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LEAVE LETTER

Neyyatinkera is a small town in Kerala. The town may be small but it has made a mark as one of the most importent places in the state of kerala. The small town in the remote part of the state is bestowed with such an important position, because of SHIVA TEMPLE. The temple has inched its won legacy. It is the statue of lord shiva sitting in the meditative posture that has made Neyyatinkera shiva temple famous. People say that Neyyatinkera Shiva is more powerful than Shiva of Khashi and Mallikarjuna of Shrisailam. The people of the town even talk that those gods would come to Neyyatinkera for consultations on certain important issues concerning with the settlement of disputes between gods and goddesses, at such times Neyyatinkera Shiva’s verdict would be final. Another point to be specifically mentioned is that the sixteen inches statue is molded in solid gold. The statue weighs about four KGs and added to that it is about eight hundred years old. The readers could estimate the market value of that golden statue. , The deighty is seated on silver seat; just by looking at the seat any body could know that the seat represents a tiger skin. The golden statue is fixed to the silver seat and in turn the whole statue firmly fixed to an erected plat form of stone in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

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Of course a section of people are there who make a mockery of the belief of devotees. They put forth their arguments saying “Why Viswanath of kashi and Mallikarjuna of Srisailum should come all the way from their places .why count you give smart phones with lot of currency putting in to it so that they can keep chatting of all the trivial as well as important matters concerning disputes of gods and goddesses Most important aspect to be mentioned in this context is, so for no body could make an attempt to steal it, leave off stealing people say no one in their wildest dreams could dare to think of even to set their hands upon it. Of course there seems to be certain amount of truth in what they say. The temple is eight hundred years old; so far no theft has occurred. The temple authorities are so sure of the safety and security of the statue that they did not bother to appoint even a guard. For staunch supporters this has become a strong point of argument.

In course of time some significant incident happened. Richards was a thief. H e had successful record of ten years. It means he has been thief from the past ten years. He has made a mark in his circle as thrift and smart. Of course he was caught once or twice and served jail sentence for some time, but compared to the intensity of the theft his sentence is small. Once or twice he has even broke open the locks of houses. He was fed up of small thefts and decided of making a big catch so that he can lead a luxurious life; his eyes fell upon Neyyatinkera Shiva., because he had heard that the security was not that much. He thought he could make a successful attempt. He decided to steal it. With this intention he came all the way from his place Thrisur, and stayed in Neyyatinkera. Before making an attempt he decided to know thoroughly about the temple. With this intention he dressed as a staunch devotee of Shiva and began to visit morning and evening .Putting yellow vermiline SANDAL paste and red KUMKUM. Seeing his dress and attire any body would think that he is a great devotee of god. Folding his hands half closing his eyes he started going round the temple prostrating again and again. By doing like this he was closely observing the temple premises. One day he came very near to the sanctum Santorum standing at the door again and again he was tenderly slapping his own cheeks every time repeating the name of Shiva. The priest has been closely observing him and pleased by his behavior one day he began to tell----

“Pray my boy pray heartily, the god would surely fulfill your wish. He is sitting here only to fulfill the wishes of his devotees.”

“So swamiji you say he is really powerful...”Putting one more step forward keenly looking at the statue he asked.

“I challenge no doubt about it.” He said.“Swamiji, what happens if anyone tries to steal it.” As soon as the word steal came from his mouth he

looked as if he heard a sound of a thunder bolt.“Steal!!!!???” he stood stunned.“No No I am not going to steal. Just like that I asked.” Shaking his head violently he said, more strongly

slapping his cheeks with his won hands. There a burst of laughter came from the priest’---“Ha ...ha..Ha stealing the statue. Stealing the statue…ha..ha.ha,” Amidst laughter he began to tell the

powers of the god.“Just lay your hand; you will know his powers...” Richards could understand challenge that was

expressed in his words. “I see, you mean that nobody could lay hand up on it.” When Richards asked the priest began to narrate.“Impossible. Of course attempts have been made. Once or twice. Do you know what happened to

them?” He began to tell looking in to the wide opened eyes of Richards.“With the evil intention in the dead of the night the they came and stood where you are standing now”As soon as he heard he stepped back by two steps and looked where he was standing. The priest

pointing to the place where Richards was standing said.

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“Just at this place they died vomiting blood. Next day whole town saw them lying in the pool of blood.” The priest could see expression of fear in the face of Richards. Having inspired by his expression he further began to tell.

