Nayana's Birthday

Please see this.

How Nayana got his name

A devotee asked, “Why does Bhagavan call Ganapati Sastri ‘Nayana’ (Nayana means father)?”

“There is a reason for it,” he replied, “it is my custom to address all people with respect. Moreover, he was older than me. I therefore always used to call him Ganapati Sastri Garu. That was very distressing to him and so he begged me times out of number not to do so, saying, ‘Am I not your disciple? You should call me by a familiar name. This is very unfair.’ I did not pay any heed to his protests. At last one day he insisted on my giving up the formal way of addressing him and adopting a familiar one.

All his disciples call him ‘Nayana’, you see. So I made it an excuse and said I too would call him ‘Nayana’ like the others.

He agreed to it because ‘Nayana’ means a child and a disciple could be addressed as one’s own child. I agreed because ‘Nayana’ also means ‘father’ and hence it would not matter so far as I was concerned. I was still addressing him in respectful terms. Whenever I asked him to come here or go there he was still uncomfortable because after all that he had done, I continued to talk to him with the respect due to elders,” said Bhagavan.

-- From Letters from Sri Ramanasramam (Letter 111)

Nayana Day: 25 July 2007

Nayana (Ganapathi Muni) mainly stayed in the Mango Tree cave on Arunachala and used to visit Bhagavan off and on. Nayana used to discuss shastras, with him and get his doubts cleared. He was a mighty scholar, while Bhagavan was just literate, yet Nayana would say,

"Without Bhagavan's grace, the intricacies of the scriptures are beyond one's power of understanding. One word from him makes everything clear."

.

When Nayana would see someone sitting in front of Bhagavan, meditating with his eyes closed, he would scold the devotee saying,

"When the sun is shining in front of you, why do you need to close your eyes? Are you serious or do you only want to show what a pious fellow you are?"

Those were happy days indeed, and I was blessed with many visions of deities and divinities. It was all due to Nayana's powers and Bhagavan's grace.

-- A lifetime with Bhagavan, by T.K.Sundaresa Iyer
Please also see arunachala-ramana, Ganapati Muni in Ramana Leela, Nayana and the Ramana Gita.

Be with us always

A lady devotee prayed to Bhagavan, "My only desire is that you may always be with us".

Bhagavan exclaimed, "Look at her, she wants us all to turn into stones, so that we may sit here forever"

-- Recounted by Chalam

Sri N Subramanian absorbed in Bhagavan

On Monday, July 2, Appachi Mama, the head priest of Sri Ramanasramam, passed away at a Vellore hospital due to a sudden stroke. He was 80 years old and had served in Sri Ramanasramam since his youth. His departure has saddened all those who have benefited by his devotion and service all these decades. In his usual modest manner, Appachi Mama briefly
described his life in a recent video interview. The following text has been extracted from this interview.

I joined the Ashram Vedapatasala on January 8, 1942 and finished my course in 1950. During those years the Patasala boys had to perform most of the Ashram chores. This included assisting the priest in the Mother’s temple, cleaning the kitchen after every meal, grinding the coffee beans every evening, shifting huge vessels from the fire, spreading rice for mixing at the poor feeding, serving the devotees and the servants. The rest of the time we had our Veda lessons.

Once, while serving Bhagavan and others, Bhagavan asked for some more buttermilk. I went to the kitchen and
took the bucket containing the buttermilk and served Bhagavan, not knowing that this was the sour buttermilk
which was put aside for the servants. Bhagavan drank the buttermilk and never said anything. But the kitchen staff
took me to task. I was shocked to know that inadvertently I served sour buttermilk to Bhagavan. I was too shy and frightened to face him. Even during the morning and evening Veda Parayana in the hall I sat at a distance from him and at meals avoided serving him. However, after two days had passed and finding that he did not mention anything about the incident I took courage and started serving him again.

In 1950 after Bhagavan’s Maha Nirvana, I joined a secondary school and after finishing the eighth standard I took a teachers training course. I then served as a teacher for three years in Tirukoilur and Tanjore. At the time my pay was 45 rupees per month. Krishnamurthy (Kittu), who was working as a priest in the Ashram, wrote to me and asked me to return to serve in the Ashram with a salary of only 15 rupees per month. Though the pay was low, I thought it was a call from Bhagavan himself to serve him, and heeding this call resigned my job, came and settled at the Ashram.

In those days the Ashram income was insufficient and irregular. Consequently, we used to be paid only when there
were enough funds. These days, of course, even before the end of the month we get our pay. Things have changed
considerably.
As the electrician and plumber would not come to the Ashram when called, I also took up that work. I did most of
the electrification and plumbing to the newly built cottages. I also had to prepare naivedya, do the grinding work for the
temple, go to the town for collecting papers, get signatures from the trustees maintaining accounts, etc. All these
responsibilities devolved on me. Later on the situation improved and the Ashram had its own plumber and
electrician, and the other jobs were taken over by the office staff. In this manner, I have been at the service of Bhagavan
for more than 50 years.
SRI N. SUBRAMANIAN
(APPACHI MAMA)
Taken from the Maharshi Newsletter, July-Aug 2007

In Your Arms

Even if you were to throw away my dead body in these thorny bushes I do not mind, but I must end this life in Your arms.
-- Bhagavan's Mother to Him

Bhagavan, your dear Mother spoke for all of us.  

See also Ramana Devotees.

Hereafter never harm anyone

Bhagavan smilingly said to her, "You see, the stone you threw hurt the bee and so it stung you. So hereafter never harm anyone."

For this charming little story, please see the blog of a nine-year old.

Prayer to Lord Ramana

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

-- St. Francis

Artwork courtesy Gabriele Ebert

Deliverance of Lakshmi - II

(Continued from previous post)

With the divine touch of Bhagavan, the outer breath of
Lakshmi began subsiding and the movement of the body
began to decrease. When the doctor came at 10-30 and gave
an injection Lakshmi remained unaffected as if the body
was not hers. There was no death agony. Her sight was calm
and clear. The doctor turned her over into the posture of
Nandi, put some medicine on the boils and went away
instructing us to keep some support for the head. As it was
11-30 by then, Venkataratnam came back after having his
meal. He asked me to hold up the head saying he would
bring some more hay. The tongue touched me and it was icy
cold; the life of Lakshmi reached the feet of Sri Ramana and
was absorbed in Him.

