Return to Marmalade

K Subramanian

This is one of the articles written by my son over 15 years ago when he moved to USA for higher studies. It was published in the e.magazine Sulekha.com. I am reproducing it here as the topic is equally relevant today being a good analysis of generation divide. Comments are welcome.

- Kanakasabapathi

Some people like symbolisms. Some people hate them. Some others just cannot understand them. Of course, there are good ones and there are bad ones. There are easy ones and there are difficult ones. There are also new entries, rare appearances or downright clichéd members of this unique clan of phrases that have made their existence felt in almost every form of expression.

Sometimes time plays its part in blurring the line dividing bad and clichéd. One might recollect, with very little effort I might say, an instance of the thunder and lightning in the emotionally charged scene, when nature plays its character in the script with perfection arising from practice, to show supreme sympathy with the prevalent mood. How many of us can still relate that to the anger in the thunder and the sorrow in the weeping skies? Now, I would call that a classic case of one symbolism that is so used and so worn that it is practically archaic and unrecognizable.

Nevertheless, with all the beating this clan has taken, there is this sub-sect that is simultaneously and subjectively good, rare and neither too simple to be overlooked nor too deep to be missed. The few of these that do exist help in very effectively driving the nail into the head. The symbolic and perhaps clichéd nail, that is!

Yet another theatrical gem. I was watching Hey! Ram the other day. Calcutta is torn apart with riots on the 'Direct Action' day before partition. There is violence on the streets. The entire situation is compressed beautifully into this one shot, that of an elephant with broken chains and a dead mahout. The elephant shows the power of the mob. The mob is out of control, as shown by the broken chains, and completely lacks direction, as shown by the dead mahout. A very profound and simple embellishment and yet sadly overlooked by many.

The age of innocence spawns two very contradictory feelings. The child sometimes gets all that it asks for and at other times faces an impenetrable and undecipherable obstinacy from the parent. The resulting confusion in the young mind is the seed for learning. If not by comprehensive reasoning, then learning by acceptance, at least. The rationale that accepting a higher authority gives the least trouble sets in very early in the child's life. Like most other kids, I used to be very obedient. The parent's word was final. Any discrepancy that existed between personal reasoning and the higher authority was understood by acceptance, however paradoxical that may seem at this point.

There was a certain time in the morning everyone had to wake up. After the physical cleansing, there was a compulsory session to elevate the spirit before the array of beautifully arranged and spotlessly clean idols. At school, obedient kids who put their fingers on their lips were treated well. Apart from the rigorous schedule of mainstream subjects, we had to do other activities like moral science and Vedic chanting. There were extra sports classes and meditation classes for the physically or spiritually inclined. Rather, for the children of the physically or spiritually inclined parents, I must say. Evenings were usually filled with homework, a quick game with the neighborhood gang, followed possibly by a class in the fine arts. There was a local temple to be visited once a week, with a grand and elaborate pilgrimage once a year. I used to hate every temple that I was dragged into -- I never saw the point of it all.

In those days, doctors would advise a very strict diet even for mild fevers. The argument was that the digestive system should not be loaded unnecessarily at such times. The simplest diet, they would say, is bread and jam with no butter and lots of fluids. My whole family loved marmalade and the refrigerator was always stocked with a new bottle. I used to hate it, especially without the butter, and even more so when people around me would have relative delicacies on the table. In the ensuing battle between orange marmalade and mixed fruit jam, the marmalade always won. Won by default as there was no battle really. Well, the upside was that life was taken care of as long as all the rules were obeyed, definitely a very happy period.Then came adolescence when the cost of accepting an authority is subconsciously evaluated. Those rules that are considered inconvenient are rebelled against, mildly at first and on a large scale at later stages. Simply put, this is a period when the sweet taste of taking one's own decisions goes to one's head. I too rebelled and fought, mostly in vain, but sometimes with a lot of success. These fights weren't always logical. The higher authorities were still there, albeit in different forms. The result was that the rebellion took the form of passive resistance most of the time. All said and done, the biggest fight of it all was within myself, child vs. adult. All temples were banned, I wouldn't be the guinea pig for the Vedic chant at the school prayer any more, I would set my own schedules and I wouldn't attend any social function that I didn't care to. And best of all, childhood memories dictated that marmalade shouldn't even be given a chance.

When the internal fighting forces are tired, wishful thinking gives way to cold reason. We call this maturity. Spontaneity takes a subdued form and acceptance gradually turns into understanding. In the process, ideas previously accepted are sometimes ignored or discarded as foolish based often upon ill-understanding arising from the newfound confidence. In the same process, old prejudices are naturally preserved, I must add. Lack of maturity in the new and supposedly mature views, arguably. This phase represents one of the most miserable failures of tradition, when it fails to reinforce itself with reason. I still hated the temples, forgot the chants and disliked elaborate social events. In addition, I found new and very convincing reasons to uphold science, downplay philosophy and a countless other things… convincing reasons to reject the old and embrace the new, in essence.

Here was a frog that dug its own well. Life went on admirably, until a peel of orange found me after a fifteen-year search. It was not by accident but only for the lack of anything better on the table to go with the spiceless slice of bread lying on my plate. Not only did that event find me some new possibilities for breakfast, but the feelings that went through my head at that moment were a kind of realization, to say the least. The realization that whatever ignorance is, it is not bliss. A temporal version of -- when in Rome, never do as Romans do.

This time it was a conscious decision. I went to the bookshelf and pulled out a very dusty book, one that had found its way straight from my father's thoughtful hands to the shelf through the suitcase. I carefully wiped the dust off and scrolled through, getting the feel of new and untouched print. Written probably by another deep and philosophical mind seeking the same answers, the preface was so inspiring that the journey began.

Returning to our initial discussion, I have conspicuously avoided talking about a class of symbolisms that lose their charm when elaborated. Poetry is sometimes most enjoyed when the meaning is only partially and not explicitly and completely understood. I could attempt to justify the sacrilege here. It is but a mildly desperate attempt to tread the line between artful and commercial, between deep and mild, between losing a large portion of the audience and grabbing its attention, by pushing a carefully calculated portion across the dividing line. Even dust can be symbolic, but too much might end up too little. II

The Nature of Love

One year and six months later…

I love orange marmalade now. I also read a lot of philosophy. My collection on the topic has grown from one book to a whole shelf. To be very honest, the initial excitement was two-fold. One was the undeniable pride that I was delving into a topic that few had any knowledge about. This was a mild feeling of intellectual superiority; the fact that I could talk well about topics that were foreign to 'common' people. The other was a feeling of sheer, unadulterated excitement, the feeling of gaining higher knowledge. But this initial enthusiasm came with a price. I soon realized that excitement alone is not always enough to sustain the drive. Both for myself and for the others I would try selling the subject to… I urgently needed to find a clear and logical basis for my pursuit.

Science has, probably unfortunately, taught us to always look for proof. It says that the proof of the pudding is in mathematics and logic, not in acceptance. Philosophy says the proof is in the eating. This is perfectly fine, except when the eating can be an expensive exercise, in which case people require logical proof, however impossible that may seem, that the pudding will indeed be worth the effort. It can be a very difficult or even impossible exercise to determine the existence of this pudding and if it does exist, to determine its nature. Something that might be worth doing, however, is to attempt to look for clues to answer these questions and to validate these clues with our own methods of reasoning. After all, we have only ourselves to satisfy in this pursuit.

