Saranagati (surrender) Part 4

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Here is the concluding part.

Source: The Hindu dated May 09, 2003

 

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It was a delight to watch very young children run up the hill to be with the

Maharishi.

 

Ramani, a nonagenarian fondly recalls with tears in her eyes, "We never knew

that he was a Maharishi. He was `Omachi thatha,' to all of us (children). It

was Kavyakanta Ganapati Sastri, one of the earliest disciples of Bhagavan,

who first addressed him as Maharishi. My father Manavasi Ramaswamy Iyer, was

a great Ramana bhakta. He was a poet who composed many songs on `Bhagavan.'

He was popularly referred to as Saranagati Thatha on account of the popular

Saranagati song he composed on the Maharishi. But more poignant is the fact

that on the day Bhagavan died, Ramaswamy realised that he could compose no

more. The stream of songs that gushed out uninterrupted for 40 years dried

on the day of the Mahanirvana."

 

Ramani recalls the day when she and her sisters were regular visitors at the

Ashram. The little girls would be engrossed in doing a mock puja with idols

of clay and vessels of mud. But what was surprising was that Bhagavan would

volunteer to chant the mantras on their behalf. "I have seen Bhagavan

plaiting the hair of my sisters. I remember that one of my daughters,

Varalakshmi, even danced before him. On another occasion, at home, my sister

put a little bit of wheat husk into her mouth. Finding it very sweet, she

immediately ran up the hill to give it to Bhagavan. He not only accepted it,

but also mixed it with some sugar and distributed it to all those present.

My sister was thrilled. On yet another occasion Bhagavan playfully forced a

spicy *puliyodharai* down the throat of my father who was dyspeptic. But

surprisingly my father's stomach that would normally revolt even at the very

mention of chillies and spices remained placid not only on that day but ever

after. Bhagavan was also a very good cook and a very generous host and knock

us on our heads if we wasted anything." In fact no wastage was allowed in

the ashram and even the parings of vegetables were collected and given to

the cows.

 

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Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya!