C. NAGANNA writes: “Did you know Thiruvanarayana Ayyangar?” This was a question posed by the venerable doctor whom I had gone to meet, along with two other elderly gentlemen, in Bangalore to thank for some significant help he had extended recently.
When I asked for a tray after the preliminaries, the doctor correctly guessed that I had brought some “Mysore Special” and said all the same, “Why did you take the trouble?”
I was in a persistent mood. And as I am a believer in the salutary effect of gratitude, I said, “Sir, these things are available only in Mysore and nowhere else; you must kindly accept them.” I could notice that he was pleased with the way I had phrased my sentence and asked his wife to bring a tray.
I placed the items one by one. At the end of the operation there were nearly half-a-dozen things, neatly arranged. These had been recommended by the ever-smiling thindi-vendor at the now-famous Thindi Mane in Kuvempunagar.
Sitting in the verandah of the elegantly renovated Banashankari house, we marvelled at the exquisite manner in which every item is prepared by a band of cooks who cared for quality and, of course, are equally generous in respect of quantity.
The fame of Mysore’s Thindi Mane has now reached even Bangalore. Crisp kajjaya, lemon avalakki, kobbari mithai, special khara, Shringeri balekayi chips—all these formed the fragrant mound in the tray.
Later on, I felt that I should have included Mysore pak and Nanjangud rasabaale, which would have completed the picture. Anyway, there is always a second time.
The doctor wasn’t very keen to eat them and there; he said he would savour everything later.
The conversation soon revolved around Maharaja’s College and the prominent teachers of yore. This was occasioned by the article I had written for the launch issue of the Mysore edition of Deccan Herald.
The doctor knew almost all the personalities I had mentioned in the article and his mind was literally hovering over them visualising each one of them in their specific attire, mannerisms, and depth of knowledge.
Professors Roelho, Eagleton, C.D. Narasimhaiah, Yamunacharya—all became part of the pageant he was picturing so affectionately.
And suddenly he asked, “Did you know Thiruvanaryana Ayyangar?” I tried to recall but, obviously, I had not come across this teacher. Then he described how his nama covered the whole of his forehead and said as if to himself, “A very erudite scholar!”
It’s a pity that nobody has thought of ‘A Hall of Fame’ in Maharaja’s College. We depend, quite sadly, on the obituary columns to learn that someone is gone from our midst. When we talk about people belonging to the past, we are not sure whether they are alive or no more. No record is kept and no one bothers to put it down for posterity.
For instance, Cambridge University continues to send its Alumni Association Bulletin to one Dr K.A. Khan (Khisar Ali Khan was his full name) who was the Principal here at one time. Dr Khan died long back. Similarly, ther are mails to other people who have left this world for good.
The medical doctor who put that resounding question “Did you know Thiruvanarayana Ayyangar?” made it a point to attend the lecture programmes at Maharaja’s College in the early 1950s as a student at Mysore Medical College. He admits with great pride and thankfulness that his association with the cultural events of those days formed his character, giving him a vision of life.
I will certainly ask him to tell me more about Thiruvanarayana Ayyangar and other personalities of his days when I go to Bangalore next time.
Are you talking about VT (V. Thirunarayana Iyengar) who was a Sanskrit Scholar? I know his son who runs a trust in his name to educate poor students in Sringeri and Melukote. I dont recall their website off the top of my mind
http://www.tirunarayana.org/vtt_page.html
He was also known for his enormous "Nama". If its the same person, there is a picture of him on the web site. Also a very elegant man who carried himself very well. I only met him once about 2 years before he passed away. Even at that old age you could see that he wasnt someone who you took for granted.
My father went to Maharajas College and he can speak for hours about the various stalwarts (including VT) who used to teach there. Even to this day (he is 72) there is a certain awe when he recalls his teachers.
I went to National College (B'gudi) in Bangalore in the late 70's. Even then there were some teachers who were legends in their own time. But nothing like the Mysore legends.
Isnt it a pity that the mordern era has lost that charm and stature of these teachers?
Khisar Ali Khan (I think his correct name was Quiser Ali Khan) was the Principal of Maharaja’s College. He was the Professor and Head of Department of Urdu there.
Vijay: You should speak to your father and provide us with more details on the stalwarts, inclding VT
This is probably not the right place to post this question, but it satisfied 2 major criteria of my question: Mysore and food!
I am a Mysore girl who now lives in rural Japan (no jokes!)
Recently I was describing to a Japanese friend about the wonderful Masale-puri we used to get in Mysore. And I fondly remembered the mouthwatering taste of Masale-puri in the gaadis near Shamrao building!
Can anyone tell me how that hot masale gravy is made? I would like to show my japanese friends a taste of a typical Mysore street-snack! I would be eternally greatful for this recipe!
