Jain Journal 1982 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 6

Thavaraccaputra
GANESH LALWANI
One day Thavaraccaputra was standing on the terrace. From there he was looking at the sky.
The dusk was just approaching. Evening light was turning from purple to gray. Birds were retreating to their nests. Moon was shining on the top branches of an Amalaki tree. The slender leaves of Nima were rustling in the breeze.
Thavaraccaputra was lost in some reverie. When a song sung with a sweet voice entered into his ears he came to his senses. It appeared to him that some people were singing together. Not far distant but very near. The song was floating and vibrating in the light air and had as he felt engulfed him. He was almost convinced that he had not heard such a melody before in his life. As the distant horizon was lost in the silken light of the moon so everything had lost its identity in that song. It was so absorbing, so sweet !
After his first enchantment subsided he ran downstairs to his mother. Questions like these were arising in his innocent mind : What is this song? Who were singing? Why were they singing? He had to get answers of them all. And except his mother who could give answers to all his questions? Because in age he was only a child.
On hearing so many questions at a time his mother began to laugh on his curiosity. She said, 'If I were not there what would you have done? Then after a while she said, 'A child was to be born in Susama's house nearby, he is now born. It is why they are singing, they are expressing their joy.'
His face became radiant on hearing this. He said, 'Now I understand. When a son is born they sing. Their song echoes their joy.'
Caressing the child's hair she said, 'Yes they do. Why don't they?'
Thavaraccaputra’s face beamed again. He said, "Were such songs sung when I was born ?'