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Transcript of ramana ashram newsletters
The Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi website
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi l Teachings l Arunachala l Sri Ramanasramam l Visiting Us Home
RELATED LINKS :
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Every year Sri Ramanasramam and devotees celebrate key milestone events connected
with Sri Bhagavan & Mother Alagamma. This is along with keeping up the tradition of
celebrating of events which were celebrated…….even when Sri Bhagavan was Himself
physically present. Pictures and Videos taken during these events are archived below:
Events @ Sri Ramanasramam
2007
● Jayanthi Photos
● Aradhana Photos
● Mahapuja Photos
● Karthigai Deepam Photos
● Navaratri Photos
2008
● Jayanthi Photos Video
● Mattupongal Photos Video
● Sri Vidya Heaven Photos Video
● Bhagavan's Aradhan Photos Video
● Swami Ramanananda Samdhi Mantap Photos Video
● Maha Puja Photos Video
● Cow Lakshmi Day Photos Video
● Navaratri Photos Video
● Diwali Celebrationseptember 2008 Photos Video
● Deepam 2008 Photos Video
Saranagathi – eNewsletter from Sri Ramanasramam
http://sriramanamaharshi.org/elibrary.htm (1 of 2) [1/3/2009 12:58:40 PM]
The Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi website
2007
● September 2007
● October 2007
● November 2007
● Special Diwali issue 2007
● December 2007
2008
● January 2008
● February 2008
● March 2008
● April 2008
● May 2008
● June 2008
● July 2008
● August 2008
● September 2008
● October 2008
● November 2008
● December
2009
● January 2009
Copyright © 2007 Sri Ramanasramam. All Rights Reserved.
http://sriramanamaharshi.org/elibrary.htm (2 of 2) [1/3/2009 12:58:40 PM]
1
Saranagathi
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
DOWNLOADS and �Sri Ramana eLibrary� InitiativeWith the internet becoming a powerful media to dissipate information and enhance communication, the devotees here at sriramanamaharshi.org have embarked on an initiative to improve accessibility to several available literature in Sri Ramanasramam. Presently there are several ebooks that have been made available. These books can be downloaded from http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/Allpub.htmlWith the Blessings of Sri Bhagavan, the devotees here at sriramanamaharshi.org have started an initiative�Sri Ramana eLibrary� and would like to encourage volunteers to contribute their time and skills in this initiative. For details please go to page 4.
BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA CENTERS & SATSANGH GROUPSThis month�s issue covers a report on some of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Centers, Satsangh Groups, their events and contacts. In this issue we are also making a request from various groups across the world to send us some details, so that we may be able to publish the details in the future issues of this eNewsletter. For details please go to page 5.
MAIN ARTICLE
The main feature article for this issue is an extract from Day by Day with Bhagavan � From the Diary of A. Devaraja Mudaliar. This article brings out in great detail the festive atmosphere that was experienced by the devotees of Sri Bhagavan on September 1st 1946.
September 1st 1946 was the Golden Jubilee of Bhagavan�s ADVENT at Tiruvannamalai.These days Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi�s Advent at Arunachala is celebrated by devotees at Sri Ramanasramam and various centers and satsangh groups world over. Details on Page 2 & 3
SARANAGATHI An eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Dear Devotees of Sri Bhagavan:
With Sri Bhagavan�s Grace we are pleased to publish the first eNewsletter from Sri Ramanasramam�s website. The purpose is to bring together devotees of Sri Bhagavan from across HIS world.
SARANGATHI, eNewsletter, is being developed to help devotees share their experiences, about Satsangh, meetings and other events that are held within various centers of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Initially we would like to begin with, by publishing this eNewsletter on a monthly basis. Based on the response and feedback provided by devotees, we may change this frequency. It is also proposed to have one feature article for each issue. The feature article would focus on popular events that happened during that month between 1879 and 1950.
It is an earnest request, to all devotees, satsangh groups and centers to share with us their events, stories and experiences. Please email them to [email protected]
Ever Truly In Sri BhagavanEditorial Team
In this issue:Main Article
Downloads & �Sri Ramana eLibrary� initiative
Sri Ramana Centers & Satsangh
Recent Happenings
SEPTEMBER 2007 / Issue 1 SARANAGATHI
eNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
Publisher
V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team
Ravi Ramanan
Prashanth Visweswaran
2Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam
For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
September 1st 1946
Extract from Day by Day with BhagavanFrom the Diary of
A. DEVARAJA MUDALIAR
This is the Golden Jubilee of Bhagavan�s arrival at Tiruvannamalai. I went to the hall about 5-30 a.m.hoping to see Bhagavan there, to fall at his feet, and to offer some fruits and two bath towels. Butfound that today the parayana was started about 4 a.m. and closed at 5 a.m. and that Bhagavanwent to the bathroom as early as 5 a.m.
After Bhagavan had his breakfast and returned from his stroll, a number of married women(sumangalis) headed by Uma came from the Temple in a procession, doing bhajan and carrying a milk- pot, and Uma and her daughter sang a Tamil song and offered milk to Bhagavan. He took a spoon of the milk and the rest was distributed among the devotees.
Then I read out Colombo Ramachandra�s Ramanashtakam, in Tamil, and also my five stanzascomposed for the Jubilee. Then Uma read out her Muthumalai composed for the occasion. Printedcopies of all the three compositions were then distributed to the devotees. Printed copies of tributesby Turiyananda in Tamil, K.Vaidyanatha Aiyar of Vellore in English verse, T.K. Sundaresa Iyer in Tamilverse, and K.R. Seshagiri Aiyar in English were also read out and distributed.
One Mr. Bhatt also read out his Canarese songs. Then a gentleman introduced by Dr. T.N.K. gave aperformance on gottu vadyam. Mr. Chellam Iyer, of Kalaimagal office, read out Muruganar�s poems composed for the occasion, including one which he composed at the moment.
After lunch Bhagavan would not allow himself even his usual rest, but insisted on being available fordevotees who had come from far and near and so, soon after his return from the after-lunch stroll,various addresses in different languages were read out. One of them was from the Hindi Prachar Sabha. Another was Dr. Siva Rao�s tribute in English which was read out and also translated into Tamil by Mr. T.K.D. Iyer. Mr. Siva Mohan Lal also read out the English translation of the Hindi addresshe read to Bhagavan yesterday. Dr. Siva Rao�s address in effect said, �I have been trying my humble best to cure Bhagavan of various bodily ailments of his. But all my efforts have proved vain, except togive some temporary relief. I believe this is due to my ego having presumed that it can cureBhagavan. All people today are offering various things to Bhagavan � fruits, flowers, clothes, books, etc. I have decided to offer my ego. I place it at Bhagavan�s feet and beg him to accept it.�
MAIN ARTICLE
eNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
Saranagathi
3Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
September 1st 1946
Extract from Day by Day with BhagavanFrom the Diary of
A. DEVARAJA MUDALIARContd�
About 2-30 p.m., the programme already planned and published for the Jubilee was begun with Mr.Justice Kuppuswamy Aiyer as President. He made a few introductory remarks in English. Then Mr. T.K.D. read out Sir S. Radhakrishnan�s article, intended for inclusion in the Souvenir Volume, but which, though posted in Calcutta on 7th August, was received here only on the 30th.
Then the following spoke: Swami Rajeswarananda and Prof. T.M.P. Mahadevan of the Madras University, in English, Justice Chandrasekara Iyer in Telugu, Chellam Iyer of Kalaimagal office and Omandur Ramaswami Reddiar in Tamil, Mr. S.R. Venkatarama Sastri (of Vivekananda College) inSanskrit, and Mr. Airavatam Aiyer, in Malayalam. After the speeches, Viswanatha Sastri recited a few Sanskrit songs, and Kunjuswami a few Tamil songs of Bhagavan and of one Venkatarama Iyer (authorof Ramana Stuti Panchakam).
Bhagavan then rose at 4-45 p.m. as usual. After he returned about 5 p.m., Mr. Annamalai Pillai, thelocal Congress leader, made a speech in Tamil, on behalf of the citizens of Tiruvannamalai, expressingjoy and gratitude on Bhagavan�s completing fifty years� stay here. Then Musiri Subramania Iyergave a very moving and devotional musical performance till about 6-45. For the speeches and musicexcellent loudspeaker arrangements had been made by the local Municipal Chairman and it was agreat convenience for the crowds who had gathered. Finally Veda parayana brought the day�s functionto a close.
MAIN ARTICLE
eNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
Saranagathi
4Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam
For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
With the internet becoming a powerful media to dissipate information and enhance communication, the devotees here at sriramanamaharshi.org have embarked on an initiative to improve accessibility to several available literature in Sri Ramanasramam. Presently there are several ebooks that have been made available. These books can be downloaded from www.sriramanamaharshi.org/Allpub.htmlWith the Blessings of Sri Bhagavan, the devotees here at sriramanamaharshi.org have started an initiative �Sri Ramana eLibrary� and would like to encourage volunteers to contribute their time and skills in this initiative.
The objective of �Sri Ramana eLibrary� is to build an online archival / library of several publications such as, all editions of Mountain Path, books, devotees experiences and reminiscences, videos and audio compositions. It is desired to have �Google� like search capability within this eLibrary.
The first step is to Pray to Sri Bhagavan to shower HIS abundance Grace and provide direction and guidance to this initiative. Having surrendered the sense of doer ship to Sri Bhagavan, we now need to build a team of core devotee volunteers.
We would like to have volunteers who have experience in the areas listed below. Geographic location of the individuals volunteering does not matter. We can learn together how to manage logistic issues as we go along. It is estimated that on a average about 10 -15 hours per week of time will be required by each volunteer. There will be weekend dial in calls etc.
Technical Team
1. Hands on Content Admin / DBA devotee who has experience administering large content management repositories such as Sharepoint, Documentum or OpenText.
2. Devotees who have experience managing infrastructure issues such as hosting services, web servers, upgrades and maintenance of IT infrastructure.
3. Developers and web designers who can work on coding and creative input for the eLibrary
Content Team
1. Devotees who can assist in scanning, indexing and archiving various publications.
Please email your interest to volunteer for the above roles at [email protected]. In the subject area � please mention Volunteer for Sri Ramana eLibrary
REST Sri Bhagavan will Take Care
Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya
DOWNLOADS and �Sri Ramana eLibrary� INITIATIVE
SaranagathieNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
5Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam
For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
Sri Ramanasramam is devoted to the sole purpose of maintaining and preserving Sri Ramana Maharshi�s teachings and spreading it through His ashram. Over the years there have been devotees who have started centers around the world to help in spreading His teachings. These centers are run by sincere devotees for conducting satsanghs and celebrating His Jayanti, Aradhana, Advent Day, and other similar events of great significance. Today, satsangh groups spread across various countries worldwide including United States, Canada, Europe, Asia & Australia.
This section will be a regular feature of SARANAGATHI eNewsletter. We will post events and reports from Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Centers and Satsangh Groups from across HIS world. Provided below is a list of available Centers and Satsangh Groups.
Please send an email to [email protected] to have your information included.
INDIA (Country Code 91)Sri Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu. Phone: 04175-237200Sri Ramana Kendra � Mylapore Chennai Phone: 044-24611397 Sri Sundara Mandiram � Tiruchuzhi Phone: 04566�282217Sri Ramana Kendram � Sri Ramana Mandiram Phone: 0452-2346102 Sri Ramana Mandiram � Desur TamilnaduSri Ramana Kendram � Hyderabad � Andhra Pradesh Phone: 040-27424092Sri Ramana Kendra � New Delhi Phone: To be updated
NORTH AMERICA (Country Code 001)Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group San Francisco CA Phone: 510-656-2752Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group Los Angeles CA Phone: 310-473-9441Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group CT Phone: 860-691-1862Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group Washington DC Phone: 703-257-5589Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group Atlanta GA Phone: 678-546-0378Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group F. Lauderdale FL Phone: 954-755-4758Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group GOSHEN IN Phone: 574-875-6298Arunachala Ashrama New York NY Phone: 718-560-3196Arunachala Ashrama Nova Scotia Canada Phone: 902-665-2090Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group Ann Arbor MI Phone: 734-623-7199Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group Dublin OH Phone: 614-664-1534Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group Ottawa ON Phone: 713-733-8250Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group Toronto ON Phone: 905-849-6005Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group Nashville TN Phone: To be Updated
We will periodically update this list and also share stories and experiences about HOW each Group or Center meet to get absorbed in Sri Bhagavan Ramana�s Amazing Bliss. In due course we will include in sriramanamaharshi.org transliterated and audio versions of important songs, chants and prayers.
BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI CENTERS & SATSANGH
SaranagathieNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
6Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam
For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
The Peacock�s ADVENT
Report from Sri Ramanasramam
The morning of Tuesday - August 28 2007, when devotees returned from the Old Dining Hall, a beautiful sight waited all. A healthy well grown male peacock was already in the samadhi hall perched on the stone railing nearest to the northern door leading to the Well. He was calm & composed un-mindful of all the attention he was getting. Slowly and purposefully he moved over to the samadhi platform, ambled leisurely in front of the Lingam and majestically climbed over the low stool adjoining the Lingam. To everyone's delight he gracefully turned his neck towards the Lingam, held his gaze steadily for some time before unhurriedly climbing down from the stool. Then he hopped over to the stone railing again looked at the assembled devotees and flew out through the same open doorway. The whole act lasted for almost half an hour. All were elated! Somebody had the presence of mind to capture the delightful scene as pictures.
RECENT HAPPENINGS
SaranagathieNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
7Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam
For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
SARANAGATHIA Full day event in Connecticut USA
A Report by Aruna, Ramkumar, Shobana and Prashanth and theDevotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group Connecticut USA
On May 27 2007, The devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group � Connecticut USA, organized with Sri Bhagavan�s blessings a full day event � SARANAGATHI. The entire program was focused on the message of SURRENDER. Devotees of Sri Bhagavan from various parts of the United States and Canada attended the program. The program was blessed further by the presence of Smt Sushila Ramanan, Sri V.S. Ramanan, Smt. Saraswathi and Sri S. Ranganathan from Sri Ramanasramam � Tiruvannamalai.
The program started with Mahaganapathi Homam performed by Sri Vaidyanathan from New York, followed by the chanting of Sri Ramana Chathvarimsath by all devotees present. Pada Pooja was led by Smt Sushila Ramanan and Sri V.S. Ramanan with the chanting of Sri Ramana Ashtothram and Mathrubutheswarar Ashtothram. After Pada Pooja Smt. Malathi Sarma from Connecticut, led the chanting of Sri Ramana Kavacham with her melodious voice.
The post lunch program included a slide presentation led by Sri Gopal Sarma of Connecticut on �At theFeet of Sri Bhagavan� by T.K. Sundaresh Iyer. Book Reading by Sri V.S. Ramanan and Sri DennisHartel took devotees directly to Sri Ramanasramam. The evening program included a �Kacheri� by Sri. Balasubrahmaniyan & Party - Adjunct Instructor in Music - Wesleyan University. There were somemelodious renditions on Sri Bhagavan, Muruganar songs and Arunachala. The program concluded withall the lady devotees performing �Kummi� to several melodious songs. Aarati was performed and alldevotees of Sri Bhagavan who attended the program dispersed with Sri Bhagavan in their hearts.
RECENT HAPPENINGS
SaranagathieNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
1
Saranagathi
SARANAGATHI OCTOBER 2007 / Issue 2
In this issue: Main Article
Vinayaka Chathurti at Sri Ramanasramam – A Photo Gallery
Sri Ramana Centers & Satsangh
ADVENT DAY Celebrations A Report
SARANAGATHI An eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Dear Devotees of Sri Bhagavan:
With Sri Bhagavan’s Grace we are pleased to publish an eNewsletter from Sri Ramanasramam’s website. The purpose is to bring together devotees of Sri Bhagavan from across HIS world.
SARANGATHI, eNewsletter, is being developed to help devotees share their experiences, about Satsangh, meetings and other events that are held within various centers of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Initially we would like to begin with, by publishing this eNewsletter on a monthly basis. Based on the response and feedback provided by devotees, we may change this frequency. It is also proposed to have one feature article for each issue. The feature article would focus on popular events that happened during the years between 1879 and 1950.
Our earnest request, to all devotees, satsangh groups and centers is to share with us their events, stories and experiences. Please email them to [email protected]
Ever Truly In Sri BhagavanEditorial Team
MAIN ARTICLE
The main feature article for this issue is an extract from Letters and Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam.This recollection talks about the love and affection that Sri Bhagavan had for children.
October 10th 1948 Playing with children Sri Bhagavan shared a very unique relationship with children. In this article Sri Bhagavan talks about how HE carried Mahadeva Sastri – son of Kavyakantha Ganapathi Muni on HIS back while swimming in a tank opposite Pachiamman shrine. Details on Page 2 & 3
BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA CENTERS & SATSANGH GROUPS This month’s issue covers a report on some of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Centers, Satsangh Groups, their events and contacts. In this issue we are also making a request from various groups across the world to send us some details, so that we may be able to publish the details in the future issues of this eNewsletter. For details please go to page 5.
Vinayaka Chathurti at Sri Ramanasramam A Photo GalleryVinayaka Chathurti was celebrated at Sri Ramanasramam on 15th September 2007. Some photos taken during that occasion have been displayed in this edition. Details on Page 4
Sri Ramana e-Library - UpdatesIn response to volunteers request from last month’s edition of SARANAGATHI, we would like to thank all those who volunteered. Details on Page 6
ADVENT DAY Celebrations – a ReportA report covering ADVENT Day celebrations from Sri Ramanasramam and various centers Details on Page 6
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
eNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
Publisher
V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team
Ravi Ramanan
Prashanth Visweswaran
2
MAIN ARTICLE
10th October, 1948(207) PLAYING WITH CHILDREN
Extract from Letters from and Recollections ofSri RamanasramamBy Suri Nagamma
A few days ago, Mahadeva Sastri, son of Kavyakanta Ganapati Sastri, came here. Bhagavan introducedhim to us all. As he is now living in this place our talk turned on his father Sri Kavyakanta yesterdayafternoon. Bhagavan began telling us: “When I was living in Virupaksha Cave, sometime in 1903,Nayana came there with his family. At that time this Mahadeva was about four or five years of age.Nayana prostrated before me and then asked the little boy to do likewise. He appeared not to haveheard it and, with an air of indifference, kept quiet. Nayana too did not mind it. Then, all of a sudden, that boy prostrated before me in full length (Sashtanga namaskaram). Like ayoung boy who has had his Thread Ceremony he placed his hands on his ears and then touched myfeet. I wondered how that little boy could have known the correct procedure of prostration and felt thatit must have come from family traditions. I said, “Yes. Every habit comes out from family traditions.”Bhagavan: “That is so. This Mahadeva has since changed a lot. I used to talk with him frequently. During the days when I was living in the Mango Cave, Nayana invited all those near and dear to him, to listen to his reading of the “Uma Sahasram” in Pachiamman Shrine. His family also came. Mahadeva was then eight years of age. I asked him if he remembered me. He did not say anything in reply and quietly went away to play. After a while, somebody came to see me. They prostrated before me and telling me that they had come once before, asked me if I remembered them. As I did not remember, I was silent. I do not know how he noticed that incident, but after they left, Mahadeva came to me running and said, “Swami, what did those people ask you first?” I replied saying that they had enquired of me if I remembered them as they had come once before and that I had been silent as I didnot remember them. He promptly stated that he likewise did not remember me. I felt amused.
“You know what I did one day? Seating Mahadeva on my back I began swimming in the tank oppositeThe Pachiamman shrine, from one end to the other. When we were halfway through he began pressingme down, greatly elated, shouting ‘Aha, Hai!’ as cart drivers do to their bullocks. I was tired and it seemed as though both of us would be drowned. I was of course very anxious that he should be saved from such a catastrophe. So I managed somehow to reach the other side.”
I said, “For one who helps people to swim across the mighty ocean of Samsara (the material world) isthat difficult?”
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
eNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
Saranagathi
3
MAIN ARTICLE
10th October, 1948(207) PLAYING WITH CHILDREN
Extract from Letters from and Recollections ofSri RamanasramamBy Suri Nagamma
Another devotee enquired if it were a fact that Bhagavan and Nayana used to swim in the PandavaTank. Bhagavan replied, “Yes. That also was only in those days. We used to try to excel each other inswimming. That was great fun.”
Another devotee said, “It seems you played marbles with children?”
Bhagavan replied, “Yes. That was so. That too was while we were in the Virupaksha Cave. The holesdug for the purpose of playing marbles must be there even now. Those children sometimes used to bring packets of sweets. We all shared them. During Dipavali they used to put aside my share of crackers and bring them up to me. We used to fire the crackers together. It was most entertaining.” I was reminded of the leelas (playful acts) of Lord Krishna’s boyhood days. Even now Bhagavan playswith children if they come here with toys.
The Knower of Truth goes about the world, (outwardly) like a child, a madman or a devil.
- Mahavakyaratnamala
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
eNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
Saranagathi
4
VINAYAKA CHATHURTI at Sri Ramanasramam – A Photo Gallery
VINAYAKA CHATHURTI WAS CELEBRATED ATSRI RAMANASRAMAM ON 15th September 2007
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
SaranagathieNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
Sri Ganesha at Matrubutheswara Temple
Special Pooja for Sri Ganesha at Matrubutheswara Temple
Sri Ganesha Pooja at Sri Ramanasramam Veda Pataskala
Sri Ganesha Pooja at Sri Ramanasramam Veda Pataskala
Special meal preparation at
Sri Ramanasramam
5
BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI CENTERS & SATSANGH
Sri Ramanasramam is devoted to the sole purpose of maintaining and preserving Sri Ramana Maharshi’s teachings and spreading it through HIS ashram. Over the years there have been devotees who have started centers around the world to help in spreading His teachings. These centers are run by sincere devotees for conducting satsanghs and celebrating His Jayanti, Aradhana, Advent Day, and other similar events of great significance. Today, satsangh groups spread across various countries worldwide including United States, Canada, Europe, Asia & Australia.
This section will be a regular feature of SARANAGATHI eNewsletter. We will post events and reports from Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Centers and Satsangh Groups from across HIS world. Provided below is a list of available Centers and Satsangh Groups.
Please send an email to [email protected] to have your information included.
INDIA (91)Sri Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu. 04175-237200Sri Ramana Kendra – Mylapore Chennai 044-24611397 Sri Sundara Mandiram – Tiruchuzhi 04566–282217Sri Ramana Kendram – Sri Ramana Mandiram 0452-2346102 Sri Ramana Mandiram – Desur TamilnaduSri Ramana Kendram – Hyderabad – Andhra Pradesh 040-27424092Sri Ramana Kendra – New Delhi To be updated
NORTH AMERICA Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Groups (001)San Francisco CA 510-656-2752Los Angeles CA 310-473-9441East Lyme Connecticut 860-691-1862Washington DC 301-528-5526 Atlanta GA 678-546-0378F. Lauderdale FL 954-755-4758Goshen IN 574-875-6298Arunachala Ashrama New York 718-560-3196Arunachala Ashrama Canada 902-665-2090Ann Arbor MI 734-623-7199Dublin OH 614-664-1534Ottawa ON 713-733-8250Toronto ON 905-849-6005Nashville TN To be Updated
We will periodically update this list and also share stories and experiences about HOW each Group or Center meet to get absorbed in Sri Bhagavan Ramana’s Grace. In due course we will include in sriramanamaharshi.org transliterated and audio versions of important songs, chants and prayers.
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
SaranagathieNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
6
RECENT HAPPENINGS
Sri Ramana e-Library – An Update
The September 2007 edition of SARANAGATHI eNewsletter requested assistance from volunteers to contribute their time and skills towards building an e-Library for all Sri Bhagavan related publications, audio and video sources. Several devotees from across the world have responded to this request offering their time and skills. The editorial team from SARANAGATHI would like to sincerely thank each and everyone who have responded.
We are presently organizing the approach and methods for developing the e-Library. In the next few months to come, several news additions would be made to e-Library which is to be posted as part of www.sriramanamaharshi.org.
We will constantly keep you updated about the progress.
