Eulogy for Aniyappan
October 1, 2022.... Navaratri day 7.
The dress colour code was Grey.
It was a grey day. The clouds were swollen, but it did not rain.
Just like my heart. I tried hard to feel good as it the beginning of a new month - October; but the uneasiness continued.
After my morning temple visit, I saw Sreejith, the temple Moothath and asked him, “So how is he?”
He immediately understood I was talking about the eldest member of his family - the 105 year old patriarch Sri. Parameswaran Moothath.
On September 17 (Malayalam month Kanni 1), he had hit his head on a protruding brass-work in the temple and gotten 2 stitches.
“Aniyappan has lesser than usual appetite and does not come much to the main house. But he still does talk a lot”, Sreejith said with a smile.
I promised Sreejith, I would visit him after Navaratri.
The great Hindi poet Kabir says in his doha (couplet),"Do what you must do now, for you never know what time is capable of".
The same afternoon at 1.37 pm, I got the call saying that Aniyappan had passed away.
I reached Nenmanissery Illam at 1.45 pm.
Parameswaran Moothath's mortal remains were brought into the main house and laid on some darba grass and rice grains.
He was dressed in fluorescent orange ‘Spice coast’ t-shirt and a otta-mundu. The same t-shirt he had worn while meeting his favourite celebrity, the cricketing legend Sri. Sachin Tendulkar in 2018 at the Spice Coast Marathon.
Walking had been an integral part of his life. He has walked around the temple umpteen times clutching Ernakulathappan during his long tenure pursuing his hereditary duty as Moothath.
While not on duty, his walking route was from his home (near BTH) through MG road to Madhava Pharmacy and back via Marine Drive. 6 kms in total. And some days he could be seen in Durbar hall ground. His pace could put many people half his age to shame.
This walking was what made him a celebrity at Spice Coast Marathon 2018, where he was the oldest participant at 100; paving his way to have an audience with Sri.Tendulkar.
(PC: Sri.Sreejith)
(PC: Sri.Sreejith)
The priests from the Hanuman temple arrived. They requested a pot for pouring the water they had brought along and started chanting Vishnu Sahasranamam loudly.
While my lips chanted along with them, my thoughts went flying into the past....
How many times have I seen Aniyappan at the Hanuman temple. During Lord Rama's arattu (ritual bath) after Ramanavami celebrations, the Moothath would get into the temple pond with the other priests and take bath with the Lord. Almost all the devotees on the banks were enraptured by the scene and undecided whether to pray to the Lord or look at the centenarian behave like a kid!
And another morning while waiting for the doors of the Hanuman temple to open, we heard a loud Thud. Moothath had fallen down.
When everyone rushed to assist him, he declared loudly, “എനിക്ക് ഒന്നൂല്ല്യ" and stood up dusting himself.
And the next morning he was seen at the temple in his usual pose - standing on one leg!! The other bend and placed on the pillar. One hand scratching his bald head and sharp eyes trained hard at people. The regular pilgrims just smiled and shook their head while passing by him! Who would believe he was this old?
When Covid-19 happened, the government issued a rule restricting the movement of people above the age of 60. Aniyappan continued his morning ritual of going to Ernakulathappan temple. When Sreejith told him he must stay indoors, he retorted saying that the government had not given any guidelines for people above 100!
Last year, when I asked him to wish me on my birthday, he got philosophical, “Birthdays are bitter reminders of advancing ages.”
His birthday is in the Malayalam month of Dhanu. Punartham nakshatram. And his extended family always celebrates it with great pomp inviting many to partake in the sadya (traditional meal). I reminded him that he celebrates his birthday. He reasoned, “കുട്ടികൾ ആയിരിക്കുമ്പോഴും , കുട്ടികൾ ഉള്ളപ്പോഴും ഇത് ആഘോഷിക്കരുത്.” (When you are a child and when you have children, it must not be celebrated!)
Since he's a bachelor, he could celebrate his birthday, was his logic!!!🤣
In preparation for his 106th birthday, Smt. Aparna Sreenath, his grand-niece-in-law and his closest ally in the Illam requested me to make a video chronicling his daily routines. After following him around while he did his chores, I interviewed some of the family members.
Smt. Sreedevi Sreedharan has fond memories of him helping the woman folk in the kitchen. She learned to cook certain traditional delicacies from him. The way he used to treat guests of any background was a revelation for the young Sreedevi, brought up in an orthodox household. His strong belief in woman’s financial independence was a great boost for her when she started her career.
Around 3 years ago, I was fortunate to have done a video interview of the Moothath and had asked him questions regarding his education, work, travel, marriage et al.
He was born in 1917, as his parents "last but one." and stopped studying after not passing 10th grade even after multiple attempts. "Even though I was brilliant in Maths, I was not good in English; especially grammar & spelling." He amusedly mentioned that he had prepared the Mathematics question papers for his peers at the behest of his teacher!
He started serving Ernakulathappan soon after and stayed doing his job for 69 years!
He talked about Ernakulam when it was a small town flanked on the west by the Arabian sea, the east by the South junction railway station.
He had seen Wellingdon Island being carved from the sea!
He fondly remembered his 3 visits to Kashmir, Nepal and many other places across India. He recommended travel for all to 'freshen the mind'.
When I had asked him why he remained a bachelor, he chuckled and said that his elders forgot to get him married! But he has absolutely no regrets and quoted Bernard Shaw, “Marriage is to me apostasy, profanation of the sanctuary of my soul, violation of my manhood, sale of my birthright, shameful surrender, ignominious capitulation, acceptance of defeat.”
Such a fun person....
I was smiling when I was jolted from my reverie. Vishnu Sahasranamam ended. The Hanuman temple priest poured 3 spoonful of water into Aniyappan’s unmoving mouth.
Aparna came home from office sobbing to see her dear (85 years her senior) friend, lying on the ground with his head facing south. I held her tight till her sobs subsided.
“I can still hear him”, she said in between her sobs. “Could he have not waited for some more days?”
Sreejith was peering into his phone, when I went to say I was going home. He said in a heavy voice, "The person who had held a long conversation this morning with the (visiting Homeopath) doctor, can speak or move no more. I never thought he would leave so abruptly."
The flow of people to see the remains of the energetic "patriarch of Ernakulam" increased. Most found it hard to see him lying still in a refrigerated box.
While driving back home, I passed by Ernakulathappan Temple and I remembered that Aniyappan had last seen his dear Lord on September 17th.
I started getting emotional.
I consoled myself saying he had lived well till a very ripe age without having any mental or physical health issues. His death too had been sudden.
A shloka, which I chant everyday, flashed in my mind.
Ananyasena Maranam,
Vina dainyena Jeevanam,
Dehanthe Tava sayujyam,
Dehime Parameswara.
Crudely translated, it is a prayer for a peaceful death without pain/suffering, a life without dependence on others (for basic things) and upon death merging with Lord Siva.
It dawned on me that Ernakulathappan has given his long-serving servant the first two, so surely, the third would have been granted too.
Om Shanthi.🙏
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