In one word, it can be called Veda, translating loosely into knowledge. However, it needs more clarification. Knowledge has to be defined. It seems paradoxical that people who don't know it fully and who clearly don't possess all of it can define this word. Let us make an attempt however, and call it 'all there is to be known'. I would consider this scientifically a very general definition. This division, right here, is where science makes its biggest blunder. Science does not make the most general assumption that both these categories can exist. It assumes that all there is to be known, will be known at some point in time through logical analysis, however complex the problem may be. Coming back to the pudding, very simply put, it lies in the second category. It is some or all of the knowledge that cannot be known. I admit that is quite a bizarre declaration but I'm not really contradicting myself here. Given the limits of our ignorance, it is perfectly reasonable to let our definition of knowledge evolve with the discussion.

Some or all of the knowledge that cannot be known. The sheer audacity of philosophy actually restricts this definition. Vedanta means the 'end of knowledge', and comes from combining the word Veda with the word anth, meaning end. It directly means that there is a self-proclaimed system of philosophy that promises all of the knowledge that cannot be known otherwise. There are clever arguments about this that say that the end might be infinite, but at least for now, these are claims that cannot be proved. Well, at least, they cannot be proved until experienced. But to start with, we are hardly concerned about how much pudding there is, merely whether it is worth taking the first bite. If the first bite is good, it should lead us to the second one, and inductively till the end, unless of course, we get tired of it along the way.

Unseen possibilities unfold.The thought of the pudding makes me ever more hungry. Born into the world of today, faith alone would hardly suffice. I implore evidence to ease that leap of faith for the first And crucial bit.

Unless we get tired of it. Now that's an interesting statement. It could possibly be a paradox and to resolve it would require an understanding of the vague nature of infinity. When we get tired of something, we go on to something else that is more interesting. That is only if that something else exists beyond our current occupation. Generalizing this argument, this could probably mean that something exists that is infinite, that we cannot get tired of, simply because it is infinite and includes everything. If such a thing does exist, how does one describe its character? This now leads us to another term that is anything but vague: Perfection. Perfection is absolute and unchanging. It has to include everything because it is perfect.

In philosophical terms, imperfect is material and perfect is spiritual by definition. With this preliminary understanding I contemplate on finding a clue, a clue that would give me the missing link between material and spiritual. Several things are obvious so far. It is possible that perfection exists. In fact, in the most general sense, even scientifically speaking, we have to allow for its existence. Moreover, nothing in this world seems to be perfect. If we can find imperfections in every single piece of the puzzle, how can the solution be perfect? It has to mean that there are missing pieces… pieces of pudding, we might say. Not only that, if we ourselves are made of imperfect pieces, there has to be this elusive link that makes this pudding accessible. If it is possible for us to cross over, then the two worlds have to either intersect somewhere or they have to be connected by some hidden gate. If we can find this gate and the key that goes with it, can we conclude that our assumptions are true?

Two years later…

Our brains are too strongly conditioned to think freely. To look for a solution, it is wise to look to a child or to a genius. Again, looking at philosophers, the dividing line between genius and deranged is not too clear given the nature of the topic. Waiting in line at the grocery store the other day, I found a child eyeing a bar of chocolate and looking at her mother in succession. When at last the mother noticed and relented, it was a pleasure to see the expression of happiness on the child's face. Genuine happiness, and almost what could be called perfect, except that the feeling was transient, lasting only until the bar did. Thinking back, it is impossible to find any instance of happiness that has been absolutely permanent and hence perfect. Well, the result must have been obvious at first sight. Happiness attached to an imperfect object simply cannot be perfect. After a lot of deliberation, I discard that promising line of thought most unwillingly.

There is another distinct possibility relating to the child, though. The child experienced happiness. Happiness was not an ingredient in that bar. But it still lasted till the bar did. This means that the feeling of happiness was within the child, only unleashed temporarily by external means. What if we can voluntarily control that feeling? If we can decide to feel happy all the time and maintain that state, then we have achieved a kind of perfection. This could be the missing link, but I am still hesitant to declare it so for lack of a working example. I haven't been able to control my feelings to this level, and if I have to believe someone else who did, then I could equally well believe in the pudding directly. And again, happiness cannot exist without its complement. A person who does not know sadness does not know happiness either. It is possible that the state of perfect happiness with simultaneous awareness of sadness exists in the spiritual realm but that is probably not the key because it seems to be as inaccessible as anything else.

What next? At least my ventures so far haven't been total failures. Though the solution surely hasn't been found, there have been partial glimpses on the way that have boosted my confidence. Experience has added in no small measure to maturity and understanding. One of my realizations on this quest has been that it is not always necessary to be completely independent in the search. Other rational minds have most definitely had the same thoughts. With an open mind, I could ask for advice, not only from people I know now, but also from trusted minds that existed since the beginning of time.

I decide to look at rituals and tradition. Most rituals are centered on devotion to a particular God. There is a possibility here. This devotion can conceivably be perfect and unconditional. And since it relates to an abstract entity, there would be no misplaced feelings that can deter it. This sounds good, but is difficult to accept since there is this question of how real the feeling is, given that the entity to which it is directed might not exist. The problem is cyclical in the sense that we can prove the existence of this entity only if we assume that it already exists. This sets me thinking about the nature of unconditional devotion. With careful analysis and a great deal of time, effort and thought, it seems like there is a very strong and implicit relationship between devotion and love. It seems like one cannot exist without the other and that they must be different interpretations of a higher word; in some sense, two material reflections of a single spiritual concept. Does that mean that one can love another person unconditionally and perfectly? Not if that person is himself or herself imperfect. One could still love the goodness in that person, though. That is definitely possible. This translates in philosophical terms as love for the God in other beings. While the chase still goes on, this seems to be the strongest link so far to the elusive key. Training oneself to love everything without any kind of expectation could certainly be something that is perfect. This is difficult but it also seems achievable. In any case, it is reason enough to take the first step and hope that it leads us on to new possibilities.

The pudding is infinite and available to everyone. We don't necessarily have to believe someone else who has tasted it. All the above assumptions and conclusions are unquestionably scientific. It might seem like one is using a set of simple laws to generalize and get to the Absolute. While this may be overly simplistic at first sight, these arguments are surely useful in arriving at a starting point. People are lost without a rational starting point, and if science and logic need to be used to arrive at one, then so be it. If God does exist, then the least He could do is to show us a transient glimpse now and then on where to start, by placing figments called love and happiness from His world into ours. Not to mention the orange marmalade.

One of the six abodes of Lord Muruga

Murugan Temple Thirupparankundram

Thiruparankundram cave temple which is dedicated to the Lord Subramaniya, is situated at 8km south of Madurai. This is one of the six abodes of the Lord. The glory of this temple had been praised in the literary works of Sangam poet Nakkirar in his poem, Thirumurugatruppadai, which means that the temple in some form was in existence during the Third Sangam period. ..

Presiding deities of the temple are Lord Muruga and his consort Devasena or Devayani. Other deities - Shiva, Vishnu, Durga and Ganapathy - are represented as well.

Entrance in the ancient cave temple leads through a row of massive square pillars ornamented with lotus-shaped medallions.

Inside the cave temple one can see an ancient painting of Nataraja. The temple contains also 41 inscriptions revealing the early history of the temple. Before the ancient rock-cut temple there is built front part - mugha mandapam.