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi ADVENT DAY Celebrations – a Report
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi ADVENT Day on 1st September was celebrated at various centers from across HIS world. A brief report is provided below:
Sri Ramanasramam - TiruvannamalaiDevotees from Sri Ramana Mandiram – Madurai along with other devotees from other places, traveled to Tiruvannamalai following the same route that Sri Bhagavan took to reach ARUNACHALA on 01 September 1896. Regular prayers and programs were observed at Sri Ramanasramam.
Arunachala Ashrama New YorkDevotees from the Tri State Area in the USA, met at Arunachala Ashrama in New York City to celebrate the ADVENT DAY of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi to ARUNACHALA. This celebration was conducted on 8th September 2007. Smt. Sushila Ramanan and Sri V.S. Ramanan from Sri Ramanasramam presided over the function.
Ramana Kendra – ChennaiDevotees in Chennai celebrated ADVENT of Sri Bhagavan to Arunachala from 2nd September 2007 to 3rd September 2007. The program involved, Vedaparayanam, Talks, chanting by children and other programs.
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Group – CaliforniaDevotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Group – California are celebrating ADVENT of Sri Bhagavan to Arunachala on 29th September 2007 at the Jain Centre, Milpitas California.
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
SaranagathieNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
1
Saranagathi
SARANAGATHI NOVEMBER 2007 / Issue 3
In this issue: Main Article – The Holy Beacon
Navaratri Celebrations at Sri Ramanasramam – A Photo Gallery
Sri Ramana Centers & Satsangh
From an INDIANA U.S.A Devotee.
Report from Washington DC Satsangh Group
SARANAGATHI An eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Dear Devotees of Sri Bhagavan:
With Sri Bhagavan’s Grace we are pleased to publish an eNewsletter from Sri Ramanasramam’s website. The purpose is to bring together devotees of Sri Bhagavan from across HIS world.
SARANGATHI, eNewsletter, is being developed to help devotees share their experiences, about Satsangh, meetings and other events that are held within various centers of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Initially we would like to begin with, by publishing this eNewsletter on a monthly basis. Based on the response and feedback provided by devotees, we may change this frequency. It is also proposed to have one feature article for each issue. The feature article would focus on popular events that happened during the years between 1879 and 1950.
Our earnest request, to all devotees, satsangh groups and centers is to share with us their events, stories and experiences. Please email them to [email protected]
Ever Truly In Sri BhagavanEditorial Team
MAIN ARTICLE – The Holy BeaconThe main feature article for this issue is again an extract from Letters and Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam. This recollection talks about the festivity and joy that was experienced during November 1947 in Sri Bhagavan’s presence. When the Holy Beacon is lit on Arunachala, it is a sight well worth seeing. In the Ashram, inBhagavan’s presence, a small deepam is also simultaneously lit, sacramental offerings (prasadam) are distributed and “Akshara Mana Malai” and other hymns are sung. Details on Page 2 & 3
BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA CENTERS & SATSANGH GROUPS This month’s issue covers a report on some of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Centers, Satsangh Groups, their events and contacts. In this issue we are also making a request from various groups across the world to send us some details, so that we may be able to publish the details in the future issues of this eNewsletter. For details please go to page 4.
Navaratri at Sri Ramanasramam A Photo GalleryNavaratri was celebrated at Sri Ramanasramam from 12.10.07 to 21.10.07. Some photos taken during that occasion have been displayed in this edition. Details on Page 5Sri Ramana e-Library - UpdatesThe famous and most melodious Tamil Parayana have been made available in various options Details on Page 5From Sri Ramana Devotee – INDIANA U.S.AA beautiful “from the heart” story about a devotee of Sri Bhagavan from INDIANA USA Details on Page 6Report from Washington DC Satsangh GroupBhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Group – Washington DC USA provides detailed report Details on Page 7
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
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Publisher
V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team
Ravi Ramanan
Prashanth Visweswaran
2
MAIN ARTICLE
29th November, 1947(160) THE HOLY BEACON
Extract from Letters from and Recollections ofSri RamanasramamBy Suri Nagamma
When the Holy Beacon is lit on Arunachala, it is a sight well worth seeing. In the Ashram, inBhagavan’s presence, a small deepam is also simultaneously lit, sacramental offerings (prasadam) aredistributed and “Akshara Mana Malai” and other hymns are sung. This year in particular, as there wasno rain, the function went off very well. In the afternoon, from 3 o’clock onwards, the devotees startedmaking preparations for the festival at the Ashram. In the Jubilee Hall, the floor was decorated withlime and rice powder floral designs, while hanging from the roof all round, were mango leaf festoons. On such occasions, the crowds which come to town for this Dipotsavam (Festival of Lights) usually visitthe Ashram in the morning as they go round the hill; whereas in the evenings, it is mostly theAsramites who are present at the Ashram celebrations, and there is no crowd. On this evening, whenBhagavan went out to the cowshed, the attendants placed his couch in the open space facing the summit of the hill, spread the bedding on it and put a stool with all the things on it that Bhagavan usually has by him. Opposite the couch a large shallow iron pan was placed on a high stool, gheepoured into it and a wick placed in the centre; flowers and garlands were strewn around it.
Just as these preparations were nearing completion, Bhagavan came from the cowshed with hisattendants, and it was as though it were actually Lord Siva Himself arriving on the scene. Spontaneously those gathered there rose; Bhagavan seated himself on the couch and all prostratedbefore him. We then sat in rows, the men on Bhagavan’s right, the women on his left, along the steps leading to the Hill. The space in front of Bhagavan was filled, not only with baskets of fruits brought bythe devotees, but also with vessels of all sorts full of sweetmeats and other preparations. When theghee brought by devotees was poured into the pan, it was overflowing. Camphor was then placed on the wick. The fragrance from the lighted incense sticks spread on all sides and created a holy atmosphere. Bhagavan sat lovingly looking at all the devotees and related to those near him the significance of the Festival of Lights. He also pointed out the exact place where the deepam was to belit on the hilltop. After that, Veda Parayana began.
By the time the Parayana was over, the sun had set. Soon, little lights in earthenware saucers were lit all round the hall and garlands of electric lights of many colours were switched on.
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MAIN ARTICLE
29th November, 1947(160) THE HOLY BEACON
Extract from Letters from and Recollections ofSri RamanasramamBy Suri Nagamma
Everyone was eagerly awaiting the lighting of the sacred beacon on the hilltop and the attendants had handed to Bhagavan a binocular with which he, too, was eagerly scanning the hill. While his gaze was concentrated on the summit of the hill, ours was concentrated on his Divine face, for it was just a reflection of Arunachala.
With the firing of crackers at the Temple, the light on the hilltop appeared. Immediately, the ‘akhandajyoti’ (uninterrupted) light, opposite Bhagavan was lighted. The Brahmins rose and chanted themantra, ‘na karmana naprajaya dhanena’, and lit the camphor; kumkum and vibhuti were distributed and then all the devotees sat down. After Bhagavan had partaken of a little fruit and somesweetmeats, the rest were distributed amongst the devotees. Immediately after that, the devotees divided themselves into two parties, one singing the hymns in the “Akshara Mana Malai”, and the other taking up the refrain ‘Arunachala Siva’. After that, the five stanzas beginning with‘Karunapurnasudhabhde’ in Sanskrit and its equivalent in Tamil were recited.
Bhagavan sat resting his cheek on his hand, slightly reclining on the pillow — his characteristic pose. His face appeared as though mirroring his Self-illumination, with his silence and his profound thought reflected on it. The moon rose in the east and cast its light on him as though seeking its light from Him. I sat there, facing east, with my back against the almond tree. If I looked west, I had the light ofthe Arunachala Hill; if I looked ahead I had the brilliant light of the moon; and if I looked to the right, Ihad the glowing light emanating from Bhagavan’s face. What a sight it was, and how lucky I felt that Ihad the three-faced Light around me that night! I felt an inexplicable bliss and involuntarily closed my eyes.
On hearing the sound of the dinner bell, I opened my eyes. Bhagavan was looking steadily at me, andthat look was more than I could stand; involuntarily my head hung down. Bhagavan smiled andentered the dining room, the devotees following him. After the meal, with Bhagavan’s permission, we, the devotees, started for the walk round the hill. I shall write to you about it some time later.
_______
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BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI CENTERS & SATSANGH
Sri Ramanasramam is devoted to the sole purpose of maintaining and preserving Sri Ramana Maharshi’s teachings and spreading it through HIS ashram. Over the years there have been devotees who have started centers around the world to help in spreading His teachings. These centers are run by sincere devotees for conducting satsanghs and celebrating His Jayanti, Aradhana, Advent Day, and other similar events of great significance. Today, satsangh groups spread across various countries worldwide including United States, Canada, Europe, Asia & Australia.
This section will be a regular feature of SARANAGATHI eNewsletter. We will post events and reports from Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Centers and Satsangh Groups from across HIS world. Provided below is a list of available Centers and Satsangh Groups.
Please send an email to [email protected] to have your information included.
INDIA (91)Sri Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu. 04175-237200Sri Ramana Kendra – Mylapore Chennai 044-24611397 Sri Sundara Mandiram – Tiruchuzhi 04566–282217Sri Ramana Kendram – Sri Ramana Mandiram 0452-2346102 Sri Ramana Mandiram – Desur TamilnaduSri Ramana Kendram – Hyderabad – Andhra Pradesh 040-27424092Sri Ramana Kendra – New Delhi To be updated
NORTH AMERICA Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Groups (001)San Francisco CA 510-656-2752Los Angeles CA 310-473-9441East Lyme Connecticut 860-691-1862Washington DC 301-528-5526 Atlanta GA 678-546-0378F. Lauderdale FL 954-755-4758Goshen IN 574-875-6298Arunachala Ashrama New York 718-560-3196Arunachala Ashrama Canada 902-665-2090Ann Arbor MI 734-623-7199Dublin OH 614-664-1534Ottawa ON 713-733-8250Toronto ON 905-849-6005Nashville TN To be Updated
We will periodically update this list and also share stories and experiences about HOW each Group or Center meet to get absorbed in Sri Bhagavan Ramana’s Grace. In due course we will include in sriramanamaharshi.org transliterated and audio versions of important songs, chants and prayers.
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
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RECENT HAPPENINGS
Sri Ramana eLibrary – Daily Parayana
Daily Parayana (The Poetic Works of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi)
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi's Tamil compositions are revered by scholars of Tamil literature as works of literary genius. Beyond that, Bhagavan had the extraordinary ability to compress into a few words the full breadth of the Upanishadic realization and HIS own direct experience of it. It is these verses and compositions that are chanted daily at Sri Ramanasramam. Today at Sri Ramanasramam Parayana is sung from 6.30 pm - 7.15 pm. The current hymns follow a weekly cycle. The daily Parayana hymns are available in MP3 audio format and the lyrics transliterated in English and in some cases Tamil.
We presently have options to download the song in MP3, play online and the associated lyrics are available in English in PDF format. We will be making available lyrics in Tamil and other languages very soon. Please visit http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/Tamil_Parayana.html
We will constantly keep you updated about the progress with regards to the eLibrary initiative.
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Navaratri Celebrations – Photo Gallery
The Navaratri celebrations at the shrines of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Matrubutheswara were performed on Friday the 12th October 2007 and concluded with Vijayadasami on 21st October 2007.
Laksharchana with Mahanyasa Rudrabhishekam with Parayana with sacred works such as Devi Mahatyam were performed. Devotees of Sri Bhagavan from various parts of India and other countries participated in the celebrations.
Please visit http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/navarathiri/picture_Navarathiri.html to see photographs taken during this celebration at Sri Ramanasramam.
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
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FROM an INDIANA U.S.A Devotee.
To Saranagathi eNewsletter 03-October-07Dear Friends,I am very happy to receive the wonderful new Saranagathi eNewsletter. I love to read all kinds of oldand new writings about our Beloved Bhagavan. My name is Orva Schrock and I am reporting in from perhaps the most humble of the Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh groups listed in the newsletter:NORTH AMERICA, GOSHEN, IN, U.S.A.So far I’m the one and only member of my “group” but looking forward to meeting other local devoteesif it is the will of Arunachala Ramana, the ocean of grace. I will share here a bit, not because I haveanything new or special to say, but in hopes of perhaps inspiring or encouraging others to make an effort, to support the magnificent gift and revelation of Bhagavan’s teachings. I am a retired business man, now aged 59. I have some health problems but I am very blessed andlove life to the fullest. I was raised in a very strict fundamentalist sect. For example it was my “duty” to quit school at age 16 and find work to help our large family financially. I still regret that I never received a proper modern education. I never felt spiritually or culturally at home and left it behind at age 18. I was always curious, though, about God, Spirit, Saints & Sages, Religions, etc. and it always seemed natural to me to search for answers. I began to pray and meditate.Back in the 1970s in my early 20s I began to read everything I could get my hands on regarding thesesubjects. At that time I first encountered Ramana Maharshi after being very attracted to a particular volume in a bookstore: it was “The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi” with the famous forward byC. G. Jung. At the time the book was “above my head” so to speak, but a spark was ignited whichnever died out. I felt somehow that this Maharshi was above and beyond the usual books and teachings I was finding. But I knew I wasn’t really understanding His message and my search continued on with much reading and experimenting with various teachings and systems.Always I remembered the great Sage and over the years I began to read and reread everything I couldfind by or about him. Along with that I turned toward Vedanta and Nondualism as the basis and foundation of my evolving understanding. Of course, Ramana always stood head and shoulders aboveanything and everything else I encountered. In recent years He has become my highest aspiration andinspiration. Every day now I know His presence in my Heart as the One Self of all beings, The Satchitananda personified. Yes, He appeared as human among us and yet remains always somethingabove and beyond His physical appearance.So this Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Centre consists of me here at my home. I live on 5 acres with abeautiful natural setting. I am blessed to have a meditation room where I can chant and meditate andsit in darshan of his photos and written words. I burn candles and incense, do my silent gentle Self-inquiry. If any other person wants to come sit, discuss, meditate, celebrate, they will be very welcome.He is here, life is good
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Report from the Washington, D.C. Satsangh Group
Sharing Remembrance of Bhagavan and the Bliss of Self Knowledge in Satsangh
By the Grace of Sri Bhagavan, our Satsangh group has been meeting every other Saturday evening forabout 6 years. The numbers vary from one meeting to the next, but the flood of dharshan never varies, flowing freely and copiously from Sri Bhagavan to each and every soul present, lifting us up andcarrying us towards greater awareness of the Self.
The format we use for Satsangh meetings is as follows:Readings from books of conversations with Sri Bhagavan, or about his life – about 30 minutesGroup singing of Upadesha Saram, Arunachala Pancharatnam, and Aksharamanamaalai“Open mike” individual singing and recitation. This includes both children and adults.Group singing of Ramana SadguruMeditation – about 20 minutesReadings from books of conversations with Sri Bhagavan, or about his life – about 15 minutes.Sometimes we are honored by talks given by senior devotees who are visiting from India.All rise for group recitation of Na Karmana followed by pranams to Sri Bhagavan. Occasionally arathi isperformed. Sometimes there is distribution of kumkum and vibhouti.Usually potluck dinner is served.If you want any further information about our Satsangh meetings, please email Uma Santosh [email protected]
Anbar Kalum Vaazhi! (Glory to His Devotees!)
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Saranagathi
SARANAGATHI Deepavali 2007 / Special
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
Saranagathi eNewsletter Team
Would like to wish all Devotees A Very Happy Deepavali
On the occasion of Deepavali, we are pleased to bring out a Deepavali Special Edition of Saranagathi
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at sriramanamaharshi.org
eNewsletter from sriramanamaharshi.org
Publisher
V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team
Ravi Ramanan
Prashanth Visweswaran
2
MAIN ARTICLE
20th August, 1946(65) NARAKASURA — DIPAVALI
Extract from Letters from and Recollections of Sri RamanasramamBy Suri Nagamma
Ramachandra Iyer came here from Madras recently.One day he was seated in the hall going throughan old notebook and correcting some dates and numbers in it. Seeing that, Bhagavan asked what it was. He replied, “This is an old notebook written by Bhagavan. I am looking into the numbers and dates in it, and entering them in the printed book.” “Give it to me,” Bhagavan said, and taking it andturning over the pages, said to me, “There are some Dipavali padyams (verses) in it. Have you heard them?” When I said I had not, he read them out and gave the meaning thereof as follows: “He is Narakasura (a demon) who feels attached in the thought that he is the body. That attachment to the body itself is a Naraka (hell). The life of a person who has that attachment, even if he be a Maharajah,is hellish. Destroying the attachment to the body, and the self shining by itself as Self is Dipavali. Thatis the idea contained in those verses.” I asked, “Are all these verses in Nool Thirattu?”* Bhagavan said,“These were all composed extempore on the spur of the moment from time to time. Why include all these in that book?” After the first publication of the book, when these verses were read out in Bhagavan’s presence, he asked, “Do you know why I wrote those verses?” When I said that I did notknow, he said, “Is that so? One Dipavali day, Muruganar wanted me to write something about Dipavali. ‘Why don’t you write? Why should I?’ I asked. He said that he would also write if I did. I agreed, and wrote these verses. I did not write anything without reason. There is a story behind every verse that I wrote.” So saying he showed me the verses (in Tamil). I give them below with the meaning:
Vrittam:He is the king of hell who says that he is the body which is hell itself. He is Narayana who
ascertains who Naraka is, and destroys him with His vision of wisdom, Jnana Drishti. That is the auspicious day of Narakachathurdasi.
Venba:The false belief that this hell-like house called body is me, is Naraka himself. To destroy that
false belief and let the self shine as Self, is Dipavali.
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Photo Gallery of Deepavali celebrations at Sri Ramanasramam on 8th November 2007
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Saranagathi
Saranagathi
SARANAGATHI DECEMBER 2007 / Issue 4
In this issue:
• Main Article – Extract from Day By Day with Bhagavan
• Sri Ramana Centers & Satsangh• Sri Ramanasramam Calendar
2008• Deepam 2007 Celebrations• Advent Day Celebrations at CA• Report and photos of Free
Medical Camp at Sri Ramanasramam
SARANAGATHIAn eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Dear Devotees of Sri Bhagavan:
With Sri Bhagavan’s Grace we are pleased to publish an eNewsletter from Sri Ramanasramam’s website. The purpose is to bring together devotees of Sri Bhagavan from across HIS world.
SARANGATHI, eNewsletter, is being developed to help devotees share their experiences, about Satsangh, meetings and other events that are held within various centers of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Initially we would like to begin with, by publishing this eNewsletter on a monthly basis. Based on the response and feedback provided by devotees, we may change this frequency. It is also proposed to have one feature article for each issue. The feature article would focus on popular events that happened during the years between 1879 and 1950.
Our earnest request, to all devotees, satsangh groups and centers is to share with us their events, stories and experiences. Please email them to [email protected]
Ever Truly In Sri BhagavanEditorial Team
MAIN ARTICLE
The main feature article for this issue is an extract Day By Day with Bhagavan. This recollection talks about the events and details surrounding Echammal’s passing away during December 1945.
There are also some answers provided to devotees by Sri Bhagavan during this day on 28th
December 1945.
Details on Page 2 & 3
BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA CENTERS & SATSANGH GROUPS This month’s issue covers a report on some of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Centers, Satsangh Groups, their events and contacts. In this issue we are also making a request from various groups across the world to send us some details, so that we may be able to publish the details in the future issues of this eNewsletter. For details please go to page 4.
Sri Ramana e-Library - UpdatesSri Ramanasramam’s Calendar for 2008 Details on Page 5
Deepam 2007 – A Photo Gallery Details on Page 5
Advent Day 2007 – California Report Details on Page 5
Free Medical Camp at Sri RamanasramamA free medical camp was conducted in the premises of Sri Ramanasramam (Morvi Guest House) on Saturday, the 3rd November 2007 Details on Pages 6 & 7
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at www.sriramanamaharshi.org
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Publisher
V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team
Ravi Ramanan
Prashanth Visweswaran
1
MAIN ARTICLE
Extract from Day by Day with Bhagavan by Sri Devaraja Mudaliar28th December, 1945.
Morning
It seems Echammal passed away at about 2-30 a.m. and the matter was reported to Bhagavan only about 8 a.m. in the hall. The talk naturally was about Echammal and how from 1907 she persevered in offering food to Bhagavan without any break. Bhagavan also remembered three other persons who fed him when he was under the iluppai tree in the Big Temple. One was Dasi Rajambal who, it seems, took a vow that she would not eat before feeding Bhagavan and was feeding him for about two months until he moved away to Gurumoortham. It seems she continued to send food even to Gurumoortham for a day or two. But Bhagavan asked her to discontinue it. It seems this lady died only recently. Bhagavan mentioned also Meenakshi Ammal, a Kammala woman, and said, “She was like a rakshasi. She would daily go round the hill and then come and cook and bring food to me. After some time she began assuming control over everybody including Palaniswami. If others brought food, etc., she would give some to me and whatever remained she used to take away with her.” (Bhagavan said, in the afternoon, “Our Nagappa’s mother Ratnamma also used to bring food in those days”). Of food supplied regularly, (Kattalai) as Bhagavan put it, he said, “You don’t know what trouble all such regular supply involves. Those who make it expect some control over you. It also creates some aham in them.
Everyone of them expects you to take something. One would say “I say, serve something with your own hand”, and then each would serve something. The quantity would become too great. Any number of people bring any number of things, and at all times, and you must take them. Sometimes we used to mix up all things received, milk, food, porridge, etc., and drink it if the resulting mixture was a liquid. ‘Swami-hood’ is very difficult. You cannot realize it. I am speaking from fifty years’ experience. After such experience in Gurumoortham I wanted to avoid it by not remaining in anyone place.”
Afternoon
Santhamma came and reported to Bhagavan that Echamma passed away peacefully and people did not even know when exactly life departed and that though she was unconscious for nearly two days, when she had a little consciousness at one time during these two days, the one question she asked was, “Has food been sent to Bhagavan?” (Later I learnt from Nagamma that this was not quite correct. It seems that somebody, to test whether Echamma’s mind was clear and not wandering, asked the question “Has food been sent to Bhagavan today?” and Echammal at once showed recognition). Her body was cremated. I thereupon asked Bhagavan, “It is said in the case of such people they should not be cremated, but buried”. Bhagavan replied, “It seems she herself had mentioned that her body should be cremated and that her bones alone should be taken and buried in her village.”
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MAIN ARTICLE
I also asked Bhagavan what he meant by his statement last night that “she would often remain with closed eyes”. He explained, “She practiced concentrating on the head centre and would be in a trance- like state for even two or three days with breath fully controlled. I told her it was only laya and one should not be satisfied with it, but must get out of it and beyond it.”
One Mr. Joshi, introduced by our Chaganlal Yogi, put the following questions and Bhagavan gave the following answers:
Question : When I think ‘Who am I?’, the answer comes ‘I am not this mortal body but I am chaitanya, atma, or paramatma.’ And suddenly another question arises — ‘Why has atma come into maya?’ or in other words ‘Why has God created this world?’Answer: To enquire ‘Who am I?’ really means trying to find out the source of the ego or the ‘I’ thought. You are not to think of other thoughts, such as ‘I am not this body, etc.’ Seeking the source of ‘I’ serves as a means of getting rid of all other thoughts. We should not give scope to other thoughts, such as you mention, but must keep the attention fixed on finding out the source of the ‘I’ thought, by asking (as each thought arises) to whom the thought arises and if the answer is ‘I get the thought’ by asking further who is this ‘I’ and whence its source?
Question : Is atma a subject of sakshatkara?Answer: The atma is as it is. It is sakshat always. There are not two atmas, one to know and one to be known. To know it is to be it. It is not a state where one is conscious of anything else. It is consciousness itself.
Question : I do not understand the meaning of “brahma satyam jagat mithya (Brahman is real, the world is unreal)”. Does this world have real existence or not? Does the jnani not see the world or does he see it in a different form?Answer: Let the world bother about its reality or falsehood. Find out first about your own reality. Then all things will become clear. What do you care how the jnani sees the world? You realize yourself and then you will understand. The jnani sees that the world of names and forms does not limit the Self, and that the Self is beyond them.
Question : “I do not know how to worship. So kindly show me the way to worship.”Answer: Is there a ‘worshipper’ and a ‘worshipped’? Find out the ‘I’, the worshipper; that is the best way. Always the seer must be traced.
