Velpur ‘Mouna’ Swami, V.Ganesan and Nannagaru

VELPUR ‘MOUNA’ SWAMI

Life

I had the great good fortune of meeting Velpur ‘Mouna’ Swami because of a fortuitous occurrence. ‘Ramana Periya Puranam’ was being read out to ‘Mouna’ Swami who subsequently translated the book himself into Telugu and asked his people to print several thousand copies to make available for distribution as ‘prasad’. When the printed books were ready, he sent me -- through his close Ashram devotees -- 100 copies of the translated Telugu books and requested me to release it in Arunachala. Those, devotees also invited me and Anu Ma to visit Velpur. I felt a deep urge to meet this ‘Silent’ Swami and felt a connection with him.

I was first received with an elaborate welcoming ceremony by a number of devotees at the entrance of the Ashram. The first portion of the Ashram, by the side of a road, has a ‘Sundara Ramana Auditorium’ and visitors’ dormitory rooms. Further inside is an open area with stretches of cultivated land. This open area almost serves to protect the silence of the inner portion where the ‘Dhyana Hall’ is situated.

I entered the Hall - which is richly surrounded by coconut trees and a ‘Goshala’, (cowshed) -- to have darshan of ‘Mouna’ Swami. I would have walked only three acres but it felt like as if I was leaving the external world and entering into the Inner Cave of ‘Quietude’! At the far end of the Hall, Swami stood up to receive me, with a loving warmth in his eyes. Though the large 50x30 foot hall was packed full with the enthusiastic devotees, there prevailed a thundering ‘silence’. The walls were adorned with large portraits of Sri Bhagavan. In the Hall, on the western side, Swami was seated on a six inches raised concrete platform, on which during the daytime he sits and sleeps a few hours in the night. He is ever surrounded by devotees - day and night - denying any form of privacy for this extraordinarily simple Swami wearing only a loincloth !

Behind where he sits and a little above his head are prominently visible the sacred feet of Sri Bhagavan’s very large portrait in a standing pose. There is also a small board requesting visitors not to put questions or doubts to Swami which pertain to one’s worldly concerns; and that, spiritual doubts or questions alone should be asked. Despite this, if people question Swami on their wordly troubles, he smilingly turns round, raises his hand and reverentially points to the holy feet of Sri Bhagavan and gestures to indicate that ‘Sri Bhagavan is Blessing’ or ‘Sri Bhagavan’s Blessings’ are fully on them. Swami never owns any form of credit for things happening in and around him; thus specifically indicating that everything is Sri Bhagavan’s Grace alone!

Noticing this special trait of Swami, I was instantly reminded of all the Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan who would spontaneously respond in similar situations, by saying, “It is all Sri Bhagavan’s Grace. All prostrations and devotion should be directed only to Sri Bhagavan, who alone deserves adoration, surrender and dedication” ! What a joy to be in the presence of such nobility of Old Devotees inundating this ‘Mouna’ Swami ! I truly felt ‘at home’ in his proximity !

Around him, there are always four or five chalk slates, which could fit in a couple of sentences alone. Since he remains in mouna, there is silence in the Hall and if anyone has a question or doubt, the slate is handed over so that it can be written and given to Swami. Swami then turns the slate around, gives an answer in Telugu, mostly quoting Sri Bhagavan’s words. Most of the devotees take a picture with their cell phone of Swami’s written reply, wipe the slate clean -- thereby also erasing their own doubts or concerns -- and return the slate.

There is no fatigue or tiredness in his face. Instead, his smiling countenance constantly shines with love and benevolence.

When devotees take leave of Swami, as ‘prasad’ he gives them, Sri Bhagavan’s books in Telugu. To his right side and by the side of the portrait of Sri Bhagavan, there is a built-in book-shelf from which he reaches out for a book according to the need of that sadhaka. His close devotees say that Swami never gives the same book to the same person, again !

He signalled through gestures to bring tender coconut water and requested us to drink it. All the devotees were singing in chorus, the Telugu version of Sri Bhagavan’s ‘Marital Garland of Letters’ ( ‘Aksharamana Malai ’ ). When the singing was over, he indicated to us to have lunch, got up and followed us. In a small room adjacent to the kitchen and dining hall, we were seated. Swami came and sat along with us. We were all served lunch on banana leaves. Swami himself received small quantities of every item specially cooked for us on that day; mixed them all together and ate it, majestically. He focused his pointed attention on the visitors seated and prodded everyone of them to eat more and more -- an outpouring of Swami’s love expressed in generosity reminded me of the gracious hospitality always shown to the devotees by Sri Bhagavan.

