc. She will never have her lunch without reading her Puja book. Even now as I conjure up images of Cadavasal, now a house that is now not ours, I see her sitting on a wooden plank with her sloka books and reading loudly.
There are very many images of Cadavasal life, with one constant in Cadavasal house - Parvathi Akka, She was ubiquitous despite her life of virtual seclusion, a social isolation. She will wake up in the morning, what dreams she had, what thoughts she nurtured, what tears she had, what agony she suffered no one knows She will have her coffee and take the brass pookoodai (Flower basket of brass) and pluck flowers from the various plants. If the bowers supporting the creepers or the branches with flowers were too high, she will take a wooden stool and climb up on that to reach the flowers. She used a contraption a wooden stick with a 6" piece of stick tied with coconut fiber rope at an angle with the longer side facing down forming a sort of triangle to pull branches down from trees. She will finish her flower collection, separate flowers for my mother's puja and keep the rest. She had infinite patience-She will take the plantain tree bark and take the fibre to make continuous thread for stringing flowers. After her sloka reading, (as I write 1 hear her voice "brama Murari Surarchitha Lingam, Nirmala Bhashitha Sobhitha Lingam" etc. she will have her lunch and sit in the Tavaram (lime courtyard) facing East with the Southern wooden pillar as her back support and go on stringing flowers, There were days when servants or other visitors from the Agraharam brought flowers for her to string. Mahizhamhu (I do not know the English equivalent) is a tiny flower with a great fragrance and to season, the flowers used to form a carpet under the tree. Parijatham a flower of exotic fragrnce that is said to have caused some friction between Satya Bhamna and Rukmini to Krishna's discomfiture, Mara Malligai, a white flower with a long stalk and all permeating fragrance, Panneer Poo, a smaller version of maramalligai, Shoeflower, Arali were her daily collection. Sometimes she will get Thazhamboo or Marukkozhundu or Vetriver as gift to her from a visitor. Whenever I came home from Madras for holidays, the train used to pass by Kollidam station. Whatever be the time of the day or morning, I used to find the Vetriver seller and pick a buch for her, She used to wrap it in a wet cloth and use it for many days. People understood that she can not be giver, flowers to bedeck herself as she was a widow, and so they brought loose flowers etc as gifts for her to use them in her daily occupation. She never strung the flowers for herself. She will make garlands, fix them in the various pictures of Gods and Goddesses, keep some for my mother and some for her to give visitors. I do not think at any time, a sense of anger at her fate or jealousy at the life of others who can have the flowers ever crossed her mind. Almost through the day (sometimes till 11 or 12 p m) she will sit and string the flowers, My mother used to tell her, "Parvathi, rest for a while and then go back or come to bed and you can do this tomorrow"; but she chose to ignore this request.
She had the plantain bark fibre rolled on spindles like sewing thread and at any given time there were more than a dozen of them. She had her own code as to which should be used first and picking them up, she will wet the thread before use. There were days when she said, Ennai Indha Madhiri Balan vittuvittu poivittare1 (Balan has left me like this) and her voice broke. She wiped her tears and went back to her chore, these outbursts used to be in her early days of widowhood. I never understood her agony but came to realize her anguish much later. She called her husband "PV Saar" for his name P Vaidyanathan, the Sir was an addenda, and Balan on other occasions A picture of her husband, an oval bust with a round cap and a jacket, ear rings prominent used to hang in the Western side of the Northern wall of the thavaram, just adjoining the Vasappadi (doorway) leading to the Thavaram from the centre hall. Sometimes she will pick up a flower and keep it on the photo. Sometimes there will be kumkum and Chandanam marks on his forehead. The annual shradh for her husband was performed by her. The purohits used to perform the shradh taking the necessary authority from her in the form of a Dharbai (Kusha grass)) with the appropriate mantras. For her, in her faith and belief it was the day when Balan will come back and she should ensure that everything is right for him. Every Shradh she performed must have kindled her memories, but never kindled any jealousy. A few days before the Shradh, she will be muttering, 5 days more,4 days more for Balan to come and after the event, she will sometimes say, one more year I have to wait, Nobody perhaps ever understood her misery more than my mother. In the early years, my mother used to shed her own tears lying down in the swing watching Parvathi stringing flowers. Parvathji had a box about 5" by 3.5" by 1 -5", satin lined in which was a picture of her husband, a miniature of the same picture in the koodam (inner courtyard)- I have seen her pick this picture up and look at the face fondly with unsaid prayer. I do not know what happened to that miniature picture.