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BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI CENTERS & SATSANGH
Sri Ramanasramam is devoted to the sole purpose of maintaining and preserving Sri Ramana Maharshi’s teachings and spreading it through HIS ashram. Over the years there have been devotees who have started centers around the world to help in spreading His teachings. These centers are run by sincere devotees for conducting satsanghs and celebrating His Jayanti, Aradhana, Advent Day, and other similar events of great significance. Today, satsangh groups spread across various countries worldwide including United States, Canada, Europe, Asia & Australia.
This section will be a regular feature of SARANAGATHI eNewsletter. We will post events and reports from Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Centers and Satsangh Groups from across HIS world. Provided below is a list of available Centers and Satsangh Groups.
Please send an email to [email protected] to have your information included.
INDIA (+91)Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu 04175-237200Sri Ramana Kendra – Mylapore, Chennai, Tamilnadu 044-24611397 Sri Sundara Mandiram – Tiruchuzhi, Tamilnadu 04566–282217Sri Ramana Mandiram – Madurai, Tamilnadu 0452-2346102 Sri Ramana Satsang – Desur, TamilnaduSri Ramana Kendram – Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 040-27424092Sri Ramana Kendra – New Delhi 011-24626997RMCL – Bangalore, Karnataka 080-23369633
NORTH AMERICA Sri Ramana Maharshi Satsangh Groups (+1)San Francisco, CA 510-656-2752Los Angeles, CA 310-473-9441East Lyme, CT 860-691-1862Washington, DC 301-528-5526 Atlanta, GA 678-546-0378F. Lauderdale, FL 954-755-4758Goshen, IN 574-875-6298Arunachala Ashrama, New York 718-560-3196Arunachala Ashrama, Canada 902-665-2090Ann Arbor, MI 734-623-7199Dublin, OH 614-664-1534Ottawa, ON 713-733-8250Toronto, ON 905-849-6005Nashville, TN To be Updated
We will periodically update this list and also share stories and experiences about HOW each Group or Center meet to get absorbed in Sri Bhagavan Ramana’s Grace. In due course we will include in sriramanamaharshi.org transliterated and audio versions of important songs, chants and prayers.
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at www.sriramanamaharshi.org
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RECENT HAPPENINGS
Sri Ramana eLibrary – 2008 Calendar and Special Days
New additions to the eLibrary include the electronic version of Sri Ramanasramam’s 2008 calendar with special dates and events. Please visit http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/2008_calender.html to be able to view the calendar and also download a pdf version of the calendar.
In addition to the calendar, special days in 2008, have been included for the benefit of devotees. Please visit http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/special_days_2008.html to know about the special days in 2008.
We will constantly keep you updated about the progress with regards to the eLibrary initiative.
Deepam Celebrations 2007 at Sri Ramanasramam – A Photo Gallery
The Deepam celebrations at Sri Ramanasramam were performed on Friday the 24th November 2007.Please visit http://sriramanamaharshi.org/deepam/picture_deepam.html to see photographs taken during this celebration at Sri Ramanasramam.
Deepam Celebrations at Nova Scotia – A Report by Sri Dennis Hartel
With Bhagavan's grace this year on Kartigai Deepam day we lit a deepam on top of the Arunachala Ashrama mountain here in Nova Scotia. In route we lit deepams at Skanda Ashram and Virupaksha Cave. Earlier in the morning, exactly corresponding to 6 pm your time we chanted Asksharamanamalai and lit a deepam in front of Bhagavan and Arunachala within the Arunachala Ramana Mandiram. All day we were immersed in the grace of Arunachala Ramana, our sole refuge and support.
Similarly, we have reports that devotees from across HIS world celebrated Deepam with their Satsangh groups and families.
Advent Celebrations at California – Report from Smt. Sunita Parsuraman & Sh. Badri Gopalan
The Advent function was held in Milpitas Jain temple on 29th September, 2007. It began with a melodious chanting of Aksharamanamaalai. Brahmachari Prabodh Chaitanyaji, resident acharya of Chinmaya Mission, San Jose then gave a short talk on Bhagavan and his teachings.
The talk was followed by Bhajan's on Bhagavan, and then chanting of selected portions of the Veda, and concluded with Aarti. There was a sumptuous lunch for all devotees at the end of the Aarti.
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Free Medical Camp at Sri Ramanasramam – Photo Gallery
Dear Devotees :
A free medical camp was conducted in the premises of Sri Ramanasramam (Morvi Guest House) on Saturday, the 3rd November 2007 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The camp was conducted under the aegis of Sri Ramanasramam by Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Hospital, Porur, Chennai.
A team of 14 technicians & 12 physicians comprising of dentists, cardiologist, neurologist, nephrologists and orthopaedicians. More than 1000 patients were examined by the visiting team. The team also came with x-ray, Ultra Sound, Echo Cardiogram and ECG machines. Free medicines were distributed to the patients. The remaining drugs were generously donated to Ashram free dispensary by the hospital.
The Ashram gratefully acknowledges the services of Sri Ramachandra Medical Center and its Vice Chancellor Sri Venkatachalam.
Praying for Sri Bhagavan's Blessings,
President, Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai.
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Free Medical Camp at Sri Ramanasramam – Photo Gallery (Continued)
Copyright © Sri Ramanasramam For subscription to this newsletter please register at www.sriramanamaharshi.org
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7
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
Saranagathi
Dear Devotees,
With Sri Bhagavan’s Grace we are pleased to publish an eNewsletter from Sri Ramanasramam’s website. The purpose is to bring together devotees of Sri Bhagavan from across the world.
Saranagathi, a monthly eNewsletter, is being developed to help devotees share their experiences, about satsangh, meetings and other events that are held within various centers of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi around the world.
It is proposed to have one feature article for each issue. The feature article would focus on events that happened during the years between 1879 and 1950 as captured in popular books like Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, Letters from Sri Ramanasramam and others, which are available
Purpose
Happy New Year - 2008Praying for Sri Bhagavan’s Blessings & Grace.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Purpose 1
Happy New Year - 2008 1
January 1946 @ Sri Ramanasramam 2
Sri Arunachaleswarar Giripradakshinam
– A Report from Sri Ramanasramam 3/4
Ashram website updates 4
for download from the ashram website.
Our earnest request, to all devotees, satsangh groups and centers is to share with us their events, stories and experiences. Please email them to [email protected]
Ever Truly In Sri Bhagavan,
President Sri Ramanansramam.
JANUARY 2008VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1
By Publisher
Those On Whom The Guru’s Glance Of Grace Has Fallen Are
Like The Deer Caught In A Tiger’s Jaw. They Are Bound
To Have Their Wretched Ego Slain And Know The One
Supreme Awareness. They Will Never Be Forsaken.
- Sri Muruganar, The Garland of Guru’s Sayings, 284.
Page 2 Saranagathi
17th January, 1946.
One morning about September or October 1945, a devotee from Bangalore, by name Venkataswami Naidu, brought a pair of pigeons and gave them to the Ashram as an offering. Seeing that, Bhagavan said, “We have to protect them from cats, etc., is it not? Who will look after them? A cage is required, food must be given. Who will do all that here? It is better for him to take them away.”
The devotee said he would make all the required arrangements and requested that they should be kept in the Ashram. He placed the pair of pigeons in Bhagavan’s lap. With overflowing affection and love, Bhagavan drew them near him, saying, “Come dears! Come! You won’t go back? You wish to stay on here? All right, stay on; a cage will be coming.” As he thus petted them with affection, they became absolutely quiet, closed their eyes as if they were in samadhi, and stayed on there without moving this way or that.
Bhagavan thereupon keeping them on his lap stopped petting them, and with his gracious eyes fixed on them, sat in silence, deeply immersed in samadhi. It took nearly an hour for the devotees in the Ashram to find and bring a cage for them. The wonder of it is, all through that one hour, the pigeons sat in Bhagavan’s lap without moving one way or the other as if they were a pair of yogis in samadhi. What could we say about their good fortune? Is it not the result of their punya in previous births that this great sage should seat them on his lap, cajole them by patting them from the head down to the feet with his hands, bless them and thereby bestow on them divine bliss? Not only that, when the cage was brought in,
A Pair of Pigeons Bhagavan patted them cajolingly and put them in the cage, saying, “Please go in. Be safe in the cage.” Then Bhagavan said, “In the Bhagavatham, pigeons also are stated to be in the hierarchy of Gurus, in the chapter relating to Yadu Samvadam. I remember having read that story long ago.”
While the pigeons were on his lap, one devotee came and asked, “What is this?” Bhagavan said, without attachment but assuming responsibility, “Who knows? They come, and decline to go back. They say they will stay here only. Another family has come upon me, as if what I already have is not enough.” Dear brother, it is very interesting to witness these strange happenings. It is said that in olden days Emperor Bharatha renounced the world and performed great tapas (meditation), but towards the end of his life he could think only of his pet deer and so was born a deer in his next life.
In Vedanta Sastras, in the Bharatham and Bhagavatham there are many stories like this. Bhagavan had told us long ago: “Any living being that comes to me, it is only to work out the balance of its karma. So don’t prevent anyone from coming to me.” When I looked at those pigeons, it occurred to me that they might be great saints who had fallen from their austerity in meditation; otherwise, how could they get into the lap of Bhagavan, a privilege which is impossible for ordinary people? In canto V of Bhagavatham there is a verse which says that people born in Bharatavarsha are blessed, since Hari has come there a number of times as an avatar and blessed them by His precepts, help and guidance.
The above incident is an illustration of this, is it not? What do you say?
By Smt. Suri Nagamma An Extract from ‘Letters from Sri Ramanasramam’
Page 3 Saranagathi
Sri Arunachaleswarar Giripradakshinam
Sri Arunachaleswarar, the presiding deity of Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple at Tiruvannamalai goes round the Arunachala Hill twice a year. First, on the third day after the Deepam festival and the second time on the third day of the Tamil month of Thai i.e. around January 16th.
Immediately after the Deepam festival, the Lord is accompanied by His consort and escorted by the deity from Adi Annamalai. However, in the month of Thai, He goes alone on the day after 'Tiruvoodal' festival. Both the times He is received with great reverence and humility by devotees.
As usual the procession, passed Sri Ramanasramam this year on 26th of November around 1p.m, the Ashram President offered the Lord a garland, dhoti, coconuts, fruits on behalf of all devotees and arati
was performed.
Every time Sri Arunachaleswarar passes the Ashram, the old devotees witnessing the event are reminded of Smt. Suri Nagamma's account of it in ‘Letters from Sri Ramanasramam’. The following is the excerpt from the book.
A Report from Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai.
Devotees receiving the Lord in front of Sri Ramanasramam.
21st November 1945.
The Son is Beholden to the Father
…The day before yesterday being full moon, the usual Deepotsava (festival of lights) was celebrated on a grand scale. This morning Sri Arunachaleswarar started for giripradakshinam (going round the hill) with the usual retinue and devotees and accompaniment of music. By the time the procession reached the Ashram Gate, Sri Niranjanananda Swami (the Sarvadhikari) came out with Ashram devotees, offered coconuts and camphor to Sri Arunachaleswarar, and paid homage when the procession was stopped and the priests performed Arati (waving of the lights) to the God. Just then Sri Bhagavan happened to be going towards the Goshala (cowshed) and seeing the grandeur he sat down on the pial near the tap by the side of the book depot.
Sri Arunachaleswarar & Apeethakuchambal.
Continued on page 4
Page 4 Saranagathi
The Arati plate offered to Sri Arunachaleswarar was brought to Bhagavan by Ashram devotees and Sri Bhagavan took a little Vibhuti (holy ashes) and applied it to his forehead, saying in an undertone “Appakku Pillai Adakkam” (The Son is beholden to the Father). His voice seemed choked with emotion as he spoke. The expression on his face proved the ancient saying “Bhakti Poornathaya Jnanam” (the culmination of Devotion is Knowledge). Sri Bhagavan is Lord Siva’s son. Sri Ganapati Muni’s saying, that he is Skanda incarnate, was confirmed. It struck us that Bhagavan was teaching us that since all creatures are the children of Ishwara, even a Jnani should be beholden to Ishwara……
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Prashanth Visweswaran, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]
Continued from page 3
‘Letters from Sri Ramanasramam’ by Smt. Suri Nagamma
Arati being performed to the Lord.
The procession going around the Hill.
Ashram Website Update
Please visit the following links which have been recently added:
• 128th Jayanti Pictures http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/Jayanti.html
• 128th Jayanti Video http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/video.html
• Swami Ramanananda http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/ramananda.html
• Sri Vidya Havan http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/srividya.html
• New Release http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/newrelease.html
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
Saranagathi
Dear Devotees,
With Sri Bhagavan‟s Grace we are pleased to
publish an eNewsletter from Sri Ramanasramam‟s
website. The purpose is to bring together
devotees of Sri Bhagavan from across the world.
Saranagathi, a monthly eNewsletter, is being
developed to help devotees share their
experiences, about satsangh, meetings and other
events that are held within various centers of
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi around the world.
It is proposed to have one feature article for each
issue. The feature article would focus on events
that happened during the years between 1879
and 1950 as captured in popular books like Talks
with Sri Ramana Maharshi, Letters from Sri
Ramanasramam and others, which are available
for download from the ashram website.
Purpose
Who Am I?
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Purpose 1
Who Am I? 1
January 1946 @ Sri Ramanasramam 2/3
Maattu Pongal – A Report from Sri Ramanasramam 3
Celebrating the Birthday 4
Swami Ramanananda - Obituary 5
eLibrary Update 5
Our earnest request, to all devotees, satsangh
groups and centers is to share with us their events,
stories and experiences. Please email them to
Ever Truly In Sri Bhagavan,
President
Sri Ramanansramam.
Tiruvannamalai, India.
FEBRUARY 2008
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2
By Publisher
When the World which is what –is-seen has been removed,
there will be Realization of the Self which is the Seer.
The nature of Awareness is Existence-Consciousness-Bliss.
- Sri Bhagavan.
Page 2 Saranagathi
16th January, 1946.
You know yesterday was the animal Festival of
Cows (Maattu Pongal). On that day, all over the
country, domestic animals are decorated and fed
with Pongal. In the Ashram also yesterday
morning, several varieties of sweetmeats were
prepared and, with garlands made of those
sweetmeats, puja to Nandi was performed by
drawing ornamental lines with lime powder before
the cowshed, by tying plantain trees around the
pillars, by hanging garlands of green leaves, by
bathing all the cows, by placing tilakam (vermilion
marks) on their foreheads and garlands around
their necks, and by feeding them with Pongal.
Finally puja was performed to the chanting of
mantras and the breaking of coconuts.
Lakshmi is the queen amongst the cows, is she
not? You must see her grandeur! Her forehead was
smeared with turmeric powder, and adorned with
Kumkum. Around her neck and horns were hung
garlands made of roses and several other flowers,
as also those made of edibles, and sweets. Besides
these, garlands made out of bananas, sugarcane
pieces and coconut kernels, were put around her
neck. Not satisfied with these, the person in
charge of the animals brought from his own house
another garland made out of some savoury
preparation like murukku and placed it on the
neck of Lakshmi. When Niranjananandaswami
asked him what it was for, he replied with
justifiable pride that that was his mamool (yearly
custom) to do so. When I saw Lakshmi thus
decorated like Kamadhenu, I was overjoyed and
felt extremely happy.
Bhagavan, who went out at 9-45 a.m., came to the
Gosala (cow-shed) at 10 a.m., to shower his
children there. While he sat on a chair by the side
Worship of the Cow
of Lakshmi, enjoying the sight of the beautiful
decorations on her, the devotees gave arati with
camphor, chanting Vedic hymns such as “Na
Karmana” etc. Some devotees said that they would
take a photo of Lakshmi. She was then led into the
middle of the Gosala after asking the devotees
who had gathered into a big group, to step aside.
Lakshmi stood there, tossing her head in a
graceful manner. Bhagavan also got up, came, and
stood by the side of Lakshmi, patting her head
and body with his left hand, and when he said,
“Steady, please, be steady”, Lakshmi slowly closed
her eyes and remained absolutely quiet as if she
were in a samadhi (trance). Sri Ramana then
placed his right hand on her back, and with his
walking stick in his left, stood in a dignified
manner by the side of Lakshmi, when the
photographer took two or three photos. One must
see that sight to appreciate its grandeur fully.
Another photo was taken when Bhagavan was
feeding her with his own hands fruits and
sweetmeats. You can see the photos when you
come here. I was reminded of Lord Krishna in
Repalle when I saw the grand spectacle of
Bhagavan standing in the midst of the cows in the
Gosala. Not only this, in Brahma Vaivartha Purana
it is stated that Krishna is the Paramatma, the Lord
of the cow world, and that Radha is Prakriti. The
theory in that Purana is that Radha and Madhava
are Prakriti and Purusha-the inseparable pair.
Standing with his body bent slightly to the left,
and with his left hand on Lakshmi, and with the
walking stick in his right hand, looking as if it was
a flute, with a sparkling smile on the face like the
foam on the waves of the ocean of ananda, with a
compassionate look towards the group of
devotees that had gathered along with the herd of
cows, Sri Ramana, the embodiment of grace, it is
no surprise if one were reminded of Lord Krishna
Himself standing with crossed legs, resting on his
toes and playing exquisitely on the flute.
By Smt. Suri Nagamma
An Extract from „Letters from Sri Ramanasramam‟
Continued on Page 3
Page 3 Saranagathi
If that Krishna is Ramana, what are we to say of our
Lakshmi who appears to have been completely
oblivious of this world with her ears hanging down,
with her eyes closed and enjoying transcendental
bliss caused by the touch of Bhagavan‟s hands on her
body? Shall I say that she is the embodiment of
Prakriti in the shape of Radha? Otherwise, how could
she understand human language?
It is no exaggeration to say that we, with human
eyes, saw in that congregation what is beyond
human sight; a world of cows, and its overlords,
Prakriti and Purusha. You would perhaps laugh
at my foolish fantasies but take it from me,
that sight was so lovely. Every year this
worship of the cow is being performed, but
this year Bhagavan gave us this blissful
darshan by standing by the side of Lakshmi,
because the devotees said that they would take
a photo of Lakshmi. What a great day! I am
writing to you, because I just could not contain
my joy.
16th January, 2008.
„Maattu Pongal‟ at Sri Ramanasramam
Pongal Festival (Makara Sankranti), which is a festival of
the people especially farmers of Tamil Nadu, was
celebrated at the Ashram on 15th January. It is a day of
thanks giving to the Sun God. The next day is „Maattu
Pongal‟. „Maattu Pongal‟ means, Pongal festival
dedicated to cows and bulls. So at our ashram too the
cows, bulls and calves were the centre of attraction and
the objects of special affection and adoration on this
sacred day. The whole Gosala (cowshed) was given a
thorough wash. The cows and bulls were given a bath,
their horns were painted, vermillion applied to the
foreheads and garlands put round their necks. The
Ashram priest offered puja to the cows and prasad was
distributed to those present.
Earlier a special puja was offered at the Samadhi of
Cow Lakshmi and the Nandi (sacred bull) at the
Matrubhuteswara Temple.
To see video and more pictures, click on link below.
http://sriramanamaharshi.org/mattupongal.html
Continued from Page 2
Puja Cow at Ashram Gosala.
Decorated Matrubhuteshwara Nandi.
Puja at Gosala.
Page 4 Saranagathi
Celebrating the Birthday By Jean Dunn.
An Extract from „Ramana Smrti – Sri Ramana Maharshi Birth Centenary Offering (1980).
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi was requested by
Vasudeva Sastri in 1912 to allow his birthday to be
celebrated by his devotees. Bhagavan refused to be
drawn into our illusion and, as do all his actions
and words, his reply on this occasion serves as a
guide to bring us out of illusion into reality:
You who wish to celebrate the birthday, seek first
whence was your birth. One‟s true birthday is when
one enters that which transcends birth and death -
the Eternal Being.
At least on one‟s birthday one should mourn one‟s
entry into this world (samsara). To glory in it and
celebrate it is like delighting in and decorating a
corpse. To seek one‟s self and merge in the Self –
that is wisdom.
Sri Bhagavan had no reasons of his own for
anything he did. All was for our benefit. By „our‟ I
mean all of us who have been drawn to him all
those who in the future will be drawn to him. What
was he teaching us by this verse? What does it
mean, “Seek first whence was your birth”? Aren‟t we
all aware of who our parents are and the date of
our birth? Yes, but that is the date of the birth of a
body and the parents are the bodies from which
this body is born. Are we the body? If so we will
surely die. What did Bhagavan do when, as a
youngster of sixteen, he was faced with the
overwhelming certainty of immediate death? By a
deep enquiry he discovered that he was not the
body, that he was never born and would never die.
That was his true birthday, when he “entered that
which transcends birth and death – the Eternal
Being”. He was reborn as the spirit Immortal.
Ignorance had vanished and he knew his true
identity – the Eternal Being. The illusion that
he was a body in time and space died. We
can only imagine that state, but because of
Bhagavan, we know that it is possible for us
also to attain. In truth, as he tells us, there is
nothing to attain, only question the illusion
and it will disappear.
“To seek one‟s self and merge in the Self,
that is Wisdom”. How to seek one‟s self?
Bhagavan has told us repeatedly to enquire,
in every situation, whatever happens, “to
whom is this happening?” “Who am I?”, to
keep our attention focused on this “I”.
Gradually our mind will lose interest in the
magic show of the world and our own self
will grow stronger. We have so many
concepts about everything – our self, the
world, God, and even the Absolute. These
concepts we have gathered from others and
made our own, thereby imprisoning
ourselves. No one else binds us, we bind our
self with bonds of illusion. The mind tends to
be satisfied with words. If we can name a
thing, we think we know it; we fail to seek
the meaning of words. Bhagavan was
uncompromising in his insistence that we
need only remove illusion; no effort is
needed for realization because it is already
there. By persistent enquiry, ignorance will
vanish. This is wisdom. We have great joy
and good cause for celebration in the birth of
Sri Ramana Maharshi, the great sage whose
presence will guide us out of our ignorance
to wisdom. Although the body has died, the
truth which is Bhagavan, our own Self, lives
eternally.
Sri Bhagavan’s Jayanti was celebrated at Sri Ramanasramam and other centers around the world on 25th Dec, 2007.
Below is an article about the significance of celebrating Bhagavan’s Jayanti.
Page 5 Saranagathi
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Prashanth Visweswaran, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]
Sri Swami Ramanananda 1914 – 2007
It is with great sadness that we convey the news of
Sri Swami Ramanananda‟s passing away. He was Sri
Bhagavan‟s nephew i.e. Sri Niranjananandaswami‟s
son and served the ashram from 1938 till his
retirement in 1994 as President of Sri
Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai.
His devotion and faith in Sri Bhagavan was complete.
One of his oft-repeated phrases was, “A 60-foot
circle of Bhagavan‟s protective grace is around me
always!” Swamiji was a fearless warrior and
underwent testing times to make the ashram a fully
functioning organization, after Sri Bhagavan‟s
mahanirvana. A true karma yogi, Swamiji served the
ashram in many capacities. As he would say he was
“an all rounder”, overseeing activities as diverse as
construction of ashram guesthouses, boundary wall
and other buildings, resolving legal matters that the
ashram has faced, managing the ashram finances
and even deciding the daily kitchen menu! His
attention to detail and diligence in carrying out any
task was something to be emulated.
Every letter to the ashram had to be stamped with
the date of receipt and the reply mailed the same
day as “this was the way Sri Bhagavan did it”. One of
his lesser known skills, was his ability to act out
eLibrary Updates
Please visit the following links which have been recently added to the eLibrary
Sri Vidya Homam Pictures http://sriramanamaharshi.org/srividya.html
Swami Ramanananda‟s Aradhana http://sriramanamaharshi.org/swamiramanananda.html
accurately the way Sri Bhagavan would talk and
interact with devotees on given occasions,
something which brought tears of joy to the
onlooker‟s eyes.
One will for sure miss Swamiji‟s smiling face, his
sense of humor and kindness towards one and
all who visited the ashram. Sri Bhagavan has
taken unto Himself his child, one whose very
birth was due to His blessing, to fulfill Mother
Alagamma‟s prayer that the family lineage may
continue.