In the south-eastern part of Kambaththadi mandapam there exists a 30 m long tunnel. There have been a number of later additions during the Pandya reign in 8^th Century and later during the Nayak period (16^th to 18^th Century).

According to the legend, this is the place where, after slaying Surapadma, Lord Muruga takes the hand of Devasena, daughter of Indra in marriage.

In the picture above, one can see a Durgah on top of the hill and a small stream of water as there were good rains in the night before our visit to the temple on June 1^st.

A few more pictures:

PS: This is something I should have added in the main text but as an after thought, I am describing the incident here.:

When we visited the temple after a long drive from Chennai on the way to Madurai to attend a wedding, I was feeling completely worn out. To have a darshan, one has to climb a number of steps and some of them had no handrails on the side. My son, his wife and kids chose to take the longer free darshan queue, while my wife nd I took the shorter paid route. This route also has similar steps to climb. I used my wife's shoulder as support on one side and the handrails on the other side. When we came to the part which had no handrails, I found the steps also a bit steep for me and I was struggling to climb up. As if from nowhere, a dark skinned lady appeared (may be in the age group 30s.) with three lines of Vibhuti on her forehead.

Without uttering a word, she gave me support by holding my hand and helped me to climb up. Not a word was spoken. At the end of the flight of steps, she let go of my hand and walked into the crowd ahead. All I could do was to do a "Namaste" with folded hands. I could not see her anywhere in the queue or later.

Kanakasabapathi.

Final Plans

Final Plans

I thought it fit to convey something important for all persons: Planning for death. We should leave complete instruction preferably in writing to the next generation covering legal, social, religious, funeral arrangements, organ donation etc.

Legal should include getting death certificate from doctor and the municipal authorities, informing banks and pension paying authorities if any, surrender of credit cards etc.

Social includes informing all friends and relatives, insertion in newspaper if required etc.A complete list of people to be contacted with their phone numbers, email iDs and postal addresses need to be kept ready.

Religious includes last rites according to one's faith and later follow up. The priest's contact details are required to be made available.

Funeral arrangements include booking space and time at the cremation/burial ground, arranging mortuary van, ice box if needed etc.

Organ donation includes which are the organs offered for donation, the organ harvester's contact details and time limit for harvesting.

There may be a few other points which our members may feel free to add.

There is one other point which should have been got ready and updated to the latest position: Will

I am sorry I am opening a subject many people do not like to discuss but looking at the issue practically, all these are necessary. I have done this nearly two years back and have been updating the file periodically.

Added as per suggestion by Dr.PVM:
Providing access to online content: email, bank accounts, revoking online standing instructions etc.

Following comments from readers added:

Well planned preparation for final journey.

You have mentioned about will.  

I personally feel a separate statement  regarding the financial position,

including assets,debts, loans, borrowing, vehicles, donations to be made,

other commitments etc., if any ,

may be prepared to avoid unnecessary complications.

Why only to next generation ? why not to the spouse also ?

of course, every  thing  is Individual choice.

Every individual feels that he won't die, even though he know, observes and sees the the death of so many persons. 

That  feeling is correct as long as he lives. Afterwards no feelings at all.

With present technology and systems available,one can make a detailed write up on related items after death.

The suggestions are worth to take seriously.

I heard Jawaharlal Nehru wrote his first will when he was 28 years and updated every year till his death.

Very good advices n suggestions with useful information every one should keep the records update and let the family members have an easy access to the records.

Mr kanakasabapathi, it is a very apt that this topic is mandatory. Ur info isabsolutelynessary for us in this stage. I truly appreciate this subject is opened.any added info should be welcome as this is the truth of our existence.best wishes.dr Gowri Jayaram.

Add

Amounts due to be paid and amounts due to be received. FAMILY SECRETS IF ANY TO BE KEPT IN A SEALED COVER AND LEAVE TO BE OPENED ONLY AFTER DEATH. lOCKER ARRANGEMENTS THAT IS ADDING ONE KITH TO OPERATE LOCKER. AND IN FORMATION REGARDING WHERE LOCKER KEY IS KEPT. ETC

Several options are available. Sometimes will also leads to complications. Leaving everything to spouse is one way. Or distribute as much as possible while living keeping enough for yourself and then leave that to spouse. 

What else remaining to declare?

Based on a provocation from a write up in the retd officers Assn, 5 years back ,I have written out whatever is required postmortem.a copy has been sent to my son.One important thing  learnt was to indicate where all your papers are.

 When a person dies at home and had not been to a doctor for a few months, no doctor is willing to give a certificate.This delays the final process of disposal.

Another thing learnt is that in flats, one is not allowed to keep the dead at home ( even in a freezer) for a long time. 

Often one has to look for private mortuaries.

Particularly when a close relative is expected from USA at least 30-40 hours are required after D.

Death certificates from corporation at least a dozen copies.

Dora

This is a story of mine published in e-magazine "Muse India" in January 2012 issue. I am posting it here for those who may be interested and have not read it. - KSK Dora Kanakasabapathi K S 
Some gritty/fortunate souls hide their suffering behind their smiles. Isn’t it worthwhile to learn a thing or two from them? Read on to appreciate the tenderness of such situations… Ed.

My three year old granddaughter shouted ‘Dora!’ We were all attending a wedding function in Bangalore and almost everyone turned around to see her.

I did not know her real name till I was introduced to her. My little granddaughter had named her ‘Dora’ because her hairstyle resembled that of Dora, who was the girl’s favorite comics character.

But this Dora was different. She was a middle aged woman sporting a rather weird hairstyle not matching with her age. She was bubbling with enthusiasm and talked animatedly with all the guests who attended the function. She was moving about effortlessly and making friends with little ones and the elderly alike.

My wife later commented about her hairstyle and mentioned to me that because of that, she had been nicknamed ‘Dora’ by our granddaughter.

I asked my wife, “Have you not noticed that she is wearing a wig?”

“That I do not think is a wig. Maybe she has coloured her hair”, she responded. The colouring again did not suit her age.

“Did you notice the parting line? If you look at it, you will be clear that it is a wig. May be she is bald inside!” I insisted. It was not my normal practice to comment about women's appearances but this was a glaring exception.

I noticed an older person sitting quietly in a corner. ‘Dora’ would occasionally go to him, spend some time, then move back to meet others.

In course of time, a common friend introduced her to me along with the older person sitting in the corner. It turned out that he was her husband. What a contrast between the quiet husband and the hyperactive wife!

I tried to engage him in a conversation. It took some time to break the ice. However slowly, he opened up.

He had been working in the USA in the field of health care and had retired just a few months back. This was his first visit to India after retirement. The couple who had become American citizens had just a daughter who was about to enter university. The daughter, who looked totally Americanized, was also moving around with the mother.

The girl was learning classical music and was keen to exhibit her talents. She was to give a sort of impromptu performance later after the wedding function.

Since I personally knew only a few people in the gathering, I stuck to this new acquaintance. Our conversation drifted from topic to topic, covering Indian politics, American economy and so on. Finally, we came to the inevitable personal information.

His wife was a doctor, specialized in cancer treatment and was working in one of the famous hospitals in America. She had a traditional South Indian name Sneha. I wondered “What a beautiful and apt name for such a friendly person!”

