Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Arul 15: ஜட்ஜ் இல்ைல ஜஸ்டிஸ் (Periyava - Not a Judge but give
Justice) .......................................................................................... 46
Arul 16: அண்ணன் மட்டும் ேபாதுமா? ............................................ 47
Arul : Periyava’s order –To send money to Poor Man in Calcutta 116
Arul: Blessed a poor man with Gold for Thiru mangalyam ............ 116
Arul: Paul Brunton ........................................................................ 116
Arul: Sri Sreedhara ayyawal ........................................................ 128
Arul : "Sri Subrahmanyaya Namaste" .......................................... 140
Arul: Anju pradishinam ................................................................ 146
Arul : Display of Bakthi by Dog.............................................................. 156
Arul : The value of Annadhanam ................................................. 158
Arul: Bodhendral ......................................................................... 159
Arul: Blessed with Kids.. - Mahaswamigal's Grace : P.Chennarayudu
..................................................................................................... 166
Arul: Pushpa Alankaram .............................................................. 168
Arul: Rama Nama Mahima ........................................................... 169
Arul: Purandara Kesavalu ................................................................. 170
Arul : Discovery of Atma-bhodendral Adhistanam ........................ 177
Arul Ananda Vikatan Deepavali Malar ........................................... 180
Arul: Solace in Faith ..................................................................... 183
Arul: Karunai to Old Patty ............................................................. 187
Arul: Mahaswamigal and Chandra Grahanam ............................... 190
Arul: Making a kid talk… ............................................................... 192
Arul : Paramacharya’s boundless concern ................................... 194
Arul : Paramacharya an Avatar of Lord Sankara Himself ............. 197
Arul : Paramacharya an Avatar of Lord Sankara Himself ............. 198
Arul 1: தினம் தினம் திருநாேள!
"சம்சாரத்துக்குப் ெபாடைவ..."
Varagooran Narayanan
1952 வைர மடத்தில் ைகங்கர்யம் பண்ணிக் ெகாண்டிருந்த ஒரு
ெபrயவrன் ெபயர் பஞ்சாபேகசன். ெபrயவாளுைடய
ைகங்கர்யம்தான் வாழ்ைக! என்று இருந்த ெபrய பக்தர்.
தள்ளாைமயினால் மடத்திலிருந்து ஓய்வு ெபற்றுக் ெகாண்டு
ெபrயவாைள பிrய மனசில்லாமல் தஞ்சாவூrல் உள்ேள
பிள்ைளயிடம் வந்தார். உடல்தான் தஞ்சாவூrல் இருந்தேத ஒழிய,
மனஸ் பூரா ெபrயவாதான்! எனேவ தஞ்சாவூrலும் ஏேதா ெபrயவா
ைகங்கர்யம் என்று பண்ணிக் ெகாண்டிருந்தார். பிள்ைளயாண்டான்
ேகட்டான் " ஏம்பா! உங்களுக்கு எப்ேபாப்பார்த்தாலும் ெபrயவா
ேசைவதானா? நீ ங்க படிச்ச படிப்புக்கு, அப்ேபாேவ ஏதாவது சர்கார்
உத்திேயாகம் பார்த்துண்டு இருந்தா.........இப்ேபா ெபன்ஷனாவது
வந்துண்டிருக்கும்......உங்க ெசலவுக்கு அது useful ஆக இருக்கும்
இல்லியா?" என்றான்.
"ெசய்துவிடுகிேறன் "
"மத்யமாவதி"
"ெபrவா அனுக்ரகம்"
பாட்டுக்காரrடம் என் ேகாபமும் சிrப்பும் ேபாய் பrவு உண்டாயிற்று.
நன்குபrச்சயமான ராகத்ைதேய உருமாற்றி ஏேதா அபூர்வ ராகம் ேபா
ல
அவர் பாடினார், என்பைதேய அந்த ெபால்லாத கிழவனார் குறும்பில்
குத்தவைத புrந்துெகாள்ளாத அப்பாவியாக இருக்கிறாேர என்ற பrவு.
இம்மாதிr அப்பாவிகளிடம் ெபrயவாளின் கருைண இரு மடங்காக
ெபருகும். பின் ஏன் குறும்பிேல குத்தினார் என்றால்,
அவர்கள் ெபரும்கருைணயில் பாதியளேவ ெபறுகின்ற "புத்திசாலி"
களான நம்முைடய புத்திக்கும் ேவடிக்ைக விேனாதம் காட்டத்தான்! கு
த்தல் நமக்குத்தான் ெதrயுேம தவிர, குத்தப்படுபவர்களுக்கு
ெதrயாது. அதுதான் அவர்கள் அப்பாவிகளாச்ேச! குழந்ைதயிடம்
நாம்,அம்மா குத்து, திம்மா குத்து"விைளயாடும்ேபாது, பிறருக்குத்தான்
மிகவும் பலமாக குத்துவது ேபால ெதrயுேமெயாழிய குழந்ைதயின்
ைகயில் குத்து ெமத்தாகத்தாேனவிழும்! பrஹசிப்பதாக நமக்கு காட்
டும்ேபாேத, "இவைர விட அழகாக உைரயாட நவகண்டத்தில்
ஒருவர் உண்டா" எனத்தக்க நாயகர்.
நவன
ீ கருவிகளின் கணிப்பு, மருத்துவர்களின் ெகடு, நிபுணர்களின்
கருத்துக்கள் எல்லாம் அவருக்கு மூன்று மாதங்கேள என்று
நிர்ணயித்து விட்ட பிறகு, எப்படித் ைதrயமாக இருப்பது? எந்த
சக்தியால் இைத மாற்ற முடியும்?
