Halekote branch - 1

Halekote branch - 1

Two sons of Anantha Irwathraya -1 continued to live at Hale Kote. They were  Subraya Irwathraya and Eeshwara Irwathraya. Halekote branch -1 chapter deals with the life of Subraya Irwathraya. Halekote Branch -2 chapter deals with the life of Eeshwara Irwathraya.  Subraya Irwathraya was married to Subbakka, who was a nice lady with very mild character. In the joint family, Eeshwara Irwathraya was a highly short tempered man. It is said that, once, Subbakka was cooking rice in the earthen vessel, and because her hands slipped the vessel fell down and broken. The rice came out and splattered around the oven. Eeshwara Irwathraya got angry and at his instance, pregnant Subbaka was made to languish in the front yard under the hot sun for full day and a rainy night without food, wearing the round ring of the broken earthen vessel around her neck.  Those were the days, the housewives were subjected to many such inhuman domestic crimes and suffered silently - which were considered as very normal incidents.

Subraya Irwathraya died at a very young age. He was having a son and a daughter:

Subraya Irwathraya:  1) Son – Narasimha Irwathraya -2
Subbakka                       (first wife – Girija, second wife Saraswathi)

                                2) Daughter – Sathya Bhama
                                    (W/O Narasimha Manjethaya)

Narasimha Irwathraya was a tall and stout  personality. He was very strong. He was slightly younger to my father (Anantha Irwathraya -2). He first wife was Girija, with whom, he had Two children namely Sulochana & Mohana. After the death of Girija, he married Saraswathi, with whom he had four children – Indira, Nagaraja, Subramanya & Prakasha.

Narasimha Irwathraya (Appayyu)

1.Girija                          1. Daughter – Sulochana (w/o Ramadasa Muchinnaya)

                                      2. Son – Mohana  Irwathraya (wife’s name not in memory)

2. Saraswathi                 1. Daughter – Indira (w/o Raghavendra Acharya)

                                      2. Nagaraja

                                      3. Subramanya

                                      4. Prakasha

Narasimha Irwathraya was popularly known as Appayyu, Appayya Bhat, Appayanna etc among relatives and the villagers. He was practicing Mantravada & very popular. He was also carrying out Pourohithya.  Apart from that, he was also managing the daily Pooja of a Bhairava Temple near his house. His agricultural activity was also good. His first daughter Sulochana (from first wife Girija) was married to Ramadasa Mucchinnaya of Kokkada.  Ramadasa bhava was running a hotel near Vaidyanatha Temple Kokkada. He had many children (may be half a dozen) , but their names are not in my collection, except for his son Suresha. Sulochana was married at a very young age, and every year, she was delivering for a child. It is told that her mother in law wanted many children to her and hence prevented the couple from adopting small family norms.

Appayyu chikkappa was highly respected in the family circles as well as in the society. He was very close to my father Anantha Irwathraya – 2. He was regarded as a right hand to my father. He used to frequently visit Bendrala. My father and himself put together, used to solve any family problems in the Irwathraya households.

He was the first person from the Irwathraya family to visit the Shabarimala Shrine. Once he was attacked by a Buffalo, and suffered grave injuries especially to his chest and ribs. Thereafter, he was not venturing for any hard work. He was a chain smoker. He conducted the marriage of his daughters  Sulochana & Indira and also his son Mohan. Thereafter one day he suffered a heart stroke and died in his house. He was also in his FIFTIES  at that time. On the due date, he was thirsty and feeling uneasiness, and asked his wife Saraswathi  for a cup of coffee.  By the time his wife prepared and brought the coffee, his  life had gone in the sitting posture itself.  Great Appayyu chikkappa had a pinless death without any suffering, but Saraswathi Chikki became a widow at a very young age, and entire responsibility of  looking after the agriculture, family priesthood, Mantravada, agriculture and taking care of the family fell on the shoulders of Young Mohana anna.  Mohan anna saw to it that the Upanayana of all his younger brothers are conducted, and all of them got married.  Names of the wives of his younger brothers are not in my collection. Nagaraja is staying at Halekote with Mohan anna. He looks after the Coffee powder business. Subramanya & Prakasha re employed at Mysore. Prakasha lost his first wife, and married again.  I have in my collection, a family photo of Prakasha with his first wife, taken during their visit to Horanadu temple, when my family visit also coincided.     

Appayyu Chikkappa’s sister (younger) was Sathyabhama married to Narasimha Manjethaya of Dharmasthala. She was popularly known as Akku.  Narasimha  Manjethaya was a vedic scholar and was the chief priest of Dharmastala Manjunathewara Temple, and was doing good. Unfortunately, at some stage he lost his mental balance, and had to desert his job. Thereafter, Sathyabhama (Dharmasthala mami) had to struggle very much to eke out a life at Dharmasthala.  They were having a house (belonging to Kshetra) at the end of the Brahmanara Keri at Dharmasthala.  She was a very good lady and very hospitable. A lot of things are there to be written about her and her family. But for the sake of breivity, I confine myself to the extent of furnishing the names of her children in this chapter.

Narasimha Manjethaya

Sathyabhama                     1. Son Subraya

                                             2.Ramesha

                                             3. Sooryanarayana

                                             4. Indira

                                             5. Shailaja