N.N. Rajan - His Divine Excellence

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His Divine Excellence

 

N.N. Rajan

 

“SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI has kept India’s spiritual glory

alive in our generation. He has in his own way made the name

of India respected by wise and enlightened men spread all over

the world……”

 

Thus spoke Sri C. Rajagopalachari when declaring open

the Pathala Lingam Shrine, once the abode of Sri Ramana

Maharshi.

 

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi encapsulated the whole

of the Vedas and Upanishads into a simple formula — his famous

‘Who am I?’ enquiry. He was too humble to claim any originality

for this. Such enquiry goes beyond the realm of seemingly

impenetrable mysteries. But by the grace of Sri Ramana his

followers unmistakably reach the goal.

 

During the period of his illness Sri Maharshi appeared

visibly unaffected in spite of the ailment which gave him

excruciating pain. The doctors and other devotees were baffled

by the utmost unconcern demonstrated by Sri Maharshi for

the cruel ailment. The total detachment with which he looked

on his suffering body was unique. By this he demonstrated

practically for our benefit that only the body suffers and the

Atman (Self ) has no share in it.

 

His radiant face did not show even the least trace of pain.

In fact his eyes sparkled with more divine brilliance than usual.

Despite the pain he was rigidly attending to his daily routine,

like going to the bathroom, attending to important letters, etc.,

without deviating from his characteristic punctuality. “Let the

disease run its course and let the body suffer, but I am ever

immersed in unbroken Bliss” — such was his attitude.

 

“A man established in the Self is liberated while in the

body, the fate of the body does not matter”: this is the Vedic

truth. Sri Ramana had entirely forgotten all consciousness about

his occupancy in the human frame and automatically the

authorship had no existence at all. He was full of bliss indicating

exuberance. The following episode, which occurred during the

same period was a thrilling sight to witness.

 

An old teacher of Sri Bhagavan came to see him. He was

87 and very feeble. Nevertheless an overmastering desire to see

the God-man whom he had once taught in second form, urged

him on to Tiruvannamalai. In Bhagavan’s presence, he recalled

an incident from that time with great emotion. Once he had

asked young Venkataraman to stand up on the bench for a

minor misdemeanour. But Venkataraman gazed at him for a

while with such steadiness and power that his (teacher’s) will

withered rapidly and he reversed his decision.

 

It was a touching sight to see the old teacher meet his Seer pupil.

Then the teacher asked Sri Bhagavan whether he

recognised him. Sri Bhagavan smiled broadly and graciously

and answered: “Why not?” The teacher was visibly moved at

this and he again asked Bhagavan about his health. Sri Bhagavan

replied that he was feeling all right. Throughout this very moving

but short interview Maharshi displayed such graciousness and

cordiality that neither the old teacher nor those who were close

by felt that there was anything wrong with the Maharshi.

 

These things make us feel that Bhagavan Sri Ramana

Maharshi is a perfect divine incarnation, whose divine excellence

was lying dormant till he left his home.