Since many devotees had gathered that day, he instructed me to give a talk on Sri Bhagavan and His Teaching. The talk was held near the Auditorium in a vast open space. Swami remained alone in the ‘Dhyana Hall’ itself.

Earliest Photo of Velpur ‘Mouna’ Swami

On my request, the next morning, Swami made arrangements to take us to River Godavari and have a sacred dip in the river. This year is sacred for every one to take bath in Godavari, as they observe the whole year as ‘Kumbhamela’ celebration. Swami had planned this morning trip in such a way, our breakfast was served on the bank of the River after taking bath in it. We were pleasantly surprised to notice that not even a minor detail in expressing his hospitality escapes Swami’s attention!

* * * * *

The daily routine for Swami starts at 2 o’clock in the morning. He steps out of the Hall to wash himself, comes in and gets immersed in meditation, with closed eyes. All the other Ashramites -- ten to fifteen devotees -- also get up, roll up their mats, and start meditating. The first ones who get up at around 4 or 5 a.m., are the ones who work in the ‘Goshala’. The next batch of devotees who leave the Hall at 5 o’clock are the ones who prepare the breakfast. By then, some more people from the surrounding join in the meditation. By 10 o’clock the Hall is filled with devotees. All the while, Swami is seated like a living statue deeply immersed within, in Bliss. Even if mosquitoes and flies disturb him, there is not a twitch on his skin!

At 11 o’clock, Seethamma an old lady dressed in a white saree, sits in front of him. With coconut oil, mixed with camphor, she rubs his limbs to get him back to body-consciousness. When that fails, she takes a big block of camphor, lights it and waves it in front of Swami’s face. The warmth of the burning camphor makes him to come back to body-consciousness. Swami’s face glows with a divine lustre and he smiles graciously with his eyes. [ Seethamma is the fortunate lady who has been serving Swami from 1985; is the lady who is an eye-witness to Swami’s “Death Experience”. ]

Attending on all devotees in the same seated position - reading their questions and answering them by writing; giving them prasad of books, smiling a bit more widely at children and giving them candies and chocolates --- goes on for another one to one and half hours. At around 12.30, without even uncrossing his legs from sukhasana, he shoots up himself to a straight standing posture without the need of any form of support - an extraordinary yogic feat, indeed !

He then proceeds to lunch -- the first meal of his day! He mixes up every form of food -- vegetables, chappati, rasam, buttermilk and desserts -- into a semi-solid liquid and drinks it up. After a little resting period, from 2 p.m. onwards he works in the field -- plucking out weeds or helping in the construction of building or cutting grass for the cows or binding the books that are meant for distribution.

This remarkable Karma Yogi is surrounded by at least fifteen devotees from all walks of life , taking out weeds or carrying bricks and cement concrete mixture !! The wood he has cut for cooking are bundled up after they are all measured and sized and are neatly stocked near the fire pit, ready to be used ! Free outdoor cooking takes place for functions in ‘Sundara Ramana Auditorium’, like marriages etc., -- free service for poor people including medical camps. Everything tidy, in time and with perfection! Wherever Swami moves to serve, devotees move along with him, without a word passing between each other.

When the Sun is down by 6 to 7 p.m., everybody is back for dinner -- after which book-binding goes on until 9 to 10 p.m. !! Then, four to five hours of sleep -- and back to meditation again -- all in Self-attention -- an amazing sight !

Swami does not permit anyone to do any form of writing on his life!

Hence, only what I have seen I have recorded !

* * * * *

With my weak heart condition and advanced age, I could join Swami's early morning meditation only late at 6 a.m. But, on one of the days -- I decided to go at 2 a.m and prepared myself to leave even earlier. Anu Ma accompanied me. We saw away at a distance in the open field, beneath a small single light, a dozen people bending and doing some work and were astonished to see that Swami was in the centre of the activity ! Anu Ma told me that they were cutting and bundling together 'salads' coriander and spinach and piling them up in gunny sacks. We both stood around a corner hiding ourselves so that we were not spotted.

Before ten minutes had passed, I felt a tapping on my shoulders by an attendant of Swami. Swami had sent us a message through him that as mosquitoes would bite us here, we were better off sitting in the 'Dhyana Hall' under the fan! So, while Swami continued working in the field despite the danger of snakes and other nocturnal creatures, he was protecting us from mosquitoes!

