V S Kalyanraman, Confidence Personified

Dr. K Unnikrishnan, wrote a short note

Hari Om…. It is with these words that Kalyan Sir would always greet with. I prefer to believe that his soul and his presence is still very much around us. We (Me and my family) know Kalyan sir since 2003. He was not just a senior scholar, but a counselor, adviser a good scholar with whom I could go on and on for hours and days with philosophy and its practical experience and discourse, with all expressions of navarasas with more of laughter’s even to such extent that his kind family members would tolerate us from morning to late evening, being helpless on many weekends. We would exchange books, eagerly wait to meet again with new collections of lectures, publications and ideas. From Adi shakaracharya to Kalyan sir’s Guru Sri Chandrashekara Saraswathi , the experience, the wisdom and the blessings, all of it was well discussed and debated. The journey went such that I was blessed to introduce one of the karmasanyasi Dr. P Raman to Kalyan Sir, who would always jovially say “I am just a raman without kalyan but he is the raman with kalyan”, who’s company both would cherish. Presence of Kalyan sir was always a great satsang for us. It was Kalyan sir who also introduced Banasawadi Sri Anjaneeya temple to us.

Needless to say the prolific knowledge that Kalyan sir had over astrology, astronomy and the interdisciplinary areas including mathematics, vedic sciences and the invaluable contributions, and yet remained a simple humble person a baktha, who would sincerely care to understand the views of others and try to help in whatever means possible, of which I was most touched was his prayers, his sincere prayers.

Kalyan Sir would always express his gratitude to his guru Sri Chandrashekara Saraswathi and would always express his gratitude to Kollur Sri Mookambika Devi Temple and mentally he was always there in submission to the divine light. Whenever I called him while I was at Kollur he would ask me to convey his prayers to the goddess. Even though I lost one of my dear well-wisher, I am sure his soul is highly blessed and has been guided by the divine light to peace.

I would and always pray for his soul and for his family….

Shri. S V Swaminathan wrote this

On 18th May 2017, for the first time, I was blessed to see the Video titled Kalyanraman Experiences. First of all, I should thank Sri. Ramanathan and Smt. Meenakshi, who are my first daugther's in-laws.

Having introduced Shri. Kalyanraman (Smt. Meenakshi's brother), to us 24 years ago, no doubt without the blessings of Shri. VSK Mama, this alliance would not have materialized. His blessings continued by just not fixing the marriage, but also taking the initiative to conduct the engagement ceremory at his house, Sukrita. Later he was also there to conduct the marriage of daughter, Sowbhagyavathi. Chitra with Chiranjeevi. Krishnan.

When my father was alive, he had met Shri. VSK Mama on some occassions and their topic was highly at intellectual level and the same time, while dealing with us, Shri. VSK mama was down to earth. Later I came to know through my uncle Shri. Kasi Viswanathan that they had known each other more than 70 years and they were classmates at the Nalleppily school, where Shri VSK Studied. In fact this website has an article written by Shri. VSK on Nalleppilly. It was a joy to see their re-union nearly after 50 years.

It is said that to be born as human beings, after many cycles of births and deaths, is a great blessing. But it is further a boon to associate with a noble person and that privilege was extended to us by the association of Shri. VSK Mama.

The narration in the video by Shri. VSK Mama had a great impact on me and I could virtually experience the real presence of Maha Periava talking to Mama. It is a life exhilarating experience.

I express my humble gratitude to the blessed three sons of Shri. VSK Mama, who have created this wonderful website.

Smt. Subashini Tirumalai, wrote this

Vsk was introduced to me as an IPS officer. Little did I know that this fearsome man would be filled with such compassion. With the help of the telephone the distance between chennai and bangalore shrink to just a phone call away.

He was an honor student and a gold medallist in both maths and Tamizh. He was a scholar of astronomy, astrology, vedic studies and literature and was fluent in works of Hindi, English, Malayalam and Sanskrit. I found myself mystified by his intelligence and academic prowess. The thing that I found most endearing about him was the way he would interact with me, treating me as an equal, putting me on the same pedestal as himself.

We had several interesting conversations in which Bharathi, Kamban and Kannadasan transcended literature and he would transform mere words into emotions. I could never hide my emotions from him, he would know exactly how I felt by just the sound of my voice and would be quick to offer Mahakavi Bharathi's sonnets to cheer me up. He has always been a source of comfort for me during trying times.

We shared a passion for the words of Kamban and consumed it together as bees would consume nectar. He was a patron of all kinds of smaller publications serving as a source of encounter to lesser known writers. He would enquire into the progress and encourage me to finish the book about Takkar Bapa which I have recently published which would not have been possible without his encouragement and support. I used to hunt for books to send to him for his perusal and it was a source of great joy for me to do so. Even at the age of 84 he often languished the memories of his mother. I found this facet about him particular astonishing.

His persona was always respectful of women and he did not carry any airs of arrogance that is common to over achievers. He treated his daughter in laws as his own daughters and was quick with a kind word of support, like a skilled florist he knew how to keep up from wilting.

Having met him towards the end of his journey of life, he showered me with love ans affection. It is easy for me to imagine the love and respect he shared with his family and we'll wishers.

I remember an interesting conversation I once had with him about mortality. He told me he had no particular feelings about meeting his maker and remarked that he considered himself the last of his peers to do so, he did express however that his children being so close and attached to him made him wonder how they would open with his passing.

How will we cope with it indeed?

Our friendship spanned only a period of 5 years, but a lifetime of memories and experiences is what I will take away from it. The tears of his children and grandchildren are mine as well as we mourn the passing of this stalwart. I feel honoured to have met this hat wearing, kind hearted man, a giant among scholars I know he will never be too far from us, his heart will simply not allow it. I feel happy in the knowledge that he is watching from afar, guiding us with his experience and I cherish the time I got to spend with him, as a woman, as an equal to a man of insurmountable achievements, his memory will forever be a source of strength and add meaning to my life.

He had a habit of lending a helping hand to those who genuinely needed it even without being asked to do so. I wish to honour his memory by following his example in making the world a better place. I hereby dedicate not just my tears but my life as well to the memory of this great scholar, father, husband and mentor.

I wish to convey my prayers to Maami, my thoughts are with all of you. I consider myself blessed that I got to spend some time with him before he passed.

Shri. Mohanan Potty sent this note

Shri. Sreeram Ragupathy Iyer, wrote this

VSK MAMA; The Man who I admire from my childhood; He used to explain things to me till I get understand and do the conversation as if I know the things and make me to get understand. I still remember the last meeting I had with him I spend a whole day with him. Miss you so much mama. It would be hard to say how many people mama has helped to enrich their lives. I thank God for the privilege of knowing him, and many of his friends who will remember him as always. I have read his books and I still keep his mails to me as the guidelines. We all miss you ……

Smt.Ramamani and Shri.Srinivasan, wrote this

Respected Sundari mami

PRANAMS. I write this with a heavy heart.

This is only MINIATURE of mama's personality. The real version I will give later. Kalyanraman mama was a personality with many faceted values. The list of subjects he was pleased to write to me shows him a person who loved his family, loved his relatives and friends and also deeply loved the world. A library; a diet; only temple built by the British; ancestors' faith in tulsi; inventing deceases to make drugs;life can begin at 60; Indian toilet is good;life is short make it sweet; vegetarian crocodile guards a temple; Gita in 16 beautiful slides; God given gifts to be kept; message for all Indians. matrimonial help; information about eligible boys; Kaanchi Maha periyavar, kuladaivam; agnihotra, black money; Jyotirmahalingawamy stuti; India's nuclear scientists keep dying mysteriously;natural remedies; quotes worth following; mind to give; conception and misconception; beauty of mathematics; mahashivaratri; noble thoughts and so on.

He was literally a vade mecum; carried so heavy in his tender mind! He was not alone in this world, but destiny has made him to depart alone, leaving us all deserted. 'Tell me your associates, I will tell about you'. Know what Kalyanraman has said, you will know all about him.' I only narrate the last episode he shared with me. Does Trump trump Clinton? or does Clinton clinch the result? Either way, the astrologer debated. Kalyanraman told a story: two drunkards were making a road show. 'Is the one shining he moon or the sun?' Unable to agree they caught a passerby. The man was quick to guess the wisdom of the seekers of truth. 'May be the moon or the sun' he said. 'But is best for a local to to predicate. I am an outsider'. He said and slipped away.

Still Kalyanraman who believed that astrology is a guess for the guests; a certain guide for the self. He set a date of destiny of which he had a scientific knowledge and was willing to obey the dictate of destiny. He has orphaned the family, friends, relatives and the world of his admirers. He shall remain a guiding star.

Look up in the sky for a star with a circle! He will be there to be seen and observed. His knowledge was his treasure; humour was his forte. More, in the voluminous collection of an album.

With regards. Yours obediently,

Ramamani and Srinivasan

Shri.Jayaraman, PMG (retd), Chennai wrote this

My association with VSK spans over 4 decades. Offcial life brought us together but our abiding faith in Sri Kanchi Mahaswami resulted in irreversible closeness. Still I recall and enjoy the darshans we had together.

VSK had many positive qualities of the head and heart which had a rippling impact on people around him. His logic is one such. The amazing thing is that this logic stood side by side with his humane touch.

His in-depth knowledge of the jyothish sasthra and his penmanship in that area is astounding and awe-inspiring. His passion for the sasthra and bhakthi for his guru are matchless. Once he wanted me to pen a foreword for his book. I laughed at this as I am in LKG and he was guding PHDs. But he won ultimately.

VSK will always be remembered for his hurt-free, harmles sarcasm that too to drive home a truth.

I am part of his extended family. As such I too miss him, but to all of us he will ever remain a shining principle. To me he is very much visible at the Lotus Feet of Sri Kanchi Mahaswami.

Jayaraman

Shri.VSN Venkatachalam, Tiruppur, wrote this

Shri. SV Venugopalan, Chennai wrote this

That VSK is no more is yet to reach my brain. My heart refuses to register that material information and his soulful voice continues to linger in my ears.

It was a chance meeting that our common friend Mrs Subashini had organised in her house to pay tribute to noted literary critic Sri Ti Ka Si ( T K Sivasankaran) in Apr 2015 where I got acquainted with our irrepressible VSK Sir, for the first time. The bonding was so strong and was getting further reinforced upon every phone call that I made to him, or he did, which was most often the case.

Oh...what a mesmerising voice that had been. I could sense the strings of a Thambura giving out an appropriate Sruthi the moment he opened his conversation with an "Hari Om". The irony was that I am an atheist which did not matter to him at all.

His incessant child-like hearty laugh was profound enough to wipe out darkness from the minds of thousands of hapless people and enlighten their perception.

He used to say that he lost much in getting to know of me very late in his age. That was an encouraging comment from a well wisher. nothing more than that! But I feel a great deal in having lost him so early before listening to him, giving company to him and sharing a meal with him.

His acumen and sense of humour have been illuminating my mind and reenergising my spirits..

What a great heart that was which showered unconditional love & affection on people and recited celebrated verses so fluently.

I failed the promise made to him to visit him at Bengaluru. I terribly failed. Yet, I could at least visit your family when I go to Bangalore next time.'

with regards s v venugopalan