Spiritual Stories by Ramana

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PILGRIMAGE TO SRI ARUNACHALA

 

" IN SRI RAMANA LILA it is stated that while Sambandha was coming to

Tiruvannamalai the forest tribes robbed him of his possessions. He was

a man of wisdom and knowledge.

 

What property had he? " , asked Suri Nagamma.

 

" Oh! That! He followed the path of devotion, didn't he? Therefore he

had golden bells and a pearl palanquin and other symbols of that

nature according to the injunctions of Iswara. He also had a Mutt (an

establishment) and all that a Mutt requires, " said Bhagavan.

 

" Is that so? When did he get all those? " Suri Nagamma further enquired.

 

Bhagavan replied with a voice full of emotion, " From the time when he

acquired the name of Jnana Sambandha, that is, even from his

childhood, he used to sing with uninterrupted poetic flow and go on

pilgrimages. He first visited a holy place called Thirukolakka, went

into the temple there and sang verses in praise of the Lord, keeping

time with his little hands. By the grace of Siva, cymbals of gold

inscribed with the mystic five letters were miraculously put into his

hands, and with them he kept time to his songs. Thereafter he visited

Chidambaram and other holy places and then went to a pilgrim centre

called Maranpadi. There were no trains in those days, you see. The

presiding deity in that place observed this little boy visiting holy

places on foot. His heart melted with pity, and He created a pearl

palanquin, a pearl umbrella and other accompaniments bedecked with

pearls suitable for sannyasis. He left them in the temple and appeared

to the brahmin priests and to Sambandha in their dreams, telling the

brahmins, `Give them to Sambandha with proper honours,' and told

Sambandha, `The brahmins will give you all these; take them.' As they

were gifts from Gods he could not refuse them. So Sambandha accepted

them with reverential salutations by doing pradakshina etc., and then

got into the palanquin. From that time onwards, he used to go about in

that palanquin wherever he went. Gradually some staff gathered around

him and a Mutt was established. But whenever he approached a holy

place, he used to alight from the palanquin as soon as he saw the

gopuram (tower) of the shrine and from there onwards, he travelled on

foot until he entered the temple. He came here (i.e. Arunachala) on

foot from Tirukoilur observing the same principle since, as you know,

the peak of Arunagiri is visible from there. "

 

A Tamil devotee said that that visit was not clearly mentioned in

Periapuranam, to which Bhagavan replied as follows: " No. It is not in

Periapuranam. But it is stated in Upamanyu's Sivabhaktivilasam in

Sanskrit. Sambandha worshipped Viratteswara, the presiding deity at

Kilur and won the god's favour with his verses and then he worshipped

Athulyanatheswara, the presiding deity at Arakandanallur in the same

way. From there he beheld the peak of Arunagiri and sang verses out of

excess of joy and installed an image of Arunachaleswara in the same spot.

 

" While he was seated there on a mandapam, God Arunachaleswara appeared

to him first in the shape of a jyoti (light) and then in the shape of

an old brahmin. Sambandha did not know who that old brahmin was. The

brahmin had in his hand a flower basket. Unaccountably, Sambandha's

mind was attracted towards that brahmin like a magnet. He at once

asked him with folded hands, `Where do you come from?' `I have just

come from Arunachalam. My village is here, nearby,' replied the

brahmin. Sambandha asked him in surprise, `Arunachala! But how long

ago did you come here?' The brahmin replied indifferently, `How long

ago? Daily I come here in the morning to gather flowers to make a

garland for Lord Arunachala and return there by the afternoon'.

Sambandha was surprised and said, `Is that so? But they said it is

very far from here?' The old brahmin said, `Who told you so? You can

reach there in one stride. What is there great in it?' Having heard

that, Sambandha became anxious to visit Arunachala and asked, `If so,

can I walk there?' The old man replied, `Ah! If an aged man like me

goes there and comes here daily, can't a youth like you do it? What

are you saying?' With great eagerness Sambandha asked, `Sir, if that

is so, please take me also along with you,' and started at once with

all his entourage. The brahmin was going in advance and the party was

following behind. Suddenly the brahmin disappeared.

 

" As the party was looking here and there, in confusion, a group of

hunters surrounded them, and robbed them of the palanquin, umbrella,

golden bells, the pearls and other valuable items, their provisions

and even the clothes they were wearing. They were left with only their

loin cloths. They did not know the way; it was very hot and there was

no shelter, and all were hungry as it was time for taking food. What

could they do?

 

" Then Sambandha prayed to God, `Oh! Lord, why am I being tested like

this? I don't care what happens to me, but why should these followers

of mine be put to this hard test?' On hearing those prayers, God

appeared in his real form and said, `My son, these hunters too are my

pramatha ganas (personal attendants). They deprived you of all your

possessions as it is best to proceed to the worship of Lord Arunachala

without any show or pomp. All your belongings will be restored to you

as soon as you reach there. It is noon time now. You may enjoy the

feast and then proceed further'. So saying he disappeared. " At once, a

big tent appeared on a level space nearby. Some brahmins came out of

the tent and invited Sambandha and his party to their tent,

entertained them to a feast with delicious dishes of various kinds and

with chandanam (sandal paste) and thambulam (betel leaves). Sambandha,

who was all along entertaining others, was himself entertained by the

Lord Himself. After they had rested for a while, one of the brahmins

in the tent got up and said, `Sir, shall we proceed to Arunagiri?'

Sambandha was extremely happy and accompanied the brahmin along with

his followers. But as soon as they set out on their journey, the tent

together with the people in it disappeared.

 

" While Sambandha was astonished at the strange happenings, the guide

who had been leading them to Arunachala disappeared as soon as they

arrived there. Suddenly, the tent along with the people in it and the

hunters who had robbed them previously appeared on all sides, and

placing before Sambandha all his belongings which they had robbed him

of earlier, they vanished. With tears of joy and with a thrill in his

body, Sambandha praised the Lord, for His great kindness, stayed there

for some days, worshipped Him with flowers of verses in praise of Him

and then proceeded on his journey. Out of His affection for Sambandha,

who was serving Him with reverence. God Himself, it seems, invited him

to this hill.

 

" Jnana Sambandha thus became one of the most famous bhaktas and was

much sought after. He led a vigorous and active life and went on

pilgrimage to several places in South India. He got married in his

sixteenth year. The bride and the bridegroom went to have darsan of

God in the local temple soon after the marriage ceremonies were over.

A large party went with them. When they reached the temple the place

was a blaze of light and the temple was not visible. There was however

a passage visible in the blaze of light. Jnana Sambandha told the

people to enter the passage. He himself went round the light with his

young wife, came to the passage and entered it as the others had done

earlier. The Light vanished leaving no trace of those who entered it.

The temple again came into view as usual.

 

Such was the brief but very eventful life of the sage. " So saying,

Bhagavan assumed silence, with his heart filled with devotion and with

his voice trembling with emotion.