Elderly parents are a boon, a blessing, and great company

We look after our parents, as though they are our children [in a way they are], but not to forget, they had lived a complete life, cared for others, taken decisions, etc, which means their expectations and demands will vary and will be different from just food, security and medical attention.

1. Communication - talk to them once a day. Just listen, even if they are repeating themselves.

2. Respect - Treat them with dignity, even if they spill food or are clumsy. They may fall, and out of concern, we say "please do not walk around when I am not there,..... etc." This might make them feel dependent, and depressed.

3. Involvement –To keep their self esteem up, and capitalise on their vast experience, involve them in all important conversations and decisions.

4. Financial independence- You may pay for all their needs, but for a small thing they should not have to ask for money. Try to give them money discreetly, every month...... might be for a cup of tea around the corner, with some other elderly people :-), or just to buy some small sweets for a child .

5. Engagement- They were managing an entire household, now we pamper them, saying, "please sit down, don't do anything". This might hurt them and make them feel useless. You can encourage them learn a new hobby or join some class or take them out for dinners or do simple chores, anything that can keep them look forward to.

6. Fear of diseases - As our parents grow old we start analyzing their every action for possible diseases and illnesses.

Let us be positive and trust that if we treat them like equal partners and like free birds, they will chirp happily in our lives, for a long time!

Shivaratri and mantra chanting

Remembering Amma on this holy day of Shivaratri.

She would keep chanting, 'Om namah Shivaya, Om namo Narayanaya' on all days [not just Shivaratri] and sometimes, I would tell her to chant silently. 

So sad..... now, when I try to chant silently, I realise the mind wanders so easily.  That is why loud chanting is required, to still the mind, as well as purify the atmosphere when the sound vibrations of mantras go out in ripples, purifying, energising the atmosphere.  No wonder most people found entering our house very calming.

All the prayers chanted by Amma and Appa made our house very serene despite all other problems [their own health, noisy neighbors, cabs zipping past with horn blaring, dust flying due to construction in the neighborhood].

Wish I could have  Amma and Appa back..... I will not stop them from loud chanting, ever :(

Writing for its own sake

http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2008/06/20/stories/2008062050810400.htm

T.MURALI

Life vision and writing skills of stalwart writers spurred Umadevi into the world of literature
Being an author herself and having published several collections of short stories, she was proud when her daughter, an ex-banker, authored a book on micro credit.

“Both, depth of knowledge and writing skills are essential to bring out such scholarly books. They will help those who are working in that field. More books on science and other subjects which are helpful to people should be published, apart from short story collections and novels,” says the 81-year-old Umadevi Shankar Rao.

Born in 1927 in Shimoga, she completed her metric in Mysore and started writing when she was only 14! After her marriage to N.K. Shankara Rao, an Indian Airlines official, promoter and treasurer of Kannada Sangha in New Delhi, she lived in Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai.

Well-versed in Kannada, English and Sanskrit, in Umadevi’s view a writer should not aspire for accolades. Citing the example of Ravindranath Tagore’s “Geetanjali”, she says the works of an author may attract public attention in due course.

Umadevi’s works comprise short stories for children “Suryakanti” (1967), “Kumbarana Adrushta” (1967), “Minchu Gudugu” (1970), “Adalu Badalu” (translation from a Sanskrit drama) (1975), “Idgah Matthu itara Kathegalu” (1992), translated stories of Prem Chand, “Sannakathegalu” (short stories) (1954) and so on. Kannada Lekhakhiyara Sangha awarded H.V. Savitramma Endowment award for her translated book “Idgah Mattu Itara Kathegalu” in 1991.

Despite her age, she remains enthusiastic to share her interactions with Kannada literary stalwarts, including Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, K.V. Puttappa (Kuvempu), A.R. Krishna Shastry, A.N. Murthy Rao and several others.

Excerpts from an interview:

You have written children stories, translated several short stories of Prem Chand. What inspired you to become a writer?