ஒவ்ெவாரு வட்டு
ீ வாசலிலும் ேமனா நின்றது. அந்தணர்கள் ேவத
மந்திரங்கைள முழங்கினர்; பூர்ண கும்பத்ைதத் ெதாட்டு
ஆசிர்வதித்தார் ெபrயவாள். அைனவரும் அவைர நமஸ்கrத்தனர்.
அவரது வட்டு
ீ வாசலின் முன் நின்றது ேமனா. வட்டுக்குள்
ீ இருந்து
தயக்கத்துடன் எட்டிப் பார்த்த தனவந்தைரப் பார்த்து, ‘வா இங்ேக…’
என்பது ேபால் ைசைக காட்டினார் ெபrயவாள்!
"ஆமா"
"அமாம் "
"அமாம்"
அப்படிெயன்றால் வாருங்கள்
சr சr சாப்பிட்டேயா
சாப்பிட்ேடன்
இன்றக்கு என்ன,இப்படி?
சங்கரா! ேபாற்றி...ேபாற்றி
Arul 47 : Gajana
anaGaGanesh Chandrasekar and Kalyanasundaram Ramachandaran
The people there say that Periyava has not seen any foreigner before
and there is little chance that he will do so now. Mr. Brunton was
half expecting this and turns back when his friend asks him to wait,
goes inside and seeks an audience with Periyava. Periyava accedes
and I shall reproduce Mr. Brunton's meeting with Periyava here
which comes in the chapter titled, "With the Spiritual Head of South
India."
Paul Brunton:
"We pass through a tiny door way and enter a bare ante room. At
the far end, there is a dimly lit enclosure, where I behold a short
figure standing in the shadows. I know well that Shri Sankara is no
Pope, for there is no such thing in Hinduism. He is a Teacher and the
inspirer of a religious flock of vast dimensions. The whole of South
India bows down to his tutelage.
I look at him in silence. This short man is clad in the ochre colored
robe of a monk and leans his weight on a friar's staff. I have been
told his age is on the right side of 40, hence I am surprised to find is
hair quite grey.
His noble face, pictured in grey and brown, takes an honored place
in the long portrait gallery of my memory. That elusive element the
French termed spirituel is present in this face. His expression is
modest and mild, the large dark eyes being extraordinarily tranquil
and beautiful. The nose is short, straight and classically regular.
There is a rugged little beard on his chin and the gravity of his
mouth is most noticeable. Such a face might have belonged to the
Christian saints who graced the Church during the Middle Ages,
except that this one possesses the added quality of intellectuality. I
suppose we of the practical West would say he has the eyes of a
dreamer. Somehow, I feel in an inexplicable way that there is more
than just mere dreams behind those heavy lids.
"Your Holiness has been very kind to receive me," I remark, by way
of introduction.
He turns to my companion and says something in vernacular, the
meaning of which I am able to guess correctly.
"His Holiness understands your English, but is too afraid that you
might not understand his own. So he prefers to have me translate
his answers."
He asks about my personal experiences in the country; he is very
interested in ascertaining the exact impressions which Indian people
and institutions make upon a foreigner. I give him my candid
impressions, mixing praise and criticism freely and frankly.
The conversation then flows into wider channels and I am much
surprised to find that he regularly reads English newspapers, and
that he is well informed upon current affairs in the outside world.
Indeed, he is not unaware about what the latest noise in
Westminster is about, and he knows also through what painful
travail the troublous infant of democracy is passing through in
Europe.
I remember my friend's firm belief that he possesses prophetic
insight. It touches my fancy to press for some opinion about the
world's future.
"When do you think that the political and economical conditions
everywhere will begin to improve?"
"A change for the better is not easy to come by quickly," he replies.
"It is a process that must need take some time. How can things
improve when nations spend more each year on the weapons of
death?"
"There is nevertheless much talk of disarmament today. Does that
count?"
"If you scrap your battleships and let your cannons rust, that will
not stop war. People will continue to fight, even if they have to use
sticks!"
"But what can be done to help matters?"
"Nothing but spiritual understanding between one nation and
another, and between rich and poor, will produce goodwill and thus
bring real peace and prosperity."
"That seems far off. Our outlook is hardly cheerful then?" His
Holiness rests his arm a little more heavily upon his staff.
"There is still God," he remarks gently.
"If there is, He seems very far away," I boldly protest.
"God has nothing but love towards mankind," comes the soft reply.
"Judging by the unhappiness and wretchedness which afflict the
world today, He has nothing but indifference," I break out
impulsively, unable to keep the bitter force of irony out of my voice.
His Holiness looks at me strangely. I immediately regret my hasty
words.
"The eyes of a patient man see deeper. God will use human
instruments to adjust things at the appropriate hour. The turmoil
among nations, the moral wickedness among people and the
sufferings of miserable millions will provoke, as a reaction, some
great divinely inspired man to come to the rescue. In this sense,
every century has its own saviour. The process works like a law of
physics. The greater the wretchedness caused by spiritual ignorance,
materialism, the greater will be the man who will arise to help the
world."
"Then do you expect someone to arise in our time, too?"
"In our century," he corrects. "Assuredly. The need of the world is
so great and its spiritual darkness so thick, that an inspired man of
God will surely arise."
"Is it your opinion then, that men are becoming more degraded?"
"No I do not think so," he replies tolerantly. "There is an indwelling
divine soul in man which, in the end, must bring him back to God."
"But there are ruffians in our Western cities who behave as though
there are indwelling demons inside them," I counter, thinking of the
modern gangster.
"Do not blame the people so much as the environments into which
they are born. The surroundings and circumstances force them to
become worse than they really are. That is true of both the East and
the West. Society must be brought into tune with a higher note.
Materialism must be balanced by idealism; there is no other real cure
for the world's difficulties. The troubles into which countries are
being plunged are really the agonies which will force this change,
just as failure is frequently a sign post pointing to another road."
