Jairam Naidu - my father's brother-in-law

Jairam Naidu, my father's brother-in-law, was an entirely larger than life personality. Jovial, genial, happy and excellent in living his life for the day. He never seemed to think about a tomorrow, and yet, managed a large family. Lived at Nanganallur, when I met up with him in 1978 and thereafter, and I enjoyed watching how his house grew from a thatch roof small house, to firmer designs. He had his sorrows and troubles, and I remember always that he never shared his problems with my father and my uncle, Shantaram Naidu, who loved him genuinely.

Money was hard to come by, in those days, and Jairam Naidu, treasured every effort of his. He traveled from Nanganallur through the city to Ennore Foundries, and was to be known by it. He found his second son-in-law, chronologically, the first - Chandramohan. Later, Balaji Naidu, my cousin, got Jairam Naidu's job at Ennore Foundries and has been working there ever since.

Jairam Naidu was son of Shanmughavalli and Alagiri Singhari Naidu. He had a sibling, Devaki Amma, who passed away at the young age of 18 years. Jairam Naidu married Pramila, daughter of Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam and Rambai.

Shanmughavalli and Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam were siblings, and children of Neela Meghala Shyamala Naidu and Rukmini Devi, residents of Srivilliputtur. Shanmughavalli was married to and settled in Chennai.

Jairam Naidu at Ennore Foundries, Chennai

On the day of his retirement from Ennore Foundries

Neela Meghala Shyamala Naidu - My paternal great grandfather

Sometime in 2009, I came to know that my paternal paternal great grandfather was Neela Meghala Shyamala Naidu, born in Srivilliputhur, married to Rukmini Devi, father of Balamma, Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam and Shanmughavalli, grandfather to twelve children.

The name - Neela Meghala Shyamala - is tremendously awesome. It is the name given to Panduranga, the aspect of Krishna, the dark one, as compared to blissfully beautiful dusk clouds.

The name originated with Vaishnava traditions in appreciation of Vishnu's Varaha Avatar, and the possibility that Lakshmi would never have been away from his side, and therefore there would be a  Lakshmi Varaha Avatar. Therefore, Vishnu's Varaha Avatar would always be as beautiful as the rain-laden clouds at dusk. That is indeed a splendid name to live up to.

Swami Desikan in the Dasavathara Slokam salutes Vishnu's Varaha Avataram and describes the Lord coming out of the ocean, but holding Lakshmi firmly on his giant tusk. This rendition is based out of Srivilliputhur, and therefore the name is apt. Andal (Bhumi Devi) salutes Vishnu for the gift of the Varaha Charama Slokam - Naacchiyar Thirumozhi - 11.8 - wherein she says that Sri Ranganatha who took the form of the Varaha avatar and blessed us with the knowledge is completely perfect. Andal renders that she cannot wish away the image of the form of Varaha Avatar, even if she tried her best.

Later, Nammalvar visualised Vishnu as a veritable Blue Mountain, accompanied by two crescent moons (in describing the tusks of Varaha), and holding Lakshmi Devi on one of them and emerging from the ocean. He uses the words - sammuthitho neela ivachal-lo mahan... 

At that moment, he uses only the first word - neela

Later, Muthuswami Dikshitar renders Nammalvar's composition in the Sri Lakshmi Varaham Krithi, in Abhogi Raagam, and salutes the Varaha Avatar as that of Sriman Narayana. He explains that since Lakshmi never leaves the side of Vishnu in any avatar, she would have to be included in the slokam. Therefore, he sings about the presence of a Lakshmi Varaha Sthalam on the banks of the Tambara Bharani River, and recognises Narayana as Sritha Jana Subha Pratham and renders unto him, his appearance - as Neela Megha Jaya Shyamala gathiram, Neela Bhudhevi Sthuthi Paathiram.

There is a verse that is in dedication to Shri Krishna -
Neela megha shyamala roopa gopala, nithyananda swarupa krishna gopala
deva deva devaki baala gopala, vasudeva vaarija nethra gopala... 

and another one in dedication to Shri Rama -
Shri Raama Neela Megha Shyama, Kodandarama...

With all this dedication to Shri Krishna and Shri Rama in various aspects, it was no surprise for Shri Neela Meghala Shyamala Naidu's son, Shri Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam to name his sons after Shri Krishna and Shri Ram...

Daya Krishna, Navaneetha Krishna, Venkata Krishna, Murali Krishna
Kaushala Ram and Shanta Ram

And, by the most amazing coincidence, when my nephew was to be named in the 21st century, 200 years after my great grand father, without being aware, and unknowingly, my brother chose him to be named as Neel...

Finally, is the wonderful rendition to Panduranga, as Neela Megha Shyamala in the movie, Pandurangudu...