Kudanthai Krishnamachari

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends:

 

Kalyani's moving message prompted me to write this. I perhaps had the

longest association with Chari (Krishnamachari was affectionately

called Chari in Chicago circle), longer than perhaps many of you

had. We worked in the same floor of the University of Chicago

campus. I had known him since before he married Kalyani. I guess

since I came from a very orthodox family in Srirangam (my father

belonging to the kalakshepa goshti of Puthankottam Swamy and then

Maduranthakam Swami) Chari had a lot of interest to know about

Srirangam SriVaishnava community. Before coming to Chicago I had the

bhagyam of receiving Srimad ThiruKudanthai (Kannan Swamy) Andavan's

kataksham almost on everyday basis. When I used to go to the Vadakku

Vaasal vegetable market, Srimad Andavan would be on his way to the

temple through this market. This probably made my association with

chari a long standing one. Anyway we had a lot of sampradayic details

to talk about which made me at home especially since I was still

getting used to a foreign place. We have argued many many times and

one quality which stood out was that Chari was very adamant about

what he believed in. He will not give in easily. Perhaps it is this

quality which made him complete his English Sahasranama bhashyam.

After a long time, it is due to Acharyaal's anugraham, I visited him

last October when he just returned from India after a successful

pilgrimage to north(was it a forecast about what was coming!!). We

went through Dwadasi Paduka aradanam and Chari was wondering if I

would take padukai Theertham ( I belong to Mukkur Srimad

Azhagiyasinger thiruvadi). I gladly took Perumal & Andavan Paduka

theerthams.without the knowledge of what was going to happen in a few

days. (There should be absolutely no hesitation to take paduka

theerthams of Swamy Bhashyakarar's thiruvadi acharaya goshti.) After

this I had the dwadasi paaranai with Kalyani's unmatched Sarkkarai

pongal. As per his usual nature Chari sent me to the airport giving

me advice where to stop to fill up the rental car's gas tank and so

on. He was a very dear family friend and it is so hard to go through

this no matter how much philosophical we can get. During their recent

visit to India Prakrutham Andavan ordered Kalyani and not Chari to

write on Divyadesams. Did He already know that there was a greater

call from ThiruKudanthai Andavan to Chari to serve Him!! I wonder!!

Kalyani has two things on her side to go through this difficult time.

She is blessed with two wonderful children and Prakrutham Andavan's

full anugraham.

I am certain that this group will be on her side to fullfill her

manoratham.

 

K.P. Sarathy