A Fatherless Year

Exactly a calendar year back from today my father breathed last, concluding sixty plus years of his being. Off course death is uncertain. As said in Yogavaasista who knows whose last day today is (ko hi jaanati kasyadya mrithyukalo bhavishyathi). So the death keeps us mortal beings in a perpetual terror. But we the Sanaathana Hindus believe that death is for the body not for Aatma the soul. It is asserted in Bhagavadgeetga; as we change the old clothes with new ones the soul changes the wear out body with a new one (vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya, navani grihnati naro parani; tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany anyani samyati navani dehi; 2-22). Some mythological inscriptions also mention that it takes a jeeva 84 lakh births before taking birth in human form itself. Ones future course is decided by what one does in present life the Karma; which again is influenced by Karma of past lives. So, accordingly there may be many promotions or demotion before one attains Moksha, the salvation; liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Well, it is better to stop here on this complexly interpreted simple subject.

          My father a common man lived a contented life in spite of many shortcomings. I do have substance to claim he had a contented living, though many a times I felt he was little irresponsible. I feel it’s worth mentioning one or two of his many good qualities I noticed.

          He indeed was a person for those who are in need. Be it fellow human beings or cattle or cat or dog, he was there at their service in need. His every morning at 5am used to start with feeding the cut areca nut sheathes to cattle. Though he hardly went to hospital for his bad health, he used to take many to hospitals and stay with them for weeks taking care of their needs. In our neighborhood and relatives & friends Kuttanna (as he was addressed by the relatives & friends) or Kuttodediru (as called by others) was the first person to be consulted for any advice or medicinal needs. He knew many household medicines for small health problems of men, cattle and also of agricultural.

          The second quality, about which I really feel amused too, was that he used to get into snoring sleep within five minutes he was on bed. None of the tensions, noises or worries around ever affected his sleep; even during financially difficult days of our family when my mother had only tears to shed. His so called educated son I, who reads many philosophical literature, discusses many big-big things, sometimes argues to disprove the very existence of God himself find it hard to get sound sleep many a times. I feel those are blessed who can get a nice sleep when they lie down and can get up painlessly on wake up.

          There is a saying in Kannada which says that a good man’s’ life could be seen in his death (sharanara badukannu maranadalli nodu); People say my father too had a blessed death, sudden, abrupt and painless (I can’t say). Whatever, I miss my Appa a lot.