Unmai Ragaseyam aanathu

தமிழ் ஆடியோ

It was bhogi,the beginning of the pongal festival. it was around 7 O'clock, Mala was out with renu,sujatha and selvam decorating the entrance with rose plant pots. The entrance had a small gate with two sthubis on either side.On the outside her mother’s name was engraved both in English and Tamil. Mala polished the name plate with little oil and it shone with a new lease of life. sujatha and selvam sprinkled water on the ground outside and we're all set to draw up some nice rangolis. Renu mixed the colors with the rangoli pattern on a piece of paper and she was instructing the other two on how much space was required for the design. It was a special festival, mala and her friends helped each other to decorate their respective houses.So the pongal festival is all about decorating the front entrance, and to give it a splash of colors to mark the beginning of the harvesting season . It was customary for the Nagar association’s president and secretary to walk around the next day and award prizes to the best rangoli. It was fun to see everyone stay up all night to get the best rangoli done. There was so much laughter around with everyone out on the streets teasing each other and still being in a competitive mood to win a prize which was either a rangoli color powder packet or a small plastic bowl, but the prize was a prize. so everyone was fervently working hard to win it.Mala was chattering away when she saw a shadow close by, turning around she saw bala with a wide smile on her face. There were few people making a bonfire and the fire lit up Bala's face which dazzled like a jewel in the crown.

Mala excused herself from her friends and moved towards bala. Mala smiled at her and took her inside and in the pooja room she had kept December flowers white and pink and blue which had bloomed in her garden. mala had a small garden with every type of flower in it.Bala likes parijatham so mala made a garland out of it and the december flowers for her hair. She garlanded bala and turned her around and clipped the flowers into her hair.Now facing her knelt down and holding bala’s cheeks with both her hands looked into bala’s eyes. mala saw the love and affection in bala’s eyes.bala smiled at her and said “ these flowers are lovely”. “yes bala, they are very pretty because they are on you”. saying mala admired this girl whose friendship taught her to be kind ,gentle and selfless, she could see herself more confident but yet simple. She thought she had come a long way with bala, and it was bala who was her source of inspiration, everytime mala saw her she learnt something new about herself and that made her beam with pride.her thoughts were disturbed by a big noise outside. Bala looked at her and said “ will you come with me now mala, somebody wants to see you”. mala asked “ who is it?”. “Come, I will tell you ''. Saying she dragged mala to the couch nearby and said sit here and close your eyes.Mala sat down and closed her eyes.

She could feel the cold breeze sweeping across her face. The winter breeze brought with it the smell of wild flowers and the misty dew trying to get away from the clutches of its creator.Mala felt as though she was drifting and all of a sudden heard the chiming of bells in a distance and felt herself being transcend into a whole new world. The calmness sent a chill up her spine. Bala whispered to her to open her eyes and Mala did as she was told. When she opened her eyes, she was in a temple seated near a stone pillar. she looked at bala and asked “where are we? It looks like a temple. Bala replied “Yes we are in a temple, come I will show you around..mala got up and walked along bala. Built in the Dravidian style of South India, the main hall of the temple was constructed using hard granite. There were four open halls facing north, south, east, and west. Of these the northern, southern, and eastern halls had santhis but the western part was closed to public.The main hall stood on a richly carved platform, richly decorated with a procession of different types of birds, elephants, and horses and their trainers, with the odd dancing girl thrown in for good measure.The real highlight was the main hall with a stunningly high and huge pillars which stood almost 50 feet from the ground.The carvings and sculptures on the pillars are grouped in themes. Those in the northern hall feature sculptures of musicians, drummers and dancers, while the ones in the eastern hall were decorated with carvings based around stories related to shiva, the stories were carved in a particular order and several incarnations of lord shiva, made the building look so vibrant and real. Mala went near the carving and admired its workmanship.she looked at bala, bala stood there smiling then came closer took mala’s hand and said “come i want you to meet somebody”. Mala, dazed by the enormity of the temple structures, went with bala. the temple was deserted, she couldn’t see anyone around. the pillars and the statues had come to life and looked as though they were smiling at her. mala walked behind bala, and soon they came to the entrance to the grabhagraham.

