THE LEPRECHAUN RESTAURANT

There have been societies and societies; Societies, which have always tried to curb the simple impulses of Man. Societies have attempted curbing man from drinking, narcotic or psychotropic drugging, womanizing and what have you; but no society has ever curbed man from his impulsive feeding, nay eating, if I may….?

Yes food is a very basic need as much as Air and Water are to humankind. Because of their basic nature and knowing full well that Man cannot subsist without any of these, commercial marketers have been having a field day and making Air, Water and Food as three mere consumables to be sold across the counter or the table as it may be..

However, there are some unique humans who having understood the true nature of nature continue to serve these three sacred elements to Man, without greed but with fervor and devotion to their chosen occupation.

One such person was our Chef, the great Chef Cool as he was called. In fact it was very few who knew that his real name was Kooliappan a family deity of the region. Even as a child, Chef Cool used to enjoy visiting his Mama’s Kitchen not to create dishes but to obviously raid and feast on the cashews, the almonds and raisins that Mama so faithfully stored in her larder. Chef Cool, did not allow any one to call him a Chef but was proud to call himself a cook for he didn’t dig hypocrisy and liked to call a spade a spade.

It was as a teenager that Chef Cool, nay cook Cool as we may henceforth address him found his true vocation. The first dish he prepared was at a community feeding event organized by a local youth body. The person who was supposed to cook the food that day did not turn up and our friend comfortably slipped into the role of a cook and created a masterpiece of a meal which would have put to shame any of the master chefs of the region. It was then that cook cool realized his true vocation. 

Cook Cool was indeed a free and carefree spirit for he would cook wherever he was invited to cook and partook of the meal with them and would then move on to cook at another venue the next day, happy to use his hands to make tasty food for others to enjoy. On hearing of the innate talent of Cook Cool who was a completely uneducated person, the best of hotels and restaurants vied for his services and offered him astronomical salaries to make him cook in their kitchens. However Cook Cool as his name assures us was indeed a cool son of the soil and could make out the commercial angle of these hoteliers who merely wanted to make money out of his talents. Cook Cool kept away from these enticing offers and continued to cook for free in community kitchen, marriages, festivals and feasts.

It was at this stage of his life that Kooliappan or Cook Cool as he was popularly addressed met his future bride. It was at a religious festival in his native village where it was a custom to annually worship the family deity in a gala festival of fun joy and worship. It was there that he met his goddess. She was first seen carrying water from the river to the kitchen which had been set up in the middle of the village. Cook cool always prepared himself for the work at the kitchen with a brief prayer requesting the almighty to help him make the food tasty and also bless all those who ate the meal with happiness in their hearts. It was after this brief prayer that Cook Cool opened his eyes to see this girl again busy cutting vegetables in the kitchen. 

Sparkles was what her name turned out to be; a name so befitting for she really did sparkle in the kitchen making things easy and smooth for Cook Cool to go about his duties. It was the best meal that Cook Cool ever cooked in all his unmarried life for in the cooking of it he had been happier than ever. The suave and cool demeanor of Chef Cool indeed attracted Sparkles too and she followed the charity cook who just went around cooking and making people happy. 

The arrival of Sparkles in Cook Cool’s life resulted in the commencement of a new phase in the life of Cook Cool. All requests and invitations to Cook had to be judged differently and Cool could not accept some of the invitations as he had to think of distance and the convenience of Sparkles. He had to diligently consider the availability of suitable accommodation and all the other creature comforts required for a Goddess in the form of Sparkles.

Cool’s hesitancy to travel too far away from his base camp to cook for others was noticed by a few of the hoteliers who were interested in obtaining Cook Cool’s services. They noticed Cool’s proximity to Sparkles and realized that there was developing a weak link in the armour of the free spirit. 

It was one such promoter named Steep who went to meet Cool. Steep was a very deep guy who knew the ways of the world. He knew how to cast his bait in a smooth and calm fashion and it was thus that he precisely presented his case to Cool. He cautioned Cool and advised him that since he was now becoming a family man he needed some stability and earn a living for Sparkles and himself as well as his future children. Even Satan could not have presented a better case to Eve as did Steep to Cool. Cool realized that there was some truth in what Steep was saying for he was entering that phase of his life as a family man. 

Cool discussed Steep’s offer with Sparkles and she too felt that it was better to cook in one place than go around the country side cooking at all the fairs, festivals and melas. Steep for his part offered Cool a huge individual residence surrounded by a well endowed garden for Sparkles to enjoy. Steep also took care of all their needs and gave them money from time to time whenever they required the same. However Cool insisted that he would not work in an existing restaurant but would prefer to create something afresh which would take the food and beverages industry by storm. Steep agreed and thus was born ‘THE LEPRECHAUN RESTAURANT’ in the heart of the city. 

The name was chosen by Cool for he considered himself a Leprechaun of sorts. Initially the response was thin but as word spread of Cool and Sparkles’ kitchen and the amazing food dished out off the same, “The Leprechaun” became a big hit. 

