Infinite Expansion

(i) Pranam (Salutation)

O KINDNESS-INCARNATE Papa! Do grant me the power to describe comprehensively how you made me your child and enabled me to surrender all actions performed by my body (which is really your own body), made up of its component sense organs, limbs and other parts to you. Even when I was just born in your creation, you caused me to lay my head on Mother Earth, which meant on your holy feet.

O kind and loving Papa! By your limitless grace, you became both my mother and father; and I took refuge in them, who were to me like your two holy feet, and therefrom in all my relatives and friends.

O compassionate Papa! As my mother and father, you taught me to bow not only at their feet but also at the feet of Gurus and elders. As directed by them, I bowed also before the deities in the shrine at home and in public temples.

My all-permeating Papa! Whenever I had the Darshan of our community Guru, Srimat Pandurangashram Swami, you prompted me to lay my head, with all devotion and reverence, at his holy feet.

O infinite Papa! After I got married at the age of twelve years and three months you inspired me to bow first before all my elders and then before my husband and his elderly relatives.

O Sadguru! At the time of my salutation at the feet of Srimat Pandurangashram Swami, Srimat Anandashram Swami, Sri Tammanna Sastri and Sri Siddharudha Swami, I bowed down with the same reverence also at the feet of all the devotees who came for their Darshan. Similarly, I saluted Sri Chandekar Maharaj. In this way you enhanced my attitude of reverence, causing it to pervade a widening sphere.

O compassion-personified Papa! Expanding my devotional vision thus, you at last brought me to the place where you lived. By your Darshan my adoration rose still higher and I felt no satisfaction even though I placed my head on your feet repeatedly several times. So much so, when once my head touched your feet I did not like to remove it from there. As I was not satisfied by my Pranams at your feet, you told me, “Ram pervades all animate and inanimate creation. So cultivate respect for all beings and things alike.” By thus instructing me you absorbed me into your infinite and omnipresent Being. It was only then that I was completely satisfied.

(ii) Darshana (Vision)

My immanent and transcendent Papa! When by your will I appeared in this world as a new-born baby, I could not recognise you in anybody. As my understanding grew, I looked at my mother with affection. Therefrom my love was extended to my father, brothers and sisters. As advised by my parents I learned to love with devotion the temple deities, relatives and friends.

O love-incarnate Papa! Similarly, I looked upon with reverence my Kula Gurus Srimat Pandurangashram Swami and the Gurus who were his predecessors and thereafter all the members of my community.

O compassionate Papa! With a view to expanding my love vision you caused my marriage to take place and made me love my husband, his elders and other members of his family who are all indeed yourself.

O Papa, who is all-permeating kindness! You created in me devotion and love for Srimat Pandurangashram Swami, Srimat Anandashram Swami, Sri Tammanna Sastri, Sri Siddharudha Swami and Sri Chandekar Maharaj, and also love for the devotees who gathered before these saints. Verily, they are all your own manifestations.

O Papa, the lover of the humble! At last you brought me to your holy presence. From that day my eyes were never tired of seeing you. The very sight of you would cause to well up in my heart rare joy and ecstasy. When I was not satisfied thus, you asked me to develop the vision of beholding all beings with love and respect since Ram has manifested as the entire universe. Having admonished me thus, you gave me the experience of my oneness with your infinite Being. Then only I became contented.

(iii) Shravana (Audition)

O omnipresent Papa! When I was yet a baby I listened, though not knowing the meaning, to the sounds that fell into my ears from my mother’s lips. Then, creating in my heart love for my mother, you made me listen ardently to the sounds uttered by her. Gradually you induced me to listen with avidity to the talks of my father, my relatives and friends.

My all loving Papa! You gave me the opportunity of eagerly listening to the Veda Mantras chanted in temples and before Srimat Pandurangashram Swami, as also the tolling of temple bells and the pipe music. Likewise, I heard with great attention the invocations and hymns sung in praise of God. This was all due to your unbounded grace.

O compassionate Papa! When I joined my husband’s household I longed to listen to the kind and sweet words of my husband and other elders in the house. In this manner you increased my desire to hear the words of all who came in contact with me.

O omnipresent Papa! In like manner I listened with respect and devotion to the talks and discourses of Srimat Anandashram Swami and Srimat Pandurangashram Swami, and also to the sweet words of Sri Tammanna Sastri, Sri Siddharudha Swami and Sri Chandekar Maharaj, while they were initiating me with Guru Mantras.

O Papa, the lover of the humble! Thus expanding my power of listening to the voices and words of saints, you drew me at last to your feet. Now I was initiated by you with your Ram Mantra. I intently listened to your voice while you were initiating me and also to the delightful sound of the Mantra when I was chanting it by myself with all faith and devotion.

I heard with great eagerness your words saturated with love. Nevertheless, I did not feel satisfied by hearing your voice. Advising me to take all the words that are uttered, as Mantras and praises of Ram, you granted me the realisation of your eternal Being. It was now that I was fully satisfied.

(iv) Ghrana (Redolence)

O Papa, the giver of bliss! When I was yet a baby, without knowing the difference between fragrant and non fragrant things, I imbibed all kinds of smells. Later I learnt to appreciate the scent of sandal, incense and other fragrant things.

