Writer: Jagaddhatri
The original name of Palamma is Pydithalli. Full name is jakkavaram Pydithalli. She was the only daughter to her parents. It was said that this girl when born was prone to cot death , so her mother Appala Narasa and her father Balaramudu prayed an offering to Vijayanagaram Goddess Paidimaamamba . They prayed that if this child stays alive they would name her after the Goddess. She survived, and had turned Pydithalli.
Appala Narasa used to take a big basket full of raw mangoes, gooseberries, tamarinds and sit in the Pedda bazaar junction and sell them.
Balaramudu never used to work. He was always chided by his wife. At the most he used to pretend helping her out selling the things in the basket. As soon as he could make some coins he would take them and go to Sannasayya arrack shop.
There was always a tussle between man and wife about this. It was an entertainment for the ladies around to watch this. All these petty quarrels were almost gone when Pytdithalli was born.
No one knows what Pydithalli used to eat and drink but day by day she looked slim. Though she had or not Apapalanarasa never kept her kid hungry. By the time Pydithalli attained puberty people were astounded by her beauty. Some even called her a horse and some others called her the cine beauty. Pydithalli never cared for anything said behind her. But if anything said on face she used to settle scores with them. Pydithalli is such a wonderful being. She was good to the good and bad to the bad people. With straightforward people she spoke straight, with ruffians she too was a ruffian.
“you are not supposed to be like that” parents told her.
“ are we born to take all this abuse ?” saying so she used to itch for a fight with her parents.
When she was sitting with her basket-ware in the market , she was fair enough to the fair people. If some troublesome fellows came she really shown them the stars.
“get lost to your home, or I’ll break your neck, don’t look down upon us for we are poor . no one is a mad cap here “ burning like sulphur, she used to dismiss them all with high airs.
It is so strange that Pydithalli who even did not have basic education , was very worldly wise. She used to prostrate to the temple priest. When he blessed “sataayushmaanbhava”(live a hundred years), she felt proud and happy. Whenever she came across the village head man or his assistant she used to wish them with folded hands in respect. She loved kids. She was very fond of them and spent most of the time with them. She also had lot of devotion for god. Without visiting the Virupaksha temple and having darsan and smearing vibhuthi on her forehead she never took her basket for sale.
Pydithalli , the good soul had now attained the age of marriage. They started searching for alliances.
“why someone else, isn’t there my son Narasinga , why don’t you marry her to him” Durgaayamma , Appalanarasa’s husband’s sister, the paternal aunt, proposed once.
“ if it is my son , he will take care of her as an apple of his eye” she said.
Appalanarasa did not know what to do. To discuss with her hubby he was a fool. She brooded over it. At this moment Pydithalli herself took hold of the situation.
“atthaa!(aunt), your son is a good guy , I don’t deny. But who else is there for my parents but for me. I can’t leave them and come away. You don’t have any problem for you have four sons and you can spend time with each one, but for my parents it isn’t the case. Tell me if Singadu bava will stay with us, I have no objection for marriage. And take my word I will give birth to many grand children to your liking. .” She solved the problem in a few words.
Durgayamma did not show any joy for those words, nor did she feel bad. “ its like ghar jamaayi (son in law staying with the girl’s parents). That’s ok, my son is not going any where he is only with my brother , you should be my daughter-in- law, that’s my only wish” said Durgayamma .
The next month the marriage was celebrated.
Narasingadu was a humble man. He was so excited being husband to Pydithalli who is like an imam pasand mango. He moved into his in laws place.
Next to her parents home , Pydithalli constructed another hut, and started family life with Singadu. She added another basket of her own along with her mother’s, to sell in the market.
If mother sold the full raw mangoes , daughter used to season them with salt and chilli powder and sold. Custard apples, jack fruits, jamuns, guavas , what not, she used to sell every fruit that is available in the season.
Narasingadu is not like his father in law. He was a helping hand to Pydithalli and managed the house well.
Pydithalli is a very honest girl. She always stuck to her given word.True to the word she gave to her mother in law before marriage, she gave birth to kids in a row , one in a one and half year time gap and became mother of totally ten kids. Every one mocked her to be a hen with chicks. She relished that mockery.