The restaurant would commence operation at eleven in the morning and was so full that they could not to close to take a break at three in the afternoon after the luncheon service but continued to stay on and serve guests who wished to have a quick bite before the dinner service. Steep was overjoyed by the developments at the ‘Leprechaun’.

Meanwhile Cool and Sparkles were officially married in a quiet but elegant ceremony organized by Steep. The staff of The Leprechaun and the guests too rejoiced at the union of Sparkles with Cool. We can say that this period of Cool’s life was the best part ever and truly his heyday phase. 

Steep was mighty pleased with the success of The Leprechaun restaurant. It was the crowning glory amongst all the restaurants and other enterprises which he had promoted. The success of the restaurant made Steep devote greater attention to the restaurant and therefore spend more time there. This led to a greater and deeper bond between Steep and Cool. 

Steep became the father figure that Cool never had in his life while Cool became the son that Steep had never found time to produce in his life. Steep also was very affectionate towards Sparkles. He provided for both Cool and Sparkles and ensured that they had all that was required to lead a happy and comfortable life.

The fates or destiny or the forces of nature always have a tendency to be drawn towards things which are hunky-dory and then upset the apple cart. Various cultures have described this in various ways. Some cultures have even attributed this to the jealousy of others and have termed it the evil eye. Whatever it may be it appeared that the forces of nature were also not happy to witness the bliss of Cool and his family. 

Steep was slightly over middle age when he shortly discovered that he was suffering from some kind of skin disorder which made him look hideous and gory. It was around this time that Sparkles conceived and bore a female child whom she and Cool named Light. 

Shortly after Light was born Steep’s health worsened and doctors diagnosed him to be suffering from a form of skin cancer. Shortly thereafter Steep passed away and Cool was truly grieved that he had lost a precious friend, mentor, guide and father figure. Cool became very moody and despaired badly; in fact he believed that it was his trying to make money out of his cooking which had caused Steep’s ill health and untimely death. He kept urging Sparkles to agree to shut down the restaurant which according to him was the cause of the Jinx.

Since Steep had died without any family he had bequeathed all his worldly possessions as per his will to Cool, Sparkles and their new born child.

Shortly after Steep’s death, Cool fell ill. Cool was now a rich man thanks to Steep’s bequeathed wealth and could afford the best of doctors but his health worsened and doctors were unable to diagnose what was ailing him.

Sparkles was indeed a very worried woman for she worried about Cool’s health and also about how Cool’s ill health affected their business. His presence in the Kitchen was vital for the quality of the food. The customers felt that only food cooked by Cool was tasty and anyone else cooking using his recipes could not produce the special flavor that only he could.

Sparkles would attend to the restaurant and also take Cool everyday to some Doctor or other whom she had come to hear about as an expert in diagnosis but to no avail. Doctors could not understand nor diagnose what ailed Cool. Meanwhile Cool physically wasted before everyone’s eyes. What had once been a handsome physique gradually turned skeletal. Doctors tested him for tuberculosis, cancer and all other infectious as well as genetic disorders and could find no cause for what was wrong.

Some of Sparkles family members even mentioned that somebody who was jealous of Cool and his growth had cast an evil spell on him. Sparkles who was by now was grabbing at every straw of hope immediately began to believe that this could be a possible explanation and went around taking Cool to all the witch doctors, sorcerers and black magicians to whom she was introduced by well meaning individuals.

While the said witch doctors, sorcerers and black magicians appeared to be experts at making Sparkles’ money disappear into their pockets they were unable to cure Cool and kept saying that it was the handiwork of a very powerful sorcerer and that they would have to perform special rituals to overcome the spell and that it would cost much more than what sparkles had provided.

Sparkles was willing to pay for it but Cool was dead against the idea. He did not believe in these so called witch doctors, sorcerers and black magicians but only believed in the divine force which he was sure was responsible for his ailment and punishing him for his sin of earning money out of cooking for others.

Cool had always believed that he belonged to a special category of spirits or Devas as found in Indian folklore who could reveal hidden treasure to those who catch them and it was his being captured as it were by the promoter Steep which was the cause of the wealth earned by Steep as well as both Steep’s death and his own ill health. It was infact, this belief which had motivated Cool to name the restaurant as “The Leprechaun” Restaurant due to the Irish Leprechaun’s similarity to the Indian Deva spirit.

Time moved on as it always does and it was soon Steep’s first death Anniversary. Cool in spite of his failing health celebrated Steep’s death Anniversary by serving free food to over ten thousand of the city’s poor. After the austere celebrations, Cool felt better for a few weeks prompting him to repeat to Sparkles that it was his trying to commercialise his cooking which was making him suffer.

However, Sparkles did not accept his explanation and insisted that to live in this modern world it was vital to have sufficient money for the family to fall back upon. Light was by now a bubbly baby and Cool tried to spend as much of his spare time as he could with her in spite of his failing health.