Ten minutes later, Bhagavan came into the shed saying,
“Is it all over?” and squatted by her side, took her face in
both his hands as though she were a little child, and lifted it
and said, “Oh Lakshmi, Lakshmi,” and then, to us,
controlling his tears, he said, “Because of her, our family
(the Ashram) has grown to this extent.” When all were
praising Lakshmi, Bhagavan asked, “I suppose the doctor
has not troubled her much, did he? How did her life cease?”
We told him all that had happened. “That is all right. Did
you notice this? The right ear is uppermost now. Till
yesterday she was lying down on her other side. Because of
the boil she was turned over to this side. So this ear had to
come up. Look, in the case of people who die in Kasi, people
say Lord Siva will whisper into the right ear. Lakshmi too
has her right ear up,” said Bhagavan, and showed that ear
to all people there. 

By that time, crowds gathered. After a
quarter of an hour, Bhagavan got up and said, “Ramakrishna
has been saying for the last ten days that a good tomb
(samadhi) must be built for Lakshmi.” Bhagavan then went
away to the hall.

Deliverance of Lakshmi

In my letter to you under the caption “Worship of the
Cow,” I described to you the grandeur of Lakshmi, the queen
of the cows, and the amount of love Bhagavan had for her. To
that queen, as for his own mother, Bhagavan on Friday the
18th of June gave Videha Mukti (liberation). That morning
when I went to the Ashram, I was told that Lakshmi was
seriously ill and would not survive the day. So I went straight
to the cow shed, without seeing Bhagavan even. The room
built for the calves was vacated, cleaned and Lakshmi was
given a bed of straw to lie down upon. As it was Friday, she
was as usual decorated with turmeric paste, vermilion mark
on the forehead and a garland of flowers round the neck and
horns. Venkataratnam was sitting by the side fanning her.

Lakshmi was lying down with her majestic look spreading
lustre all round. She reminded me of Kamadhenu going to
Kailas to do abhishekam with milk over the great Lord Siva.

When I went to Bhagavan and prostrated before him
and got up, he looked at me with a divine look. Taking it as an
order, I said I would go and stay with Lakshmi. He nodded
his head in assent and I went immediately. Venkataratnam
gave me the fan and left. Sitting in that place I began repeating
Ramana Dwadasakshari (twelve letters of Ramana Mantram),
Ashtotharam (108 names of Ramana), etc. and Lakshmi
appeared to hear them attentively.

When Bhagavan came to the cowshed at 9-45 a.m. as
usual he came to see Lakshmi. Bhagavan sat on the hay by
her side, lifted her head with both his hands, and passing
one of his hands lightly over her face and throat, and then
placing his left hand on the head, began pressing with the
right hand fingers her throat right down to the heart. 

After pressing like that for about a quarter of an hour he said,
addressing Lakshmi, “What do you say, mother? Do you want
me to stay here alone? I could stay, but what to do? All people
could be around you as in the case of my mother. Even so,
why? Shall I go?” Lakshmi remained calm, devoid of all the
bonds of this world and of the pains of her body as though
she were in samadhi. Bhagavan sat there unwilling to move
and with a heart full of compassion. I was overwhelmed at
the sight and exclaimed involuntarily, “Oh! Mother
Alagamma had the greatest luck. So has Lakshmi now.”

Bhagavan looked at me with a smile. Subramaniam came
and said, “It seems the doctor will not be coming till 10-30
as there is no immediate danger to Lakshmi.” 

“All right. So Doctor will not be coming now. Have you brought the
medicine for injection?” asked Bhagavan. Turning towards
Lakshmi and gently stroking her head and neck, he said,
“What do you say? May I go?” 

Subbulakshmi said, “She will
feel happy if Bhagavan is by her side.” “That is so, but what
to do?” So saying and looking into the eyes of Lakshmi,
Bhagavan said, “What? May I go? Won’t you tell me?”
Lakshmi looked at him proudly. What reply Bhagavan got,
we do not know but he got up and went away saying, “See
that the flies do not get into the mouth.” I assured him that
we would take due care of Lakshmi and Bhagavan left the
place very reluctantly.

(From Letters From Sri Ramanasramam. To be continued)

Cow Lakshmi Day - June 27th

This year, Cow Lakshmi Day will be observed on June 27th. This is the day of Lakshmi's Nirvana. Pictures of Lakshmi.

Kinder than a Mother

Squirrel held lovingly by Bhagavan

In the roof of the Old Hall, squirrels would build nests. Once, some new-born squirrels dropped on Bhagavan's sofa. Their eyes remained yet unopened and the size of each baby may not have been more than an inch; they were very red in color with fresh flesh, absolutely tender to touch.

The mother squirrel ignored them. Now what to do? How to feed and attend to such tender things?

The baby squirrels were in the palm of Bhagavan. Bhagavan's face glowed with love and affection for them. While there was a question mark in the faces of those who surrounded Bhagavan, He Himself was happy and cheerful. He asked for some cotton to be brought. He made a soft bed for them.

He also took a bit of cotton and squeezed it to such a tiny end, the end portion looked like a sharp pin. He dipped it in milk and squeezed milk into the tiny mouths. At regular intervals, Bhagavan repeated this act of compassion. He tended them with great care and love till they grew up and ran around. They did not run away, only ran around their 'Mother'. Kinder far than their own mother!

-- V. Ganesan, Moments Remembered

Vegetarian Quotes | Turning Veg

Animals Treated as Equals

Bhagavan feeding monkey

I looked around. Squatting on the floor or sitting in the Buddha posture or lying prostrate face down, a number of Indians prayed - some of them reciting their mantras out loud. Several small monkeys came into the hall and approached Bhagavan. They climbed onto his couch and broke the stillness with their gay chatter.

He loved animals and any kind was respected and welcomed by him in the ashram. They were treated as equals of humans and always addressed by their names. Sick animals were brought to Bhagavan and kept by him on his couch or on the floor beside him until they were well. Many animals had died in his arms.

When I was there he had a much-loved cow who wandered in and out of the hall, and often lay down beside him and licked his hand. He loved to tell stories about the goodness of animals. It was remarkable that none of the animals ever fought or attacked each other.
-- Mercedes de Acosta, Here lies the Heart

Please see this also.