Parvathi akka – A biography -03

2008-08-16T03:24:00.000-07:00

Parvathi with husband Balan and related events
Parvathi lived with her husband in Chennai, when the !atter was studying Law. I do not know how long but it could: not have been more than utmost 2 years. They lived in a house ( I do not know whether the house belonged to them or was rented) in SulHvans Garden Road. This house was a land mark for us and used to be pointed out as Parvathi's house by my mother whenever we had an opportunity to pass that house. Subsequently this house was purchased by one of the sister's of Drat's father. It is not possible to recognize this now. My mother and father used to avoid taking Parvathj even close to this place. She could have recognized the landmarks and got agitated. Her husband died of Typhoid. Dr Rangachari of Haloed memory attended on him but in those days in late twenties, there were no medicines that could have cured him Nature had to take its course. At his death, his mother, Parvathi, my parents, my mother's brother Prof T N Muthuswamy and his wife Rajam Manni. RJ (Drat's father) and his mother were there among a few others. Parvathi was asked to light his funeral pyre. The reason attributed was that they had no children. The suggestion seems to have been made by Prof Muthuswamy and I have heard that Parvathi's lighting the funeral pyre secured for her the share of her husband's estate for lifetime and this was one of the prime motivations. Balan was the only child and with him ended the family tree. His mother lived in Kumbakonam and if my memory serves me right she lived in a street running parallel to the Cauvery river, the name of the street I do not recall. However 1 do remember a visit to her with my mother (I do not remember whether Parvathi was with us or not) I remember Parvathi prostrating to her mother in law but the image is not clear, I must have been just about 5 or 6. Parvathi's mother in law was a typical brahmin lady wearing her 9 yards saree, the jewels she probably wore diamond ear rings and a gold chain and a coiled chain too but i am writing; this after seven decades and the recollection is vague. My mother was not happy with this visit. It was the only time we went to see her. At her death, Parvathi was said to have been 65. I was probably two or three years old when Balan died, which places his death in the early 30's. I have no documents to establish dates and I hope I can get the gemological tree compiled by Prof. Muthuswamy. I have a very faint recollection that for a few years Parvathi used to write to her mother-in-law when the Balan's annual Shradh was due. I believe there was no response from the old lady and so this practice died. The old woman had a grudge against Parvarti - she believed that her son died because parvathi did not have Mangalya Balam ie the strength of her marriage vows to save her husband. This was of course the belief in those days and the widows, young and old were isolated to suffer their grief and ostracized for no fault of their own.
Parvathi treasured a few articles associated with her life with Balan. She had a chest of drawers that had the Pearlson company and a carved sofa upholstered with the Perlson lable. Her Chest of drawer had memorabilia of Ba!an in the early days. When I was about 12 years old, I opened one of the top drawers, the key having been left by accident (Parvathi used to lock the drawers and keep the keys herself) I was surprised to find row s of matchboxes which contained burnt match sticks, a number of wooden spindles carrying the plantain fiber thread that she has made for flower stringing,. Over the years many of her possessions that were stored in the Chest of drawers were gone. She always had a celluloid doll of about 24" which she used to adorn with dresses my mother tailored from bits and pieces. It was her Papa as she called it. It was there till the late forties and 1 do not know where it went. She lived with us but she lived by herself, within herself.

That she could laugh at all and display a sense of humor without rancor or self pity despite her suffering surprises me. My mother used to say that Parvathi’s wedding and my sister Savithri's wedding were celebrated in the same year and she believed that such events attract jealousy and evil eyes, Parvathi paid the price- My father had some belief in an astrologer Adhyana Bhattar, at Thirukkadavur, (a village just about a couple of miles from our village and from where my private tutor used to come home to teach ) and he is said to have influenced in no small measure to give Parvathi in marriage to Balsxan. After Balan's death, there were many who are supposed to have said that Balan did not have a long life as per his Stars, MY father never even talked about this astrologer after the tragedy. This Adhyana Bhattar used to go to Sirkall every day in his bullock cart but will avoid going at a time when my father was on the road.
What a life virtually unlived for this world, but lived with acceptance, if not without sorrow.
I have no recollection of anything that happened to Parvathi, her short lived marriage, equally short-lived life with her husband. My mother said only once that before the ten day ceremony for Balan was over, some suggestions from the late Muthuswamy Iyer included, was made that Parvathi should adopt me. My mother resisted this suggestion I do not know what influenced her. It was said her other son born after four daughters was not a very healthy and she had also lost her fourth daughter due to cirrhosis of the liver. Perhaps she also believed that Parvathi was a Dhurbhagyavathi ( an expression she used often meaning a person attended by misfortune) and was afraid that she may not even be blessed to keep the adopted child.
My mother used to say that Parvathi's husband had a great deal of regard and affection for my father. He used to call him "Mama" (uncle) and always looked up to him for suggestions and advise in managing his property which was not inconsiderable. He was a very simple and unassuming lad,very fond of Parvathi. I believe he used to carry me around as a child. None of these I recall.
My mother used to say that Parvathi was very fair, charming and fun-loving. During a journey to Ooty a lady (my mother said an English woman, perhaps an Eurasian) asked my mother to let her adopt P3avathi. Parvathi did not completely lose her sense of humor even in later life notwithstanding the cruel shocks she had endured . When little boys moved around without clothes, she used to admonish them that they are displaying their "BELL"! My mother's brother the late T N Viswanathan used to repeat this even in his late life and laugh.

Parvathi akka – A biography -04

2008-08-16T03:23:00.000-07:00

Fear of society (Janki athai (Kuppu))- Sivaswamy Iyer, related events

Parvathi must have returned to Cadavasal as a Teen widow in early thirties. I have always wondered why she did not think in terms of educating Parvathi My early childhood tutor from Thirukkarugavur was a person of impeccable character and was a Guru in every sense of the term. My parents could have given basic education for Parvathi with his guidance, Unfortunately for Parvathi there was no lady teacher within reasonable distance who would have come home to guide her. My mother diverted Parvathi's mind towards Faith and Religioin, Slokas and Recitations. My father was least suited to tutor anyone. My mother literally kept Parvathi in her eye lashes and watched over her.
She feared perhaps that the demands of the flesh at a young age may tempt Parvathi.
My father's sister Janaki aka Kuppu had about that time, I think, rebelled against the restrictions imposed on her as a young widow, though with a child and left India, without the knowledge of anyone with a widower, her deceased husband's sister's husband in turn. The name of Janaki or Kuppu was taboo and by not talking about her, she was given the status of the dead! He fear was that Janaki should not be the exemplar. Kuppu Atthai and her daughter Susheeia aka Ooty Papa will form a piece of the fragment elsewhere. Here is an example of a very closed society that was" willing to sacrifice a life, destroy a mind, break a heart all for the worthless approbation of a few obscurantist’s. My uncle Sivaswamy Iyer of Toppu Vattaram used to say that Parvaathi should have been educated. When I asked him why he did not do anything about it, he had no answer. Conventions and Custom were more powerful than Reason and Compassion. I never had much regard or respect for my mother's brothers Vaidyanatha Iyer and Muthuswamy Iyer. The latter was the great adviser to my mother and father in those days. and he must have been one of those who blocked the education avenue for Parvathi. May be my own prejudices are responsible for this statement. What lends credence and foundation for my comments about the late Muthuswamy Iyer is much later in life when he was well into his fifties, if not sixties, he compiled a genealogical table of the Naganatha Sasthri family. In the Cadavasal family section my name was excluded and in the Jayarama Iver family section Drats and Janakis names were excluded, all because we were nonconformists' A professor did not have the breath of vision, the depth of understanding - The Arabs at one time blacked out the words ISRAEL in all maps - by doing so ISRAEL will not exist. Prof. Muthuswamy had the same outlook - one of the few whom education did not ennoble! The culture in those days, was different but did every one of the judges who decided on Parvathi's life follow the dictates of the culture that was then prevalent?

