Night of the Scorpion............

Cannot skip the thought of  my encounter with the Scorpion, whenever I happen to read the famous poem by “Nizzem Eskiel “…… an Indo-Anglican poet….since my childhood until last night…

Grand Parents @ my mother's wedding

This is our ancestral house at Sathyamangalam …..(We are the proud owners of this house right now…) This place is surrounded by mountains and river on all side and I remember the frozen coconut oil most of the days in a year.

A long “thinnai” supported by pillars which leads to the main door of the house preceded by a brightly  lit courtyard (Thotti muththam)……Wooded pillars( horizontal and vertical), three layered roof (Tiles, sheet made of bamboo, bamboo), separate storage area for condiments, built in granaries, a row house with great width and length (Rendu kattu veedu)  

“I REMEMBER THE NIGHT MY MOTHER

WAS STUNG BY A SCORPION. TEN HOURS

OF STEADY RAIN HAD DRIVEN HIM

TO CRAWL BENEATH A SACK OF RICE.”

During one of my early childhood days, at dusk heard the groaning of my grandmother who was stung by a “Scorpion” who used to operate around the granaries and condiment storage area where the gunny bags and cartons are stored.

Myself and my sister rushed to one of our neighbouring houses wherein lived Mr.Natesa Ayyar who was well known as a priest who could recite mantras for people who are in distress.( It was not the first time she was bitten by the Scorpion……. I myself can count to 10 times minimum , my mom says since her childhood its infinity….)

“THE PEASANTS CAME LIKE SWARMS OF FLIES”

“WITH CANDLES AND WITH LANTERNS”

In the mean while , all our neighbours started coming to our house hearing about what happened …….

“MAY THE SINS OF YOUR PREVIOUS BIRTH

BE BURNED AWAY TONIGHT, THEY SAID.

MAY YOUR SUFFERING DECREASE

THE MISFORTUNES OF YOUR NEXT BIRTH, THEY SAID.

MAY THE SUM OF ALL EVIL

BALANCED IN THIS UNREAL WORLD”

People started talking philosophy around …… if you suffer the pain , all your sins will go away, your chance of rebirth is reduced etc etc….(which I believe strongly)

As kids did not know what to do…….Just watched …..

“AND BUZZED THE NAME OF GOD A HUNDRED TIMES

TO PARALYSE THE EVIL ONE.”

Some chanted prayers……

“I WATCHED THE HOLY MAN PERFORM HIS RITES TO TAME THE POISON WITH AN INCANTATION.”

Natesa Mama started applying the “Holy Ash” and started reciting Mantras to drive away the evil out of our granny massaging with “Neem Leaves” around the bitten area……which would stop the poison gushing into the blood.

“MY(GRAND) FATHER, SCEPTIC, RATIONALIST,

TRYING EVERY CURSE AND BLESSING,

POWDER, MIXTURE, HERB AND HYBRID”

After a while, everyone left ….

Our granny was still groaning and groaning in pain…until the next day..

MY  MOTHER ONLY SAID

THANK GOD THE SCORPION PICKED ON ME

AND SPARED MY CHILDREN.

With Great Grand Children during Diwali 2013

We were care free kids then who were left under her care …. which made her to think that the scorpion spared us, the kids.

[Same I felt when I got my ankle fractured while walking along with my grandson..  :D]

During our teen years , we used to make fun at our granny to be a person like the villain “Naganandhi” of Sivagamiyin Sabatham by KALKI , who used to take the poison of snakes and bit by them … to develop immunity to his system.

Few years back, I saw a scorpion at Chennai in the walk path of our apartment while sitting along with small kids , which scared them….Not me…..

P.S:  I still wonder, in spite of the medical facilities available, why she was not given medical aid???