Nitish's father Kumar, who was sitting on the sofa watching the TV, lowered the volume of the TV so that he could listen to his father's answer to Nitish's question.
"Sridevi is Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. Moodevi, her elder sister is the Goddess of Adversity or Misfortune" said Ekambaram.
"Is Moodevi a bad person?"
"No. We can't say she is bad. We expect God to be a benefactor, a power that will help us. We worship Lakshmi, expecting that She will bestow riches on us. It is believed that Moodevi will stop good things from happening to us."
Oh! That's why we don't worship Moodevi!"
"Yes."
"Are Sridevi and Moodevi real?"
"We go to the temple and pray to God. Is it not because we believe that there is God? The perception about the existence of Sridevi and Moodevi is also based on belief."
"If some student in my class doesn't study well, my class teacher will call him 'Moodevi,' Moodevi is a feminine name. But I find my my class teacher calling a boy by this feminine name, amusing."
"It is not only your class teacher who does so. Many people have the practice of calling men, 'Moodevi,' while criticizing them. It is because, the name Moodevi is not used to depict a person. Though as per Hindu mythology, Moodevi is the elder sister of Lakshmi, in practice, Moodevi is associated with anything despicable. The term is used to refer to undesirable habits and practices, varying from physical factors like lack of cleanliness and hygiene to mindsets and attitudes like laziness, not making efforts, sitting idle etc."
"We need only Lakshmi. We should keep away from Moodevi. Shouldn't we, grandpa?"
"Yes. Lakshmi is auspicious. She represents good things. She will give us riches, fortune, health and happiness. But, how can we get good things? Can we get them, if we are sitting idle?" asked Ekambaram.
Nitish nodded his head, signaling his agreement with his grandfather's words.
"Grandpa! It is me who is asking you the questions. But, you keep looking at daddy, while answering my questions. Don't you see that daddy is watching the TV?" asked Nitish.
"Yes. But your father is also listening to our conversation. That is why I am looking at him also, while talking to you" said Ekambram, looking at both his son and his grandson and smiling.
Nitish turned to Kumar and asked him, "Dad! Don't you know these things? Didn't grandpa tell you about these, when you were a boy?"
Even before Kumar could reply to his son, Ekambaram said, "I have told your father many times about these concepts. But, he might have forgotten. It is better that he hears them again so that these will be deeply impressed on his mind."
He looked at Kumar with a smirky expression on his face and continued talking to his grandson.
"So, where were we? Yes...Lakshmi will do good to us. But, if we sit idle, good things won't come to us on their own. Hard work, efforts, enthusiasm, energy, interest, involvement, concentration, dedication cleanliness, good intentions - these attributes represent Lakshmi. If we have these attributes, good things will happen to us. We will experience success. Even fortune will favoour us. Dirt, garbage, laziness, slumber, passivity, lack of motivation, diffidence - these attributes represent Moodevi. If someone has these attributes, he won't see good things happening to him. Thus, when we say Laksmi, we mean being healthy, active and energetic, both physically and mentally. When we say Moodevi, we mean the opposite state. Do you understand?"
Nitish nodded his head enthusiastically, indicating that he understood his grandfather's message.
Kumar also understood the message indirectly conveyed to him by his father: 'I have worked hard, earned money and created some assets. But, you are sitting idle, without going for any job, banking on the confidence that you can manage to live on the wealth created by me!'
Ekambaram turned to his son and smiled. Kumar turned his face away, in anger.
"Dad! You have told me many times straight over my face that I am lazy and that I am living my life on the wealth created by you. Now, you are trying to convey the same message to me indirectly, in the guise of answering the questions posed to you by your grandson!' thought Kumar.
"The messages directly conveyed to you several times by me have not had an impact on you. Is this indirect message going to bring about a change in your attitude?' thought Eakambaram.
Section 2
Perseverance
madi uLAL mAmugadi enba madi ilAn
thaL uLAn thAmaraiyinAL.
Verse 616
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