Before my retirement, in inter office competitions, I used to write small skits. Actually my writing journey started there. Then, I was writing titbits, small stories for a Tamil magazine “Pavaiyar Malar”. Almost every month, my article used to come. After retirement, I joined some Facebook groups and started writing articles. I started participating in Story Competitions. People started recognising me slowly. After reading some of my posts, Uma Aparna, Pachyderm Tales asked me to write stories with some senior citizens.
Why did you chose to do a book on Hanuman?
From very tender age, Lord Muruga and Lord Hanuman are my favourite Gods. When I chant Hanuman Slokas, I used to be fearless and tackle my problems. One day, when I was reading Sundara Kandam Book, it struck me to write it in a simpler language to reach everyone.
Why should children be introduced to Indian culture?
Our Indian culture is one of the oldest one in the world. We have everything in our culture and traditions. With two great epics Ramayana and Mahabaratha we can teach our children how to live a successful and at the same time peaceful life too. If we follow our traditions followed by our ancestors, then we will lead a very good life. Children are future leaders. It is a must that our school system, parents and elders should show our children a correct path.
What is your favourite story from the Ramayana?
Hanuman’s meet with Ravan and burning of Lanka.
What can children learn from the story of Hanuman?
Nowadays, so many comic fictious stories are coming in book, film and series form like Spiderman, He-man, Pokeman, Shakthiman, etc. If you combine all these characters also, you cannot go near Hanuman. He is wise, showing empathy, bold and brave at the same time, quick in actions. Children can definitely keep Hanuman as their Godfather and Hero.
What sources did you refer to for the Sundarkandam?
I read Valmiki Ramayan, Kamba Ramayan and searched Google. But importantly, since my childhood days, my granny used to tell so many stories. Ramayana is one them. It inspired me a lot. I used to watch Ramayana Serial regularly in television. These are all my sources.
Krishna and Sudama were students at teacher Sandipani’s ashram. They were fellow classmates as well as best friends.
One morning, the teacher tasked them to collect wood pieces for bonfire, from the nearby forest. The two friends walked through the forest and got on the job. They cut the wood pieces and wrapped them in a cloth that they had carried from the ashram. It was time to go back to the teacher. As they started on their journey back, it started to pour torrentially.
“Oh, Krishna, we must take shelter somewhere. The rain is heavy and I am beginning to get drenched. I don’t want to catch a cold,” suggested Sudama.
“Sure, let’s see if there is shelter around,” agreed Krishna looking around.
The boys found a gigantic tree, such that they had never seen before. The branches were thick and the leaves so voluminous that heavy rain seemed only mere drizzle under the bushy canopy of the leaves of the tree.
Soon after the boys took refuse under the tree, Sudama felt hungry. While leaving the ashram in the morning, the teacher’s wife had given him two pouches of roasted chickpea just in case the friends got hungry. One for Sudama and another for Krishna.
The hungry Sudama fished for his pouch of chickpea in his pocket and began to eat. “Tastes heavenly,” he said. In that moment, greed arose in his mind. He decided to eat Krishna’s share as well.
“Hey, Krishna. I realize I dropped the pouch of chickpea ma’am gave me for you. I am sorry that you will have to stay hungry. But don’t you worry, we will soon get home,” Sudama lamented.
Krishna knew that Sudama was quite a foodie. There have been moments in the past when Sudama tried to steal Krishna’s share of food while at the ashram. Krishna gave an investigative look at Sudama’s pockets and knew that the other pouch was also in there.
“Hey, Sudama, are you sure you dropped the pouch. How about you rummage through the pocket carefully. I am sure you will find my pouch of food in there,” Krishna said pointing to Sudama’s pocket which had the chickpea pouch.
Sudama knew in that moment that his friend had turned clever and outspoken. It wasn’t any use trying to fool him.
Pretending to search his pockets, Sudama pulled out the pouch with chickpea and said innocently, “Oh, ya Krishna, it’s right here. So light that I didn’t realize it was even in my pocket. There you go.”