I drop the subject and and ask permission for some personal
questions. It is granted without difficulty.
"The reason for that is I was invited by the King of Nepal in 1918.
And in all those years of my journey up north, I have not been able
to advance by more than a few hundred miles, because the tradition
of my office requires that I stay in every village and town I pass
through or which invites me, if it is not too far off. I must give a
spiritual discourse in the local temple and some teaching to the
inhabitants."
"I would like to meet someone with higher attainment in Yoga and
who can give me some sort of proof or demonstration of them. Am I
asking for too much?"
The tranquil eyes meet mine. There is a pause for a whole minute.
His Holiness fingers his beard.
"If you are seeking initiation into real Yoga, then you are not
seeking too much. Your earnestness will help you, while I can
perceive the strength of your determination; but a light is beginning
to awaken within you which will guide you to what you want,
without doubt."
I am not sure i correctly understand him. "So far I have depended on
myself for guidance. Even some of your ancient sages say that there
is no other God than that which is within ourselves," I hazard.
And the answer swiftly comes:
"Go on with your travels. When you have finished them, think of the
various holy men and Yogis you have met; then pick out the one who
makes the most appeal to you. Return to him, and he will surely
bestow his initiation upon you."
I look at his calm profile and admire its singular serenity.
"In that case, you will have to go alone till God Himself initiates you.
Practice meditation regularly; contemplate the higher things with
love in your heart; think often of the soul and that will help to bring
you to it. The best time is to practice in the hour of waking; the next
best time is the hour of twilight. The world is calmer during those
times and will disturb your meditation less."
He gazes benevolently at me. I begin to envy the saintly peace that
dwells on his bearded face. Surely, his heart has never known the
devastating upheavals that have scarred mine? I am stirred to ask
him impulsively:
"If I fail, may I then turn to you for assistance?"
Shri Sankara gently shakes his head.
"Yes I know only two masters in India who could give you what you
wish. One of them lives in Benares, hidden away in a large house,
which is itself hidden among spacious grounds. Few people are
permitted access to him; and certainly no European has yet been
able to intrude upon his seclusion. I could send you to him, but I
fear that he may refuse to admit a European."
"Who is he?"
"Many thanks You Holiness. But I have a guide who comes from
there."
"With pleasure."
"Promise me that you will not leave South India before you have met
the Maharishee."
I read in his eyes a sincere desire to help me. The promise is given.
A benign smile crosses his face.
"Do not be anxious. You shall discover what you seek."
A murmer from the crowd in the street penetrates into the house.
"I have taken too much of your time. I am indeed sorry." I
apologize.
The proper way to split and combine words would also be given. The
musician has to take care to synchronize the music, rhythm and
chandas and split and combine the words correctly so as not to spoil
the meaning. The compositions of good composers definitely allow
this (padham pirichu padaradhu) but many musicians simply
concentrate on the music and rhythm, and ignore the meaning,
sometimes leading to ridiculous meanings!
"Even in this song 'Shri Subrahmanyaya namasthe', we have a line
'guruguhayagnana dwanta savithre'. This must be split as
'guruguhaaya agnana dwanta savithre' i.e. 'the one who is the sun
for the darkness of ignorance'. Some sing it as 'guruguhaya.....
gnana dwanta savitre', ' one who is the sun for the darkness of
knowledge'!
Then why the name 'Kambhoji'? "I have a thought here - there is
another place called 'Kambhojam along India's northern border.
Kalidasa, no ordinary poet and quite knowledgeable too, tells Yasha
to go this way and that in his 'megha sandesam' – good enough to
plot a map! In his Raghuvamsam, describing Raghu's invasions and
victories, he has mentioned one 'Kambhojam', beyond the Indus and
along the Himalayas. From this, we deduce that, within the extended
India (akand Bharat), there was one Kambhojam near the
Hindukush mountains. May be our Kambodhi raga was from this
place? "Many ragas are named after places, right? Sourashtram,
Navarasa kannada, even Kannada, Sindhu Bhairavi, Yamuna Kalyani,
like this Kambodhi might have come from Kambhojam region.
"OK, you sing. I have been wasting time in useless chat preventing
you from doing what you came for!"
The dog which was moving around the area, suddenly left place and
went to a nearby pond, went inside, dipped himself into the pond. He
took a bath and cleaned himself and came running to the venue and
stood at a distant place watching the proceedings and having
Darshan of the Acharyal from a distance. He wanted to be a “madi”
yana dog, while having His Darshan.
She also brought out that whenever she visited the Mutt, a group of
young women also used to accompany her and added that there
would not have been a safer place than our Kanchi Mutt for them.
It was the time when Kanchi Maha SwamigaL was staying in Kalavai,
many years before. It was a Sunday. A large crowd had gathered for
darshan. One by one the devotees prostrated to the sage, received
his blessings and moved away. A middle-aged couple prostrated to
AcharyaL and stood up with folded palms. Keenly looking at them,
SwamigaL said, "adede... who (is this)... Palu...r Gopalan! You came
a year back. That time you spoke about some problems. Aren't you
fine now?" and laughed.
That Palur Gopalan replied, "We are very fine Periyavaa. As directed
by you, from the time we started feeding an atithi in the noon time
everyday, only good things are happening, Periyavaa! Good harvest
in (my) fields. The cows don't die as before! The money that dripped
out of hands without control for expenses stays in hands now. All
that is (due to) the greatness of the atithi bhojana you have asked
us to do, by your anugraha. I am doing it daily. Nothing else (is the
reason for the prosperity)." Tears filled his eyes as he spoke. His
wife who was standing by his side was also in tears of joy.
Maha SwamigaL was very happy to hear it. "That's the way you
should do it. You must have a resolution to feed the hungry. Doing
atithi upacAra will give such an anugraha and safeguard the family!
