Olagappar – The father of the world

Olagappar cycled to the temple every evening. And he polished his bicycle till it was spick and span. And the boy would stand and watch. Olagappar would expound the intricacies of bicycles to the boy. The boy would listen in rapt attention. Sometimes the boy would try to polish his own bicycle, but somehow, he never got the same results.

Sometimes Olagappar would speak on the philosophy of life. “Karumbai virumbinaal Vembu… Vembai virumbinaal Karumbu”. “Hanker after the sweet things in life, and you experience bitterness; Love and accept the bitterness that comes your way, and life becomes sweet..” The boy listened in awe at Olagappar’s wisdom.

“Virumbi ponaal vilagi pokum… vilaki ponaal virumbi varum” he would pronounce. “Go after something, and it moves away…. Move away, without attachment, and everything comes your way”. Profound words.

Nearly half a century since those days, and Olagappar is probably long gone. But the boy is now a man, who still remembers his eternal words….. to this day.