AYACHI MISHRA

Ayachi Mishra was renowned Sanskrit scholar and great thinker of Mithila. The name plays vital role in one’s life. This is not hundred percent true but most of the time it dominates the life. Pawan becomes fast, Pappu-notorious, Chinku becomes chengra , Manish & Munish become meditator and thinker, Ameer becomes rich and Thakna becomes treacherous. We rarely put our children’s name on the persons who have defamed our society or betrayed their near and dear. We never put names like Ravan, Kans, Bibhishan (although he was a pious fellow, he had betrayed his own brother). Like his name Ayachi (a + yachi= who does not yach= who does not beg), he never asked for anything from any person.
Ayachi Mishra was a very poor Brahman. He had no issue. He had one kattha (1905 sq. ft.) land. In this very land he had his hut also. He and his wife were very pleased and contented. He used to produce vegetables in the land and lived on it. Only one crop was sufficient for his family of two members. The contentment is the root of all pleasure. When contentment comes, all worldly riches are like dust. `Godhan gajdhan bajidhan aur rataandhan khan; Jab abay santosh dhan sab dhan dhoori saman.’
He was a great devotee and was always busy in worshipping and meditation. Although he was contented in what he had but there was one big melancholy in life. He was always anxious about his after death rituals. In Hinduism, son is the only source for expansion of a family and the doer of after death rituals of the father and fore-fathers. Now a day, it is not true. Daughters have proved themselves more devotees compared to sons. But old thinkers are of old mind. They think daughters second grade issue. Although, law has been introduced of equal rights to sons and daughters, but there are few persons who can follow the rules. Parents have millions of rupees but daughters are poor. Nevertheless, daughters are blind supporters of their parents. In some cases they can even leave their husbands for their parents. But parents are dishonest. Especially in Mithila region daughters are more neglected. They are exploited. They are mentally so blind about their parents that they can’t think about their rights. The rich daughters can forgo her share but even wretched daughters can’t think of getting equal share in father’s property. These dishonest fathers are shameless. They can not give equal right to their daughters.They will always support their sons; although they might have tortured them. There is such father who always wanted to kill his daughter in the womb but God saved her. Latter she was thrown in the dustbin. Again she was saved by The God. One issueless family tamed her. She was married to a very fine person. Now she is very pleased with her noble husband and children. There is a father very gentle and honored. He gets his daughter married but the son-in-law dies after a few days of the marriage. The daughter lived with his mother. She served her honorable father blindly. She never desired to get her right nor she was offered. ‘Kupita jayet, kuputri na bhavati’. In the old age, she went to mother-in-law's village. Her brothers and sister in-laws forced her to leave their house on which she had equal right like her brothers. Ayachi worshipped, meditated and prayed for years for a son. The God Shiva became pleased and appeared before him and asked him to ask for anything he liked. Ayachi asked for a son. Shankar saw that there was no son in his fate. So, He decided to come Himself. After due time, a son was born and he was named Shankar. This Shakar and Adi Shankaracharya of Kerala are similar genius. Shakar’s mother had nothing to pay to the chamain (cobbler’s wife) who had looked after her during delivery period. In rural areas cobbler’s wives do the role of nurses during delivery. She promised to offer the first earning of her son to her. Shankar was blessed that he knew all Shasrtas from the early childhood. He was fluently speaking Sanskrit shlokas of old scholars' granthas as well as of his own. Once, Emperor Akbar passed through the way and saw the devine lighted child. He called the small child of simply five year old. Akbar told him to speak something. The boy asked him what he wanted to hear-‘Whether from shastras or mine’. Akbar replied-‘Of your own’. The little boy started to recite till so many ours like great scholars. ‘Baloham jagdanand, na me bala saraswati; apurne panchame warse warnayami jagatrayam’. Akabar was amazed seeing the miraculous child. He had not heard and seen such type of genius child. He took the child with him. He sent the boy in the treasure and told to take as much diamonds & jewels as he can. The simply five year old child had worn a small piece of cloth. He took some diamonds and jewels according to his capacity and gave them to his mother. The mother was not ordinary mother. God does not choose ordinary woman to be His mother. Although she was very poor but she was Ayachi’s wife and Shankar’s mother. According to her word to the cobler's wife, she gave all jewels to the chamine. This is the biggest sacrifice and the value of the word, which is impossible for an ordinary lady. The chamine was also not willing to take all but when pressed she was bound. She became the richest woman of the area. She got built so many temples and got dug so many ponds and wells. There is a famous Chmainiya-Pokhar near Basopatti which is the largest pond of the area.
We belong to that very famous dynasty of Ayachi and shankar. We have talent of shankar and character of Ayachi and his wife. We are contended on what we have but shall not spread our hands before anybody. This is the message to our children to be true followers of our forefathers. 'Teti panw pasariye jeti lambi saur = cut your coat according to your clothes'. Even in worst condition, don't spread hand before anybody. Always plan your life according to your means. Keep yourself always busy in earning knowledge. Always try to remain on your words. Worldly materials have zero value before truth. ……………………………contd.