I was inspired by eminent writers of Kannada such as Masti Venkatesh Iyengar and A.R. Krishnashastri. Their knowledge in the subject and the command over language, writing skill, and vision of life influenced me. In spite of being so popular, they were down-to-earth and modest. A.R. Krishnashastry had said that we can give only a few words to this vast world. One cannot just claim that his or her contribution is huge to literature.

Prem Chand also inspired me, he is not just a writer, he is a social reformer. He married a widow. His life and writings inspired me.

Were your times conducive to women writers?

Not so good. There were reservations among the elderly women about writing. When my name appeared in print at the top of an article, they asked me if it was required for a housewife. If a woman wanted to study medicine, people used to comment that she had been sent to mortuary for cutting human bodies. But, I must confess that my father was supportive, he was well-versed in Kannada and Sanskrit. There were few women writers at that time such as Kodagina Gowramma, Belagere Janakamma, Triveni and Vani. Triveni wrote several popular novels.

Do you think that the problems of present-day women are different from what you faced?
Issues will keep on changing. Some of the evils such as dowry harassment, atrocities on women will remain forever, irrespective of the progress made. I have highlighted several issues in my works.

You have written several short stories for children. Are children losing the ability to imagine now-a-days?

Because of distractions by television, visual media, they are losing some of the finest aspects of childhood. During our days, there was no television and radio was itself a rarity. Children were keen on listening to stories from elders. Many stories were created for them by elders and they were based on moral values.

Can you recall a memorable incident with a Kannada writer?

When Masti had come to New Delhi, we invited him to our house and my husband went to receive him. During a discussion, my husband read out a few lines from my story. Masti was very appreciative of what I had written and blessed me.

Voices from people who met Amma

I am filled with gratitude that I got the opportunity to meet her. Her radiant face comes to mind again and again. Her creativity and ability to master languages other than her mother tongue was truly impressive.
She was gifted in the real sense, and she did not need any degree or position to prove herself. I am touched by the manner in which your mother was able to create so much value in her life

We can take solace from the deliverance she has obtained from the agony and suffering of an illness she so bravely endured...
Mina

Death and Death Ceremonies

Amma passed away on 16^th August, 2008 at 8.15 pm; a black moment of unutterable sorrow for all of us.

Though Anand was very brave at the moment of pronouncement of death by the doctor who had come home with the ambulance, and told me ‘let her go’, later on he also grieved a lot. After all the ceremonies were over, when it was time for him to go to office, he missed his usual ritual……

Anand : Amma, Nanu hogi barutteni

Amma : Have a nice time

Anand : Yenu nice time? Nanu office hoguttaidini

But that was quintessential Amma. She told me to see the positive side of everything. Even when I used to drink tea [innumerable cups], she would say ‘Savor every sip, enjoy every moment’.

Every morning, she would ask me what day it was [she was disoriented due to being in bed all the time , and with so many chemicals being pumped into her, it was a miracle how she was so alert, radiant and cheerful], and on being told Monday, Tuesday….. she would say something about the presiding god of the day. Monday was for Shiva [Tryambakam yajamahay suganthim pushtivardhanam…] , Tuesday was Mangalvaara so devoted to the Divine Mother [Sarva Mangal Maangalye….], Wednesday [Devaru namma yellarigu Sadbuddhi kodli…], Thursday was Guru’s day [Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheswara….. Pooojyaya Raghavendraya Satya Dharma Vrataya Cha…… Saieeshwaraya Vidmahe Satya Devaya Dheemahi….. Datta Datta Jaya Guru Govinda, Dattatreya Parama Ananda….], Friday was Lakshmi’s day…. I would tell her ‘you are Lakshmi’ (her actual name was Lakshmidevi and Umadevi was her pen name) and she would counter with ‘alla, neene namma mane Lakshmi’ and go on to chant …

Lakshmeem Ksheer samudra raaj tanayaam

Shri ranga Dhameshwari

Daasi Bhootha Samasata Deva Vanithaam

Lokaika deepaam kuraam,

Srimanmanda Kataaksha Labdha Vibhava

Brahmendra Gangaadharam

Tvaam Trailokya Kutumbineem

Sarasijaam Vande Mukunda Priyaam

Maata Cha Paarvati Devi

Pitaa Devo Maheshvara

Baandhavah Shiva Bhaktaacha

Svadesho Bhuvanatrayam

When Amma breathed her last, it was as if a cheery, chirpy bird had been silenced.

