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The Great Transition Part Six

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THE GREAT TRANSITION

 

 

PART SIX

 

 

 

MILESTONES

 

 

 

Not only the Sarvadhikari but a number of other devotees also have

been snatched away by death since the Maharshi left the Ramana body

he had worn.

In particular we must mention Major Alan Chadwick, widely known as

Sadhu Arunachala. He was not the first European to come here but he

was the first to settle down and make the Ashram his home. He came as

far back as 1935 and was here together with Paul Brunton. The

difference was that he stayed on, obtaining permission from the

Sarvadhikari to build himself a small house in the Ashram premises,

incidentally the first private room to be built within the Ashram.He

became a familiar figure in the Ashram and a comfort to many,

especially to visitors who had never seen Bhagavan in the body.

 

It seemed at first that the chanting of the Vedas which had been

practised morning and evening in Bhagavan’s lifetime might come to an

end simply because there was no one to carry it on. People regretted

this, since it had been and still was a welcome occasion for

meditation, the chanting itself helping to still the mind.

 

It was Mr. Chadwick who averted the danger by organising a Patasala,

that is a traditional boarding school where the boys learn Vedic

chanting as well as Sanskrit, English and some general education,

with tuition, board, clothing, all provided. It was an expense, but

Mr. Chadwick collected donations for it so that it should not be a

burden on the Ashram. Since his death it has been ably carried on by

Mrs. F. Taleyarkhan. Donations for its upkeep are always welcome.

 

Remarkably enough, it was also Mr. Chadwick, a European, who started

the Sri Chakra Poojas. These are beautiful and impressive services

and are widely appreciated. They are held every Friday and full-moon

day and on the 1st of every Tamil month.

Devotees who wish a special prayer to be made on their behalf write to

the President to be included in one of them, enclosing a fee of Rs.10.

 

Another prominent devotee who has left us is Swami Ramanananda

Saraswathi. During Bhagavan’s lifetime, it was he who, while still a

householder under the name of Sri Munagala Venkataramiah,

compiled the ‘Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi’, the largest

record of Bhagavan’s teachings. Since then also he has added several

valuable titles, like, ‘Tripura Rahasya’ and ‘Advaita Bodha

Deepika’, to our book list.

His profound knowledge of scriptures and western philosophy and his

austere life, and childlike ways made others revere him as a gem

among the disciples of Bhagavan. His death caused, outwardly, a

vacuum in the Asramam.

 

Gridalur Sambasiva Rao of Nellore, a lawyer, first came to Sri

Maharshi as early as 1923, with his brother Sri Narayana Rao and

his sister Smt. Lakshammal.

The power and grace of Bhagavan’s look overwhelmed him at one stroke,

as it were. All his worries vanished and devotion surged up in him.

He remained a staunch devotee till his last days. Not only that, but

through him numerous families from Andhra Pradesh came to know of Sri

Maharshi and received his blessings. He was a great support to the

Ashram management in all its various activities. One particularly

great honour was that when Sri Maharshi accepted the terms of a will

drawn up for him in 1938, it was his privilege to sign on behalf of

Sri Maharshi (actually Maharshi drew a line and Sambasiva Rao signed

on his behalf, since Bhagavan had no name to sign). After the

Mahanirvana of Sri Maharshi he was made secretary of the Ashram

managing committee and he continued to serve the Ashram with the same

whole-hearted zeal till his death on November 5th, 1962, The

loss was a personal one to many of the inmates of the Ashram. His

devotion to Sri Maharshi was complete. May he rest in peace at the

feet of Bhagavan!

 

Sama Iyer was a deaf old man, who had served Bhagavan for a long

time until, due to old age and physical debility, he asked Bhagavan

to let him go, since he could no longer physically serve him.

Bhagavan, laughing, said: “For such long service you deserve a pension

which will be in the form of eating and keeping quiet.”

He also has passed away and our very old devotees still miss him in the Ashram.

 

V. Narayanaswami Iyer, popularly known as ‘Chellam Iyer’, the

cashier of the Ashram (incidentally, he is also related to the

Maharshi) who served the Ashram for 17 years, also passed away this

year.

A number of new people have come and new houses been built to add to our small colony.

There is also a constant flow of visitors from India and abroad, the

majority of whom nowadays are people who never saw Bhagavan in his

lifetime.

 

Apart from private residences, two new guesthouses have also been put

up, thanks to the donations of Sri K. Padmanabhan and Sri V.

Narayanaswami Iyer H. C. Khanna. This is particularly useful for lady

visitors, as they are not allowed to stay in the Ashram premises. For

single-men a number of

self-contained rooms have been built.

Work is proceeding with a shrine and meditation-hall over the

Maharshi’s Samadhi Shrine. The plan is ambitious but the work has to

keep pace with available funds.

 

 

End of part six

To be continued

 

 

 

THE MOUNTAIN PATH

(Quarterly)

Editor: Arthur Osborne

L1 JANUARY 1964

No 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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