One day SAkSAt Parameshvara himself will come in the form of an
atithi, will sit and eat, you know that?" It is a maha puNya dharma
that could lead to mokSa!
Arul: Bodhendral
Seven years later, I had my first son in 1946, my second son in 1948
and the third in 1953. My eldest son is a Chartered Accountant, the
second and Engineer and the third is a Bank Manager. I am reaping
the fruits of His blessings. I am proud of my sons as the Swamiji
predicted. I met Him again on two occasions and He could remember
me. He also enquired about my children.
Swamigal didn’t care all this and left that place. After several years,
again, Swamigal visited that same place for observance of
Chaturmasya Vrata. The moment swamigal came to the village, the
same untouchable lady, who became old by them, came to have the
darshan of the saint and fell at his feet. On being asked by Swamigal
about the progress in rAma mantra anushtAna, she said that she had
already finished 1 crore of rAma nAma.
Saying so, she sat cross legged in padmasana posture, uttered rAma
nAma with kumbhaka, held her breath, raised the kundalini and
piercing all the 6 chakras alongwith Brahmarandhra at Sahasrara
Chakra, shed her mortal coil. Her spirit left the body from Sahasrara
thereby achieving Kapala Moksha.
Once His holiness Shri Kanchi Maha Swamigal started on a divya darshana Yatra
along with his entourage to Srisailam (Also called Dakshina Kailayam). Yatra
reached Karnool. Acharyal was given a rousing reception at the town entrance.
He stayed in a Bhajan mandapam there and gave a lecture on Sanatana
On the way, a drizzle started and intensified into a very heavy downpour. There
was no place to take shelter. The devotees requested Acharyal to sit inside the
Pallanquin. Acharyal refused and continued his journey till they reached a Shiva
temple. Acharyal was given a poorna kumba reception there. Everyone changed
into dry clothes, worshipped in the temple and the Yatra resumed.
A short distance away from Kurnool, on the way they thro a fertile village. All the
village folk with their children welcome Acharyal at the village entrance. The
zamindar of that village requested ‘You should honour our village, by gracing it
with your holy feet. There is a big choultry for your entourage, which also has a
pond nearby. ‘
The entire crowd along with the Zamindar fell at Acharyal’s feet and paid their
respects. Moved by this gesture, Acharyal told them that he will stay there for 21
days. The whole village was rejoiced at this.
Next day, the village wore a festive look. Preparations were on in the choultry for
Shri Chandra mouleeswara Pooja. Acharyal went to the pond for bathing. The
mutt secretary in a concerned voice asked the members of the entourage ‘You
have all organized a huge quantity of flowers for the pooja. But I do not see any
Vilva leaves in it. How will Acharyal perform Sahasra nama archana without it?
Anyone who knows Telugu, please request the villagers for Vilva leaves and also
tell them to bring it every day till Acharyal stays here’. The members went to the
village and requested for urgent help as Acharyal wil start pooja immediately after
bathing. The villagers clearly said that there are no Vilva tree anywhere in the
village.
Acharyal returned after bath and after looking at the pooja arrangements asked
‘Have you organized for Vilva leaves?’.
Acharyal asked ‘Why” what is the matter? Did you ask the villagers?’.
The secretary said ‘Yes. We asked and the villagers have said that there are no
It was 10.30 AM in the morning and Acharyal went to the rear yard of the choultry
into the Go shala (Cow shed)’. He sat on a granite stone and closed his eyes in
meditation. The message went to the Zamindar who sent all his men to look
around for Vilva tree / leaves. They all returned empty handed after an hour. The
mutt secretary was in tears that the Chandra mouleeswara pooja and Acharyal’s
Bikshavandanam will be affected because of this. Everyone was standing in total
silence near the go shala. Periyava in meditation looked like Sakshat
Parameswaran in Kailaya parvatham.
Suddenly one of the mutt youth walked into the hall of the choultry with a
bamboo basket full of Vilva leaves. His face was full of joy and surprise. Acharyal
opened his eyes and asked the Secretary ‘Have the Vilva leaves arrived. Let us all
start the pooja’ and entered into the hall and looked at the bamboo basket with
Vilva leaves. He took those fresh green leaves in his hand and told the secretary
‘Some one has plucked the leaves with great care. None of them are damaged.
How come the villagers said that there are no vilva trees nearby? Who brought it
here?’.
The mutt youth said, I happened to go to the front entrance and found this basket
placed at the foot of one of the legs of the pandal (Temporary shelter).
Acharyal asked ‘That is OK. Did you ask who brought it’?
The mutt youth said ‘I asked periyava. No one knows who brought it here.’
Smilingly Acharyal looked around and asked ‘Who could have brought it? Was it
Shri Chandra mouleeswara himself?’
Acharyal started the pooja and that day Acharyal performing Sahasra nama
pooja with those lush green Vilva leaves was a great spectacle. Prasadams were
distributed and in the evening Acharyal gave a discourse on Ramayana in Telugu.
The whole village was happy. Next day morning local Bhajan group in the village
performed bhajans and Acharyal went to the pond with a few mutt members for
bathing.
The mutt secretary asked the mutt youth who identified the Vilva basket the
previous day ‘Hey, you seem to have some luck. Look for Vilva leaves today also.’
He ran to the entrance and was surprised to see the Vilva leaves in a bamboo
basket again. He told the secretary ‘It was there in the same place. I do not know
who brought it here’
The secretary wondered ‘Why are the leaves being placed in the same place
without anyone’s knowledge’. Acharyal returned after bath and looked at the
Vilva leaves and looked at the Secretary. The secretary said ‘Yes periyava. Today
also the basket was there full of Vilva leaves in the same location. Again nobody
knows who brought it’.