An End to Suffering

Our true Father Ramana says:

1. My devotees have the qualifications to rejoice abundantly, like children of an emperor.

2. Abandon the drama [of the world] and seek the Self within. Remaining within, I will protect you, [ensuring] that no harm befalls you.

3. If you inquire and know me, the indweller, in that state there will be no reason for you to worry about the world.

4. For the cruel disease of burning samsara to end, the correct regimen is to entrust all your burdens on me.

5. In order that your needless anxieties cease, make sure that all your burdens are placed on me through the brave act of depending totally on grace.

6. If you completely surrender all your responsibilities to me, I will accept them as mine and manage them.

7. When bearing the entire burden remains my responsibility, why do you have any worries?

8. Long ago you offered your body, possessions and soul to me, making them mine, so why do you still regard these things as 'I' and 'mine' and associate yourself with them?

9. Seek my grace within the Heart. I will drive away your darkness and show you the light. This is my responsibility.

Entire piece here and here.
See also this

Her Little Lord

For Mother Alagammal, newborn Venkat with his bright glowing eyes, and peaceful countenance was the Lord Himself. And she carried her little Lord with her wherever she went.



It was impossible not to touch the little Lord's face, his soft cheeks, his tiny ears or his little nose as he slept. But such a sound sleeper was He! What was He dreaming of, the little one?



Like all mothers, she prayed to the Lord to protect her son, little knowing that the tiny child in her arms was the Lord Himself.

Mother, Let us find somewhere else to go

The Lord holds his mother's hand and says "Mother, Let us find somewhere else to go."

The story of Alagammal, the mother, is a story that has perhaps never/rarely been told as it deserves to. Giving birth to the Lord, nurturing Him, then losing him, finally finding him again, with many, many trials along the way ...

Please see this.

Mahapuja 2007

Today being the Mahapuja Day (when Bhagavan's mother, Alagammal, passed away in 1922), a few pieces related to Mahapooja are laid at Bhagavan's Feet.

May Thou and I be one and inseparable like Alagu and Sundara, Oh Arunachala!
-- From Aksharamanamalai

It was the month of December and Bhagavan's jayanthi
was arriving. I used to talk to my doctor friend about the
speciality of jayanthi darshan, for on the jayanthi day
Bhagavan had a special glow of light about him and his starry
eyes shed a special lustre and those around experienced the
ambrosia or the elixir of life. It is for experiencing this light
or bliss of being that devotees flocked to him from near and
far. Though this experience was obtained on normal days
too, it was very intense on particular occasions like jayanthi,
Mahapooja and Karthikai days, as also it was when great souls
met him. -- From The Silent Power

Glory to the holy mother of sacred Ramana!
Glory to the samadhi!
Glory to the linga consecrated by the Maharshi!
Glory to the new Aghasamana teertha!
-- From Soundaryamba shatkam (Six verses on Soundaryamba/Alagammal)

A word should be said also about the great annual festivals.

Most of the devotees were unable to live permanently at Tiruvannamalai and could only come occasionally, so that there were always crowds for the public holidays, especially for the four great festivals of Kartikai, Deepavali, Mahapuja (the anniversary of the Mother's death) and Jayanthi (the birthday of Sri Bhagavan).
-- From Path of Self Knowledge

Suri Nagamma (Letter 246) as usual has a very touching description to recount. A teaser:

As you know, during the time of the Jayanti, Mahapuja and other celebrations, Bhagavan does not get up for his meals unless and until the feeding of the poor starts and is half-finished. It seems in the past, during such festive occasions, Bhagavan did not take his food except with the last batch. It is only recently, on representations made by devotees, that Bhagavan has been taking food after the feeding of the poor was halfway through...

For the full piece, please see this.

In Sri Bhagavan.

Thiruchulinathan

I saw Thiruchulinathan* and, being unable to turn back, stood there transfixed. He is the Lord that dances in Chidambaram and that protects the helpless and is merciful to them. The same Thiruchulinathan manifested himself as God in Virupaksha Cave on the hill in the sacred Tiruvannamalai.

-- Ramanatha Brahmachari (Andavane)

* Lord of Tiruchuli (where Ramana was born)

Photograph shows Ramanatha Brahmachari sitting on extreme left, front.

For more on Ramanatha Brahmachari please see Ramana Leela, and Letter 78.

Respect for mother

One morning, during the usual conversations the topic turned on Bhagavan's mother coming away to live with him and on her manner of life, and Bhagavan spoke to us as follows:

"Mother began coming here frequently and staying with me for long periods. You know I always address even beasts and birds in a respectful manner. In the same way, I used to address Mother also with the respectful form of speech. It then occurred to me that I was doing something hurtful. So I gave up the practice and began addressing her in the familiar way. If a practice is natural and has become habitual you feel uncomfortable at changing it. But anyway what do these bodily things matter?"

He spoke with deep feeling and my eyes filled with tears.

(From Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, Letter 14, dated 12 Dec 1945, by Suri Nagamma)

Mother and Father

Photo of Bhagavan's Father, Sundaram Iyer. Father passed away on February 18th, 1892 at the age of 47. For some hours after his father's death, young Venkataraman contemplated the matter of how his father's body was still there, but the 'I' was gone from it. This was perhaps a forecasting of what was to happen two years later.

Photograph of Bhagavan with Mother Alagammal, 1913

"May Thou and I be one and inseparable like Alagu
and Sundara, O Arunachala!"

- Marital Garland of Letters, v3

Post in homage to Mother Alagammal. The mahapuja is on June 9th this year.
Acalayoga | Sri Ramana's Life

Mother's last day

(Post in homage to Mother Alagammal)
May 19, 1922 (Dundubhi year and Vaisakha month) was her last day; everyone could sense the impending end that day. Yet they had to do whatever was possible in a
spirit of detachment leaving the result to the Lord. As long as she was conscious, Bhagavan gave her spiritual instructions. When she lost consciousness Ganapati Muni
and others commenced vedic chants, some others chanted the Rama-nama.

