Cadavasal Amma - A legend in lifetime!

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.

In this edition, we bring to our readers, a digitized version of the Pooja Vidhanam and Sloka book, that will be described as Sloka book, written and printed for private circulation by Cadavasal Amma in the year 1955. This section also consists of an article 'Reminiscences of Cadavasal Amma,' written by Shri Cadavasal R Natarajan in homage to his mother.

At the request of CRN mama, who has given his reasons for her being Amma and not Patti in his comments,  I am re-christening Cadavasal Patti as Cadavasal Amma (Lokanayaki 30/01/1896-20/03/1986) D/o Naganatha Sastry - a leading lawyer of Thanjavoor and a Sanskrit grammarian, whose manuscript on Panini’s grammar was published posthumously in two volumes as Siddhantha Kaumudhi (Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas) thanks to the efforts of his son late Prof. T N Muthuswamy Iyer.

Naganatha Sastry: http://snp-roots.blogspot.in/2008/08/thanjavur-p-v-naganatha-sasthri-1867-to.html

Cadavasal Rama Iyer and Smt Lokanayaki
Photo -1939 Das Bros,Photographers, Madras

Readers interested in the early life at Cadavasal can visit the following links.

 http://snp-roots.blogspot.in/2008/08/parvathi-akka-biography-01.html

A summarised translation of her early life by Cadavasal Amma in this article, follows as a first person narrative. The spirit, style and substance of the original in Tamil is not easy to convey in translation and errors if any may be pardoned.

Goddess Gajalakshmi painted in the walls of Cadavasal House by an 

Artist from Thanjavur  in the first quarter of the 20 century.

A narrative in her own words as written in the sloka book follows:

In this cycle of birth, we spend our years in captivity in our physical body without the aspiring for and realizing ‘Truth’. The path to salvation from this suffering (a life of Maya) is the silver lining, the ability of mind to pray in devotion to Goddess Devi and be in harmonious oneness with Her.

I’m an ordinary mortal Being, born in the town of Thanjavur, and was a frequent visitor to Bangaru Kamkshi amman temple in my early days. Whenever I was in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple,I experienced an inexplicable and indescribable feeling of inner peace and tranquility.

I got acquainted with  Smt Ambal Ammal who hailed from Thiruvidaimaruthur  near Thanjavur. A Sanskrit scholar ,she was an  exponent of Tarka Sastra (Logic) and equally well versed in scriptures and intellectual disciplines in her time -  early 1900s. Smt Ambal Ammal was well known and held in high esteem for her knowledge and exemplary life. Her soft speech attracted everyone who came into contact with her. An ardent devotee of “Sree Devi" she (Ambal ammal) brought from Kashi, a marble statue of Goddess Annapoorni, performing the prescribed daily poojas with great devotion. She initiated many in the path (margha) of Bakthi and Gnana through her teachings and I am one among her many Sishyas (disciples)

When I was 8 years old, Smt Ambal ammal addressed my father,  “Nagam, teach this child Sanskrit”. With affection and blessings, I was tutored in Sanskrit by my father Shri Naganatha Sastry. The first sloka in Sanskrit my father Shri Naganatha Sastri taught me was  'tApincha stabakatvishe '

Elders in the Ambal Ammal family used to perform ‘Dolo Kalyana pattu’ sequence to Sri Nataraja. One of the poets has written a Dolo song in Grantham (Ancient script widely used to write classical Sanskrit). I found one such book in tattered condition as a guide for my Poojas. I was drawn towards Ambal ammal’s teachings and could find the link in my spiritual journey to Jagan Matha Goddess Annaporani. Ambal ammal’s total bakthi and surrender (pure unqualified devotion of the highest order) inspired and led me in the path to total identity and devotion to Goddess Annapoorani.

After being inititated in the moola mantra and japa by a guru, I started daily poojas to Sri Devi in the form of Annapoorani from 1940 in the same tradition (rituals)  followed by my mother Meenakshi and her ancestors.

My dreams were often of Godess Annapoorni in which I merged with Her. I shared my collection of slokas and pooja vidhanams (Pooja rituals) with ladies in Cadavasal but they were not content with them, urging me to compile them in one volume of reference. In deference to their requests, I am embarking on this project codifying my manuscripts, slokas and daily pooja practices, with grave misgivings about my ability, but with unquestioning faith in Goddess Annapoorni to complete my endeavour.

