Ramana Maharshi Devotee Sri Janaki Mata

[Guest guest]

The following article, which describes the life of a unique devotee of

Bhagavan Ramana, was written by Darlene Delisi Karamanos, using Dr. G.

Swaminathan's Biography of Guru Devi Sri Janaky Matha for source material.

July 27th is Janaky Matha's one hundredth birth anniversary.

 

Sri Janaky Matha was a wife, mother of seven children, community volunteer,

devotee of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi and an enlightened soul. Her amazing

life of inner visions, spiritual yearning, surrender and bhakti inspires all

to pursue the spiritual ideal, delve into the Supreme Self and not waste

even a minute in the process.

 

Born on July 27, 1906, the child Janaky exhibited unusual detachment. She

accepted all things with a joyous heart. Janaky was full of devotion to the

local deities, Sri Viswanatha and Visalakshi, and as she grew in years,

Janaky desired to be like Sita, the ever-faithful, pure and holy wife of Sri

Ram.

 

In her thirteenth year her uncle discussed with Janaky her willingness to

marry a doctor who was then thirty-two years of age. When told that the

widower had two daughters, aged two and six, Sri Janaky replied, " What of

that? That doesn't make much of a difference and, after all, I like

children. " Even though her parents were not too keen on this matrimonial

arrangement because of the extreme age difference, Janaky intuitively felt

that the doctor would be helpful in the attainment of her goal of

Liberation. So in 1919, Sri Janaky married Dr. C. S. Ganapathy (known

hereafter as 'Doctor'), in a quiet ceremony performed before Lord

Venkataramana of Tirupathi. The Doctor was often heard to remark: " Wherever

you (Janaky) go, I shall follow you. " And where else could she go, but to

God? Living in Tirupathi, Sri Matha's devotion to Sri Venkataramana grew

steadily.

 

In 1921, she gave birth to a daughter and named her Padmavathy, after the

consort of Lord Venkataramana. Then a son, Srinivasa Subrahmanya, was born,

and several years later another daughter, Sarada.

 

There came a point in her life when she realized: " To none but Him (God)

should true love be directed. To turn to the Divine is the only truth in

life. " From that day on she continued to take care of her family and

responsibilities but shifted her life's ideal to that of total devotion to

God.

 

At the age of twenty her daily routine was as follows: She read the Gita and

other Scriptures until about 1 a.m. every night. Janaky would get up at 5

a.m., finish her ablutions and meditate until 7 a.m. Then she would take a

bath, recite hymns while attending to household work for about three hours,

and after sending the children to school and the Doctor to work, she would

engage herself heart and soul in worship until 1 p.m. From 1 to 4 p.m. she

was busy looking after the needs of her husband and children. At 4:30 p.m.

she would go to the Ladies' Club (which did much volunteer community

service), attend meetings, play tennis and return home at 7 p.m. Upon

returning home she would meditate for an hour before taking her supper of

gruel and milk. Though she took very little food, she was healthy and always

cheerful.

 

Although the Doctor was then earning a good salary, owing to various

reasons, there was a lack of funds. One day before going to bed she prayed

to Sri Subrahmanya to keep her carefree by taking on His shoulders the

oppressive burden of the family's welfare. The next day, a sannyasi

(ascetic) came to her house. She was all alone when he said to her, " You

were calling me yesterday. I have come from Palni. Leave to me all your

family worries and worship me with a carefree heart. Whatever is needed for

the family - be it money or other needs and necessities of life - will be

provided for. " He asked her to give him the promise that she would never

forget him. After she agreed, he disappeared.

 

After this she had many wonderful spiritual experiences and visions of

deities, often lasting the whole night.

 

Sri Subrahmanya came twice more in the disguise of a sannyasi. When Janaky

revealed this to the Doctor, he replied with scepticism, " I will believe

your words only if He comes here when I am in. " Janaky responded, " If that

be your desire, let it be so. "

 

The Doctor had just returned for lunch when they both felt a presence

outside. Seeing a sannyasi, both Janaky and the Doctor came out and offered

him a chair. He took some food and said, " You wanted me to come when your

husband is in, and here I am. " To make the Doctor believe His Divinity, He

exhibited some psychic powers. He asked for another chair and requested

Janaky to be seated. She felt reluctant to sit on the same level with Him,

but he insisted and asked her what more she desired. Janaky requested Him to

bless her with a Sadguru in human form.