On 26th December, one day after participating in
Sri Bhagavan‟s Jayanti function, Swamiji passed
away peacefully at 8.30pm.
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
Saranagathi
Dear Devotees,
With Sri Bhagavan‟s Grace we are pleased to
publish this eNewsletter from Sri
Ramanasramam‟s website. The purpose is to
bring together devotees of Sri Bhagavan from
across the world.
Saranagathi, a monthly eNewsletter, is being
developed to help devotees share their
experiences, about satsangh, meetings and other
events that are held within various centers of
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi around the world.
It is proposed to have one feature article for each
issue. The feature article would focus on events
that happened during the years between 1879
and 1950 as captured in popular books like Talks
Purpose
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Purpose 1
Sri Niranjanananda Swami 2/3
Sri Vidya Havan – A Report from Sri Ramanasramam 3
Sri Chakra Meru 4
with Sri Ramana Maharshi, Letters from Sri
Ramanasramam and others, which are available for
download from the ashram website.
Our earnest request, to all devotees, satsangh
groups and centers is to share with us their events,
stories and experiences. Please email them to
Ever Truly In Sri Bhagavan,
President
Sri Ramanansramam.
Tiruvannamalai, India.
MARCH 2008
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3
By Publisher
Grace If towards the Lord you take one single step,
then with much more than a mother‟s love
He takes nine steps towards you to accept you.
Such is Guru‟s Grace.
- Garland of Guru‟s Sayings by Sri Muruganar
Page 2 Saranagathi
Sri Niranjanananda Swami
An extract from Timeless in Time - Sri Ramana
Maharshi - A Biography by A.R.Natarajan
An Extract from „Letters from Sri Ramanasramam‟
Continued on Page 3
path and that they should not under any
circumstances be requested for financial support.
Hence Niranjanananda Swami had to complete the
task little by little, with great patience and
exceptional single-mindedness. He went to Burma
to get the best teakwood and to other places to
procure quality materials. The services of an
outstanding sthapati (authority on temple
architecture) Vaidyanatha Sthapati were engaged
to be in charge of the construction. It was a labour
of love to one who had given birth to the world
teacher.
It is also to his credit that the house in which
Ramana was born in Tiruchuzhi and the house at
which he became an enlightened one in Madurai
were acquired through his efforts. In one sense his
most important service was to ensure that the
ashram extended hospitality and solicitude to the
devotees and the visitors. He would take care that
they were well fed. Another important aspect was
his keenness to ensure that the works of Ramana
be available at affordable prices. „The Collected
Works of Ramana‟ in Tamil, „Who am I?‟, in many
languages, the first biography of Ramana, „Sat
Darsanam‟, „Maharshi‟s Gospel‟, were all brought
out by him. As a result the ashram became an
active centre for spreading Ramana‟s teachings.
What marked him out was his total surrender to
Ramana whom he regarded as the Supreme One.
He had renounced family life and hitched his life to
Ramana even while he was at Skandasramam. The
old devotees were unanimous in affirming that he
regarded his job as an assignment given to him by
From 1929 to the beginning of 1953, the
management of Sri Ramanasramam was headed
by Niranjanananda Swami. He was the younger
brother of Ramana. This by itself perhaps would
have been sufficient for reverential obeisance to
him. During this period there was phenomenal
growth of the ashram. When he took over, there
were only two huts and Ramana‟s hall. Gradually
various buildings including the dining hall which
is the biggest in structure, came up. The
pinnacle of his achievement was the construction
of Matrubhuteswara temple, the grand edifice
over Mother Azhagammal‟s samadhi. The
construction, which began on September 1,
1931, took nearly ten years to complete. For
Ramana had imposed a strict injunction against
raising of any funds in his name or that of the
ashram. Ramana‟s position was that devotees
came to him for solace and counsel on the inner
The Aradhana of Sri Niranjanananda Swami, Sri Bhagavan‟s brother and former Sarvadhikari of Sri
Ramanasramam, was celebrated at his samadhi on January 22nd, 2008 with special abhishekam and puja.
The following article presents a brief sketch of his life, service and devotion to Sri Bhagavan and his many
contributions to Sri Ramanasramam.
Page 3 Saranagathi
Continued from Page 2
A day prior to his Mahasamadhi, on January 28,
1953, he called his successor T.N.Venkataraman,
his family and ashram devotees and said,
“Everything belongs to Bhagavan and should be
guarded with care and vigilance. Devote yourself
heart and soul to the service of the Lord and in
return he will shower his grace on you. Be sincere
and truthful to the core of your being.”
His samadhi is located in the ashram directly
opposite the Matrubhuteswara temple in line with
the sanctum-sanctorum.
Ramana to be executed in an attitude of surrender.
“Above all his absolute dedication to Bhagavan and
his unwavering faith were his mainstay and
support”.
It is said that he was excessively strict particularly
in enforcing the rule that in exchange for free food
the inmates should do service to the ashram, be it
in the office, kitchen, garden or elsewhere. He was
so firm on this that it is said on one occasion
Ramana had to humorously intercede on behalf of
„Sama Thatha‟ by referring to the pension rules of
the government.
Sri Vidya Havan
On January 30th, 2008 Sri Vidya Havan was performed at Sri Ramanasramam in Tiruvannamalai. This
annual havan commemorates the commencement of the worship of the Sri Chakra Meru consecrated by
the touch of Sri Bhagavan.
A report from Sri Ramanasramam.
Page 4 Saranagathi
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Prashanth Visweswaran, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]
Bhagavan was deeply interested in the construction
of the Shrine built over his Mother‟s tomb. He
attended every function in connection with it,
placing his hands in blessing on the various objects
that were to be enclosed in the walls. At night,
when no one was about he would walk round and
round the construction consecrating it. That he
should take such a demonstrative part in anything
has a very deep significance. It was extremely rare
and has been doubted by many, but I myself was an
eye-witness to these things and can vouch for their
truth.
He took a personal interest in the cutting of the Sri
Chakra Meru in granite which was installed in the
completed temple and is regularly worshipped. This
is about one and a half feet square and
proportionately high. At the time of the
Kumbhabhishekam, on the penultimate night
before the sacred water was poured over the
images, he personally superintended the
installation in the inner shrine. It was an extremely
hot night and with three charcoal retorts for
melting the cement adding to the heat, it must have
been intolerable inside the airless cave of the inner
shrine, but for about an hour and a half Bhagavan
sat there telling the workmen what to do.
On the last night of the function he went in
procession, opening the doors of the new Hall and
temple and passing straight up into the Inner
Shrine, where he stood for some five minutes with
both hands laid on the Sri Chakra in blessing. I
Sri Chakra Meru
happened that night to be at his side the whole
time; this was unusual as I deliberately avoided
taking prominent part in such things, preferring
to watch from the back. Strangely, something
made me keep by him on this occasion and on
account of this I was able to understand his
deep interest in the Temple and especially in
the Sri Chakra. It was because of this knowledge
that I was instrumental after Bhagavan‟s
passing, in persuading the Ashram authorities
to institute the Sri Chakra Poojas six times a
month. The explanation for this unusual action
on Bhagavan‟s part may be found in the
necessity that Siva must be always accompanied
by Shakti. The world would stop otherwise. On
the only occasion when such a Pooja was
performed shortly after the dedication of the
Temple during the life of Bhagavan, he refused
to go for his evening meal but insisted on
remaining a witness of it until the end. When
someone remarked how magnificent it had been
and it would be good thing if such Poojas could
be performed regularly, “Yes,” replied Bhagavan,
“but who will take the trouble?” The trouble is
being taken now and it undoubtedly has the
blessings of Bhagavan.
The following extract is from A Sadhu‟s Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi by Sadhu Arunachala (Major
A.W.Chadwick). It describes in detail how Sri Bhagavan has blessed the Sri Chakra Meru installed in the
Mathrubhuteswara temple.
Sri Chakra Meru
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya Saranagathi
Dear Devotees,
With Sri Bhagavan’s Grace we are pleased to publish this eNewsletter from Sri Ramanasramam’s website. The purpose is to bring together devotees of Sri Bhagavan from across the world.
Saranagathi, a monthly eNewsletter, is being developed to help devotees share their experiences, about satsangs, meetings and other events that are held within various centers of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi around the world.
It is proposed to have one feature article for each issue. The feature article would focus on events that happened during the years between 1879 and 1950 as captured in popular books like Talks
Purpose INSIDE THIS ISSUE Purpose 1
The Teaching in Silence 2
Sivaratri - A Report from Sri Ramanasramam 2/3
Conducting a Ramana Satsang 3
Inner Path – Giripradakshina 4
with Sri Ramana Maharshi, Letters from Sri Ramanasramam and others, which are available for download from the ashram website.
Our earnest request, to all devotees, satsang groups and centers is to share with us their events, stories and experiences. Please email them to [email protected]
Ever Truly In Sri Bhagavan,
President
APRIL 2008VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
By Publisher
Because we think we are the body We imagine that Heaven exists
Somewhere, afar. The pure, bright world Of Siva is not a place to go to.
Nowhere but in your heart alone It is.
- Garland of Guru’s Sayings (194) by Sri Muruganar
The Kingdom of God
Page 2 Saranagathi
The Teaching in SilenceAn extract from At the Feet of Bhagavan - Leaves from the Diary of Sri T.K. Sundaresa Iyer
Continued on Page 3
stillness! He sat still, and all sat still, waiting. The clock went on striking, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, one, two and three. Sri Bhagavan sat and they sat. Stillness, calmness, motionlessness - not conscious of the body, of space or time. Thus eight hours were passed in Peace, in Silence, in Being, as It is. Thus was the Divine Reality taught through the speech of Silence by Bhagavan Sri Ramana Dakshinamurthi. At the stroke of 4 a.m. Sri Bhagavan quietly said: "And now have you known the essence of the Dakshinamurthi Hymn". All the devotees stood and made pranam to the holy Form of the Guru in the ecstasy of their Being.
It was a Sivaratri Day. The evening worships at the Mother's shrine were over. The devotees had their dinner with Sri Bhagavan, who was now on His seat, the devotees at His feet sitting around Him. At 8 p.m. one of the Sadhus stood up, did pranam (offered obeisance), and with folded hands prayed: "Today is the Sivaratri Day; we should be highly blessed by Sri Bhagavan expounding to us the meaning of the Hymn to Dakshinamurti (stotra)." Says Bhagavan: "Yes, sit down." The Sadhu sat, and all eagerly looked at Sri Bhagavan and Sri Bhagavan looked at them. Sri Bhagavan sat and sat in His usual pose, no, poise. No words, no movement, and all was
Sivaratri A report from Sri Ramanasramam.
Sivaratri is a sacred day for all devotees of Siva.Siva is worshipped as the Supreme Reality inhis formless aspect as also with formrepresented by the linga. This year it occurred on 6th March and wascelebrated at the Ashram as usual with four special pujas, preceded by abhishekamsthroughout the night. Ekadasa Rudra parayanawas also done before the third puja. It was an unforgettable experience fordevotees who kept vigil throughout the nightand went round the Hill.
Special Puja at Sri Bhagavan’s Shrine on Sivaratri.
Page 3 Saranagathi
Continued from Page 2
The following verse selected by Sri Bhagavanfrom the Puranas explains the significance ofSivaratri. The first day on which Lord Siva Himself took
The form of the Mountain-Linga called Lord Arunachala, was Arudra in month of
Margazhi. And that day when Lord Vishnu and the Devas worshipped Him,
From out of the effulgence taking birth, Was Sivaratri in the Masi month.
Rudram chanting at Sri Bhagavan’s Shrine.
Conducting a Ramana SatsangA Guideline – Response to an email request. Ramana Satsang’s are observed by like-minded devotees across the world, and below is an attempt to describe the usual program across North America. These are usually conducted bi-weekly or monthly by a group of devotees living within travelling ‘radius’, either at a devotee’s home or at a temple, equidistant to many. The 1½ to 2 hour program starts off with chanting Sri Bhagavan’s works, namely the popular and enchanting ‘Aksharamanamalai’ followed by ‘Upadesa Saram’ and ‘Arunachala Pancharatnam’ to delve on Maharshi’s teachings. Reading from Bhagavan books is also a clear favorite for many devotees. Some groups choose to read any of the Ashram publications from cover to cover over the course of several satsangs or sometimes they prefer to read excerpts from books like ‘Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi’ or ‘Letters from Sri Ramanasramam’. It is strongly felt that reading is an ideal tool to
reminisce about the life of Sri Bhagavan, His devotees, His ashram and enjoy the “naturalness of Bhagavan which was as striking as His grandeur”. A short period of meditation is usually followed by reading about Bhagavan’s teachings from books like ‘Maharshi’s Gospel’ or ‘Who Am I?’. Some satsang groups conduct a short program for children called ‘Bala Ramana’ while the adults meditate and read. The children listen to stories about Bhagavan’s life and also learn short songs or slokas. This is followed by arati and a potluck lunch/dinner ‘prasad’, A pdf file containing many of the usual satang program items, are available for download, by clicking on the link below. Satsangh Program
Page 4 Saranagathi
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Prashanth Visweswaran, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]
The purpose of this article is to explain to devotees how to follow a route for Pradakshina on the Inner Path that avoids going through downtown Tiruvannamalai in the last 1/3 of the route. The traditional route for the Inner Path normally joins up with the Outer Path about 2/3 of the way through and immerses one in the hustle and bustle of town, which I find is often an unpleasantly jarring contrast to the peaceful, natural setting of the Inner Path up to that point. Instead of going through the business district of town in the final leg of the route, this route takes you through the Pavala Kundru (Coral Hills) residential neighborhood on the slope of Arunachala.
I find that the generally more peaceful environment and welcoming, cheerful attitude of the residents of Pavala Kundru makes the experience of Pradakshina considerably more pleasant, and makes it easier to maintain the momentum of stillness generated by the Inner Path up to that point. This way of doing Pradakshina really lives up to the name “Inner Path”, both physically and spiritually. It has the added bonus of taking you through Virupaksha Cave and Skandashram–a fitting finale to the intimate communion with Arunachala that is experienced through the Inner Path.
The full instructions for following this route are too lengthy to include here, download pdf file below for more details by clicking on link below.
Inner Pradakshina Instructions
Inner Path – Giri Pradakshina By Peter Berking (Washington, D.C. Area Satsang Group)
Inner Path around Arunachala
Rugged terrain and nature at its best.
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
Saranagathi
Dear Devotees,
With Sri Bhagavan‟s Grace we are pleased to
publish this eNewsletter from Sri
Ramanasramam‟s website. The purpose is to
bring together devotees of Sri Bhagavan from
across the world.
Saranagathi, a monthly eNewsletter, is being
developed to help devotees share their
experiences, about satsangs, meetings and other
events that are held within various centers of
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi around the world.
It is proposed to have one feature article for each
issue. The feature article would focus on events
that happened during the years between 1879
and 1950 as captured in popular books like Talks
Purpose INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Purpose 1
Mahasamadhi of Sri Bhagavan in April, 1950 2
8.47pm on April 14th, 2008 3
with Sri Ramana Maharshi, Letters from Sri
Ramanasramam and others, which are available for
download from the ashram website.
Our earnest request, to all devotees, satsang
groups and centers is to share with us their events,
stories and experiences. Please email them to
Ever Truly In Sri Bhagavan,
President
Sri Ramanansramam.
Tiruvannamalai, India.
MAY 2008
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5
By Publisher
Believing that the body is
Oneself, one dreads the body‟s death.
Enquiring “What dies?”, “Who am I?”
One dies into the Self. How else
But through the ego‟s death can one
Gain immortality. - Garland of Guru‟s Sayings (228) by Sri Muruganar
True Immortality
Page 2 Saranagathi
Mahasamadhi of Sri Bhagavan in April, 1950
An extract from Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self-Knowledge by Arthur Osborne
wave of his right hand he motioned him away.
There were about a dozen persons in the small
room, doctors and attendants.
Two of the attendants were fanning him, and the
devotees outside gazed spell-bound at the moving
fans through the window, a sign that there was still
a living body to fan. A reporter of a large American
magazine moved about restlessly, uneasy at
having been impressed despite himself and
determined not to write his story till he got away
from Tiruvannamalai to conditions that he
considered normal. With him was a French press-
photographer.
Unexpectedly, a group of devotees sitting on the
veranda outside the hall began singing
„Arunachala-Siva‟ (Aksharamanamalai). On hearing
it, Sri Bhagavan‟s eyes opened and shone. He gave
a brief smile of indescribable tenderness. From the
outer edges of his eyes tears of bliss rolled down.
One more deep breath, no more. There was no
struggle, no spasm, no other sign of death: only
that the next breath did not come.
For a few moments people stood bewildered. The
singing continued. The French press-photographer
came up to me and asked at what precise minute it
had happened. Resenting it as journalistic
callousness, I replied brusquely that I did not
know, and then I suddenly recalled Sri Bhagavan‟s
unfailing courtesy and answered precisely that it
was 8.47. He said, and I could hear now that he
was excited, that he had been pacing the road
outside and at that very moment an enormous star
had trailed slowly across the sky. Many had seen it,
even as far away as Madras, and felt what it
portended. It passed to the north-east towards the
peak of Arunachala.
On Thursday, April 13th, a doctor brought Sri
Bhagavan a palliative to relieve the congestion
in the lungs but he refused it. “It is not
necessary; everything will come right within two
days.”
That night he bade his attendants go and sleep
or meditate and leave him alone.
On Friday the doctors and attendants knew it
was the last day. In the morning he again bade
them go and meditate. About noon, when liquid
food was brought for him, he asked the time,
punctual as ever, but then added, “But
henceforth time doesn‟t matter.”
Delicately expressing recognition of their long
years of service, he said to the attendants, “The
English have a word „thanks‟ but we only say
santhosham (I am pleased).”
In the morning the long crowd filed past the
open doorway silent with grief and
apprehension, and again between four and five
in the evening. The disease-racked body they
saw there was shrunken, the ribs protruding,
the skin blackened, it was a pitiable vestige of
pain. And yet at some time during these last few
days each devotee received a direct, luminous,
penetrating look of recognition which he felt as
a parting infusion of Grace.
After darshan that evening the devotees did not
disperse to their homes. Apprehension held
them there. At about sunset Sri Bhagavan told
the attendants to sit him up. They knew already
that every movement, every touch was painful,
but he told them not to worry about that. He sat
with one of the attendants supporting his head.
A doctor began to give him oxygen but with a
Page 3 Saranagathi
The anniversary of Sri Bhagavan‟s Brahma
Nirvana is usually celebrated on Chaitra Krishna
Paksha Trayodasi (April-May) reckoning the day
according to the Souramana (solar) system of the
Hindu calendar. For the last few years it is also
observed according to the Gregorian calendar,
that is, on 14th April, the day Bhagavan left His
body.
For the last few years it is also observed
according to the Gregorian calendar, that is, on
14th April, the day Bhagavan left His body. Sri
Bhagavan‟s Aksharamanamalai was chanted by a
large number of devotees before the Nirvana
room on 14th April this year between 8.15pm
and 9pm. This chanting movingly re-enacted the
scene of the very same day in 1950, when
devotees present chanted the hymn in the
minutes before Bhagavan‟s Brahma Nirvana.
8.47pm on April 14th, 2008.
A report from Sri Ramanasramam.
Devotees in front of Nirvana Room.
Nirvana room.
Sri Bhagavan's Decorated Picture.
View of Nirvana Room with Devotees reciting Akshramanamalai.
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Prashanth Visweswaran, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
Saranagathi
Dear Sri Bhagavan Devotees,
With Sri Bhagavan‟s Blessings we are pleased to
publish the June 2008 Saranagathi issue.
The month of May was one of intense activity at
Sri Ramanasramam. We celebrated both Sri
Bhagavan and Mother Alagamma‟s Aradhana.
We got many reports of His Aradhana
celebrations, from around the world. The Ashram
and Tiruvannamalai received few „welcome‟
showers followed by long periods of hot weather,
like the rest of South India.
The focus of the June issue of Saranagathi is on
Sri Bhagavan‟s mother, Alagamma. Her faith and
devotion to Sri Bhagavan was immense. She
stayed with Sri Bhagavan at Virupaksha cave and
later at Skandashram. Sri Ramanasramam, in its
This Issue CONTENTS
This Issue 1
Destiny & Free Will 1
The Mother 2
A Devotee’s Experience 5
‘Linga Pratishta’ at Swami Ramananandha’s Samadhi 7
current form has grown primarily around her
samadhi. In this issue we publish a short biography
of Mother Alagamma, Vijay Krishnasamy‟s moving
and inspiring email from Australia and a report on
„Linga Pratishta‟ at Swami Ramanananda‟s samadhi.
We look forward to hearing from you, about your
satsangs and experiences. Please send your emails
Ever Truly In Sri Bhagavan,
Editorial Team.
JUNE 2008
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 6
The Ordainer controls the fate of souls
in accordance with their prarabdhakarma.
Whatever is destined not to happen will not
happen, try as you may. Whatever is destined
to happen will happen, do what you may to prevent it.
This is certain. The best course, therefore, is to remain silent. - Sri Bhagavan‟s written answer to His Mother.
Destiny & Free Will
Page 2 Saranagathi
The Mother
An extract from Ramana Maharshi & The Path
of Self-Knowledge by Sri Arthur Osborne
Nagamma
in Liberation from the delirium of life. Needless to
say, Alagammal recovered. She returned to
Manamadura, but after this prayer circumstances
conspired to draw her back from the life of the
world to that of the Ashram. The family house at
Tiruchuzhi had been sold to meet debts and pay
necessary expenses. Her brother-in-law,
Nelliappier, had died, leaving the family in none
too easy circumstances. In 1915 the wife of her
youngest son, Nagasundaram, died, leaving a
young son who was adopted by his aunt Alamelu,
now married. Alagammal began to feel that the
only place left for her in her old age was with her
Swami son. Early in 1916 she went to
Tiruvannamalai.
At first she stayed for a few days with Echammal.
Some of the devotees were against her staying with
Sri Bhagavan, fearing that he might leave his abode
in silent protest, as he had left home in 1896.
However, there was a great difference, for now it
was she who had renounced home, not he who
was detained there. The majesty of Sri Bhagavan
was so awe-inspiring that, despite his gracious
manner, when a question like this arose as to what
he would wish none presumed to ask him directly.
Even if any did he might sit unmoved, not replying,
for he had no wishes. The wish for the mother‟s
recovery expressed in his verses is something
quite exceptional. Soon after his mother came to
stay with him, Sri Bhagavan moved from
Virupaksha to Skandashram, a little higher up the
hill and directly above Virupaksha. This is a much
more spacious cave and was constructed for him
to occupy. Finding a damp patch of rock there he
rightly guessed that there must be a concealed
spring. This was released by digging and yielded a
perennial flow of water, enough for all Ashram
needs, even for a small garden that was made in
front of the Cave. The mother began to prepare
meals, and so began a new epoch in Ashram life.
Wishing to draw her younger son also to the
Ashram, Alagammal sent a devotee to summon
Shortly after Sri Bhagavan‟s mother returned
from her unsuccessful attempt to win him back
to her in 1900, she lost her eldest son. Two
years later the youngest son, Nagasundaram,
still only a lad of seventeen, went to
Tiruvannamalai for the first time to see his
Swami brother. So overcome was he that he
embraced him and wept aloud; Sri Bhagavan sat
silent, unmoved. The mother came once for a
brief visit on her return from a pilgrimage to
Benares.
In 1914 she went on a pilgrimage to
Venkataramanaswami Shrine at Tirupati and
again stayed at Tiruvannamalai on her way
back. This time she fell ill there and suffered
severely for several weeks with symptoms of
typhoid. Sri Bhagavan tended her with great
solicitude. The verses he composed during her
sickness are the only instance known of any
prayer of his to influence the course of events.
Oh Lord! Hill of my refuge, who curest the ills of
recurrent births, it is for Thee to cure my
mother‟s fever. Oh God who slayest death!
Reveal Thy feet in the Heart-Lotus of her who
bore me to take refuge at Thy Lotus-Feet, and
shield her from death. What is death if
scrutinised? Arunachala, Thou blazing fire of
Knowledge! Enfold my mother in Thy Light and
make her one with Thee. What need then for
cremation? Arunachala, Dispeller of illusion!