Along with the Pooja instructions, I have also translated in Tamil the ‘Dola song’ sequence on Lord Sree Nataraja (Written by one of the Poet ancestors of Ambal Ammal)

My humble aim is that all people from children to elders should  benefit fom  this small work and receive  Devi’s Divine Grace

My profound thanks and Ashirwads ( blessings) to Shri A.Venakataram and his family members for bringing out this book in print form.”

Notes: 

1) The Sloka tApincha stabakatvishe is from Mukapanchasathi

2) Dola utsavam – swing festival - worshipping God as a child on a swing. 

3) The voice recording of Cadavasal Amma performing pooja to Ambal and Shri Nataraja is available with me.

4) Smt Ambal ammal referred to in the article by Cadavasal Amma is believed to be one of the 1st cousins of Shri P.V.Naganatha Sastry. This can be evidenced by Smt Ambal ammal addresssing the great Sanskrit scholar Naganatha Satry in familiar 1st name basis , and also Cadavasal Amma referring to her as Amba atthai.

Digitized version of Pooja Vidhanam (Sloka book)

The digitized version of the book [in Tamil]  is uploaded in the following link as a PDF document.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0x2QtVEHPPUQm9oNXZiMnpVQWs/edit

Note:
1) Download the pdf file to your PC's for faster access.
2) In case of access issues, send me a mail and I can send you the book via mail

The Pooja of Cadavasal Amma

There are two Annapoorani Idols mentioned in the brief by Cadavasal Amma. The Annapoorani Vigraham that Amba atthai used in her puja was the marble idol she brought from Benares. Cadavasal Amma wished to have this in her pooja. As recalled by CRN mama ,she visited the home of Amba atthai’s relatives in Thiruvidaimaruthur on their way back from Tanjore, on one of their visits to see her father (P.V.Naganatha Sastry). She found that the idol was given to somebody and no further information was available.

The second Annaporani Idol Cadavasal Amma worshipped is the one she got from her Mother Smt Meenakshi (and which was passed on to her by her parents). It is the Annapoorani vigraham that sits under the canopy of the brass Ratham (chariot). This  ratham which had Surya as the charioteer with eight horses . traces back to Cadavasal Ramadurai Iyer (Grand dad of Cadavasal Rama Iyer). Natesa Iyer, elder to Rao Bahadur CRK Iyer (senior CRK Iyer) lived in the ancestral Cadavasal home, while senior CRK Iyer moved to Nagapatam to practice law. The Ratham was passed on to Mangalam Attai (wife of C.S.Swamitha Iyer aka Sama athan) from whom Cadavasal Amma acquired it.

Reminiscences of Cadavasal Amma, by Shri Cadavasal R Natarajan in homage to his mother:

My Mother, a legend in a lifetime - By Cadavasal R Natarajan

My first request to Shri Sundaresan is that my mother, is referred to as Cadavasal Amma as she was always known to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Cadavasal Amma is more in keeping with what she was, a MOTHER. Mothers mentor and persuade children while grandmothers indulge and in their indulgent love, children find a refuge from discipline. Often we have heard grandparents affectionately admonishing mothers and fathers to think back on their own childhood misdeeds when the Parents attempt to dissuade children from some wanton act. That is a step that my mother never took and her disciplining her progenies as well as her grand children was to make them think and act, rather than admonition or rustication. Levity is called for here. PATTIs can also be POTTY, an expression used for describing someone with addled brain. Amma was never Potty though after my sister Parvathi’s demise (16 February 1983), the cut off point in her recall of events was her death; she was less connected with events after that day.

My second request to Shri Shyam aka Sundaresan is not to edit what I am presenting as the words are from the depth of my heart and are burnished in the anguish that I suffer. I have neither accused nor abused nor condemned anyone. I take full responsibility for my words and if you have to edit this in any manner, please do not publish it. If perchance someone were to criticize you for giving space to my reminiscences, please forward to me their comments and I will answer them.