He story of my paternal aunt (Janaki Athai) whose marriage, writer Rajam Krishnan briefly touches on in her book “Padaiyil Padintha Anigal,”
AIl my surmises may be brushed aside and Parvathi's being denied education could be attributed to her health ie. the fits she suffered from, Yes, one can accept this as a reason but she had her own estate and the income from that was substantial. At least a part of that money could have been spent in hiring a lady teacher to stay in Cadavasal, as a companion for her, It would not have been difficult to have provided her with accommodation. Life is Missed opportunities but in Parvathi's life it was denial.
During Pongal and other festivals Govindan, Karyasthan (agent) managing Parvathji's Ezhuveli gramam used to come from Sattanur with vegetables, or sugar cane or banana depending on the festival. Father used to buy his Deepavali dothi and Parvathi used to take pride in approving It and presenting it to him herself. When ever he visited, he used to come and inquire of her well being standing near a pillar and Parvathni never even looked at his face but answered in monosyllables, Pride suffused her being at the same time she was burning within herself. To her Govindan from Satthanur was not an entity by itself but a part of a distant death, currently left with life.

Parvathi akka – A biography -05

2008-08-16T03:20:00.000-07:00

Parvathi akka’s health
She suffered from epileptic fits. Some said that she had these fits even before her marriage and it was expected that it will vanish after marriage. She is said to have swooned when she had to light the funeral pyre of her husband. Who will not at that age? In any case the frequency of the fits were increasing after she lost her husband. Dr. Guruswamy Mudaliar, Madras, a consulting physician of considerable reputation known for his diagnostic acumen prescribed a regimen of barbiturates. She was all her life on Gardenal and liquid BROMIDE. Virtually, all her life she was on these strong medications. My mother used to be vigilant and. check constantly if Parvathi had taken her daily dose of medication. If a dose was missed, she used to have the fits. Very many used to be afraid of even seeing Parvathi going into fits, even my sister Kunju. May be because I was with her all the time, I had no such fear. She used to fall flat on the ground, her whole body shaking, moaning and granting, her eyes rolled over, mouth frothing. It lasted for a few minutes and sometimes she had these episodes in quick succession but this was when she did not take the medication A number of times i have held her up till my mother came to ease her to the floor. I remember one occasion when she opened the alrnirah in the southern wall of the koodam and i saw her swaying. I rushed and pinned her to the wall to prevent her failing down till my mother arrived. All these just took a few minutes but it looked an age then. One can never predict when she will have these attacks but in later years my mother and myself developed a uncanny instinct and reached her when the malady was taking hold of her. Constant watchfulness did not save her from injuries since each fall was uncontrolled, she would hit table comers, chairs or hit her head on the floor. A couple of head injuries were pretty severe. My mother used to have one of the servant maids watching her. If the servant maid had touched her to save her from falling, Parvathi used to insist on having a bath whatever be the time of the day. There were occasions when my mother told Parvathi that it was she who held her and not the servant maid. She fell into the well in the back yard in one of her fits and one of the male servants had the presence of mind to jump in and keep her from drowning till she was pulled up in a bucket.Her skin color changed to virtual black and thickened around her neck, back and upper breast area. This was attributed to the bromide medication. She used to be scratching herself perhaps the itching was unbearable and draw blood.
She also wore the nine yards saree like my mother but no reds. It was mostly green or sometimes rust. She did not don the traditional widows weeds by shaving her head and wearing white or off white sarees. That was something that my mother and the family did not accept, one of the strongest opponents being my paternal uncle Sivaswamy Iyer and his wife Jagadham Chithi. She was young and at an age when such manifest cruelty should not be heaped on her. Society was cruel. The fear of society dictated the terms. It was fortunate that my parents and some of the relatives and friends were strong enough to flout and stand on their convictions. I have not seen her wear any Jari saree as it was taboo for a widow. Fate dealt a monstrous blow and Mankind as Society crushed the victim. No doubt it goes to the eternal credit of my mother to have channeled Parvathi's mind to-wards religion and faith. Who knows what her feelings were to be bereft of the Man of her life.
My mother's father P V Naganatha Sasthri who died in 1939 was very fond of Parvathi. If i recall right, he wanted her to stay with him for a week or so and my parents left her with him. This was in 37 or 38. Within a week, we had a message from Thanjavur ( I can not recall whether it was a telegram or a messenger) that Parvathi was hysterical. My parents took me with them to Tanjore. We had an Austin 12 hp tourer (canvas top) and we picked her up and returned the same evening reaching home at about 9 p m or so. During the journey Parvathi was uncontrollable and was flaying her arms, grunting and trying to attack us. My mother and myself held her down. I am of faint recollection as to the driver. It was probably Gopal Rao who incidentally was my grandfather's driver or Pakkiriswainy. It took a few days for Parvathi to recover. My mother believed at that time that Parvathi did not take her medication regularly and brought this on herself.
My memory is failing me. It was probably during this attack that Parvathi stopped breathing one night at about 12 midnight. The body can not be kept in the koodam and had to be moved to the verandah. So the driver and someone else was called to carry her. Just then there was an anguished cry "Amma" from the cattle shed in the back yard. Parvathi stirred and was left where she was. A few minutes later the servants went to the cattle shed and found one of the animals dead. There was no sign of any injury. I do not know what this signifed. God in His own way saved her time and again but He punished her by this. Her life was one of continuous" physical torture, mental agony and anguished heart.”