To me, Amma was

1. a friend with whom I could share anything from jokes to spiritual thoughts
2. a radio, on which the channels would get switched as the situation demanded, from old film songs [perennial favourites were Ramaiyya Vasta Vaiya and Doni Saagli munde hogali, door teerava serali], to neighbourhood gossip which she had just heard from one of her friends, to discussion on the Vedas!
3. my guru, whom I could consult on which prayer is appropriate for specific occasions, or the meaning of rituals [most of us Hindus, and especially we Brahmins, carry out rituals or follow tradition without knowing why we do it, but Amma had scant regard for meaningless rituals, and deep respect for those which were significant]
4. a pretty lady whom I could “show off” to my friends who came home
5. a mother who would prepare delicacies for me [and indeed, for all of us] according to my taste and look on in delight when I ate it appreciatively . I now regret that very often I would hastily gulp down food and rush off to office, or to bhajan or for some seva of mine.

Now, the house is very quiet [though Anand has bought World Space Radio to compensate] and there is no chirpy voice enquiring “bandiya ma?…. Hello , dear”.

Amma was very articulate and hospitable. Neighbours still speak of her concern for all of them – one neighbour used to get all magazines, with special articles marked out; one neighbour whose daughter had jaundice got advice on the soppu to eat; anyone with minor medical problems used to be visited by amma, with a list of curative herbs they could eat, as well as other natural remedies.

In the last year of Amma’s life, I restricted visitors for two reasons. One, visitors coming to visit patients, touch them without washing their hands even though they have just pushed the front gate open, opened doors, removed buckle on their shoe, or touched other surfaces touched by many others and create a risk of infection. Two, Amma being a talkative person, could hold anybody’s interest with her witty conversation [never once would she touch upon her illness, unlike other patients who air their grievances and sorrow to all who come to see them], and the visitors would stay on for a long time, causing severe strain to Amma. Though I had only Amma’s health in mind, now I wish I could have allowed her to socialize to her heart’s content….. in any case, I never had time to spend on talking [I was always caught up in my nursing care, feeding, cleaning] and Amma, though broken in body, was mentally alert and needed the stimulation of conversation.

When she passed away, suddenly it dawned on us that we would have to perform the death rituals, a most unpleasant task, without knowing the meaning [if she were around, she would have guided us]…. Everyone merely parrots instructions without knowing the significance, while we were brought up by Amma to do things with the deep understanding of why were doing so.

We were told ‘no going to temples for one year’…’no rangoli in front of the house’. And many such well meaning advice….. only on contacting very senior priests of big temples, and reading Garuda Purana and Hindu scriptures on the internet, did we understand the significance of what we were doing.

The ceremonies are mainly geared towards offering to the dead soul [called ‘preta’ and not ‘atma’ for the first ten days because the astral body is created over ten days after the burning of the physical body]…. The body was burnt, so cooling water is poured on the ‘shila’ representing the deceased person. Black til [yallu] is offered as til oil is cooling to the body. Various daanas [offerings] like umbrella [to shelter the soul from the scorching heat], vastra [to cover the body], chappals [for the soul to walk without hurting her feet], are necessary for the soul.

The sixteen ceremonies [maasikas] are necessary as the soul travels in the astral space and needs sustenance across its journey. What we consider the whole year is one day [Uttarayana] and one night [Dakshinayana] for the soul.