As she had continuous and happy conceptions, we don’t know how far is Pydithalli benefited by this , but many babies in that village really were breast-fed, kept away from hunger and survived .
It was then that Kameswari, the village karanam’s daughter- in- law had a son. He was very chubby. But he was lacking mother’s milk. He starved with hunger. It was not the fault of Kameswaramma , she tried to breast feed him. But no milk came, so the kid could not have anything. Every one who saw her plight really pitied her.
Kameswari used to eat ghee rice. She ate papayas and drank cow’s milk, but alas there was no milk in her breasts. Then there were no milk powder tins, even if there are , were not available in villages, but only in far off towns. Our village did not know anything about it. To feed the kid they brought milk powder from somewhere and mixed it in hot water fed the boy. But it did not suit him and he had diarrohea and was almost in his last moments. Karanam’s house plunged into chaos.
Pydithalli heard this news. She felt very sad. She was in tears thinking of the plight of the kid who is starving to death unable to get mothers milk. Whether it is good or bad she went to karanam’s house to speak out her heart. She said she ought to have a word with the daughter in law. All the members of the house agreed to Pydithalli’s words. Pydithalli directly went to the cot of Kameswari and spoke in a convincing tone.
“ amma, if you have no objection , I will breast feed the baby . you don’t have milk but I have much. I suffer with an aching breast because of over flow of milk so , I don’t lose anything”. She said affectionately, with love and with compassion.
Continuing her words she said again “though we may not be rich like you , we too observe careful diet. And me , I have a lot of devotion to god so I don’t have non-vegetarian often. Listen to me. Don’t starve the child. God had been gifting me kids every year and had been taking away some too. I can understand what it is to lose a child. God forbid it should never befall even to enemies. Please don’t hesitate now” she said with love.
Karanam and his wife were so pleased when she was saying these words. Wishing her kid to survive , the daughter in law looked at her in –laws, pleading. They nodded their heads in agreement. Kameswari bowed to them both with folded hands and handed over her kid to Pydithalli.
Pydithalli loosened her blouse and gave her breast to the kid. The child who has been starving for mother’s milk drank to his full making big sounds of sucking. Pydithalli was humming some song while the child was having his feed.
From that day onwards Pydithalli did the same for few months. She visited the karanams house before going and returning from the bazaar with her basket.
She breast fed the child. Having Pydithalli’s milk the kid grew up healthy. He was like a budding water gourd. One day karnams daughter in law unable to stop her curiosity asked Pydithalli.
“ what do you eat Pydi, you have a lot of milk. I too eat well , but somehow no milk is there for me”.
Pydithalli giggled. “ what do I have amma , early morning I have porridge, and some leftover night rice . After noon and night I have maize rotis . Can we people eat like you. Even other wise one must be fortunate enough to breast feed the kids, that’s all” she concluded philosophically.
Starting with karnam’s daughter in law, Pydithalli had turned a close help mate to many mothers who lacked breast milk. She saved them from the loss of kids.
Pramila the daughter of the school master Kanna rao came to her parents home and gave birth to a baby girl, but Pydithalli only had to breast feed her. And a few more like the grocer Chukka Seethayya’s great- grand- daughter, the son of contactor Parvatheesam, and the youngest son of the timber depot Gavararaju have really survived only because of Pydithalli’s milk.
Not only these but many of our village kids are bred, having been breast fed by Pydithalli. God only knows what miracle was in there, but, , everyone who had milk from her grown up very healthy and strong.
In our village it was so that who ever may have a baby, but it must be fed by Pydithalli only, was the situation once. That was the reason the people of our village stopped calling her by her name, they started calling her “paalamma”. And it so happened that this name finally settled for her.
Palamma who fed so many kids in that village never sought any help from any one. Even offered something to eat , she refused to take.
“ I have all your love and affection , that’s more than enough “ she said.
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Time does not stay where it is , if so there would never be any problem . The time cycle turned and Palamma is now is in her seventies. She had no previous energy.
She became feeble. Her children grew up and scattered on their living. Her husband Narasingadu is no more.