Swami's junior in school who used to live across his house, told us that after his tenth grade, Swami started assisting his father in their fields. Even then, Swami would get up (around 2 a.m.) and go to the field to work; he would start returning home when all others would get into the field around 7 a.m. ! They would tease him as having “cat's eyes” ! Swami used to share that even at that age he never knew what darkness was !

We both were wondering whether they were sending the harvested greens so early to the market for sale, since we were earlier told that Swami and his inner circle of devotees lived only on the sale-produce from the field.

We came to know that he never accepts donations towards the maintenance of the Ashram that his father had bequeathed to him. Rice, peanuts and sesame seeds are grown with a lot of care and attention in those fields. Then, they are sold in the market; and their sale--proceeds alone is being used to feed the Ashramites, who numbered around a dozen.

‘Mouna’ Swami Blessing Ganesan

That day, when Swami was woken up from his meditation, piles of the greens, in small bundles, were spread on gunny sheets, by his side. There were a lot of villagers that day. Swami blessed the devotees by giving each of them bundles of those greens, for them to feed the family members at home ! Both, on Mondays and Fridays, the local people are thus blessed with the harvest of his hard work on the field. Here is one Swami to whom you can give 'nothing'; but, you can take a lot of things -- books, fruits, chocolates, vegetables and spinaches ! More than all these, you continuously get his blessings through his "Glance of Grace", along with his most beautiful smile !

There are only two functions celebrated on a large scale in the uncultivated portion belonging to the Ashram. One function is in November -- Swami's 'Silence Day' (the day in 1985 when he started observing total silence) and in December--January Sat--Guru Ramana's Jayanthi (Birthday). A committee formed by his close followers -- who obviously are affluent -- collect the estimated, needed amount, with perfect understanding and full coordination among themselves. More than twenty thousand people are fed ! The outdoor open kitchen is lit using the firewood already cut by Swami ! Swami even raises up, along with others, the huge tent, after cleaning the open fields !

Those who sincerely want to do some charity to the Ashram -- after long consideration -- are requested to provide Sri Bhagavan's books in Telugu, for free distribution. Also, medicines in large quantities are accepted for free distribution, while the Ashram conducts Free Medical Camps ! One will have to do a lot of penance and patient waiting, to succeed in participating in any one of these two charities. But, no one or nothing can make Swami accept any form of offering to him, personally; except his acceptance of the namaskars of the devotees !

I am reminded of the sacred words of Sri Bhagavan : " If one accepts from others, even a grain of salt, one has to be eternally indebted to the giver !" In that sense too, Swami shines as a perfect ‘disciple’ of Sri Bhagavan !

From 2 p.m until 11 o’clock, Swami is very active in giving finishing touches to all forms of Ashram work, including binding copies of “Ramana Periya Puranam”

Velpur ‘Mouna’ Swami

The words : “perfect ‘disciple’ of Sri Bhagavan”, reminds me of the serious discussion that used to take place -- in the olden days, in the presence of Sri Bhagavan Himself -- among the devotees present in the Old Hall. "Who is a 'devotee' of Sri Bhagavan ?" and "Who is a 'disciple' of Sri Bhagavan ?" I am told that they finally arrived at the unanimous clarification : " A 'disciple' must be able to follow the life and teaching of the Master, whereas a ‘devotee’ can be an adorer, a bhakta of Sri Bhagavan.”

All would readily agree that one could easily be a 'devotee’ of Sri Bhagavan, while all the time, one could aspire to be and pray to be a ‘disciple’ of the Maharshi.

I have lived up to eighty years of age to finally have darshan of a true "Disciple” of Sri Bhagavan -- Velpur 'Mouna' Swami !

How fortunate we all are - and profusely blessed too ! - that we have Swami in our midst!

* * * * *

Entrance to ‘Sri Ramana Nilaya Ashramam’, Velpur

TAILPIECE

There was a little child -- aged three years old -- playing in the garden, near the Hall. With love, I tried to attract her attention by making ‘bird-noises’ ! The child stopped, surprised ! Pointing to the ‘Dhyana Hall’ with one hand; and, with the other hand, she put her tiny finger on her lips; and, whispered gently, “Sh…h…h…h ” !

Ganesan, ‘Mouna’ Swami, Anuradha -- absorbed in mounam