Reminiscences of Shri Kunju Swamigal - 4

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Sometimes Sri Bhagvan used to feel His body disappear in a flash into

atoms and then a

smoke-like form used to appear, and again take a human shape.He used

to have this experience

when He was in the same position for long or when His body dwindled

due to lack of food.

When the body disintegrates into atoms and becomes one with the

elements, it is called

'pranava body'. Once when Sri Bhagvan decided to fast and become a

pranava body, He was on

His way to the jungle near Pachaiamman temple.Vasudeva Sastri who was

a boy at that time

studying in a Vedapatasala, ran to Him and said,"You have come all

alone.Let us go to

Virupaksha Cave." Sri Bhagvan said He would spend two days in the

jungle and come back, and

asked him to leave.The young Vasudeva Sastri unwilling to leave Sri

Bhagvan, wept.

Sri Bhagvan pacified him and said He would be back soon.Then Sri

Bhagvan walked a little further.

At that time, a cart was coming in the direction of Sri Bhagvan.The

head of the Isanya Mutt,

Sri Sathappaswami, was in the cart.He recognised the Brahmanaswami,

got down from the cart

and walked briskly towards Him.Delighted at seeing Brahmanaswami, he

said, "Swami! I never

thought i would see you here.It is my good fortune that i have your

darshan today.For a long

time,i have been planning to take you to my mutt.I was not sure

whether you would come.

Hence i hesitated.Now here is a golden opportunity for me.You must

come to our mutt." He spoke

with great feeling.As Sri Bhagvan was disinclined to go anywhere, He

tried to ward him off.

But the tall and hefty Sri Sathappaswami would not accept any

refusal.He bodily lifted Sri

Bhagvan and put Him in the cart.Sri Bhagvan was bound by his fetters

of love.

The head of the mutt was overjoyed at being in the company of a great

jnani.He offered Sri

Bhagvan a special seat,fed Him and treated Him with great reverence

and devotion.Sri

Bhagvan did not like all this special attention."I can't accept all

these things,let me go,"

He said.Sri Sathappaswami said that He could live as He pleased and

begged Him to spend some

more time with him.Sri Bhagvan kept quiet.

After a week, early one morning, He quietly slipped out of the mutt

and went to Pavalakunru

temple.Sri Sathappaswami felt sad when he found that Sri Bhagvan had

left.When he heard that

He was at Pavalakunru temple,he went to see Him there.This temple

also belonged to the

Isanya Mutt.He asked the head of the temple to arrange for proper

feeding of Sri Bhagvan.

We must be eternally greateful to Sri Sathappaswami who bound Sri

Bhagvan with the silken

thread of love and prevented Him from going into the forest where He

would have remained

unseen.It is because of Sri Sathappaswami that we have had the good

fortune of having the

Sage of Arunachala in our midst.

 

in Sri Bhagvan,

sriram