Some Amusing Tit Bits

When we were in Knowledge second year we had as our French Professor M. Counouma. He became the Managing Trustee after Amrita-da’s demise. We must have been the last group of students when he taught French. He was from Kerala but we heard that before he joined the Ashram he had been The Home Minister of the Pondicherry Government, while Pondicherry was under The French rule. As students and that too of Knowledge there were occasions when we spoke of different issues.

Once while talking about the processions of gods and goddesses during the night time he narrated this.

As we all know that during the “Masi Maham” festival the deities of all the temples of Pondicherry, those of the nearby villages and towns come to Pondicherry for a ritual bath at the sea. At present it has taken the shape of big fair. Of all these deities the one from Mylam is supposed to be the most important. Mylam’s most important temple is dedicated to the god “Kartikeya” who is considered as an important god. So this temple had devadasis in the earlier days. They along with the procession traveled on foot. These processions always move at night. Mylam is some 33 km from Pondicherry, the procession then moved by night and rested during the day. The devadasis danced all the way from Mylam to Pondicherry. The wore gold jewelry and to guard the procession M. Counouma had to send a contingent of Police personnel

One may have seen hail, flower or even stone raining. We as children saw coins raining. As students we passed our holidays preparing the celebrations of 1st and 2nd December. For these preparations from morning till late night we did something or the other. In that particular year I don’t remember what we were constructing, probably boats for 2nd December. Many of us boys and girls gathered in The Playground and began to work. It used to continue till lunch hour i.e. 11.30 am.

One morning while we were working and making lots of noise some singing, some laughing others chanting., there entered Puraniji and Vishnubhai;- behind them a big group of visitors.

Puraniji stood by the map and began to speak in Gujarati, the visitors sat in front of him, Puraniji spoke for possibly half an hour. When he finished his address and wished them a good journey and happy life, there began a rain of coins towards him. He walked out and behind him the visitors. Vishnubhai stood there not knowing how to react. Generally every Ashramite carried  a cloth bag but Vishnubhai did not. We who stood with open mouth at this phenomenon went to help him collect the coins. He used to wear a dhoti; took out one end, put in all the coins which made quite a a big bundle and smiling walked out of the Playground.

On another occasion it was at the Samadhi. In the evening at about 8.30 pm a group of visitors entered the Ashram; it was quite a big group. They did The Pradakshina and after offering their pranam all threw coins on The Samadhi. It was a rain of coins, the sound when some fell on the marble was like that of hailstones. After they left two ladies went to the Samadhi and with the help of others around the Samadhi picked up the coins and put them in the hundi.

These events somehow left a memory in me. Some happened long back but they are unforgettable.

The Ashramites of my generation, my elders and those who have come before me may have heard and witnessed the events and issues I have spoken of. They can very well have a different version, and they are equally true as we all have our own way of looking at issues and events.