It
is my great pleasure to write about my brother. It is a story
of India too. It is the story of our culture. My
brother
showed how one should lead life on this beautiful earth. One should
not be a burden to the environment. Man should use
only
minimum resources. life is always beautiful if we abide by
the
rules set by Vedas. Life is an opportunity to reach
God.
These types of ideals helped my brother to build his life and the
people around him. Let me introduce my
brother Ashvini Kumara to the readers.
In those days it was a system where children were given the names of
Gods. Ashvini Kumaras are Deva vaidyas. My brother
Ashvini Kumar studied agriculture. The
nutritious
food can create health was his idea. In the modern age he deeply
studied Indian culture. He was an expert in Vedic chanting.. In India
many priests chant Mantras by heart But rarely they try to know the
meaning. The ideals. and ideas of our Vedic knowledge are
very great. My brother always explained these great
ideals.
The swaram, the chanting tone in Sanskrit when perfect creates the
positive energy. The Vedic chanting purifies the environment.
I
am very fortunate that since my childhood the Sanskrit
verses,
Vedic hymns chanted by my brother gave me inspiration. The great Epic
Ramayana tells us that brothers should love each other.The
love
and affection of siblings is itself a great asset.
The
Bible says "love thy brother". My brother
Ashvini and I followed this. Even a little berry we got in
the
field was shared by both of us. My brother always waited for
me
for breakfast dinner and supper. To
know more about the life of my brother an
introduction of
our environment is very essential. We are from India. Karnataka is
the name of our state. Kodagu is our district. In
Madikeri taluk we have a tiny Village called Kaggodlu. In
Kaggodlu there are few Brahmin families residing. HULITHALA is our
family name. Even now in India all consider Brahmin caste is
upper caste and supreme. Since time immemorial Brahmins
played
an important role in preserving Vedas. As they are the priestly cast
people think they are great. They have many prescribed rules. They
are pure vegetarians . The scriptures correctly say that any one can
become Brahmin by cultivating good habits. The casts are not
considered on the basis of birth. But unfortunately people of
India are considered cast by birth. It is a sad
fact that
people who possess the great qualities of a Brahmin are very rare
to
find. My brother was born in the
Hulithala brahmin family. In
Brahmins also there are sub casts. we are Havyaka Brahmins.
Our
mother tongue is Kannada. We were brought up in the beautiful
village Kaggodlu Hulithala. There were no electricity, vehicles le
roads in those days. But we had a remarkable childhood. We
had
plenty of things to eat and enjoy. The paddy is grown in the
fields. The cardamom and coffee are grown. There were bananas and
orange pomegranate, a variety of citrus fruits. Our father worked as a high
school teacher. and mother as home maker.
My grandfather Hulithala Manjayya was a great Sanskrit scholar. Many
elders told us about his stories. He was Vedic scholar. Our
grandmother was a home maker. Our father is Manjunatha and
mother is Bhagirathi. As I
am five years younger than my brother I recollected the
stories
of his childhood from our mother. Our mother said that he was such a
bright baby that he began to walk at eighth month. My baby brother
used to call her Amma at the eighth month! Our
mother
recalled that he asked for the mother's milk too. In India almost all
people believe Vedic astrology. So our father gave his birth
date and time made a horoscope of brother. His eyes were very
sharp. My brother always listened to chantings and
lullabies very happily. when he was three years old he learnt
lingashtakam. It is a verse in praise of lord Shiva Those who
listened said that he was very fluent. He learnt to speak our mother
tongue very fluently. My mother said that she told
her
many stories. My brother always gave food to cats and kittens
He liked the dogs. Buffalo and cows and ox were all his
friends. As there was no electricity at our village during
his
childhood he said that when he grows up he brings facilities. He
produces his own electricity. He was very calm and quiet. His
concentration was amazing. He designed many models of fans and
helicopters using bananas. He helped while planting. He loved the
visitors too. He
happily showed them the fruits like bananas and oranges.
When
Navarathri puja was performed in the home by Doddappa
father's
brother he watched it too. To me also he told me about the rituals.
