Mani Thatha, our Guru

Thatha and Me in our Chennai house 2009

Our Thatha's name is Maniyettan, he is very strong, intelligent and kindful! He has a long beard and wears no shirt. He is with a white color towel only. I know him since I was a small boy (1 year). He is the one who taught me how to eat meals with hand like grown up people then!!

Thatha is an expert in Yoga, lot of people learn yoga in his Asramam. But he doesn't know that I got a gold medal for yoga! My father also doesn't agree that it was gold medal!!

Thatha knows martial arts and still can fight like a soldier. He said he will teach some fight steps to children and he bought bamboo sticks also for that! Thatha also knows dancing, singing and acting!

Thatha has lot of power and energy, it's all because of yoga and meditation! My parents learnt meditation from him. One day without telling anybody, he gave me some power through my ears!

I always greet Thatha with a proper "namaskaram". He likes it and he praised me in front of others in several occasions. Once he declared that I will be his best friend after some years. And one more thing....as my front teeth are broken, he used to tease me by calling "pallillaatha kizhava" (meaning old man with no teeth). I used to laugh and say he also doesn't have any teeth!

Here is where our Thatha gives speeches 

We used to go to our Thatha's Asramam every Sunday when we were living in Kerala. Thatha used sit and give speech loudly so that I cannot sleep! He used to sit in Veeraasanam which I used imitate at home... (I used call my father "da senthile.." and speak like Thatha)! I used to help my father in folding the mats and carpets after the session is over and others left.