“Mark my boy in the eight hundreds of the history of the temple no body could dare to steal .How can any body could dare when people are dying vomiting blood. Do you know the story behind the installation of temple?” Richards nodded showing his ignorance about the matter.

“I will tell. About eight hundred years back Shiva shanker Nair was chief ton o f this place he was a very great devotee of Shiva. One day lord appeared in his dream and told him –

“You build a temple for me , people need not go all the way from here to Kashi or Kedar to have my darshan. If they visit this temple it as good as visiting Varanasi...” and he even told specially to make the main idol to be in gold. Then only Nair expressed of his doubt about the threat of theft. For that the lord said “Don’t worry I can look after my self. Just do as I said without saying any thing. So as per his instructions the deity is installed like this.” Saying so the priest setting aside the garlands aside showed clearly how the statue is fixed to the stone platform

See the statue has this much of height. It has this seat made of silver. Lord’s statue is fixed to the silver seat this in turn is fixed firmly to the stone plate form.” This fulfilled Richard’s wish to closely observe the statue

After this he began to contemplate pros and cons of his objective He was frightened by the words of priest. Especially vomiting of blood was trembling him. He decided to abandon his plan. It was his tempting mind that told him-

“You stupid you are a Christian a Hindu god cannot punish he can only punish Hindus not the people of other casts. His jurisdiction is Hinduism. He count touché the followers of Jesus Christ. Your god is Christ he is very nice not like shiva to make culprits to vomit bloods it you say --

“FORGIVE OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE TRESSPTESSERS TRESPASSES” he will say’O.K.MY CHILD FROM NEXT TIME DON’T REPEAT. So with out second thought carry on with your plan.”

He was not able to resist his desire to steal it. Especially after seeing it so closely it stuck him that it was easy to remove the statue from the platform and from the close observation he understood it was not difficult to break open the door. All he needs was only a strong crow bar of length twelve inches. When he thought of crow bar Nagar coil Madhavan Nair’s hard ware shop came to his mind. He knew very well that Nair’s hard ware things were of very good quality, so on the very same day he set out to Nag

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Murugesh was a poor vegetable vender in Nagar Coil. He was about thirty five years old; he was sitting before his hut. He was immersed in worried thoughts. Now and then scratching his head looking his hands he began to think what to do? He had a daughter she was about ten years old and was studying in fifth standard. She proved her self to be bright and promising .Seeing her intelligence and good behavior the school was giving free education with out taking a single rupee. She was named suitably ‘SRI VIDYA’. It was his ambition to make her a district collector, it was not only his wish it was the wish of his wife. From the day of her birth both husband and wife fostered to educate their daughter, in fact it was his wife who aspired to make her collector. Unfortunately because of some complications she developed after delivery she died. On her death bed he promised her that he would make his daughter a district collector. Seeing her studiousness and intelligence the teachers predicted that she would make some mark. He wanted to earn more money. He was sitting under a tree and selling vegetables He thought if he could bye a pushing cart, he can sell more vegetables going from street to street. His friends advised him to approach banks for the loan. Thinking that he would surely get a loan he went to the bank. The bank people told him to come ‘this day ‘ and ‘that day ‘ and after making him to come many times they refused to give him loan. Not only that bank he went to the other banks even from them also had he got the same reply. This completely crumbled his ambition. Tears rolled down from his cheeks. In side the cottage his daughter was pilling up all the old note books of previous year. She neatly tied them to a thread and came out holding them. Murugesh could under stand where she was going ---

“Kuchu mole(means little baby) are you going to Nair shop?” for that she replied-“Yes appa (father) kerosene is not there?” and went to the shop and sold the note books came with

kerosene can. It was by chance Richards came very next day and the type of crow bar which he wanted

was there. He selected it. Nair tore a page from Sri Vidya’s book and wrapped the bar in it and handed over to Richards. The page was from her composition book. It was again by chance the particular page contained ‘LEAVE LETTER’ composition. It contained the particulars like name of Sri Vidya along with the required details of class, and name of the school with full address. It was written with dark pencil since the school was insisting the students up to fourth standard to write with pencil not with balled pen or ink pen. The very same day he went to Neyytinkera .It appeared even the lord Shiva was favoring Richards.

