about periyava

Periyaval’s noble heart.

In the presence of the divine- copyright Smt Sujatha Vijayaraghavan

Erasu Chennai -61.

An evening at a bout six. Periyaval was seated peacefully in a corner of the Matha at Kanchi and four or five gentlemen were standing beside him. An old lady, who must have been above sixty,came there. Her head was shaved, and a portion of her white saree covered it. I was also witness to the scene there. The then Government of Tamil Nadu announced an old people’s Pension scheme and it had just begun to be implemented. The Paramachariyar was conversing with the devotees who had come there. It was clearthat the old was impatient to say something. She was an old resident of the Matha.

“A petition to Swamigal … ‘:the lady began.

“Do you also have problems?” asked Swamigal.

Feeling encouraged, the lady said, “well.. It ‘s nothing., really. The Government is giving twenty rupees a month as pension to the aged. Also to those that have no one to support them..”

‘Yes… So what about that?”

“It is like this…. If the Matha recommends my case, I will also get money.”

“Of course you will. But alright, what do you lack here? You get your meal at the right time. You are also given saree to wear. You have a place to stay… why then do you need money.?”

“No..It is just that it is given free…that’s why…” The old lady replied in a discouraged tone.

“Look here!  I  am also one without anyone to support me. I stay in a corner of this Matha. Shall we both apply for that pension.?” Periyaval asked mischievously and laughed.

As soon as she heard these words, the old lay hung her head in shame.

It was Periyaval’s opinion that it was a great sin to misue the aid given by the government. He explained this not only to the old lady, but also to every one of us.

The Paramachariyar continued to speak. “ At least we get food to live by. We have a place to take shelter from rain and sun. We have clothes to wear and preserve our dignity. The Government has introduced the scheme for the really poor who find it difficult to get these bare necessities. If I get you this pension, it will be denied to a man or a woman truly deserving  of it, will it not.?”  

All of us, the old lady and others gathered there saw Periyaval’s noble  heart.