Why dost Thou delay to dispel my mother‟s
delirium? Is there any but Thee to watch as a
Mother over one who has sought refuge in Thee
and to rescue from the tyranny of karma?
Ostensibly a prayer for the mother to be saved
from her fever, this was in reality a prayer to
save her also from the vaster fever of illusion
and gather her back into Oneness with the Self
Continued on Page 3
Page 3 Saranagathi
him there. He gave up the job he had at
Tiruvengadu and went to live at Tiruvannamalai. At
first he stayed in town, taking food at the house of
some friend or other and daily visiting the Ashram.
Before long he took the vow of renunciation and
donned the ochre robe under the name of
Niranjanananda Swami, although he was more
often known familiarly as „Chinnaswami‟, the „Little
Swami‟, through being the brother of the Swami.
For a while he still went daily to beg his food in
town, but then it seemed incongruous to the
devotees that the Swami‟s own brother should go
and beg when there was food for all at the Ashram
and he was prevailed upon so settle there.
To return to the mother: it was a severe training
that she received. Often enough Sri Bhagavan
would ignore her, not answering when she spoke,
although he took notice of others. If she
complained he would say, “All women are my
mothers, not you only.” One is reminded of
Christ‟s saying when he was told that his mother
and brothers were standing at the edge of the
crowd, waiting to speak to him, “Whoever does the
will of my Father Who is in heaven is my brother
and sister and mother.” At first Sri Bhagavan‟s
mother would often weep with vexation but
gradually understanding developed in her. The
feeling of superiority in being the mother of the
Swami fell away, the sense of ego was weakened
and she devoted herself to the service of the
devotees.
Even now, he would still make fun of her orthodox
scruples. If her sari happened to touch a non-
Brahmin he would exclaim in mock consternation:
“Look! Purity is gone! Religion is gone!” The
Ashram food was strictly vegetarian, but
Alagammal, like some very devout Brahmins, went
still further and considered some vegetables also
unsattvic (impure), and Sri Bhagavan would say
mockingly: “Mind that onion! It is a great obstacle
to Moksha (Deliverance)!” It should be said here
that Sri Bhagavan did not disapprove of orthodoxy
in general. In this case there was excessive
attachment to the forms of orthodoxy and that
was what he attacked. In general he laid stress on
the importance of sattvic (pure) food. He did not
often give any injunctions at all concerning outer
activity; his usual method was to sow the spiritual
seed in the heart and leave it to shape the outer
life as it grew. The injunctions came from within.
One Western devotee was an out-and-out meat-
eater when he arrived, looking upon meat as the
real substance of a meal as well as the most tasty
part, and, with no word spoken on the subject, the
time came when he felt an aversion to the very
idea of eating meat.
There were other ways also in which the mother
was made to realize that he who had been born
her son was a Divine Incarnation. Once as she sat
before him he disappeared and she saw instead a
lingam (column) of pure light. Thinking this to
mean that he had discarded his human form, she
burst into tears, but soon the lingam vanished and
he reappeared as before. On another occasion she
saw him garlanded and surrounded with serpents
like the conventional representations of Siva. She
cried to him: “Send them away! I am frightened of
them!” After this she begged him to appear to her
henceforth only in his human form. The purpose of
the visions had been served; she had realized that
the form she knew and loved as her son was as
illusory as any other he might assume.
In 1920 the health of the mother began to fail. She
was able to work less in the service of the Ashram
and was obliged to rest more. During her illness Sri
Bhagavan attended on her constantly, often sitting
up at night with her. In silence and meditation her
understanding matured. The end came in 1922 on
the festival of Bahula Navami, which fell that year
on May 19th. Sri Bhagavan and a few others waited
on her the whole day without eating. About sunset
a meal was prepared and Sri Bhagavan asked the
others to go and eat, but he himself did not. In the
evening a group of devotees sat chanting the
Vedas beside her while others invoked the name of
Ram. For more than two hours she lay there, her
chest heaving and her breath coming in loud
gasps, and all this while Sri Bhagavan sat beside
Continued on Page 4
Page 4 Saranagathi
her, his right hand on her heart and his left on her
head. This time there was no question of
prolonging life but only of quieting the mind so
that death could be Mahasamadhi, absorption in
the Self.
At eight o‟clock in the evening she was finally
released from the body. Sri Bhagavan immediately
rose, quite cheerful. “Now we can eat,” he said;
“come along, there is no pollution.” There was deep
meaning in this. A Hindu death entails ritualistic
pollution calling for purificatory rites, but this had
not been a death but a reabsorption. There was no
disembodied soul but perfect Union with the Self
and therefore no purificatory rites were needed.
Some days later Sri Bhagavan confirmed this: when
someone referred to the passing away of the
mother he corrected him curtly, “She did not pass
away, she was absorbed.” Describing the process
afterwards, he said: “Innate tendencies and the
subtle memory of past experiences leading to
future possibilities became very active. Scene after
scene rolled before her in the subtle
consciousness, the outer senses having already
gone. The soul was passing through a series of
experiences, thus avoiding the need for rebirth and
making possible Union with the Spirit. The soul
was at last disrobed of the subtle sheaths before it
reached the final Destination, the Supreme Peace of
Liberation from which there is no return to
ignorance.” Potent as was the aid given by Sri
Bhagavan, it was the saintliness of Alagammal, her
previous renunciation of pride and attachment,
that enabled her to benefit by it.
Often when devotees suffered bereavement Sri
Bhagavan reminded them that it is only the body
that dies and only the I-am-the-body illusion that
makes death seem a tragedy. Now, at the time of
his own bereavement, he showed no grief
whatever. The whole night he and the devotees sat
up singing devotional songs. This indifference to
his mother‟s physical death is the real commentary
on his prayer at the time of her previous sickness.
The question arose of the disposal of the body.
There was the testimony of Bhagavan himself that
she had been absorbed into the Self and not remained
to be reborn to the illusion of ego, but some doubt
was felt whether the body of a woman Saint should be
given burial instead of being cremated. Then it was
recalled that in 1917 this very point had formed part
of a series of questions put to Sri Bhagavan by
Ganapati Sastri and his party and that he had answered
affirmatively. “Since Jnana (Knowledge) and Mukti
(Deliverance) do not differ with the difference of sex,
the body of a woman Saint also need not be burnt. Her
body also is the abode of God.”
Sri Bhagavan with His Mother
Sri Bhagavan stood silently looking on without
participating. The body of the mother was interred at
the foot of the hill at the southern point, between the
Palitirtham Tank and the Dakshinamurti Mantapam
(shrine). Relatives and friends arrived for the ceremony
and large crowds came from the town. Sacred ashes,
camphor, incense, were thrown into the pit around the
body before it was filled up. A stone tomb was
constructed and on it was installed a sacred lingam
brought from Benares.
Later a temple was raised on the spot, finally
completed in 1949 and known as Matrubhuteswara
Temple, the Temple of God Manifested as the Mother.
As the coming of the mother had marked an epoch in
Ashram life, so also did her departure. Instead of
being checked, the development increased. There were
devotees who felt that, as Shakti or Creative Energy,
her presence was more potent now than before. On
one occasion Sri Bhagavan said: “Where has she gone?
She is here.”
Page 5 Saranagathi
I have been living in Sydney for over a decade now. I have a loving family with two beautiful little
children by Bhagavan‟s blessings. I have been contemplating for a while on writing my thoughts and
experiences on Bhagavan in the Ashram Newsletter. Although I love reading spiritual literature, I
haven‟t written such articles before. What inspired me today is an article in one of the newsletters
about Sri Niranjanananda Swami (better known as „Sarvadhikari‟, the task master, to many of us) and
Sri Muruganar‟s writing from the Garland of Guru‟s sayings, which reads, “Those on whom the Guru‟s
Glance of Grace Has Fallen Are Like the Deer Caught in a Tiger‟s Jaw..”. I know there are so many
religious scholars and sincere Bhagavan devotees, who are better qualified than me to write about
Bhagavan as a „Jnani‟. Many can explain better that he is „Antharyami‟, „Ati ashrami‟ or a „Jivan-Muktha‟
who lived in mortal coil. To be honest, I have done little bhakti or yoga so far, even though I respect
and admire such sadhakas. In spite of my materialistic desires, shortcomings and vasanas in this birth,
I dare to call Bhagavan, „Appa‟, from the bottom of my heart. May be that is the only merit I had and
have.
People may laugh at me or call me „dushta‟, if I tell them that as a young lad I used to walk around our
colony in Madras, with a long stick (silambu) in one hand. I used to call myself „Lakshmana‟, who is
here to protect my father, family and friends, from anyone who comes to harm them in any way (even
though love and friendship has been my basic nature). As an adult I have always considered myself a
strong person and I worked hard to reach where I am, until August 2005. What happened to me then in
terms of my personal experiences, associated mental turbulence and emotions for the next one year,
were too much for me to bear. It was proved to me that one of my most trusted and intimate friend had
been betraying me badly for 4 continuous years. I shared quite a lot of this with my wife, but still
couldn‟t tell everything. During this time I have stood in front of Bhagavan‟s photo alone and cried
many times. I spoke to Him and asked Him many questions while driving, walking in the streets and
around my office building in Sydney, as if He was coming next to me (don‟t know how many took me
for a lunatic). I even fought with Bhagavan in my mind, got angry few times and refused to see His face
in any of His photos in my house for a week until one day I came to pick up the phone hearing it ring.
My eyes fell on a book about Bhagavan, kept next to the phone by my wife. She didn‟t know about the
hard „viradham‟ I was keeping for the last one week by not looking at Bhagavan‟s photo. That book‟s
cover had my favourite photo of Bhagavan. There He was, looking at me with His most compassionate,
radiant and loving look, which I can never get in any life time from any earthly father. I broke down,
took his book and locked myself in my room kissing His forehead in the photo. Next thing I heard was
my wife shouting that I don‟t even pick up a phone call at home. My stress level was high by then.
After a month or so, one night I was feeling exhausted. It was around 11:30 pm on a week day. I was
sitting alone in my lounge room on my couch in the dark. My wife and children were asleep. It was
raining heavily outside and I could hear the thunder and see the lightning in the sky through my
house‟s French doors. I got up, went forward and stood in front of Bhagavan‟s photo kept in the pelmet
of my lounge room (which I couldn‟t see clearly in the dark). I closed my eyes and stood there with
folded hands for some time (maybe I went into a micro sleep or something, I don‟t know). Suddenly I
felt as if a cloud of mist or something similar crawling through my back from my leg to the shoulder.
Vijay Krishnasamy‟s email from Sydney, Australia.
Continued on Page 6
Page 6 Saranagathi
My body started to tremble. I think I half opened my eyes and saw (a kind of) snow white light or rays
filling a portion of my lounge room. My mind took it for the light of lightning spreading through the
gaps of my home‟s entrance doors into my lounge room. All I remember after that was that I went
straight to bed and slept peacefully until next morning. Honestly, I don‟t know what exactly happened
that night, but the cloud of disturbances started to clear slowly from then on. After that I got many
answers and memories as thoughts and picture patterns in my mind. Deep inside me I felt that what I
had thought of as my achievements so far in life were all because of Bhagavan‟s grace and blessing. All
the turmoil I went through by then were because of my prarabdha and it was Bhagavan‟s grace all
through which reduced the heat of the consequences. It could have been worse for me, for instance
many years ago when I met with a head-on collision, instead of dying, I walked out with a couple of
bruises because of Him. I understood how many times in the past from my childhood till today His
saving Grace has protected me. All my problems got resolved one by one sometime after that. Bhagavan
didn‟t perform any explicit miracles while in His body, but His love and compassion for His devotees is
so intense, that the Divine Will comes into play automatically and protects us or rewards us at the right
time. This happens and will happen beyond time and space for those who take solace in Him
irrespective of their merits.
I took my wife and children to Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai, at the end of 2006. I stayed in the
ashram accommodation given to me for a week or so. While I was in the Ashram I felt as if I had come
back home. My energy levels were very high. I felt like a 20 year old. I went and kissed the big ashram
tree next to the present ashram parking lot, which is standing as a witness to many epics that happened
and are happening in the ashram by Bhagavan‟s grace. I went around every nook and corner of the
ashram, as if I was looking for Bhagavan who went around the ashram grounds for His daily stroll.
Suddenly a thought flashed in my mind as to how fortunate were the people who had lived with
Bhagavan, who saw His loving and radiant face every day and spoke to Him like talking to one‟s father,
even though He was God himself. Then I went to the goshala looking for Lakshmi. I went to the kitchen
looking for Santhamma, Lokamma, Sampuranamma, Subbulakshmiamma, Gowriamma, Ramaswami
Pillai, Krishnaswami and other devotees. I was looking for Kavyakantha Muni, Muruganar, Viswanatha
Brahmachari, Bose and others in the old hall. I found the courage to stand outside the old office building
to see whether Chinnaswami, the Saravadhikari was sitting there, writing dutifully. I was looking for
Annamalai swami, Rangaswami, Sivananda and other sincere attendants of Bhagavan as I walked up to
Skandasramam. I was looking for Madhava Swami, Devaraja Mudaliar, Subbaramayya, Balaram Reddiar,
Major Chadwick and many other sincere devotees in the darshan hall. I looked for the present ashram
president, Mr. V. S. Ramanan, playing there as a small boy, but later found him walking in front of me as
an older man. I did this until Bhagavan told me in my mind, “To look for the one, who is looking for him
and all others there”. Then I sat quietly inside the old hall for some time. As disobedient as I am to my
Appa‟s divine words, I went out again and sat next to the Mahanirvana room and cried for some time.
After the few wonderful days I spent in the ashram, I thanked Dr. Srinivasamurthy and other ashram
authorities with my whole heart for having me there. I then left the sacred shrine and grounds of my
divine father‟s ashram with a sad heart. I know he said, “Where have I gone, I am here, I am with you all”.
But I felt weak within my heart. I now think that I am not as mature or mentally strong as many other
Bhagavan devotees may be. Appa, “please give me the courage to go through the ups and downs of this
and any other life I have, to fulfil my prarabhdha karma, until I reach Your abode by Your Grace”.
Page 7 Saranagathi
The Samadhi of Swami Ramanananda who was
Absorbed in Arunachala on 26th December 2007,
which is situated adjacent to the Samadhi-Shrine
of Niranjanananda Swami, received its final
touches on the 20th May 2008. Installation
(Pratishta) of the Sivalinga was done by Sri Madhu
Stapati, the architect of the Shrine, on 22nd May
and consecration was done on Friday, 23rd May
2008 with due rituals such as Sri Ganapati
Homam, Sri Rudra Homan, Mahanyasa
Rudrabhishekam and Maha Mangala arati, lasting
about two hours.
A large number of Bhagavan‟s devotees were
present and partook of the Prasadam at the end
of the solemn event. A book entitled “In the
Service of Bhagavan” recognizing Sri
Niranjanananda Swami and Swami
Ramanananda‟s service was earlier released at Sri
Bhagavan‟s Samadhi Shrine.
„Linga Pratishta‟ at Swami Ramanananda‟s Samadhi
A report from Sri Ramanasramam.
Aarti at the Samadhi of Swami Ramanananda.
Homam Rituals Being Observed.
Preparing for Linga Pratishta.
Lingam, Nandi and Bali Peedam.
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Prashanth Visweswaran, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
Saranagathi
Dear Sri Bhagavan Devotees,
According to the Tamil calendar this is the year
of „Sarvadhari‟, which occurs every 60 years.
Devotees will be reminded of Sri Bhagavan‟s
composition in June 1948, mentioning
„Sarvadhari‟ as the year Cow Lakshmi attained
„mukti‟ and had the epitaph inscribed on her
samadhi.
At the ashram, on 18th June there was a
celebration at Cow Lakshmi‟s samadhi
observing the 60th anniversary of her „liberation‟
and devotees participated in the function to
receive her blessings.
This issue‟s main focus is on Cow Lakshmi. We
have included reminiscences of Smt. Suri
Nagamma from Letters from & Recollections of
This Issue INSIDE THIS ISSUE
This Issue 1
The Essence of Instruction 1
Cow Lakshmi 2-6
Report from Sri Ramanasramam 6
Sri Ramanasramam to cover three letters that chronicle
Cow Lakshmi‟s biography, liberation and burial.
We look forward to hearing from you, about your
satsangs and experiences. Please send your emails to
us at [email protected].
Ever Truly In Sri Bhagavan,
Editorial Team.
JULY 2008
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7
Action yields fruit,
For so the Lord ordains it.
How can action be the Lord?
It is insentient.
- Upadesa Saram by Sri Bhagavan (Verse 1)
The Essence of Instruction
Page 2 Saranagathi
Cow Lakshmi
An extract from Letters from & Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam by Smt. Suri Nagamma
“Hearing this Ramanatha Brahmachari was piqued
and said with great zest that he himself would look
after the cow. „All right. Hang it round your neck!‟ I
said. As the calf came to us on a Friday, we named
her Lakshmi. Ramanatha somehow tended the cow
and the calf for two or three months.
Lakshmi was very playful, jumping about as she
pleased and, while so doing, she ruined all the
vegetable plants we were growing. If anyone chided
her, she used to come to me for protection. I used to
tell the Asramites that if they so desired, they could
put up a fence to protect their plants. Poor chap!
Ramanatha could not put up with all these troubles
from the other inmates of the Ashram and so handed
over the cow and the calf to a keeper of cattle in the
town with some stipulations. I do not remember his
name.”
A devotee said, “His name is Pasupati. He is a
Kannadiga (from the state of Karnataka). Lakshmi‟s
mother passed away after a short time. The
arrangement was that if Lakshmi gave birth to a male
calf, it should be given to the Ashram and if it were a
female calf he should retain it.” Bhagavan said, “That
might be so. About a year after that, he came here
with Lakshmi and her calf for a bath on an eclipse
day. He saw me first, had a bath in the Pali Tank
along with the cow and its calf and then they went
home together. At that time Lakshmi saw the whole
of this Ashram. Remembering the route carefully she
began coming here everyday. She used to come in
the morning and go away in the evening. She used to
lie down by the side of my couch. She insisted that I
myself should give her fruit. She would not take any
other than the hill plantain.” Someone said, “Before
leaving every evening she used to go round the hall,
it seems?”
The History of Lakshmi the Cow. (195)
24th June, 1948.*
At 4 O‟clock yesterday afternoon, a Tamil youth
came into the hall. On seeing him, a devotee said
that the youth was the grandson of the man who
had presented Lakshmi the cow to the Ashram. “I
see,” said Bhagavan. “Does he know that Lakshmi
passed away?” That youth said, “I have just heard
it, Swami. When I went to the cowshed to see
Lakshmi I was informed of it. I have come here
after seeing the tomb.”
On enquiry, the youth said, “I belong to a village
called Kannamangalam. It is about forty miles
from here. My grandfather Arunachalam Pillai
wanted to present a good milch cow to Bhagavan
and so, in 1926, he brought Lakshmi here along
with her mother. Lakshmi was then barely six
months old. I also came along with them. I was
quite young then. From that time onwards I always
look up Lakshmi whenever I come to this place on
business. I have now heard this sad news.” After
he left, Bhagavan told us the following story: “You
know what happened when they came here with
the cow and the calf. „Why all this for us?‟ I asked.
Arunachalam Pillai replied saying, „I have for a
long time been thinking of presenting Bhagavan
with a cow. I am now in a position to do so. I have
brought it after a good deal of trouble on boat and
rail. Please keep it, Swami.‟ I said, „You have done
your duty in presenting it to us. Who is there to
look after it? Please keep it with you on our
behalf.‟ The owner of the cow replied, „I will not
take it away even if you cut my throat.‟
* The letters have been rearranged in the order of events
to cover Cow Lakshmi‟s biography, liberation and burial. Continued on page 3
Page 3 Saranagathi
Bhagavan replied, “That is the thing. We had no bell in
the dining hall then. We do not know how she did it
but everyday exactly at the appointed time for meals
she used to come and stand before me. We used to
look at the clock and find that that was just the time
for meals. Her coming was the signal for us. She used
to return to town daily most reluctantly.”
On further enquiry, I came to know that Lakshmi came
away permanently to the Ashram in 1930, that she had
three calves by then — all males — and that, as per
agreement, all the calves had been given to the
Ashram. When she was pregnant for the third time,
one evening she was unwilling to leave Bhagavan and
go home, like Nandini1 of Vasishta; she was shedding
tears and lay close to the couch. Bhagavan was visibly
affected and softly passing his hand on her face said,
“What! You say you can‟t go away, and want to stay
here alone? What am I to do?” and, looking at the
others, said, “Look, Lakshmi is weeping saying she
cannot go away. She is pregnant and may have
confinement any moment. She must go a long
distance and again come here in the morning. She
cannot refrain from coming here. What is she to do?”
At last Bhagavan somehow coaxed her and sent her
away. That very night she delivered. About the same
time Pasupati had some domestic difficulties. Unable
to bear the burden of this Lakshmi with all her
vagaries, he brought her and her three calves and
presented them to Bhagavan. Lakshmi lay at
Bhagavan‟s feet and would not rise. Placing his right
hand on her head and pressing it, he asked if she
would like to stay here permanently. She closed her
eyes and lay still as in a trance. Noticing that,
Bhagavan pointed out to the others that she appeared
as though her responsibility for her calves were over,
for they had been placed in Bhagavan‟s charge.
When I narrated this story to Bhagavan he agreed.
“Yes,” he said, “that was so. After Mother came to stay
with me, regular cooking and meals started, and after
Lakshmi came, cattle and dairying became
established. Subsequently, for three or four years
Lakshmi was presenting us with a calf every year on
the Jayanthi day. Afterwards, that practice stopped.
Altogether she had nine deliveries. After Lakshmi
came here to stay, cows from different places were
brought by devotees and left here. So the cattle shed
grew in size. In the beginning, they were tied up here
and there under a thatched shed. When Salem
Sundaram Chetty (Judge) came here, he decided to
construct a Gosala (cowshed) and fixed an auspicious
time for the laying of the foundation stone. Half-an-
hour before appointed time, when everything was
being got ready, Lakshmi broke loose from her tether
and came to me running as though to tell me that a
house was being constructed for her and that I
should be there. When I got up, she led me to the
spot. She did the same for her housewarming
ceremony also. Somehow she used to understand
everything. Very smart indeed!”
The Deliverance of Lakshmi the Cow. (193)
20th June, 1948.*
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
* The letters have been rearranged in the order of events to cover Cow Lakshmi‟s biography, liberation and burial.
1 Nandini was the wish fulfilling cow who lived with the Sage Vasishta.
Continued on page 4
Page 4 Saranagathi
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 and 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.
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
Continued on page 5
* The letters have been rearranged in the order of events to
cover Cow Lakshmi‟s biography, liberation and burial.
Page 5 Saranagathi
(samadhi) must be built for Lakshmi.” Bhagavan then
went away to the hall.
Burial of Lakshmi the Cow (194)
18th June, 1948.*
Thinking of Lakshmi all the time today we had our
usual meal and some rest. When at 2-30 p.m. I went to
the cowshed Bhagavan was already there. We went and
saw the body of Lakshmi. The face did not show any
sign of death. We came back to the hall and sat down.
Till evening Bhagavan was telling us stories about
Lakshmi and was giving instructions to the people
concerned about the arrangements for the burial. “It
was the same thing in the case of Mother. Until the
abhishekam (pouring of the holy water over the body)
was done, the lustre of the face did not fade. The body
could hardly be seen from under the garlands and
camphor that were thrown upon it by people from time
to time. There were bhajans, Nagaswaram music, etc.
all around. We brought the body down at night and
kept it under the pipal tree with the intention of
burying it somewhere near the Pali Tank before
daybreak. There was, however, some delay in bringing
bricks and slaked lime for constructing the tomb.
Meanwhile many people gathered round and put up a
big show. On the tenth day, even shops were newly
opened. Just see what all will happen now.” Always
hearing and feeling that Bhagavan was giving undue
importance to Lakshmi‟s burial, one of the devotees,
Govindarajula Subbarao, said, “We see many instances
here of animals getting deliverance more often than
human beings. Bhagavan has told us several times that
they come here to work out the balance of their karma.