The grabhagraham was huge with two durabalahas on either side sniffing for intruders and the steps leading to the door were laid with golden plates. in front of them stood a huge door which was made of thick solid teak with golden knobs. This enormous door made them look like small lilliputs. Bala climbed the three steps before them and opened the door. The door slid open and there was a beautiful statue of Ambal .Dressed in red golden saree she was seated with her left leg folded and the right leg touching the ground. She had a pair of anklets Sitting beautifully on the ankles taking pride in being part of the abarnamam.On her waist was a ottiyanam glittering and teasing the oil lamp to match its glitter and sparkle. Ambal was covered with all types of jewelry, a row of pearl necklaces adorned her breast with the stunning coral beads flirting with the sapphire studded chokers. the minutely crafted vanki perfectly fitted ambal’s strong hands making one wonder of the power that it exhibits and the protectiveness that lie in that hold.The ear studs with the jhumki whispered the special mantras for ambal to rest and meditate to bring peace and harmony into this world.The nose studs coupled with the bulaku were like a young couple on their honeymoon lost in the vibrance of their colors and sparkle.their whispers brought a slight smile to ambal’s lips caressing like a patient mother. The face was soft with a red bindi on her forehead. The face was bright, stamped with glow and glitter of a permanent smile.The garlands added glory with different varieties of flowers.These flowers lay on her shoulders with a proud look reminding themselves of how lucky they were to rest on the glorious Mother.In between the malas she saw the parijatha mala which she had given bala and the december flowers clipped to the side waiting to be noticed.Mala shocked in disbelief wondering what was happening.

As if reading her mind bala said “wait till you know the truth”. Bala took mala’s hand and took her inside. mala hesitated but bala held her hand tightly and dragged her inside.bala went close and touched the statue of devi. Devi's face was unusually big and broad and she was flushed. as mala stood there bala called out “ amma” and the next moment devi opened her eyes. the statue came alive and mala was taken aback. The statue was no longer still. Ambal the mother of all creatures in this Universe came to life. She turned to bala and then to mala and smiled. mala froze. How can this happen? was she imagining things. Mother said “ come my child, i wanted to talk to you” mala was shaking and the magnificent light around ambal sent her pulses racing. Bala went near her and sat on her lap. Devi signaled to mala and mala was mesmerized, without taking her eyes away went near her. her hands were cold and she trembled. “ don’t be afraid. it is only me.” “it is time you started understanding the unique relationship that we have.. you should also understand that bala is me and i am bala '' saying she looked at bala and the next moment bala disappeared. mala was confused.” i don’t understand” who is bala? is she a part of you? or is she you. Did you come to me pretending to be a small girl? devi smiled “ bala is my manifestation.Bala is a knowledge in me, she is the kalai in me, she is vedam in me, she is dakshayani in me,she is the moolam of all mantras inside me.She is my pulse.The next question why did I come to you?because I am so much indebted to you. It is a very long story.I will tell you when the right time comes. I can understand you and I want you to understand me as well. listen to me without panicking”.”you will be a very mature, confident adult one day and i will clear all your doubts then,but now you have a choice to make. Mala slowly asked “ what is it?” “ i will be with you in whatever form you want me to be.the choice is whether you want me to be a little girl playful mischievous and be with you always,and leave you to make decisions at every stage or whether you want me to be a mother,and if i were to be a mother i cannot be with you always, any decision taken will be totally mine, you cannot decide anything.” the choice is yours.The choice you make decides our relationship and how we take it from here.Mala stood silently for a minute then replied “I would like to have you as my friend, because that is how you came to me, i will be happy with you that way,and i know, though physically you will may not look like my mother you will still be my mother emotionally.” saying she looked at devi with all reverence. devi smiled at her “ your wish will be granted”.mala looked devi into her eyes and said can I ask you something? Devi looked at her and said “yes”. Can I touch your feet? “Devi smiled.” come here, she said and drew mala closer, “you are my daughter, come and sit on my lap. she pulled mala closer and mala for the first time felt the warmth of a mother and her body began to tremble and she wanted to be in her arms forever.devi touched her head and said “ how I wish i could take you away with me now, I want you to be the same person you are and not change or succumb to earthly pleasures. mala looked up at her face and said “ do you think i will change? Devi said “ No, you will not, I trust you “ Mala asked “how will i know i have done the right thing?” “will I be able to help the needy”

“you will be able to see that for yourself.” I will give you the strength to foresee things which you can use to help people in trouble.”Keep this to yourself do not utter this to anyone till I tell you to” saying ambal’s soft hands touched Mala’s head. Mala saw the look of a proud mother.Finally she said “ Let destiny take its course now” . “go now it is time for you to leave”.Mala prostrated before her and left …........

(Mounamey kathai anathu.......)

(silence is a story by itself.......)