After the violent gasps (urdhva-swasa) began, Bhagavan placed his right hand on her heaving heart and the left one on her head. He looked at her intently. The day passed that way. Subsequently Bhagavan himself narrated what had happened thus:

The latent tendencies and thoughts which are the cause of future births flared up. She had just then lost consciousness of the external world. Hence in the subtle world her subtle body was witnessing scene after scene of what was to happen. By this sequence of experiences, the soul went through the future births and travelled towards the highest.

How could she experience this? It was because of the current of Bhagavan's spiritual power transmitted by touch that she experienced all within herself, without having to
be born over and over again. There was a battle between her soul forces and Bhagavan's spiritual power in which her latent tendencies gradually weakened and ultimately got vanquished. Bhagavan actually described the scenes she witnessed in the subtle state including their intensity.

The end came peacefully by eight in the night. Among those present, Ganapati and Niranjanananda Swami heard a sound indicative of the mother's death.

In this manner, the mother's individuality submerged in Atma, God. She attained mahanirvana. She had no more births. Due to her son, who was Arunachala in human form, she attained mukti or became established in the Atma.

Mother's body acquired a new brilliance which persisted till the abhisheka on the following day

As the mother's end was nearing nobody in the ashram ate anything that day. After her end, the Maharshi got up, and with no trace of grief said, "We may now eat. There is no pollution." How could there be any pollution when they were in the presence of the Lord in whom the holy lady merged? Such a body was a holy shrine in itself. The ashramites had a quiet meal.

The entire night passed in the singing of devotional songs. According to Manavasi Ramaswamy Iyer, "Bhagavan had no grief whatever. On the other hand, he appeared to be relieved like a bird released from a cage." These words were recorded in his diary. True, why did he have to grieve?

The mother attained the supreme state. Some days after the event somebody remarked to the Maharshi, "Mother has passed away." Immediately Bhagavan corrected him saying "No, mother has merged, she has become one."

On another occasion, when the matter of his according mukti to the mother came up, Bhagavan
said, "Yes my attempt in her case was successful. Earlier, in the case of Palaniswami I attempted the same. Thinking that he had attained the ultimate I removed my hand, thereupon he opened his eyes. The prana passed through the eyes. That is how my attempt at that time failed." On still another occasion, Bhagavan said, "Where has mother gone? She is here." Hence there need be no doubt as to where Alagammal had departed. The Maharashi meant
that she merged in Easwara and was with him (as he also was abiding in the atma).

Mother has not passed away. She has merged. She has become one.

The question as to whether the body was to be cremated or buried came up on the very night of mother's expiry.
Bhagavan pointed out that according to chapter 13 of Ramana Gita the body of one who attained mukti was to be buried and not cremated. The disciples decided to bury the body. Early next dawn, they carried the body from Skandasramam down the hill to a spot near Paliteertham.
Meanwhile, some relatives from other places came and though they argued in favour of a cremation, they were overruled. The news of the mother's death passed round the town, in spite of every effort to keep it private. As a result, numerous people turned up at the burial ground.Your text goes here.

A pit was dug below an aswatha tree. The body was lowered into it. The pit was filled with camphor, vibhuti, salt and other aromatic materials and later covered. The disciples erected a brick samadhi and by some coincidence, a Siva linga from Kasi arrived just then. It was placed atop the samadhi and named, Matrubhuteswara (Mother who was Easwara).

The Swami was watching the proceedings as a mere
witness. With the samadhi of the mother the son's filial
duty ended.

As Swami had entreated Arunachala in 1914, the
mother was consumed not by the fire of cremation but by
the fire of Jnana .

For the Mahapooja day, Ganapati Muni wrote six
verses entitled Soundaryamba shatkam (Six verses on
Soundaryamba) ? (Soundaryamba has the same meaning
as Alagamma). This is the substance of the verses:

1. In the first quarter of the night of Friday, the ninth
day of the dark fortnight of Vaisakha month, Dundubhi year
2. Wife of Sundaram born in the exalted lineage of
Bharadwaja, Parasara and mother of Ramana Maharshi born
as an avatara of Guruguha (Subrahmanya), the blessed lady,
3. One devoid of any attachment, one cleansed
by bhakti to Siva, one whose prana was arrested by the
touch of Guha (Ramana Maharshi), one whose tendencies
were all destroyed that very moment
4. She, Soundaryamba, became that Light which
can be known only by the Vedantic Vakyas, which is all-
pervasive, and which was known by her son.

5. At that samadhi of Soundaryamba the stream
which poured out of the lotus palms of Ramana Maharshi
became a new teertha, the Aghasamana teertha (the teertha
which removes all sins).

6. Glory to the holy mother of sacred Ramana!
Glory to the samadhi!
Glory to the linga consecrated by the Maharshi!
Glory to the new Aghasamana teertha!

The Maharshi later said something interesting. After
her passing away, Alagammal's body acquired a new
brilliance which persisted till the abhisheka on the following
day at the time of samadhi; it disappeared soon after water
was poured. Further, at the last breath in all cases a faint
sound emanates. In the mother's case, Bhagavan did not
notice it but others present did.

Every year, to commemorate the anniversary, pooja
is performed to Matrubhuteswara. Thousands of devotees
from various parts of the world assemble to join the
observance.
(This year the day falls on June 9th, 2007)
Photos of Mother's temple are copyright of Sri Ramanasramam

Mother surrenders to Son

In course of time she (Bhagavan's mother, Alagammal) came to understand the
Maharshi's behaviour and grasped that attachment was
not proper. She realised that she had come to the ashram
not as the Maharshi's mother but as a devotee keen on
attaining spiritual knowledge. There was only one way
by which she could win his grace and that was by service
without any desire, but with contentment and
detachment. With this realisation her old body toiled day
and night to serve the ashram inmates. Finally she donned
ochre robes, gained detachment and listened to Vedantic
matters. She surrendered herself to the Maharshi, certain
in the belief that he was her saviour.

In the last two or three months of her physical life
she was sick, hence it had become necessary for someone
to look after her. The Maharshi was her first servant. He
nursed her day and night but how long could that old and
tired body survive?

Post in homage to Bhagavan's Mother. To be continued ...
Photo of Mother's temple, copyright Sri Ramanasramam

All women are my mothers

Another latent tendency of hers (Bhagavan's mother) was her strong
attachment to the Maharshi, her son. She loved him
and expected him to love her equally strongly. This bond
could not be swept away, though it needed to be swept
away . Whenever she demonstrated her love through
any act the Maharshi admonished her. On several
occasions he pulled her up, upon which she wept. The
Maharshi would then say "Cry and cry more. It does
you good. The more you cry the more satisfied am I".

