Rao Sahib Arupathy Natesa Iyer

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.
The old historical name of the Arupathy Village is "Shadartha Nayanapuram" this was recorded in the final Will of Rao Sahib.N.Natesa Iyyer. Shadartha Nayanapuram means "Lord Shiva who has Three Eyes" stays  here happily.

Another account relates to Thiru Gnana sambandar, wanting to have darshan of Lord Shiva getting stuck on the banks of river cauvery  in spate. Thiru Gnana sambandar pleads, that the spate be controlled to have darshan of Shiva's divine form and Lord Shiva readily acknowledges and acts on the disciples wish and reduces the water level to "half". Hence the place as well as village is called Arupathy ( Translated in Tamil the tributary is reduced to half)

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.

An article on Arupathy Village, which appeared on "En Vikatan" (tamil magazine)

http://en.vikatan.com/article.php?aid=23782&sid=666&mid=33

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.