There was a mango tree adjacent to the temple boundary wall. Its branches had spread in to the temple premises. Climbing that tree he could very easily come in to the temple. As usual of his habit he particularly choose new moon day. The pitch darkness facilitated his entry. The other operation went on with least effort. He stood few yards away from main temple .Removed the leave letter paper that was wrapped, squeezed the paper like a ball and threw it in to the well of the temple. What surprised him was, he thought he had to sweat a lot to break open the locks of the doors of the temple, but with one or two strong strokes the chains broke, he entered and stood before meditative Shiva, there was a light of the oil lamp that was burning brightly. He closely observed the lord. Shiva’s eyes were half closed and there was a serene smile upon his tranquil face. Before striking with his crow bar he felt like folding his hands. He stood before him with folded hands slapped his own cheeks and lifted the crow bar. For few seconds his hands trembled-

“THEY VOMITED BLOOD.’ The priest’s words reverberated in his years. Some how he began to feel suddenly some vomiting sensation. He took courage forgetting for a minute that he was Christian, uttered’JAI SHIVA SHOMBHO’ and gave a strong blow with his crow bar. Just with one strong stroke the statue got separated from its seat as if waiting to leave from its seat. Richards stood stunned the moment the idol came in to his hands. He held it very dearly to his chest, unable to believe that the challenging task was such a great success.

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The joy was so immense that he was not able to breathe properly and was galloping. He had brought a gunny bag he thrust the idol in to it, and then his eyes fell upon the silver seat. It was quite broad and had a thick ness of about one inch. He tried to remove it and began to give blows. The seat which so easily gave away god seemed to be firmly adored to the stone plate form. He feared that the loud noise may awake people and leaving it he came out while stepping out he again felt he may vomit, but when such a thing didn’t happen he thought,” Nothing happens, what all was being spoken of the shiva is a big bundle, in fact shiva himself is bundle his powers are bogus. It is only a lifeless statue, that’s all.” With this conclusion he came out of the sanctum sanctorum,

When he came near the well he looked at the crow bar in his hands, he felt its work was over and it was not of any use. The thought of golden idol that was lying in his gunny bag was making him very proud. And the iron bar which helped him to posses the golden Shiva became useless, so he glanced at and threw in to the well. It nicely got stuck to the wall of the well, and laid there.

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Next day it was the chief priest who came early in the morning that came to know about the theft. The temples of kerala have their own architectural pattern. There will be open space around the sanctum sanctorum; the space will not have any roof. It would be just left uncovered, so the main entrance would be few yards away from the main deity’s place. The chief priest came in to the temple opening the lock of the main door, it was intact. The readers are aware how Richards found his way in to the temple.

From the distance the priest saw the wide opened doors of temple he began to tremble with fear and began to sweat profusely when he saw the platform with out god he could not take courage to enter into Santorum. Next the things moved very fast with in half an hour there were police people in the premises the theft spread like wild fire. Superintend of police Mr. Gokuldas began investigation operations. The first step he took was to close the temple doors and the public was not allowed, and he began to search for the clues. Mean while the news in no time spread through out town like wild fire the whole town gathered around the temple. It was in deed a great day for those who used to make fun of the devotees, they began to say-

“See what your god was doing when was being stolen?”“Yar…he must have got fed up of meditation. Needed a change.”“No he must be fast asleep after having prasadams.”“Must have gone for tour with his wives and children”Poor devotees had to bear their funny remarks and criticisms. Finally with one voice said,” This is

kaliyuga the sins are mounting, so god has gone to his abode Mt. Kailash.” They were really disappointed seeing this. Mean while other development took place in side the temple.A police man after going round the temple came and stood near the well. Just causally looked in to the well. Immediately his attention drew the paper ball. “Sir.” He shouted. All the police personal came running to the well. In few minutes the composition paper and the crow bar were in D.S.P. Gokul das’s hands. Mean time Richards crossed a brook and went in to the adjacent forest. There was a pit, he put the gunny bag containing idol in to it and covered with mud and leaves made some markings and went in to a village that was about three kilometers. By that time the people of the village were talking- “See it seems Shiva got fed up with and went away” One said he went to Shrisailam the other said he went to Kedar, others laughed at the ignorance and innocence and said –“You stupid you know a smart thief has stolen it. By this time it must have reached Bombay and would on it’s way in to a smugglers den.”It appeared it was suggested to Richards who was thinking what to do next. His criminal mind began to make future plans. 4

Mr.Gokul Das is sitting before the head mistress of the school. He had come with the intention to know Vidya’s address. The head mistress knew who he was and told him-“Sir, she is one of the best students of our school. They are living in a hut.” Saying so she gave in detail about the place where she was living. She became curious to know why he came all the way for the girl. When she asked he said-“From the department we are planning to honor some poor and eligible students.” And told her even before she asked how he got the composition paper“I purchased some camphor in a shop, he wrapped in this paper and gave me, as soon as I saw the hand writing I felt that she must be good at studies, so I came to your school. The principle was very much pleased and said –

