RAMANA MAHARSHI AS VIEWED BY TWO FORMER PRIME MINISTERS

[Guest guest]

RAMANA MAHARSHI AS VIEWED BY TWO FORMER PRIME MINISTERS

 

1. Morarji Desai, Prime Minister of India (March 1977 to July 1979)

 

I had the privilege of seeing Ramana Maharshi in August 1935 in the

hall in which he usually sat. He was sitting on a sofa and wore only

a loincloth. I could see an aura on his face, which was glowing

with peace and joy. I sat opposite to him but did not ask him

anything. He too did not say anything to me. I sat over an hour and

just looked at his face. Till today I have not seen that aura, that

joy or peace on anybody else's face. While I sat there, no questions

arose in my mind, nor did I feel any desire to ask anything. I was

at complete peace with myself. It was this experience which

convinced me that Ramana Maharshi had realized God or Truth. Some of

his disciples who were present asked him some questions, which he

answered. He, however, said nothing of his own accord.

I had to leave the place next day by train about twelve.

About an hour-and-a half before the time of departure, I approached

Ramana Maharshi for permission to leave. He told me that I should

go after I have eaten. We sat down for lunch at about eleven and Sri

Ramana Maharshi sat for lunch with us. I bowed to him after lunch

and left.

The visit to Ramana Maharshi left an abiding impression on

me. I learnt by sitting in his presence that a person who wanted to

realize God had to strive and pursue yoga by himself. (Source: The

Story of My Life by Morarji Desai, 1974, vol. I pp.128-30.)

Presiding over the 99th Jayanti celebrations of Ramana Maharshi at

Ramana Kendra, New Delhi, on 13th January 1979, Morarji Desai as

Prime Minister, said:

The Maharshi seemed to know everything. He knew the language

of the animals. He listened to their complaints. He treated every

being in the same way, whether it was a cow or a dog, a crow or a

monkey. All were equal in his eyes, the beggar and the millionaire.

He never went out of Tiruvannamalai. He refused to go out and

preach. He said, " If I am a jnani, I consider everybody else a jnani

too. What is there to give? " He regarded everybody as himself. He

made no attempt to convert anybody. One got transformed by his very

presence.

Many civilizations have flourished and then disappeared. But in this

country you find our old culture and the ancient religion still

alive. And it is this that keeps the country alive. It is persons

like the Maharshi who keep it alive…All learning should come from

within. That is the way the Maharshi showed. He did not criticize

any other way of life. He said, " Stick to your own religion and

follow it properly. " Ramana Maharshi taught that one could do

sadhana in one's chosen way and reach the goal. Self-enquiry brings

the light of the Self to illumine every path. (Source: The Mountain

Path, April 1979, pp.127-8.)

 

2. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India (Jan. to March 1977 and

Jan.1980 to Oct. 1984.)

 

Her visit to the Ashram on November 6, 1978, was for about two

hours. She sat in deep meditation for a long while in the old hall.

Later she said:

I have visited many ashrams and meditated there. Here at

Ramanasramam I had lost hold of the world and myself and was with

the Eternal Silence and Peace and quietude.

In the Visitor's Book she wrote:

My visit was much too brief, yet long enough to sense the atmosphere

of utter peace and harmony. (Source: The Mountain Path, Jan. 1979,

pp. 62-3.)

Papul Jaykar in her book Indira Gandhi writes:

 

During her visit to Ramanasramam on November 6,1978, she saw the

samadhis of a crow, a deer and a cow. All the three animals were

inmates of the Ashram and when they fell ill the Maharshi had nursed

them himself before their death. Indira Gandhi lingered before the

samadhi of the crow. She remained quiet for sometime, then said:

samadhis are erected only for enlightened men, that the Maharshi

should have erected a samadhi for the cow I could understand. I

could also understand it for a deer, an animal associated with the

Ashram. But I was puzzled by the samadhi for a crow. It is now that

I grew aware of the nature of the Maharshi's compassion. For him all

life was sacred. (p. 367)

 

prof laxmi narain (prof_narain)

 

Source and courtesy: Sri Ramana Kendram, Hyderabad

This article was published in Sri Ramana Jyothi,

monthly magazine of the Kendram.