Parvathi akka – A biography -06

2008-08-16T03:11:00.000-07:00

Parvathi akka’s death

Parvathi had a fairly good collection of silver and jewelry. She never wore any jewelry except a gold chain which at one time had a locket in which was her husband's photo and a coral chain. She wore her diamond ear rings for a long time.She kept her husband's diamond ear rings -I should not say, she kept because she never took charge of anything, my mother possessed on her behalf - and at some point, I can not recall when she gave me one of the diamonds. She used to have silver tumbler which she was attached to, perhaps Balan used it. She had an eating silver plate and T do not know what happened to this and many other articles. What would all these have meant to her? They were her memories in material form; she was deprived of them as she was of her entire life. Fate deprived her of happiness, and mankind denied her possessions - not that it wouod have made much of a difference to her- The income that she derived from her lands, my father kept a separate account and on his death, her other brother took over. The house adjoining CRK's, 1 think the number is 35, is said to have been purchased from the accumulations of her income. It is sad that no one, not even rny mother thought of establishing a marriage hall or a sort of vocational training place for destitute widows instead of extracting rental income from pigeon holes. Of course, that is also charity - how many families are benefited, who would otherwise have been without a roof over their heads!
Much before her soul escaped from her corporeal body, Parvathi was dead- If life is 60 minutes there are only five minutes of joy and the rest is misery. Some how Man being such a Alpa Santhoshi - I can not find an appropriate English equivalent - he classifies his life as happy times and difficult times in equal proportion. For Parvathi the happy moments of her life were perhaps a few fleeting seconds. Her soul was scorched, her heart was burnt, her mind was incinerated, and yet she moved about. My father was afraid of hurting her. He was feared by all others except Parvathi. She replied to him as only she could have- My father never took offence at this.
Her end was as if she relived her life in microcosm. She was stringing flowers till late into the night under the hurricane lamp Perhaps at the end she got up and before going to bed teased the wick and poured oil for the Kutthu Vilakku that was kept burning all through the day and night in the Puja area at Cadavasa! At that moment she must have fallen down in an attack of her fits and as she fell either she dragged the wick on to herself or a spark ignited her saree, The latter is not possible as cotton saree’s do not bum like man made fibre. My mother said that when she woke up in the night, she saw Parvathi on the floor, tried to wake her up and then covered her with a blanket. The next morning Parvathi's body was well cooked. ] think this was on 14 February 1983. My mother and Parvathi were in Cadavasal all by themselves. She called for a car, I am not sure whether if was the family car or a car from one of the neighbor's - and took her to Mayiladuthruai. The blanket allowed the heat to be retained and the body was cremated in smoldering fire. She left her body or whatever remained of it behind on 16 February 1983. In her life my mother was the Agni that surrounded her and protected her. In her death also my mother was the stoker of the fire though inadvertently. I heard of her death in Muscat.
For my mother the dividing line in her memory was Parvathi's death. Her mind gradually died in her.

CDL Sisters from L-R : Parvathi, Savithri, Alamelu

Parvathi had a great sense of the present. My father used to have a Muslim client. Whatever my father said, he will respond " saridhanga, adhu satidhanga" ( right, it is right), She christened him Sarithanga Rowther, a name only by which he was known to us. She named a Sasthri (purohit) Garlic Sasthri because he used to like Garlic. There was another Sasthri whom she called "Uah,uah Sasthri" This sasthri was a sama vedhi and samaveda mantras had extended intonations like "ahah uuu aah" etc. She had a great time much to the discomfiture of Kichan lyengar and Muthurakku (Muniyandi's daughter) who is said tro have held on to Kichan lyengar thinking he was a burglar during Savtlhri's wedding or some such occasion . She laughed loud and instantaneously sensing the run in a situation but the laughter died as it started suddenly. It was almost like her life - a short period of flaming happiness suddenly snuffed out. Was she conscious that she stopped laughing suddenly - I do not know but it is possible, she was. She might have believed she had no right to laughter and fun, given the curse that settled on her
As long as I live I will remember Akka, as I have always addressed her. According to her there were two CRP's in the family ie herself C R Parvathi and myself C R Papa. She used to be very proud when I got some vettiver or Marukkozhundhu from my visits home. That was all that I could do for her. I have her husband's diamond ear ring made into a ring. I want to create awareness among those who had seen her and those who have not of what she was. I do not know how to do it. Parvatbi lived as a reduce while alive, there is no need for her not to be known to the members of the family when she is dead. Endowments are not the answer since over a period of time the purpose is forgotten and the money is taken by someone. Life is too short to be concerned with what will happen long terms. I am trying to establish an endowment in a hospital the income from which is to be used for treating indigent burn victims(s). I hope this will satisfy Parvathi. For the papers I need details of her husband and; her own life in brief but the present head of the Cadavasal clan: is neither aware not interested in investigating. Unfortunately, I am a prisoner in USA and I do not know if I will ever be able to find the data.
I often wonder what Parvathi was atoning for in her last life. She must have paid twice over for any sin she must have committed. Had she been educated, had she lived in a metropolitan city, had she not become a teen widow -who has the answers!
What might have been is an abstraction, Remaining a perpetual possibility Only in a world of speculation.