Death of the very old is not a matter of sorrow [according to sages], as it comes as a release for the tired, the sick, the worn out body, the body whose limbs are aching…… we only go from one room to another. “in my father’s mansion, there are many rooms’, one of the rooms is the earth plane. Our dear ones who have passed away, are not dead. They have moved on through the door of death to another world and their blessings are always with us, guiding us through our troubled moments.

We should always remember our dear departed ones in our prayers, everyday and do little deeds of service in their name.

Amma's story

1. 
   Lakshmidevi was born on 5th May, 1927, at Shimoga city, to Venkatasubbiah and Venkamma. Shimoga was the residence of Venkamma’s parents : Anantiah and ‘ammanakka’. Former was an advocate, well known. Had some lands; large house (larger than Mysore home of amma’s father, Venkamma’s husband].
   
   Amma’s grandfather’s house was a large one. It had a large room, with sloping wooden steps, where mangoes were laid out in summer, to ripen. Her grandmother would make cauldron of ‘seekarne’ [mango pulp, milk and sugar]. Amma’s young brother, Seenu, was very fond of sweets, and would eat even jaggery. His teeth fell out at an early age [amma would remember this often in 2007, while she was bed ridden, and giggle remembering the past].
   
   Venkatasubbaiah was a lecturer in Bangalore University [present day Mysore university]. Venkamma passed away at the age of thirty, when amma was only six years old. Amma and her siblings were taken away by grandmother to Shimoga, where they stayed for one year. Venkatasubbaiah married again after one year, and took the children with him to Bangalore. Venkatasubbaiah had a transferable job, which took him to Tumkur, then Bangalore, and finally Mysore. He taught Chemistry at Mysore University. .
   
   Amma’s stepmother’s name was Gangamma, and Venkatsubbiah called her Lalithamma. She looked after her stepchildren like her own; she never scolded them.
   
   Amma went to school till 5th form [high school of today]. Passed Lower Secondary exam, at the age of around 13. she could not appear for Higher Secondary Exam, as she got married. Ammakka insisted that her granddaughter get married soon, since she was worried as to what would happen to them in case her son, Venkatsubbaiah, died (his salary was only Rs.75/-).
   
   
   
   Appa’s paternal uncle .Narayanaswamy lived near ajja’s house. He suggested his nephew as a suitable match for amma. The wedding was duly solemnized, and celebrated over 5 days at Ajja’s house.
   
   Appa was a stenographer in Hindustan Aeronautic Limited [HAL], Bangalore. He lived in Karnik Road with brothers Seetharamu and Puttonu [Narsimhamurthy]. It was an ‘outhouse’ , a hall and single bedroom. Puttonu was unemployed, and a typical ‘loafer’, sitting around, doing nothing. He would eat first, before his brothers got home, and then add a handful of salt to the food, so that amma would be scolded by appa and others, for bad food.
   
   Amma’s first child was a still born girl. Next came twins, who did not survive beyond a few days. By the time of amma’s third pregnancy, she was very frail, so appa was advised by others to leave amma at her parental home in Mysore for delivery, fearing that amma would die and bring a bad name to her in-laws. So amma duly arrived at ajja’s home in Mysore. Then, before she delivered [this time, it was Nagendran, our eldest brother], appa was transferred to New Delhi.
   
   Amma was under the care of a doctor in Mission Hospital, Mysore. Amma credits him with saving her life, when she was carrying, and very frail. The doctor advised her to take calcium tablets, and eggs with milk, and a course of injections. He motivated her, saying that she would deliver a ‘bouncing boy’. His words came true, magically, and the ‘bouncing boy’ is still bounding around Arakere, full of energy. Nagendran was born in ajja’s house before the ambulance could take amma to the hospital. Mid wife had also been summoned. Amma’s grandmother , who was visiting her son in Mysore, also had been called, that early morning [5 am].
   
