Ramana Maharshi is The Helper Of The Helpless

[Guest guest]

24th May, 1949

 

You remember, till 1943, in the old hall there used to be a door on the

southern side opposite to where Bhagavan used to sit on the sofa and a

window in the southern wall

which is now converted into a door.

 

Devotees used to enter by the southern door, have a darshan of Bhagavan who

is the incarnation of Dakshinamurthy and go out by the northern door.

 

Some ladies used to sit on the southern side opposite to Bhagavan. As time

passed, the number of visitors increased and ladies with their children

began sitting there. The children naturally began to create some

nuisance.Besides that, from 1943 onwards, the number of visitors of all

types increased still more.

 

Moreover, some poor ladies were coming with their children to prostrate and

the children were urinating there. The mothers do not get even a cloth to

wipe it out; and even if a cloth was given, some of the modern ladies would

not take the trouble to clean the place. Therefore, Bhagavan’s attendants

had to clean it up.

 

They were tired and vexed at this and thought of preventing such uncivilised

people from coming into the hall. Bhagavan, however, would not, under any

circumstances, agree to it.

 

Hence, they began thinking of preventing ladies from sitting in the hall and

making

arrangements for their sitting in the verandah only.

 

At last, one day, they went to Bhagavan and told him that they would make

seating

arrangements for ladies outside. Bhagavan thereupon asked why men should sit

in the hall if women could not sit there.

 

The attendants stated the difficulties they were experiencing in looking

after the ladies that come and go. Bhagavan said, “What work is there in the

hall even for Bhagavan? It will be all right if he sits under the almond

tree, which is opposite.

 

There will then be no trouble or worry for anybody, whatever the children

may do.” When he said that, they gave up all their attempts to isolate the

ladies.

 

Instead, the window on one side was replaced by the door on the other side

and vice-versa. After that, the ladies got their seating place opposite to

Bhagavan’s feet.

 

A similar incident happened in 1946.The people used to wander about the town

and so when they came to Bhagavan’s presence very much tired, some used to

squat on the floors with legs outstretched; some used to discuss their

affairs in loud voices and some used to lie down and snore.

 

That used to happen between 12 noon and 2 p.m. Mothers used to sleep while

breast-feeding the children and the other children used to wander and play

about everywhere. When attempts were made to send such people away, it seems

Bhagavan said, “Poor people! They must have wandered about a good deal. They

are now taking some rest. How could you drive them away? Let them stay on.”

 

Krishnaswami and others had to clean the places themselves. Unable to put up

with that nuisance any longer, Krishnaswami was requesting Bhagavan to sit

in the hall only. Bhagavan did not agree.

 

Krishnaswami: “Who will tidy up the nuisance committed by the children?”

 

Bhagavan: “It should be all right if their mothers are asked to clean it up

themselves and are requested to be careful thereafter.”

 

Bhagavan: “Poor people! They come here only to see Swami; and they get all

the required conveniences here.”

 

One day, Bhagavan saw a poor man struggling under a tree as he could not get

his share of the food. Next day, when the gong was struck,Bhagavan got up

and went to the tree where the poor people had gathered, stood there and

said, “If you do not give them food first, I will not come to the dining

hall at all.

 

I will stand under the tree along with these people, stretch out my hands

for food like them, and when I am given a ball of food, I will eat it, go

straight to the hall and sit there.” From that day onwards, it is only after

food is sent to the poor, they strike the gong in the dining hall.

 

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