When my mother conceived my brother was very happy. My mother said
that he said that I should be named APARNA. Amma said that my
little brother chose this name from Lalitha sahsra nama.
Aparna
is the name of Durgadevi. My brother worshipped Durgadevi.I still
remember my brother telling everyone that my sister is beautiful.My
brother Ashvini shared his toys with me. Ashvini stitched frocks for
my dolls. He helped me to comb the doll. When I was one and a
half years old , he gave me his pen and pencil slate and slate
pencils to play. He showed picture books. He showed me a lot of
affection.He told me many stories. He taught me Sanskrit
Shlokas.
Both of us sat in front of the pictures of Gods. Ashvini slowly
pronounced a line. Then I followed him. He patiently tried to correct
me. I always said that I liked to worship Lord
Krishna. I
have had a beautiful photo of Udupi Krishna. To decorate The
Lord brother helped me to pluck the flowers. We both
performed
Puja. My brother loved to worship Lord Shiva and Devi. There were no televisions or
mobile phones. Our father brought
several books for us to read. My brother learnt
about
many medicinal plants by seeing my elder uncle. As he used to give
medicines many villagers frequently visited. Grinding the leaves and
preparing medicines was also one of the games we often played. I
always waited for my brother to return from school He was studying at
Government Primery school Hulithala. He alone walked more than 2 km
to school. While coming from school ,he brought me wild
flowers
to play. He brought fruits too. I still
remember
that most of the days , I accompanied my brother to bring
milk. Even though I tried to quarrel with
him for
the silly matters my brother never quarreled with me. My parents told
my brother not to accompany me. But Ashvini my
loving
brother always took me with him. Throughout his life, he showered
love and affection. At this stage of life I
remember the
quote of the Bible "love thy brother". Ramayana also tells
us about the relationship of the siblings. It is true that
one
cannot get a loving brother. Having a loving
brother is a
great blessing and a great asset of life.
Fortunately
when I became a grown up girl , I began to learn my brother. I never
quarrelled with him. He never scolded me even though I have made
foolish mistakes, my brother always corrected them. Really
I was happy when my brother was studying in the rural school. My
father made a bad decision to take my brother with him. My
mother was against it. My father was a high school teacher at
Cheyandane. He was staying at his relatives house. We too accompanied
my brother. Now I realise the sufferings of my brother in the house.
Every Saturday when my brother came home he used to weep The
whole Sunday he used to narrate how he was tortured there in a single
room. According to him, school was good. Friends were good.
The
relatives and father tortured him. Even though we have a lot of
coffee estates, the salary of my father, my mother had no
money. no freedom. Even today in most of the middle class families
women have no freedom. In those three years my
brother
suffered a lot. In our home at Hulithala my mother taught us
very good morals. she told us beautiful stories. She always inspired
us,
But in that house where my
brother stayed with the father had
no ideas or ideals. " Home is the first school and mother
is the first teacher is always true. As I was very young at that time
I failed to recognise my brother's agony. When there is no
peace of mind,it is very difficult to achieve. But my brother was a
topper and won a rural merit scholarship. Thanks to my
brother
who gave me colour pencils with that money. During holidays
he
learnt several verses of Bhagavadgita. He taught me also. We played
with our cousin sister Shanthakumari too. My brother always built
check dams to the stream. Ashvini used cycle dynomo
and
produced electricity. He always wished that father would appreciate
him. But father never recognised our talents. After
passing 7th standard my brother daid that he would
continue
his studies at Madikeri At last he came home. I was so happy. He
changed the medium of instruction to English. My brother Ashvini was
very brilliant he stood first in the school academic
examination..
He was a voracious reader, a good speaker.
Really we
should give attention to what others think about us. Every member of
the joint family became very jealous of my brother . We did
not
know anything about it. we never believed in Ghost stories.