 

What the sannyasi next said to her shocked her very much. " I am none none

other Subrahmanya. Much pleased by your meritorious actions and depth of

devotion, I have a longing to be born as a child to you. I will play with

you for two years and then my power will get infused in your heart. " Janaky

exclaimed, " My Lord! You want me to plunge deep into the ocean of samsara

(worldliness) when my desire is to ferry across it. " She argued that she

would not be a good person to bring up an incarnation since she was on fire

with renunciation. What if she forgot His Divinity and scolded and punished

him? What if she took pride that she had Subrahmanya at her beck and call;

she would be in the depths of delusion. What if she turned to psychic powers

and fell short of her goal of realization? Lastly, she begged, " Let me be

blessed with a Guru. "

 

With a smile of His face, Subrahmanya said, " Am I not your Guru? Anyhow, if

such be your wish, there is a Mahatma by name Sri Ramana Maharshi in

Tiruvannamalai. You may go and have His darshan. " He showed Janaky a photo

of Bhagavan Ramana that he was carrying. It was the first time that she had

heard about Bhagavan Sri Ramana. Saying that he would come again to discuss

with her His desire to be born as her child, He disappeared from sight.

 

Her heart then surged with an intense love for Bhagavan Sri Ramana. She

continued with her meditations, worship, household chores and volunteer

work. Day by day, Janaky could feel a number of changes happening to her

nervous system. Her visions continued. A severe pain developed in her spine

and she became bedridden. Her nerves seemed to have been shattered and often

the heartbeat was faint and hardly audible. In spite of all this, her mind

remained peaceful. Friends wanted her to be seen by specialists, but the

Doctor was sure it was not a disease to be treated medically and that, by

the grace of God, she would be all right. This state continued for forty

days and then disappeared as mysteriously as it came.

 

After a few days, a sadhu appeared before her and again asked about

Subrahmanya being born to her. Again she pleaded that she didn't need

obstacles, but a helping hand. The sadhu assured her that, " Begetting a son

will in no way shackle you in bondage. There will be no hindrances to your

spiritual progress. "

 

Janaky and the Doctor went to Sri Ramanasramam on April 20, 1935. Her long

cherished yearning was now going to materialize. Bhagavan was sitting in the

meditation hall. The moment Janaky entered the hall, the full and gracious

look of Bhagavan fell on her. She stood motionless, intoxicated with the

nectar flowing through Bhagavan's eyes. Bhagavan asked her to be seated. Her

heart swelled with joy. Her mind was ready to absorb the full flow of

Bhagavan's Grace. Throughout that night she enjoyed visions of Bhagavan

blessing her.

 

To Janaky, Bhagavan was no different from the formless Arunachaleswara. In

the evening hours of their departure day, Janaky knelt before Bhagavan and

spoke to Him of her desire for liberation and Sri Subrahmanya's decision to

incarnate in her womb. She also revealed her experience of the all-pervasive

nature of the Paramatma and awaited instructions from Bhagavan as to what

she should do next. He said, " Continue doing it in just the same way. "

 

With the infant Swaminathan, Janaky and the Doctor returned to Sri

Ramanasramam for the blessings of Bhagavan in August 1936. For a long time

Janaky had been praying for her husband's spiritual awareness to be aroused

so that he might not, at any time, stand in the way of her spiritual

progress. Bhagavan asked both the Doctor and Janaky to come before him and

he read aloud " Upadesa Saram " (Essence of Instruction) and asked them to

follow it. Janaky's heart was overflowing with joy.

