Those Unforgettable 18 days in 1958
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Educationist and Director of Sivaswami Kalalaya, Vathsala Narayanaswami, then 26, took a bold and independent call to clear the entire house on Sundareswarar Street in Mylapore to make way for Maha Periya's stay 60 years ago
Within days of her wedding, Educationist and Director of Sivaswami Kalalaya Dr. Vathsala Narayanaswami was blessed to have darshan of Kanchi Maha Periyava in 1958. A couple of months later, much to her delightful surprise, the greatest of opportunity came her way all on its own - a divine one that any devotee would have been happy to be presented with. Just ahead of Deepavali that year, Sankara Mutt placed a request to the new household asking for her residence on Sundareswarar Street to be handed to Maha Periyava for three days.
87 year old Vathsala finds it difficult to move around freely these days given her age but her eyes simply light up when asked about the year when Periyava stayed in her house for 18days. Those devotionally exciting days remain fresh in her memory for it was one that transformed her life and gave her the unflinching belief that she had Periyava’s blessing forever.
A Throw back in time
She had married D Narayanaswami in July that year and moved into the house in Sundareswarar Street that was right behind the Sankara Mutt in Mylapore. Her first Deepavali after the wedding was just round the corner when the Mutt approached the newly married couple asking them for the house, for Periyava to stay for three days.
Her father in law, Padmashri N. Dharmarajan (of Hirakud Project fame), was out of city on work. Her husband had spent his entire childhood and teenage years in the North and was not particularly familiar with the traditions of the South Indian Temples and the lifestyle of the Acharyas. Her sister in law was doing her graduation at the SIET College. Given this background, her mother in law was a little apprehensive.
But the young 26 year old newcomer to the house took a bold call on acceding to the ‘3 days’ request of Sankara Mutt “I told my mother in law that we could all move to my father’s house on GN Chetty road, T Nagar and that I would drop the sister in law every day at college and pick her up as well.”
All the family members immediately vacated the house handing possession to the Sankara Mutt. Periyava stayed in the bed room while Jayendra Saraswathi resided in the front room of the house. The back wall of the house was broken to create a passage for the disciples to bring milk and food for Periyava from the Mutt.
A Twist to the tale - 3 days extended to 18 days
It was not the end of the story for there was another twist to the tale. Her father in law sent a telegram that he was taking the next flight to Madras as he had completed his work in Calcutta. Not knowing as to how his father would react, Narayanaswami had not updated him about the developments back home. He picked his father from the airport and drove straight to their home in Mylapore. Soon after Dharmarajan reached, Periyava welcomed him with these words “Padmashri - I have entered your home without you knowing.” Periyava had not been told about the achievements of Dharmarajan or his arrival at the house. And yet as soon as he entered, Periyava addressed him as ‘Padmashri’. Tears rolled down Dharmarajan’s eyes. So moved was he by Periyava’s presence that the three day plan was extended and Periyava stayed there for 18 days.
“My father in law commended me for the courageous decision to have the entire family vacate the house with no second thoughts” says Vathsala. It remains one of the happiest moments in her life.
Periyava’s Divine words
She encountered many more dramatic experiences with Periyava, each of which increased her belief in Periyava’s devotional powers. Many years later, when Vathsala’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, Vathsala took her along to Kanchi to meet Periyava. When she presented Kalkandu to Periyava that morning, he, after consuming a pinch of it, told her ‘She is hale and healthy. There will be nothing to worry.” Vathsala’s mother lived a healthy life for many more years.
A CEO once came to her house on work and immediately felt a happy vibration. He asked her if any saint had been there. He later returned and handed a huge black and white photo frame of Periyava that finds a prominent place in her pooja room even today.
Vathsala finds it difficult to explain the fact that in recent years seven cows from different streets and locations have chosen a tree inside her house on Sundarareswar Street to give birth “This week an eighth cow in pregnancy has entered the house and has taken her place beneath the tree. I strongly believe that the presence of Periyava for those 18 days in 1958 has made this home so sacred that it finds unlikely visitors.”
No bringing down of her home
Six decades on, Vathsala and her husband stay all alone in the huge bungalow with their son having settled in the US. They have resisted the temptation to sell the independent house despite tremendous pressure from many to convert it into a flat “I do not want to bring down a house where Periyava had once stayed” sums up Vathsala on the impact Periyava’s presence in her house has had on her life.
Periyava reached out to me at Sanskrit College - Narayanaswami
Narayanaswami spent the best part of his first three decades in the North and hence was not accustomed to the traditions of the South Indian Temples. Within a few days of his marriage to Vathsala, he accompanied her to Sanskrit College, where Periyava was residing. Since he was not used to these traditions, he stood outside the College while his wife and parents waited inside for a darshan of Periyava. Much to his surprise, a man knocked on him and told him that he was called for by Periyava.
Narayanaswami shocked everyone with his answer “Periyava would not know me. I too have not seen him before. Hence I think this is a case of mistaken identity. Please go back and check for the right person that he is looking for. Stunned by my statement, more senior members of the Mutt approached me to take me to Periyava, who showered his blessings on me and my wife and wished me a happy married life. 60 years on, I believe that it’s that wedding gift – Periyava’s blessings - that has helped us lead a peaceful and enjoyable life.”
“It was a great first experience with Periyava and I was truly blessed to have been personally called for by him that day. That’s when I realized the great devotional power in him.”
(Dr. Vathsala Narayanaswami holds a Ph. D in Education and is currently the Hony Secy, The National Boys’ and Girls’ Education Society)