Periyava completed the pooja, Bikshavandanam and was sitting alone. He called
the secretary and told him ‘Tomorrow morning, you should wake up early, go to
the front side and stand in an un-noticeable place and observe as to who is
placing this basket. Bring that person to me and do not ask any questions’.
That day evening also Acharyal continued his Ramayana lecture. The whole
village came and happily listened to it.
Third day…Early morning the mutt secretary took a vantage position near a
banyan tree and was observing. On the eastern side a boy emerged from a nearby
mangrove. He was carrying a bamboo basket in his head and was dressed in a
dirty dhoti. He looked around and after ensuring that no one is watching he
moved in, placed and basket and was about to turn back, when the mutt secretary
came out and stood before him. On seeing him, the boy’s legs were shivering and
he fell at the feet of the secretary.
The secretary asked him ‘Are you the one who brought the Vilva leaves for the
last two days also? The boy nodded his head in affirmation. Secretary told him
‘OK.OK. You go, have a good bath, apply the sacred ash in the fore head and
come again in the afternoon. I will take you to the big saint’. The boy nodded and
ran away.
The secretary briefed Acharyal on the same. Acharyal said ‘Good, Good. He is
doing a big help for the last two days. We will give him prasadams and bless him’
and moved on to take bath.
Evening 3’o’clock, the boy came as told and was hesitantly standing in a corner.
Acharyal looked at him and asked him to come near him. He came, fell at the feet
of the Acharyal and stood with his hands folded across his chest. Acharyal
smilingly looked at him. He was well bathed, had applied sacred ash liberally in
his forehead and all over his body and was wearing a bright white dhoti. Acharyal
asked him to sit and he did not.
Acharyal said ‘Oh! You know Tamil. Good Good. By the way what is the name you
said.’ He repeated ‘Purandara kesavalu’ and said in a tearful voice ‘You should
kindly hear my story’ Acharyal encouragingly said ‘Oh sure sure. Come on tell
me’
He got the job of grazing the cattle here in this Zamin. I have never gone to
school. All my education was from my father. He (My father) used to sing very
well. He loved the songs of Purandara dasar and Thyagaraja swamigal. That is
why named me as Purandara kesavalu. He has taught me also. I will sing well. But
he is not alive now. Two years before he went to moksha. Since then I am grazing
the cattle. Now I am twelve. Here they feed me and also give money.’
Acharyal was moved. He said ‘Ok. I was told that there is no Vilva tree nearby.
How come you are able to get so much every day?’
Purandarkesavalu obediently and respectfully said ‘A few miles from here at the
foot of a hill, there is a lot of grass. My father used to take the cattle there for
grazing. There are three Vilva trees there. My father used to tell me ‘It is great
punya to offer these leaves to Shiva.’ I remembered this leaf, when your mutt
members came into the village three days ago and showed a sample leaf while
asking for it. Then I ran to the tree and plucked them. If you had known that it was
brought by a “cattle grazing boy”, you may not use it. That is why I did it
clandestinely. Upon god this is the true reason and nothing else’
A greatly moved Acharyal was silent for some time and asked him ‘Purandara
kesavalu – Tell me what you like and what you want. I will ask the mutt officials to
fulfill it,’
Acharyal who melted like a candle at this said ‘Tell me tell me. What is your
desire’?
Acharyal was immensely pleased and said ‘Purandara, You should definitely sing
and I will surely listen. Every day evening come at 3 ‘o’ clock come here. You
must sit and sing. You will have the blessings of Shri Chandra mouleeswara.’
Purandara kesavalu was very happy.
Acharyal did not leave at that. ‘Purandara, you said you have a second desire.
Tell me. I want to hear that.’
Purandara kesavalu respectfully said ‘Samy. I will tell you on the day you leave
from this village’
A smiling Acharyal asked the secretary to give him prasadams and Thulasi mala.
Purandara kesavalu was rejoiced at this and received them wore them and left
after falling at the feet of Acharyal.
Next day, exactly at three ‘o’ clock, he came in, sat and sang the kirtanas.
Acharyal personally sat thro listened and enjoyed it. His voice was very sweet.
Whenever he made mistakes, Acharyal corrected him.
Acharyal finished his Shri Chandra mouleeswara pooja and Bikshavandanam and
was about to leave from the village. He came out of the choultry, met the people
who were waiting for him and gave them his blessings. Acharyal started walking
away from the choultry. As if remembering something he suddenly stopped and
looked around and saw Purandara holding onto one of the legs of the shelter and
weeping uncontrollably.
Acharyal called him. He came running and fell in the sand at the feet of the
Acharyal.
Acharyal said ‘For the love and shraddha you displayed, you will live with all
blessings. OK… You said that you will tell me your second desire on the day I
leave this village. Tell me now’
Purandara kesavalu said, ‘When I used to graze the cattle along with my father, he
used to tell “Purandara, do you know what to ask god in your prayer? “’God..God,
I do not want next birth. I should go to moksha loga. You must bless me for that.”’
You must live with truth and dharma always. Whenever you see great saints you
must ask only this”. Samy, will you now give me this moksha’.
The Parabrahmam was surprised at the words coming out of this 12 year old boy.
He said smilingly ‘Do not worry. At the right time Bhagavan will bless you with
this’.
Then he called the Zamindar separately and told him that mutt should be
informed of any event connected to Purandara and left the village to Sri
Sailam.Years roll by. One day in the afternoon two ‘o’ clock, Acharyal was talking
with devotees in the mutt. Suddenly he got up and went out of the mutt and was
walking quickly. The devotees rushed behind him. He went to the pond inside the
Kamakshi Amman temple. He entered the water, closed his eyes and started
some Japa. After about an hour, he took bath and again started the Japa. Like
this he repeated about seven to eight times. Then Acharyal climbed out of the
pond and sat in the steps, when a mutt employee rushed inside the temple.