She could not understand why he was so harsh towards
her. On some other occasions he would not give her any
reply but would converse with other ladies, which hurt
her. She felt that he slighted her deliberately. All that he
would say was: " All women are my mothers, what is so
special about you?" Apart from this, the Maharshi who
always helped in household chores, intentionally refused
to help his mother whenever she sought it. Once, she
asked him to help her in preparing appalams. Instead of
doing so, he gave her a song — famous as the "appalam
song".



Quote from Sri Ramana Leela

Photo (1) of foundation stone of Mother's temple (laid on 1-9-1939 by Bhagavan and consecrated on 17-3-1949), and (2) of Bhagavan's picture inside Mother's temple are free to copy/use.

Prayer for Mother's Recovery

The next few posts are in homage to Mother Alagammal who attained Nirvana on May 19th, 1922. This year, Mahapuja falls on June 9th.

In 1914, Bhagavan's mother, returning from a pilgrimage
to Tirupati, paid a brief visit to him at Tiruvannamalai. While
there she had a severe attack of fever, which some thought to
be typhoid. Her life was despaired of and Bhagavan composed
the following poem for her recovery. Needless to say, she
recovered. Two years later she came and took up her abode
permanently at Bhagavan's Ashram on the hill.

Photo of Mother's Nirvana Room at Skandasramam

1. Hill of my refuge that cures the ills of recurring births!

O Lord! It is for You to cure my mother's fever.

2. O God that smites Death itself? My sole refuge!

Vouchsafe Your grace unto my mother and shield her from
Death. What is Death if scrutinised?

3. Arunachala! O blazing fire of Jnana ! Deign to wrap
my mother in Your light and make her one with You. What
need then for cremation?

4. Arunachala, that chases away illusion (maya)! Why
delay to dispel my mother's delirium! Besides You,
is there anyone who with maternal love can protect the
suppliant soul and ward off the strokes of destiny?

Adam Osborne passes away

Came across this article in the New York Times. Adam Osborne, son of writer Arthur Osborne (author of several books about Bhagavan), passed away in Kodaikanal, India on March 18th, 2003.

Adam Osborne, a British technical writer who became one of Silicon Valley's legends by introducing the first portable personal computer in 1981, died on March 18 in Kodiakanal, India. He was 64.

Dr. Osborne was born in Thailand in 1939 to British parents. He grew up in southern India, where his father, the writer Arthur Osborne, a devotee of Sri Ramana Maharshi, helped popularize ideas from Eastern religion in the West.

Photograph of Adam Osborne as a child with Bhagavan, copyright Sriramanasramam

See full article.

Kandaswami's devotion

Devotee: Bhagavan has told us how the devotional fervour of just one devotee, Kandaswami, enabled him to complete the construction of Skandasramam practically single-handed. Such bhakti is indeed remarkable.

Bhagavan:
It is only his intense love for me which gave him the courage to undertake the job and complete it despite the herculean strength needed for it. It was in recognition of his single-minded devotion and dedication that the place was named Skandasramam.
To me all places are the same since I do not have any particular likes and dislikes. But even the other inmates were supremely happy. Looking back I wonder at this for while staying there we were exposed to rain, sun, wind and wild animals. Yet a tranquil peace used to prevail there.

I could roam freely about the hill with no restrictions at all on my movements. Can I do it here? Even if we had to miss out food we had the energizing spring water to drink.

-- Bhagavan, UY p 155 (N.N.Nataraja Iyer)

Ego, mind and Self

The mind is merely a reflection of the Self. It takes to its heels when searched for. It is non-existent in sleep. It is neither visible nor tangible. Why nurture it?

Unless the ego is traced to its source one cannot be Self-aware. The idea that one is the body must be uprooted. A flower has to blossom before bees can enter it. If the petals are closed how can they enter?

Once the flower blossoms the bees do not have to be invited. They will come automatically. Similarly if the ego veils the Self, how can we have Self-knowledge?

Earnest seekers practicing the way grasp the truth at once. For the rest, the truth must be explained gradually, step by step, after checking if they have understood what had been told to them earlier.

-- Bhagavan's words noted by N.N.Nataraja Iyer, UY p147 25-10-1943 3:00 pm

Bhagavan's gift to Subrahmanyam

One full moon day the ladies worshipped Bhagavan, chanting His holy name most movingly. Arati was offered. Bhagavan took kumkum from the plate and applied it to his forehead. On that day He was truly a sight for Gods to see.
Before returning I purchased a copy of 'Upadesha Saram' and requested Him to write something in it. He slowly wrote 'OM' as a sculptor seeking perfection would use his chisel. He humorously told me:
You can now show it to everyone. See, the great Ramana Maharshi has written it specially for me.
-- Subrahmanyam, 1935 (UY, p124)

My protection is always there for you

Meenakshi's father, Dandapani Swami was a permanent inmate of the Sri Ramanasramam. Her father presented her husband, Sri Muruganar a copy of the Aksharamanamalai sometime after her marriage. A few days later, Sri Muruganar left home permanently for the ashram without telling anyone. "From that day he was totally absorbed in Bhagavan", she says."Searching for him I reached Sri Ramanasramam. I found him and yet did not find him for he was wholly Bhagavan's now."
Bhagavan once asked Meenakshi (wife of Sri Muruganar) to accept Muruganar's giving up family ties. Meenakshi recounts:
All of a sudden I was overwhelmed with self-pity and concern. I wept bitterly before Bhagavan. He asked,'Did anyone chide you?'
'No, Bhagavan, I was only cursing my fate.'
With a heart brimming with love He told me,'Meenakshi, why don't you have faith in my words? What is there in the family life of which you are so enamoured? Your father has ten sons. Not one of them is prepared to give him one morsel of food. My protection is always there for you. Hereafter treat all those who care for you as members of your family. Your minimum needs will always be provided for.'
Ramana thus became my protector, my everything.

~~~
6. Kinder indeed art Thou than one's mother, such is Thy Love, O Arunachala!

Am I not here to look after you?

(Cow) Lakshmi just could not spend a day without seeking Bhagavan's company sometime or other during the course of the day. One day she came to the hall, went straight to Bhagavan and literally wept on Bhagavan's shoulders. For half-an-hour Bhagavan kept consoling her, saying:
'Why are you so woe-begone, dear mother? Am I not here to look after you?'
and so on, till she was pacified.
--Venkatakrishnayya remembers (p 101, UY)

~~~
5. Escape this blame! Why didst Thou then recall Thyself to me? How can I leave Thee now, O Arunachala?