It looks as if they are better looked after by Bhagavan
than ourselves.”
Bhagavan remarked: “Will it be possible to say so in all
instances? Is anybody making all these arrangements
deliberately? And do we have the money for all that?
When the time comes people spontaneously take
up the work and all the required articles come in
automatically. The work is done in a trice.
Sadasiva Iyer came here the day before yesterday;
perhaps he has come specially for this purpose.
He knows the full details of erecting a tomb. He is
there now on the spot, giving all the directions.
He says he will go away tomorrow. It is individual
luck; what can we do? Were it an ordinary animal,
the butcher would drag it away. For this (Lakshmi)
the tomb is going to be erected on a scale equal
to that of a Mahatma. Look at this white peacock.
How many peacocks have come and gone? They
are different from this one. This goes about
meekly and mixes freely with all people. Where is
Baroda and where is Arunachala? It was born
there and has come here. Who wanted it?” said
Bhagavan.
Towards the hill side and near the dispensary, the
tombs of a deer, a crow and a dog were erected
long ago. Now a pit was dug near them and the work for the construction of the tomb was begun.
All was ready by 6 p.m. People had come in large
numbers. Some of them even sat on the
compound wall. The Sarvadhikari brought the
body of Lakshmi in a wooden cart. Bhagavan
came and sat on a chair. Lakshmi‟s body was
placed opposite to him. Devotees brought water
in pots and poured it over the body of Lakshmi.
After that, abhishekam was done with milk,
curds, ghee, sugar and rose water. Incense was
burnt, a silk cloth was covered over the body, the
face was smeared with turmeric powder and
vermilion and the body was covered with flower
garlands. Sugar candy was offered and arati
(waving of lights) was performed.
Lakshmi‟s face beamed with beauty and charm
when she was thus decorated.
By about 7 p.m. devotees lowered the body of
Continued on page 6
* The letters have been rearranged in the order of events to
cover Cow Lakshmi‟s biography, liberation and burial.
Page 6 Saranagathi
Devotees gathered around Cow Lakshmi‟s samadhi at Sri
Ramanasramam to observe the 60th Death Anniversary of
Sri Bhagavan‟s dear child and foremost of devotees
whose „mukti‟ was confirmed by Him.
The priests conducted a solemn puja, during which the
song composed by Manavasi Ramaswami Iyer about
Lakshmi and a song specially composed for the occasion
were sung. Both songs highlighted the unique place of
Lakshmi among Bhagavan's countless devotees. After
arati, prasadam was distributed among those present.
Photos from the event are shown to the right.
As per the Hindu calendar, Aradhana celebrations for
Cow Lakshmi will be performed at her samadhi on 14th
July, 2008.
18th June, 2008.
A report from Sri Ramanasramam.
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Prashanth Visweswaran, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]
Lakshmi into the grave with cries of “Hara Hara Mahadev.”
Bhagavan was visibly affected. After Bhagavan had
touched the holy leaves, they were thrown on to Lakshmi
by the Sarvadhikari. After that, devotees sprinkled
turmeric and vermilion powder, camphor, holy ashes,
sandal paste, flowers and salt, and finally, earth was
thrown in to fill the grave. After the burial was over,
Bhagavan came back to the hall. The Prasad was then
distributed. The whole thing ended like a marriage
festival. Lakshmi the cow is no longer in the cowshed. She
has been freed from the bonds of the body and now is
merged in the lustrous Atman of Sri Ramana. In the early
morning hours of the night Bhagavan wrote a final epitaph
in Tamil on Lakshmi. At our request he wrote it in Telugu
and Malayalam also.
It is hereby recorded that Lakshmi the cow was liberated
under the star of Visakha, on Friday the twelfth day of the
bright half of Jyeshta, in the year Sarvadhari.
Cow Lakshmi’s samadhi.
Arati being performed after Puja.
Special song commemorating the occasion being sung.
Devotees seeking blessings of Cow Lakshmi.
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
Saranagathi
Dear Sri Bhagavan Devotees,
In this issue of Saranagathi we have begun
serializing the life story of Sri Muruganar, a
remarkable devotee of Sri Bhagavan.
Sri Muruganar was a great Tamil scholar and a
poet whose poems can be compared only with
those of ancient Sangam literature. After he
came to Sri Bhagavan he surrendered
completely and composed poems only about Sri
Bhagavan and his sayings.
We would like to bring to your notice some
recent additions made to the Ashram website.
Past issues of „The Mountain Path‟, (a quarterly
journal published by Sri Ramanasramam) can
now be viewed through the eLibrary link on the
Home page of our website. Through the same
Note from the Editor INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Note from the Editor 1
The Essence of Instruction 1
Sri Muruganar 2-4
Report from Madurai Ramana Kendram 5
link photographs and videos of recent Ashram
activities can be accessed. The 2008 Ashram calendar
marking important events and some new additions to
the list of centers, are things to look out for in the
website.
We look forward to hearing from you, about your
satsangs, experiences and feedback. Please send your
emails to us at [email protected].
Ever Truly In Sri Bhagavan,
Editorial Team.
AUGUST 2008
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 8
The fruit of action passes.
But action leaves behind
Seed of further action
Leading to an endless ocean of action;
Not at all to moksha.
- Upadesa Saram by Sri Bhagavan (Verse 2)
The Essence of Instruction
Page 2 Saranagathi
Sri Muruganar Extract from Arunachala‟s Ramana - Boundless Ocean of Grace. Volume-2
of the royal family. At that time, the renowned Tamil
scholar, Raosahib Mu. Raghava Iyengar was
the court poet of the Royal Court of
Ramanathapuram. There was another great poet in
the same court and, by a strange coincidence; he was
also called Raghava Iyengar! With the patronage of
the royal family, these two poets made a significant
contribution to Tamil literature. Thanks to his
association with the royal family Muruganar had the
opportunity to work with these great scholars.
Sri Muruganar joined some other scholars in making
a critical study of the five great Tamil classics,
namely, Silappadhikaram, Manimekalai,
Seevakachintamani, Valaiyapathi and Kundalakesi.
This was followed by research into other Tamil
literary works like Thirukkural, Nannool and
Naidadham. He had an especially remarkable
understanding of Tiruvalluvar‟s immortal work,
Thirukkural.
Muruganar specialized in Tamil and was a scholar-
member of the Tamil Lexicon Committee presided
over by Dr. Chandler. He became a great Tamil pundit
and served some years in the Norwich Girls‟ High
School, Madras. There he was reputed for proficiency
and spotless character. He was not merely a noted
scholar in his chosen language but also an ardent
nationalist and reformer. Great was his interest in
Mahatma Gandhi‟s national liberation movement. His
many songs in praise of Gandhiji and his constructive
activities appeared in various Tamil periodicals of the
time and were later on collected into a volume
entitled Swatantra Geetam.
Several of the Tamil scholars of the day had joined to
compile a Tamil Dictionary. Muruganar was one of
the members of the Committee. As a result of his
Continued on page 3
Sri Muruganar was born in the district of Ramnad
in August 1890, His father was Krishna Iyer and
his mother was Subbulakshmi Ammal. He had a
sister named Kamakshi. Krishna Iyer passed away
when his son was just a young boy. Thus he lost
his father early in life, and had his education at
Coimbatore. Though known as C. K. Subramania
Iyer, originally his parents named him
Sambamurthi.
For the first five years of his life, the child did not
utter a single word. Maybe he was saving all his
speech to be poured forth in a torrent of exquisite
poetry in his later life!
Sri Muruganar attended the Christian Mission
School in Ramanathapuram. After passing the
sixth form, he went to Madurai and stayed with a
relative for two years, completed his Matriculation
and returned home. Upon his return to
Ramanathapuram, he was approached by one
Veluchami Thevar, a member of the royal family,
with a request to teach him the Thirukkural. The
entire family had a deep love for the Tamil
language. When they came to know about Sri
Muruganar‟s ability as a teacher, many members
of the family approached him for clarification of
their doubts. As a result of his association with
them, he gained the respect and the good wishes
Page 3 Saranagathi
involvement in this project he got the opportunity to
work closely with great scholars like Raosahib Mu.
Raghava Iyengar, Mahamahopadhyaya, Dr. U.V.
Swaminatha Iyer, Rao Bahadur V.S. Chengalvaraya Pillai
and Sachidanandam Pillai, etc. All these scholars had
great regard for Muruganar. It was this group of
scholars that wrote the Special Preface for his book, Sri
Ramana Sannidhi Murai. Raosahib Raghava Iyengar
had a special affection and regard for Muruganar. It
was he who persuaded Sri Muruganar to take up the
job of Tamil teacher in the Norwich High School for
Girls, in Madras. While he was working in Madras, his wife, Meenakshi, and mother were staying with him.
Muruganar‟s father-in-law, Dhandapani Swami, was a
devotee of Sri Bhagavan. On one of his visits to
Madras, Dhandapani Swami gave Sri Bhagavan‟s
Arunachala Stuti Panchakam and Who Am I? to his
son-in-law and asked him to read the books.
Muruganar was captivated by these two books, which
are treasure-houses of devotion and philosophy. Upon
reading the books, Muruganar developed the desire to
go to Tiruvannamalai and have darshan of Sri Ramana
Maharshi; but the pressures of work made it
impossible for him to go at once.
During the mid-term holidays (in September),
Muruganar was determined to make a visit to Sri
Ramanasramam. With God‟s Grace, he was able to put
his plans into action immediately, and he reached
Tiruvannamalai on the 21st of September, 1923. Upon
reaching Tiruvannamalai, he saw the tall towers of the
Arunachala Temple. Devout Siva bhakta that he was,
he went in, where, bowing down to the Lord, he
wanted to proceed to the Asramam. He stood in front
of the shrine of Lord Arunachaleswara and His Divine
Consort, lost in adoration. It was an extremely thrilling
experience for him. His excitement reached an even
higher pitch when he thought of the visit to Sri
Ramanasramam. He suddenly realised that he had not
brought any offerings to lay at the Maharshi‟s feet.
While about to start, he felt he should not go empty-
handed when going to meet a Sage. Immediately, he
sat down and wrote a decad of verses in praise of Sri
Bhagavan. This poem, titled Desika Pathikam, was to
be Muruganar‟s first offering to his Master. They were
inspired verses in the pattern of Saint
Manickavachakar‟s Thiruvachakam. Even before he
saw Sri Bhagavan he was totally entranced by
Bhagavan. With this hymn he reached the Asramam,
and Sri Bhagavan. He did not know how to meet the
Sage, not knowing the regulations, observed in mutts
and asramams. In those days there was only a
thatched shed in which Sri Bhagavan and others lived.
Discerning the predicament of this potential devotee,
as it were, Sri Bhagavan Himself came out of the
cottage when Muruganar reached its entrance. Sri
Bhagavan looked straight at him. A miracle took place!
The look of the Master on that day kindled the fire of
poesy in him which glowed in him ever after. “What?”
Sri Bhagavan asked. Muruganar was totally absorbed in
him and the vichara brought him back to life. He
started singing (in the particular specified tune) the
verses composed by him at the Temple. Tears welled
up in his eyes and he could not proceed. The tune of
his singing was obstructed. “Can‟t you read? Give it to
me. I shall myself read it,” said Sri Bhagavan.
(Muruganar narrated this with tears and added that
though he had specified tunes to each of his
thousands of verses, that was the only occasion and
the last one too, when he read out to him his poem
attuned to its raga: never afterwards could he sing!)
During his stay one evening, Muruganar joined the
others for dinner. After dinner, all the devotees were
sitting in Sri Bhagavan‟s presence. Muruganar was
seen to be very much perturbed. “Within two or three
days after coming to Tiruvannamalai I noticed that
some change was taking place within me. I could not
pinpoint what exactly was happening to me.
Dramatically I was immersed in a sort of bliss. I sat
before the Maharshi and focused my mind entirely on
him. After a few minutes I saw an effulgence
surrounding the Maharshi‟s person. I do not know how
Continued on page 4
Page 4 Saranagathi
long this lasted. I was completely absorbed in that
vision. I totally lost my individual personality. At that
time, Kunju Swami, Dhandapani Swami and
Arunachala Swami were there with me. An
Adhyatmic Sakti rose like an ocean and devoured
me. Although I was fully conscious of what was
happening yet it seemed as if it was a dream. It
appeared as if I was losing my individual
personality, world consciousness, etc. I suddenly got
frightened.”
“I was frightened that I would be made to reside
permanently at Tiruvannamalai and that my mother
who is solely dependent on me would lose my
support. I gave vent to my feelings at that time as
follows:
“‟There is a large crowd of thieves here led by the
Maharshi. The sole intention of this crowd is to
ensnare the unwary visitor and make him one of
their own. It is impossible either for my mother or
anyone to release me from this manacle. Hence I
should immediately leave this place.‟
“I addressed the Maharshi thus: „Even for a short
while, I could not bear your effulgent being. I
wonder how a lady, your mother, was able to bear
this effulgence for ten months. How wonderful!‟
After this I suddenly got up, prostrated to Sri
Bhagavan and rushed out.”
Seeing that Muruganar appeared greatly agitated, Sri
Bhagavan signaled to Kunju Swami and Arunachala
Swami to follow Muruganar. Soon, Muruganar and
the two others were on the bank of the Agni
Thirtham. Muruganar did not seem to have any
intention of slackening his speed. Kunju Swami
approached the hurrying form in front of him and
gently suggested, “Sir, the moon is shining brightly
and the night is cool and beautiful. Why don‟t we sit
on these steps and relax for a while?” Muruganar
responded to this suggestion and sat down on the
steps with his two new friends. At first, he was
silent, but soon he started talking about the
strange experience that made him rush out of the
Asramam. He said that he had suddenly felt an
overpowering excitement that was frightening in
its intensity and that this sudden rush of emotion
was too much for him to handle, and so he had
decided to return home immediately.
To calm him and to reassure him, they started
talking about Sri Bhagavan‟s infinite compassion,
the concern and kindness he showered on his
devotees, as also the all-encompassing love that
Sri Bhagavan gave to every creature, animal and
human alike. However Muruganar could not get
over his fear and so he roamed around on the
Chengam road till three in the morning. All his
efforts to leave the Asramam were futile. It
appeared as if his whole being was tied to
Tiruvannamalai. For him Maharshi and
Tiruvannamalai were one.
Gradually, Muruganar calmed down, went back to
the Asramam and stayed for two more days. After
that, he often came to Tiruvannamalai and stayed
in the Asramam for two or three days each time.
Ever since his first darshan of Sri Bhagavan,
Muruganar was totally won over by him and he lost
interest in everything else.
(To be continued in the next issue)
Page 5 Saranagathi
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Prashanth Visweswaran, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]
Enlightenment Day celebrations at Sri Ramana Manthiram
A report from Madurai Ramana Kendram.
Sri Bhagavan's Decorated Picture.
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi‟s
enlightenment day was celebrated on 17th
July with usual fervor at Sri Ramana
Manthiram, the place where Sri Bhagavan
became enlightened through his death
experience at the age of 16 during his stay
at Madurai.
A 2 day „Spiritual workshop‟ between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m. is conducted on this occasion
since 1996 jointly by Madurai Ramana
Kendram situated at Sri Ramana Manthiram
and Sri Ramana Maharishi Centre for
Learning, Bangalore. This year, the 13th
workshop was conducted on 17th & 18th of
July.
Professors Dr. Niranjan, Dr. T.N.P. Haran and
Dr. Kalarani Rangasamy and Dr. Sarada
Natarajan delivered spiritual lectures. Smt.
Sulochana Natarajan and Ms.Radha performed
bhajans. RMCL, Bangalore presented audio
cassettes to the participants and devotees
gathered for the occasion, as Sri Bhagavan‟s
“arut prasadham”.
In the workshop, Sri Bhagavan‟s unique
teaching of „Atma Vichara‟ was elaborated.
The significance of His teaching and how to
practice it, was elaborated by discussions
around „Why to - ‟, „How to - ‟ and „Benefits to
- ‟ individuals & society in day-to-day life.
The participants expressed that they were very
much inspired by the workshop and that they
have realized the importance of following the
path of Sri Bhagavan and their individual
commitments towards it.
Late Sri A.R.Natarajan, Founder President of
RMCL, Bangalore was gratefully remembered,
for this workshop was his brainchild.
Devotees at the Workshop.
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
Saranagathi
Dear Sri Bhagavan Devotees,
The month of September holds a special interest
for all of us, as it was on the 1st of September in
1896 that Sri Bhagavan arrived at
Tiruvannamalai. Upon His arrival at Arunachala
as a 16 year old boy, he retains only a small
piece of cloth as „kaupinam‟ while throwing
away the rest of his dhoti and the little money
He had, in an act of total „surrender‟ to
Arunachala.
In this issue of Saranagathi we continue with the
focus on the life story of Sri Muruganar, a
remarkable devotee of Sri Bhagavan, which we
started serializing from the last issue.
At the Ashram, we celebrated Sri Kunjuswami
and Sri Muruganar‟s Aradhana. Sri Nochur
Note from the Editor INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Note from the Editor 1
The Essence of Instruction 1
Sri Muruganar (Continued) 2-3
Sri Kunjuswami and Sri Muruganar’s Aradhana 4
Bhagavata Saptaham at Sri Ramanasramam 5
Venkataraman‟s „Bhagavatha Sapthaham‟ was a joyous
„satsang‟, for all devotees. Details of these are on
pages 4 & 5.
We continue to modify our website (Timeline) and there
are many more ideas in the offing. We look forward to
hearing from you, about your satsangs, experiences
and feedback. Please send your emails to us at
Ever Truly In Sri Bhagavan,
Editorial Team.
SEPTEMBER 2008
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9
Disinterested action
Surrendered to the Lord
Purifies the mind and points
The way to moksha.
- Upadesa Saram by Sri Bhagavan (Verse 3)
The Essence of Instruction
Page 2 Saranagathi
Sri Muruganar Extract from Arunachala‟s Ramana - Boundless Ocean of Grace. Volume-2
(Continued from last issue)
urge to see Bhagavan, he would immediately catch
the train and come to the Asramam. When it was time
to return to Madras, he just could not bear to leave
Bhagavan. He would somehow force himself to leave
the Asramam and would set off for the railway
station. With his characteristic perception, Bhagavan
understood Muruganar‟s difficulty, and arranged for
someone to go with Muruganar, just to make sure he
reached the station! Someone would accompany
Muruganar to the station. Once his companion had
left him, however, Muruganar would completely
forget the reason for his being in the railway station.
He would wander up and down the platform,
oblivious to all the activity around him. The train
would arrive and then leave, amidst the ringing of
bells and the blowing of whistles. Muruganar would
not notice all the noise and the bustle, but would
continue walking up and down, lost in thoughts of
Bhagavan. Long after the train had left, Muruganar
would suddenly emerge from his reverie. He would
look around in obvious confusion and, after a few
minutes, would make his way back to the Asramam.
Upon his return to the Asramam, Bhagavan would ask
Muruganar, “Didn‟t the train come on time?” When he
heard that the train had arrived on time, Bhagavan
would ask, “Then why did you not board the train?” In
a dazed tone of voice Muruganar would reply, “I just
didn‟t feel like getting into the train, Bhagavan!” The
next time Muruganar made preparations for going to
Madras, Bhagavan would make it a point to send
someone with him, to see that Muruganar actually
boarded the train! They would come and report to
Bhagavan jokingly, “We have deported Muruganar!”
In this fashion, Muruganar carried on with his life,
travelling between Madras and Tiruvannamalai
frequently. He wanted to wind up the household in
In 1926, on the Mahasivarathri day, Muruganar
came with his mother for Bhagavan‟s darshan.
They were kindly welcomed by the inmates.
Muruganar engaged himself in deep meditation.
Whenever he could he came for Bhagavan‟s
darshan. Once he brought his students too for
Bhagavan‟s darshan.
Muruganar was a staunch Gandhian and wore only
khadi garments. As he believed in the principle of
ahimsa (non-violence) he would not travel in
vehicles drawn by horses or bulls. He therefore
walked to the Asramam, all the way from the
railway station in Tiruvannamalai Town.
Being a spiritually oriented nationalist, he was
active for a few years as teacher, scholar and
inspired bard and then was drawn to the august
presence of Bhagavan Ramana, which at once
became his exaltation and spiritual captivity. From
that moment onwards, Muruganar realized that in
his heart and mind, there was no room for anyone
or anything other than Ramana, who was his God,
Guru and his All. The muses started coming to
him at a greatly superior level; and he dedicated
them, all his life, to the Lord who was his Saviour.
Thus the sole theme of the poems which have
welled forth in profusion from Muruganar‟s heart
is Ramana: the glory of the great Master and his
matchless teachings.
Since then he was made a non-entity, losing his
separate individuality. He then became the
„shadow of Bhagavan”, as a devotee put it so aptly.
Muruganar was totally captivated by Bhagavan,
and could not stay away from Bhagavan and
Ramanasramam for long. Every time he felt the
Continued on page 3
Page 3 Saranagathi
Madras and settle down in Tiruvannamalai, but
circumstances were not favourable. His mother was
old and infirm, and Muruganar had to stay in Madras
for her sake.
Within three years Muruganar‟s mother passed away.
He performed the last rites as prescribed. He took his
mother‟s ashes to Dhanushkoti and dissolved a major
portion of it in the sea there. Then, with the balance of
his mother‟s ashes in an urn, Muruganar came to
Tiruvannamalai. He placed the urn at the foot of a tree,
had his bath, and went into the hall. When Bhagavan
saw Muruganar, he enquired with touching concern,
“Were you able to complete the last rites for your
mother, without any trouble?” Bhagavan‟s gentle tone
and compassionate words shattered Muruganar‟s
composure, and he broke down completely. Kunju
Swami, who was nearby, said to Bhagavan, “Muruganar
has brought his mother‟s ashes in an urn.” Bhagavan
said, “That is good. The Agni Thirtham is a suitable
spot for dissolving the ashes.” Muruganar took
Bhagavan‟s advice and dissolved the ashes in the Agni
Thirtham. Muruganar expressed his deep gratitude to
his master in two of his verses (Keerthi Thiruagaval,
Peytru Padhikam) in Ramana Sannadhi Murai.
After his mother‟s passing away, Muruganar resigned
his job in Madras, wound up the household there, and
came to Tiruvannamalai for good in 1926. Before he
left Madras for good it appears that he made
arrangements for his wife‟s maintenance through one
Nagarathar, viz, Melaichivapuri Subramania Chettiar.
This same Chettiar got Bhagavan‟s darshan once when
meditating on him at his home. This incident is
mentioned by Muruganar in Keerthi Thiruagaval
(Ramana Sannadhi Murai).
First, he stayed at Palakothu. He lived on alms, going
into the town to beg every morning. On several
occasions, he went without food for the entire day,
because he had missed the trip into town. Bhagavan
used to say that by begging for one‟s food one can
easily conquer the ego. Muruganar‟s faith in this
principle was very strong. Every morning, he would set
off on his rounds, with a white towel in which he
collected the food he received as alms. Then he would
come to Palakothu, lay the bundle of food on the bank
of the pond, and wade into the water to clean his
hands and feet.
Muruganar was very fastidious, when it came to
personal hygiene. He could scrub his hands and legs
with mud several times, till he was satisfied that they
were quite clean. Naturally, this took a lot of time. The
monkeys in the area would come and devour all the
food that Muruganar had collected. Finally when he
came out of the water, he would find that all his food
was gone. He had no choice but to go without food
that day.
Sabhapathi Pillai, who was in charge of the Vinayaka
Temple in Palakothu, once saw the monkeys
plundering Muruganar‟s food. Out of concern for the
hapless Muruganar, Sabhapathi Pillai offered to stay
within the temple premises, and asked Muruganar to
stay in his room.
During the time of Muruganar‟s stay in Palakothu,
Kunju Swami, Munagala Venkatrama Iyer, Viswanatha
Swami, Ramanatha Brahmachari and Ramasubba Iyer
were also staying there. All of them being Bhagavan‟s
staunch devotees, they enjoyed each other‟s company
greatly. Kunju Swami often spoke of those days with a
lot of nostalgic feeling.