Shortly thereafter Cool realized that some sort of infection was eating away his fingers and he brought it to the notice of Sparkles who was alarmed and immediately rushed him to a Doctor who immediately diagnosed it as a form of leprosy. Cool and Sparkles were devastated on hearing this while Light could not comprehend the significance of the diagnosis. Sparkles cried bitterly while Cool became silent and morose.

Soon word of his being inflicted with leprosy spread and even his most devoted customers who would eat every day at the Leprechaun stopped visiting the restaurant and Cool and Sparkles were not able to sustain the business.

Cool kept cursing himself for not listening to his inner voice and allowing himself to sacrifice his principles and start cooking for the purpose of making money. Sparkles tried to console him but failed and finally told him that they could give up the restaurant business if Cool felt that his commercial venture into cooking was the cause of his ill health and their suffering. Cool then suggested that rather than give up the business they could convert the restaurant into a not for profit venture and feed the poor of the city.

It is now over two years that “The Annapooran” was created by Cool out of the framework of “The Leprechaun Restaurant”. The leprosy left Cool within a month of his creating “Annapooran”. Every day about two to three thousand of the poor of the neighbourhood walk in to be served free meals at any time of day or night. The local community has also now started supporting Cool in his initiative and though Cool does not accept cash donations, the local community contributes in terms of raw materials in his endeavour to serve the poor.

Cool now plans to extend his service and open up five more such free food outlets in the other parts of the city. Sparkles and Light are happy and they have now been blessed with another baby boy whom they have christened “Bright” Nobody knows Chef Cool as Cool anymore. They only refer to him as "The Annapooran".

THE END

ALCHEMY: RISING ABOVE THE GREED FOR GOLD

There lived in a small town in Tamilnadu an old man who was considered to be a practitioner of the highest form of Yoga. It was said that the Yogi was a powerful man with superhuman qualities. The Yogi was a practitioner of a form of Yoga which dealt only with breathing and breath control as well as channelising the breathing into channels which the psychologist Timothy Leary under the influence of LSD had termed "Tunnel realities". Unfortunately what Leary had mentioned under the influence of LSD had been misunderstood and misinterpreted by succeeding generations of psychologists who merely used the term in a figurative or abstract manner without understanding that there truly existed tunnels connecting the various nerve centres or Chakras as practitioners of Yoga called it.

It was rumoured that the Yogi could even create gold through what the ancients called Alchemy out of mere rocks and stones. This Yogi had nine young men who were his disciples and who would spend every evening at the feet of their Master asking him various questions about life, God, relationships and most importantly about the Yogic exercises which the Yogi had prescribed according to their respective requirements.

The Yogi used to expound that "When mastery of the art of breathing can even create gold through what the ancients called Alchemy out of mere rocks and stones man is trying to discover new chemicals and toxic substances, which harmfully affect and effect the environment. Man has the best super computer within him but wants to out beat each other in creating a gigantic super computer in the material world. Indeed man is spiritually rich but materially impoverished and dissatisfied."

However, his disciples were only human and were easily swayed by the passions of common men. They were disappointed that their Guru the Yogi did not make any money using his supernatural powers while he could easily do so. They kept telling their Guru that there was no need for them to live in poverty and he could help them relive their suffering so that they could practice his teaching in the required comfort so as to fulfill their obligations as a student.

The Yogi never even bothered to respond to their requests and would spend his time in silent contemplation and meditation. However, the disciples were the kind who never gave up easily and it was indeed this quality of theirs, which had made the Yogi accept them as his disciples in the first place. They continued to pester their Guru about using his powers to make some money for themselves so that they could then fulfill all their worldly duties and then enter into meditation as a full time pursuit. However, the Yogi just used to ignore their pleas and move on to discussing some other subject

One evening during his regular discourse with his disciples the Yogi casually touched upon the subject of Alchemy and how only a person who has successfully managed to erase all forms of selfishness and greed from their existence would be permitted by God to even venture into learning the subject of Alchemy. This immediately resulted in the disciples questioning their teacher if he knew alchemy and if so whether he could demonstrate his knowledge of alchemy by converting rocks into gold.

The Yogi felt sorry for having raised the subject of Alchemy since his disciples were not interested in the valuable spiritual discourses that he had to offer and were only interested in the materialistic benefits that his spiritual practices could bring to them. He therefore tried to evade their questions about alchemy, but the students were adamant. They continued to question their teacher about alchemy for over three months and the guru continued to evade the issue.

Finally, after contemplation, the Yogi spoke to his disciples softly, but seriously. “Alchemy is not something which one plays with. Only a person who has dismantled his ego and has understood his true self can learn alchemy. Such a person will not seek anything for himself or his dependents. The most important thing about performing alchemy is the intent behind the practice. Even if one were to learn the procedure and processes of alchemy and tried to execute the same it will have dire consequences for those with evil or selfish intent.”

