Ragavachari, a Great Astrologer

CHAPTER No ONE ASTROLOGER, RAGAVACHARI

CHAPTER No ONE ASTROLOGER, RAGAVACHARI Love goes towards love, as school boys from their books;

But love from love towards school, with heavy books.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

The tastes of men differ as much as their sentiments and passions, and in feeling the beauties of art in smelling flowers, tasting fruits, viewing prospects and hearing a melody, every individual must be guided by his own sensations and the incommunicable association of his own ideas. The charm of a great classic as a work of art, in common with all great works of art, lies in its eternal freshness and novelty, and to each and every mind, a great work will reveal a new meaning and a new charm which alone are the source of all enjoyment one derives from reading it.

It’s September. The gorgeous climate beautified the entire village, Thirur, a mountainous rural area spated with green valleys, green fields, hillocks, waterfalls, cascade of waterfalls and famous temples perched on the hills and the panoramic view from the highest mountain was so excellent that no word could be chosen to describe the beauty of the village.

There’s a Railway station, one kilometer away from the Friday Market area, a busy area only on Friday because all kinds of items from electronic items to provisions and vegetables were available and the adjoining villagers also used to throng to Thirur by train and bus services.

Nandavalli is a nearby big town, four kilometers from Thirur, and these villagers used to sell their vegetable items in the Big Market, Gandhi Market, to the Vegetable Agents and earn profits without knowing that the Agents were none but crocodiles, all politicians of ruling party, who used to sell these vegetables at an exorbitant rate.

There ‘re two passenger trains one in the morning at about eight , Up-train and another Down-train, Return train from Pattinam, a Junction connecting three States which stops at Thirur punctually at six in the evening. In addition to Passenger train, there’re K.K. Express and Mail trains crossing Thirur station but during night time only.

Mahendrapuram is an inter-village, a few kilometers away from the railway station where one could see a famous Agraharam, fifty houses on both sides, where our celebrated astrologer, Ragavachari with his wife, Lakshmi and daughter, Meenah was living.

Baskar was only the son of Ragavachari, an astrologer as well as a prohit with whose meager income , his family could not make a living. Devoid of succour from Sivasankar, a great politician, it's impossible for Baskar to pursue his studies for the medical profession and it is mainly due to the help of Shyamala, the only daughter of Sivasankar.

If anyone asks either Baskar or his mother, ‘Lakshmi' what he is, the former will avert or evade the circumstance to respond to the person who has asked out of inquisitiveness while the latter will recount the entire story or history of his family by which the person asked him would feel why he intervened in his affairs or blink impudently. In a nut shell, Ragavachari was a rolling stone that gathers no moss. In this existing circumstance, there are some neighbours who envied at the happenstance or serendipity of Ragavachari who was leading a carefree life in his mother-in-law's house that protected him by dint of beenah. The Invisible (God) wanted to teach him the value of responsibility in his life. So Ragavachari and his wife, Lakshmi were blessed with a female child namely,"Meena"upon whom he doated. If Ragavachari would be asked what class his daughter was studying, he would reply thus:" Only Brahma knows in which class she is studying and she herself doesn't know which class she is studying in. Luckily she knows the name of the school she studies. Instead of doing domestic work, she is doing something in the school."

On account of bovarism ( an exaggerated estimate of oneself) it's his wont to boast himself as :"Even Brahma cannot predict exactly as I do. My predictions will never fail. You know Mr. Sivasankar, a famous politician and a business magnet? If you don't know, go and ask him whether my predictions have been validated or not. Without consulting me, he won't do anything. Whenever he is in need of my help, he sends his car to my house and I will travel in his car, you

Know?"Lord Vishnu and Lord Parameswara incarnated to some extent but our astrologer, Ragavachari surpassed them as he incarnated as a Priest of an old Vijayanagar temple where the people scared to enter, Prohit of Mahendrapuram where he is the monopolist and frightened the villagers by dint of his magic spell called abracadabra ( a magic formula used by magicians such as "Choo Mandhrakali") to make him pay "Dakshina" a source of income on that day, then as a conductor of a bus in which the passengers used to travel by their fate as it would stop at any time as well as at any place as it likes to do, then as an Accountant of an Oil mill company where he showed the real profit of the company to the Government officer who levied heavy sales tax by which the owner of the Oil company sent him home with royal respect, and then as a Numerologist by which he learnt how to make fool of his clients by his false predictions and finally as a genuine Astrologer as the God took pity on him to validate his predictions.

