Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Update: "He is not one to bend"
Reliable sources inform that Sundaresa Iyer's case comes up for hearing in Madras High Court today, Tuesday, March 29, 2005.
For those of you who don't know him, here is a description from user 'Sarathi' at kanchiforum:
" In Kanchipuram Salai street, you enter the narrow portico of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt, and turn right to enter the Mutt proper. In front of you is a hall, at the end of which is a stage where Acharya performs Chandramoulishwara Pooja. On your left is a simple, metal-jaali partitioned area, which serves as the Ashram office. There are no chairs here. Everyone sits on the ground. On one end sits Sri Neelakanta Iyer, the octogenarian, who has been with the Mutt for ever so many years. By his side is Sri Sundaresan’s workplace. They have a traditional, wooden inclined-plane table in front of them. The one that has a drawer of sorts. The kind you see in old black and white films. Very simple, Spartan workplace. From where he sits, Sri Sundaresan has a direct view of the Chandramouleeswara pooja.
Sri Sundaresan is an ever busy man. He has worked in RBI and has also served the Mutt at Orissa. He is a very efficient administrator. Administration at Mutt is surely not an easy job. Eye for detail has to be immaculate, and patience infinite. He has it. You can see him handling three or more jobs at a time – one stern look at someone, one broad smile of welcome to a visitor, one question to an Ashram hand – all at the same time – with three more people waiting, breathing down his neck.
If you walk past the Pooja hall and turn left, you come to Brindavanam of Paramacharya. All Glory to Him! Behind the Brindavanam is a room where Bala Periyava usually gives Darshan. Adjacent to this Brindavanam building, is a ground plus first floor building. A one room dwelling in the corner of first floor, is Sri Sundaresan’s home. A room which has a partition that delineates an area for the kitchen. On the other end of the first floor are a couple of bath rooms – common to the floor.
A simpler home you cannot see. The walls of this humble dwelling are lined with pictures of Acharyas, a few where Sri Sundaresan is seen with the Acharyas…Mrs Sundaresan is a picture of complete orthodoxy. Ever in Madisaar, she can be seen often at Paramacharya’s brindavanam, praying. She is a picture of hospitality - a ready smile, a kind enquiry, a glass of butter-milk – always, for anyone.
Sri Sundaresan would recount, how one day, when he was on a visit, Periyava casually told him to pack up his job, and come off to the Mutt for good. Took Sri Sundaresan by complete surprise. And how he took it as a command, and how intractable obstructions to his release from RBI simply got solved by providence…
An elderly man, he walks with a slight limp, but packs the kind of energy in his vocation that would put much younger people to shame.
Sri Sundaresan is a very orthodox man. He can be seen only in Panchakacham, and with an upper vestment thrown across his bare chest. His forehead and arms would be bathed with Tripundra Bhasma. An old fashioned man, to whom integrity is above all else…An honest, hardworking, simple, sharp, friendly, efficient man. He speaks Tamil, Oriya, English fluently. Perhaps some more.
Sri Sundaresan always walks with his head held high. He is not one to bend.
God, O God – what is one to say. Sri Sundaresan suffers for the sake of values that he holds so dear. And on all our behalf. For him, his family and for all of us - this is an anguish that will not heal. Not ever.
Sri Sundaresan’s spiritual salvation is guaranteed. It is his physical freedom that we all so desperately seek.
God have mercy, and please, please, please set him free.
Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara"
Sundaresa Iyer has now spent 93 days in prison.
Please express your support to Sri Sundaresa Iyer and his family on this day of trial for them. Leave your message at . [LINK UPDATED: no registration required]
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For those of you who don't know him, here is a description from user 'Sarathi' at kanchiforum:
" In Kanchipuram Salai street, you enter the narrow portico of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt, and turn right to enter the Mutt proper. In front of you is a hall, at the end of which is a stage where Acharya performs Chandramoulishwara Pooja. On your left is a simple, metal-jaali partitioned area, which serves as the Ashram office. There are no chairs here. Everyone sits on the ground. On one end sits Sri Neelakanta Iyer, the octogenarian, who has been with the Mutt for ever so many years. By his side is Sri Sundaresan’s workplace. They have a traditional, wooden inclined-plane table in front of them. The one that has a drawer of sorts. The kind you see in old black and white films. Very simple, Spartan workplace. From where he sits, Sri Sundaresan has a direct view of the Chandramouleeswara pooja.
Sri Sundaresan is an ever busy man. He has worked in RBI and has also served the Mutt at Orissa. He is a very efficient administrator. Administration at Mutt is surely not an easy job. Eye for detail has to be immaculate, and patience infinite. He has it. You can see him handling three or more jobs at a time – one stern look at someone, one broad smile of welcome to a visitor, one question to an Ashram hand – all at the same time – with three more people waiting, breathing down his neck.
If you walk past the Pooja hall and turn left, you come to Brindavanam of Paramacharya. All Glory to Him! Behind the Brindavanam is a room where Bala Periyava usually gives Darshan. Adjacent to this Brindavanam building, is a ground plus first floor building. A one room dwelling in the corner of first floor, is Sri Sundaresan’s home. A room which has a partition that delineates an area for the kitchen. On the other end of the first floor are a couple of bath rooms – common to the floor.
A simpler home you cannot see. The walls of this humble dwelling are lined with pictures of Acharyas, a few where Sri Sundaresan is seen with the Acharyas…Mrs Sundaresan is a picture of complete orthodoxy. Ever in Madisaar, she can be seen often at Paramacharya’s brindavanam, praying. She is a picture of hospitality - a ready smile, a kind enquiry, a glass of butter-milk – always, for anyone.
Sri Sundaresan would recount, how one day, when he was on a visit, Periyava casually told him to pack up his job, and come off to the Mutt for good. Took Sri Sundaresan by complete surprise. And how he took it as a command, and how intractable obstructions to his release from RBI simply got solved by providence…
An elderly man, he walks with a slight limp, but packs the kind of energy in his vocation that would put much younger people to shame.
Sri Sundaresan is a very orthodox man. He can be seen only in Panchakacham, and with an upper vestment thrown across his bare chest. His forehead and arms would be bathed with Tripundra Bhasma. An old fashioned man, to whom integrity is above all else…An honest, hardworking, simple, sharp, friendly, efficient man. He speaks Tamil, Oriya, English fluently. Perhaps some more.
Sri Sundaresan always walks with his head held high. He is not one to bend.
God, O God – what is one to say. Sri Sundaresan suffers for the sake of values that he holds so dear. And on all our behalf. For him, his family and for all of us - this is an anguish that will not heal. Not ever.
Sri Sundaresan’s spiritual salvation is guaranteed. It is his physical freedom that we all so desperately seek.
God have mercy, and please, please, please set him free.
Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara"
Sundaresa Iyer has now spent 93 days in prison.
Please express your support to Sri Sundaresa Iyer and his family on this day of trial for them. Leave your message at . [LINK UPDATED: no registration required]