Swayambu Iyer of Nagaipattnam

2008-08-16T03:06:00.000-07:00

Details of Swayamby Iyer of Nagaipatnam, Mangala akka, Sama Athan can be found in this section. Rukmani ammal is the daughter of Sama athan and Mangalakka and mother of Perunthottam S.Lakshminarayan.

S.Lakshminarayan is the Son-in-law of Tulasi and Ramamoorthy ( Tulasi is the 2nd daughter of J.Subramani Iyer and Kunju of SNP). So, one can traverse through the link between Cadavasal, Sattanatahpuram and Perunthottan.

The details on Swayambu Iyer and Sama athan were written by C.R.Natarajan.

Rukmini's father was one Sama Atthan, who was the son of Swayambu Iyer of Nagapattinam. Swayambu Iyer was married to my paternal grandfather Kunjithapatham Iyer's sister.
His son Sama Atthan's wife was my father's paternal uncle's daughter Mangalam Athai as she was called. I do not know as yet whether her father was a blood brother of Kujithapatham Iyer or were first cousins on the paternal side. Swayambu Iyer was a maverick, defying convention and upper caste norms of those days. He sported a moustache and enjoyed his drink, perhaps fondling the Eurasian women who formed the "desirable and delectable" class in old Nagapattinam when the port thrived and the S Rly Hqrs. was in operation. Swayambu Iyer was a Head constable and in those days, one could practice criminal law after successfully completing a "pleader's course" or some such thing Swayambu Iyer built a large hall on teak piling called “Swayam Prakasam” that he used for his social gatherings, to watch the buxom, blithe women dancing, a vicarious pleasure indeed! It is said that Swayambu Iyer was a highly successful lawyer and made a lot of money, spending the major part in his lifetime. I believe his wife predeceased him and on his death, my grandfather ( Senior CRK) took charge of the property and nurtured it along. When Sama Athan came of age, Kunjithapatham Iyer handed over to him, according to my father, a substantial (in the second decade of the 20th century) estate of well over a couple of lakhs of rupees.

Sama Atthan indulged in his desires of the loin and his palette and managed to reduce the fortune. My father and his brother intervened and divided the residuary estate between Iyer and his two sons Swayambu and Ananthanarayanan, when they were "minors" both in age and in style! They lost the wealth. The impoverished family was given some help by my mother as she was very fond of Mangalakka. My uncle Sivaswamy Iyer of Toppu Vattaram was also one who helped.

• One of the daughters of Sama Atthan was called "apply", a corruption of some Hindu name. (her name was Janaki –Note: The known founder of Cadavasal family Ramadurai’s wife was Janki !!) She was married to a gentleman whose name I do not recall and he worked in Ralli & Co. Apply was his second wife but she had a wonderful life, mothering one daughter and two or three sons, one of whom Ramani went by the name of Iyer. I met him and his family in Bombay. I lost touch in 1975 and I do not know where he is or even alive.
• The second daughter of Sama Iyer was Pichu (do not know her real name), her marriage broke up and she was living in Cadavasal with her mother.
• The 3rd daughter was Rukamni m/o Lakshmi Narayanan.

Sama Atthan led the life of a beachcomber and lived on his imperious demands made to some families who knew his father and Kunjithapatham Iyer in the halcyon days. He was wonderful person, always book in hand, a handwriting that had such clarity that it was almost print, a command of English that was the envy of his peers, a generous heart and hand, never harboring any ill will, completely bereft of any self pity for his reduced status. It was he who inculcated in me the thirst for reading. He used to bring detective novels of 60 or 70 pages titled Sexton Blake detective stories, and of Sexton Blake's assistant Tinker. They used to cost a quarter anna second hand or half an anna new. He was a wonderful raconteur and notwithstanding his penury commanded respect. Mangalakka, used to manage the family, since Atthan was mostly out on his yathra. I have never heard her speak one word derogatory of Sama Atthan, nor did she deny him the bed and board when the prodigal returned.On the other hand she used to prepare for him culinary specialties that he liked denying herself.

Swayambu Athans (s/o Sama athan) wife Nagalakshmi is still alive. She lives in Salem along with her 2nd daughter. Her name is Jayalakshmi and married to Shri Rajaraman, a businessman who has two daughters and one son and all of them are very well settled both in US and India.
Swayambu First daughter is Rajeswari, married to Gurumoorthy (both now live in T.nagar). they have one son and one daughter. Both of them are settled in US/India.
The eldest son name is Rajaraman, who was with MM Foam for sometime, got out and tried to do some businees, was not successful. He was married to Mythily, daughter of Applai (Thiruppur), whose name is Janaki and her husbands name is Ramachandra Iyer, who worked with Rallis India. The whereabouts of Rajaraman is not known. Mythili lives with her son.
Applais son Ramani is not alive.

Madurai Muthuswamy Iyer Family

2008-08-16T02:55:00.000-07:00

Muthuswamy Iyer was the man who is said to have been a tahsildar and was owner of vast stretches of land in Devadanappatti and a few other villages that were inherited.