The disciples therefore tried to assure their master that they were trying to learn alchemy only with a good intent. Yet, they could not fool their master who could see through their intent and therefore did not want to teach them the same. However, as a teacher, he was duty bound to teach all that he knew to his students and he felt sad that his students were not living up to the standards that he expected them to adhere to. He therefore decided to only show them a demonstration of the art of alchemy without explaining the procedures behind the same.

After having decided on the date and time for the demonstration, the Yogi requested his disciples to fetch him a small piece of the best quality granite that they could find. He also requested his disciples to maintain physical purity prior to the demonstration and come clean after a purifying traditional oil bath on the day of the demonstration. Closer to the day of the demonstration the Yogi went to the nearby hills and the forest therein and collected several herbs and leaves of a few rare trees which were found there.

Finally, the chosen day dawned bright and all the disciples gathered eagerly at the chosen venue, which was the grove of a nearby temple. Shortly thereafter, the Yogi appeared and began to set up a square area of about two feet on all sides around which he placed three layers of newly baked bricks to cordon of the two square feet area.

Inside the brick enclosed space the Yogi began to strew the herbs and leaves which he had collected while he mumbled something to himself. He then asked his disciples not to come too close to the brick enclosed space and maintain a distance of at least two feet from the area. He also ordered them to remain silent and calm and not get excited about anything which may happen within the brick enclosed space. He once again warned his disciples that the demonstration, which he was going to perform, was a very dangerous and serious one and any noise or excitement displayed by the disciples during the demonstration would have dire consequences for them.

The disciples agreed to comply with the Yogi’s instructions and stepped back some distance from the brick enclosed space to witness the proceedings there from. The Yogi then sat with legs folded on the ground in front of the brick enclosed square in such a manner that he was facing the West. He then tucked his left leg under his right leg and placed his right leg on the upper thigh of his left leg. He carefully took the small piece of shiny granite which his disciples had brought and then gently placed it inside the brick enclosed square on top of the herbs and leaves which he had strewn inside the enclosure.

Having done this the Yogi with his two hands placed on top of his knees closed his eyes and began meditating. The disciples realized that their guru was meditating and therefore maintained complete silence so as to not disturb him. They gazed intently at the block of granite which was placed inside the enclosed square and after about fifteen minutes they realized that the granite stone was beginning to gradually glow bright with a different kind of yellow lustre than what is normally found in a granite stone.

As the granite began to glow with a yellow lustre the atmosphere in the grove turned electric & the palpable tension there made the disciples break out in a sweat. The silence weighed on everyone as the granite clearly and unmistakably turned to gold. As it became clear that the Yogi had been able to prove what he had set out to do, the disciples began to look at each other and smile amongst themselves.

Not being able to contain himself, one of the disciples burst out laughing. The sound of the laughter brought back everyone gathered there to the reality of the situation while the Yogi abruptly stopped his meditation, opened his eyes and glared at the disciple who was laughing uncontrollably. He stood up and turned away from the brick enclosure within which a miracle was in process.

The moment the Yogi opened his eyes and stood up the block of granite, which had now turned to a light shade of yellow, stabilized and the glow from within the stone did not intensify any further. However, the disciple who had broken out into laughter did not cease laughing and his laughter turned eerie as it echoed amongst the trees of the grove. The other disciples were shocked at the sudden turn of events and tried their best to control their fellow disciple and stop him from laughing any further but found their efforts were futile.

The Yogi then turned to his disciples and softly said, “ I had clearly warned you all to remain silent but it looks like my instructions were not taken seriously by your fellow disciple. Unfortunately, he will have to pay the price for his disobedience for his greed has made him loose his sanity and I will not be permitted by the Almighty to make him normal again. Therefore take him home and ask his family to take care of him for he will be a burden unto them for the rest of his life”.

On hearing this, his disciples were shocked and a couple of them led the uncontrollably laughing disobedient disciple away to his home. The Yogi looked at the others and ordered them to dismantle the bricks, which he had assembled to form an enclosure and throw them away as rubbish along with the herbs and leaves, which now appeared withered and dry. However, the granite had now turned into an impure form of gold and he therefore asked the disciples to put it into the Temple hundi (solid metal container kept for collecting the offerings of the devotees) nearby. He then walked away without turning back to look at them.

The disciples then carried out the instructions of the Yogi and began clearing the remnants of the demonstration. One of the disciples picked up the granite which had by now turned to a block of impure gold and walked towards the temple near the grove to deposit the block of impure gold in the hundi. However, when he reached the temple hundi he had second thoughts about obeying his Guru for though the block of granite was only impure gold it would still be valuable and fetch several thousands in the bullion market. He therefore quietly slipped the block of impure gold into his pocket and returned to where the other disciples were clearing up the area. The disciples were under the impression that he had dropped the impure gold in the hundi and therefore never bothered to question him whether he had done so.