Our talk continued. Sneha's husband Parasuram slowly opened up. I was asking him what made them stay in America when things had gone from bad to worse. As a doctor specialized in cancer treatment, she could easily find a good job here. Even he could think of a second career in the field of his expertise.

Parasuram was hesitating before he tried to answer. He started with, “It is a story of struggle. May be it will not interest you.”

I was wondering how to respond to this. It was up to him to narrate the story or keep it to himself. I had no business to intrude into their private affairs.

However, he started again with, “Did you notice anything odd with my wife?”

Again it was an embarrassing matter for me. What right did I have to comment on a stranger, that too of the opposite sex? I just remained silent.

He did not leave it there. Now that he had started, he was prepared to go through with it.

He said, “You must have noticed her wig?”

Again this was an awkward moment for me. I thought it better to remain silent. Now I knew he would come out with the rest of the story by himself.

He said. “She had lost all her hair!” I wondered what could have caused this and how this could affect their return to India.

She is suffering from a rare form cancer. She opted to go through chemotherapy and in the process, all her hair is gone.

I was shocked. Here was a person so full of life. What a sad past was hiding behind that friendly smiling face?

“The cancer has spread in spite of the treatment. You know it spreads silently. Now her days are numbered.”

“Is she fully aware of this?” I could not control myself.

“It is her line of specialty. How could she not know it?”

“You said she works in a hospital. Is she continuing after all this?” 

“That is the reason we are still in the USA. The hospital takes care of her medical bills. Her medical insurance is effective as long as she works. And the insurance covers me also. She wants to continue the protection for the family as long as possible. We shall continue in the USA as long she works and gets treatment.”

I had no words. Here was a woman so brave that she was able to hide all the sorrow and move around like a friend even among strangers.

We left after some time with silent acknowledgement of Parasuram's worries. When we took leave of Sneha, I could not detect even a trace of sadness or depression.

In a few days we literally forgot “Dora”, but were jolted one day by the news that she was closer to her end, being bed ridden. The inevitable finally happened and the news came to us through grapevine. I heard that she remained bubbling with life till the last moments. I sat in prayer for a few minutes for the courageous soul to rest in peace.

On the day I received the sad news, I did not know that the same demon within was active inside me as well. In a couple of days, my test reports confirmed it. The saga of Dora has given me courage, lifted my morale up and given me the strength to fight and I will.

Skandan's Poem

Another Poem By Skandan

Dr.V. Balambal's Paper presented in Malaysia

Murukan, The Protector and Healer

Prof. Mrs. V. Balambal 

[Professor Balalmbal is president of Probus Club of Chennai and a close friend of our web group. I met her in 2011 during my visit to Shiva Vishnu temple T Nagar, Chennai (Courtesy Mr. M.S. Srinivasan of Pune).  She has published 5 books & 175 research papers. Travelled 26 countries. Produced 12 Ph.Ds & 60 M.Phils.Presented papers & chaired sessions in International conferences on Muruga at Chennai, Mauritius, Malaysia (2 times) at Batu caves & KL.She is highly educated and an unassumingly simple lady. I received this research paper from Mr. Srinivasan which I am sharing with you all with the graceful permission of Dr. Balambal. I am thankful to her for this gesture. - Kanakasabapathi]

Indian life is interwoven with religion. The Hindu pantheon is filled with innumerable gods and goddesses and various modes of worship are followed. The major Trinity consists of Brahma, Siva and Vishnu. Their consorts Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati are given higher status. Ganesa also known as Pillaiyar, Ganapati, Vinayaka or Vigneswara is the elder son of Siva and Parvati and an affectionate brother of Murukan, the favourite god of the Tamils. Other than the major deities, several minor deities are also in vogue.

Though Hinduism is a way of life as stated by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, a deeper study of Hinduism with its subdivisions clearly proves that it is more than that. Toleration could be seen in this religion making it easily approachable to people. It has been the practice from Vedic times to invoke the deities by performing rituals and sacrifices, singing in praise of them, and conducting festivals too. Everyone has the right to have devotion to his/her favourite god.

Murukan has been worshipped from the Cankam age. In Cankam literature, he is referred to as Seyon, Azhakan, Korravaiselvan, Kumaran, Velan, Marukan, etc. Tirumurukarruppadai, one of the Ten Idylls (Pattuppattu) written by Nakkirar, gives a detailed account of the six abodes of Murukan and his heroic deeds too. There are many references to Murukan in other Cankam literary works. Though much reference to Murukan is not available in Vedic literature, he is known from puranas, and other works as Karttikeya, Subramania, Skanda, etc. He married Devasena and Valli from two different classes: Devasena, the daughter of Indra, the head of the Devas, and Valli, the adopted daughter of the hunter chief. He was the Lord of the Kurinci region (hilly tracts) and as such most of his temples are found on the hills. He is seen with spear in his hand. His mount (vahana) and flag are peacock and cock respectively. He is the embodiment of beauty and valour. He was Tamil Kadavul (Lord of Tamil). He is said to have taught Tamil to Agastya. Murukan's beauty and youth purify the hearts and eliminate sickness and ill health from the devotees. Above all, Skanda's grace brings eternal bliss and everlasting peace.

There are many sources to say that Murukan is a great protector of body and soul of his devotees. He is an amazing healer of mental, physical, emotional and psychological diseases of his devotees. Some turned to be his followers after being tested by him or after receiving his grace. Every part of the body is protected by him and every disease could be well treated by him if one has sincere faith in him. Innumerable religious literature such as Subramania Bhujankam (SB) by Adi Sankara, Devaraya Swamikal's Kandasasti kavacam (ksk), Pamban Swamikal's Shanmukakavacam (SK), Arunagirinathar's Tiruppukazh, Kantaralankaram, Kantaranuputi, and other works. Nakkirar's Tirumurukarruppatai, Kumarakuruparar's Muttukumarasami Pillaittamizh, etc., describe the greatness of the Lord.

The birth of Murukan itself was to protect Indra and other devas from the clutches of the Asura Surapadma. When the devas requested Siva to redeem them from the demon ruler, six sparks came out of the powerful eye of Siva who gave the sparks to Vayu who in turn handed over to Agni. The fire god left the sparks in Ganges who brought the same to the holy Saravana tank (Saravana poikai). Then the six sparks turned to be six children and were brought up by the six Karttikai pendir. Parvati came there and united all the six into one with six faces, twelve hands and twelve eyes in one body calling him Arumuka. When he grew up as a mighty person, with the grace of his parents and sakti vel, Murukan fought with the Asuras and defeated them. This shows how the Lord protected even the powerful Devas from their distress. Gracing the enemies too was a common thing for Murukan. At the end, when Surapadman surrendered to him he gave permanent protection to the demon king by having one part of him as his mount and the other as his flag (peacock and cock). He healed the wounds of the Devas as they were humiliated by the asuras. All the five elements of nature (earth, vayu, fire, water and space) are associated with him from the time of his birth. All the actions of Murukan are obstacle free as he is the favourite of Lord Vignesvara, his elder brother.

Importance of religion in human life could be well understood from bhakti literature. Adi Sankara, ?r?Devaraya Swamikal, Pamban Swamikal and Arunagirinathar narrate in various ways in their hymns their experiences with the Lord and recommend his grace to devotees. By showing sincere devotion to Murukan, one could achieve both material and spiritual bliss. When we call the Lord as the protector and healer, it does not mean physical protection and healing of physical illness alone. There is need for mental and spiritual protection too which is given by Murukan abundantly to his faithful devotees. It is interesting to note that the Lord tests devotees and saves the non-devotees too making them surrender totally to him. Devarayar, Pamban Swamikal, Arunagirinathar, Adi Sankara, Ramalinga Adikal and others narrate in detail how Murukan safeguards and heals his devotees in various ways.