His fame as astrologer spread far and wide and many women of all ages thronged to his residence. Driven by fate, some urban people paid a visit to his village in their cars or scooters or any vehicle as per their convenience, since they had unshakeable faith in his prediction and consultation or counseling with horoscope or devoid of horoscope. If any stranger comes to Mahendrapuram, for consultation with our astrologer, and enquires about him and his predictions, he or she will be informed as," Oh! That useless Brahmin, Go straight and turn left. Then you come across an old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. There you meet four streets. Towards north lies Agrahram; passing ten houses, you can see a big banner painted in blue colour which was painted during his childhood of his grandfather. Even our President has no degrees and diplomas after his name but he had many degrees and diplomas which none can understand what they mean and luckily there was none to decipher the abbreviations after his name. After a pause, the comments will be continued as:" No doubt he is an adept as well as a maven in astrology but it requires much patience to understand what he predicts."

"What's the consulting fee?"

"No fixed rate. He accepts whatever amount one is able to pay. He never demands for consultation but charges normally for atonement..

The total asset of the astrologer is a bundle of almanacs from the beginning of the present century, an wooden table supported by three legs; the fourth one is used at present as a ruler to draw the Planet table ,and a steel chair donated by Sivasankar, on the eve of his success in the election, a table-light, that too was donated by a rich merchant as a compliment, an old trunk box n which a dozen dhotis and shawls are kept safely and finally a string of beads.

A bevy of ladies sit on a palm-mat and our astrologer, after invocation to his Family deity by uttering abracadabra,(magic spell), clears his throat and in his high-pitched voice like that of Seerkhazhli Govindrajan, a play back singer of olden times, (no loud-speaker is required) begins to recount what Astrology means. Then in a normal tone, he begins thus:" Pray to your Clan-deity .Now give your horoscope if you have. .I've to check the horoscope whether it is correct or wrong. Generally, some fix the hyleg (Lagnam) after the child falls on the earth and that is not the time to be taken into account to fix the hyleg but when the baby is visible at the pudendum of the mother, that time should be fixed for hyleg. But some simpletons and inexperienced fellows, who boasts themselves as great astrologers, do not follow my procedure; that's why their predictions are wrong

His voice could be heard throughout the village and the personal matters of the clients are well known to the entire village. Above all, the words addressed to the bevy of ladies, i.e ...some fix the hyleg after the child falls on the earth and that is not the time to be taken into account to fix the hyleg but when the baby is visible at the pudendum of the mother, which time should be fixed for hyleg....."embarrass them, some flex their heads out of coyness, some titter and some close their ears. But He is an unshakable man to uncaring all these gestures or opinions upon him.

His wife, Lakshmi (name sake only but no wealth) murmurs:" Shameless man! In presence of ladies, how he publicly vulgarize the female organ! He has a daughter, that too, at the verge of menarche,. What will she think of her father if he uses such embarrassing terms?? Senseless man! Imprudent goose and duck!"

His neighbour, Goundamani, Physical Education Teacher, in a government school, nearby Midnapur, was his betenoire and he abhorred our Astrologer for his absence of common sense. He used to comment to his wife thus:" The old goose started teaching s*x-education to the lady clients. Hoom! The whole village can hear his predictions. This fellow must be driven from this village. A nuisance to this village."

His wife, Indhumathi used to reply thus:" Poor Brahmin family! For filling up his stomach, he cries all the day. Alas! He earns a living by this way only. What to do? His wife is a good lady. She cannot control him. I often heard her advising him to be sensible while predicting especially to the ladies, but he turned deaf ears to her advice.

Goundamani and Indhumathi had a daughter namely Santha and one day they brought him her horoscope. After analyzing the horoscope, our Astrologer pronounced his vatic words thus: I wonder how Santa is born to you both. She cannot be your daughter."

That's all. Next moment, Goundamani and Indhumathi disappeared from the place but before disappearing they cursed him well. That’s why our Astrologer was the betenoire to Indhumathi and Goundamani.