Sundaram's mother

In continuation to yesterdays account of Sundaram's vision at the Subrahmanya Temple, is the remarkable response of his mother:
Once while he was reading the Sri Ramana Vijayam to his mother, his mother said:
'I see the Lord of the hill before me. He points you out and wants that I should hand you over. He says you are His.
So I hand you over.
Go on this right path by which you will bring emancipation to 21 generations of this family.'

~~~
4. Was it for Thy pleasure or for my sake Thou didst win me? If now Thou turn me away, the world will blame Thee, O Arunachala!

Bhagavan calls Sundaram

A remarkable aspect of his (Sundaram's) life was that he received his spiritual guidance at the shrine of Lord Subrahmanya at Tiruchendur. While he once heard these words: 'Regard all women as your mother. Regard them as Valli Herself (consort of Lord Subrahmanya)'. At the shrine it also flashed in his mind:
'Here I am a God who does not talk. Go to Tiruvannamalai. There I am a talking, walking God.'
-- Reminiscences of Sundaram (Swami Trivenigiri), p93 UY, who came to the ashram in 1933.

~~~
3. Entering (my) home and luring me (to Yours) why did You keep me prisoner in Your Heart's cavern, O Arunachala?

The suffering is mine

Attendant K was a veritable enemy of the monkeys. When the monkeys played mischief in the hall or tried to stealthily take away fruits he would beat them ignoring Bhagavan's protests. Once Bhagavan told him,
'It is not the monkeys that are receiving your beatings. It is I. The suffering is mine.'
-- Roda McIver, p63 Unforgettable Years (a compilation).