   Amma’s first published book was ‘Sanna Kathe Galu’ (1954). Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, who read some of her stories, was impressed with them and took the manuscript, saying he would publish them sometime. Amma did not take this seriously, as she had not even dreamt of publishing book. Some of her stories had appeared in some magazines, but that was it. She used a pen-name ‘Umadevi’ , so that people would not talk about her. Her mother in law was horrified at the thought of amma’s sister studying medicine, and would not take kindly to amma’s name or photo being published.
   
   One fine day, appa got a parcel through post, while he was at work. It contained 10 copies of ‘Sanna Kathe Galu’. Masti avaru was kind enough to publish the book, and told amma and appa to pick up as many copies of the book as they wanted when they visited Bangalore.
   
   ‘Sanna Kathe Galu’ was prescribed as a text book by Mysore Riyasat Hindi Prachar Sabha for two years
   
   Books
   Sanna Kathegalu – short stories (1954)
   Stotra Rathanakara (1958)
   Stotra Makaranda (1967)
   Surya Kanti (children’s stories) (1967)
   Kumbarana Adrushta (children’s stories) (1967)
   Minchu Gudugu (children’s stories) (1970)
   Adalu Badalu (translation of plays) (1975)
   Udaya Raga – collection of Prayers (1994)
   Idgah (translation of stories by Premchand) (1995)
   Utsava mattu itara kathegalu (1996)
   Anugraha (stories) (1999)
   Manga Muti (children’s stories) (1999)
   
   She received ‘H V Savitramma Memorial Award’ for 1995 from Karnataka Lekha Kriya Sangha, Bangalore.
   
   She was always frail and suffered from asthma, but the last three years of her life were defined by multiple ailments. She had enlarged heart (LVH) and her movements were severely restricted. During check up prior to cataract operation in December 2007, anemia was discovered. Repeated transfusions failed to stabilize haemoglobin level; she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in February 2007. A fall in May 2007, led her to becoming bed ridden.
   
   Lalita became her care giver, refusing to employ a nurse. Only her dedicated care and knowledge of nursing, which she picked up, kept amma alive, I think.
   
   In spite of her suffering – she had constant pain due to cancer, and frequent episodes of infection, needing injections through IV line, for which to find a vein in the frail hand was a challenge – her face was radiant; she was always at peace and cheerful.
   Her wedding anniversary was always observed on Vara Mahalaxmi day, sixty sixth anniversary fell on 15 August 2008. She was too tired to let Lalita drape a saree for her.
   
   Amma succumbed to a heart attack in the evening of 16 August 2008, surrounded by her family, at home.

Amma chanting slokas and poems

Amma had firm faith in prayer, positive thinking, and the power of the said word. She read the book ‘Your Word is your Wand’, and ‘Positive Thinking” even while we were in Calcutta, ie, way back in ‘70s!

Even the Vedic hymns and various prayers are chanted to spread positive energy, in her opinion. So, she chanted slokas while pottering around the kitchen [maybe that is why her cooking was good], and in last year of her life, when she was bed-ridden, her room would ring with prayers…… Srinath Vishno Nrhuhare Murare and Samudra Vasane Devi in the early mornings….. Sarva Mangala Maangalye at all times and especially if she heard us speak of some mishaps somewhere in the world, as she said that the Divine Mother would ward off all ills…… Benaka Benaka Ekadanta, Pacche kallu, Paani Peetha with a mischievous glint in the eye, as this was a prayer to Lord Ganesha by kids.

When I would check her temperature, or blood sugar reading, and tease her ‘oho, lets see what we get’, she would majestically intone “The Lord is in charge of my affairs, and I have nothing to fear!” This would give me courage. Her bird like bright eyes would follow me around the room, and when I said, “oh, all okay”, she would sigh with pleasure and say “I told you so”, and in case she had high fever, or high blood sugar, she would say “Let them stay with me. Poor things, where will they go?”. Even infections and high sugar would instantly become something to be smiled at, and not feared!