• Muthuswamy Iyer's son was M Venkatama Iyer. Muthuswamy Iyer must have had many other issues
• Muthuswamy Iyer's daughter, was Meenakshi and was married to Naganatha Sasthri of Tanjore (originally from Pudukkottai and son of Venku Iyer).
• Lokanayaki aka Chellammal was one of the five daughters of this alliance and she married Ramiah Iyer of Cadavasal ( s/o. C R Kujithapatham Iyer of Nagappattinam)
• Muthuswamy Iyer's son Venkatrama Iyer was a leading luminary in Madurai and was an advocate.
• Venkatrama Iyer had 3 daughters Picchammal, Nagalakshmi, Meenu, and 3 sons Muthuramalinga Iyer, Kameswara Iyer, Subramania Iyer.
• Pichammal was married to TN Vaidyanatha Iyer, (Tanajavur Naganatha Sasthry’s son and brother of Lokanayaki's (cadavasal patti).He married his maternal uncle's daughter Pichammal aka peria manni.
• DR T.V. Venkateshan of Madurai and Jaya Kunjithapatham were son and daughter respectively of TN Vaidhyanatha Iyer and Pichammal. Jaya married CRK (Grandson of senior CRK).
• Muthuramaling Iyer was wedded to Justice Seshagiri Iyer's daugher and moved to Chennai. She was known as Ammanji Manni. Uncle's son is known by the generic Ammanji and his wife became Ammanji Manni!!!
• They had three sons Rajamani, Sundaram, Ramachandran and three daughters, the eldest (name not known) of whom was G V Ramakrishna's mother. GVR is familiarly known as Chottu and was SEBI chairman etc. He is now in Chennai. HIs brother G V Viswanath was IAS and was in high positions in Karnataka govt. The other two daughters were Lalitha Manni and Susheela.
• Lalitha Manni married Dr. Venkatesan. Reverse it and it follows Venkatesan married his maternal uncle's daughter. This is the second such hook-in!.It is said, Lalitha manni fully supplanted the qualities of Peria manni (her MIL).Both Peria manni (TVV’s mother) and Lalitha manni were highly respected in the family for their qualities.
• Kameshwara Iyer married Meenambal (D/O Rajamani Iyer of Veeranallur near Madurai)...see some additional details written in the section 5.2.
• Subramania Iyer married my Savithri. (Daughter of C.Ramaiyer and Lokanayaki).Savithri married her mother's ammanji, one degree removed from the earlier unions of maternal uncle's daughters!
• CRK married Jaya, his uncle TNV's daughter. The third such encirclements!!

Madurai Family - Brief details

2008-08-16T02:51:00.000-07:00

Devadanapatti is about 75kms from Madurai comes on the highway between Madurai and Theni.In those days they used to travel by bullock cart from Madurai to Devadanappatti. There was so much of discipline among the Kallars that they will not attack a bullock cart in which the Kalla women were sitting in the front and back and so when they traveled they used to have two Kalla women one in the front and another in the rear as protection. Similarly when they were in Devadanappatti Kalla women used to sleep in the front and rear entrances so that anyone who wants to come in must jump over their bodies.

M Venkatrama Iyer was very well known and a distinguished person in Madurai.

V.Kamashwara Iyer

Written by C.R.Natarajan

Sometimes one gets an instinctive update on life and death. I was thinking of Mrs V.K exactly a week back and in her death, a link with a past of the past is removed. R Savithri and Meenambal as she was known lived under the same roof but there was always a tension. Meenambal was the only child of her parents Rajamani Iyer.
Rajamani Iyer came from Veeravaballur and was very well to do. His wife was one of those Hindu wives whose personalities never bloomed in public but was very powerful behind the throne. Rajamani Iyer was an imposing man. We had been to his home in Veeravanallur close to Kallidaikurichi and my memories are of a manor house with a broad frontage protected by fencing of iron rods as in Cadavasal House but with a large Thinnai. All his properties came to Meenambal, whose mother survived Rajamani Iyer by long years and died only a few years back. He was always clothed in a dothy and a half sleeve shirt a la Kamaraja Nadar. That the ups and downs of life does not spare anyone is a lesson that I learn all the time.

Meenambal as the only child and the senior Mattupponn of the House,( Muthuramalinga Iyer's wife. Nagammal alias Ammanji Manni having moved to Madras to the home of her father Justice Seshagiri Iyer) was Maharani in her right, a loving husband, a doting father, a protective mother,and fulfilling her duties to provide succession et al.She lost her husband who was virtually in a coma for a few years, the first son Nagaraj to a vendetta killing, a daughter Vasantha, another son and yet survived through the years. What memories she should have carried and on whose shoulders she could have cried?

Nuptial vermicelli knots within the family

2008-08-16T02:49:00.000-07:00

Memory Joggers

In this section, I’ve captured some of the marriages within the family. In case one has difficulties in identifying, pls look into the sections above!!!

• TN Vaidyanatha Iyer, (Tanajavur Naganatha Sasthry’s son and brother of Lokanayaki' (cadavasal patti) married his maternal uncle's daughter Pichammal aka peria manni. (d/o Vekatarama Iyer)
• Dr T.V Venkatesan (s/o of T.N.Vaidyanatha Iyer married Lalitha (D/o Muthuramalingam) his maternal uncle's daughter.
• C.R.Kunjithapatham (s/o Cadavasal Rama Iyer and lokanayaki) married his maternal uncle daughter Jaya (d/o T.N.Vaidyanatha Iyer). (Lokanayaki and TNV are brother-sister)
• Gowri (d/o Tanajavur Naganatha Sasthry’s) married R.Appaswamy ( Appaswamy is the Brother in Law of Sattanathapuram Seetharama Iyer)
• SNP Sethuraman (s/o J. Ramani Iyer) married his aunt’s grand-daughter Meenambal ( Meena is the grand-daughter of Meenakshi athai and in turn daughter of Subbulakshmi (to be conformed)
• Mayuram Kittachi athan (s/o Janaki athai) married Baghirathi (Manni patti's own brothers daughter (i.e. he married his mother's own maternal uncle's daughter).
• Sridhar ( s/o of SNP S.Natarajan) married his aunt’s daughter Janaki ( d/o of Mangalam Viswanathan). (Note: This marriage ended in divorce)

Alexander the Great in Articulo Mortis

2008-08-16T02:47:00.000-07:00

There is very instructive incident involving the life of Alexander, the great in Alexander.

After conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence. He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit Him to reach his distant homeland. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last.

He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail." With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.
• " My first desire is that," said Alexander, " My physicians alone must carry my coffin."
• After a pause, he continued, " Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury. " The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute's rest and continued.
• "My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin ."
The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dare bring the question to their lips. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"
At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: “I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt.
• I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.
• The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.
• And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world."

With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last. . . . .

“Vanali Patti” of Cadavasal

2008-08-16T02:46:00.000-07:00

A mail extract between CRN mama and his daughter Juni

Years back in Cadavasal, a widowed brahmin cook, clothed in the traditional whites was employed and was with us for a few years. She was a little mousy person with a bad squint but she was an excellent cook and her Vattha kuzhambus passed muster even with my father, whose olfactory sensitivities were so good that he used to sit in his chair under a thatched roof close to the mango tree, and shout to my mother, "Tell Patti to add some salt or some puli" or some such thing. I think one night the Patti needed to relieve herself on an emergency basis. She was afraid to go out of the house and her explanation was that she did not want to leave the rear doors open for any "thirudan" (thief) to have easy access and she did not wish to wake up anyone. Whatever it is she found a well seasoned iron Vanali with handles and used it for her nightly ablution. She apparently planned to clean it up later
My parents were early risers and my mother saw the vanali in the rear yard. She was about to pick it up and realized the contents were less than edible and was the result of intake! She confronted the patti, who, to her credit instead of blaming a rat or a maranai or a cat accepted that it is her own contribution! That resulted in the patti being rechristened as "vanali patti" and the vanali found its way into the dustbin unceremoniously. The patti also was relieved of her responsibilities much in the same way, she relieved herself.

V.M.Iyer of Kaveripattinam ( Nagpur shri V.Mutuswamy – smt Padma)

2008-08-16T02:41:00.000-07:00

By C.R.Natarajan

V.Muthuswamy Iyer [s/o M.Vaidyanatha Iyer] is from Kavaripattinam. CRN mama accompanied his brother in law (SNP Subramani Iyer) and Padma when she was joining her husband in Nagpur. During the entire journey Subramani Iyer did not sleep as he was worried about pickpockets and rail thieves.

"V Muthuswamy Iyer was a very soft spoken person, but I think he was all steel inside!I am not saying this in a pejoraive manner but in admiration. We all use speech to conceal as well as to reveal, both conditioned by our assessment of how much to say or not to say. I have greater admiration for men like VM Iyer, who did not have to use speech to express or to conceal. Like fish, his diksha was by look. You may know that Hindu ethos talks about four kinds of Dikshas or method of communication, viz. speech VAK, look NAYANAM, touch SPARSAM, telepathy and VM Iyer let his views be known by Look [nayanam] and telepathy!"

Introduction to Sattanathapuram Roots

2008-08-15T23:35:00.000-07:00

This blog titled "Sattanathapuram Roots" is an attempt to research and capture some history of our ancestors and interesting facets of their cherished lives in an bygone era. The past of our ancestors as told by the current generation elders is captured 'As is'. Some amount of speculation from our elders cant be ruled out. I have tried to be accurate in verifying the veracity of the contnets from multiple sources and searches on the internet wherever possible.

I have choosen the title 'Roots' drawing inspiration from Alex Haley's ROOTS. In some places, I’ve tried to capture the anecdotes verbatim, as has been attributed to our forefathers and ancestors. We have to respect it “as is” and there is no way we are going to change it.

Most of the information related to Cadavasal family history is based on the personal interactions and mail exchanges with shri Cadavasal Natarajan a.k.a CRN [Papa Mama]

Since, it was CRN (papa mama to my family) who aroused my interest on this subject, it is apt to write CRN’s famous quote.

The petals should remember the flower
The flower should remember the stalk
The stalk should remember the branch
The branch should remember the tree
The tree should remember the “ROOTS”

Cadavasal R. Natarajan
“Always remember them and their connections. This is what will give you the pride in your family, your heritage, your culture and your faith.”

In one of the mail exchanges, he wrote to me as follows,“you have the interest and find time to keep track of the roads traveled and to be explored, by saving and annotating the information I am spawning out from my memory in your computers. Put them to some use so that the future generations do not find themselves as strangers from their own genes!”

Shri T.V.Balan retired ACC official [and great grandson of Thanjavur Naganatha Sastry] is internationally recognized for his Leadership in Cement Industry, and Computerisation and “ITC” – Information & Communication Technology, was acclaimed by Mr. Narayana Murthy (Mentor Infosys) as a Visionary in the 70’s for taking IT to Industry has these words to say after going through the blog

"You have in me an Old Man admirer of your Patience, Tolerance and above all spending Time & Money on a mundane subject of interest to a handful but for the progeny of tomorrow, remembering the following Golden Words -

“TIME lapses, TRADITIONS Change, GENERATIONS pass,
But WISDOM endures;
The future is built with the Wisdom of the Past”

- T.V.BALAN

This will continue to be a living document and details will always get added and added.