Kantasashti Kavacham is not only a devotional literature but a divine gift to Murukan devotees. Devarayar starts his KSK describing the divine beauty of Murukan. This Bhakti literature deals with not only spiritual aspect but also the physical, material and emotional aspects of human life. KSK details the anatomy of human body, various diseases affecting the body, the supernatural elements troubling the body and mind and at last explains the ways and means of getting relief from these physical, mental and spiritual ailments. Simple remedy according to Devarayar and Pamban Swamikal is total surrender to Murukan who is the redeemer. Faith in Murukan brings forth good things to and destroys evils against the devotees.

The favourite weapon of Skanda is the spear. It is used by the Lord not only to destroy the enemies and evildoers but also to protect his devotees from various obstacles and opponents. The poet-devotees mention azhakuvel, punitavel, nalvel, munaivel, peruvel, sevvel, katirvel, iniyavel, ratnavel, tiruvel, vativel, arulvel, paruvel, vetrivel, ayilvel, ayilvel, valvel, arulvel, karunaivel, ethirvel, kanakavel, vajravel, anaiyavel, ethirvel, caturvel etc which protect all parts of the human body (KSK. ll. 71-109). Head, face, forehead, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, cheeks, tongue, thirty two teeth, neck, chest, breast, back neck, back, sixteen ribs, stomach, hip, womb, buttocks, anus, thighs, knees, ankles, feet, toes, hands, arms, naval, veins, genitals, etc. It is interesting to note that Devarayar does not omit any part of the human body to be protected by the Lord. Each part is prone for some disease and by pure devotion one could win the attention of Kumaran who would protect his devotee from any danger.

Murukan, the symbol of valour, grace, strength, power, knowledge, and beauty, does wonders to protect the body and soul of his followers. The devotees need his protection during day and night as they do not know when or by whom they would be affected. If one is to be protected by the Lord, he should get the grace of the Omnipotent in various ways. Those are: chanting the different names of the Lord; performing rituals, abhisekam, dance and music to please the Almighty; conducting festivals etc. With his twelve eyes he would grace his devotees; with his twelve hands he is there to protect them and destroy the evil-doers.

People believe in good and bad spirits and ghosts. These are used by wicked people to cause good and bad effects. Devarayar believes that his strong faith in Murukan would safeguard him from the evil effects of the powerful spirits, child eating ghosts, demons, women-chasing ghosts, Irisi, Katteri, Karuppu, and various other evil spirits causing damage to life and prosperity. The Lord will protect the devotee by binding and rolling these bad elements to destruction. These evil spirits would be put into all sorts of sufferings by the grace of Murukan and the devotee would be protected from all dangers. (ll. 104-146)

In this decaying world, people are harmed by wild animals and various poisonous insects. Skanda's grace would protect the devotee from them too. Devarayar narrates it beautifully in KSK. He has included almost all living beings in his list in this context. Wild and trouble causing Tiger, wolf, fox, rat, bear, would be made to runaway from the devotee by the Lord. Even if he was bitten by the most poisonous scorpion, snake etc. the Lord protects him from the effects of poison. (ll. 150-154).

Health is wealth. It is essential to have a sound mind in a sound body. Every part of the human body is affected by some disease. Devarayar mentions different types of physical ailments like severe headache, bile, vomiting, fatigue, tuberculosis, itches, skin diseases, boils, abscess, tumours, toothache, neurotic problems which would be healed by the grace of Murukan. Devarayar was confident that these diseases would vanish as soon as they hear the name of Lord's devotee; even if affected, he would be cured by the Lord. (ll. 154-164). What is to be understood in this context is that the devotee could take any liberty with the Lord to ask for his grace to protect him from all sorts of dangers, eventualities, sickness of the body and mind.

Pamban Swamikal, another great devotee of Murukan has expressed in his Shanmuka kavacam not only his devotion but also the greatness of the Lord in all spheres. After great ordeals he realized the greatness of Kumaran. He met with an accident at Chennai in 1923 and his leg bone was severely broken. Even when the doctors themselves lost hope, the great Protector appeared before him in the form of two peacocks and touched his leg and cured him. The doctors were wonder struck at his recovery. He had the vision of Bala Murukan who touched his broken leg with his powerful spear.

This miraculous healing of Murukan enabled Pamban Adikal to sing the Shanmuka kavacam, which similar to the KSK of Devarayar, praises the Lord, describes his beauty, expresses firm belief in the Lord who would come to the rescue of his devotee in times of distress and protects and heals him in all possible ways. He also describes various ailments, enemies, attacks, opponents, physical and mental ailments affecting human beings and how one could be protected and healed by the grace of the Lord. What is needed is unconditional surrender and devotion which even make the devotee to command the Lord for help.

Vallimalai Swamikal experienced the ultimate bliss as a devotee of Skanda. He suffered due to severe stomach pain caused by his job as the cook in the Mysore palace. But his faith in Murukan drove him to Palani where he offered his sincere prayers. His total surrender to the god healed him from the disease. As he took his permanent abode at Vallimalai, he was known as Vallimalai Swamikal. He is said to have performed miracles with the divine grace of the Lord. Whenever he sang Arunagirinathar's Tiruppukazh, he felt the presence of Murukan in the form of a dancing peacock. (Padmanabhan. N., Six Abodes of Arumuka, p. 18, 1997, Chennai).

Balasubramaniam was a deaf and blind son of a couple devoted to the Lord of Palani. The parents came to Palani and pleaded to Palaniyandi to cure their child. The Lord is said to have applied the sacred ashes and blessed him with sight and speech. The child became a great poet and sang the sthalapurana of Palani. (Ibid. p. 128) Similarly Murukan cured Mambazhakavi when he was affected by smallpox. These instances clearly show the love and care the Lord had for his devotees.

Velan showed great concern for Kumarakurubarar who was born dumb. His parents brought him at the age of five to Tiruccentur and started their penance to the god for the recovery of their son. Murukan appeared at night before the boy and wrote in his tongue with his spear. Immediately, to every body's surprise Kantarkali Venba was sung by the dumb boy. The Lord listened to the sincere prayers of the parents and healed the boy of his dumbness and protected him. The sacred hymn gives a detailed account of the beauty, valour, achievements, the six abodes of the Lord, and how he would be able to safeguard the devotees from physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual ailments. Achieving the ultimate bliss is the aim and desire of the devotee. He has narrated in his Muttukumarasami Pillaittamizh the beauty of child Murukan at Vaitisvarankoil in Tancavur district.

When Nakkirar and nine hundred and ninety nine poets were imprisoned and were about to be eaten by Karmuki, the ghost, the poet sang Tirumurukarruppatai in praise of Lord Murukan, the latter rescued all the one thousand poets after killing the ghost. Thus he saved the learned people as he was moved by the devotion of Nakkirar (Pakazhikkuthar, Tiruccentur Pillaittamizh). Another sage protected by Murukan was Cikanti. He was also a great devotee. When he went to Katirkama, he was chased by a fierce elephant. But Cikanti plucked the stem of a betel leaf and praying to Murukan, threw it on the attacking elephant (Muttukumaran. P.L. Murukan Arul Celvam, p. 574). To everybody's surprise, the stem turned to be the powerful spear of Murukan and killed the elephant. A sincere devotee was protected by his Lord from destruction.

