God on earth

[Guest guest]

God on earth

Y. Krishnamurthy

 

It was February, 1967, at Allagadda, a taluk headquarters in Kurnool

district of A.P. I was Special Grade Block Development Officer and

my office and the official quarters for the staff were situated

about 2 km. from the town of Allagadda at Mallareddy Veda Nagar

(M.V. Nagar). Ahobilam, the abode of Lord Narasimha is about 25 km.

east, situated in the Nallamalai hill range.

 

His Holiness Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvathi Swamigal,

the " Periaval " , accompanied by " Pudu Perival " , Sri Jayendra

Sarasvathi Swamigal, was on His journey from Proddatur in Cuddapah

district to Srisailam. Sri Krishnamurthy, the Manager of the Math

and Sri R. Subramaniam, a retired official, who were looking after

the Paramacharya's programmes in Cuddapah district called on me to

give the best news of my life. " Sri Periaval will be camping at your

house in a week, en route to Srisailam. Please vacate your quarters

and make necessary arrangements. " It was a God-send. I did as they

desired to make the stay for Their-Holinesses comfortable and

convenient.

 

A day before the scheduled arrival of the party, I and my family

went to Chagalamarri where Sri Periaval was camping. When I

mentioned about the next day's visit to my place, He casually

replied " I am not a Government Official to go as per tour

programmes. I move as I desire. " I felt that I missed a life's

benefaction. The next day Sri Periaval went to Ahobilam Kshetra by a

cart track, by-passing Allagadda, making about 20 Kms. That was an

important occasion. It was the completion of 60 years of His

Peethathipatyam. There were only a few selected scholars around Him

on that auspicious occasion, including Sri N. Ramesan, I.A.S. from

Hyderabad.

 

For M.V. Nagar and a Sathyanarayan temple, Sri Vengal Reddy and

gifted about 50 acres of land in memory of his father-in-law, Malla

Reddy. Vengal Reddy had earlier visited Kancheepuram and requested

Sri Periaval to visit M.V. Nagar and He agreed. I was largely

instrumental for the setting up of M.V. Nagar colony in 1955. My

Reddy and I felt that Sri Periaval who was staying close to

Allagadda should be again requested to visit M.V. Nagar. We had to

travel 30 kms to upper Ahobilam. We had no vehicles to travel by.

Allagadda was a small place where no cars or jeeps were available.

We could not find even a lorry. It was 3.00 p.m. We were afraid that

Sri Periaval may leave Ahobilam next day bypassing even Allagadda.

A miracle: While we were in a terrible agony as to how to reach His

Holiness, a friend of mine drove in all the way from Nellore about

250 kms, in a Fiat car just to say " hello " to me. We felt that it

was His wish that we met Him. We all drove straight to upper

Ahobilam. It was 5.00 p.m. Sri Pudu Periaval and Sri Krishnamoorthy,

Manager, took us to Sri Periaval to endorse our request to visit

M.V. Nagar and reminded Him about Sri Vengal Reddy's request earlier

at Kancheepuram. Again it was " I am not a Government Official to go

as per tour programmes and I go as I feel " . For a moment we felt

terribly upset and unfortunate.

 

But Shri Pudu Perival showed a way out. At that time of the year the

Uthsavamoorthy of Lord Narasimha went around the village of

Ahobilam, before the Brahmothsavam festival started. This has been

an ancient custom. Sri Pudu Periaval suggested to Sri Periaval that

the Ahobila-Kshetra darshan was not complete without darshan of the

Uthsavamoorthy. At that time the Uthsavamoorthy was very near M.V.

Nagar Readily Sri Periaval agreed to visit M.V. Nagar so that He

could have the darshan of Uthsavamoorthy the next morning. He called

me and said He would be reaching our place around midnight. We had

the unique fortune of receiving Sri Periaval and party around 2.00

a.m. Sri Periaval called for the day's 'Indian Express' where an

Italian philosopher had written an article " God on Earth " , to mark

the great occasion of the sixtieth year of His Peethadhipatyam a per

Tamil calendar. Hundreds of devotees mostly from South came to have

darshan of Sri Perival. I felt I saw God in my house and I had

everything I wished in my life.

 

Malla Reddy Veda Nagar uninhabited for a decade, is now bubbling

with life after Sri Periaval visited the place.

 

Namami Sankaraachaaryam, sarvalokaika Poojitham

 

With permission blessings and grace from HH Swamy Vijeyendra

Saraswathi garu of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Paramacharya and

miracles