Some family reminiscences

[Guest guest]

Namami Sankaraachaaryam, sarvalokaika Poojitham

 

With permission blessings and grace from HH Swamy Vijeyendra

Saraswathi garu of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Paramacharya and

miracles

 

Some family reminiscences

Kalyani Rajagopalan

Our family for one has the proud privilege and fortune of enjoying

the grace and affection of the Holy Paramacharya right from the year

1964. Even during our adolescent period we had the good fortune of

having darshan of Paramacharya on many occasions.

One day, 1964, when His Holiness had taken his bath in the

Sarvatheertha tank at Kanchipuram and was just coming out, my husband

Sri v. Rajagopalan, sister-in-law Sow. Vasantha and I were just

waiting for His darshan. Then we were not closely known to the

Acharyal. On seeing Him my husband advanced made an appeal to His

Holiness to bless him by a visit to Arakkonam. At Arakkonam Thiru

Duraiswamy Aiyar and advocate Sri Krishnamurthy Aiyar were ardent

disciples of His Krishnamurthy Aiyar were ardent disciples of His

Holiness. His Holiness then enquired whether there was a open

watercourse like a tank, or a lake, or a river near Arakkonam, to

which my husband replied in the affirmative. His Holiness looked at

us and said that if God willed that way, it would take place in

fulfillment of our desire. Later Holiness started a journey by foot

to Bugga Theertham and reached Thakkolam village, which was on the

route. From Thakkolam, a word was sent to our family about the

arrival of His Holiness at Thakkolam. Immediately we proceeded to

Thakkolam and requested Him to accept our hospitality at Arakkonam.

His Holiness graciously accepted our invitation and arrived at

Arrakkonam. When He reached our house, where already people had

gathered, we received Him with Poornakumbham observing all

reverential norms. His Holiness to our astonishment took the coconut

in his hand and hurled it vertically upwards and to the surprise of

all, the coconut fell right on the head of His Holiness and stayed

put there. Then His Holiness wished that food arrangements might be

made to His retinue.

During the stay of His Holiness at Bugga Theertham, we carried food

everyday by a car to Bugga. But one day it so happened that not a

single vehicle was available, not even a taxi, for us to carry food

at Bugga. It was 1:30 p.m. We grew anxious. At that moment Sri

Simpson Jayaraman and his wife, who were at that time to Bugga, sent

their car we carried food. Evidently His Holiness knew our

predicament and came to our help.

Many years later again, when His Holiness was on his walking trek to

Bugga, we met Him at tiruttani. At Lord Subrahmanya's temple. His

Holiness asked us whether we could arrange food to Him and to his

followers during all the days of their stay at Bugga. We humbly said

that if His grace were bestowed on us, it would not be difficult task

to make the arrangement. When we reached the foot of the temple hill,

His Holiness remarked " Look after me, and you will be looked after. "

These words are still ringing in our ears, and those who heard these

words are still in the Math at Kanchipuram. Everybody said that it

was a rare fortune for us to be called on by His Holiness and

entrusted with the sacred work of feeding His followers. That evening

my husband sent his brother Mahalingam, his wife Vasantha and my

mother-in-law to Tiruttani to have the darshan of His Holiness. His

Holiness still remembered the name of Mahalingam. He observed that

Mahalingam's children were our children. Because of the grace of the

Paramacharya, our family has been able to weather many a storm.

In 1974, when the marriage of our eldest daughter was to be performed

at Madras, we sent to Kanchipuram, worshipped the deity, Kamakshi,

there and reached Thenampakkam to obtain the blessings of His

Holiness. His Holiness was observing silence then. But when we

reached the place, to our great luck, we heard His voice. We placed

before Him a plate containing a sacred Thali and the bride's apparel

(saree and jacket) and sought His Blessings. His Holiness in benign

grace touched the articles and blessed that all our family members

would live in bliss and prosperity. Shri R. Venkataraman, President

of India, with his wife Smt. Janaki Ammal who attended the marriage

of our eldest daughter at Madras, referred to the Paramacharya's

blessings to our daughter and said that her married life would be a

continuous sunshine. This event is ever green in my memory.

The account of the marriage of other daughters would make this write-

up longer than necessary. I shall confine myself to the case of our

fourth daughter Sow. Lalitha. We went to Trichy and saw a good

alliance for her. The boy's parents were also willing. We therefore

invited them to Arakkonam to `see' our daughter. On returning to

Arakkonam we were surprised to find Lalitha totally opposed to the

marriage. But Lalitha is second to none in her devotion to the

Periyaval. Hence we took Lalitha to Kanchi, and were for a while in

the august presence of His Holiness. After taking leave of His

Holiness, we returned to Arakkonam. In the meantime, we found a sea-

change in Lalitha's views. She now agreed to the proposals. We

naturally attributed this change in her outlook to the blessings of

His Holiness. Lalitha in her outlook to the blessings of His

Holiness. Lalitha is now at Trichy leading a happy family life. If

this not a miracle, what else could be?

In the year 1963, my husband while travelling to Vellore, suffered a

stroke which make him almost speechless. He was soon admitted in

C.M.C. at Vellore, where effective treatment was accorded to him.

Even though he recovered, he was speaking incoherently and often

faltering. On knowing that Paramacharya was then camping at Alagar

temple in Madurai, I sent along with my mother-in-law and had his

darshan, invoked His blessings and returned to Arakkonam.

But as soon as I returned home, I was told that my husband regained

his speech and was normal. What a wonder!

In 1984, Arakkonam was gripped by election fever and the atmosphere

was tense. Some anti-social elements of the rival group entered our

shop and attempted to assault my husband's brother Mahalingam.

Instantly Mahalingam's thoughts turned to Sri Jagadguru, and the

result was that the assailants fled. The damage was slight. There can

be no greater proof than this event to show that the grace of His

Holiness turned beasts into men. When we apprised His Holiness about

this he humorously called my brother-in-law " Katthikutthu Mahalingam "

(Dagger-stabbed Mahalingam) and placed a shawl on his shoulders.

Just three years ago, an ulcer developed in my right hand causing

swelling, pain and agony. I was not able to lift my hand and I could

not eat. My husband took me to several doctors at Madras who could

not even diagnose, let alone cure the ailment. I was taken to Kanchi

to see His Holiness. His Holiness was about to retire after giving

darshan. After darshan when we too were returning without hope, His

Holiness sent word through one Padmanabhan of the Math and called me

before Him. When I went in, the told me to prostrate at His feet. I

prostrated at His feet with deep reverence. We then returned to

Arakkonam. On the same night the ailment in my hand completely

vanished.

We are indeed fortunate for the privilege we have been granted to

narrate in the form of an article our memorable experience with His

Holiness and we express our humblest pranams to His Holiness on his

happy occasion of His Centenary Celebrations.