 

To quote from Janaky Matha's biography:

 

" .From the moment she first came to Bhagavan Sri Ramana, He was her all. She

reasoned, 'There is only one thing in the world worth achieving: the root

cause of the whole universe, the 'One Without a Second'. I must attain it,

realize it and experience it with Bhagavan's Grace. "

 

Physically and mentally drained by her spiritual experiences, Janaky sought

Bhagavan's help in October 1936. At an opportune moment, she prostrated

before Bhagavan and poured out her heart to him. She told of her spiritual

experiences and begged for his protection and the removal of obstacles in

her quest for Liberation. She also expressed her fear of becoming deranged

because she had no Guru to guide her. Bhagavan replied: " Who told you that

you have no Guru? Don't get disheartened. I am here as your Guru; nothing

will upset your mind. " With that assurance, she transferred all her cares

and worries to Bhagavan Ramana.

 

About a year later, Janaky felt something like a forceful explosion at the

back of her head and powerful currents throughout her spinal cord. She did

not think her physical body could withstand it. She said to herself, 'Let

things take their own course. The grace of the Guru will do what is right

and good for me.' This state continued for twenty-six days after which she

asked the Doctor to take her to Sri Ramanasramam. He was reluctant at first

due to her evident weakness, but allowed himself to be persuaded. Sri

Bhagavan's full glance of grace poured forth blessings and strength on her.

Even before Janaky had informed Bhagavan of her experiences, he spoke to her

about a similar experience he had had in his early days: " Look here. Don't

get frightened. One day while I was lying in bed I felt as if I had been

bombed from inside at the back of my head. "

 

The young Swaminathan, who had just completed his second year, said to

Janaky in a sweet, childish voice, " Mother, see here! That Bhagavan we saw

there in Tiruvannamalai is always standing near you. He follows you wherever

you go. " These words were a source of great consolation and joy as Janaky

continued to feel the protecting grace of Bhagavan.

 

It was January of 1938 when Janaky's body became rigid from her toes upward.

She thought she was nearing her end. Her mind withdrew into Sri Ramana in

the heart. She had many visions and experiences, but the one that crowned

all others was the experience of the dynamic force or Sakti ascending and

embracing the Supreme Self. The kundalini continued to push upwards and

tried to break through the spot in the top of her head. Janaky cried out,

" What are you trying to do? Bhagavan Sri Ramana and I are inseparable!

Against the downpour of the Guru's Grace, you can do me no harm. " With this,

the force stopped its attempts and bodily feeling returned. She told the

Doctor that she had at last been set free from the rounds of birth and death

and had attained her long cherished goal. The purpose of her earthly life

was fulfilled. By the grace of Bhagavan Sri Ramana, Janaky became a

Jivanmukta (liberated soul) at thirty-two years of age.

 

Janaky had travelled between Ramanasramam and her home whenever she felt the

need to be near Bhagavan, but on January 18, 1938, while visiting

Ramanasramam, she did not feel like continuing in family life. Doctor was

upset and felt as if he had now lost his second wife. The younger children

were grief-stricken. Their appeals and tears did not dissuade her as she was

revelling in a glorious spiritual realm. Then, the next morning, she

remembered the promise she had made to Bhagavan to remain in the family for

five more years. She immediately said she would go back with them to

Kakinada. Bhagavan gazed at her and said, " Did I ask you to become a

sannyasini? Look at me. I have not taken sannyasa and do not wear the ochre

cloth. You have only one family, but I have to shoulder the burden of all

these devotees and their families. " She knew then that renunciation must be

in the heart.

 

Janaky was wondering why she should be having so many visions and

experiences when her only desire was to be free from the cycle of birth and

death. Bhagavan gently said, " Can one get this for the mere asking? It seeks

the heart where it wants to shine. "

 

As the Doctor and Janaky were preparing to leave, Bhagavan told the Doctor,

" You doctors say that the heart is at the left side of the chest. But the

whole body is the heart for yogis. Jnanis have their hearts both within and

without. " He then gazed at Janaky and again assured her: " I am always with

you. "

 