Cadavasal Amma 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, a life that spanned three, but did not carry the prejudices of one, condemn others and was the paradigm of the core concept of her Faith Vasudeiva Kutumbaham (the world is one family). She was a student of Sanskrit, wrote Tamil with a poetical finesse, understood English better than many of her contemporary housewives, 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. She got married at the age of 11 or 12 and came to live in Thoppuvattaram village and then to Cadavasal. Her devotion to her Faith, her Husband and family was total.

Amma was not narrow minded and her tolerance was astounding, for a lady of that generation, steeped in religion, tradition, vegetarianism, and uncompromising social restrictions. The brahminical code was such that eggs were forbidden in the home. Despite our life in the Brahmin street (Agraharam) of the  village Amma did not discourage our having a raw egg in the morning for health reasons. Mottayyan, who was the junior servant at home, used to get two eggs in the evening and keep it in the drawer of a marble table that was used by my paternal grandfather, CRK Iyer. (Senior CRK)

There are many instances of Amma’s deep understanding and values; here are just a few to epitomise her humaneness, tolerance, understanding, deep faith and acceptance of the events beyond one’s control. The lessons she made me imbibe without forced inculcation have stayed with me all my life.

In Cadavasal home that does not exist any more, there was an almirah built into the wall in the koodam ( the slightly elevated part of the main living quarters) in which my sister Parvathi had her cloves and cardamom among betel leaves, betel nuts and some spices like saffron etc. I found some coins mostly in quarter annas (A Rupee was 16 annas and each anna was four quarter annas and each quarter anna was three paise, before the coinage moved to decimal system). After I started schooling in Sirkali, from 1st form (aged 9), I found many distractions in the bazaar, particularly Siddhamalli Ramaswamy Iyer restaurant, the aroma of dosais wafting in the kadaitheruvu ( bazaar)  so inviting. I just took, on more than one occasion – a practicing socialist from childhood “what is yours is mine and at best ours” and spent it in the Iyer Hotel for a dosa and wheat halwa both costing the princely price of half an anna! Amma noticed that coins were disappearing and one night after dinner and after appa retired for the night, asked me casually. “ I find some coins missing in the alamari (corruption in Tamil of almirah). Have you any idea what could have happened?” My reply was that since I found the coins scattered on the shelf, I took a few and spent it for buying dosa and wheat halwa in Siddhamalli hotel. She did not rebuke me or chastise me, but said in an even tone,
” I save some coins for dharmam (charity) and hundi (piggy bank). If you had asked for money I would have given it to you, had I felt that you need to spend on dosa and halwa in a hotel. What you find in the hotel cannot be better than what I give you. In future do not take coins or anything that is not yours. "

Then she gave me some coins, perhaps a rupee in all and asked me to stand before the Nataraja picture, say to myself that I made a mistake and after that keep the money in the Almirah. Lakhs of rupees passed through my hands in my career and I always recalled that night in my childhood.

Shri Cadavasal R Natarajan - 15th Sept'2009

The Almirah from which I took the coins is open The Gajalakshmi picture shown by Shyam was painted in the main wall  facing East, that was on the right side as one faces the ruins. The picture of the Gajalakshmi was taken by me in the mid sixties and is the only photograph. The painting and the home were of the 1920s and both were destroyed in the Nineties. 

Cadavasal home and all that was, succumbed to betrayal of trust, criminal greed and insatiable avarice.

Dharumi Patti, (Dharmambal, sister of Abhirami) was almost a permanent fixture in Cadavasal home. She had a growth in the shin of her right leg, the size of an arecanut. When she sat down the shin was exposed and it was a tempting target for a mischievous boy of 5 or so. I was no exception. I used to pick up a small stick and beat the protrusion. It must have hurt poor Dharmi Patti. She did not complain to my father or to my mother. She was clever and stopped me with a promise of a future inheritance; she pointed to the growth and told me, “All my wealth is in this bag (moottai) in my leg. After my death you can take it. I will keep it for you, if you hit and the bag spills we will lose everything.” From then on I was protective of the blob and stroked it gently. 

When I heard of Dharmi patti’s death, I rushed to my mother and asked her permission to go to Dharmi patti’s home and take the treasure from her leg. Amma did not disabuse me by saying that what Dhaimi patti said was not true. She made me sit next to her and said, “we are the wealthiest family in Cadavasal. Dharmi patti has her family and they can have what she leaves behind. You are not going to get anything much, but for her family, whatever is there will be of some help. So you must give it up gracefully without ever telling them what you have done. Let this be between us.” Much later in life, I realized the simple reasoning of amma, that had much deeper sense of value. She did not say anything that would destroy my faith in Dharmi patti, but made me feel good by giving up some treasure that was mine, voluntarily for the good of someone.

