The omniscient Ramana - article from "the Hindu"

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An article that appeared in " The Hindu"

(newspaper) dated 16 April 2004.

 

 

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The omniscient Ramana

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Devotees knew that Ramana Maharishi was aware of even their unspoken

thoughts. And he would respond to them in a manner that was truly

amazing. M. R. VENKATARAMAN narrates an experience he had in his

childhood.

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A LITTLE over 100 years ago, on a Saturday morning, a 16-year-old

schoolboy in Madurai realised the total futility of equipping himself

to earn his livelihood. An irrepressible urge compelled him to

forthwith seek sanctuary in Arunachalam, marked in the school atlas as

Tiruvannamalai.

 

Renouncing all his worldly ties and without a twinge of regret for the

snapped past or a thought of concern for the basic needs of the

morrow, the lad set forth towards his goal. Arriving at the

destination, he elected to stay there for the rest of his life; he

gave peace and solace to tormented souls from all over the world. That

boy was Venkataraman who came to be revered as Bhagavan Sri Ramana or

Maharishi Ramana in later years.

 

To the common folk of Tiruvannamalai and its environs, he was simply

"Brahmana Swami" who was accessible to all of them and whose one look

lightened the burden in their minds.

 

I had the great fortune to have daily `darshan' of the Bhagavan during

the last few years of His mortal life.....

My father, late Dr. M. R. Krishnamurthy, had on an impulse,

relinquished his medical practice to be of service to him.

 

My mother (late) Subbulakshmi Ammal was equally devoted to the

Bhagavan. She used to prepare snacks and take them to Ramanashram as

offering to the sage and for distribution among the devotees present

in the meditation hall. After school hours, I used to visit the ashram

in the company of my parents. During the last few months of Bhagavan's

life when he was seriously ill, my father stayed on for night duty and

I was his silent companion.

 

It was the actual experience of many devotees that Bhagavan was aware

of even their unspoken thoughts and he would respond to them in a

manner that was truly amazing. This was because a life-link comes to

be established between disciple and Guru, like the one between parents

and children, and among brothers and sisters which Bhagavan himself

had hinted at.

 

This characteristic of Bhagavan was brought home to me in a telling

incident that shall remain etched in my memory and the purpose of this

article is only to share that experience with others.

 

In Tiruvannamalai town, our residence was on Avarangattu Street and

four doors away lived an old lady whom we called `Mudaliar Patti.'

(Not to be confused with Alangartanni Ammal of Karaikal who was also

known by the same name). I was studying in standard nine (it was

called Form Four in those days). One evening, when I returned from

school I heard this `Patti' telling my mother, "Do you know that

Brahmana Swami did most of his alms-taking on this street of ours

during his early days on the hill? He was given to silence in those

days. He would stand in front of our house and clap his hands in order

to draw our attention. We used to keep a stock of sour porridge

(`pulithakuzhu') always in our house. I would take a bowlful of this

and pour it into the cupped hands of the swami. He would drink the

porridge with relish and walk away without even wiping his hands!"

 

I did not believe this story and told my mother that `Mudaliar Patti'

was spinning a yarn. "Bhagavan would never have taken food from her

hands."

 

The next thing I knew was a stinging slap on my back. It was my mother

who was livid with anger. "How dare you sit in judgment over any

action reported of a realised soul like Bhagavan? Are we not ordinary

mortals who should know our place? Let this be the first and last time

of sacrilege on your part!" I was chastened by the ferocious intensity

of mother's bhakti.

 

The next day was a holiday and I accompanied my mother to the ashram

as she took a vessel of `omappodi' (shev) for distribution there.

Sachidanandam, who we knew well, was on duty there in the meditation hall.

 

As Bhagavan sampled this snack brought by mother, he spoke to her,

"Subbulakshmi, only today did Sachidanandam tell me that you used to

give bhiksha to him in the early days and that he would receive the

mixed rice in his towel. Noticing the sambar dripping through, it

seems you bought for him a copper thooku with lead coating inside.

Well, he had at least a towel to start with but I had no such luxury

in my begging days."

 

Bhagavan went on to reminisce, "You know Mudaliar Patti, who is a

neighbour of yours now. I would stand in front of her house and clap

my hands, whereupon she would bring a bowl of sour porridge. She would

pour it gently into my cupped hands. After consuming it I would walk

away without even wiping my hands."

 

This revelation was too much for me, standing at my mother's side. I

started sobbing aloud. Turning to me, Bhagavan asked my mother in a

compassionate tone. "What happened? Why is the boy weeping all of a

sudden?"

 

My mother replied grimly, "Only last evening Mudaliar Patti was

relating to me the same incident about sour porridge. This fellow

doubted the veracity of the account. Now that Bhagavan himself has

confirmed it in detail, he is feeling the burden of his guilt, let him

weep by way of `prayaschitham' (atoning penance).

 

At the end of the sobbing, I felt relieved and my mind became

extremely light.

 

Fifty years have gone by, but even now, as I recollect and relive the

experience, I am overcome with the same sensation of supreme peace.

That is a blessing which goes to prove that Bhagavan Ramana is still a

living presence to all those who have the devotion and diligence to

come into his energy field.

 

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om namo bhagavathe sri ramanaya!