The Great Transition Part Six

[Guest guest]

THE GREAT TRANSITION

 

 

PART SIX

 

 

 

MILESTONES

 

 

 

Not only the Sarvadhikari but a number of other devotees also have been snatched away by death since the Maharshi left the Ramana body he had worn.

In particular we must mention Major Alan Chadwick, widely known as Sadhu Arunachala. He was not the first European to come here but he was the first to settle down and make the Ashram his home. He came as far back as 1935 and was here together with Paul Brunton. The difference was that he stayed on, obtaining permission from the Sarvadhikari to build himself a small house in the Ashram premises, incidentally the first private room to be built within the Ashram.He became a familiar figure in the Ashram and a comfort to many, especially to visitors who had never seen Bhagavan in the body.

 

It seemed at first that the chanting of the Vedas which had been practised morning and evening in Bhagavan’s lifetime might come to an end simply because there was no one to carry it on. People regretted this, since it had been and still was a welcome occasion for meditation, the chanting itself helping to still the mind.

 

It was Mr. Chadwick who averted the danger by organising a Patasala, that is a traditional boarding school where the boys learn Vedic chanting as well as Sanskrit, English and some general education, with tuition, board, clothing, all provided. It was an expense, but Mr. Chadwick collected donations for it so that it should not be a burden on the Ashram. Since his death it has been ably carried on by Mrs. F. Taleyarkhan. Donations for its upkeep are always welcome.

 

Remarkably enough, it was also Mr. Chadwick, a European, who started the Sri Chakra Poojas. These are beautiful and impressive services and are widely appreciated. They are held every Friday and full-moon day and on the 1st of every Tamil month.

Devotees who wish a special prayer to be made on their behalf write to the President to be included in one of them, enclosing a fee of Rs.10.

 

Another prominent devotee who has left us is Swami Ramanananda Saraswathi. During Bhagavan’s lifetime, it was he who, while still a householder under the name of Sri Munagala Venkataramiah, compiled the ‘Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi’, the largest record of Bhagavan’s teachings. Since then also he has added several valuable titles, like, ‘Tripura Rahasya’ and ‘Advaita Bodha Deepika’, to our book list.

His profound knowledge of scriptures and western philosophy and his austere life, and childlike ways made others revere him as a gem among the disciples of Bhagavan. His death caused, outwardly, a vacuum in the Asramam.

 

Gridalur Sambasiva Rao of Nellore, a lawyer, first came to Sri Maharshi as early as 1923, with his brother Sri Narayana Rao and his sister Smt. Lakshammal.

The power and grace of Bhagavan’s look overwhelmed him at one stroke, as it were. All his worries vanished and devotion surged up in him. He remained a staunch devotee till his last days. Not only that, but through him numerous families from Andhra Pradesh came to know of Sri Maharshi and received his blessings. He was a great support to the Ashram management in all its various activities. One particularly great honour was that when Sri Maharshi accepted the terms of a will drawn up for him in 1938, it was his privilege to sign on behalf of Sri Maharshi (actually Maharshi drew a line and Sambasiva Rao signed on his behalf, since Bhagavan had no name to sign). After the Mahanirvana of Sri Maharshi he was made secretary of the Ashram managing committee and he continued to serve the Ashram with the same whole-hearted zeal till his death on November 5th, 1962, The

loss was a personal one to many of the inmates of the Ashram. His devotion to Sri Maharshi was complete. May he rest in peace at the feet of Bhagavan!

 

Sama Iyer was a deaf old man, who had served Bhagavan for a long time until, due to old age and physical debility, he asked Bhagavan to let him go, since he could no longer physically serve him.

Bhagavan, laughing, said: “For such long service you deserve a pension which will be in the form of eating and keeping quiet.”

He also has passed away and our very old devotees still miss him in the Ashram.

 

V. Narayanaswami Iyer, popularly known as ‘Chellam Iyer’, the cashier of the Ashram (incidentally, he is also related to the Maharshi) who served the Ashram for 17 years, also passed away this year.

A number of new people have come and new houses been built to add to our small colony.

There is also a constant flow of visitors from India and abroad, the majority of whom nowadays are people who never saw Bhagavan in his lifetime.

 

Apart from private residences, two new guesthouses have also been put up, thanks to the donations of Sri K. Padmanabhan and Sri V. Narayanaswami Iyer H. C. Khanna. This is particularly useful for lady visitors, as they are not allowed to stay in the Ashram premises. For single-men a number of

self-contained rooms have been built.

Work is proceeding with a shrine and meditation-hall over the Maharshi’s Samadhi Shrine. The plan is ambitious but the work has to keep pace with available funds.

 

 

End of part six

To be continued

 

 

 

THE MOUNTAIN PATH

(Quarterly)

Editor: Arthur Osborne

L1 JANUARY 1964 No 1