[Update: Please also see Bhagavan's warning call to monkeys.]
~~~
1. (a) You root out the ego of those who meditate on You in the Heart, O Arunachala!

Silence

Once, a devotee while observing silence wrote out a long list of questions and handed it over to Bhagavan. He looked at it and returned it observing,
'Is this silence? It is the mind which has to be silent.'
[Roda McIver recollects, p62, Unforgettable Years]

Silence

Another devotee was continuously prostrating to Bhagavan. He remarked:
Is this a gymnasium? Have you come for exercise? If you have devotion, demonstrate it by your silence.

Devotion greater than intellectual jargon

On one occasion, Roda's husband, who was well-versed in scriptural lore and learning, was discussing seriously with his friends spiritual matters using high-sounding technical terms. Roda felt sad that she could not at all follow what they were talking about. She went to Bhagavan and reported it while He was going up the hill, and he replied in English:

'Why are you sad over it? Your path (devotion) is far greater than their intellectual jargon'

[Rod McIver was drawn to Bhagavan upon seeing a photo of His. Her first darshan was in 1942. Excerpted from Unforgettable Years, p 59]

The one in everyone is Swami

Santamma who used to work in the kitchen wanted to express her love for Bhagavan by serving food to Him first. Bhagavan told her:
'Swami does not mean this body only. The one in everyone of these devotees is the Swami alone. If you serve them first, the Swami will be happy.'

[Rangaswamy's remembers, Unforgettable Years, p 54]

Am I not by your side

I had come very early one morning. I was scared at the prospect of coming alone on a deserted path at that time. As if reading my thoughts Bhagavan said, 'Why are you afraid? Am I not by your side?' Immediately my fear vanished.

Whatever the work in which He might have been engaged, He somehow or the other found time to come to the kitchen and make enquiries about the helpers there. How can i describe His grace on all of us, the workers of the kitchen!

Our days were filled with joy. We were not conscious of our surroundings. The passage of time would go unnoticed. The toughest of jobs would seem light. Even a little exertion would tire us at home. But in his company we would always be energetic, and ready to take on any amount of work. All this was only because we were certain that Bhagavan cared for us.

[Sampoornamma lived in the ashram from 1930. She would readily recall those wonderful two decades with Ramana. She had so many opportunites to be near Him, particularly in the early years. This excerpt is from Unforgettable Years, page 65 (Ed A R Natarajan, RMCL).]

You are the Light

Bhagavan, You are the Light !

For more, see this.

God shines in their hearts

For those who say that God exists, He exists in their Heart as consciousness. But in the venomous mind (of those who do not believe in Him), He will never exist (never shine). If by purifying the venomous mind, one sees without delusion, He will shine triumphantly and unalloyed as Self.

-- GVK (1083)

"I am also Bhagavan"

... I (Annamalai Swamy) had tried to give Bhagavan some nungus (palmyra fruit). ... When Bhagavan came past, He looked at me suspiciously and asked several times, "Why have you come here?"

After some hesitation, I told Bhagavan, "I came here to cut and give these nungus to Bhagavan." Bhagavan accepted the fruit, but said at the same time, "You should have eaten them yourself, and while you were eating them you should have thought, 'I am also Bhagavan'."

Bhagavan then dug out many of the fruits and with His fingers sucked the juice. Finally after exclaiming, "Appadi*! I cannot carry the stomach", He walked away.

[* expression of contentment]

Oho! You belong to us!

Some people cane from the south for Bhagavan's darshan. Among them was a 5-year old boy. He did namaskar and then approached Bhagavan and looked at Him very lovingly. Bhagavan placed His left hand on the boy's head and asked Him, "What do you want?"

The boy replied firmly, "I don't want anything."

"Oho!", said Bhagavan, "You belong to us."

Then, addressing the people he came with, He added, "If he remains in the "dont wan't" state, everything will come to him".

Last year of Bhagavan thru Annamalai Swamy's eyes

The last year of Bhagavan Ramana as experienced by Sri Annamalai Swamy (please read Living By the Words for account) forms perhaps the most moving account of a devotee of Bhagavan. For those of us for whom Bhagavan's life on earth was the most beautiful event in the history of the "phenomenal" world, the last year of Sri Annamalai Swamy is a most heart-rending account. Although he does not recount it in that way, (his account is very factual), but
one can gather what he would have felt given his life-long devotion to Bhagavan.

In addition, Bhagavan once remarked to another devotee, that those who were physically present had their minds elsewhere, whereas Annamalai Swami who was elsewhere always had his mind on Bhagavan.

Sri Annamalai Swamy was most blessed to be showered with Bhagavan's love and concern
(most deservedly). In the end, he was asked to meditate away from Ashram, and eventually asked not to interact with Bhagavan, so that he may find the real Bhagavan in his Heart.

So in Bhagavan's last year, He never got to speak with Bhagavan at all. When Bhagavan's health began to fail, and He could not walk past Palakottu, Sri Annamalai Swamy would have not had a darshan of His most beloved Bhagavan. During Bhagavan's last "mortal" moment, Sri Annamalai Swamy was in great physical pain, and praying for his own death, and praying that he should die before Bhagavan.
Although, that was not to be, however Bhagavan took with Him Sri Annamalai Swamy's physical pain.

Sri Annamalai Swamy described his last (second-hand) "contact" with Bhagavan's physical body -- the factual account indicates the deep emotions running within.(Spoiler: Annamalai Swamy did not get to have a darshan of Bhagavan even after Bhagavan's mahasamadhi.)

Last words between Annamalai Swamy and Bhagavan

The last words exchanged between Bhagavan and Sri Annamalai Swamy form a very moving account of how a guru attempts to break the discples attachment to his form. Some excerpts:

"If one has no faith in God one will commit a lot of sins and be miserable. But you, you are a mature devotee. When the mind has attained maturity, in that mature state, if one thinks that one is separate from God, one will fall into the same state as an atheist who has no belief in God."

I left the ashram and never went back again, Although my room is only about 200 yards from the ashram gate, I have not visited the ashram once since that fateful day in the 1940's.

Though Bhagavan has asked me not to come to the ashram any more, I still thought that I had the freedom to talk to Him when He visited Palakottu. Bhagavan disabused me of this notion shortly afterwards, when I went to see Him while He was walking on the hill.

He turned to me and said, "You are happier than I. What you had to give, you have given. What I had to give I have given. Why are you still coming to me?"

These were His last words to me. I obeyed his instructions and never approached Him again.

Bhagavan had once told me: "Do not cling to the form of the Guru for this will perish; do not cling to His feet for His attendants will stop you. The true Bhagavan resides in your Heart as your true Self. This is who I truly am."

Source

The benefit of reciting Bhagavan's verses

The benefit of reciting Bhagavan's verses

When one group of villagers who had just been given Arunachala Stuti Panchakam (Five Hymns to Sri Arunachala) to recite left the hall, a devotee asked, ' How can such uneducated people understand the literary Tamil in these poems?'

'They don't have to understand the meaning,' replied Bhagavan, 'they will get some benefit from merely repeating the verses.'

On another occasion, with respect to Echammal's granddaughter, Bhagavan said, 'In future when trouble comes to her, the remembrance of these verses (Essence of Instruction) will help her.'

This girl is now an old woman. When I saw her a few months ago, she told me, 'The verses have stayed in my memory all my life, but it is only recently, by the grace of Bhagavan, that I have begun to understand their meaning.'

(Memories of Sri Annamalai Swamy)

Related:
Echamma (Sri Ramana Leela) and her passing away
Echamma (Letters from Sri Ramanashramam)

Peanut Parayana

I recollect one amusing incident that took place early one morning, just before the Parāyana (ed: reading of scriptures) was to be chanted. For several weeks, Bhagavan had not been eating much food in the evening. As a result he tended to get a little hungry at about 4 a.m. the following morning. To assuage his hunger Bhagavan used to roast peanuts on His kumutti (ed: charcoal grill) and eat them. After he had roasted them He would offer some to Krishnaswami, His attendant, and to anyone else who happened to be in the hall at that time.

On this particular morning Bhagavan took out his peanuts and told Krishnaswami, 'Before they start the Veda Parāyana let us do peanut parāyana.'

(Recollections of Sri Annamalai Swamy)

Bhagavan mistaken for stone image !

23rd November, 1938

Talk 584.

A certain visitor began to pull the pankah (fan). Sri Bhagavan said: "Because it is cold , they have placed fire by my side. Why should the pankah be pulled?"

