Reminiscences of Shri Kunju Swamigal - 38

[Guest guest]

Whenever we went round the hill with Sri Bhagvan,we would ask someone

to look after the

kitchen work and another to look after the ashram.Those who had

accompanied Sri Bhagvan

earlier would stay back to give a chance to others.

Once Narayana Rao was in charge of the kitchen.He was a boyhood

friend of Chinaswami. He was

very good in English.He was a majestic figure.If chinaswami

occasionally criticised his

cooking,he would say,"Iam a Rao.You dare to teach me cooking!"

During moonlit nights,we used to eat puri,potato and such snaks in

the evenings and then

go round the hill.We used to carry something to eat on the way and

return early next morning.

Once after eating snaks,we were ready to start on our

giripradakshina.Chinnaswami had asked

Narayana Rao to look after the ashram that day.Rao said,"You are all

in the presence of

Sri Bhagvan all the time.Iam able to go with Him only after i finish

my work in the kitchen.

I want to go with Him now.I do not like this 'turn' business." There

were heated exchanges

between chinaswami and rao who finally said,"I will leave the

ashram." Chinnaswami said,

"All right,you can go if you do not want to be here."

The matter reached Sri Bhagvan's ears.When were were all ready,we

said to Sri Bhagvan

that we could start.Sri Bhagvan was silent for a while and said,"You

may all go." Again

we said,"Food has been packed." He said,"Eat after your return." We

were all stunned.Sri

Bhagvan said,"There is a conterversy because i go round the hill.You

please go round the

hill without me." He said these words calmly but firmly.Sri Bhagvan

did not go round the hill

afterwards.Even earlier some devoteees had felt that Sri Bhagvan

should stop going round the

hill as He used to feel a little tired on His return.Such devotees

were happy at Sri Bhagvan's

decision not to go round the hill.

Narayana Rao felt unhappy that he was the cause of Sri Bhagvan's

stopping giripradakshina.

He left the ashram in sorrow and went and stayed in Pavalakunru but

came and saw Sri Bhagvan

frequently.The head of Isanya mutt invited Rao to his mutt.He took

sannyas at Koyilur mutt

and called himself Narayanaswami.Even then he would come and see Sri

Bhagvan.He stayed in a

number of mutts and passed away recently.

 

in Sri Bhagvan,

sriram