There are many references to Avvaiyar's relationship with Murukan. When he tested her mental strength, she fell prey to him due to her ignorance which is also a disease to be cured. Murukan, in the form of a shepherd boy healed her ignorance by making her understand what he meant by hot fruit (cutta pazham). Avvaiyar was in a state of ‘maya' and Lord Murukan brought her to light. Even the wisest Avvaiyar was to be mentally protected and healed by the Lord. (Tiruppukazh, 441).

Pride is another disease of the mankind. It ruins relationship and progress. Murukan is the healer in this aspect too. Poyyamozhi, a great Tamil poet who has authored Tancaivanankovai was a Siva bhakta and refused to sing on any other god, especially Murukan, stating that he would sing on cock (Siva), not on chicken (Murukan). Pride associated with ignorance is a big disease. The Lord wanted to protect him and heal him, though he was not his devotee. He took the form of a hunter and chased the poet. When the latter pleaded for relief, the hunter asked him to sing on him. The poet asked for his name. The hunter said it as egg (muttai). To safeguard himself from the fierce hunter, Poyyamozhi sang in praise of muttai. Immediately the hunter asked him why he sang on egg when he did not even want to sing on the chicken. The poet realized that the hunter was Murukan himself and he repented for his pride and ignorance. God relieved him of the same. (Tiruppukazh)

Adi Sankara was a great Advaitin. He sang in praise of Siva, Vishnu, Sakti and Skanta. Subrahmanya Bhujangam of Sankara speaks of his experiences with Murukan at Tiruccentur. There was some purpose in his visit. When Sankara was propagating Advaita, he had to face the opposition of Abinava Gupta who caused Sankara a chronic disease. Sankara suffered a lot. Siva came in his dream and instructed him to go to Jayantipuram (Tiruccentur) and worship Murukan.

Immediately Sankara set out for Tiruccentur and offered his prayers to the Lord. He was able to see Adisesha worshipping Murukan in the sanctum. He sang the Subramania Bhujankam and was cured of his disease. He describes the inner and outer beauty of Murukan and how each part of the Lord's body was capable of protecting the devotees and destroying the enemies. As a devotee of Murukan, he had the strong hope that even when the assistants of Yama, the God of Death arrived in front of him, Skanda would appear and protect him by driving them away. Even diseases such as leprosy, fits, tuberculosis, madness, high fever, stomach pain and the evil spirits would disappear by seeing the sacred ashes of the Lord (verse. 25). If any damage is caused by an animal or disease, the mighty spear of Shanmuka would ruin them. The beautiful and meaningful verses of Sankara were the base for the later Kantasasti kavacam and Shanmuka kavacam in which the authors describe the beauty of Murukan, expecting the Lord's protection from illness and evil spirits with the mighty spear of various names (verse. 29). Sankara who is said to have performed miracles sought the protection of Lord Murukan from his enemies, diseases and death.

Arunagirinathar, the author of Tiruppukazh, was a pleasure seeking man in his early life. He repented for his sins and tried to commit suicide as he could not be cured of his disease. Then came the Protector, Lord Murukan. Arunagiri was not even a Murukan devotee. Perhaps the Lord knew that he would turn to be a staunch bhakta.


He saved Arunagiri from death and changed the whole way of his life. He gave him sacred ashes and later the japa mala (rosary) which changed the course of his life. Arunagiri was not only cured of his physical illness but also of his ignorance and the protection and healing of body and mind he got from the Lord got him a permanent place in the history of Murukan worship. Murukan exposed the talents of Arunagiri by giving the first line of Tiruppukazh, ‘Muttai tiru' which became the beginning of endless compositions of the devotee.

Murukan does not stop with physical and mental protection and healing of the devotees. He gave intellectual protection too. It is known from the life of Arunagirinathar. Sambantandan, a staunch devotee of Kali was jealous of Arunagiri and challenged him to show Murukan as he was capable of inviting and presenting his goddess Kali to Arunagirinathar. With great faith in the Lord Arunagiri sang the Tiruppukazh, 'Atala cetanarata' and the Lord appeared before him and snubbed the headstrong opponent. The king of the region punished the haughty Sambantandan and honoured Arunagirinathar. He was once again protected by Murukan when Villiputhur Azhwar had a verbal battle with him at Tiruccentur. The Azhwar had the practice of cutting the ear of the defeated person. But in his dual with Arunagiri, Azhwar lost and as a fair person tried to cut his own ear. But Arunagirinathar stopped him from that act and requested him not to continue that crude practice. His protection by the merciful Lord made him merciful even to his own challengers. In many Tiruppukazh he seeks safeguard from worldly pleasures which ruin ones body and soul; requests the Lord to redeem him from various pressures and destructions; realizes the ultimate abode is the lotus feet of the Lord. Kumara's feet, anklets, twelve shoulders and the kadamba garland would definitely save him from bad omens, bad planets, and the god of Death. Arunagirinathar's sacred hymns narrate all aspects of worldly and spiritual life and explain what the ultimate bliss is.
Gunasilar, a great devotee of Murukan was challenged by an arrogant scholar named Prativati Bhayankaran who wanted to boast himself before the docile Gunasilar. Very proudly he started singing about the Nagacalam (‘snake hill') questioning why the snake mound failed to dance opening its hoods. But he could not proceed further because of his arrogance. Murukan came in the form of a shepherd boy and completed the verse by singing that it was due to the fear of being killed by the peacock, the favourite mount of the Lord.

Pritivati was astounded by the verse uttered by the shepherd boy and asked him who he was. The boy replied that he wanted to learn Tamil from Gunasilar, but the latter was unwilling to teach him. So the boy decided to be his shepherd and he was able to complete the verse with his listening knowledge. Pritivati apologized to Gunasilar for his arrogance and incapability. It was understood that the shepherd was none other than Lord Murukan himself who came to protect his devotee. (P.L. Muttukrishnan, pp 579-580). Gunasilar realized that the presence of Murukan was to protect him from the humiliation planned by the arrogant scholar. The Lord appeared at the right time to save his devotee from the wrong person.

Venrimalai, a faithful devotee of Murukan and an illiterate, served in the temple kitchen at Tiruccentur. The temple authorities humiliated and punished him severely for his small mistake. He decided to commit suicide and jumped in to the sea after praying to the Lord. Murukan saved him from death and turned the illiterate into a great poet who sang the Tiruccentur Sthala Puranam. When he wanted to publicize his writing in the presence of scholars, he was disrespected by his opponents. As nobody supported him, he felt dejected and threw the sthalapuranam into the sea. It reached the shores of Yazhppanam and was saved by a devotee. After some time when the whole region was seriously affected by a virus disease, the place where the sacred palm leaves were kept alone remained unaffected. People were amazed without knowing the reason. Murukan came in the dream of the local people and revealed the secret. The holy text became the common treasure of the people who started reciting it every day. This incident shows the grace of the Lord to his devotee and how he protected him and his composition and popularized it. (P.L. Muthukumaran, p. 62)

Kacciappar pronounced amidst scholars his immortalized Kantapuranam for which the initial verse was given by Murukan himself. His opponents found mistake in it and questioned Kacciappar. To protect his devotee, Murukan himself appeared before the scholars and nullified their view by giving proper explanation. This shows the interest of the Lord in protecting the dignity of Kacciappar.