Then he continued: "On a cold morning, when I was in Virupaksha cave, I was sitting in the open. I was feeling cold. People used to come, see me and go back. A group of Andhra visitors had come. I did not notice what they were doing. They were behind me. Suddenly a noise `tak' - and water over my head! I shivered with cold. I looked back. They had broken a coconut and poured the water on me. They thought that it was worship. They took me for a stone image."

Photo of Bhagavan's statue in Mother's temple taken by author, free to copy/use.
Acalayoga

God is not separate

You now think that you are an individual, there is the universe and that God is beyond the cosmos. So there is the idea of separateness. This idea must go. For God is not separate from you or the cosmos. The Gita also says:

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः ।
अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ॥१०- २०॥

The Self am I, O Lord of Sleep, In every creature's heart enshrined. The rise and noon of every form, I am its final doom as well.
B. G., X. 20.

Thus God is not only in the heart of all, He is the prop of all, He is the source of all, their abiding place and their end. All proceed from Him, have their stay in Him, and finally resolve into Him. Therefore He is not separate.
(Talk 649)

Bhagavan Reminisces

When He was sitting under a tree in the temple compound He was covered with dirt, for He never used to bathe.

In the cold nights of December He used to fold up the legs, place his head between his legs and remain there without moving. Early in the morning the layer of dirt on His body was soaked with dew and mist and appeared white. After drying up in the sun it appeared dark.
(Talks 357)

Surrender Oneself

Talk 208

It is enough that one surrenders oneself. Surrender is to give oneself up to the original cause of one's being. Do not delude yourself by imagining such source to be some God outside you. One's source is within yourself. Give yourself up to it. That means that you should seek the source and merge in it. Because you imagine yourself to be out of it, you raise the question "Where is the source?" Some contend that the sugar cannot taste its own sweetness and that a taster must taste and enjoy it. Similarly, an individual cannot be the Supreme and enjoy the Bliss of that state; therefore the individuality must be maintained on the one hand and God-head on the other so that enjoyment may result! Is God insentient like sugar? How can one surrender oneself and yet retain one's individuality for supreme enjoyment? Furthermore they say also that the soul, reaching the divine region and remaining there, serves the Supreme Being. Can the sound of the word "service" deceive the Lord? Does He not know? Is He waiting for these people's service? Would not He - the Pure Consciousness - ask in turn: "Who are you apart from Me that presume to serve Me?"
Full Story: http://benegal.org/ramana_maharshi/books/tw/tw208.html
--
The Self alone, the Sole Reality,
Exists for ever.

Let Her See ! Let Her See!

From Portrait of a Guru:
One day the Sarvadhikari came accompanied by a man
who was limping, whom he introduced to Bhagavan. He brought an electric lamp with a big mother of pearl shade and presented it to Bhagavan. Bhagavan said that he had been reading an illustrated Tamil encyclopaedia just an hour before, and a doubt had come whether a big mother of pearl could exist. He was surprised at the coincidence. Some people took it and examined it and it was sent to the office. Suri Nagamma came and Bhagavan asked her whether she had seen it. Then it was sent for. Bhagavan was saying: "Let her see, let her see!" At that time his mood and expression were like those of a child exhibiting his toys to another child.

Bhagavan's Humor

From: Surpassing Love and Grace

WHEN I asked whether Bhagavan ever made jokes and whether he was ever in a lighter mood, Sri Kunju Swami jumped at me, as it were, to correct me and went into an ecstatic mood. With tears in his eyes he said: "Bhagavan is the most natural man you can ever conceive of. He had a very subtle sense of humour; it never hurt anyone and was never aimed at anyone. He also appreciated others' jokes, even those at his cost!" I became impatient and wanted him to tell me a few instances. He narrated the following:

Once, a boy was seated in front of Sri Bhagavan. Flies were troubling him and he was killing them. Seeing this Bhagavan told him: "Don't kill them; it is wrong." After some time the boy looked at Bhagavan intensely and remarked: "You say killing is wrong. I was only killing little flies which were giving me trouble, but you have killed a big tiger and you are sitting on its skin. How can it be?" Bhagavan laughed and said: "Yes, what he says is quite right!"

The same boy had the habit of wasting food served on his leaf-plate while seated with others. Once Bhagavan told him that he should not leave anything on the plate when he finished eating. That day too the boy could not eat everything, but stuffed something into his mouth and took out the empty leaf. Bhagavan saw him take out the empty leaf. However, the boy after throwing away the leaf also spat out the food that he had stuffed in his mouth. It was reported
to Bhagavan. He enjoyed the trick of the boy and gave a hearty laugh.

The Tremendous Flood

When I left home (in my seventeenth year), I was like a speck swept on by a tremendous flood. I knew not my body or the world, whether it was day or night. It was difficult even to open my eyes; the eyelids seemed to be glued down. My body became a mere skeleton. Visitors pitied my plight as they were not aware how blissful I was. It was after years that I came across the term `Brahman <sup>[?]</sup>' when I happened to look into some books on Vedanta <sup>[?]</sup> brought to me. Amused, I said to myself, `Is this known as Brahman'! "

-- To read full story, See Surpassing Love and Grace, recounted by Sri Vishwanath Swamy.

Bhagavan on Surrender

GOD WILL BEAR WHATEVER BURDENS WE PUT
on Him. All things are being carried on by the omnipotent
power of a Supreme God. Instead of submitting ourselves
to It, why should we always be planning, `We should do this
or that'. Knowing that the train carries all the load, why
should we, travelling therein, suffer by carrying our small
bundle on our heads, instead of leaving it on the train and
being happy.

The story of Ashtavakra teaches that in order to experience
Brahma Jnana all that is necessary is to surrender yourself
completely to the Guru, to give up your notion of `I' and
`mine'. If these are surrendered, what remains is the Reality.

There are two ways of achieving surrender.
One is looking into the source of the `I' and merging into that source.
The other is feeling, `I am helpless myself, God alone is all
powerful, and except by throwing myself completely on Him,
there is no other means of safety for me '; and thus gradually
developing the conviction that God alone exists and the ego
does not count. Both methods lead to the same goal. Complete
surrender is another name for jnana ^[?] or liberation.

Bhakti is not different from mukti ^[?]. Bhakti is being as the Self.
One is always That. He realizes It by the means he adopts.
What is bhakti ^[?]? To think of God. That means only one thought
prevails to the exclusion of all other thoughts. That thought is
of God, which is the Self, or it is the self surrendered unto
God. When He has taken you up, nothing else will assail you.
The absence of thought is bhakti ^[?]. It is also mukti ^[?].
Source: http://benegal.org/ramana_maharshi/books/gems/gem005.html

Glimpses into Bhagavan's state

Day by Day with Bhagavan gives fascinating insights into Sri Bhagavan's state. A short excerpt:

After all this talk Bhagavan drank a little water from his kamandalam  and turning to his attendant enquired whether he had already drunk some water (i.e., after he returned to the hall about 3-30 P.M.). The attendant said `yes', and thereupon Bhagavan said he had forgotten it, and to make sure he drank some again.
He further added, almost in an unguarded moment, as he rarely gives expression to such experiences of his, that sometimes he does not even know whether it is morning, mid-day or evening and has to look at the clock and try to remember before he knows what time of day it is. On one occasion, he has told me that he scratched his skin, where there was eczema once, as we scratch during sleep. And once when I was concerned over some physical pain of his, he told me he feels that pain, i.e., it was a passing and faint experience like that in a dream. These are clues to the sort of life Bhagavan leads in our midst, seeming to act and move and feel as we do, but really living in a world of his own where the things we experience don't exist.

Bhagavan later shared two reminiscences from his early days, one amusing and one touching. Here is one:

Then Bhagavan narrated, very dramatically as is usual with him, an incident which occurred when he was about 22 and living in the Virupakshi Cave. It seems he was sitting on a rock near the cave and a boy of about 8 or 10 years came there,
looked at Bhagavan and, not being able to bear the sight of such a young and bright person taking to such a hard life of penance, was so moved to compassion that he started to sob and sobbed violently for some time. Bhagavan said, "Who could say what was the reason for his sobbing and why tears flowed out of him merely at his seeing me?"

For more please see this.