I have written about 140 books in the past 11 years. This includes stories from Epics, Puranas, Vedas, Vedanta, spiritual scriptures, Indian legends, Acharyas, Rishis et al . I have published and released about 35 books which includes a book on 100 stories of Shree Panduranga. 100 stories on Krishna, in both Tamil and English. I have written books mostly on Shree Krishna and Shree Rama. I have written a book on the complete 18 parvas of Mahabharata including meaning of Gita, Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, and Yakshaprasna.
Could talk about your writing schedule?
I write for 18 hours a day. I spend all my time reading, singing and writing. I attend meetings wherever I am invited to speak on spiritual topics . I observe most of the women folk and o ld ladies prefer Tamil books. So, most of my books are in Tamil. I don’t price my books, and I give them away for free. I have 10,000 more copies yet to be distributed. I give away books to libraries, friends, donors, children in schools and old age homes. Now, I am giving publishing rights to Pachyderm Tales and Pustaka. I know both Ms Laksmi Priya and Uma Aparna will be able to distribute the books easily.
When did you start writing?
I started writing at my 75th year. Till then, I was busy with my shipping activities, and I never had time. It was at the end of the year 2012. Now I am 86. I started writing through email. In 2012, the only technology we had was email. Through email, I circulated my daily writings and the people, who read, gave me the idea of turning it into a book.
3, 14,000 people are reading my works as per 2022 FB records. (”JK’s posts have been liked 314000 times’) I get calls from people from India and different parts of the world. I give lots of books to them when they come to see me.
What was your first book on?
My first book was for children. It was on Shree Krishna. 100 stories on the life of Shree Krishna. It was based on the stories of the 10th canto of the Srimad Bhagvatham. My book was titled, Vishwaroopavamana Kathagal, which means the stories of a cosmic person in vamana (short) form.
My first English book was ‘You, I and Krishna’ . Here, every story starts with ‘dear children’ and ends with a moral message.. The pictures are in color in art paper with 280 pages approx. I distributed many free copies of this book. Rs 3 lakhs was donated by a philanthropist in Gujrat attached to the Krishna temple in Dwaraka. 12 of my books are in English. Rest of them are in Tamil. There is great demand for books n English. You, I and Krishna was named that way because there are only three persons in English Grammer.
First person – I
Second person is you
Third person – He, she, it we, etc., but all the three persons are none but Krishna
Advaita means monism nondual reality. You and I are one and the same. Everything is nothing but one. That is what Adi Shankara taught us. Vishistadvaita was taught to us by Ramanujam. It teaches us that Jeevatma and Paramatman are though separate but joined by the surrender of the individual (SARANAGATHI) to the Supreme Reality.. Qualified monism is thus known as Vishistadvaita, which needs the presence and advice of an Acharya to surrender to HIM.
What is the essence of Indian philosophy?
In Indian philosophy, there is nothing but one god. That is the concept of Adi Shankara’s Advaita Philosophy – everything is one. In Dvaita – jeevatama is different from Paramatma. The individual soul reaches the supreme soul ultimately.
In Indian philosophy the worship of god is the main item. It is called Hindu Sanatana dharma. It not religion but a faith. Tolerance is very important in Hindu Dharma. Sanatana means something that is eternal and ever lasting. The essence of Hinduism is charity, love, discipine, faith in God (devotion) This is what the Geeta also tells us clearly.
Can you narrate to the audience your favourite story?
I am a Krishna devotee. Krishna is a God with 16 kalas, Poornaavathara, ie., HE knows, is conscious, that HE is god even when he takes shapes of a man. . Rama as the avatar of a human being appeared to do righteous things. eliminating the wicked and cruel people and helping the righteous was the goal. Parithraanaaya Sadhunaam Vinaasaaya cha dushkritam dharma samsthaabanarththam Sambhavani yuge yuge. That’s why Krishna is called the god of protection. The Hindu Trinity perform the functions of Srishti stithi and samhara or laya. Creation, protection and destruction. Whatever is created must have an end one day. We calculate our life term, age, from the time of birth we are born on earth. Everything is dated on earth. God is beyond time space.