The Yogi disappeared from the scene and was not found at his usual haunts much to the disappointment of his disciples who searched for him at their usual meeting place every day. Meanwhile the disciple who had put the block of impure gold in his pocket took the gold to a goldsmith after a couple of days and wanted to sell the same. The goldsmith tested the gold and fond that it was 222 grams of eighteen-carat gold. He was surprised by the size and shape of the block and was therefore curious to know about how and where the disciple had obtained the gold. The disciple tried to evade the question since he did not wish to reveal the truth about what had happened. The goldsmith not being satisfied with the answers told the disciple that he will bring cash from the bank and called up the police from an adjoining room. The police reached the goldsmith within minutes and arrested the disciple.

Inspite of the disciple’s protestations a case of dealing in stolen was booked and with the usual adjournments for which the Indian judicial system is famous he was made to run from pillar to post for two years before he could come out on bail and clear his name.

Meanwhile, the Yogi returned to the town after two years and the eight disciples resumed their learning after apologizing to the guru for their mistakes. The ninth disciple who became insane was sent to several asylums and institutions by his family but to no avail. Finally, after three years his family members brought him to the Yogi and pleaded that he save his disciple. The Yogi accepted their pleas and cured him by tapping a nerve behind the base of his skull. The disciple instantaneously became normal and now lives a complete life.

All the nine disciples have now become serious in their spiritual pursuits and have completely cured themselves of their greed and avarice for they now know how much harm such greed could cause.

THE MAKING OF AN UNSUNG MAHATMA.

The wind wafted cool amongst the trees found in the temple grove attached to the Kaliamman Temple where the boy was playing along with his peers from the small colony nearby. Though the grove was hardly two kilometers away from the Madurai Railway station, it was not too crowded and the roads outside were pretty desolate for it was approximately circa 1922 and the population explosion had not yet reached its crescendo.

The beginning of the twentieth century was also the beginning of transformation for modern India. The industrial revolution had its effects in India too and the railways had been laid across the length and breadth of the country by the British who were ably supported by Anglo Indian gentlemen who ran the railways with clockwork precision. Travel from the north to the south and vice versa which had been hitherto resorted to manually and by horse drawn or bullock drawn carriages had been transformed and there was greater interaction amongst the various regions of India. The society of those times was still orthodox and caste lines were clearly drawn even in temples and other places of worship.

The boy was tired of playing the same games and came over to the Mandap in the middle of the grove to rest his feet awhile. The Mandap was built in the same style as the temple architecture and had steps leading up to it on all four sides the Mandap seemed more like a stage with a roof supported by columns on all four sides. As the boy sat on the top most step leading to the Mandap, he saw a saffron clad frail old man who seemed to be attempting to light a beedi rather clumsily. The rays of the evening sun threw its light and shade in a rather eerie manner and as the boy looked on, he soon realised that the old man was unable to light his beedi since both his hands seemed to be badly eaten up by leprosy.

Realizing that the old man was unable to hold the match stick in his hand since he had no fingers remaining, the boy walked up to the old man and offered to do so for him, “let me light it up for you”. The old man looked up at the boy rather gratefully. His face inspite of the unkempt beard comprising of stray and straggly hair looked rather serene and calm. The boy quickly lit the matchstick as the man puffed on the beedi to make it glow all around. “Thank you my son!” he replied. Once his beedi was lit the old man seemed content to focus on his smoke while the boy sat nearby in comfortable silence.

Meanwhile the boy’s friends had come searching for him and on finding him sitting near a person afflicted with leprosy had shrieked in disgust and ran away in haste. The boy looked at their vanishing backs and said, “Forgive them for being so unkind for they must be scared by your appearance”. The old man did not seem to be in the least bit bothered by their behavior. He calmly finished his smoke. “Well what I am afflicted with my son is something that every one finds repulsive”. The boy looked straight into the eyes of the old man and said, “Well I don’t, find you repulsive”, and the old man appeared to be surprised by the boy’s statement and looked at him deeply. “What is your name, my son?” he finally enquired. “My name is Thangam and I’m fourteen years old”, the boy replied promptly.

“You are indeed a precious human, my dear son”, remarked the old man on hearing Thangam’s name. For Thangam in Tamil meant gold and the boy had been named Thangavel by his parents in honour of Lord Karthikeya who is worshiped as Lord Muruga, the God of the Tamils. While as per records he was called Thangavel in real life his pet name was Thangam.

Thangam had come to Madurai along with his parents as a young child from another town called Trichy due to a family dispute. They had left Trichy and had moved to Dindugal in search of livelihood, whereupon they were told of the varied opportunities that a town like Madurai offered. They had then moved to Madurai and his father had found employment as a butler to a British gentleman and his family. Thangam’s mother too worked as a maid in the same household and every thing went on smoothly until the age of twelve when Thangam’s father passed away after a brief illness.

