Gouribala met Right Honourable James Ramsbotham at Kataragama.When the war was over, he continued to study Hinduism and Buddhism. He felt that he did not get anywhere in finding the right way forward and decided to return to his country/Germany. Before leaving he was at the Sri Lanka bookshop, looking for books to take back to Germany, he saw a white headed and white bearded figure appeared at the window and shouted at Gouribala “it is not in the books” and then disappeared. By the time Gouribala went to the window there was no sign of this person. This set Gouribala to look for this figure and found him later and never left Ceylon!
The above photo was taken when Asai ayah called Sellam Studios to take pictures of the age attainment ceremony of Asai ayah’s 2nd daughter Thirumagal Thirunavukarasu.
Asai ayah got me to dress Appu. I combed his hair, mustache and refreshed him with cologne and Yardley powder and dressed him with fresh clothes. Appu was looking at the photographer who was standing behind the window to take a discrete shot. I am sure Appu knew what was going on but never said anything.
Appu’s Maha Samathy took place on 23/3/1964 at 3.17 am coinciding with his annual Thiruvadi Pooja day – Tamil March (60 2-6) second Monday. On that particular day it was Ayillium Nakshathiram. Devotees from all over the island and the school students came to pay their last respects. All those who came to attend Appu’s final journey were chanting NATCHINTHANAI songs and THIRUMURAI. On Wednesday 25/3/1964 Appu’s body was prepared for his final journey after the Abishekam performed in line with the ancient religious rituals. The body was placed in a special box and dressed in white clothes filled with a variety of flowers along with garlands and carried from the Ashram on Columbuthurai road to Thundi crematorium. The road all the way from Ashram to the crematorium was decorated both sides with flower garlands and suspended festools along with mango leaves. (பூ மாலைகள் மாவிலை தோரணங்கள் ). Traditional 5 lipped oil lamps and KUTHU VILAKU NIRAIKUDAM ( குத்துவிளக்கு நிறைகுடம் ) were kept in front of all the houses and families were praying while expressing their love and affection to Appu by showering his body with flowers. In the crematorium males and females were directed to form separate groups to witness the final ceremony. Children joined their parents. Appu’s body was placed on a pile of sandalwood logs. At this instant the crematorium was in a state best described as ‘even sand could not reach the surface when dropped from the top’ (மண் போட்டால் மண் விழாதே கிளியே மனிதர் எல்லாம் கூடிக்கொண்டார்). After Kokuvil Kumarasamy Pulavar sang THIRUVASGAM SONG, Mr Thirunavukarasu led the final rites and lit the fire for the final cremation. All those who were there in the crematorium prayed and sang “ARAHARA” and prayed to the bright light that was glowing during the cremation. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians joined in the ceremony.
16+ TO YTD
APPU’S HOLY ASTHI CEREMONY ON 9/9/1964 IN COLUMBUTHURAI ASHRAM, JAFFNA
Appu’s holy asthi was collected in 3 containers, which were sealed and kept in both Columbuthurai Ashram and Sivathondan Nilayam. As per Appu’s wish and guidelines, the portion of the holy Asthi which was taken to Sivathondan Nilyam was brought back to Columbuthurai Ashram and all the 3 containers were combined together and enshrined with the Palani (up) Holy Ashes on that day. The sacred holy ash ceremony took place on Wednesday 9/9/1964 in Columbuthurai ashram, Jaffna.
A few days before this grand ceremony, Appu appeared in one of the devotee’s dreams and advised him to obtain bags of holy ash for the ceremony. With the help of senior Government officials sufficient PALANI (பழனி ) holy ash was obtained in time for the ceremony. Appu’s original hut was converted into Appu’s Samathy temple after placing Appu’s holy asthi (as per his directive to Assai lyah), inside the converted hut with appropriate sacred ceremony recitals were performed by selected priests at that time in Columbuthurai Samathy Temple, Jaffna.
Mr S.R Kandiah provided the required resources to convert the hut into the Samathy temple. Appu used to celebrate Maha Sivarathiri and Purana recitals in Mr. S. R. Kandiah’s Ariyalai coconut estate. Mr. S. R. Kandiah always took responsibility to renew the thatched roof of the old hut Ashram, in a discreet manner by arriving at the Ashram after Appu left in the morning, with the required number of workers, and completed the work before Appu returned in the evening.
Daily pooja’s were carried out by Sri Vijayanantha Sarma (lyah), Assai lyah, Sinna Annai (Sampathan) and my younger brother Sivayogan and myself. After the Maha Samathy, Appu appeared in my dreams always in the Columbuthurai Ashram and in Mr Thirunavukarasu’s property.
Vijayanantha Sarma (lyah) was sent to Chenkalady Sivathondan. Chenkalady Sivathondan Nilayam Foundation was laid before Appu’s Maha Samathy in 1964.Sivathondan Nilayam building was completed in 1965. For the consecration of the Sivathondan Nilayam in Chenkalady, Thiruvadi was taken from Jaffna on 13th March 1965 by Santhaswamy arrived in Chenkalady on the 14th March 1965.