It is also suggested, that each of you become the individual owners of this document and the legacy is continued. Ie start researching your paternal or maternal side as the case may be and update for your family

Currently this document covers
Thanjavur family history (in Brief)
Cadavasal family History
Sattanathpuram family History
Madurai Sundaresan Iyer family history
Arupathy family history
Some tit bits on history, morals, thoughts on philosophy etc etc and so on

About Me

2008-08-14T02:15:00.000-07:00

Hai !

I'm Sundar (also known as Shyam). I hail from a small hamlet known as Sattanathapuram near Sirkazhi(3 Kms from Sirkazhi town bus stand) Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu - India. I'm married to Sudha and we have 2 daughters Apoorva and Aparna.

I love travel and history. I strongly cherish my roots.

We used to visit the ancestral house in Sattanatapuram often and the elders used to recall lot of interesting stories about our ancestors and extended clan. The clan is deeply related to Kadavasal (6 km from Sirkazhi), Madurai and Thanjavur. In our ancestral house, once i was looking into all the old vintage photographs and was aroused by a thought, who will remember the greatness of these people after a few generations? I started collecting details and renovating old photgraphs about our clan members. Special mention need to be made about Shri Cadavasal R Natarajan, (Papa mama) who aroused, inspired and supported me with lot of details about our forefathers.

The known founder of the Sattanatapuram family is Siva Subbarayan Iyer. Kindly see the family tree inside the blog. The Sattnathapuram family maintains 3 temples ( Shivan, Ayyanaar and Mariamman temples) with the active support of villagers and devotees from all over India and abroad.

This blog is a small attempt, to keep their memories alive, so that succeeding generations of the clan can identify themselves with their roots.

This would be a living document, wherein we all can cherish our roots and recall the greatness of our ancestors.

Sattanathapuram Family Tree

2008-08-12T06:11:00.000-07:00

Sattanathapuram Family Tree

Photo Gallery

2008-08-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

More vintage photos will be added in this link

P.V.Naganatha Sasthry – (1867 – 1930)

Cadavasal Sisters from L-R : Parvathi, Savithri, Alamelu

Sitting on the left is Rao Bahadur Cadavasal Kunjitabatham Iyer [ Senior CRK ]

There is "Sanad" in Mayavaram CRK's (Senior CRK’s grandson) office room right under Kujithapatham Iyer's photo, conferring the title of Rao Bahadur or Rao Sahib to the late senior CRK Iyer with the date Sep. 1917 or so signed by Lord Chelmsford, Viceroy of India. The Sanad and the medal that goes with it was collected by Cadavasal Ramaiyer (Senior CRK’s son) from the Governor of Madras, as by that time, senior CRK Iyer was dead.

Baghirathi a.k.a Manni Patti - The grand Matriarch of Sattanatahapuram family, who single handedly raised the family, managed and enhanced the properties

Cadavasal RamaIyer and Lokanayaki

Sitting in the ground -- 1st row... From left to right: Thulsi, Padma, Sugu, Raju (mdu family), Seenu, Muthu (mdu fmly), Bhama (mdu fmly)
Sitting in Chairs -- middle from left to right
CRK , Sattanatapuram J Subramani Iyer , Rama Iyer, V Subramani Iyer(Mdu family) Standing in the last row -- left to right
Jayam (CRK wife), Parvathi akka,Kunju,CRN , Cadavasal patti lokanayaki, Savithri with son Babu in hand( Sister of Kunju and w/o V subramani Iyer) and S Natarajan

Parvathi as a young child

SNP Siblings: S.Natarajan, S.S.Srinivasan (sitting on a tall stool),Sugu (sitting in small chair) Thulsi, Padma

S.Natarajan-Kamala

S.Natarajan - Kamala childrens : Uma,Sridhar,Ramadurai,Murali

Sugu (S.Jagadeesan as part of his collage vollyball winning team in 1957)- L-R : Standing 4th from Left

S.Jagadeesan (Sugu),Savithri, Ram (Sitting) & Shyam (J.Sundaresan, sitting in Mother's lap)

Madurai V.Subramani Iyer and Savithri ammal

Shri K.Gopalakrishna & Smt Mathuram Gopalakrishna

In the 21st century vocabulary, Shri K.Gopalakrishna was a man with a strong corporate responsibility. The trusts began by him led to the founding of SOS Children’s Villages of India – Chatnath Homes, Karna Prayag and the K Gopalakrishna Dept. of Neurology at the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Voluntary Health Services, Taramani.

SOS Children's Villages of India - Chatnath homes : Chatnath Homes, a charitable trust affiliated with the SOS Children’s Villages of India! http://www.soschatnathhomes.in/

Karnaprayag Trust Centre for Women and Children is a reception centre for abandoned infants and babies: http://www.karnaprayag.in/

From Left to Right: Sri Krishnaswamy Iyer with his wife Smt Madhurambal (a)Kunjammal standing behind him. Kunjammal's father Sri Anantharama Iyer, with his wife known as Avanam Patti standing behind him. The child is Rajammal (Krishnaswamy Iyer's daughter)

Sri Anatharama Iyer is the Father In Law of Krishnaswamy Iyer [ Shree Seetharama Iyer's maternal grandfather]

The above photgraph is 106 years old [As on 03rd Nov'2010]

Advocate K.Seetharama Iyer and Smt Janaki Ammal

A family photograph taken in Ooty

L to R standing TK Natarajan, Kali Anna's son , TNViswanathan aka Thambi mama, TSVenkatraman aka Venkittu Anna, TV Venkatesan aka Tesu Anna, CR Kunjithapatham.
Sitting L to R T V Vaidyanatha Iyer aka Vaithu Anna, Cadavasal Rama Iyer aka Babu Iyer, R Jayaram Iyer, TN Muthuswamy Iyer aka Muthu Mama
Ground L to R (sitting) To be Identified