KALAKAKADU THOTHHATHHRI VADHYAR ( 29 )

                                KALAKADU  THOTHATHRI VADHYAR  (  29)

                                                                     All of us became very busy in his service while taking care of  our own works. Srimathi had finished her Higher Secondary course and was trying  for joining Engineering course.Bhava, Cheenu, Sriram and Meera   were attending their school classes. While KTV was mentally strong with a great will power,he was physically damn weak . Upto the  last, he was having a sharp eye, and ear, Tasting and  smelling faculties were good.He could talk with out difficulty.Difficulty was regarding getting up by himself ,without others' assistance swallowing and moving his hands fast etc. He would be eagerly awaiting for my return  in the evening and alert the people at home . saying that I would be in the house by another say, five minutes to keep coffee ready for me . His idea was that directly on reaching home I should be sitting with him.I would take minimum time  to wash my face  and get ready for this action as per his wishes  to satisfynhis demand which had zero cost.If that could make him happy why should we not do it !.  He used to ask me to touch him and  rub  his back and hands and legs some times.  Perhaps, God had chosen me  among others to do this "pithru sushrusha "  which I consider the most sacred thing one can thik off in life. There was an indication of this to me very long back. When Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal had come to Kalakad   in 1958 ,  I was standing very close to Him and KTV, who intrduced  me to the Swamiji.Suddenly ,He took out a wooden plaque in which it was written  " Pithru devo bhava " and gave it to me along with His blessings.. I received with humility and with folded hands. Remember, that was the time when I had started my college studies.

                                    At 5 45 pm  KTV used to remind me about sandhiavandanam for him and me , after that I would allowed to go for the Veda classes and Vishnu Sahasranama parayanam which I initiated to the Brahmin community at Maharajanagar  after the Brahmins Association was launched in the Tamilnadu State in October 1984. However , he would be expecting me back by 7 15 pm. If I was a bit late to return, he used to question. Punctuality  he  maintained for himself he expected inothers also.Procrastrination is one thing which he never liked. Srimathi, who had passsed out in Higher Secondary Examination  was trying for Engineering studies.She ultimately got admission in the Govt. Engineering College , Thirunelveli .She joined the college with his blessings.Some  of  her teachers had known  KTV  who came to see him in the house.

                                   A stage came when he had to be bathed in the hall itself .He could not even sit errect . He would be supported from  back by Bhava in the sitting posture , Cheenu used to clean his teeth without using brush, but using tooth paste. Mother and Usha  used kitchen items  like hot water and other requisites. Sitha did her own share of work. Meera was not given any work because of her small age but Sriram assisted Cheenu and Bhava

                          Ganapathi, who was a trustworthy servant  maid who was helping us right from the childhood of Srimathi ,when we in settled in Kailasapuram had left for Chennai under her family conditions. Instead a Muslim lady was employed , who was  as sincere as Ganapathi herself , For KTV alone she had to wash four dhothies and towels per day in addition to all clothes of all other members. Those were times when washing machines were being used by a few previleged set of people.

                                     ( to be continued  )