Initiation of Sri Bhagavan

December 12, 2001

The Mountain Path

Vol. 2 - OCTOBER 1965 - No. 4

Initiation Rejected

By Nagamma

13-1-1949:

For readers who do not know the background of the following story it should

be explained that the great Shankaracharya, the 8th Century restorer of

Advaita Vedanta, founded four orders of sannyasins in the four corners of

India, north, south, east and west. A regular succession of gurus continued

in these orders and became the upholders of Hindu orthodoxy. Every sannyasin

is supposed to receive initiation and normally from an initiate of one of

them. That is to say that a man cannot simply take sannyas; it has to be

bestowed on him. Similarly a man is not supposed to act as a guru unless he

himself has received initiation. The position of Bhagavan, living as a

sannyasin and acting as a guru, was therefore technically incorrect. The

point of the story is that he was above technicalities and was fully aware

of the fact.

There was talk in Bhagavan's presence about a conference of the heads of

mutts at Sivaganga, and in this connection a devotee said to Bhagavan: "It

is said that a long time ago somebody from Sringeri Peetam came and asked

Bhagavan to take initiation. Is that so?"

Bhagavan replied "Yes, indeed. In the early days of my stay at Virupaksha

Cave a shastri from Sringeri Mutt came to see me one morning. He spoke with

me for a long time and fully understood what I said to him; then, before

going into town for food, he approached me with folded hands and an air of

devotion and said: `Swami, I have a request to make; please consider it.' I

asked what it was and he replied with great humility and an air of

submission: `Swami, as you were born a Brahmin, is it not necessary that you

should receive diksha (initiation) according to the sastras? Isn't that our

ancient tradition? This is not unknown to you, so what need is there for me

to explain? It is our wish to include your name also in the list we already

have in the stanzas in praise of gurus. So if Bhagavan consents arrangements

will be made to bring the necessary things and perform the rite here. Even

if you don't want to wear the full ochre robe, you could at least wear an

ochre loin-cloth (instead of the white one you wear now). Please give it

your earnest consideration while I go down into the town for my midday meal

and let me have your answer when I come back at 3 o'clock. The people at our

Mutt have heard of your great reputation and sent me here to speak with you

about it.' So saying, he went down the hill into town.

"Soon after he had left an old Brahmin came with a bundle that seemed to

contain books. His face seemed somehow familiar. He put the bundle down as

though he already knew me and said: `Swami, I have just come and not even

taken my bath yet. There is no one to look after this bundle, so please look

after it.' So saying, he went away.

"As soon as he had gone it occurred to me for some reason to open the bundle

and look at the books. On opening it I was immediately struck by the title

`Arunachala Mahatmyam' (The Greatness of Arunachala) in Sanskrit on one of

them. I was not previously aware that this Tamil work existed in a Sanskrit

version also. I opened the book and my eye fell immediately on the stanza in

which Ishvara, (God) says: `Those who live within three yojanas (thirty

miles) of this place (Arunachala) will attain Liberation free from all

attachments even if they have not received initiation. Such is my decree.'

"Seeing this, I said to myself: Splendid now I have a good answer to give to

that shastri. So I copied the sloka out and tied the bundle up again as it

was before. Then I sat in meditation. When I opened my eyes again the bundle

was gone. When the shastri returned in the afternoon I showed him the

stanza. Being a learned man he saw at once that there was nothing he could

say against it, so he bowed down before me with great respect and devotion

and left. It seems that he told the whole story to the Shankaracharya

Narasimha Bharati and the latter regretted the episode and told his

followers to make no such attempts in future.

"There were a number of other occasions too when people came and tried to

convert me to their ways. I used to listen to all they had to say but would

never consent to take initiation. I always found some excuse such as this to

get out of it."

One of the devotees asked whether the old Brahmin who brought the bundle of

books returned.

Bhagavan said: "I don't remember whether he did or not. I only know that the

bundle was not there. We got what we needed. Isn't that enough? It means

that Arunachala Himself appeared in that guise."

He then remained silent.

December 14, 2001

Namaste,

This excerpt from the Mountain Path journal may likely create

the wrong impression that Sri Narasimha Bharati had sent the Shastri

to Sri Ramana. This was not the case.

The original translation, by D.S. Sharma, of Suri Nagamma's

'Letters from Sri Ramanashram'[Vol. I & II, 1973], p. 368, has these

words:

"Narasimha Bharathi felt very sorry for what his disciples had done,

and told them to stop all further efforts in that direction."

'Arunachala Mahatmya', and the verse it contained was:

yojana-traya-maatre asmin kshetre nivasataaM nR^iNaam.h |

diikshaa aadikaM vinaa api astu mat saayujyaM mama aaj~nyaa ||

"Those who live within 24 miles of this place, i.e. this Arunachala

Hill, will get my Sayujyam, i.e. absorption into Me, freed from all

bonds, even if they do not take any Diksha. This is my order."

Also when asked if Narasimha Bharati had visited him, Sri Ramana said

that he had greatly wished to pay a visit but people around him had

prevented this. That was the fate of Mathadhipatis! They are like

prisoners! He [Ramana] himself compared his status to a prisoner as he

had to abide by what others around him wanted him to do!!

It should also be noted that Narasimha Bharathi had the highest regard

for Ramana, and used to refer to him as a 'baala-yogii' [the child

Master]. An incident is related [elsewhere] where one of his devotees

was pleasantly surprised to be asked whether he had paid a visit to

the 'baala-yogii', as the devotee had doubts about Ramana's stature!

Regards,

Sunder

advaitin, "Harsha" <harsha-hkl@h...> wrote:

> The Mountain Path

> Vol. 2 - OCTOBER 1965 - No. 4

>

> Initiation Rejected

> By Nagamma

>

> 13-1-1949:

>

> It seems that he told the whole story to the

Shankaracharya

> Narasimha Bharati and the latter regretted the episode and told his

> followers to make no such attempts in future.

>

December 14, 2001

Thank you Sunderji for the clarification. The original translation was from

the Mountain Path which was published by Ramanasharam.

What you say makes sense to me. I believe at least two other Shankracharyas

did find the time to sit at the feet of Sri Ramana.

I wonder how that is interpreted by the traditional scholars of Vedas who

may feel that the Sri Ramana's teachings are not in accord with the

Upanishads and Sri Shankra's teachings.

Perhaps Sri Atmachaitanyaji or others can give their views on that.

Love to all

Harsha

sunderh [sunderh]

Friday, December 14, 2001 9:43 AM

advaitin

Re: Initiation of Sri Bhagavan