Acharyal enquiringly looked at him and he said ’There is a telegram from Kurnool
with a message “Purandara kesavalu is serious”. We do not know who this
Purandara kesavalu is’.
Acharyal looked at the devotees around him and said ‘Purandara kesavalu is not
alive now. He passed away a short while ago. When I left from his village he
asked me “You should get me moksha”. I told him that Shri Chandra
mouleeswara will bless him for that. He had a sudden fever. He was suffering, but
thinking only of Moksha. If he has to go to moksha in the routine manner, then he
has to undergo six more births. I prayed that he should get moksha somehow.
Purandarakesavalu is a good athma.’ Thus saying Acharyal started walking
towards the mutt.
But, this was duty. So, i finally gathered courage, said to myself that
in any case I have to face HIM one day and with
Shri.S.S.Krishnamurthy, left for Ilayathangudi, near Karaikudi,
where HE was then camping. He was a good photographer and was
with me when Maha Periyava stayed in Samskrit college, Chennai.
'you know him only as the cartoonist Sridhar. do you know that he
writes articles under the name Bharanidharan ?'. i froze. I even
wished that HE would ask me directly. every moment was like a yug.
the old man said 'oh, i have read them, but did not know that it was
him'. luckily he did not say anything about the review. in my heart i
wished him to live 100 years ! then, Maha Periyava turned to us and
asked ' did you come for darshan?'. ' no, we came for your message
for AV deepavali malar'. Maha Periyava kept quiet, turned to the old
man, assigned him some work and retired to HIS room. I was
perplexed. 'So, no message this year and all this due to me'. SSK
must have read my mind and said ' do not worry. HE will give us HIS
message and blessings'.
Again i went to HIM and stood silently. 'have you written?'. no ans
from me. 'why are you quiet?'.'don't know what to write?'. 'write
something'. that came as a thunderbolt. but, SSK laughed it off and
said 'do as HE said and show it to HIM'. 'i cannot write even a word'.
'meditate on HIM and start writing tomo morning'.
Next day early morning Maha Periyava asked me again 'have you
written?'. there was a train of thoughts, but i kept quiet. 'you gave
you coffee y'day?'. i told HIM. then HE said ' go to the kitchen in the
mandap. there is a huge Pillayar, behind which a group is making
coffee. go and drink coffee there'. under the supervision of
Mayavaram Visu (now, Rameswaram Visu) a group was indeed
making coffee. they asked ' who told you about this?' 'Maha
Periyava'. blood drained from their face 'aiyayoo, Maha
Periyavalukku epdi therinchuthu?'.After coffee SSk encouraged and
enthused me.
I got 3 or 4 white sheets from the mutt manager and started writing.
thoughts came in a nice flow and i was filling the pages rapidly and i
thought that we could leave in the evening itself.
At 6.30p, we went and met HIM. there was a small kutthu vilakku
near HIM. He asked me ' have you written?'. 'yes'. 'come near to the
lamp and read. there is not enough light where you stand'. As i
started to read, i was trembling and sweating and it took me a few
minutes to regain my composure. Maha Periyava understood and
waited, but now, the voice deteriorated. then, Maha Swami started
singing and it was melodious. I lost myself in that and also thought
'my writing is not good enough, HE is not listening'. I was quite
relieved as i read the last sentence and it was a huge burden off my
heart.
'where did you write this'. 'in the athishtanam of Sri Maha Devendra
Saraswathi Swamigal' (the 65th pontiff of the mutt). 'So, HE
HIMSELF has written it on your behlaf !'. Tears were welling up in
my eyes as HE added 'Akshara laksham perum. Publish as it is. no
changes !!'. My heart did 1000 crore namaskarams to HIM.'take
prasad tomo morning and leave'. The next day. 'you know why i
made you stay for 2 days?'. 'its 'cos its quite sometime you came to
the mutt !!". my heart was light during the return journey.
Sri Maha Periyava Thiruvadigal Saranam. Hara Hara Sankara, Jaya
Jaya Sankara.
Arul: Solace in Faith
God is watching you in all that you do. Whatever you do, be
conscious of His presence. I remembered these words of His
presence. I remembered these words of Mahaswamigal, in the midst
of my crying. It was nearly 17 years ago in Madras. I was crying
from my heart leaning on a wall in that small room in my in-law's
house in Madras. We, and my husband, arrived there only the
previous day. I had brought with us plenty of homemade sweets and
savouries and gifts for my in-laws. Everything was going on in that
house cheerfully till that fateful morning. All of us had our morning
tea and I was helping my mother-in-law in arranging flowers for
puja. We were happily talking about the household matter. My
sisters-in-law were also joining in our conversation now and then in
the middle of their cooking chores.
"I am also coming with you to Kanchi" he said. He stuffed his dress
and other necessary things in my suitcase. Then my mother-in-law
rushed towards us "Please don't go anywhere, please. I am sorry,
come inside, in the name of God". I turned and answered weeping,
but firmly, "Yes. I am going to see God in Kanchi, the living God.
With His blessing I will get a child within one or two years and come
inside this house." They were stunned.
Alas! At Kanchi we came to know that the Mahaswamigal was out of
station. We got the "Darshan of Sri Jayendra Sarasvathi Swamigal.
When I was standing in the queue for the darshan I was mentally
praying to Mahaswamigal for his blessings since I had read
somewhere that `prayers' were granted by the Living God even from
a distance. When my turn came, I stood before Sri Jayendra
Sarasvathi Swamigal and bowed before Him. I cried silently and said
softly, "Please bless me. I want a child, a healthy intelligent baby...."