O love-incarnate Papa! Likewise, I smelt with love and devotion the sandal paste, Tulsi and flowers offered at the feet of Srimat Pandurangashram Swami, Sri Tammanna Sastri, Srimat Anandashram Swami, Sri Siddharudha Swami and Sri Chandekar Maharaj, who are verily your own embodiments.

O infinite Papa! In this manner, having expanded the sphere of my smelling power, you called me to your feet. Here I smelt, O lover of devotees, over and over again the sandal paste, Tulsi and flowers offered at your feet, and the Tirtha obtained by washing your feet! Yet I was not satisfied. Then you exhorted me that whatever I smelt was the fragrance of the offering laid at Ram’s holy feet. Thereby you granted me the knowledge of your immortal existence. It was now only that I was completely satisfied.

(v) Pana (Libation)

My infinite Papa! I grew up from a small baby by suckling milk at my mother’s breast. As I became bigger I drank with love all kinds of beverages, especially Panchamrita. Then I drank with devotion the Tirtha of the feet of Srimat Pandurangashram Swami, Srimat Anandashram Swami, Sri Tammanna Sastri, Sri Siddharudha Swami and Sri Chandekar Maharaj. Verily, their feet are your own feet.

O all-pervading Papa! As I went on drinking the Tirtha, my devotion became more and more intense, with the consequence that you drew me to yourself. Having been attracted to you, I was never satiated by drinking the Tirtha of your feet. I would take jugs after jugs of it. At last you taught me that whatever I drank was Tirtha itself. Thus, having absorbed me into your imperishable Being, you totally quenched my thirst for it.

(vi) Ashana (Eating)

Beginningless and endless Papa! When I was a child I ate tasty food, of which I relished sweets most. I partook with faith and devotion the food offered to the deities in temples and also the prasad of Srimat Pandurangashram Swami, Sri Tammanna Sastri, Srimat Anandashram Swami, Sri Siddharudha Swami and Sri Chandekar Maharaj.

O kindness-incarnate Papa! Then at last by your will I came to you and ate your prasad with great zest and craved more and more of it without being appeased. Seeing this you advised me that whatever I ate was Ram’s prasad. In this way, attuning my life with your immortal radiance, you cast off my covetousness for prasad.

(vii) Seva (Service)

O infinite Papa! In my childhood, as my mother, father and relatives, you gave me toys to play with. I used my hands in the play. Then, as instructed by them, I performed little acts of service to them with my hands. On their advice, my hands touched and worshipped the images of God, and with the hands I picked flowers for worship. After marriage I engaged my hands in the service of my husband and his elders who were all your manifestations.

O Papa, the lover of devotees! Similarly, my hands were used in serving and saluting your embodiments – Srimat Anandashram Swami, Srimat Pandurangashram Swami, Sri Tammanna Sastri, Sri Siddharudha Swami and Sri Chandekar Maharaj.

O compassionate Papa! Thus extending the sphere of my service with my hands you brought me at last into your presence. Here, when serving you, you granted me unbounded joy and I was never satisfied however much I used my hands in your service and in saluting you. Then you advised me that whatever work I did with my hands should be taken as Ram’s service and worship. You took me then into your all-pervading Being and gave me perfect satisfaction.

(viii) Asana (Seat)

O infinite Papa! When I was a small child I rested on the earth, which is your lap, and then I lay on the lap of my mother, father and friends who are all yourself. Thereafter I sat with all devotion before the deities in temples, as also in front of Srimat Pandurangashram Swami.

O Papa, the lover of the humble! Moreover, I sat with devotion and reverence before Srimat Anandashram Swami. I also sat before Sri Tammanna Sastri, Sri Siddharudha Swami, Sri N.V. R. and Sri Chandekar Maharaj while they were initiating me with the Guru Mantra, thereby causing my reverential attitude to Gurus to grow into an ever widening circle.

O all-pervading Papa! At last, by your unbounded grace, you drew me to your presence. Even here, while you were giving me the Guru Mantra, I sat before you in all humility and respect. But I was not satisfied however long I sat at your feet. Seeing this, you advised me that wherever I sat I should consider that I was sitting in the presence of Ram. Granting me this experience you merged me into your immutable Existence, giving me thereby complete satisfaction.

(ix) Chalana (Movement)

O Papa, the eternal witness! in my girlhood, when I was yet small, by your will I enjoyed running about on my legs. Next, I walked hither and thither for doing little acts of service for my mother and father. Besides, for the worship of the deity in the temple at home I moved about picking Tulsi and flowers. I performed Pradakshina of the temples I visited. As willed by you I wended my way to where Srimat Pandurangashram Swami sat, who was verily your own Self. After I joined my husband’s household you prompted me to move about in the service of my husband and his elders in the family.

O Papa, the lover of the humble! I walked hither and thither, in and out, to serve you in the form of Srimat Pandurangashram Swami, Srimat Anandashram Swami, Sri Siddharudha Swami and Sri Chandekar Maharaj. Then, O giver of peace to all, you directed my steps to your presence! Here, however much I engaged myself in your service, involving a great deal of running about here and there, I never felt tired. I did Pradakshina of you many times, yet I was not satisfied. In the end you taught me that wherever I moved about it was the Pradakshina of God, and then you absorbed me in your eternal Being, granting me peace and contentment.