Sri Muruganar
To be Continued in Next Issue.
Page 4 Saranagathi
Sri Kunjuswami‟s Aradhana : August 7th 2008. A report from Sri Ramanasramam.
Sri Kunjuswami came to Sri Bhagavan in 1920,
while still in his teens, and served Him till His
nirvana in 1950. Kunjuswami lived a simple and
austere life at Sri Ramanasramam, rendering
invaluable service by sharing his experiences
with seekers until the ripe age of 95 when he
was absorbed at his Master‟s Feet in 1992.
His Samadhi day was observed with puja and
chanting of Malayalam works of Sri Bhagavan. It
was only at the request of Sri Kunjuswami that
Sri Bhagavan composed his Malayalam works.
Devotees in large numbers participated in the
Puja and Parayana.
Arathi being performed at Sri Kunjuswami's Samadhi.
Sri Kunjuswami
Sri Muruganar‟s Aradhana : August 30th 2008. A report from Sri Ramanasramam.
Sri Muruganar first came to Sri Bhagavan after
reading Sri Arunachala Akshara Mana Malai and
'Naan Yaar?' rendered by Sri Bhagavan. On seeing
Bhagavan's exalted state, he was attracted to Him
and finally he settled at Tiruvannamalai and the rest
of his life was one of complete surrender to Sri
Bhagavan.
Special puja and chanting were held at his Samadhi.
Homage to Sri Muruganar was also paid at Sri
Muruganar's birth place 'Sri Muruganar Mandiram'
in Ramanathapuram on his Samadhi day with
special puja and talk on Sri Muruganar by Sri
Ramana Kumar of Pollachi.
Devotees at Sri Muruganar's Samadhi.
After Puja, Arati was offered.
Page 5 Saranagathi
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Prashanth Visweswaran, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]
Bhagavata Saptaham at Sri Ramanasramam
A report from Sri Ramanasramam.
At the New Hall
Sri Nochur Venkataraman
Devotees listening to the discourse
Sri Nochur Venkataraman held a Bhagavata
Saptaham (a week of discourses on Bhagavatam) at
Sri Ramanasramam from the 20th to the 27th of July
2008. It was a masterly exposition of Bhagavatam
which is a devotional masterpiece of all times, during
which the young spiritual sadhaka and scholar won
the hearts of the listeners by lacing his recounting of
the story and analysis of the philosophy of this great
work with copious apt quotations from Bhagavan
Ramana‟s works and references to anecdotes from
his life.
They were struck by the raconteur‟s stupendous
scholarship and memory, his firm grasp of the
essence of Bhagavatam and the teachings of
Bhagavan, to whom he is deeply devoted, and the
effortlessly adroit way in which he frequently held a
mirror before them to the strong Advaitic undertones
of a supreme work of devotion. It was a week of
immense joy as much to lovers of jnana as to those
of bhakti.
Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya Saranagathi
Dear Devotees,
Navarathri celebrations have begun at Sri
Ramanasramam in a grand manner. The Ashram
website will have regular updates of the
festivities.
In this issue we conclude the article on Sri
Muruganar‟s biography and devotion to Sri
Bhagavan which we started serializing from the
August issue of Saranagathi.
Sri Mastan swami‟s samadhi at Desur was
renovated by Sri Ramanasramam recently and the
consecration ceremony was held on September
14th. We present a short biographical sketch of Sri
Mastan Swami along with a report on the function.
Since 1996, every year a very earnest group of
devotees retrace Sri Bhagavan‟s journey in 1896
from Madurai to Tiruvannamalai, on the same
In this Issue
The Essence of Instruction
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. In this Issue
2. Sri Murugunar (Concluding excerpt)
3. Sri Mastan Swami
4. Sri Bhagavan’s ‘Arunai’ arrival day on September 1st
(A report from Ramana Kendaram Madurai)
dates as Sri Bhagavan did. The report from Ramana
Kendaram Madurai describes their inspiring voyage
this year.
Our earnest request to all devotees, satsangh
groups and centers is to share with us their events,
stories and experiences. Please email them to
Ever Truly In Sri Bhagavan,
President
Sri Ramanansramam.
Tiruvannamalai, India.
OCTOBER 2008
VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2
By Publisher
This is certain:
Worship, praise and meditation,
Being work of body, speech and mind,
Are steps for orderly ascent.
- Upadesa Saram by Sri Bhagavan (Verse 4).
Saranagathi
Of all Bhagavan‟s devotees, Muruganar and
Pudukkottai K. Lakshmana Sarma were privileged to
learn Vedanta directly from Bhagavan.
Natesa Swami, the Head of the Eesanya mutt, had
heard about Muruganar‟s capabilities as a teacher.
He therefore requested Muruganar to stay in the
mutt and teach him Manickavachakar‟s
Tiruchitrambala Kovai. Accordingly, Muruganar went
to stay in the Eesanya mutt. Every morning, he
would take class for Natesa Swami and, in the
afternoon, he would come to Ramanasramam.
In those days, Sadhu Natanananda was staying in
the Guhai Namasivaya mutt on the Hill.
Natanananda would time his own visit to
Ramanasramam in such a way that he would meet
Muruganar near the western tower of
Arunachaleswara Temple, every afternoon. From
this spot, both of them would walk to
Ramanasramam together. Muruganar used to
compose some verses and bring them along every
day. During their walk, the two friends would
discuss Muruganar‟s latest composition. One day, it
so happened that Muruganar was able to compose
only the first four lines of a verse. Try as he might,
he could not complete the verse. Natanananda read
the four lines, and wrote another four lines, thus
completing the verse.
When they reached the Asramam, they showed the
poem to Bhagavan, and told him the story behind it.
Bhagavan smiled at Natanananda and said,
“Tomorrow, you should write the first four lines of a
poem, and get Muruganar to complete the verse
for you.” Natanananda did just that, and the second
poem was also shown to Bhagavan. After reading
the poem, Bhagavan said, “Good! It looks like we
have twin poets here! You should name the first
poem „Muruga Natana‟ and the second one „Natana
Sri Muruganar
Muruga‟!” Everyone present was very much
entertained by this incident.
In addition to practicing Self-enquiry prescribed by
Bhagavan, his devotees also gave a lot of importance
to giripradakshinam. Giripradakshinam is a potent
way of attaining Self-Realization. Muruganar
performed giripradakshinam for 48 consecutive
days.
Once during the pradakshina, between the Nirudhi
Lingam and Adi Annamalai, he had no body-
consciousness.
Now let us recall some incidents connected with
Muruganar.
One of the advantages that the devotees enjoyed
was that they could benefit from Bhagavan‟s
conversations with various people. Someone or the
other would ask a question. Bhagavan‟s answers
were always short and to the point. Yet Bhagavan‟s
words seemed to be addressed directly and
personally to every member in
the gathering. Sometimes, a devotee would have a
doubt or a problem which he was reluctant to
discuss in the presence of strangers. In such
situations, somebody else would ask Bhagavan a
question, and Bhagavan‟s reply would answer the
reticent devotee‟s unasked question too! This is
indeed the greatest miracle of all.
A disciple of a reputed Swami of South India,
Vilakshananda, came to Bhagavan to have his
darshan. With some hesitation he started telling
Bhagavan about his guru‟s strict injunction that each
one of his devotees should do so many thousands of
japa daily and surrender the phala to the guru as
their offering and that they were following it without
fail.
Extract from Arunachala‟s Ramana - Boundless Ocean of Grace. Volume-2 (Continued from last two issues)
Saranagathi
Bhagavan smiled and observed: “Is it so? It is to be
appreciated. So much gain for the guru with no
strain on his part!” While Bhagavan was saying this,
Muruganar entered the Old Hall. Turning to him
Bhagavan said: “Do you know? His guru commands
each one of his disciples to perform so many
thousands of nama-japa and surrender the phala
(merit) to him, as guru kanikkai (offering). After that
will there be any balance for the disciples? It looks
like one keeping the principal and surrendering the
interest to the guru as offering. How do you
appreciate this?”
Muruganar with tears in his eyes replied: “Bhagavan!
Their guru is far better. He at least leaves the
principal and demands only the interest. But this
guru here (pointing to Bhagavan) is worse. He takes
away the principal itself; then where is room for
interest? He demands the devotees‟ mulam
(principal) and vaddi (interest) all at once!” Bhagavan
gave a benign smile enjoying the poet‟s joke with
deep meaning!
What Muruganar meant was that Bhagavan wipes out
the mind and the ego of his devotees.
An incident occurred a few days later. A new visitor
to the Asramam was telling Bhagavan that he had
been worshipping Lord Subrahmanya with great
devotion for ten years, but the Lord had not chosen
to appear before him. The devotee was obviously in
anguish, and might have expected Bhagavan to give
him some advice. But Bhagavan merely nodded his
head and said, “Is that so?” Muruganar who was
sitting in the hall became emotional and said to the
devotee, “Sir! Your prayers have been effective
indeed! Look before you! Who is this, in front of your
eyes?” The devotee opened his eyes wide and gazed
at Bhagavan. Within moments, his eyes filled with
tears of ecstasy and he exulted, “Yes! My prayers
have been granted! My Subrahmanya is right here! I
am fortunate indeed!”
Later in the evening, this devotee went to Muruganar
and told him, “Thank you, Sir, for directing me. I
looked at Bhagavan and saw Lord Subrahmanya with
His two Consorts. Bhagavan Sri
Ramana is none other than Lord Subrahmanya!”
Bhagavan was particular that no visitor to the
Asramam should go away hungry. At meal times, be
it breakfast, lunch or dinner, Bhagavan always
insisted that everybody should take food. If, for
some reason, someone happened to miss a meal,
Bhagavan used to feel bad about it. If he noticed that
someone was absent at meal time, he would
personally check up on that person and see to it that
he had something to eat.
Once Muruganar entered the Old Hall. Prostrating to
Bhagavan he noticed that worship had been offered
to some books decoratively heaped, garlanded and
placed in front of Bhagavan, near the sofa. He
realised that it was the Saraswathi Puja day. As he
glanced at the garlanded books and then at the
serenely seated Master, his face broke into an
amused smile. Noticing this, Bhagavan gestured
enquiringly. Muruganar‟s relationship with Bhagavan
was unique. He knew he was in the presence of the
Reality clothed in human form, available to all as the
spiritual guide. Containing his amusement with
great effort, he said: “Bhagavan! To have offered
puja to the sacred books in your presence amuses
me. Imagine that a bunch of the best variety of
sugar-cane was squeezed; crystal sugar of the
purest quality made out of the juice and a human
form was made with it. Now, picture the superb
human form made of this best sugar on one hand
and the sugar-cane-waste on the other! Bhagavan,
you are the essence of Truth. These books, however
sacred they may be, are just like the sugar-cane-
waste. They have offered puja to the juiceless canes
while the most beautiful sugar-form, YOU are seated
just here!”
Saying this Muruganar laughed. Bhagavan too had a
hearty laugh.
Saranagathi
While it is true that every devotee who came to Sri Bhagavan was unique, one may perhaps
rightly say that Mastan Swami was especially unique. Bhagavan Himself once said of Mastan
Swami that, “the most advanced are ripe fruits, just waiting to fall. They only have to come
into the presence of a jnani in order to plunge into a deep experience of the Self. One such
devotee was Mastan. Mastan was in an entirely different category to most of the people
who came. He was highly spiritual, although outwardly he looked like an ordinary man.”
Sri Mastan Swami
When Mastan, the weaver, first came to Sri Bhagavan, along with Desur Akhilandathammal (Desur Ammal),
another ardent devotee, all his earlier sadhana came close to their fruition. He was already conversant with
advaitic texts, was imbued with intense dispassion and was prone to fall into trance-like states even as he
worked on the family loom. Born a Muslim, he was utterly devoid of any caste, class or communal feeling. In
fact, he said that liberation was his goal and it was not through any formal religion but through non-dual
experience. And Mastan came to Ramana, the pure non-dual essence. The moment he had the darshan of
Bhagavan, the supreme jnani, Mastan stood transfixed for several hours in deep samadhi. The word Mastan
in Urdu means „(God) intoxicated‟ and our Mastan, true to his name, became inebriate with divine ecstasy by
the grace of his Master. However, Mastan was not content even with the samadhi experience and sought and
obtained from Bhagavan initiation into Nirguna upasana (Worship of the Formless, Attributeless Supreme).
That put an end to all his doubts once and for all.
It was Desur Ammal who brought Mastan to Bhagavan. They would come all the way from Desur, which is
about 70 kms away from Arunachala, carrying provisions for Sri Bhagavan and His devotees. Mastan would
stay with Bhagavan till the provisions lasted and then go back to Desur. Mastan and Desur Ammal founded
in 1914 Sri Ramanananda Matalayam, at Desur, the first ever centre in the world to be started in the name of
Sri Bhagavan. Bhagavan‟s devotees, like Kunju Swami, Viswanatha Swami and Ramanatha Brahmachari, used
to go there for rest and convalescence after illness. This Centre continues to serve Ramana devotees till
today. Mastan wove towels and loin-cloth for Bhagavan on his loom. Bhagavan once said, “Mastan‟s craft,
though it did not give food either to him or his parents, gave me clothes.”
Mastan Swami was absorbed in Sri Bhagavan on 8th November, 1931. His body was taken in procession in
the local Siva temple‟s chariot (chapram) and given a burial worthy of a great sadhu. At Bhagavan‟s
biddance, Kunju Swami went to Matam and participated in the Samadhi ceremonies. A Samadhi (tomb) was
built where Mastan was laid to rest. Over the years, it has come to be treated as a shrine by the villagers.
Mastan‟s Samadhi, built over 70 years ago, needed renovation. Re-building was started on behalf of Sri
Ramanasramam, on 6.12.2006 and donations came from devotees of Sri Bhagavan. Kumbhabhishekam
(Consecration) of the renovated Samadhi was performed in a befitting manner on 14th September 2008.
Devotees came in large numbers from Sri Ramanasramam including President V.S.Ramanan and Susila
Ramanan, Desur, Matam, Salem and Coimbotore. After a sumptuous breakfast at the Ramanananda
Matalayam, Desur, the devotees proceeded to Matam. Arunachala Akshara Manamalai and Ramana Stuti
Panchakam were sung and the Priest of Sri Atulyanatheswarar Temple of Arakandanallur (where young
Continued on next page
Saranagathi
Sri Bhagavan‟s „Arunai‟ Arrival Day on September 1st A Report from Ramana Kendaram, Madurai.
30th August – 1st September, 2008.
Tracing Bhagavan‟s footsteps from Madurai
Bhagavan, after attaining enlightenment on 17th July 1896 at the age of 16 at Madurai, proceeded to
Tiruvannamalai on 29th August 1896 in accordance to the divine call of his Ordainer Sri Arunachala.
Bhagavan‟s devotees of Madurai Sri Ramana Manthiram carry out a Yathirai from Madurai to
Tiruvannamalai tracing the footpath of Bhagavan every year on the same day, since 1996 with lot of
reverence and devotion.
This year nearly 54 devotees took part in this Yathirai. They started from Sri Ramana Manthiram on 30
August night 9 O‟clock. They had hired a bus for all the three days for conveyance. After a brief stay at
Vilipuram on the next day morning, they reached Mambazha pattu Railway station at 7.30 am. Bhagavan
Continued on next page
Venkataraman had a brief halt on his way from Madurai to Arunachala in August 1896) performed
Ganapati, Navagraha and Chatur Rudra homams as arranged by Sri Ramanasramam. A song specially
composed for the occasion was sung, which was well received.
Sri Ramanasramam distributed Bhagavan‟s Prasadam and food and gave away prizes to the boys and girls
who sang Arunachala Akshara Manamalai.
Consecration function of Sri Mastan Swami’s Samadhi
Continued from next page
Saranagathi
b
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Prashanth Visweswaran, Ravi Ramanan
Continued from next page
actually started walking from there along the railway track upto Thirukovilur. Devotees too crossed this
distance by walk. On their way, they constantly chanted Bhagavan‟s works like Acharamana malai and
Arunachala Sthuthi Panchagam and works on Bhagavan too. Sweets were distributed to children and others
as Prasatham whom they met on their way. The devotees reached Arankantanallur Rock-Temple at 12
noon, from where Bhagavan got His first Dharshan of the great Thiruvannamalai, the „Mountain of Light‟.
Acharamanamalai chanting was carried out there with lot of reverence by all including few local people.
Then they moved to Muthukrishna Bhagavathar‟s house, where Bhagavan had stayed for a while.
Acharamana malai parayanam and Pooja were carried out there. They started from there and reached
Thiruvannamalai Sri Ramanashram at 7 O‟clock in the evening. On 1st September, at the early morning
hours, the devotees gathered in the New Hall, in front of Bhagavan‟s Maha Samadhi, expressed their
respect and devotion, sung holy songs and took part in Poojas. Then they were taken to Sri
Arunachaleswarar Temple for Swami Annamalaiyar Dharshanam. After that, the devotees assembled in a
place inside the Temple and facing and gazing at the great „Hill of Arunachala‟ sung Sri Arunachala Sthuthi
Panchagam and Acharamanamalai.
In the evening, places, where Bhagavan stayed at different point of time, like Patchaiamman Temple and
Guru murtham were visited. At night 8.30 pm, the devotees undertook Girivalam singing Bhagavan‟s songs
all through their path. On 2nd September morning, a small group of devotees visited Sri Kanthashram and
Virupacha Cave, where too Bhagavan used to stay for years together.
At 12.30 pm, the Thiru Arunai Yathirai arranged by Madurai Ramana Kendram came to the concluding part.
The President and other Ashramites of Sri Ramanashram gave a heartfelt hospitality in all the three days.
With hearts filled with peace, gratification, blessings and grace of Bhagavan, devotees reached Madurai at
10 O‟clock night.
It is sure that this Yathirai has helped the devotees a lot in the pursuit of realization of the Self and
attainment of the True Nature through Bhagavan‟s Upathesas.
Devotees at Mambalapattu Station The group reaches Sri Ramanasramam
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
Saranagathi
Dear Sri Bhagavan Devotees,
The month of October was busy one at Sri Bhagavan‟s
Ashram in Tiruvannamalai.
After the Navaratri Celebrations, in early October,
which was covered extensively at our website, Diwali
and Vishwanatha Swami Day were celebrated in a
grand manner. There was some much needed rain, all
over South India and Tiruvannamalai, which led to
tanks and wells getting replenished at the Ashram,
thanks to the „rain harvesting‟ methods adopted.
We are saddened to report the demise of „Tirupattur‟
Balasubramania Sastrigal, who was part of the „puja‟
team at the Ashram and pray for Sri Bhagavan‟s grace
on the departed soul. The Ashram Management
appreciates his dedicated service to the Master and
His devotees and will miss his ever smiling face.
The focus of the November issue of Saranagathi is on
Sri Bhagavan‟s explanation of the significance of
In This Issue
Diwali extracted from the book, Letters from
Sri Ramanasramam by Suri Nagamma. This is followed
by a recent satsangh reading of Ramana Puranam and a
report on „Vishwanatha Swami Day‟ and Diwali
celebrations at the Ashram.
Please lookout for recent „updates‟ to our website:
Ashram Calendar for 2009, Special Days in 2009,
additional issues of Mountain Path and more „Devotees‟
Interviews‟ of their experiences of His Presence.
We look forward to hearing from you, about your
satsanghs and experiences. Please send your emails to
Yours in Sri Bhagavan,
Editorial Team.
Editorial Team.
NOVEMBER 2008
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 11
The Essence of Instruction
CONTENTS
In This Issue 1
The Essence of Instruction 1
‘Narakasura – Dipavali’ from Letters 2
During a Recent Satsangh 3
A Report from Sri Ramanasramam 4
Ether, Fire, Air, Water, Earth,
Sun, Moon, and Living Beings-
Worship of These,
Regarded All as Forms of His,
Is Perfect Worship of the Lord.
- Upadesa Saram by Sri Bhagavan (Verse 5).
Page 2 Saranagathi
Narakasura – Dipavali (65)
An extract from Letters from Sri Ramanasramam by Suri Nagamma
verses?” When I said that I did not know, he said,
“Is that so? One Dipavali day, Muruganar wanted
me to write something about Dipavali. „Why don‟t
you write? Why should I?‟ I asked. He said that he
would also write if I did. I agreed, and wrote these
verses. I did not write anything without reason.
There is a story behind every verse that I wrote.” So
saying he showed me the verses (in Tamil). I give
them below with the meaning:-
Vrittam:
Meaning:
He is the king of hell who says that he is the body
which is hell itself. He is Narayana who ascertains
who Naraka is, and destroys him with His vision of
wisdom, Jnana Drishti. That is the auspicious day
of Narakachathurdasi.
Vennpa:
Meaning:
The false belief that this hell-like house called
body is me, is Naraka himself. To destroy that
false belief and let the self shine as Self, is
Dipavali.
20th August 1946.
Ramachandra Iyer came here from Madras
recently. One day he was seated in the hall
going through an old notebook and correcting
some dates and numbers in it. Seeing that,
Bhagavan asked what it was. He replied, “This is
an old notebook written by Bhagavan. I am
looking into the numbers and dates in it, and
entering them in the printed book.” “Give it to
me,” Bhagavan said, and taking it and turning
over the pages, said to me, “There are some
Dipavali padyams (verses) in it. Have you heard
them?”
When I said I had not, he read them out and
gave the meaning thereof as follows: “He is
Narakasura (a demon) who feels attached in the
thought that he is the body. That attachment to
the body itself is a Naraka (hell). The life of a
person who has that attachment, even if he be a
Maharajah, is hellish. Destroying the attachment
to the body, and the self shining by itself as Self
is Dipavali. That is the idea contained in those
verses.” I asked, “Are all these verses in Nool
Thirattu?”* Bhagavan said, “These were all
composed extempore on the spur of the
moment from time to time. Why include all
these in that book?”
After the first publication of the book, these
verses were read out in Bhagavan‟s presence,
and he asked, “Do you know why I wrote those
*Nool Thirattu is the title of the book in Tamil containing all the verses, songs and prose writing of Bhagavan. The Collected Works of Sri
Ramana Maharshi contains the English translations of these. Both these books have been published by Sri Ramanasaramam and available for
download from our website.
Page 3 Saranagathi
Verses 305-306 of Ramana Puranam
Even if the most insignificant of your devotees come to possess a desire, you enable them to be enthroned in the
royal assembly of the king of the gods.
In the presence of the Guru, desires are automatically fulfilled, even worldly ones. The Guru does not pick and
choose which of his devotees' desires he is going to fulfill because he has no sankalpa.
No individual will that decides 'I will fulfill this desire,' or 'I will not fulfill that particular desire'.
However, by continuously abiding as the Self, the Guru generates a Sannidhi, a presence, that
Automatically takes care of the desires of devotees who come into this presence.
Footnote: Bhagavan explained in some detail how this process works in a conversation he had with Narayana Iyer
that was recorded in The Mountain Path (July, 1968, p. 236).
Mountain Path, Vol. 5, July 1968
Cry of the Destitute
By Vishnu (Narayana Iyer)
One day when I was sitting by the side of Bhagavan I felt so miserable that I put the following question to him: ''Is
the sankalpa of the jnani not capable of warding off the destinies of the devotees?''. Bhagavan smiled and said:
''Does the jnani have a sankalpa at all? The jivanmukta can have no sankalpas whatsoever. It is just impossible.''
'I continued: ''Then what is the fate of all us who pray to you to have grace on us and save us? Will we not be
benefited or saved by sitting in front of you, or by coming to you? What use is there then for family men like me
to gain by coming here to you?''.
Bhagavan turned graciously to me and said: ''Just as a trouble (or arrow) that comes to destroy the head, goes
away carrying with it only the turban, so a person's bad karma will be considerably reduced while he is in the
presence of a jnani. A jnani has no sankalpas but his sannidhi [presence] is the most powerful force. He need not
have sankalpa, but his presiding presence, the most powerful force, can do wonders: save souls, give peace of
mind, even give liberation to ripe souls. Your prayers are not answered by him but absorbed by his presence. His
presence saves you, wards off the karma and gives you the boons as the case may be, [but] involuntarily. The
jnani does save the devotees, but not by sankalpa, which is non-existent in him, only through his presiding
presence, his sannidhi.'''