Thangam had been forced to discontinue his schooling at the local municipal preparatory school and seek employment, as he had to now support his family. Thangam worked odd jobs in mechanic shops repairing cycles and other new fangled gadgets. Early in the morning Thangam would proceed to the town central market were he would carry sacks of vegetables that had just arrived in bullock carts from nearby villages. This would fetch Thangam an additional income. I must add that there was no concept of child labour in those days and by the time he had reached fourteen years of age when he met the old man Thangam’s body had become hardened by all his physical labour.

Thangam felt very comfortable sitting next to the old man. The next day morning after he had done with carrying vegetable sacks in the market, Thangam had stopped at the Mandap to see if the old man was all right but he could not find him there. That evening after finishing work at the mechanic shop he had proceeded on his way home when he suddenly remembered the old man and proceeded to the Temple grove to check if he was still around. This time the old man was very much present at the Mandap and welcomed him with a smile. Thangam told him that he had searched for him in the morning and the old man told him that he had gone to the Meenakshi Amman Temple to offer his prayers to the deity.

That night the old man and young boy sat and talked for a long time. Thangam felt very happy just being with the old man. The old man during the course of his conversation told him that he was a wandering mendicant. He was a learned man who could speak many languages. He told Thangam that he had once been married and had successfully fulfilled all his worldly duties. After the death of his wife he had decided to renounce everything and had turned into a wandering mendicant. He would spend the summers in the Himalayas and once winter commenced would move to South India to visit all the major temples there. He also elaborated on the similarity of the South Indian Temples and their construction to the Human body.

The old man and Thangam soon became rather close to each other. Thangam would at times bring food from home for the old mendicant and the old man would happily eat the food brought by Thangam. The old man would tell Thangam interesting anecdotes and also share his experiences in the Himalayas with him. By the end of January the old mendicant appeared restless and one fine day Thangam found him missing. Thangam frequented the Mandap every evening after work but found the old mendicant had left.

It was winter that year that the old man returned to the Mandap. Thangam had been lonely on a Sunday evening and having nothing better to do he had sauntered into the grove. He did not expect to see the old mendicant but to his surprise found the old mendicant sitting in the Mandap attempting to light a beedi, just as he had seen him the first time. Thangam was overjoyed and the old man too appeared happy to meet Thangam again.

Their relationship continued from where it had been left, in January and they were happy to be in each other’s company as only Guru and Sishya could. The winter sped by and the old mendicant left in January the subsequent year just as he had done the previous time. The third winter he appeared just as he always did by the end of October. He appeared frail weak and rather unhealthy.

Thangam had turned sixteen that summer and was a full grown male sporting a moustache. The old man was indeed very weak and Thangam spent all his spare time tending to him. The old man became better by the end of December and in January the next year told Thangam that he had a secret he wished to share with him, Thangam was puzzled as to what could be the secret but waited patiently for the old man to disclose the same.

It was Pongal the harvest festival of the Tamils and Thangam had got the old mendicant a new saffron kurta and dhoti for him to wear. The old man was initially reluctant to accept Thangam’s gift but then thought the better of it and accepted it gratefully. That afternoon as they were sitting in their usual haunt, the Mandap; the old man told him that he was the practitioner of an ancient art. He told Thangam that he had always worshipped God as his teacher or God as his own Guru. He told him that God himself had manifested in human form to teach him an ancient art and that, the art involved a detailed study of one’s breathing.

He demonstrated to Thangam the posture and method of practicing this art. He elaborated that by sitting with the right leg placed above the left leg tucked under the groin was akin to Padmasana but less complicated and conducive to sitting for long stretches in prayer. Moreover the sitting posture with both legs tucked into the groin ensured that the anus and the urinary canal were locked. He explained that the human body had nine doors and to go within oneself one had to first lock all the nine doors securely. The anus and the penis could be closed by sitting in this position and then closing the eyes one could embark on the inward journey. While these doors were shut the openings of the ears and nose could be closed and locked only by the mind and concentrating on our internal breathing and its flow which would automatically shut out the senses of hearing and smell. When the nine doors are shut and the mind is brought under control by holding the tip of the thumbs on the second digit of the index finger and placing both forearms on the folded knees, one could travel on hidden pathways within the body to visit the power centers and tap the power available to perform unimaginable feats.

That evening the old mendicant initiated Thangam into this practice that he called “Appiyasa” meaning “Appuvasa” or the gathering and residing of 'Appu' or 'Prana' within the human home of the soul. The initiation was an awakening of the Kundalini and Thangam found himself fascinated by the new world that was opened to him. The mendicant then gave Thangam a secret mantra to be used in his prayers and asked him to chant the mantra continuously. He prostrated himself at the feet of his Guru and returned home with great joy and bliss.

A few days later and found that the old mendicant as was his wont had suddenly vanished from the grove and the Mandap.

Thangam commenced the practice that he had learnt from the old mendicant. He would start the day at 3 am. Pray for an hour and would then proceed to the central market where he would work unloading sacks of vegetables and carrying them to the store houses from where the vegetables would be distributed to the retailers. Thangam would return home at 7 am take a bath and then pray again for half an hour, after which he would have a quick breakfast and proceed to the cycle mechanic shop were he worked repairing cycles. In the late evenings he would return to the Mandap in the grove and spend a couple of hours in prayer before returning home to have supper and sleep for awhile before commencing his routine again at 3 am the next day.

