68. महामहिमसंयुतः Mahā-mahima-saṁyutaḥ

One who was endowed with immense glory

The Upaniṣad recounts a conversation thus: “Nārada asked, ‘Where is that Bhagavān established?’ to which Sanatkumāra answered, ‘In His own glory if at all some support is desired; in the absolute sense, He is not established even in His glory, for He is never dependant on anything.’”¹⁹¹ This nāma describes His Holiness as saṁ-yuta, well-endowed, with mahā-mahima, immense glory, to show that His Holiness’s greatness was completely of the kind mentioned in the above passage of the Śruti, and nothing less. The following passage of the Upaniṣad that captures the glory of the Lord, applied to His Holiness: “He has neither a source nor any instrument. None equals or surpasses Him. Supreme is His power, which is spoken of variously. His knowledge, power and activity are spontaneous.”¹⁹²

People of various genres came into contact with His Holiness - those seeking blessings for various reasons, those who wanted to serve Him, those who wanted to serve the Maṭha, those who came because He was their kula-guru, spiritual aspirants, employees of the Maṭha, atheists, scholars and even antagonists. Everyone viewed Him through the different prisms of their intellects. One is only reminded of Arjuna’s words to the Lord after witnessing His glorious viśvarūpa: “Taking You for a friend, I have addressed You as ‘O Kṛṣṇa’, ‘O Yādava’, ‘O Friend’! Out of ignorance of this glory of Yours or out of thoughtlessness or affection, I disregarded You, directly or in Your absence, for the sake of frolic, while walking, lying down, sitting or eating. O Infinite One! Deign to forgive these transgressions of mine.”¹⁹³

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The following episode brings out the great glory of His Holiness’s mind.

In 1984, His Holiness was scheduled to leave Sringeri for Bengaluru. A brahmacārin from Rishikesh came a little after noon for His darśana, when He had already left for His afternoon bath. The brahmacārin told a disciple, “I have seven questions pertaining to Yoga and Vedānta which I wish to pose to His Holiness. They are very important to me. I contacted numerous scholars, practitioners of Yoga and saṁnyāsins at Rishikesh, Uttarkashi, Haridwar and Kashi but none was able to satisfy me. A scholar at Kashi directed me to Sringeri, saying, ‘If the Jagadguru of Sringeri cannot satisfactorily answer you then there is none in the world who can.’ That is why I have come most eagerly to Sringeri.”

The disciple told him, “His Holiness will be starting on a tour today. If you wait here, you can have His darśana just prior to His departure. However, there is no time today for you to have a lengthy private session with Him.” He said, “I will gladly wait to behold Him even if it be for just a moment.” He then told the disciple one of the questions that he had in mind and requested him to tell His Holiness about him.

The disciple fulfilled the brahmacārin’s request shortly after His Holiness completed partaking of His bhikṣā (meal). His Holiness responded, “The question that he conveyed to you is good and pertinent. As there is no time to spare today, he could, if he wishes, meet me at Bengaluru and pose his queries to me there. If I happen to know the answers, I shall tell him. Else, I shall readily admit that I am not in a position to help him.”

In about half an hour, His Holiness came out to the front portico of Sacchidananda Vilasa. Some devotees, inclusive of the brahmacārin, were there. The brahmacārin prostrated before His Holiness. His Holiness looked at him with compassion, raised His right hand in a gesture of blessing and said, in Hindi, “May you be happy.” He then moved on. The disciple quickly conveyed to the brahmacārin what His Holiness had told him. Even before the disciple finished, he said, “The answers to all my questions became fully known to me when His Holiness blessed me.”

In the car, of His own accord, His Holiness informed the disciple, “When I saw that brahmacārin, I was struck with his sincerity. Hence, I requested Śāradāmbā, ‘Please provide him the answers he desires straightaway.’ The kind of sincerity that this spiritual aspirant has deserves to be rewarded.”

184 69. Mahā-prajñā-samāyuktaḥ When the disciple submitted to His Holiness what the brahmacārin had said, His Holiness joined His palms and said, “Śāradāmbā is so gracious.”

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Here is an episode that gives a glimpse of the glory of His Holiness’s words.

His Holiness had set out for His evening walk in Narasimhavana, followed by a disciple. Strolling along the pathway adjoining Sacchidananda Vilasa leading to the car shed and looking at the rose and jasmine gardens to His right and left, all of a sudden, He chanted the Kannada nursery rhyme ‘huyyo huyyo male rāya; hūvina toṭake nīrilla (O rain god, pour forth, pour forth. There is no water for the flower garden).’ By the time he had chanted it the third time, it started drizzling. As they approached the shelter of the car shed, the drizzle had picked up into rain. Entering the shed, He turned around, faced the garden and surveyed the scene in front of Him with a sweeping glance. After a brief silence, He remarked, ‘This is strange. We were taught this line when we were kids. Whenever I recall it and chant it, it somehow starts raining. See, it is raining now. Svāmigalu (referring to His disciple and present Jagadguru Śrī Bhāratī Tīṛtha Mahāsvāmin) even says, ‘Your Holiness should not recite this rhyme randomly. It will immediately rain.’

On a later date, the disciple mentioned this to Jagadguru Śrī Bhāratī Tīṛtha Mahāsvāmin. ‘Yes, indeed! I have said so. I have seen it rain after even a casual utterance of that line by His Holiness. It may be surprising but I shall testify to it,’ was His response.

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