Tella Gundapalle Ashram

There is a small ashram near our village. There is an annadaanam there tonight, on Pournami, for about 500 people. Which we are doing. All the people from the neighbouring villages come here on Pournami for bhajans and annadaanam.

There is a story behind this annadaanam
...

Our daughter stayed unwell for awhile. Things steadiily got worse, and the best of ayurveda was not giving results. The doctor sent us to a senior allopath, saying that maybe they could try to treat it. Many tests were done, and treatments suggested. But deterioration continued. A year a and some more went by.

Through this we were in Chennai and Eashwaramma kept repeatedly asking, demanding, that I come down and that she wanted to take my daughter to an ashram nearby. To the swami. But as she was not well the doctor did not give permission for her to travel. Eashwaramma called me many times over demanding to speak to the doctor to convince her.

Then finally as nothing was working, we left for the village. The next day Eashwaramma took us toTella Gundlapalle, some 5km away. She took us to the small shed where the swami was sitting, "Swami, this is the child I was telling you about. They stay in the house next door to us. She has been unwell for two years." The swami sat her down, and me next to her. He blessed her, and sat in meditation for awhile before her. Then he told her a mantram to repeat 21 times daily. And gave her some vibhuti. And told her that the phase is over, and she will be well. And he also told me that I have to conduct an annadaanam and feed all the people.

My daughter ashed him if there were 'haddulu'. In the village after a mantram treatment there are usually restrictions on food and practices for 3 days, and she asked in that context. He smiles and told her that the only 'haddu' or limit is to hurt no living soul. That is all that she should keep in mind. Always.

Our daughter has been well since that evening, a wellness that eluded since two years through many interventions. Allopathic and ayurveda.

In ayurveda also there is the concept of Daiva Vyapashraya Chikitsa, of propitiating the forces, the gods, for conditions which are karmajam. Or karmic in origin. I has never given all this much thought. But now I do.