I was filled with joy. Even today His presence is the most powerful thing and that alone, I am confident, saves me!
After a month or so, one night I was feeling exhausted. It was around 11:30 pm on a week day. I was sitting
alone in my lounge room on my couch in the dark. My wife and children were asleep. It was raining heavily
outside and I could hear the thunder and see the lightning in the sky through my house‟s French doors. I got up,
During a Recent Satsangh The following verses from Ramana Puranam1 were read out along with their meaning during a recent Satsangh at Connecticut, USA. Ramana Puranam was jointly composed by Sri Muruganar and Sri Bhagavan.
1
In the 1920s and 30s Muruganar wrote Sri Ramana Sannidhi Murai, an anthology of devotional poems in praise of Sri Bhagavan that was modeled on the
Tiruvachakam of Sri Manikkavachakar. In the first edition of Ramana Sannidhi Murai there was no poem corresponding to Siva Puranam. So Sri Muruganar started
composing a poem on the same lines. At this stage a doubt arose in his mind as to what would be the appropriate title for this work. The obvious title could be Siva
Puranam. But the verses were extolling the glory of the Lord as Ramana, so why not call it Ramana Puranam? Thus tossed by doubt Sri Muruganar left the place,
leaving the lines at Sri Bhagavan's feet. When he returned in the evening Sri Bhagavan handed back the poems. A great surprise was in store for Sri Muruganar. Sri
Bhagavan had distinctly written Ramana Puranam, not only at the top of the work, but also at the top of each and every page. He had but also at the top of each and
every page. He had not stopped with that and composed three hundred more lines and completed the work. The concluding portion of Ramana Puranam, a section
that runs approximately from line 233 to 540, contains teachings, written by Sri Bhagavan himself.
Page 4 Saranagathi
„Vishwanatha Swami‟ Day
A report from Sri Ramanasramam
Vishwanatha Swami Day was observed at the ashram on 22nd October.
One of his most important contributions to Ramana Devotees was the
composition of Ramana Ashtottaram (The 108 Names of Sri Bhagavan)
which is chanted at His Shrine every day during daily puja. Devotees may
remember that these 108 names are being serialized in the Mountain Path.
All devotees gathered around his samadhi and chanted 'Aksharamanamalai'. Arati was performed to the lingam on his samadhi and everyone receivedthe blessings of this great devotee, who incidentally was closely relatedto Sri Bhagavan.
Vishwanatha Swami
Diwali Celebrations at Sri Ramanasramam
A Photo Essay
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan
Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Sivasubramanian, Ravi Ramanan.
Email: [email protected]
Early morning arathi
at the Ramaneswara Lingam…
…arathi at
Matrubhuteswara Lingam...
...some fireworks…
…devotees gathered for early morning
Darshan around 4.30am…
..nagaswaram at His Shrine…
…followed by breakfast.
In this IssueDear Devotee, As we offer this issue of Saranagathi at Sri Bhagavan’s Lotus Feet we pray that it may lead to ‘satsang’ and help in one’s ‘inner quest’.
We are starting a new ‘series’ and want to introduce various ‘teams’ within Sri Ramanasramam that enable the proper functioning of the ashram. We have tried to give a historical-to-current-day perspective.
First in this series is the ‘Ashram Kitchen’.
The ‘ashram kitchen’ was started by Mother Alagammal at Skandasramam. Sri Bhagavan Himself led, guided and participated in the preparation and serving of food. Devotees have experienced His grace in this way and continue to do so.
This issue of Saranagathi also features two other reports from Sri Ramanasramam: ‘Annamalai Swami Day’ and ‘Bookstall Expansion’.
Please lookout for recent ‘updates’ to our website: old devotees’ interviews of their experiences of His Presence and the Bookstall page.
We look forward to hearing from you, about your satsangs and experiences. Please send your emails to [email protected].
Yours in Sri Bhagavan,
Editorial Team.
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya
SaranagathieNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
The Essence of Instruction
Better than singing hymns of praise
is repeating the (Lord’s) name;
better than (repetition of the name)
out loud is to do so softly;
but best of all is mental repetition or
dhyana (meditation).
- Upadesa Saram by Sri Bhagavan (Verse 6).
ContentsIn this Issue 1
The Essence of Instruction 1
Ashram Kitchen 2
‘Annamalai Swami’ Day 6
Bookstall Expansion 6
December 2008
Volume 2, Issue 12
The BackgroundRight from the time that Sri Bhagavan came out of Patala Linga, food was being offered to him, perhaps scantily, but on a regular basis. Sometime later, the sacred duty of offering food to him daily was taken up voluntarily and willingly by devout lady devotees like Keerai Patti, Desur Amma, Echamma and Mudaliar Patti. For Echamma and Mudaliar Patti not a day passed by without their sending food to Sri Bhagavan. Even on the last day of their earthly life, they closed their eyes only after hearing others announce: “Food has been sent to Sri Bhagavan.”
Early BeginningWhen Sri Bhagavan moved to Skandasramam in 1917, his Mother Alagammal too came with him. In spite of Sri Bhagavan’s remonstrations she daily cooked
Page 2 Saranagathi
Ashram KitchenSri Bhagavan once reading from a newspaper article in the Old Hall said, “It is written here that in Ramanasramam there are two fires burning.” The first being Sri Bhagavan and His Teachings and the other, ‘the fire’ in the kitchen which feeds devotees. Here’s a write-up on the history and development of the Ashram Kitchen.
food for herself, her sons and visitors. The practice of cooking food at the Ashram which began then continues up to this day.
After Mother attained salvation her samadhi was set up at the foot hills of Arunachala, near Pali Thirtham. It was found difficult to return every day to Skandasramam soon after the noon puja to the samadhi. Rice, dhal, etc., were carried downhill so that those who did the puja could cook and eat there itself and return to Skandasramam in the evening. A small thatched hut was also put up near the samadhi to be used as a kitchen. Dhandapaniswami and Chinnaswami started staying there permanently. Chinnaswami and Dhandapaniswami used to invite devotees from Skandasramam to partake of their cooking. Bhagavan would daily visit Mother’s samadhi either in the morning or in the evening. One day Chinnaswami said to Kunjuswami, “Please come down in the evening itself. I will prepare some dosas tomorrow and you can take them to Bhagavan and others.” He agreed. Kunjuswami asked Ramakrishnaswami to look after Bhagavan and came down to Mother’s samadhi. Early in the morning, when Kunjuswami was washing the dishes in the stream near Mother’s samadhi, he suddenly heard a voice: “Any food for an athithi (a guest)?” Startled, he looked up and was thrilled to see Sri Bhagavan standing with a towel wrapped round his head, a shawl round his torso and a stick in his hand. It was a rare darshan.
In the meantime, Chinnaswami and Dhandapaniswami came and were overjoyed to see Bhagavan there. They requested him to eat dosas but he refused at first. At their repeated requests, he agreed. He brushed his teeth with a neem twig which Kunjuswami gave him and washed his face in the stream. They had with them the usual goat’s milk also and so Sri Bhagavan ate some dosas and drank coffee. Looking at Kunjuswami, Bhagavan said, “Everyone comes over here because of the tasty food they get here,”
Continued on next pageSri Bhagavan and His Mother at Skandasramam
and laughed heartily. This was the beginning of the present Sri Ramanasramam which grew around Mother’s samadhi. Only a very few devotees stayed at the Ashram on a permanent basis. During the early days several lady devotees started serving in the Ashram kitchen one after another. Santhammal of Ramanathapuram, Tenamma from Thirumangalam, Lokammal from Pattankuruchi, Sampoornammal from Vathirairuppu, Subbulakshmamma from Nellore and Sankaramma from Sivagangai were a few who had
Old Dining Hall Construction
° Bhagavan Sitting on parapet wall with Alamelu Athai standing to His right.
thus surrendered completely to Sri Bhagavan and dedicatedly served in the Ashram kitchen. Lakshmi Ammal of Tiruchuzhi was also of great help in the kitchen whenever she visited the Ashram.
During their tenure, these lady-cooks were ably assisted by Polur Srinivasa Iyer, Kadalur Madhava Rao, Natesa Iyer and a few other male devotees.
Before the present huge dining hall and kitchen were built, all the above, during different periods, served in the kitchen and attended to food being served to Sri Bhagavan and the devotees. After the completion of the present “Pakasalai” (kitchen) in 1938, Ranga Rao an efficient cook, knowledgeable in traditional Indian medicine and in general an all-rounder, managed the kitchen till Sri Bhagavan’s Maha Samadhi in 1950. His services were much appreciated by all, including Sri Bhagavan. Like the rest of the cooks, he too did this service as a labour of love and with total dedication to Sri Bhagavan. All of them experienced the presence and grace of the Guru, during every moment of their service!
In 1938, a Branch Post Office was installed inside the Ashram premises. From its inception Raja Subramania
Continued on next page
Page 3 Saranagathi
Iyer was its Post Master. He was very popular among the devotees who addressed him with fond affection as ‘Raja Iyer’. In addition to serving as the Post Master he was actively assisting in the kitchen, every day, by making ‘iddlis’ for breakfast. He would get ready very early in the morning and complete making iddlis, whatever quantity was required for that day, before 6 a.m. The taste, texture and tenderness of the iddlis made by Raja Iyer received the appreciation of one and all! They were adored as ‘Ramanasramam iddlis’!When the Ashram activities expanded, as more and more devotees started flocking to the Ashram to bask in the Supreme Spiritual Presence of Sri Bhagavan, it became necessary to construct a Store Room to preserve the food ingredients. Kumara Swami served as the Store Keeper with great diligence, efficiency and thrift. He was also well known for making excellent flower garlands.
TodayAt present, Sri Rajamani, is in charge of the Ashram Store Room. He is being ably assisted in that arduous task by Duraiswami, Selvaraj, Jayendra Baba and others. Daily hundreds of visiting devotees are being sumptuously fed at the Dining Hall.
The volume of work involved in gathering various ingredients for food preparation, their preservation and diligent distribution is enormous. In addition, Sri Rajamani does the onerous service of disbursing the wages for daily labourers. Daily requirement of vegetables and fruits are purchased from the market every morning and bulk quantities of rice, pulses, grain and provisions are purchased from the wholesale market at Chennai or Vellore.
Matching the increasing demands of serving food for more and more Ramana-bhaktas, an extension of the existing “Pakasalai” was constructed in 1997.
This spacious additional Dining Hall is an essential necessity.
In the Ashram kitchen, the important work of cooking is entrusted to Head cook Gopal and his dedicated team consisting of Balasubramanian, Sundaram, Sridhar, Ravi and Shankar. It should be recorded here
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Store Staff Left to right: Jayachandra Baba, Duraiswami, Selvaraj
with joy that the visiting guest-devotees as well as some residents of Ramana Nagar daily assist in the kitchen by cutting vegetables and other essential activities like cleaning vessels etc.
The daily activities of the Ashram commences at 4.30 in the morning. Preparation of iddlis and coffee for breakfast is the first activity. By 7 a.m. the milk offering puja is performed and after that breakfast is served. Thereafter the kitchen becomes very active in their efforts to prepare lunch which would be served at 11.30. This involves the Head cook paying his best attention on preparing different types of vegetable sauces, sambar, rasam, sweets, pappad and rice.
New Dining Hall
Continued on next page
Page 5 Saranagathi
When some devotee pays the required amount for Biksha then on that day an extra dish along with sweet pudding (payasam) are served. On Sundays and other important days pappads are served.
Generally meals are served in two batches every day. Usually the second batch is for the staff and the labourers. But on crowded days like Punarvasu, Jayanti, Deepam, Aradhana, Maha Puja, Sri Vidya Havan, etc., three or more batches of devotees partake of the prasadam. Along with the cooks, members of the staff and some devotees take part in serving the food.
Before serving lunch to the visiting guests and inmates of the Ashram, at 10.30 regular ‘Narayana Seva’ is attended to with reverence and a surrendered attitude of service, to the sadhus, sannyasins, destitutes, physically disabled and utterly poor people. Between 1 and 2.30 p.m. the kitchen is closed.
The ‘Pakasalai” is reopened at 3.00 and tea is served to all at 4 p.m. Simultaneously, preparation of dinner for the night would commence. Dinner is served at 7.30 p.m. in the night. At 9 p.m. the kitchen is closed.
This is the gist of daily activities at Sri Ramanasramam Kitchen today!
Kitchen Staff Left to right: Sridhar, Gopal, Ravi, Sundaram,
Balasubramanian
Publisher: V.S. RamananEditorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Sivasubramanian, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]
‘Annamalai Swami’ DayA report from Sri Ramanasramam
Bookstall ExpansionA report from Sri Ramanasramam
Page 6 Saranagathi
On 9th November 2008 the 13th Samadhi Day of Annamalai Swami was solemnly observed at Palakothu where the Swamiji lived. Bhagavan’s Aksharamana Malai and Manikkavachagar’s Sivapuranam were sung by Bhagavan’s devotees, including Sri V. Ganesan, and Pooja was offered at Swamiji’s Samadhi. At the end prasadam was distributed.
Swamiji’s dedicated life is proof that distance can never separate a true devotee from his Sadguru.
The new extension building of the Ashram Bookstall was inaugurated by performing puja on Monday, 17th November (Punarvasu day) at 9.10 a.m. A built-in area of 10000 Sq. Ft. has been added to the existing bookstall. The function was well attended by devotees.
Page 1 Saranagathi
eNewsletter from www.sriramanamaharshi.org
Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaya Saranagathi Dear Devotee, May Sri Bhagavan’s Blessings be on all, to guide us in our ‘inner quest’ and towards the goal of ‘self-realization’, and thus a ‘Happy 2009’. We hope one of the New Year Resolutions, is to recommit to the ‘Ramana Way’, to attain our ‘Self’. In this issue, we present an extract from S.S. Cohen’s book Guru Ramana describing Deepam day at the Ashram in 1949, in the Holy presence of Sri Bhagavan. The spiritual significance of Deepam has been explained by Sri Bhagavan as follows:
To make the intellect rid of the sense ‘I am the body’, and to introspect By fixing it securely in the Heart,
And so perceive the true light of the SELF, The one ‘I-I’, which is the ABSOLUTE.
This the significance of witnessing The Beacon Light of Arunachala.
In This Issue INSIDE THIS ISSUE In This Issue 1
The Essence of Instruction 1
Deepam Day 2
Ashram Gosala 3-4
Report from Sri Ramanasramam 5-6
This year too, Karthigai Deepam drew huge crowds. We continue our series on the different departments at the ashram with a write up about the ‘Gosala’ (cowshed), followed by reports on several recent happenings at Sri Ramanasramam. New additions to the website this month: Old Devotees’ interview and ‘What are Ramana Satsangs?’ We hope to hear from you, about your satsangs and experience of Him. Please send your emails to us at [email protected]. Yours in Sri Bhagavan, Editorial Team.
JANUARY 2009 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1
Better than spells of meditation Is one continuous current,
Steady as a stream, Or downward flow of oil.
- Upadesa Saram by Sri Bhagavan (Verse 7).
The Essence of Instruction
Page 2 Saranagathi
Deepam Day: 1949
4th December, 1949.
This is Deepam Day - the full moon of the month of Kartikai - most holy to Hindus in the South. The holy beacon will be lighted tonight on the top of Arunachala, the Hill of Fire, which symbolizes the light of the Spirit in all hearts and in the universe. Arunachala, another name of Shiva, enthralled Sri Maharshi fifty-three years ago, when he was a mere youth in his teens and made him substance of His substance and indistinguishable from His Essence. Arunachala, a mere hill of stones, remained for him the blissful Universal Self and the Living Guru, both in one. Every year, since the foundation of this Ashram, this day has been celebrated in it with illumination, prayers, reading of the Vedas, and devotional songs, followed by distribution of several kinds of prasadam.
Tonight Sri Maharshi sat in the north verandah of the darshan hall from where he could directly see the top of the hill. All around him hundreds of devotees squatted, some on the cement verandah, but the majority on the sandy ground. Not far from his sofa stood the large brass vessel, three-quarters filled with pure ghee, surmounted by a thick wick, ready to be lighted at the right moment as the Ashram beacon, making a sacred triangle with those of the hill and of the big Arunachaleswara temple.
But this jubilation is not without a sting. Will the health of Sri Maharshi favour us with another Deepam day and be with us in the flesh, or is this to be the last? As we see him seated fresh and bright as ever, gazing expectantly at the top of his beloved Arunachala, we cannot help being optimistic of his recovery. The body which is stricken by a most malignant disease, hacked on many occasions by the surgeon’s knife, burnt by radium, and drugged by all sorts of powerful drugs, bears no trace of theagonizing ordeal in the brilliance of its eyes or in the joyful expressions of its face. What miracles are being performed in it! What are its mysteries!
Ten minutes before sunset, the time for lighting the deepam, Sri Niranjanananda Swami came on the scene. With bare breast and fresh from his bath and the Shaiva marks prominently drawn on his arms, chest and forehead, he stood by the side of the ghee basin and received the ghee offerings brought mostly by the lady-devotees and poured them into the ghee vessel. A minute or two before six, the flame suddenly leapt up on the top of the hill and our Ashram flame immediately followed it, accompanied by the reading of “nakarmana”, after which the series of chanting, singing, etc. began.
An extract from Guru Ramana by Sri S.S.Cohen
Sri Bhagavan closely following the lighting of the deepam on top of Arunachala
Page 3 Saranagathi
Ashram Gosala The gosala (cowshed) primarily grew around Cow Lakshmi who came to Sri Bhagavan in 1926 (covered in July 08 issue of Saranagathi). This article proposes to cover the growth of the gosala since then and highlight the hard work and diligence of the team working there.
came to me running as though to tell me that a house was being constructed for her and that I should be there. When I got up, she led me on to the spot. She did the same for her house-warming ceremony also. Somehow she used to understand everything. Very smart indeed!”
Today
These days the activities in the cowshed start as early as 2.30 a.m. There are about nine men looking after the cows, a supervisor and a milkman. The persons in charge of the Gosala take turns looking after the cows, washing them, cleaning the cowshed and the
The History
Sometime in 1926, four years after Bhagavan hadcome to live at the foot of the Holy Hill beside theSamadhi of the Mother, one Arunachala Pillai ofKannamangalam, near Gudiyatham, entered the Ashram with a cow and her young female calf andoffered them to Bhagavan in token of his devotion.‘Why all this for us?’ Bhagavan asked. ArunachalamPillai replied saying, ‘I have for a long time beenthinking of presenting Bhagavan with a cow. I amnow in a position to do so. I have brought it after agood deal of trouble on boat and rail. Please keepit, Swami.’ Bhagavan said: ‘You have done your dutyin presenting it to us. Who is there to look after it?Please keep it with you on our behalf.’ The owner of the cow replied, ‘I will not take it away even if youcut my throat.’ Hearing this RamanathaBrahmachari was piqued and said with great zestthat he himself would look after the cow and thecalf. ‘Allright. Hang it round your neck!’ Bhagavansaid.
Thereafter she remained one of the most prominentof the Ashram residents. Bhagavan has recounted anumber of incidents in the life of Lakshmi testifyingto her almost human intelligence, “After Mothercame to stay with me, regular cooking and mealsstarted, and after Lakshmi came, cattle and dairyingbecame established. Subsequently for three or fouryears Lakshmi was presenting us with a calf everyyear on the Jayanti day. Altogether she had ninedeliveries. After Lakshmi came here to stay, cowsfrom different places were brought by devotees andleft here. So the cattle shed grew in size. In thebeginning they were tied up here and there under athatched shed. When Salem Sundaram Chetty(Judge) came here, he decided to construct a gosala(cowshed) and fixed an auspicious time for thelaying of the foundation stone. Half-an-hour beforeappointed time, when preparations were beingmade, Lakshmi broke loose from her tether and
Continued on page 4
Sri Bhagavan with Cow Lakshmi in the gosala
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surroundings, feeding the cows and gathering green fodder from the fields. Early in the morning the four cowsheds are cleaned and the milching cows, the dry ones, the heifers and the calves are fed rice bran, oil cakes, cattle feed, etc. After they are fed the milking starts at about 5 a.m. and continues till 7.30 a.m. Partly manual milking and partly mechanized milking methods are employed. The cows are again fed at about 10 a.m. and a few cows are taken around the Ashram for grazing. Some of the men go for gathering the green fodder during this time and bring it to the cowshed. Evening milking starts around 3 p.m. and goes on till 5.30 p.m. after which the cows are tied in their respective pens for the night. There are separate pens for heifers, milching cows, calves, etc. The pens are always kept spic and span. The veterinarian from the local hospital visits regularly and as and when required.
The milk from the Gosala cows is only used for Ashram purposes and is supplemented by procuring milk from outside during events like Jayanti, Aradhana, Deepam, etc. The average daily yield of milk is about 200 litres and there are at present 120 cows including stud bulls, heifers, calves, milching cows, etc.
Interview with Sri V.S. Mani
“When a small cow-shed was proposed to be constructed to house cow Lakshmi, Bhagavan advised to build a larger cow-shed saying that he expected the Gosala to flourish and proper. How prophetic! Now we have more than 110 cows & calves in addition to a 2 bullocks. So much so, we are self-sufficient in dairy products like milk, curd/buttermilk and ghee. It is heartening to see cows of traditional good Indian breeds like Gir, Tarparkar and Sindhi doing well and holding their head high alongside the cross-breeds. There are separate pens for suckling calves and heifers. It is ensured that balanced feed is given and service of a veterinary doctor is available when required. Cow dung from the Gosala is the main input for the two Gobar gas (bio gas) plants producing methane gas as fuel for our kitchen. During ‘Maatu Pongal’, which is celebrated in January, the Gosala wears a festival look with the cows gaily decorated with turmeric,
kumkum, flowers and their horns freshly painted. It is the firm conviction of devotees that the Ashram grew and prospered only after the Gosala was established.”
Gosala Staff
Milking the Cow
Tarparkar Cows
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Giripradakshina of Annamalaiyar
Sri Arunachaleshwarar, the main deity of the Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai, goes around the Hill (Giripradakshina) twice a year viz., the day after Karthigai Deepam and on the second day of the Tamil month Thai which falls on January 16/17th.
This year on December 13th Sri Arunachaleshwarar(Somaskandar) was taken around the Hill accompanied by Apeethakuchambal Amman, the Arunachaleshwararand Amman from Adi Annamalai and Durgai Amman. The procession passed in front of the Ashram at around 12.30 p.m. and devotees eagerly received the Lord.Dhotis, sarees and garlands were offered to all the deities and aratis were performed.
Sama Veda & Krishna Yajur Veda Ghana Parayanam
As in the previous years this year also Sama Veda and Yajur Ghana were chanted at Sri Bhagavan’s Shrine. Ghana Parayanam commenced on 2nd of December and lasted till 11th December while Sama Veda commenced on 3rd December and went on till 10th December. Ghana Parayanam (chanting) was between 7 and 8 a.m. and Sama Veda Parayanam was between 3 and 4 p.m. Devotees gathered at the auditorium and listened to the chanting of the Vedas.
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‘Annadhanam’ on Deepam Day
Apart from the usual feeding of sadhus at 10.30 a.m.,this deepam day, hundreds of devotees going round the Hill were also fed with rice and sambar. Usually only about 200/300 sadhus are fed. But on this day the number of people exceeded 600.
Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Srimad Gangadharendra Saraswati Swamigal of Shri Sonda Swarnavalli Mahasamasthan (Sirsi), Karnataka visited the Ashram on 26th December 2008. He arrived at 8.30 p.m. with his entourage and was received with poorna kumbham by the Ashram President. After pooja at the Vedapatasala he paid his respects at the Shrines of Matrubhuteswara and Bhagavan. He spent a few minutes in the Old Hall and left at 11.30 p.m. Sri Swamiji mentioned that he had visited the Ashram about ten years ago and kindly enquired of Sri Swami Ramanananda.
Visit of Shri Gangadharendra Saraswati Swamiji
Publisher: V.S. Ramanan Editorial Team: Ranjani Ramanan, Sivasubramanian, Ravi Ramanan
Email: [email protected]