Guna is character, it is the basis on which mind and heart work for a person. Sattva, rajo tamo guna are the three gunas. characteristics Sattva people who are those who are simple, loving, auspicious, detached from the world and its attractions, and think nothing but social good. They are selfless people who help others and live for others. They live to serve others. They are not attached to this world and are not attracted to this world. This body is given for serving others. Itam sariram paropakaram. Jana seva Janardhana Seva
What is the essence of Vedanta?
Vedanta is the end of all the vedas. In the Upanishads we find the Mahavakyas – Tat Tvam Asi, Aham Bhrahmasmi, Ayam Atma Brahma and Prajnana Brahma. which mean YOU ARE THAT, I AM BRAHMAN, THIS ATHMA IS BRAMMAN, AND CONSCIOUSNESS IS BRAHMAN.
The Brahmasutras talk about the sublime Reality, omniscient, omnipresent nameless and formless self of the world, everyone is BRAHMAN
What is Srividya?
Sri Vidya is the worship of Rajarajeswari, known as MAHARAJNI. The goddess is worshipped in three forms – Bala Tripura Sundari, young baby girl, Tripura Sundari and Rajarajeshwari. There are 6 forms of worship as established by Adi Shankara. Koumara, worship of Kartikeya; Sauravam, the worship of the Sun; Shivam, worship of Shiva; Vaishnava, the worship of Vishnu, and Shakti, the worship of the Goddess and Ganapathya, worship of Lord Ganesa .
What is the significance of the Sri Chakra?
It is a yantra. It contains all the powers. It contains the beeja akshara mantra. powerful letters. When you utter the mantra scorrectly the deity respond. There are so many rituals and festivals for Hindus. Rituals are very important in Sri Vidya Upasana. Upasana means strict adherence to the set procedure of worship.
Any parting message to the audience?
Hindus are tolerant and never believe in conversion, and there was no cruelty or hatred towards other religious practices. Only liberty and freedom is given importance. Many children other than Hindus can also benefit from our Vedhas, spiritual scriptures, epics and puranas. Knowledge is Divine. Swamy Vivekananda taught how Hindu beliefs and faith has been collectively organised and developed by our ancient Rishis, and is based on tolerance, peace, love and unity, and nonviolence (ahimsa).
About J.K. Sivan
Born in 1939 he is now nearing 86 yrs Mr J K Sivan hails from a Tanjorean family of pious and religious scholars in Tamil, English, and Sanskrit devoted to spreading the values of our culture, tradition and spiritual development in society.
Sri J.K. Sivan has been occupying very high positions in International Shipowners organisations being an experienced Marine Insurance claims and insurance, chartering and ship management, specialist in India and abroad spanning a period of about half a century. He lives in Nanganallur now since 1994 after his overseas career.
He has been actively engaged in both social and spiritual service to society. Has been President, and Secretary of local residents welfare association and organised temple renovations. Has been Secretary of the Senior Citizens’ Forum Nanganallur.
Sri Sivan has organised many pilgrimage tours covering thousands of temple in Tamil Nadu and Southern part of India.
He has formed SREE KRISHNARPANAM SEVA SOCIETY ( which is now a family Trust since 2018 ),and ever since mid 2013 has been writing articles in English and Tamil through emails, whatsapp, face book and blogs, website, about our legends, Acharyas, epics and puranas, and other holy scriptures in the form of short stories for children . His novel way of present has ben globally well received by Hindus all over numbering lakhs of people. He has authored about 140+ books in English and Tamil , of which about 35 were published without a price tag for children. Through the above Trust Mr Sivan has organised many competitions for children women and seniors encouraging them in various activities connected promotion of spirituality in society and distributed prizes. He is recipient of many titles and virudhus including BAGAVATH SEVA RATHNA from Kanchi Mutt seer and VAISHNAVA SEVA RATHNA, from Vaishnava Conference at Annankoil.
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