Fortunately, Lakshmi was in the house and when her neighbour, Goundamani and Indhumathi began to curse our Astrologer for his faulty words, she implored them to deprecate their anger and before leaving his house, Goundamani warned,” ! (Sirrah, Iyer! For the sake of your wife, we leave you alive and if we find or hear your false predictions, you will be buried alive, Be careful.”

After they left, Lakshmi started baiting our Astrologer:” Can’t you put an end to your balder-dash? How long and how far can these people endure your whims? Nothing is written on our forehead that we have to earn a living by your astrological predictions. The great Sivasankar is sending necessary amount we require and it is sufficient for us. Our only son, Baskar is alone under the direct care of Sivasankar and is studying in his Medical College. We must be thankful not only to Sivasankar but also to our Clan deity. If you hate idleness, it is better to seek some other work other than your stupid astrological calculations and predictions. Better to pack up your almanacs and devil pooja. Don’t you mind your own business? Don’t you know that we have one daughter and we have to give her in marriage to a decent family and we require much amount? What have we saved so far for her marriage? Do you know the name of gold? Have you ever seen golden chain? The “Mangalyaan sutra” which I am wearing around my neck belongs to my parents not by you. What have you spent for our marriage? With your parents and relatives came to the marriage hall, ate stomachful food, and tied this “Thali” on my neck. Afterwards, you settled yourself conveniently in my house, I mean in your Mother-in-law’s house. None of your relatives turned up to you and helped you so far……….Lakshmi continued arraigning the whole family people of our Astrologer.

“Every man has forte and foible like the two sides of a coin. You’ve darted the arrows of poisonous words at my foible point but you don’t realize that due to my power of astrological perfect predictions, Sivasankar has been befriended and has been helping us since I became his intimate friend. Don’t you know my astrological predictions validated? Haven’t they come true in his life? Are you not aware that he comes to consult with me all the way from Madras?, Hadn’t he won the election and become MLA? Hasn't’t he built Medical College as per my predictions? Since I am vested with divine power only, Baskar joined Medical College. You blamed me that I have settled my life permanently and comfortably in your parent’s house. Your father has no house of his own like me and didn’t he settle his life in his Mother-in-law’s house till his death? After our marriage, your father died and who took care of your Mother as the head of the family? It’s me that took pity on your mother and stayed here conveniently so as to be useful to her. Is it wrong, Lakshmi?”

“Your fortune favours luck in the case of Sivasankar. But it won’t always favour you because the top of the upper part of a wheel must come down one day during rotation. How dare you say that Santha is not born to Indhumathi- Goundamani? Since they have regard on me, they left you alive otherwise; they would have peeled off your skin.” Lakshmi argued.

What’s the use of a lit lamp in the hands of a blind man? Is it of any use to him? Like that you don’t have any knowledge about astrology. How can I explain you the truth?” Our Astrologer gave his repartee.

“You don’t have any knowledge in astrology ‘his words of derision stirred her anger and in her angry tone,” Let it be that I am a stupid in astrology and you be a maven in this art. It doesn’t matter now... How dare you say that Santha is not born to Indhumathi and Goundamani? Do you know the effect of your stupid answer?”

“It won’t be a slip of my tongue. The horoscope that he gave me may be fake or erroneous. As per the position of planets in the given horoscope, neither Indhumathi nor Goundamani can be her parents. She must have hailed from a reputed Brahmin family. This is my prediction as per the horoscope given to me. That’s all.” Our Astrologer argued.

“You quit this profession. Seek a decent job….” Saying, Lakshmi went to the kitchen for the kitchen invited her.

Mahendrapuram is a residential area (A district where people live; occupied primarily by private residence) where in an Agraharam our astrologer and his wife, Lakshmi has been living since their marriage. The perennial river, Mandhagni beautified the place with fertility and there’s a railway station at the outskirts of the town to link with the city, Midnapur where Sivasankar had built his Medical College with hostel facilities. Our Astrologer was blessed with a son namely, Baskar and a daughter namely, Meena. Baskar studied in the local school up to his fifth standard; afterwards, with the help of Sivasankar, he migrated to Midnapur and continued his studies till Intermediate course by staying in the residence of Sivasankar. Now he is staying in the Gent’s Hostel, studying Second year, M.B.B.S Course. Now he is running the age of twenty while his sister, Meena, 15 and she has been studying in the local school up to fifth standard and afterwards, she joined Kamakoti Vidyalaya, (ISCE syllabus) and now she is studying ninth standard.