But
sadly we became the victims. Even though my brother's health
deteriorated, he studied well. After completing his
high
school , he selected Science stream and joined St Philomina college
at Puttur. After that my brother wished to join Agriculture. He
joined University of Agricultural sciences Bangalore. He
completed Bsc Agriculture from V C Farm Mandya campus. My
brother wished to join higher studies. But his
health
not permitted. It was the result of the food poisoning. My
brother had many dreams. He thought to improve our
plantation.
But in the village and family all felt that an educated
person
should join a job. The tragic fact is that nobody thought about his health or
about his wishes. Everyone began to say
that he was not willing to work. In Our country India our own
families never support us. But
I always liked to take risks. I thought to help my brother. This is
the greatest decision which gives me happiness even today. Even
though I had no money with me, I had the attitude. To achieve
anything we need the grace of God. My brother learnt many Vedic
hymns. My father's brother taught him. He became an expert in
chanting. He planted banana plants. Made a new
coffee
estate. He always encouraged me to study. He taught me how to live
happily etc. Daily my brother Ashvini chanted Vedic mantras. Got
divine experiences. He filled my life with happiness. When there was
no electricity, he designed a turbine and produced
electricity. As we had buffalos to use the cow dung my
brother
suggested setting up the new type of Gobar
gas.
We got sweet milk from our buffalo. We cultivated our own
vegetables . Cultivated paddy. Really we were self sufficient.
There
was prosperity. My brother liked Organic agriculture. So he
used no pesticides. Our buffalos, cats and dogs helped
agriculture. My
brother always tried new methods. He designed several agricultural
equipment s. He always appreciated the agriculture
labourers. Throughout his life he shared the knowledge..He
designed a coffee cleaning machine and a digger. Started his
own tissue culture lab. Meanwhile
my brother Ashvini searched a groom for me. Really my brother
taught me how to live simply. Once with my brother I visited the
horticulture show. Thete I tried to see the plants cultivated in
hydroponics method. But the exhibitors did not show me properly.
Plants were not healthy. My brother said to me not to worry. In a few
days he set up a small hydroponics farm. Cultivated water melon
tomatoes and lot of greens. His experiments in the open hydroponics
gave good results. In a pot, he got about 80 Kgs of tomatoes. My
brother visited Mahakumbha mela at Haridwar. He took us to many
pilgrimage centers. Giving
food to all is a great work. so we should cultivate more he always
said. Allmost daily ploughed the field with the tractor. put green
manure plants. land became very fertile. We
planned a lot of things. Cultivation of different crops. In India we
visit astrologers. My brother was also was an expert in
astrology.
My brother narrated many stories about his past life and the worlds
beyond Earth. Astrologer said that my brother has reached highest
state through his chanting Japa. Devi Goddess has blessed
him.I
felt sad that he is not enjoying the worldly pleasures. He is living
like a saint. said astrologers. But for my pleasure he cultivated. He
always accompanied me to the market. My brother even cooked very good
dishes for me. During Navarathri performed Puja. Always told
us
the stories, philosophy of Gita. I
was happy. My life itself was a celebration. My brother taught me to
live happily. The growth of a
plant, chirping
of a bird all things of nature gave me happiness
During the Covid lock dowm my brother brought milk from a shop which
is 3 kilometers away. During those days he accompanied Gunda our dog
with him. The frogs used to cross the mud road during rainy
season . so we should not injure them thought my brother. So in the
rainy season he walked. As
usual on 25th February, 2023 in the morning I was with my brother in
our hydroponic farm. While returning I said there are bees. My
brother said that they will not harm us. we both came to house. My
brother talked to my parents. He sat in the padmasana. In a fraction
of a second he passed away. It was a great tragedy of my life. It was
no a string bite. nor heart attack. Astrolgy says that he was a
Siddha. The divine mother took my brother to her abode. My
mother says that even now when she feels sad my brother appears
before her. He is sitting in the posture of Japa. My father also
weeps for my brother as he failed to recognise his divine nature. I
have satisfaction as a sister I have performed all duties.I
supported his ideas I even now feel it is a great blessing
that
I lived with such a divine natured brother. Truly I can say
that both of us loved each other.We lived as the same side of a same
coin!