Some times even the Vaishnavites showed interest in Murukan worship. When Pakazhikuttar, a Vaishnavite had severe stomach ache, Vadivelan came in his dream and told him to sing Pillaittamizh (songs in praise of the Lord's early childhood) on him. Pakazhikuttar heeded to the command of Kumaran and sang Tiruccentur Pillaittamizh describing the childhood activities of the Lord who healed him of his disease and protected him. This hymn is being sung along with Tiruppukazh everyday in the Tiruccentur temple after all the daily rituals are over.

Ramalinga Atikal also known as Vallalar was a great devotee of Shanmuka. Though he was not interested in his studies, to satisfy his brother's wife's request, he planned to study at home. Murukan became his teacher and he in turn transformed himself a great preacher and teacher to the world. Vallalar's Tiruvarutpa (Prartana malai) speaks about the tremendous changes that had taken place in his life when he had Murukan as his Gnanaguru. He realized the need for the grace of the Lord for protection from various vices and for showing the path of goodness.

Through his Tiruvarutpa he seeks the helping hand of the Lord to get the friendship of the virtuous people; to speak truth; to be without arrogance; not to have lust for women; to attain good knowledge; to have the grace of Murukan; to live without any disease; not to be greedy; to donate others as much as possible; to speak good words to all; to be relieved of physical and mental strains; to end the sufferings and humiliations etc. All these would be possible to a devotee if he is able to grace of the Lord. Universal brotherhood is explained in Vallalar's Samarasa sanmarkam.

There are innumerable instances to show the greatness of Murukan. He is omnipotent and unassailable. Even Adi Sankara insists in his Subrahmanya Bhujangam. Everyone should worship Shanmuka along with his family members as the primary god so that all could get protection of the Lord. In this world of uncertainty, terrorism, tyranny, non-cooperation, backbiting, mudslinging, lack of human values, selfishness, jealousy, unfaith, cheating etc, the grace of the Lord alone would come to our aid to protect ourselves from all dangers, ailments, and oppositions. History has proved that Murukan comes down to the level of the commoners to protect and redeem his devotees from every thing. Unquestionable surrender to the Lord would be the tool with which a devotee could have the Lord as his Protector and Healer. Chanting of the six letter word (Saravanahbava) would enable the devotees to attain eternal bliss.

References
Primary Sources
1. 1. Adi Sankarar, Sri Subramania Bhujankam
2. 2. Arunagirinathar, Tiruppukazh
3. 3. _____________, Kantaralankaram
4. 4. _____________, Kantarantati
5. 5. Devaraya Swamikal, Kanta sasti kavacam
6. 6. Kacciyappa Sivaccariyar, Kanta purananam
7. 7. Kumarakuruparar, MuthukumarasamiPillaittamizh
8. 8. Nakkirar, Tirumurukarruppatai
9. 9. Pamban Swamikal, Shanmuka Kavacam
10. 10. Venrimalai Kavirayar, Tiruccentur Stalapuranam


Published Works
1. 1. Basham, A. L. The Wonder that was India
2. 2. Krishnan, Nagarkoil Tirumurukan Tiruttalankal
3. 3. Muthukumaran. P. L., Murukan Arutccelvam
4. 4. Padmanabhan. N., Six Abodes of Arumukan
5. 5. Pillay, K. K. Social History of the Tamils
6. 6. Subramanian. N. Sangam Polity
7. 7. ___________, History of Tamilnadu
8. 8. Zvelebil, Kamil, Tamil Traditions on Subramanya-Murugan



The Author:
Dr. Mrs. V. Balambal is retired Professor of History, University of Madras. She has published four books and some sixty research articles on the social, religious and cultural history of Tamil Nadu.
Prof. Dr. Mrs. V. Balambal, M.A., B.T., Ph.D., F.R.A.S. (London)
159, 94th Street, 15th Sector
KK Nagar Chennai -600 078 India

E-mail: drbala50@hotmail.com

"Facets of Murukan" by Prof. Dr. Mrs. V. Balambal "Sacred Trees in Murukan Temples" by Prof. Dr. Mrs. V. Balambal Index of research articles from International Conferences on Skanda-Murukan

Eye Specialists

My Experience With Eye Specialists

This happened over twenty years back. My eyesight which was normal till then was getting worse. The power had gone up to minus 5.5 and without glasses in a couple of years and it was difficult for me to recognize a person about ten feet away. My eye doctor had no idea why the power was deteriorating. I decided to have a check up at one of the best eye hospitals in the city. But there was a long waiting list and I was asked to go to their rural centre for a check up. One Dr. G checked my eyes. He asked if I was seeing any black spots. I replied in the negative. He asked me to wait for one year and have a check up. If I saw any black spot, I may go for an immediate check up. I waited for one year and went for another check up. The doctor spent the best part of 2 hours checking my eyes. Drops for dilating had been literally poured into both eyes. With the dilated pupils and bright lights at the examination table, I found it very difficult to open my eyes.

Finally he said that there was some problem and I needed to be examined by Dr. K, a retina specialist at their main hospital. He also got me an appointment for this one afternoon. I came out with both eyes closed as I could not withstand the glare of sunlight.

Two days later, I was at the hospital with my wife at the appointed time. We were made to wait and eye drops were applied regularly. Over two hours passed. Still I was not being called. I was having headache and wanted some coffee. We rushed to the canteen in the basement, gulped some coffee and returned to the seat in a hurry not to miss when called by the doctor. Unfortunately, he had called my name when we were in the canteen. I entered the retina specialist's room with my wife.

He checked my eyes and said I could go. I asked him what was the problem with my eyes. He responded in a strange manner. He said. "Don't tell me you do not know. It is in the file." I was shocked and asked, "How do I know what is in the file? The file is with you." Then he came out with a statement that it was a case of degeneration of the retina. I asked him what should be done about it. He responded with a single syllable, "Nothing."

I realized that I was getting nowhere with him and walked out of the hospital seething in anger. Later I met my friend Dr. N, an eye specialist I knew from my Railway service days. He said degeneration of retina is something common due to age (I was around 52 years of age) and there was no cure. I was not satisfied.

When I met an old friend a few days later, I was describing my experience with the retina specialist. His sister's daughter suggested to him that I could meet Dr. M, who was her friend’s  husband. He was practicing at a place close to my house.

Dr. M is the son of another eye specialist. His wife is also an eye specialist. They were practicing from the first floor of their house. He examined me in detail. I explained the previous history. When I told him that the retina specialist had said nothing can be done, he repeatedly asked me if I was sure. I confirmed that was the opinion of the doctor. Dr. M told me that degeneration of retina can be arrested by cryogenic treatment. It would be painful and can be done immediately. It would cost me Rs.200 and if I was willing, he would treat me right away. I agreed. The treatment lasted just about ten minutes and the pain was manageable.