If any reader has read the first line from the story, “Necklace” written by Guy de Maupassant where one can see the following:” She was one of those pretty and charming girls born, as though fate had blundered over her, into a family of artisans. He or she can understand how true it is in the case of Meena who was born in the Poor Brahmin family. As per the norms of physiognomy as recounted by Sheikh Nefzaoul in “Perfumed Garden”, Meena was a bekkubone, svelte and houri (hawira= have eyes like gazelle’s). Like Plenilune, her face was round, had chubby cheeks with dimples but without pimples on both sides of the face, oleaginous face, but bright beyond doubt, and epulated the opposite s*x with seraphic smile, a strong weapon to enslave the youngsters; her forehead was neither too wide or too narrow but of medium size that was hidden by her cymotrichous fringe, below in the centre where her arcuated brows meet, a pearly sticker teka stuck to augment her pulchritude. Her eyes were like those of gazelle, pupilage was of Ethiopian blackness that were swimming in the limpid eyes and they were a pair of swords emitting sparks at the batting her eye lashes thus bringing about the opposite s*x to madden with lust. Her nose was elegant like a carved statue of Helen and more or less “Shakespearean Cleopatra.” Her lips were like those of the flake of orange fruit. Her chin was firm, her throat was long and smooth as pearl. Her waist was slender, her arms and shoulders were striking elegance. In a nut shell, Meena, a sensuous-stirring mermaid, was reigning beauty during her adolescent period. Being a ruddy damsel and born in a noble family, Boston Brahmin, the highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal category. Her pretty appearance, like a statuesque beauty, willowy body structure, and winsome smile on her face, rubicund complexion, scintillating wit precocious intelligence, and polite behaviour – all these qualities caused her to be admired by the onlookers and friends but at the same time, she earned a number of rivals. One among them was her neighbour, Santha, daughter of Indhu-Goundamani whose residence was adjacent to her poorly furnished house. It’s Meena’s wont to travel with her crony, Radha, her class-mate with whom she travelled by train to her school and during her travel, her friend, one day asked her question : “Have you prepared the answer for the question,” Name the event during cell division cycle that results in the gain or loss of chromosome.?”

The above question was given as a Project to be prepared by her group members but neither Meena nor her friend, Radha knew the answer.

When Radha asked Meena whether she had prepared the answer for the above question, Meena protruded her lips and shook her head.

“I too don’t know the answer. What shall we do?” Radha asked Meena.

“Had my brother been here, I would have got answered with his help. But unfortunately, he is not here. I am missing him very much.” Meena sighed.

Now the topic changed and centered around Baskar, her elder brother.

“M.B.B.S II year?”

“Yes. Still five years more to complete his course.” Meena sighed.

“When is he going to come here?” Radha asked.

Meena threw a mischievous smile at her Abigail.

“Aye! I understand what you mean, you naughty girl.” laughed Radha.

“Just for fun; he’s going to come by next week.”

“Why?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve forgotten to say. We are going to leave this village soon.”

“You’ve been telling me the same from your birth….” Radha made fun of her.

“I insisted to him that I don’t like rustic life and this poor atmosphere.”

“So he bent on to take you all to Madras?” Radha made fun of her.

“You see, whether it will work out or not soon.”

It’s obvious why Meena wants to enjoy city life. She doesn’t want to confine her life within a short circle with meager exposure in the rural life. Rather she finds the best place where the maximum exposure can be possible to further her intellectuals. But her mother, Lakshmi was bent on staying in her native place where her nostalgic memories could be preserved.

(Now, you, Readers, come to know about our Astrologer, Ragavachari, his wife, Lakshmi, his son, Baskar, studying M.B.B.S. Second Year in Pattinam under the direct care of Mr. Sivasankar, a business magnet as well as an M.L.A. who is the best friend of our astrologer as he was helped by our Ragavachari in his political field by dint of predictions and finally, Meena, the only daughter of our astrologer and Lakshmi. Still, there are three characters to be introduced; Goundamani, his neighbour, working as P.E.T. in a Government school, his wife, Indhumathi, and their only daughter, Santha, a rival to Meena for she is poor in studies and hence was jealous of her intelligence and beauty.