|
Periscope :
In search of that magic potion
Master and disciple pattered along the vault. Within a few minutes
they found themselves close to a tomb. It was owned by Ven. Totagamuwe
Sri Rahula.
"What's the magic potion you said he used?" Disciple asked.
"It's called Saraswathi Tailaya. Saraswathi means the goddess of
knowledge. Scriptures say the monk was conversant in many things
including six languages."
 An
uproarious laugher broke within at that very moment. A voice was trying
to say something between the laughter and that petered out at length.
"Now where the hell that sound..." Disciple could not carry on. He
felt a cold firm grip on his shoulder. It made him nearly collapse. He
took a few seconds to realize it was his master.
"Don't sound so insolent. Mind your words. This is a sacred as well
as venerated place. They believe the monk still has life and that's why
he keeps on growing hair and nails.
"I apologize for my words..." Disciple said and then a pause reigned.
He went ahead.
"But how can that be? Once someone is dead, he should be dead and
gone. Nothing can outsmart death."
"That's what medicine and science rule. But there are so many
spiritual things the science cannot interpret properly. Tell me what
does science say when someone stops breathing for hours? It doesn't
accept the very fact itself. So don't be scientific, I say."
"So Ven. Totagamuwe Sri Rahula has used Saraswathi Tailaya to gain
immortality?"
"That's what they say. Time was when some quarters believed it
belongs to Saint Saviour too. Ven. Sri Rahula is said to have had more
power anyway."
"Such as?"
"He could get demons and spirits work for him."
"Do you believe in them?"
"I don't think my knowledge is fair enough to give you a fair answer.
But that's not so important."
"Then what is important?"
"The fact that he is a scholar."
"I have heard he was well versed in many subjects such as Ayurveda."
"Not only that. He is a born poet. He authored Selalihini Sandeshaya
and Parevi Sandeshaya It still inspires our modern poets."
"I have read both Sandeshayas. Well I found them utter boring. Some
poems are all right, but some seem awful."
Master smiled. That smile echoed and disciple heard another within
the walls. He could only wonder.
"Why, did I say something funny?"
"No in fact you remind me those who study Selalihini Sandesaya for
O/Ls and A/Ls. They are not honest like you. They just mug up stanzas,
meanings and their masters' interpretations. When someone asks they say
they love Selalihini Sandeshaya. But I have seen it's not genuine."
"Do you enjoy it yourself?"
"I do, my son. I do. You should know the rhythm of the language
before studying it. More you study the rhythm, more you develop your
intuition. That helps you enjoy classics. This is same in English too.
No one can really enjoy Shakespeare or Chaucer without studying the
rhythm of the language first."
"Do you mean to say I lack intuition?"
"If you say Selalihini bored you, yes."
"But is that the only reason?"
"No there are other reasons too. When you are too much exposed to
modern lyrics and addicted to their simplicity then you lack that
intuition."
"But I think simplicity is very much needed for creative works."
"And I don't say no. I think it should be simplicity as well as
beauty of the language, rather."
"How do you define beauty?"
"I have no idea. But I can tell you how to make your writing
beautiful or belles lettres. When you poise a balance between ancient
and modern classics, then I think you can make your style beautifully
simple."
"If you can spell it out? I didn't quite get it."
"When you read Shakespeare, you shouldn't borrow all those archaic
terms, but there are beautiful coinages as well as words that may seem
fit to the modern audience. Are there any favourite lines in
Selalihini?"
"Plenty of them."
"May be, but I need one."
"Nala bala sasala dala rala pela nuba negena
"There you are. Now anyone who has read enough modern classics can
manipulate this very line to suit the modern audience. I know some
people have done it before."
"But young are not so concerned about this learned monk?"
"Not all. There are some. At least there is one."
"Who is that?"
"You."
"Well, that's a compliment. But you cannot exactly say that."
"I can. If you are not interested you wouldn't need me to spell out
what I have said."
Disciple smiled.
"That's interesting. But now I want to know more mysterious things
about him. Magic potion and stuff."
"That's a good thing. But we haven't got enough time for that. All
the same there is a book called Puranokthi Sangrahaya by Sunanda
Mahendra. That has some mystery stuff about the monk. Go buy it."
That put an end to their conversation. Whether they left the vault
that very moment or not, I cannot exactly remember.
[email protected]
|