I could not say anything more, I was sobbing. All that time I was
silently putting my wish before the Mahaswamigal in my mind. Sri
Jayendra Sarasvati Swamigal did not say anything, but raised His
hands and blessed with a smile. He smiled with an expression of "I
know everything"... I felt suddenly the utmost faith and tranquillity
in my mind. I mentally placed all my worries in the `lotus feet' of
the Mahaswamigal. We returned to Hyderabad.
One year passed. What a wonder! I got a lovely son. I named his
`Karthikeyan', since he was the gift of Lord Siva. He was the product
of the blessings of the Sankaracharya, the Living God of this Yuga.
My son is now 16 years old.
Those with him said, "It is over ten o' clock now. PeriyavaaL's health
is also giving problem. Further, it would take time to reach Periya
Kanchipuram from here. By this time, AmbaaL would have come near
the Kacchabesvara temple. It is the custom that only there the vANa
vEDikkai (festivities of firecracker explosions) is held on a large
scale. Within the next half hour, AmbaaL would have gone inside the
temple."
PeriyavaaL did not receive any of that into his ears. Before moving
away from there, he went to the small PiLLaiyAr at the
Tenambakkam temple known as the SivAsthanam. Keeping one hand
folded over his eyes, he bowed to PiLLaiyAr and said something in
rahasya (private). Then he moved away.
Only now the people who came with him understood why Maha
PeriyavaaL talked in rahasyam to that SivAsthAnam Small PiLLaiyAr.
Sri Sambha Murthi SastrigaL was going inside the camp, passing the
old woman on his way. He was the pUrvAshrama younger brother of
Maha PeriyavaL. He was of a kind heart, true to the family blood that
coursed his veins. No sooner he heard the old woman's wail of
yearning than he hastened his steps towards the interior. As he
entered, he told Sri CaraNar who was immersed in an important
delibration, "Outside--a Paatti--of a hundred or hundred and twenty
or whatever age. Stands yearning and wailing for Periyavaa's
darshan."
Before the last words were out of his mouth, PeriyavaaL stormed
outside!
"Why have you stopped me, Sankara?" The Paatti was wailing
repeatedly. He went to her, stood very near to her and said, "PaattI,
here your Sankaran has come. Look! Without knowing that you have
come, I was busy with something inside. And as I came to know it,
here I have come running." The Ruler of Grace spoke the words of
nectar, which came up as the essence of his love.
"Vanduttiya, Sankara (so you have come, Sankara)!", said Paatti and
held his hands tightly! The hands that were held by his mother
Mahalakshmi AmmaL, were held today by another person, after a
span of about 55 years!
As she raised her face and looked at the holy visage of Sri CaraNar,
the vRiddhAmbikA (the good old mother) said, "Though you have
come running for my sake and stand before me, I cannot look at you
properly with my dim eyesight! ennappA (my son), only you should
give me some good sight for a good darshan."
It was the time of a hot sun. There was a narrow, thatched roof over
the heads of the people in the queue. At Paatti's words, the bhakta
parAdhIna jumped aside the shelter of the roof and stood in the hot
son, barefooted!
"It shows up very well ennappA, it shows very well!" Paatti patted
her cheeks loudly.
Sri CaraNar came near her again and said, "Have you seen me well
Paatti! Can I go?"
"Yes, I have seen you very well (PAtthuNtempa), my son! Even for
this anAmadeyam (nonentity), KaruNAmurti, you have given your
darshan. I was holding my soul just to see you. I have seen you
know. Take me now my son, take me!" The parama bhakta prayed to
him.
"PaattI! When the time comes, let us take it. I shall ask you now to
be dropped in your place. Go there and remain in Swami smaraNa
(remembrance of God). Don't come running again to see me! I shall
always be with you without leaving you aside for a moment!" The
kRupA varSA (shower of compassion) gave her his words.
============================================
======
Mahaswamigal was suffering from some pain in the back of His neck.
Dr Badrinath who had just operated on Him for cataract suggested
that Dr Kalyanaraman examine Him for suspected spondylosis and
its treatment. One afternoon Dr Kalayanaraman arrived at His camp
in Sholapur.
After lunch he was taken to His presence and was told that He was
suffering from high fever in addition to the neck pain.
“ I do not know”, said the Doctor. HH said, “ You have to hold your
nostrils and take a dip in the river till the whole head is fully
immersed in the water”.
The Doctor nearly fainted and said, “What treatment can a mere
mortal like me give You! Only Lord Shiva, whose incarnation You are,
is protecting Your body despite 108 head dips in the river with a
temperature of 105 degrees. I can only pray to Lord Shiva to keep
You in good health for our sake, for many more years to come”.
As with the world-famous Adi Sankara, the world would also know
well about the greatness of Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati, the
sixty-eightth PiThAdhipati of Sri Kanchi KamakoTi PiTham.
At those times, the world is in a position to know about the divinity
of sages. Through those incidents we can realize that they are
deivAmsa sambMbhUta (made of divinity), that they are avatAra
puruShAs. In tha...t way, it is the fortune aDiyEn (myself) received
through Sri MahaSwamigaL's anugraham--the miracle of making the
inarticulate child of mine speak.
The time I was working in All India Radio Station, Puduvai
(Puducherry). Pondicherry Gopala Aiyar was the one who helped, by
taking me to Sri MahaSwamigaL and making me have the darshana
bhAgyam of the sage.
During the years 1969 and 1970, Sri MahaSwamigaL was in his
blessing stance in the SivAsthAnam at Tenambakkam. My second
daughter Santhalakshmi was inarticulate though she completed
three years of age. Even the words 'Amma, Appa' did not come out of
her mouth. Since it happened in birth, the doctors told that it was an
impossible task to make her talk. They said no treatment could be
effective since it is 'genetically predetermined'. They (also) said that
only by a miracle happending through the divine power of
Vaidhyanatha Swami or Lord Sri dakSiNAmUrti, would it be possible
to make my child talk.