The two incidents are exemplars of what amma was and there are many in my heart and mind that I will try to leave behind. For all of us MOTHERS are incomparable. For me and many others who interfaced with Amma, she represented the Mother of the universe as described in the scriptures. Amidst all the cacophony of voices and tongues that my memory has been assaulted with, my mother’s starting Bhilvashtakam with
“Thridhalam thrigunakaaram, thrinethram thriyayudham, thrijanma papasamharam, eka bilvam Sivarpanam” 
has always rung clear and loud. I was fortunate in recording in a Cassette player her voice performing her puja. That voice I often hear even without the recording but when I hear the recording, my eyes mist up in the regret that I did not live with her in the twilight years of her life. My life is half full and not half empty, where Amma is concerned. I was fortunate and thank my stars that I was of her flesh and blood.

In Wilton, Connecticut, USA, Champa Ramaswamy (Dr. Ramaswamy had connections with Edamanal, the village East of Cadavasal. She was the sister of late Ramachandran, husband of Yogam, niece of Madurai V Subramania Iyer) lived with her son Sunder. Dr. Ramaswamy was a friend and one of the few men of impeccable honesty and high ethical standards that I have ever known.

On my visits, Champa and self used to talk about the good old days. One day out of the blue she said, “your mother was known as the Mahalakshmi, in the villages around Cadavasal”.

Vadagal Chinnadorai, told me once, “Your mother Mahalakshmi will always protect all of us.”

Such was the esteem in which she was held. I am conflicted, the Mahalakshmi was not able to protect and preserve the Gajalakshmi paintng or the Gajalakshmi gave up, unwilling to be a painting in the wall, not the object of veneration; by one who was Her alter ego. The latter reasoning calms me.

 I had a period of extreme anxiety lasting about four months from January of this year, when my vision failed and I was looking at the world through dense fog. That is what Amma told me when she was losing her sight. I requested her to come with me to Madras and I will have the best medical help. She was sitting on the swing in Mayiladuthurai house of CRK (Junior CRK). She asked me to sit next to her and said in Tamil, “Swamy enakku kannai kodutthu, parkkavendiathu ellam parkka vaitthar, vendathaiyum parkkumpadiaya aacchu. Inimele nee onnum parkkavendamnuttu kannai pidinguvittal, adhvum sari” ( God had given me sight and made me see what I should see and also what I should not. Now if He has decided that I need not see any more, is not that right?) I tried to recall that incident and face with equanimity my loss of vision but could not. I prayed for Amma’s help. Recent surgery (May'2012) after consultation between four specialists has restored my vision to a considerable extent, though I am unable to read as yet. Amma, I hope will guide me.  Her Faith was unflinching and that is what gave her strength.

As I completed the above on 2 June 2012, my mind was full of life in Cadavasal. I woke up on 3^rd Sunday having dreamt that I ask my mother, “you knew of the scheme to deprive me of Cadavasal home and did not tell me” when she replied, “I could not tell you”. The last image of my mother that has stayed with me is my mother standing with a wistful look, watching me as the car pulled out on my way to England via Chennai for eye surgery. I learnt of her death the evening of the day I landed in Delhi from London on March 20, 1986 enroute to Madras. I respected her desire that her cremation is done without delay and so denied myself the last look at that visage.

I will write more about Amma so that future generations of our clan will at least know that such a person existed among their ancestors. They should be proud to belong to the family.

Dharmi patti left a deep imprint in my memory. I recall her standing before the Nataraja picture and in a voice that broke and ebbed and flowed, she recited the sloka,

The Pooja of Cadavasal Amma

Kripa samudram, sumukham thrinethram,

Jatadharam, Parvathi Vamabaham

Sadhasivam Rudram anantharupam

Siva Chidambaresam Hruthi bhavayami.

I can hear her but can not transmit her voice. Some day I will record how she recited imitating her breaks.

The memories of my childhood and of Cadavasal villagers, are flesh and blood for me, living and speaking. 

CRN