Ramana Maharshi's kindness towards disciple Echamma

[Guest guest]

21st January, 1946

 

Echamma’s cooking was never very good; it would not contain vegetables and

spices in proper proportions. To Bhagavan her devotion was more tasty than

her preparations and so he never complained, but some who could not relish

the food casually hinted at this now and then while Bhagavan was cutting

vegetables in the kitchen in the early morning hours. After hearing their

complaints repeatedly Bhagavan said, “I don’t know. If you do not like the

food you need not eat it. I find it quite good and I shall continue to do

so.”

 

Sometime back, she was sending food for about a week or ten days through

someone else because perhaps she was out of town or not quite well. The

cooks one day forgot to serve the food sent by her and completed serving all

other items of food cooked in the Ashram. Bhagavan who would usually beckon

to others to start eating and would himself commence doing so, sat silently

that day with his left hand under the chin, and his right hand on the leaf.

The people there sitting in front began to look at one another and those in

the kitchen, or wondering and enquiring in whispers about the possible

reason. Suddenly they remembered that the food sent by Echamma had not been

served and, when they served it saying, “Oh, we have forgotten,” he gave the

formal signal to the others to eat and he too commenced eating the food.

 

It is usual for him to eat with greater relish the raw groundnuts offered to

him by a devotee than the highly seasoned sweets and puddings offered by

rich people, just as Lord Krishna ate with relish the beaten rice handed

over to him by Kuchela.

 

Source: Letters from Sri Ramanasramam VOLUMES I, II & Letters from and

Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam By SURI NAGAMMA Translated by D. S. SASTRI

 

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Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prasanth Jalasutram

 

Love And Love Alone