Amma would ask Appa to chant Indrakshi sthothra [by Purandara Rishi] which has the power to cure many illnesses, specially fever. The presiding deity for the sthothra is Indrakshi Durga. The kernel of the chant is Lakshmi, the strength behing the Manthra is Bhuvaneswari and its axis is Bhavani.

Indrakshi Gayathri

Basmayudhaya vidmahe , raktha nethraya deemahi,

Thanno jwarahara prachoidayath

She who can turn everything in to ash,

She who has blood red eyes,

Please take away this fever from me.

Though any other patient in her condition would be happy to be left lying in bed, Amma was a courageous soul who would co-operate with my clumsy attempts to get her off the bed and onto the plastic chair we had bought, so that she could be taken to the bathroom for a bath. She would happily ignore all my shouts [i, in my haste behaved as if I had to move a mountain! ] and start singing some song, or the sloka ‘Gangeche yamune chaiva”.

Bathing is a time when people take a shower to shed the physical impurities and dirt of their body. Following is the Shloka/ Sloka for a Holy Bath, which amma would recite while taking a bath.

"Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Saraswati,
Narmada Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru"

Meaning: The literal meaning of this mantra is: "In this water, I invoke the presence of divine waters from the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. These rivers are considered as goddesses and I pray to them for considering me for their blessings.

Significance: God has given us a beautiful life to live and has created this beautiful world. There are massive rivers and oceans in it. Many rivers like, Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati etc have their own significance. Taking bath in these rivers is considered auspicious. So, reciting this Sloka with a sincere heart brings you the benefit of taking bath in these rivers.

I used to joke to her that even day to day tasks like getting out of bed or having a bath can become occasions for invoking one of our hundreds of gods/goddesses, whereupon she would launch into explanations as to the beauty and inner meaning of the various slokas.

Meenakshi Pancha Ratna was also one of her favourites, as it extolled the Divine Mother.

Udyath bhanu sahasra koti sadrusam, Keyura harojjwalam,
Bimboshtim smitha danthapankthi ruchiram, peetambaralankrutham,
Vishnu brahma surendra sevitha patham, Thathwa swaroopam shivam,
Meenakshmi pranathosmi santhathamaham, karunya vara nithim.

I always bow before that Meenakshi, who is the treasure house of mercy……etc.

Amma would get so enthralled while chanting about the beauty the Devi, or how other gods also prayed to Goddess Shakti, that she would turn rosy and excited like a small child on beholding her favourite toy.

I read somewhere that Krishna being the perfect God [perfect in beauty, perfect in love, perfect as a child and a great warrior], prayer to Him would be good for those who seek to ‘repair’ their bodies. On telling Amma this, I had the opportunity to hear her chant…

“Agre kurunaam atha pandavanam,

Dushasane ahwatha vastra kesha,

Krishnaa tad akrosh tadanya natha,

Govinda, damodara Madavethi., “

When in front of Kurus and Pandavas,
Dushasana dragged her by her clothes and hair,
Angered, Draupadi seeing no other lord,
Called “Oh Govinda, Oh Damodhara,Oh Madhava.”

Oolukhale Sambharitha thandulamsa cha,

Sanghatyayantyo khila gopikaashcha,

Gayanthi gopyo janithanuragha,

Govinda, Damodhara, Madhavethi., 

Pounding the mortar full of grains,
With the pestle again and again,
The Gopis due to their budding love,
Sing “Oh Govinda, Oh Damodara and Oh Madhava.”

Amma would lyrically sing, and enact the single minded love of the gopikas for Krishna, and how they saw Krishna in everything they did….. they even pounded Krishna [grain] and sold Krishna [hawking milk and curds, they shouted “Krishna, Krishna…. Govinda…. Damodara”].

Nearness of death

Amma was near death, and knew it. She would often sing the long forgotten Punyakoti poem, most melodiously [I often wondered at her lung power…… she a patient with asthma, a collapsed lung, and frequent lung infections!!].