VT wrote a sanskrit grammar book which sold very well. I purchased and used it for my High School Sanskri studies. I met him many times during 1950s as he was a friend of my father, was usually around the vegetable stalls of the Devaraja Market in most evenings. Sure he wore an outsized ‘Nama’, very friendly even to an youngster like me. One time I asked him a clarification on a passive verb form (Sanskrit is a beautiful language and sentences used with passive verbs with similies were a joy to read and savour), while he was negotiating a price for a kilo of beans. He stopped his purchase and gave me an explanation for 15-20 mins while the vendor was getting restless. The next day I used this in my Sanskrit class, and I could still visualise the look of amazement on my Sanskrit teacher’s face!
V. T. Tirunarayana Iyengar (1903-1995), was a Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Mysore, a renowned scholar in Visishtadvaita – the Srivaishnava school of thought, and an acclaimed expert in Indian philosophy. He was popularly known as VTT among his colleagues and students in the academic world, to whom he was synonymous with knowledge and learning. Much of his life was spent in sharing his vast knowledge with the many eager students of all ages, sects, religions and nationalities, who sought him out. All those who came in contact with him remember him with fondness and reverence. He was easily accessible to everyone till he breathed his last. He was an embodiment of humility and culture. He lived practicing the philosophy he taught.
VTT was a rare combination of tradition and modernity. He lived the austere life required of the Tiruvaimozhi Acharya parampara to which he belonged, imbibing from his scholarly father the essence of the Vedas, the Nalayira Divya Prabhandam (also known as the Tamil Vedam), and the Visishtadvaita philosophy of Srimad Ramanujacharya – the philosopher-saint who lived a hundred and twenty years (1017-1137). At the same time, VTT excelled in University education, going on to win four gold medals in B.A (1925), M A Sanskrit and M A Philosophy from the Mysore University (1927 & 1928).
VTT was born on February 9th, 1903 (Makara masa), under Arudra nakshatra – the same heavenly star under which Sri Ramanujacharya, the preceptor of Visishtadvaita was also born centuries ago. He was born at Belatur village, his maternal home near Mysore, in the family of ‘Tiruvaimozhi Acharya Purushas’ of Melkote in the Mandya district of Karnataka, as the eldest son of Tiruvengada Ramanujachar and Yadugiri Ammal. Tiru-Narayanan was named after Narayana, the presiding deity of Melkote who is inseparable from his consort Sri (Tiru), that is, Lakshmi.
Tiruvengada Ramanujachar, keen on making his son a Ubhaya Vedantin (a scholar in both the Sanskrit and Tamil Vedas), set him a strict schedule, with classes beginning at 4 am. By the time he was eight, VTT had mastered, in their original form, the Nalyira Divya Prabhandam, Valmiki Ramayanam, Mahabharata, Bhagvad Gita, Sri Bhashyam and Bhagavad Vishayam. After performing VTT’s Upanayanam in his ninth year, Ramanujachar set him to study the Vedas, Vedangas, the Upanishads and other Sastric works and commentaries in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
This training in traditional knowledge took place side by side with modern education and the study of English. VTT did his schooling up to matriculation at RBNAM School in Bangalore. Thereafter, when his father migrated to Mysore, he joined the FA class at the famous Maharaja’s college, Mysore. As mentioned earlier, VTT distinguished himself both in B.A and M.A. He was a favourite student of the legendary scholar Prof. M.Hiriyanna, under whom he learnt Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy and of Prof. A.R.Wadia, who taught him Western philosophy. He also studied Tarka (Indian Logic System) under Mahamahopadhyaya Lakshmipuram Srinivasacharya.
VTT joined Central College, Bangalore in 1928 as a lecturer in the Sanskrit department, immediately after completing his double M.A. He continued to teach there till 1945 when he was posted to Maharaja’s college, Mysore, his alma mater, as Asst. Professor of Sanskrit. During this time he also learnt German in order to be able to read the works of German oriental scholars in their original. He was a very popular teacher, who was admired for his erudition, his oratory in English, Sanskrit, and other South Indian languages and was liked for his affection towards his students. Everyone called him ‘the silver tongued orator from Maharaja’s college’, at a time when the college was a famous seat of learning, and was proud of its eminent professors, who were all great scholars.
VTT had a pleasing personality; he was fair and handsome, of medium built and possessed a resonant voice. He believed in detached attachment and while he did his duty as a family man most conscientiously, and with utmost love and care, he never allowed family considerations to intervene in other matters. His recital of Sanskrit and Tamil hymns either individually, or in a Goshti (group / assembly) were not only pleasing to the ears for their musical quality, but also very soothing to the mind. He went about barefoot through out his life, holding his own in traditional attire, amidst even the most modern gathering.
After his retirement in 1958, he served at the National College Bangalore, as Professor of Sanskrit, till 1961. He was one of the first recipients of the Government of India’s ‘University Grants Commission Scholar’ recognition and worked on writing an English commentary at the University of Mysore, on Sudarshana Bhatta’s Srutaprakasika, itself a celebrated commentary on Sri Ramanuja’s ‘Sri Bhashya’.
While at college and particularly after his revered father passed away, VTT performed, with élan, the additional responsibility of carrying on his family tradition of being a Tiruvaimozhi Acharya Purusha – of propagating Tiruvaimozhi, the sacred verses which form a fourth of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, composed by Saint Nammazhwar, who is regarded as the kulapati of Srivaishnavism.