As time went by, Thangam’s progress in Yogic practice was evident to him. He soon mastered the breathing technique thought by the mendicant and as he became better he could soon see things within his body. A normal man could only see things outside his body but Thangam with his eye turned inward could see within. He soon realised that the human body was in the form of “Om”. The power centers themselves were sounds within the “Om” and he soon learnt to identify the sounds associated with each of the power centres.

When Thangam completed eighteen years of age, the British gentleman to whom his father had served as a butler, called for him and offered him a job as a labourer in a textile mill in the city. Thangam willingly took up the offer as it was a permanent job with good compensation and benefits. Thangam continued to pray frequently and his new job provided him with more time at his disposal which he spent in prayer.

It was the time when the independence struggle was at its peak. One day on a holiday, Thangam was relaxing on the pavement outside the tea shop when he felt like revising the lessons he was learning within his body. He took a piece of charcoal and started drawing the body in the shape of an “Om” and then charting out the various power centres, their sounds and their presiding Deities. It was as much an exercise as a school boy would be given; to draw a flower and name the parts therein or to draw a map of India and point out the various regions and cities therein.

Meanwhile the road on which Thangam was sitting was getting jammed due to a procession of pro- independence supporters and a huge limousine had been forced to a stand still. Within the limousine or ‘pleasure cars’ as they were called in those days, while, the grass root folk referring to them as ‘pleasure’, sat a great man popularly known as Guruji and a scholar of the Vedas as no one before. This gentleman happened to look out of the window of his car and found Thangam drawing the ‘Om’ and naming its constituent power centers. He was astonished that such a young man could posses such knowledge and therefore stepped out of his car, much to the astonishment of his chauffeur.

The Guruji walked up to Thangam looked at his diagram and asked him how he knew about these power centers within the ‘Om’. Thangam unhesitatingly recited the paths to these power centers and the way to reach them as only a man who has done it within himself could. The Guruji offered Thangam some money, which Thangam politely refused to accept.

The Guruji then asked Thangam if he would be willing to come with him and accept him as his Guru and thereby enjoy great wealth fame. Thangam refused this too saying that he already had a Guru and he did not need any other. The Guruji was greatly humbled for here was a young man who was barely twenty years old who knew more than he could ever know.

It was exactly a year later in the spring of the subsequent year that Thangam was blessed with the opportunity of meeting his Guru once again. As was his won’t, Thangam used to spend his holidays praying in the calm of the Mandap inside the temple grove and it was on one such occasion that Thangam opened his eyes from prayer to meet his Guru standing near him. He could not believe his eyes as his Guru was standing near him.

He could not believe his eyes and blinked as his Guru embraced him warmly. Thangam looked in astonishment at his Guru’s hands. For there were no trace of leprosy and all his fingers were intact. His Guru noticed his surreptitious glances and smiled. “I really do not have leprosy my son,” he said. “It was only a disguise to keep people away from me and enable me smooth passage in crowded places including temples as people move away from a leper,” he continued. “Only you of all people came near me and you are indeed blessed for that my son,” he concluded.

Thangam was overjoyed and spent the evening and that night sitting with his Guru and discussing all that he had learn’t within his body. The next morning the Guru departed. He told Thangam, ”I won’t be coming back my son but I shall be with you all the while. Get married and fulfill your worldly duties while you continue your practice. You have great work to do my Son”

Thangam did do great work after the departure of his Guru. He performed many miracles and cured many illnesses. He stood by and trained two generations in the science, philosophy and practice of Yoga. However, Thangam abhorred the limelight and kept himself in the background as he achieved all that any Man could ever want.

THE YOGI AND HIS TWO DISCIPLES

In the forests of ancient Tamil Nadu there lived a Raja Yogi; a practitioner of the ancient art of breathing. A very humble and simple Man who did not live by the norms and rules of society but who lived by the laws and practices of nature. The Yogi was a well-built Man in his early fifties who had lived in the forests from the age of twelve and learnt his art at the feet of his Master.

Though humble and simple this Raja Yogi had immense powers that others could not even dream off. His powers were spoken of with awe throughout the entire region. However, the people of the region though awed by his miracles found him a bit weird in behavior and spirit.

The Yogi looked very impressive in build and physique. To add to his impressive countenance, he had a rather flowing beard with tufts of white, grey and black making it a vibrant one. People came from near and far to meet the Yogi and pay respects to him. Some of them even hoped that the Yogi would accept them as a disciple but they all went back very disappointed.

It was at this time that two friends from the city named Subbu and Anbu went hunting in the forests. As the deer sped away from them Subbu and Anbu went further into the forest penetrating the dense jungle. Suddenly, the dear reached a clearing where a hut was situated and vanished from their sight.