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“Oh, it is very kind of you sir. She really deserves the honors.” He thanked her and headed towards Vidya’s house. His investigation gained momentum. Purposely he went in civilian dress to Vidya’s house. When he went there she was doing some class work. She came out seeing a gentle man standing at the door. He told her that he was from the police department and told what he had told the head mistress. The girl’s face shined brightly, and when he showed the composition paper she took him to the shop where she had sold her note books. The very next day the officer went to his shop with all the photographs of culprits, and asked him had any one of them had come. The shop keeper immediately recognized Richards, and told when he came what he took. When Gokul Das showed the crow bar he said that it was the one he sold to Richards. Immediately orders were passed to the all the police departments of the country to trace for the culprit. The department people began their search especially at the bus stands, rail way stations and air ports. With in three days their search yielded results.By that time Richards contacted one of his friends and told about the theft and also told him about his plan to sell it to smuggler. His friend who in turn contacted others had made arrangements for the sale of the idol. The price was fixed to be more than a chore. Richards bought a big leather hand bang wrapped the idol with his clothes and boarded a bus. He was on his way to Calicut; because it was there the sale was arranged. When he was sitting a person came and politely asked him to get down from the bus. Naturally when he refused the police who was in civilian dress said that his friend Macha was waiting for him. Macha was like his guru from whom he got the training in the art of theft. Immediately he got down with the bag. As soon as he got down Gokul Das with his force surrounded him.

5 The day was a great day for the people of Neyytinkere. The idol was again reinstalled in it’s place with great pomp and show. It was the turn of the devotees; to attack the people who had made fun of their god. When the idol was stolen the devotees felt being let down. Now they fully made use of this opportunity, and started attacking those that laughed at them to their hearts content. The said-- “Wasteful souls of ignorant and innocent at least under stand the mysteries and miracles of lord.” They uttered in one voice. The people who had made fun of them scratched their heads and bit their finger nails. More than all it was upon Richards the incident had its maximum effect. With out telling any thing he surrendered himself, he silently bore their beatings and scolding like a dumb man. In fact the incident seemed to have taken away his voice. He had some jail mates and friends they too were criminals, even they too did not approve his act. They showered all kinds of abuses up on him. Bowing his head down bore them all silently. On the day of Judgment the court room was full. This became sensational news and the channels fully made use of this opportunity. They telecasted them every incident recreating all the events that had happened. This made Vidya, Murugesh.even the school and the teachers popular. Murugesh’s life ambition to make his daughter collector spread through out the country along with this the managers who refused to give loans were strongly criticized and questioned by both the journalists, channel reporters and their higher ups. All the banks immediately sanctioned loans and went to his house by that time many people and various organizations had come forward, help was pouring from many corners. They even said that they would take full expenses of her education, but Murugesh expressed his strong wish to educate her selling vegetables he said he wanted the pushing cart. Even though many came forward to provide him with a cart it was the temple authorities that donated him a nice cart. He was happily going round the streets of the town selling vegetables. He had a good propaganda people are eagerly buying his vegetables. It needs no special reference that he has a roaring business. Finally the judgment was pronounced and he was given a some years of rigorous imprisonment. The judge asked him whether he has any thing to say he nodded and said that he wished to visit the temple once

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before serving the jail sentence. Here and there were protests saying that he must not be allowed in to the temple. The rumors even spread that he has some links with the smuggler and terrorist groups that have planned to blast the temple. The judge granted him permission. With tight security that too early in the morning when no visitor was there he was brought to the temple. He came and stood before the god. The priest that had seen him was there. He readily recognized him. Richards kneeled down before the lord. Held his hands at his chest and suddenly as if there was a cloud burst tears started pouring out of his closed eyes. He is sobbing with gallops like a child that had lost its way and again found it’s way. The eyes of the police and the priest became wet. Richards sat, his eyes were closed, and the tears were gushing out like waters of flooded river. In his heart there was only one prayer echoing again and again.“LORD ENOUGH OF THE PAST WORTH LESS LIFE. GIVE ME NEW LIFE. GIVE ME NEW LIFE”Wiping the tears priest went near the statue and began to offer APATHY chanting Vedic hymns. The police rang the bells. The birds gathered in large groups in the branches of the trees in the temple premises were chirping as if telling our god has listened your prayers. Surely your wish would be fulfilled. --------------------------------------------------------

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