An evening with Siddeshwara Swamy

In the morning I was told that Siddeshwara Swamy is going to be there in JSS School auditorium in the evening taking part in some book release. It has been my wish for quite some time to listen to him. I had heard that he is not like the regular swamies we see in our daily life.

I was late by an hour to the function, hoping that he would not have started his speech by then. The function appeared to have been delayed, when I stepped in one of the elderly gentlreman had just walked toward the mike. He introduced himself to be a Kannada professor and said that he has been permitted to talk for just 15 minutes and his job is to introduce the book to the audience. The book was about "Allama Prabhu", a contemporary of Basaveswara alias Basavanna, a 16th century mystic known for his contribution to "Vachana" sahitya. I realised that I would not have missed Siddeswara Swamy's speech had I come a little late. Meagre 15 minutes was stretched into nearly 45 minutes and the gentleman continued to talk amidst three rounds of applause from the audience. His talk was interesting, but people appeared to be waiting eagerly to hear Siddeshwara Swamy. Still, I admire his guts to talk against the popular demand. After the speech, the speaker was falicitated. That was when I realised that he is none other than "Nadoja" and "Padmashri" awardee Devanuru Javare Gowda, in short ದೇ.ಜ.ಗೌ.

Then the author, Dr.Basaruru Subbarao, addressed the audience. His name in fact struck me as I entered the hall. "Subbarao" is a typical Brahmin name and I was wondering what made him spend his time writing on Allama; didn't he find any other Brahmin saint to write about! This is how it in fact works in my nation. In our secular nation, secularism is only in the constitution. Starting from a public event like voting to a private affair such as a marriage works just on caste and community.

Speeches from a couple of the dignitaries on the podium told me that the book on “Allama Prabhu” by this author is little controversial and may not be appeasing to the followers of Veerashaiva sect. Chapters in the book basically have two sections – one section about Allama and the following part attempts to give the essence of his “Vachana”s.

Then Siddeshwara Swamy stood up to speak. A short, lean elderly gentleman donning a white dhoti and a white kurta. He of course does not look like any of the swamies. He did not speak much, or I did not realise how long he spoke. How beautifully explained “Allama’s” philosophy in such simple words, without straining our grey cells! Not everybody can do that. I would be happy if I can put some of the things he said in words I can capable of putting in:

“ಅಲ್ಲಮ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಏನು ಅಂತ ನಾವು ಹೇಳೋಕೆ ಹೋಗ್ತೀವಲ್ಲ, ಅದು ಯಾವುದಲ್ವೋ ಅವನು ಅಲ್ಲಮ” – this made me quite surprised. I was thinking that I am the only universal NOT gate (according to my friends). But, here is one person who had stolen my philosophy so many centuries ago!!! ;-)

“ಹಾಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದ್ರೆ, ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಏನು ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರಲ್ಲ ಅದಲ್ದೇ ಇರೋನೇ ಅಲ್ಲಮ”

“ಯಾರು ಇದು ಅಲ್ಲ, ಅದು ಅಲ್ಲ, ಅದು ಅಲ್ಲ, ಅದೂ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಅಲ್ಲ ಅಲ್ಲ ಅಲ್ಲ ಅಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ಹೇಳ್ತಿರೋನು ಯಾವಾಗ ಇಲ್ಲ ಆಗ್ತಾನೋ ಆಗ ಏನು ಉಳಿಯುತ್ತೋ ಅವನೇ ಅಲ್ಲಮ” – Can something be explained in such simple words?

“ಅಷ್ಟೊಂದು ವರ್ಷ ಬದುಕಿದ್ದ. ಆಯಾ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ, ಸಮಯಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ಅವನಿಗೆ ಏನು ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಬಂತೋ ಅದನ್ನ ಬರೀತಾ ಹೋದ. ಅವನ ಮನಸ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ ಹೂಗಳನ್ನ ದಾರಿ ಉದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಚೆಲ್ತಾ ಹೋದ. ಯಾರ ಪಾಲಿಗೆ ಏನು ಸಿಕ್ತೋ ಅದನ್ನ ಅನುಭವಿಸ್ಬೇಕೇ ಹೊರತು, ಅವ ಹಾಗೆ ಬರೆದ, ಹೀಗೇ ಬರೆದ ಅಂತ ಹಿಡಿದಿಡೋಕೆ ಆಗೊಲ್ಲ. ಸಲ್ಲ”

“ಜೇನುಹುಳ ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಹೂಗಳಿಂದ ಮಕರಂದ ಹೀರಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸುತ್ತೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಜೇನುತುಪ್ಪ ಅಂತ ಹೇಳ್ತೇವಿ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಅದರದೇ ಆದ ಪರಿಮಳ. ಅದನ್ನ ಸವಿಯೋ ಬದಲು, ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವ ಸುವಾಸನೆ ಯಾವ ಹೂವಿಂದು ಅಂತ ಯೋಚಿಸ್ತಾ ಕೂರೋದ್ರಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಥ ಇದೆಯೇ? ಅದ್ವೈತ, ದ್ವೈತ, ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರದ ಶೈವ, ಮುಂತಾದ್ದು ಹೂಗಳಿದ್ದಂಗೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಮ ಜೇನುಹುಳ. ಅವ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸಿದ್ದು ಜೇನುತುಪ್ಪ.” – How simple! I thought this to be a perfect reply to some people who said they don’t agree some of the views of the author about “Allama”. “ಸುಮ್ನೆ ಜೇನುತುಪ್ಪದ ರುಚಿ ಸವೀಬೇಕು, ಮಜಾ ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಕು”

A memorable evening spent in my life.