As Subbu and Anbu stood there not knowing what to do, the Yogi emerged from the hut; for it was indeed his Ashram and he lived and prayed there. He demanded to know who Subbu and Anbu were and when they told him about the magical deer that vanished the Yogi was amazed. He realized that it was a divine hand that had sent them here and asked Subbu and Anbu if they were willing to learn the great arts under his tutorage.

The boys had already heard about the great Yogi and were overjoyed to serve as his disciples. Years passed and the Yogi diligently trained them and transferred his knowledge to his two pupils. Finally the time arrived when the two boys had graduated so to speak and they were independent Yogis in their own right. However, the two pupils had a request of their Yogi that they wanted him to fulfill before they would graduate. Both of them wanted the Yogi to visit their respective houses in the city and spend some time with them and their families.

After a lot of hesitation the Yogi agreed to the invitation. He decided to first visit Anbu’s home and family. Having arrived from the forest that morning he decided to rest awhile at Anbu’s house. Anbu’s family was overjoyed to receive the Yogi. Anbu introduced the Yogi to all his family members commencing from his parents to the last of his siblings. After a heavy breakfast the Yogi stretched out his body on the bed as he prayed for the welfare of the family that had provided him such warm hospitality.

Suddenly the Yogi jumped out of his bed and exclaimed, “Oh my God!” He called Anbu and told him that an evil spirit resided in his residence and that he the Yogi could not stay in this house anymore. He suggested that he stay in a separate house and not be asked to sleep in Anbu’s house as it would only harm him the Yogi as well as the members of Anbu’s family.

Anbu felt suddenly humiliated by the Yogi’s behavior. He believed his master was deliberately insulting him by refusing to stay in his house and begged his master not to leave his house. The Yogi was adamant he said that he would not stay in the house but Anbu was all the more pleading. He told the Yogi that if he left Anbu’s house Anbu’s parents would consider it as a great insult and his family honor would be slighted. He therefore requested the Yogi not to go and the Yogi bound by the wishes of his disciple stayed on at Anbu’s house.

That night there was a great commotion arising out of the Yogi’s bedroom. The Yogi was shouting, “Get away and leave me in peace you vile old spirit”. Anbu and his entire family rushed to the Yogi’s bedroom and found the Yogi in a state of epilepsy as it were. The Yogi was screaming writhing and contorting his body as he rolled and thrashed on the floor. After a while the seizures stopped and the Yogi got of the floor and began hurling a string of profanities at all those gathered particularly Anbu’s parents.

Anbu had no other option but to hurriedly shunt the Yogi outside the house and shove him far away from the house. Once clear of the house the Yogi began to become normal and walked away quietly as Anbu pleaded with him to forgive him and come back home again. Since it was soon to be dawn the Yogi then proceeded to Subbu’s house to spend a couple of days there.

The reception that the Yogi received at Subbu’s residence was as great as it was at Anbu’s residence, if not even more. Everyone including Subbu’s parents prostrated at the feet of the great Yogi. A regal breakfast was provided. After the heavy breakfast, the Yogi stretched out his body on the bed as he prayed for the welfare of the family that had provided him such warm hospitality.

Suddenly the Yogi jumped out of his bed and exclaimed, “Oh my God!” He called Subbu and told him that an evil spirit resided in Subbu’s residence and that he the Yogi could not stay in his house anymore. He suggested that he stay in a separate house and not be asked to sleep in Subbu’s house as it would only harm him the Yogi as well as the members of Subbu’s family.

Subbu was surprised to hear his Master say this. What would his parents think? He wondered if the master would change his mind but realized that as a student it was his duty to obey the Master. He immediately took the Yogi to an inn nearby where he made arrangements for the best room therein to be provided to his Master. The Yogi then consoled Subbu saying “Even though I may not be able to stay at your house tonight, be assured that my presence will be with you throughout the night. Do not panic if you hear any unnatural sounds and ask all the members of your family to remain in their beds even in the event of any noise or occurrence. Now go sleep in the assurance that I am protecting your family”, he said.

That night there was a great commotion arising out of Subbu’s bedroom. The Yogi could be heard shouting, “You vile old spirit, I will not let you get away this time”. Subbu woke up with a start but remembering his Yogi’s advice he stayed calm in bed.

The next morning Subbu’s mother went into their garden to find that her plants that had not bloomed for ages were suddenly in full bloom and the whole garden looked lovely. She kept mumbling, “The curse is lifted, the curse is lifted…” That morning Subbu’s elder brother too woke up to hear the good news that his wife who had been barren for six years had conceived. There was great rejoicing in the house.

Subbu then rushed to the lodging house to meet the Yogi and found the Yogi in a calm and serene mood. He thanked the Yogi for having conquered the evil spirit that was destroying their peace. The Yogi replied, “It was your obedience that saved you not me. You must thank your obedient spirit for that.” The Yogi then returned to Subbu’s home and stayed with them happily for a few days more.