Chapter
1
Somehow, I reached outskirts
of Courtalam. I left my place with just one rupee in my pocket and I could
hardly afford to use up this treasure. The travel on foot and hitchhike took
several days. I relied on a number of tricks to survive on the way.
It was the year 1945, or so.
Barring a few rich zamindars who
owned cars, people used bullock carts and horse carriages for commuting. The
motorized vehicles that crisscrossed in many towns and villages mostly belonged
to the British and their army. The country was up in arms against the British
rule. Even while Gandhiji spearheaded Satyagraha,
a silent, non-violent, non-cooperation movement, there was widespread violence
against the Whites everywhere. Religious division was rearing its nasty head all
over and there was a complete breakdown of trust between Muslims and Hindus.
The Second World War was coming to an end. The British seemed to be veering
round to a view that it would be impossible to continue to deny freedom to our
country and rather, it would be a burden to them if they stayed on here longer.
News about serious negotiations for independence was up in the air. News and
rumors spread by word of mouth. Confusion prevailed among people as to what to
believe and what not to. People gathered in street corners discussing,
debating, questioning, arguing and many times fighting among themselves over the
pros and cons of freedom and independence. Many had doubts in mind about a free
India, though the overall mood was in favor of independence. Whether everyone
genuinely believed in having independence or not there was a clamor for it
everywhere. People’s expectations about life after freedom was running high,
though there was no dearth of skeptics.
Stopping at several places,
listening to a number of public speeches at street corners, staying in stone 'mandaps' (open stone halls) for the
nights, filling my stomach eating whatever was distributed as 'prasad ' in small temples, I managed to
reach Shencottai, a picturesque agricultural town near Courtallam. I saw
several lakes – big and small – on the way to Shencottai. Fine carpets of green
paddy fields surrounded by lush green hills decorated the landscape. Abundant
water flowed between mud 'bunds' into the paddy fields. The soil was very rich
and fertile. Clouds sat on the hill tops and a gentle breeze Thendral, as they call it, swept through
the valley between the small hills. I saw banyan trees everywhere on the way blanketing
both sides of the main trunk roads. I constantly felt the rushing of energy in
me despite my tiring journey by foot.
As I approached the
outskirts of Shencottai, I saw a small congregation of people sitting on the
floor, underneath a banyan tree. The people were mostly silent or whispering
among themselves. A 'sadhu ' in saffron
dress, with eyes closed, was sitting before them. Even in the semi-dark
twilight, with the only other light coming from a small lamp lit by his side, the 'sadhu ' seemed to be radiant. There was
a peculiar aura surrounding him. The crowd patiently waited for the ‘sadhu ’ to open his eyes.
Out of curiosity, I sat down
quietly among the group. I learnt from the person next to me that the 'sadhu ' gave divine blessings when he
opened his eyes and that his blessings had mystical powers. He told me that the 'sadhu ' had cured many illnesses, finalized very difficult marriage alliances, blessed
couples for children, repaired broken relationships and miraculously helped
solve a myriad of other problems affecting people’s lives.
Soon the Sadhu opened his eyes, made strange
noises, invoked many gods and goddesses, spoke with a gruff voice, offered 'vibhuthi ' to some and 'kumkum ' to some others, touched a few
people on their heads and brushed others away. I watched everything with fun,
but soon I got disinterested and left the place. I had to reach Shencottai before
it became very dark and find a place to stay for the night so that I could be
ready early next morning to leave for Courtallam. Courtallam would be my first
destination in my proposed encounter with Lord Siva.
Thanks to a small 'agraharam ', a locality where Brahmins
lived predominantly, I found a Perumal
(Lord Vishnu) temple at one end of the street. The temple offered food generously
that night. I ate stomach-full and waited outside for the temple to be closed.
Soon the 'agraharam ' became quiet. I
found a small corner, outside the temple, to sleep.
*****
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