This was sung by the mother cow Punyakoti, who had to sacrifice herself to a lion, entreating the other cows in the herd to feed and nurture Punyakoti's calf. Probably all mother sing this poignantly........ but it brought tears to my eyes......

Punyakoti - a forgotten tale

dharaNi manDala madhyadoLage

mereyutiha karNATa dEshadOLiruva

kALinganemba gollana pariyanentu pELvenu

I speak about the cowherd Kalinga residing in the resplendent country of Karnata(ka) within the middle region of the earth .

eLeya mAvina marada kELage koLalnUduta golla gauDanu

baLasi ninda turugaLannu baLige karedanu harushadi

gange bAre gauri bAre tungabhadre tAyi bAre

puNyakOTi nInu bArE endu gollanu karedanu

golla kareda dhwaniya kELi ella hasugaLu bandu nindu

chelli sUsi hAlu kareyalu alli tumbitu bindige

satyavE bhagavantanemba puNyakOTiya katheyidu

Playing his flute under the young mango tree, the cowherd called to the cattle standing around him , “ Ganga (e) come, Gauri come, mother Tungabhadre come, Punyakoti you too come”

On hearing the cowherd’s voice, the cows came closer, and he milked them so that the vessel was filled to the brim.

This is the tale of Punyakoti who believed that Truth is God

habbidA male madhyadoLage arbhutAnendemba vyAghranu

abbarisi hasihasidu beTTada kibbiyoLu tAniddanu

moredu rOshadi guDugutA huli bhOriDuta

chhangane jigidu negeyalu chedari hOdavu hasugaLu

In the middle of the spreading forest, a hungrily roaring tiger named Arbhutan lived in a cave among the mountains

Bellowing and thundering with rage, the tiger in search of a meal leapt and jumped amidst the cattle upon which they ran helter - skelter.

puNyakOTi emba hasuvu tanna kandana nenedukonDu

munna hAlanu koDuvenenuta chendadi tA barutire

indenage AhAra sikkitu endu bEgane dushTa vyAghranu

bandu baLasi aDDagaTTi nindanA hulirAyanu

The cow named Punyakoti, thinking of her child and planning to feed her was coming by . “Today I have found food” thought the wicked tiger and circling the cow he stood blocking her way

mEle biddu ninnanIgale bILahoyvenu ninna hoTTeya

sILibiDuvenu enuta kOpadi khULa vyAghranu kUgalu

ondu binnaha huliye kELu kandaniruvanu doDDiyoLage

ondu nimishadi moleya koTTu bandu sEruve nillige

hasida vELege sikkidoDaveya vashava mADade biDalu nInu

nusuLi hOguve matte baruveya husiya nuDiyuvenenditu

“I will fall upon you and bring you down. I will split your belly” screamed the tiger.

Punyakoti says “Listen Tiger, I have a request. I have a son in the cowshed. I will feed him and return to you in a minute”

“At a hungry time when I have cornered you, if I do not capture you, you will slip away. Will you come back? You are lying” says the tiger

satyavE namma tAyi tande satyavE namma bandhu baLaga

satya vAkyake tappi naDedare mechchanA Jagadeeshanu

satyavE bhagavantanemba puNyakOTiya katheyidu

“Truth is our mother and father. Truth is our near and dear. If the truth is not followed, the Supreme Self will not approve” answers Punyakoti

This is the tale of Punyakoti who believed that Truth is God

kondu tinnuvenemba hulige chendadinda bhAshe koTTu

kanda ninnanu nODi pOguve nendu bandenu doDDige

Ara moleyanu kuDiyalamma Ara baLiyali malagalamma

Ara sEri badukalamma Aru nanage hitavaru

“I have come after promising the tiger who wanted to kill and eat me that I will return to him after seeing you” says Punyakoti to her child

