Ramana Maharshi/T.K.S. Sundaresa Iyer

[Guest guest]

One of my favorite stories...reposting again...........

 

Harsha

 

T.K. Sundaresa Iyer (T.K.S) met Sri Ramana in 1908 when T.K.S was only a 12

year old boy. His cousin Krishnamurthy had been visiting Ramana Maharshi

regularly and would sing songs of devotion to him. One day T.K.S asked his

cousin where he went every day. Krishnamurthy told him about Ramana and

said, "The Lord of the Hill Himself is sitting in human form, why don't you

come with me." Both of them then climbed the Hill and went to Virupksha

cave.

 

Now the story in T.K.S.'s own words.

 

"I too climbed the Hill and found Bhagwan sitting on a stone slab, with

about 10 devotees around him. Each would sing a song. Bhagwan turned to me

and asked, "Well, won't you sing a song also." One of Sundramurthy's songs

came to my mind and I sang it. It's meaning was, "No other support have I,

except thy holy feet. By holding on to them, I shall win your grace. Great

men sing your praise Oh, Lord. Grant that my tongue may repeat Thy name even

when my mind strays."

 

"Yes. That is what must be done," said Bhagwan, and I took it to be his

teaching for me. From that time on, I went to see him regularly for several

years without missing a day."

 

"One day I wondered why I was visiting him at all. What was the use? There

seemed to be no inner advancement. Going up the hill was meaningless toil. I

decided to end my visits on the hill."

 

"For one hundred days exactly I did not see Bhagavan. On the hundred and

first day I could suffer no longer and I ran to Skandasramam, above

Virupaksha Cave. Bhagavan saw me climbing, got up and came forward to meet

me. When I fell at his feet, I could not restrain myself and burst into

tears. I clung to them and would not get up. Bhagavan pulled me up and

asked: "It is over three months since I saw you. Where were you?'' I told

him how I thought that seeing him was of no use. "All right,'' he said,

"maybe it is of no use, so what? You felt the loss, did you not?'' Then I

understood that we did not go to him for profit, but because away from him

there was no life for us."

>From "At the Feet of Bhagwan" by T.K. Sundaresa Iyer.