My wife prompted me to take the child to Sri MahaSwamigaL and
pray for his anugraham!
I took the child to the sannidhi of Sri MahaSwamigaL. On that way,
there was not much crowd near Sri SwamigaL. Disciples like Sri Balu,
Sri Ramamurthy, Sri SrikaNTan, Sri Kumaresan were with him.
"Chary has come!"--Sri Balu supplicates to MahaSwamigaL.
"Who is this child?"--Sri MahaSwamigaL's question.
"Adiyen's child. She can't talk. With Periyavaa's anugraham she
must talk. My ahamuDayAAL (wife) asked me to pray to you..."
"Why, you don't have that desire?"
Knowing nothing to reply, I looked stupid.
"She will talk well, and she will talk much, go!" Sri MahaSwamigaL
blossomed his holy mouth and spoke the words of grace.
"All Periyavaa anugraham", I said, prostrated, and returned home.
Once we reached home, the child ran inside, brought her dining plate
and spoke, "ammA, mammu poDu (Mommy, give me food!)!" What a
wonder! The inarticulate child talks! Our bodies were shivering in
ecstasy. The miracle that happened by the divine power of Sri
Acharya's favour. No words to express it. Thinking about the
supreme compassion of that walking God, and holding on to his holy
lotus feet in mind, we adored him and felt happy. What can the
graha balam (power of the planets) do, only the Acharya's anugraha
balam is the power, we realized and started adoring the Guru's
grace.
Since it was already night time, we met Sri MahaSwamigaL on the
next day, prostrated and told him the miracle of the child talking.
I supplicated to him, "By Periyavaa anugra mahima, speech has
come to the child."
nannA pEsuvA; nannA iruppA! she will talk well; she will be
prosperous!", said Sri MahaSwamigaL.
That night we were asked to stay in the Ashram itself. Usually no girl
is allowed to stay there but Paramacharya's kindness permitted us,
as otherwise, we had no other place in the town to go to. Next
morning also I had the chance of enacting the drama.
That was the festival day at Pandarpur and we could not enter the
temple of Lord Panduranga. But our hearts were so filled with
happiness that we had the satisfaction of having a very peaceful
darshan of the Mahaswami who was none other than the Lord
Panduranga Himself.
"Yes, but no other person has sat inside; only you should sit first!"
That disciple carefully walked over the path to the temple and came
back.
"It is all dirt and mud, and bear the tyre marks of the vehicles that
went to and fro." He continued, understanding the purport of
Periyavar's question, "And in that mud, creatures such as worms and
snails are crawling unsteadily."
Periyavar said, "A sannyAsi (ascetic) has three dharmas. The first
dharma is that he should have no possessions; that is, he should not
keep anything for himself. The second is brahmacharya (celibacy).
He should know how to control and rule over his senses. And the
third dharma is ahimsA. He should ensure that no jIvarAsi (living
being) suffers because of him. In the present situation, if I go on
foot or either in the car, there would be countless jIvarAsis that
would be trodden over. Hence there should be no temple program
for the time being. Postpone it. We will go later." Thus Periyavar
avoided going to the Meenakshi Amman temple at that time.
Later, when the rains had stopped completely and the situation
improved, he went on foot for darshan at Meenakshi Amman temple;
and that with ThamizhVeL P.T. Rajan!
C.N. Kuppuswamy
Sir Isaac Newton, said that he seemed to have been all his life
gathering a few pebbles on the shore, whilst a boundless ocean of
truth still lay beyond. Who can, on this earth, attempt even feebly to
scale the immeasurable, matchless mighty and the majestic
Himalayan glory and the grandeur of the Maha purusha, who
occupied and animated the whole century. I am honest fact an
alpathma with a limited knowledge, endeavoring to pay my humble
obeisance to a Paramatma, based on direct and intense personal
experience.
Way back in 1972 to say precisely, on 8th January, I proceeded to
Kanchi to received the blessings of Maha Periyaval, for the
sathabishekam of my father-in-law and my mother-in-law
accompanied me. On the way near walajabad a small town my
father-in-law, wanted to relax and I escorted him to the other side
of the highway. My second daughter who was only 4 years old then,
sneaked out of the car and darted across to reach me, like an arrow
released from the bow.
After patiently hearing the report of the accident, the great sage
closed his eyes for a few seconds, picked out an apple from a nearby
bamboo tray anointed it with holy water from his kamandalam
performed pooja to it and gave it to my brother-in-law directing him
to keep it by the side of the child in the hospital. He assured that the
child would survive the crisis through the grace of the Jaganmatha
Devi Kamakshi. The child was not responding to any treatment. The
doctors were much worried. The apple blessed by Paramacharya was
kept near her bed. In a week's time miracle took place. My child
recovered fully baffling the Doctors. She started telling me and
others that a small child with extraordinary beauty defying
description, wearing rich habiliments, with a golden crown on her
head displaying divine smile was guarding her day and night. Lord
Tennyson said that "More things are wrought by prayers than this
world dreams of". Here no prayer was offered but the infinite mercy
and the grace of Mahaperiaval saved my daughter from death.
The second incident was after she fully recovered, I took her to
Mahaperiaval. Though he was laid up with high temperature he gave
me darshan, and enquired the health of my daughter. I burst into a
tempest of tears for his mercy, compassion, kindness and divine
blessings. He then instructed me to perform Sahasra Aavrti (1000)
Gayatri Japa, every Sunday and avoid discussing politics which
would invariably involve turning the mind away from things
spiritual. He said that my performance of Gayatri Japa alone would
repay my indebtedness. For some months afterwards I obeyed his
command with implicit faith and earnestness and switched over
doing Gayatri Japa every day instead of only on Sundays