Punyakoti’s calf: “Whose udder shall I drink from? By whose side shall I sleep? With whom shall I live? Who is there to be good to me?”

ammagaLirA akkagaLirA enna tAyoDa huTTugaLirA

kanda nimmavanendu kANiri tabbaliyanI karuvanu

munde bandare hAyabEDi hinde bandare odeyabEDi

kanda nimmavanendu kANiri tabbaliyanI karuvanu

Punyakoti: “Oh mothers and sisters, those born to my mother, please look upon this orphan calf as your own”

“If he comes in front of you, please do not gore him. If he gets behind you kindly do not kick him. Please look upon this orphan as your own child.”

tabbaliyu nInAde magane hebbuliya bAyannu hoguvenu

ibbarA R^iNa tIritendu tabbikonDitu kandana

satyavE bhagavantanemba puNyakOTiya katheyidu

“Son, you have become an orphan. I am going into the mouth of the great tiger. Our bond ends here” Punyakoti hugs her child

This is the tale of Punyakoti who believed that Truth is God

gOvu karuvanu biTTu bandu sAvakAshava mADadante

gaviya bAgila sErinintu tavakadali huligenditu

khanDavideko mAmsavideko gunDigeya bisiraktavideko

chanDavyAghrane nInidellava nunDu santasadindiru

Leaving the calf behind, the cow with no further delay stood in front of the cave door and said anxiously

“Take my flesh, take my meat. Take the warm blood from my heart. Oh fierce tiger, have all this and be happy”

puNyakOTiya mAta kELi kaNNanIranu surisi nondu

kanneyivaLanu kondu tindare mechchanA Jagadeeshanu

enna oDahuTTakka nInu ninna kondu Ena paDevenu

ennutA huli hAri negedu tanna prANava biTTitu

Listening to Punyakoti’s words, the tiger was pained. Shedding tears, he says “If I kill and eat you it will not please God Almighty”

“You are like a sister born with me. What will I gain by killing you?” So saying, the tiger jumped down and gave up his life

satyavE bhagavantanemba puNyakOTiya katheyidu

This is the tale of Punyakoti who believed that Truth is God

* * *

Even now, I can hear my Amma's voice, chanting slokas, singing songs, and generally enlivening the surroundings..... when she was moving about, and even when she was bed ridden during the last year of her life.

Amma reinforced my faith in God, and it is but natural that the last words she uttered were 'Sai Ram.... nanna bittbudu', telling me not to disturb her as it was dinnertime [7.30 pm on 16.8.08] and I was trying to roll her over.

Actually, I was trying to roll amma over to check her blood sugar which was low at 7 pm, to see if she needed further glucose. But in a short time, she breathed her last, peacefully and in her own bed, with Appa holding her hand.

As we are devotees of Sri Satya Sai Baba, we all generally chanted Sai Ram sai ram, and Amma has even composed hymns on Swamy and published it in a book titled "Udaya Raga". The only hymn I knew was "HAalu gadalalli aalad elaymele, leela yalli pavadisiha aadikeshava, Srilola baal gopala, yelailo yelo Belagaittu, narayana, Sai Narayana"

Amma used to love chanting Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalambam. She said that fervent recitation of these hymns on Lord Narasimha (one of the two stotras Adi Sankara composed on Him) will always help one smoothly get over difficulties with the Lord's helping hand.

Srimat payonidhi nikethana chakra pane,

Bhogeendra Bhoga mani ranjitha punya moorthe,

Yogeesa shaswatha saranya Bhavabdhi potha,

Lakshmi Narasimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam.

Oh Great God Lakshmi Narasimha, who lives in the ocean of milk,

Who holds the holy wheel as weapon, who wears the gems of the head,

Of Adhisesha as ornaments, who has the form of good and holy deeds,

Who is the permanent protection of sages, and who is the boat which helps us cross,

This ocean of misery called life,

Please give me the protection of your hands.

S. Lalita Rao