Bhagavan was her All. She desired only to contemplate the Holy Feet of

Bhagavan. In the months and years that followed, devotees were drawn to

Janaky as bees to honey. She began to be addressed as Sri Matha. She took a

few of them to Sri Ramanasramam and said to Bhagavan, " All these people seek

me as their Guru.I have never wished to be a Guru. I would request Bhagavan,

in all humility, to kindly accept these devotees as Bhagavan's disciples. "

 

Bhagavan said, " When you are above likes and dislikes, desires and

aversions, let things take their own shape. To the extent they believe in

you, they will reap results. I will protect those who, with full faith,

trust in you. "

 

Another incident that happened at Ramanasramam occurred when an oil lamp

went out and the hall was in darkness for a few minutes. When the light came

back, three-year-old Swaminathan exclaimed, " The light failed and Bhagavan

was not visible; the light came back and Bhagavan is seen! " Bhagavan turned

to the boy and said, " What you say is precisely correct. When there is

ajnana (ignorance), God is not realized. With the dawn of jnana (wisdom), He

is seen. " As it was Bhagavan who gave Sri Matha her light of wisdom, she

decided to pay for the electrification of the Ashram.

 

Even after realization, Sri Matha carried on with her domestic and social

activities. She was elected President of the Child Welfare Centre and Vice

President of the Ladies' Club. She performed all her actions for God's sake

in a supremely detached manner. With equanimity of mind, she saw the Lord in

all of the world.

 

To some people she would advise, " Lead a righteous life and discharge your

duties to the family, conduct family worship, practise charity, have an

abundant life and learn to gradually still the waves of passion. " To others

who wanted to know more about Liberation, she taught, " Always nurture Divine

thoughts, obliterate likes and passions and surrender to the Guru. "

 

There were times when Sri Matha was lost in samadhi, oblivious to her

surroundings. Food had to be forced into her mouth for sustenance and she

had to be bathed by others, as she was oblivious of her body. At other times

she attended to her routine work and concealed her exalted state.

 

After the marriage of her daughter, Sarada, Sri Matha was making final

arrangements for a permanent stay at Sri Ramanasramam. After bowing before

Bhagavan, the ten-year-old Swaminathan poured out his sorrow, weeping

bitterly and rolling on the ground. He sobbed, " Pray give us back my mother

and order her to come with us to Thanjavur. "

 

Bhagavan, with a voice choked with emotion said to Sri Matha, " What can I

do? " Then turning to Swaminathan said affectionately, " Take your mother and

go back to Thanjavur. " Sri Matha submitted to Bhagavan's request and

returned with the Doctor, Swaminathan and the three-year-old Ramachandran.

 

At Sri Matha's request the southern portion of the family house remain as an

ashram and spiritual centre with Sri Bhagavan as the Sadguru. The main

objective of the centre is to spread the teachings of Bhagavan Ramana.

 

Moments before her passing away, in April 1969, devotees and relatives

chanted Bhagavan's hymn Aksharamanamalai, with the refrain of " Arunachala

Shiva, Arunachala Shiva. "

 

Sri Matha's life stands as a shining example of perseverance to the ideal of

Liberation and devotion to Bhagavan Ramana. Once, when some of her devotees

were having a lengthy discussion of Bhagavan's 'Who am I?' enquiry, she

halted them saying, " Enough of this discussion! My head begins to swim with

such dry and useless discussions. Amma knows only one thing - to show

devotion to Sri Bhagavan. " It was through such steadfast devotion that Sri

Matha achieved Liberation.

 

" A Realized Soul who knows the truth is aware of the fact that he is not the

body. But there is one thing more. Unless one looks upon death as a thing

that is very near and might happen at any moment, one will not be aware of

the Self. This means that the ego must die, must vanish, along with the

inherent vasanas. " - Letters from Sri Ramanasramam

 

Source: http://www.arunachala.org/newsletters/2006/?pg=may-jun

 

--

à°“à°‚ నమో భగవతే à°¶à±à°°à±€ రమణాయ

à°ªà±à°°à°¶à°¾à°‚తౠజలసూతà±à°°à°‚

à°ªà±à°°à±‡à°®à±‡ శాశà±à°µà°¤à°®à±