Dr. M also said that the reason for my eyesight deterioration was a peculiar form of cataract. This type of cataract developed fast resulting in quick power changes. However, I could wait for about a year for getting operated. I went back to him after one year. He said the eyes were ready for operation, but he was going to England for microsurgery training. He could operate me and then go or I might wait for three months for him to return. I was not sure I could face any emergencies if he was not available and hence decided to wait for his return,

He came back by October end and fixed November 3 as the date for the first operation of the left eye. He was doing the operations in a Nursing Home close to our house. I was to get admitted the previous evening. The operation would be the first thing in the morning at 6 am. On the day of admission, I had developed severe cough and was taking some antibiotics. I phoned up the doctor to ask him for advice. He asked me to admit myself. he would bring an ENT specialist to examine me.

My wife and I went to the hospital in the evening of November 2. The doctors examined me and said I was fit for the operation. Since I had been taking antibiotics, there was no risk according to them. The surgery was a smooth affair and the second eye was operated within two weeks.

Later the retina problem had to be attended with laser treatment by Dr. M and my eyesight has remained normal over the years. Dr. M has grown tremendously in his practice. However any patient who visits his hospital will return completely happy about the treatment not only by the doctor but by everyone of the staff as well.

I am writing this to show the readers how some doctors behave with patients in site of being experts in their fields, while there are doctors who consider every patient as someone to care for.

P.S. For obvious reasons I have not mentioned the real names of the doctors.

Palakkad Tourism

Tourist Attractions of Palakkad

For those interested to know about the tourist attractions in Palakkad in Kerala state, I have compiled information from various sources and personal visits:

Palakkad is the granary of Kerala because of abundance of rice fields throughout the district. The town of Palakkad is approachable from the Railhead Palakkad Junction and Palakkad Town. Palakkad is also an entryway to Kerala from the eastern side of the Western Ghats. Palakkad beckons a traveler to revel in its opulent natural delights. Being at the border with Tamil Nadu, the culture here is a rich mix of both lands. 

A Typical Palakkad Landscape

Places To See 

Palakkad Fort: This strategic fort was built by Hyder Ali, the Sultan of Mysore, in 1766 AD. This fort, a witness to the history of Mysore invasions in Kerala and the advent of British rule, survives in its original glory and grandeur. This fort was in and out of control of the British and Mysore sultans till 1790 AD; when it was used by the British as a base for the final battle of Srirangapatnam which paved way for the complete annihilation of the Mysore Sultanate. The fort was renovated by the British in the European style with thick stone walls and strong bastions. The Fort offers panoramic views of the town of Palakkad. The Fort is currently a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. 

Palakkad Fort

Hanuman Temple in Fort

Malampuzha Dam and Gardens: Placid waters shimmering in golden sunlight, velvet green lawns, endless flower beds gently swaying in the cool breeze, magnificent mountains towering in the backdrop, sweet fragrance of roses in the air. These are just some of the snapshots that greet you in Natures own Malampuzha. Often referred as the Brindavan of Kerala, Malampuzha epitomizes a picture perfect scenic paradise. This exemplary display of natural splendor is a must see to revel in the myriad bounties of Mother Nature. 

The dam, built across river Bharatapuzha, has a vast catchment area flanked by beautifully landscaped gardens and beautiful scenery. The sparkling waters and gardens could be best enjoyed by taking boat rides through the reservoir. There is an aquarium, snake park, toy train, Japanese garden, ropeway, telescopic tower, thread garden, amusement park and rock garden located inside the main garden. 

Malampuzha Dam

Malampuzha Another View

Nelliyampathy: This hilly paradise at a distance of 52 km from Palakkad is well renowned for its tea gardens, cardamom plantations, orange orchards, sparkling silver waterfalls and dense forests. Situated on the Western Ghats High Ranges, Nelliyampathy offers dashing views of the plains, cliffs, valleys, rivers and the forests around. Its breathtaking natural opulence and salubrious climate draws hoards of visitors to enjoy this hill station. 

The waterfall at Seethakundu, tangerine orchards scattered around the landscape and fascinating jungles make Nelliyampathy an ideal spot for enjoying a quite vacation in the midst of natures abounding glory. For adventure lovers Nelliyampathy is an ideal spot for trekking. The hill ranges vary from a height of 467 meters to 1572 meters. 

Nelliyampathy

Silent Valley National Park: The Silent valley biosphere sprawls to a fascinating 90 sq. km area. It is acclaimed to be the only remaining evergreen forest in the Western Ghats This tropical forest still remains pristine primarily because of its remoteness and inaccessibility. Every year researchers identify new species of plants and birds in this untamed wilderness. The rolling mountains and verdant valleys crisscrossed with sparkling silver rivulets gurgling through the rocky terrains offer an ideal setting to enjoy nature in all its pristine glory. 

This paradise with undulating mountains and lush greenery is also an ideal place to spot some of the most rare and endangered animals and birds. The region is home to the rare Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Tigers, Leopards, Indian Bison, Elephants, Bears, Squirrels and a wide variety of deer. The breathtaking panoramic views of the valleys with silver cascades and perennial wild rivulets will stay etched in the minds of a visitor forever. 

Silent Valley - A View

Attappady: Some treasured moments, a true tribal experience, is what Attappady has in stock for a tourist. The three villages of Agaly, Sholayur and Puthur are located inside the remote jungles of Silent Valley National Park, at a distance of about 50 km from Palakkad. These small tribal hamlets nestled in the picturesque Western Ghats are one of the few areas still frozen in the olden times. 

The natural beauty of these small hamlets is further enhanced by the many frothy brooks that crisscross the mountainous terrains. This is where one can truly experience the tribal lifestyle untouched by urban developments. The inhabitants of the area make their livelihood by hunting and gathering honey, fruits and herbs from the dense forests around, pretty much the same way their ancestors have done from times immemorial. 

Attappady

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary: This sanctuary nestled in the tropical wilderness and spread over a 285 sq. km area, is a haven for many species of wild animals, reptiles and birds. Several wild rivulets gushing down the mountainous terrains and sandalwood and rosewood growing in profusion sets a picture perfect stage to revel in the many wonders of nature. The sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats in between the Nelliyampathy mountain range and the Nilgiris mountain range. 

The dense forests are sparsely populated with just a couple of tribal hamlets scattered across the wilderness. The prime attraction here is the 360 year old teak tree - the oldest and largest teak tree in the world. The park is home to Indian bison, crocodiles, tigers, leopards, sloth bears, snakes, deer and birds. The park is said to be an Ornithologists delight with a wide variety of birds in the region. The Western Ghats is one of the World’s 34 Acclaimed Bio Diversity Hotspots, which makes it a must visit destination to make your Kerala experience a truly complete one. The sanctuary is at a distance of 125 km from Palakkad town. 

Parambikulam

Dhoni Reserve Forests: This reserve forest is located at a distance of 15 km from Palakkad. There is a beautiful waterfall on top of the Dhoni hills, which could be reached by a three hour long trek from the bottom of the hills. Dhoni is a lush green tropical paradise elaborately draped in a splendid green carpet, guaranteed to hold you captivated in its rich natural beauty. Trekking is the best way to explore the splendor of this hilly terrain. Dhoni is famous for its farmhouse with exotic rare breeds of cattle. 

Dhoni Waterfalls

Kavassery Temple: This is our family shrine. The presiding deity is Parakkattu Bhagavathy. The village of Kavassery is near Alathur in Palakkad District. The temple conducts Pooram Festival one month before Thrissur Pooram and this festival is considered second only to the grandeur of Thrissur Pooram. This year the festival date falls on March 24.

Kavassery Pooram

Kavassery Temple