VT Swami, as Professor V.T.Tirunarayana Iyengar was called by his disciples, attained the feet of his Acharya on April 22, 1995 (during Chaitra masa), after living a full and purposeful life of 92 years. Significantly, the thirteenth day of his demise, considered as per tradition the day when the departed Atman (Soul) attains Vaikunta, the abode of Narayana, coincided with Ramanuja Jayanti, the birth day of Sri Ramanuja, whose ardent devotee Tirunarayanan was all his life.
This training in traditional knowledge took place side by side with modern education and the study of English. VTT did his schooling up to matriculation at RBNAM School in Bangalore. Thereafter, when his father migrated to Mysore, he joined the FA class at the famous Maharaja’s college, Mysore. As mentioned earlier, VTT distinguished himself both in B.A and M.A. He was a favourite student of the legendary scholar Prof. M.Hiriyanna, under whom he learnt Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy and of Prof. A.R.Wadia, who taught him Western philosophy. He also studied Tarka (Indian Logic System) under Mahamahopadhyaya Lakshmipuram Srinivasacharya.
VTT joined Central College, Bangalore in 1928 as a lecturer in the Sanskrit department, immediately after completing his double M.A. He continued to teach there till 1945 when he was posted to Maharaja’s college, Mysore, his alma mater, as Asst. Professor of Sanskrit. During this time he also learnt German in order to be able to read the works of German oriental scholars in their original. He was a very popular teacher, who was admired for his erudition, his oratory in English, Sanskrit, and other South Indian languages and was liked for his affection towards his students. Everyone called him ‘the silver tongued orator from Maharaja’s college’, at a time when the college was a famous seat of learning, and was proud of its eminent professors, who were all great scholars.
VTT had a pleasing personality; he was fair and handsome, of medium built and possessed a resonant voice. He believed in detached attachment and while he did his duty as a family man most conscientiously, and with utmost love and care, he never allowed family considerations to intervene in other matters. His recital of Sanskrit and Tamil hymns either individually, or in a Goshti (group / assembly) were not only pleasing to the ears for their musical quality, but also very soothing to the mind. He went about barefoot through out his life, holding his own in traditional attire, amidst even the most modern gathering.
After his retirement in 1958, he served at the National College Bangalore, as Professor of Sanskrit, till 1961. He was one of the first recipients of the Government of India’s ‘University Grants Commission Scholar’ recognition and worked on writing an English commentary at the University of Mysore, on Sudarshana Bhatta’s Srutaprakasika, itself a celebrated commentary on Sri Ramanuja’s ‘Sri Bhashya’.
While at college and particularly after his revered father passed away, VTT performed, with élan, the additional responsibility of carrying on his family tradition of being a Tiruvaimozhi Acharya Purusha – of propagating Tiruvaimozhi, the sacred verses which form a fourth of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, composed by Saint Nammazhwar, who is regarded as the kulapati of Srivaishnavism.
VT Swami, as Professor V.T.Tirunarayana Iyengar was called by his disciples, attained the feet of his Acharya on April 22, 1995 (during Chaitra masa), after living a full and purposeful life of 92 years. Significantly, the thirteenth day of his demise, considered as per tradition the day when the departed Atman (Soul) attains Vaikunta, the abode of Narayana, coincided with Ramanuja Jayanti, the birth day of Sri Ramanuja, whose ardent devotee Tirunarayanan was all his life.
The last six paragraphs have repeated due to typo. Please delete them.
There is nothing to match the elegance of Mysore in the late twenties.. Yuvaraja Kanthirawa Narasimharaja wodeyar appointed V.T.Tirunarayana Iyengar. He was also a great benefactor of the great R.K Narayan ( Malgudi Devuru as we would call him
Could you please furnish the address for Thindi Mane mentioned in the article. I have unsuccessfully tried locating it.
One of the user Vidhya( living in rural Japan ) requested for gadi Masala puri recipe. We try this recipe at home and we are happy with the outcome everytime.
1/4 tsp chat masala
bunch cilantro
100 grams Dry green peas
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp garma masala powder
0 ginger half inch
2-3 0 Green chilly
1/4 tsp jeera
1 0 onion (Chopped)
25 number Panipuri shell
1/4 tsp red chilly powder
to taste salt
4-5 tbsp sev
to taste sugar
0 Tamrind lemon size
1 0 tomato(Chopped-optional)
Preparation method
Step-1: soak peas overnight and pressure cook with salt to taste. divid it into 2 equal parts, keep one part aside and the other use it to make masla.
Step-2: masala making: grind cooked peas with green chilly, cilantro, garlic, ginger to a soft paste, boil the paste with garm masala and chat masla this cook other ingredients in masala.
Step-3: Tamrind chutney: soak tamrind for about 30min, extract thick juice, to this add salt, sugar, jeera powder, and red chilly powder and cook till the acrid smell is gone.
Step-4: hand cruch 5-6pani puri shells add few pressure cooked peas add masala, 1/2 a tsp of tamrind chutney, sprinkel a pinch of chat masala and garnish with chopped onion, tomato and sev.