Age and children who do not pay heed to her words , domestic problems , all this made Palamma sick.
“how are your children Palamma ?” any one should ask
“ they were kids once in the lap, but not now in their youth! ” she said
“ you have fed so many kids in the village dear “ if some one reminded her
“yes , yes, when we do not belong to our own children , what will the kids fed upon my milk would give me “ she answered.
Palamma is down with consumption disease. She is nearing death. The village ayurvedic doctor said there’s no hope. She is awaiting her death to turn up any moment.
Everybody knew of Palamma’s goodness. All the elders and youngsters went to her hut to see her in her last moments. They surrounded her bed. Being sick, she was not like the previous Palamma . She was so charmingly energetic then, but now a feeble being. She got a new energy seeing so many around her. She slowly opened her lips and said
“babu! I want to say only one thing , please do not be angry with me”
“ oh don’t say that , tell us whatever you say we don’t mind” said the village president Bullabbayi.
“ I will ask for a wish, will you fulfill it” she asked
“you have never asked for anything , now at this moment if you ask anything we are ready to do it , please say it quick” said the village munsif Parvateesam.
All the people around reiterated “yes that’s right”, along with him.
Then Palamma started, “babu , you all call me Palamma , all of you have forgotten my real name is Pydithalli isn’t it “
All the people said yes .
Trying to control the severe cough Palamma continued. “I know from birth to death milk is of very importance to human being. Be it mother’s milk, cow’s milk, or buffaloes , it is great. This was the reason I breast fed children whenever a family in need asked me. Dear sirs, I have been watching from nearly last sixty years, the milk in the temple of Shiva is being so wasted t than anywhere else. They say it is abhishekam (pouring milk on the god), they bring liters and liters of milk and empty the containers on the god in the name of ablutions. . Not one or two, but many , on the day of Shivaratri and especially on Mondays this is too much. And all that milk flows down to the drainage. If that milk is given to the poor people, they will have it with pleasure. Me too am a devotee. If you are a devotee pour water , maredu leaves and worship the lord.
Had the lord ever denied our doing so? But do not waste milk unnecessarily. I am bed ridden from last one year. I have given milk to many , but there is no one to give me a little bowl of milk. I always thought how nice it would be if a little of the milk they are poring on the god is given to poor and needy like me , instead?
Even now its not too late. If you pity me , and you love the village kids who are fed by me , please stop the abhishekam practice with milk in the temple. I don’t ask for you anything than this. I remain “ saying so she breathed her last with a long deep breath.
Palamma’s children wailed. All the people of the village were in tears. All the men and women wiped tears off their eyes.
Palamma was cremated as per the last rites. Even the obsequies ceremonies took place in order. All the people of her village took part in the ritual meal after her on the eleventh day of death . Then all the village heads decided on one word.
“palamma gave life to many of our children. Be it good or bad, let us do what she asked for , it was her last wish, let us fulfill it” they decided.
“ abhishekam is important, Lord Virupaksha may be worshipped in any other manner, doesn’t mind” every one said decisively. The chief priest , good hearted Venkateswarlu also agreed to this.
From that day onwards ksheeraabhishekam in the temple is stopped. Not a drop of milk to be taken in to the temple, a restriction was made. Any poojas or worships may be performed but only with water. From many decades it had been the same. No change.
None knows whether the lord who was denied milk by Palamma , gave her heaven or hell. But we all know one thing for sure. Lord Shiva is not angry with us for we had stopped the ksheeraabhishekam. He did not even sulk with our village.
Though in many places there were famines , but in our village there was never a draught. We do not know what is a famine like.
There are regular monsoon rains. The stream adjacent to the river Sarada is still flowing. Sugar cane crop is well grown. Cattle and dairy increased. Milk over flowed. All the mothers of the village are with filled breasts. There are sufficient breast milk to feed their kids. And the memories of Palamma were still lingering with due respect in all our hearts.
So, Palamma is forever our village peddamma (a worshipful mother and a deity ).
Telugu original: Dr.Chintakindi Srinivasa Rao’s story: Palamma
English translation : jagaddhatri